Factual


Arte Distribution to shop ‘The Curse Of Sugar’ from Hauteville Productions

Arte Distribution has acquired the sales rights to Hauteville Productions 2 x 52-minute docuseries The Curse Of Sugar. The historical investigation series reveals a global system still fueled by the exploitation of land and people that is rooted in its original sin: slavery. The two-parter explores what is the true cost of the worldwide demand […]

Warner Bros. Discovery unveils Max launch plans in Europe

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)’s streamer Max will be launched across much of Europe on 21 May, with roll-outs in France and Belgium also confirmed. The White Lotus and The Last Of Us streamer will become available on 21 May in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, […]

WBD streamer Max unveils three French dramas ahead of launch

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)’s streamer Max has ordered three scripted shows from France, marking the first commissions from the country for the service ahead of an expected launch later this year. Clément Schwebig, president of WBD in Western Europe & Africa, unveiled the shows at Series Mania Forum in France and said the streamer would […]

Disney+ moves into soap operas & eyes ‘commercial chic’ shows

Disney+ is moving into soap operas with a 70-episode scripted series out of Spain amongst a clutch of originals unveiled by the streamer here at Series Mania. Return To Las Sabinas is being produced by Banijay’s Diagonal TV and is part of Disney+’s attempt to pre-empt shifts to streaming by viewers, according to Sofia Fabregas, […]

BBC investigates Howard Marks, Knowsley riots & pandemic in order for factual trio

UK public broadcaster the BBC has commissioned a trio of new documentary titles, including two series and one film. A co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales, Hunting Mr Nice from Passion Pictures and Welsh indie Kailash Films tells the story of notorious cannabis smuggler Howard Marks AKA ‘Mr Nice’. The 2 x 60-minute series for BBC […]

Netflix’s Larry Tanz talks competitors & rights, unveils Euro drama duo

Netflix is maintaining its bullish approach to streaming despite competitors finding it “really hard and expensive”, with EMEA content chief Larry Tanz revealing two new dramas from the region which will join 40 shows in production for the streamer this month alone. Tanz told a packed Series Mania Forum audience that Netflix remains “all in” […]

WBD UK & Ireland orders slew of new & returning unscripted titles

Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland has ordered nearly 100 hours of new and returning series that will debut across its linear channels, before heading to Discovery+, in the second half of 2024 and early 2025. The French Antiques River Cruise is a new 8 x 60-minute series, produced by True North for Quest, coming […]

TBI Tech & Analysis: Underlining the value of Netflix’s non-English content

Omdia’s senior analyst Daoud Jackson delves into Netflix’s global viewership data and explores what it tells us about global consumption patterns. Netflix is both a supplier and a producer of content at a global level, and its viewership data allows us to see where substantial asymmetries exist between where shows are produced and where they […]

Rodolphe Saadé agrees $1.68bn deal to buy RMC Découverte owner Altice Group

RMC Découverte owner Altice Group has struck a €1.55bn ($1.68bn) deal to sell its media division to Rodolphe Saadé. The agreement will see Saadé’s logistics company CMA CGM acquiring the media outfit, which also operates RMC Story and news channel BFM. CMA CGM already owns newspapers including La Tribune and regional titles such as La […]

PBS Int’l targets Lat Am with Sabrina Hall Aguirre promotion

PBS International is looking to expand its activity in Lat Am and has upped Sabrina Hall Aguirre to become sales manager for the region. Aguirre, who has been tasked with building partnerships and driving sales in Lat Am, will be focused on selling factual and children’s programming to buyers across the region. Joe Barrett, VP […]