Merman, the production company founded by Catastrophe’s Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford, has appointed FremantleMedia UK’s Rebecca Parkinson (pictured) as its head of production. Parkinson joins Merman from Fremantle’s scripted comedy label Retort and will oversee the production of all Merman projects in the newly created role. She will work closely with Mountford. The appointment […]
Amazon Studios has closed an exclusive two-year deal with Catastrophe creator Sharon Horgan. Catastrophe is an Amazon original series that earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding writing for a comedy series. Horgan is also co-writer and co-star in the show alongside Rob Delaney. In addition to her personal deal, Horgan and co-founder Clelia Mountford’s entertainment […]
The number of pay TV homes in Central and Eastern Europe are set to fall, but international distributors tell TBI business in the region is booming A Digital TV Research report earlier this year forecast the number of pay television homes in Central and Eastern Europe to fall in 18 territories across the region in […]
Comedy has not had the same uplift in budgets and ambition as straight-up scripted fare, but half hours that are as big on drama as laughs are in demand and, increasingly, on-demand. Just don’t call it ‘dramedy’. Stewart Clarke reports. For comedy writers and producers, recent proclamations from industry heavyweights are no laughing matter. “It […]
Amazon is hiring a London-based head of original content to respond to its growing interest in video entertainment commissioned outside of the US. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival yesterday, Amazon Studios director Roy Price said that Amazon planned to “double down” and “grow a team in London”. The new head of original content […]
UK-based distributor Sky Vision has signed an exclusive three-script development deal with Merman, the transatlantic producer behind Channel 4 comedy Catastrophe. Sky Vision will get a first look at a selection of scripted projects from Merman, with the option to distribute them internationally. The sales arm of European satcaster Sky already sells scripted shows such […]
Irish comedy star Sharon Horgan on the quirks she and production partner Clelia Mountford found working in US TV after launching their UK-based production firm, Merman, in the States The difference between working in the UK and US can be summed up in two words: craft services. Affectionately known as ‘crafty’, this service provides sets with […]
Amazon Fire TV has rounded out its UK broadcaster catch-up TV services offer by adding Channel 4’s on-demand platform, All 4. The Amazon service already offers BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and Demand 5, as well as Netflix, UKTV Play, YouTube and other on-demand apps. Adding All 4 means Amazon Fire TV owners can now access […]
Multiplatform studio Pulse Films has partnered with Sharon Horgan’s production company to form a branded content comedy joint venture. London-based Pulse and Merman, which has recently rebranded from Merman Films, have come together to create Merman X Pulse, which will be based in LA and London. Pulse’s Kira Cartensen and Merman’s Jeremy Rainbird will run […]
Amazon’s initial slate of originals was mostly well received, but failed to set the TV world alight. Then along came Jeffrey Tambur cross-dressing drama Transparent, which not only garnered masses of column inches, but also bagged awards and critical acclaim. Some commentators described as “Amazon’s House of Cards moment”. SVOD service Amazon Prime Instant Video […]
