Talpa Media, the Dutch producer and distributor set up by Endemol founder John de Mol, is to expand internationally with the launch of six production subsidiaries in countries including the UK and the US. The company will also launch or acquire production bases in Germany, France, Italy and Spain and is currently hiring execs to […]
Italian pay TV broadcaster Sky Italia is set to make a local version of FX UK’s sketch comedy No Signal. It will air 28x30mins of the series, which pokes fun at the TV industry and multichannel programming, later this year. No Signal was FX UK’s first fully funded original production and was produced by You […]
FremantleMedia Enterprises has inked a raft of first look distribution deals with top producers including Shameless creator Paul Abbott and Smallville exec producer Mike Tollin. The RTL-owned company has also agreed first look deals with Winker Films, formed by Irwin Winkler, producer of feature films including Rocky and Raging Bull, and Landscape Entertainment, run by […]
Peter Bazalgette has become non-executive chairman of Sony Pictures Television’s UK production business. Bazalgette, ex-chief creative officer at formats giant Endemol, will advise Sony’s newly combined UK production business, which comprises SPT and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? owner 2waytraffic, on strategy and executive hires. Kees Abrahams, SPT’s president of international production said: “[Peter’s] […]
FremantleMedia Enterprises has bought a minority stake in Wide-Eyed Entertainment, the UK indie producer set up last year and run by Impossible Pictures exec Jasper James. A spokeswoman said that FME has taken a 20% stake in Wide-Eyed. FME will distribute all Wide-Eyed shows internationally and the deal also involves a three-year first look development […]
ShineReveille International, the worldwide sales arm of the recently merged UK/US indie, has sold a raft of formats and finished series to international broadcasters ahead of MIP TV. German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 has acquired the format rights to Reveille’s live musical competition show Fame and Fortune, that pits bands together for prizes. Canada’s MuchMusic and […]
Passion Distribution has inked a number of deals for its slate of World of Wonder-produced reality series ahead of Mip TV. The distributor, which was set up last year by ID Distribution founder Sally Miles, has sold series including Ru Paul’s Drag Race and Heli-Loggers to a raft of international broadcasters. Canada’s Much Music, Israel’s […]
Hanway Films, the sales company set up by The Last Emperor producer Jeremy Thomas, has inked a raft of film and documentary deals ahead of MIP TV. Polish pay TV broadcaster Canal+ has acquired two music documentaries; Julian Temple’s Glastonbury and The Devil and Daniel Johnston, which follows the reclusive rock star. Australian public […]
Digital Rights Group has inked a deal with US online video platform Hulu, becoming the first international distributor to work with the site. Hulu, which is a joint venture between News Corp and NBC Universal, will air a raft of series from DRG’s C4i and Portman catalogs including comedies Peep Show, Green Wing and Rude […]
Comcast Entertainment Group, the content arm of the US cabler, has signed Chelsea Handler to a multiyear deal that allows the talkshow host to develop new shows under the aegis of her own production company, Borderline Amazing Productions. Comcast has first-look at all shows from the production company until 2012. Handler fronts the late night […]
