Scripted


Exclusive: Disney+ eyes European remakes for unscripted formats, unveils new shows

Disney+ is looking for European production partners to work on regional remakes of its unscripted series, as it ramps up its originals output ahead of launching on the continent later this year. Earlier this month, the Mouse House brought forward by a week the Western European launch date for its hotly anticipated streaming service, revealing […]

UK’s ‘high-end’ TV production hits new record of $2.15bn

High-end TV production in the UK was up by almost a third in 2019, hitting a record level of £1.66bn ($2.16bn) according to new figures revealed today. The BFI’s Research and Statistics Unit report said production of shows such as Aisling Walsh’s Elizabeth Is Missing, Deadwater Fell and The Crown ensured spend over the past […]

Murdoch, Snider and Featherstone’s prodco Sister appoints creative exec

Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Jane Featherstone’s production outfit Sister has appointed Kate Fenske as a chief creative executive. Fenske was previously president of production for Entertainment 360, the joint venture between talent agency Management 360 and Media Rights Capital. She took up that role last year, having previously been SVP of development at Universal […]

Apple TV+ hires outgoing Starz progamming chief Carmi Zlotnik

Carmi Zlotnik, who is stepping down as president of programming at Starz, has struck an exclusive production deal at Apple TV+. Zlotnik had been with the company for more than a decade and worked on shows including Outlander, American Gods and Power. He will work with the cabler during his transition before moving to Apple […]

HBO Max costs AT&T $1.2bn after ‘Friends’ and others taken off US market

Soon-to-launch US streamer HBO Max has cost AT&T’s WarnerMedia over US$1bn in forgone revenue, the operator’s quarterly results have revealed. By ensuring content such as Friends could exclusively be streamed on the service, WarnerMedia missed out on over $1.2bn in licencing revenue during the quarter. The service also cost Warner $500m in lost Earnings before […]

Tim Cook pleased with Apple TV+ start, doesn’t think customers want ads

“Apple TV+ is off to a rousing start,” claimed CEO Tim Cook during Apple’s Q1 2020 earnings call. In the company’s first public outing since the service’s launch, the CEO shed some light on Apple’s measurement for the success of Apple TV+. Cook said: “We are primarily measuring our sales on the number of subscribers. […]

NENT Group to sell entire unscripted business, looks for partner to fuel scripted ambitions

Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) is to sell off the entirety of its non-scripted production and branded entertainment interests as it looks for an equity partner to help fuel its huge scripted output. Companies affected include NENT Studios’ unscripted outfits such as Strix, Baluba, Monster Entertainment, Novemberfilm, Moskito, Rakett, Strong Productions, and Production House; branded […]

UK’s C4 promotes for expanded COO role as part of senior management reshuffle

UK pubcaster Channel 4 has promoted Jonathan Allan to become its COO as a part of a senior management restructure. Allan is currently chief commercial officer, a role he has held since April 2018. He initially joined the broadcaster as sales director in 2011 and was previously the managing director of marketing agency OMD UK […]

Starz programming chief Carmi Zlotnik to depart

Starz president of programming Carmi Zlotnik has left the US cabler after a decade with the company. Zlotnik had been with the network for a decade and worked on shows including Outlander, American Gods and Power. He is set to pursue new creative endeavours but his next move is not yet known. He will work […]