Scripted


Peacock lands dramedy with Elizabeth Banks & Matthew Macfadyen

NBCUniversal’s streamer Peacock has ordered a romantic dramedy starring and executive produced by Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) and Succession‘s Matthew Macfadyen. The Miniature Wife is based on the short story written by Manuel Gonzalez that tracks the power imbalances between spouses, who battle each other for supremacy after a technological accident induces the ultimate […]

RX confirms MIP London for 2025, with MIPTV to end after 61-year run

MIPTV organiser RX France is to shutter the 60-year-old event and launch MIP London in 2025 at The Savoy Hotel to coincide with the London TV Screenings. MIP London will run from 24-27 February – alongside the London TV Screenings, which takes place next year 24-28 February – and has taken space at The Savoy […]

UK’s $570m Sunderland studio backed by Fulwell 73 gets formal approval

The £450m ($570m) Sunderland-based development backed by Leo Pearlman and James Corden’s Fulwell 73 has received formal backing from local government. Crown Works Studios has secured approval from Sunderland council’s planning committee for the first phase of development, meaning construction can start on the site in the North East of England this summer. The project […]

Alloy Entertainment boss expands remit & extends WBTV deal

Leslie Morgenstein, founder and president of Alloy Entertainment, the US prodco behind Netflix’s You, has signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Television (WBTV). The exec has also taken on the role of chief creative officer at Alloy, which has been a part of Warner Bros. Television since 2012. During his time at the company, […]

News round-up: Italy’s TV8 extends ‘Lindt’ format; ABC Commercial unveils rom-com

Italy’s TV8 extends ‘Lindt’ format Sky Italia’s TV8 in Italy has extended its brand-funded competition show Maître Chocolatier – Talenti In Sfida into a second season. The show, produced by Banijay’s prodco Nonpanic, tracks a group of chocolate and pastry experts as they attempt to impress judges including MasterChef Italia’s Giorgio Locatelli with their creations. […]

Banijay, Fremantle, All3 & ITVS set London TV Screenings 2025 dates

Banijay, Fremantle, All3Media International and ITV Studios have set a date for next year’s London TV Screenings, as speculation around the future of the event grows. The 2025 edition will run from Monday 24 February to Friday 28 February, with organisers claiming that last month’s Screenings saw a 50% uplift in the number of buyers […]

Fremantle completes Asacha Media Group acquisition

Fremantle has completed its acquisition of global production company Asacha Media Group and its portfolio of labels in France, Italy and the UK. The deal sees Fremantle take control of the outfit from Asacha’s founding partners, managers and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management. Fremantle struck a conditional agreement to acquire Asacha in February, which […]

France Télévisions CEO calls Salto closure a ‘strategic mistake’

France Télévisions CEO Delphine Ernotte-Cunci has called for more cooperation between domestic broadcasters, after describing the decision to close its pan-broadcaster streamer Salto as a “strategic mistake”. The streamer, which was backed by France TV, TF1 and M6, was liquidated last year with execs blaming “complex and constraining governance” for its demise. Salto had been […]

‘Uncoupled’ re-cancelled as Showtime drops plans for former Netflix comedy

US comedy Uncoupled will not go forward with a second season at Showtime. The news comes a little over a year since the US cablenet saved the Neil Patrick Harris-led show from cancellation by Netflix. The series, from MTV Entertainment Studios, was apparently rescued by Showtime in February 2023 after it was dropped by Netflix […]

Viaplay names acquisitions chief Christian Albeck to new co-CEO role in Sweden

Embattled Nordic streamer Viaplay has appointed acquisitions chief Christian Albeck to a new co-CEO role in Sweden, with Enrique Patrickson set to depart later this year. Albeck will hold the role alongside fellow co-CEO Johan Johansson, who will also become CFO for Viaplay when he joins later this summer. Johansson was most recently CFO and […]