Scripted


Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street names Mammoth Screen & ITVS alum as COO

Quay Street Productions, the Nicola Shindler-helmed ITV Studios label behind the upcoming Nolly, has appointed Mammoth Screen MD Samantha McMillon as chief operating officer. McMillon will join the company this month and will oversee commercial operations at Quay Street, which launched in January 2021 and will this year release its first two projects, both for […]

BBC Studios expands FAST team with five new hires, incl A+E’s Sarah Shriver

BBC Studios (BBCS) has expanded its FAST team with five new additions, including former A+E Networks exec Sarah Shriver. She becomes VP of marketing & programming sales for FAST & VOD at BBCS, following more than a decade with A+E working across its global strategy. Former Tubi exec Nik Mehta has joined as VP of […]

Warner Bros. Discovery eyes ‘new chapter’ balancing DTC streaming & third party sales

Warner Bros. Discovery is focusing on “relaunching and building” the business over the next 12 months, following a brutal 2022 that saw execs and shows slashed in number. WBD has been seeking “synergy” savings of around $3.5bn over the three years since Discovery and WarnerMedia merged in April, resulting in thousands of staff exits and […]

Fremantle ups Christian Vesper to new drama role, extending prodco oversight

Fremantle has upped scripted chief Christian Vesper to a newly created role overseeing its global drama output and some of the production companies that produce it. Vesper, who had been president of global drama for Fremantle, is now CEO and reports into Andrea Scrosati, group COO and CEO of continental Europe. He will continue to […]

‘Traitors’ producer Stephen Lambert & Banijay UK chief Holland on C4 in-house proposals

The Traitors producer Stephen Lambert has said he “wouldn’t have a problem” with in-house production at UK broadcaster Channel 4 (C4) and has joined industry leaders including Banijay UK chief Patrick Holland and Fulwell 73’s MD Leo Pearlman in welcoming the decision to scrap plans to privatise the broadcaster. The news to abandon the sale […]

Lionsgate co-pro & acquisitions boss Marc Lorber departs US studio

Marc Lorber, SVP of international TV co-productions and acquisitions at US studio Lionsgate, has exited the company after almost a decade. Lorber, who first joined Lionsgate in 2013, had served in his latest role since 2019, in which capacity he headed up a team that looks for scripted content that can be co-developed or produced […]

Toho International acquires stake in Genius Brands content

Toho International, a subsidiary of Japanese studio Toho Company, has taken a 50% stake in two original productions from Genius Brands’ US-based animation outfit Frederator Network. The firm is making a “multi-million dollar investment” in Bee And PuppyCat, following its launch on Netflix, as well as Bravest Warriors. The deal also includes the upcoming series Catbug, […]

Starz appoints int’l networks chief as Superna Kalle departs

US network Starz has promoted Darren Nielson to EVP of international networks to replace Superna Kalle, who will exit the company in March. Nielson will report directly to president and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch and will become responsible for the growth of the international division’s newly rebranded Lionsgate+, (fka StarzPlay) including all aspects of programming, distribution, […]

Brunico buys NATPE assets, sets Budapest dates & plans for NATPE Global in 2024

Realscreen and Banff World Media Festival organisers Brunico Communications has acquired the assets of NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives), three months after the organisation filed for bankruptcy. The deal sees Brunico, which became the frontrunner for the assets in November, taking control of the NATPE Global, NATPE Budapest and NATPE Streaming+ events, as […]

Show of the week: Bardot

This 6 x 52-minute series explores the early life of iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot, transporting viewers back in time to meet the star before she became a household name. Starring Julia de Nunez, we follow Bardot as a passionate and liberated woman, defying the rules of society at the time. The series focuses on […]