Scripted


LA County confirms TV & film production return from 12 June

LA-based film and TV production has been given the greenlight to recommence from 12 June, after local health officials in the Hollywood state approved a return to work. Guidelines applicable across California were published earlier this week, but it was down to local county authorities to grant permission. LA County’s public health director Barbara Ferrer […]

Disney+ becomes third-largest SVOD in the UK, report claims

Disney+ has already emerged as the third-largest subscription streaming service in the UK. According to new stats from research firm and TBI sibling Omdia, the SVOD has already amassed 4.3 million subscribers in the UK since its March 24 launch. This has led Disney+ to occupy a 16.8% market share of subscribers, putting it squarely […]

EOne confirms HBO alum Michael Lombardo as global TV president

Hasbro-owned producer and distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has confirmed that former HBO programming president Michael Lombardo has been appointed to head its international TV division. News of Lombardo’s appointment emerged last month, with the veteran exec now formally named as president of global TV at eOne, with a remit across development and production of all […]

Kew Media alums Greg Phillips & Graham Begg launch sales firm, snag BBC comedy

Former Kew Media Distribution (KMD) execs Greg Phillips and Graham Begg have launched a new drama, factual and special event-focused sales outfit, with a deal for a BBC comedy starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen in the bag. Rainmaker Content has secured global rights outside of the UK to Staged, the lockdown comedy series written […]

UK’s Channel 4 makes commitment to anti-racism and BAME representation

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has set out a six-part anti-racism strategy and a commitment to improve on-screen black and minority ethnic (BAME) representation, following the death of George Floyd. The plans include a pledge to use its influence in the creative industries “and society at large” to do more to drive anti-racism and to double the […]

Weekend Studio to adapt ‘XRey’ podcast into scripted series

UK-based producer and distributor The Story Lab has struck a deal with Spanish prodco Weekend Studio to adapt its podcast XRey into TV drama series, as part of a wider strategy of bringing IP to the TV marketplace via audio platforms. The podcast gained critical acclaim and national media attention in the Spanish market after […]

Vortex Words + Pictures adds Gaumont alum Ben Bishop to head distribution

Canada’s Vortex Words + Pictures has appointed former Gaumont exec Ben Bishop to oversee its distribution activities, based out of Australia. Bishop has taken the newly created position of president of international distribution at Vortex, which was launched by Bill Marks in 1982 and focuses on independent film and TV. Bishop was most recently VP […]

Viaplay joins HBO Asia, Hulu Japan on Mediapro Studio’s Antarctica thriller

Nordic streamer Viaplay has partnered with HBO Asia, Hulu in Japan and Spain’s The Mediapro Studio on a six-part crime drama set in the Antarctic. The Head is an English- and Danish-language series directed by Jorge Dorado (The Pier), which has been written by Àlex and David Pastor (Carriers) along with Isaac Sastre (Al Filo De […]

All3Media’s Lime responds after claims of racism on ‘Hollyoaks’ set

All3Media’s UK-based Lime Pictures has launched an investigation after a star of its youth-skewing drama Hollyoaks said she had witnessed racism from one of the show’s producers. Rachel Adedeji alleged that a senior producer on the Channel 4 show had used a racial slur in comments made to a black member of cast and had […]