Factual


eOne joins A+E in dropping physical presence from MIPCOM

Canada-based multinational Entertainment One (eOne) has become the latest company to pull out of attending the physical MIPCOM 2020 event due to concerns about Covid-19. Hasbro-owned eOne is, however, understood to instead be making alternative plans for an online presence, details of which have not yet been revealed. The news, first reported by C21, follows […]

News round-up: India’s Zee5 launches first Pakistani original; PBS launches docs on Amazon; Global Agency sells ‘Mr Wrong’

India’s Zee5 launches first Pakistani original India’s Zee5 Global streaming platform will launch its first Pakistani original series, Churails, next month. The 10 x 55-minute series will be available from 11 August as part of Zee5’s Zindagi world cinema strand. The series follows four women who operate a secret detective agency exposing cheating husbands in […]

Exclusive: Argonon CEO hits out at UK government for insurance delay

Argonon CEO James Burstall has said that delays in launching the UK’s £500m ($650m) insurance production fund were a “tragic missed opportunity” that cost jobs, adding that the UK government has a “lack of belief” in the country’s creative industries. Burstall – whose UK- and US-based group includes Masked Singer producer Bandicoot, factual outfit Windfall […]

Fremantle strikes development deal with New Zealand’s Pango Productions

Fremantle has struck a development partnership with Pango Productions, the Kiwi company behind Amazon’s All Or Nothing: New Zealand All Blacks, with two commissions already secured with local broadcasters. MediaWorks-owned Three has ordered Match Fit, a factual entertainment series based on an original format from Fremantle’s UK label Talkback. Additionally, TV1 will become the home […]

BBC Studios appoints interim CEO ahead of Tim Davie departure

BBC Studios (BBCS) has appointed its CFO Tom Fussell to become interim CEO from 1 September, when Tim Davie becomes BBC director-general. Fussell will lead BBCS on a temporary basis until the next CEO is installed, with the UK public broadcaster’s commercial arm currently in a recruitment drive for candidates. He has been CFO since […]

UK TV industry welcomes $650m Covid-19 insurance fund

UK producers and broadcasters have welcomed a long-awaited £500m ($650m) government-backed scheme designed to help domestic film and TV productions struggling to get Covid-19 related insurance. The announcement from the UK’s chancellor Rishi Sunak and minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Oliver Dowden is expected to kickstart productions worth upwards of £1bn, with […]

Ample launches LA’s first-ever dedicated natural history label

US prodco Ample Entertainment has launched the first-ever dedicated Los Angeles-based natural history division, under the label Ample Nature. The move into blue-chip space was announced by Ample co-founders Ari Mark and Phil Lott, who also revealed that the label will be led by producer Kylie Stott, who has been appointed as VP of development […]

Sony inks overall deal with ‘Plantagenets’ author Dan Jones

British author, historian and TV presenter Dan Jones has signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) to develop screen adaptations of his works. Jones, who has written best-selling books including The Plantagenets and The Templars, will work alongside Sony Pictures Television’s stable of scripted prodcos, including Left Bank Pictures and the recently acquired […]

Sky Arts to go free-to-air from September in UK

Comcast-owned pay-TV operator Sky will make its Arts channel free-to-air in the UK, the operator has announced. Starting from September, Sky Arts will launch on free-to-air terrestrial platform Freeview. Comcast-owned Sky said that this reflects “its mission to increase access to and drive participation in the arts, at a vital time for the cultural sector.” […]

Apple TV+ preps Oprah Winfrey remote interview show exploring racism

Oprah Winfrey is launching a new interview series on Apple TV+, which will debut in just two days time. The Oprah Conversation will land on the streaming service Thursday, 30 July and “explore impactful and relevant topics” as Winfrey holds discussions with thought leaders and newsmakers from around the world. The series is being filmed […]