News


Banijay poaches Endemol exec for digital

Banijay-backed US prodco Bunim/Murray has poached John P. Roberts from Endemol for a new digital role. At Bunim/Murray, Roberts will be chief digital officer, running the BMP Digital division. The producer has also upped Kesila Childers from director to vice president, reporting to Roberts. Roberts joined Endemol in June 2012 and was senior VP digital […]

Chinese video platform takes Voice Kids rights

Chinese online video platform Youku Tudou has acquired rights to remake John de Mol’s format The Voice Kids. This is the second major international format de Mol created that Youku Tudou is remaking, after it took rights to make a Chinese version of Endemol’s flagship show Big Brother. Youku Tudou has taken the exclusive remake […]

Ten could sell after strategic review

Network Ten’s parent Network Ten Holdings has confirmed it has hired Citi bank to assess its strategic options after several stories about the sale of the company surfaced. This week, Discovery Communications and pay TV provider Foxtel were linked to a takeover of Ten, which is Australia’s third-largest commercial channel behind Seven and Nine. Ten […]

FCCE reveals ‘world’s first African superhero’

Holland-based distributor FCCE has taken a series that’s billed as starring “the world’s first mainstream African-based superhero” to Discop Africa. Jongo, which author Gareth Crocker (Finding Jack) co-created and is produced by his Zambian prodco Motion Story, is set in modern day South Africa and Zambia. It tells the story of a young man who […]

Starz selling reality series The Chair online

Starz is making its first reality series, The Chair, available to buy online. The premium cabler launched the filmmaking reality show online before TV and will make the entire season available to buy two days after the final episode goes out on Starz. The show pitted two first-time directors against each other as they craft […]

Time Warner restructuring costs to hit $400m

Time Warner has spent US$346 million on restructuring and redundancy costs to date this year. The US media giant’s latest financial results show third quarter restructuring and severance costs were US$303 million as a strategy to significantly reduce headcount kicked in. Staff are being cut at channels business Turner Broadcasting System, studio subsidiary Warner Bros. […]

Ex-News Corp chief Miller invests in Wildseed

Former News Corp digital chief Jon Miller and Frederator Networks president Fred Seibert have invested in Miles Bullough’s OTT incubation company. This has enabled Wildseed Studios, which former Aardman Animation TV chief Bullough launched alongside ex-BBC Children’s executive Jesse Cleverly, to create a pair of new YouTube channels. Wildseed Comedy and Wildseed Sci-Fi are now […]

Discovery poaches ABC exec as CCO

Discovery Communications has recruited Phil Craig as chief creative officer. Craig’s appointment comes after chief content officer, Luis Silberwasser left Discovery – later joining Telemundo as president – and creative director and head of commissioning Julian Bellamy exited the factual channel operator for ITV. However, the chief creative officer title is a new one at […]

NBCU’s Hispanic net mun2 renamed

NBCUniversal has renamed its US Hispanic entertainment channel mun2 as NBC Universo. The Latino-targeted will rebrand on February 1, 2015, during an exclusive Spanish-language telecast of Super Bowl XLIX. Following the change, NBC Universo will broadcast global sports, entertainment shows, music programming and series that are “emotional and edgy” to draw in Hispanic viewers. “mun2’s […]

Netflix prepares for Australia launch

Netflix has reportedly enlisted the help of a creative and social media agency in Australia, adding to speculation that it gearing up for an Australian launch that is expected next year. According to a report by Mumbrella – a news site that covers Australia’s media, marketing and entertainment industries ­– Netflix has appointed creative agency […]