Factual


UK indie Icon Films hires Red Rock alum Belinda Cherrington as creative director

UK factual indie Icon Films has appointed Belinda Cherrington as creative director. Based in the US, Cherrington will be responsible for expanding Icon’s brand in adventure programming, innovating in the natural history space and growing the company’s roster of on-screen and off-screen talent. Reporting to CEO and co-founder Laura Marshall, Cherrington also joins Icon’s leadership team of […]

Netflix signs ‘Friday Night Lights’ creator Peter Berg to first-look deal

Friday Night Lights creator Peter Berg and his Film 44 banner have inked a first-look deal with Netflix to produce and direct live action films and series for the global streamer. Berg already has previously announced projects in the works with Netflix, including limited scripted drama series Painkiller, which he will exec produce and direct, […]

Oz’s Wildbear Entertainment opens NZ office; appoints NHNZ’s Craig Meade to lead

Australian factual prodco Wildbear Entertainment has expanded its operation by launching a New Zealand office, headed up by Criag Meade as general manager. Dunedin-based Wildbear Aotearoa is the company’s first office outside of Australia, with executive producer, director and writer Meade joining the new outfit from NHNZ, where he served as head of production with […]

Preparing for the big adventure boom

Stephen McQuillan, creative director at UK indie Humble Bee Films considers what the immediate future holds for adventure programming, from moving past the pandemic to the growing interest from Hollywood talent. Gold standard unscripted adventure programming has the ability to take viewers somewhere they’ve never been in their lifetime – or could ever expect to […]

Sky promotes Jamie Morris to director of programmes in UK & Ireland

European pay TV operator Sky has promoted Jamie Morris to become director of programmes for the UK and Ireland. Morris, who was previously director of programme strategy, will now take on a remit that includes commissioning and acquiring shows for Sky, effectively working as a deputy to MD of content Zai Bennett. The change comes […]

Zinc’s Tern TV expands unscripted with hire of Beezr’s David Marshall

Zinc Media Group’s UK factual producer Tern Television is expanding its unscripted range by appointing David Marshall as head of entertainment. Marshall joins from fellow Scottish prodco Beezr Studios, where he was head of factual entertainment and formats, running both production and development teams. Prior to this, Marshall was series producer of BBC One quiz […]

BBC to double arts and music investment

UK pubcaster the BBC is to double investment in arts and music content on its BBC Two channel over the next two years, with new commissions announced, including a documentary on blackface minstrelsy and an exploration of ‘forbidden’ art. The BBC has made a further commitment to create up to eight major arts and music […]

Future rejigs Barcroft Studios leadership as John Farrar replaces Alex Morris

Barcroft Studios chief creative officer Alex Morris is leaving after 13 years with the company, to be replaced by the producer’s creative director John Farrar. Farrar, who joined from UK prodco Nerd TV in 2019, will oversee Future-owned Barcroft Studios and continue to lead Future Studios, which creates video content for the publisher’s array of brands. Morris […]