Channel 5


Passion cuts pre-NATPE Latin deals

Ahead of the upcoming NATPE programming market in Miami, Passion Distribution has closed a raft of deals with broadcasters in Latin America. Brazil’s leading broadcaster TV Globo has ordered more episodes of the local version of the Worst Driver format, meaning an extended run for the previously announced second season of the show. Globo makes […]

ITN Productions appoints international programming boss

UK-based ITN Productions has hired Ian Russell as head of international programmes. Russell has worked at various UK productions companies and broadcasters. At free-to-air commercial broadcaster Channel 5 he was commissioning editor and subsequently served stints as director, coproductions, at Cineflix. His recent credits as an exec producer include Discovery’s Car vs Wild and Barcroft […]

Channel 5 tracks Jacko’s Last Hours, feels the love

UK broadcaster Channel 5 has commissioned a series looking into the last hours of late stars such as Michael Jackson and ordered a season of programmes showcasing love in all its guises. Autopsy: The Last Hours of… will look into the final moments of three celebrities – singer Jackson, Whitney Houston and model Anna-Nicole Smith […]

Channel 5 buys another Aussie drama

UK broadcaster Channel 5 has acquired Australian drama Secrets & Lies from distributor Cineflix Rights. The network has already found success with the FremantleMedia-distributed, Foxtel produced scripted series Wentworth and will hope to recreate that with the 6x60mins Secrets & Lies. The show revolves around a family man whose life is thrown into turmoil when […]

Lady Gaga to duet with Kermit the Frog on ABC, Channel 5

A 90-minute Thanksgiving special for US broadcaster ABC feature singer Lady Gaga dueting with Kermit the Frog has been acquired by UK terrestrial Channel 5. The singer will sing holiday favourites with The Muppets in Lady Gaga & The Muppets Holiday Spectacular, which will also feature performances by Elton John, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and RuPaul’s Drag […]

Australia and NZ take a seat at the drama table

Producers in Australia and New Zealand are creating a new wave of international-friendly scripted series for their distribution partners to take to market, but the popularity and lower cost of formats and reality shows poses a threat to the sector, report Dan Barrett and Stewart Clarke. Expectation. Its shadow carries considerable weight across Australia and […]

News brief: LazyTown leaves CBeebies for Channel 5

UK broadcaster Channel 5 has snatched the rebooted version of LazyTown from its former home CBeebies. The show will broadcast on Channel 5’s Milkshake! preschool strand from next month following the deal with distributor and brand owner Turner Broadcasting EMEA. Turner acquired LazyTown producer Latibaer in 2011 and began prepping a new season.

Channel 5 uncovers Nazi death camp doc

The UK’s Channel 5 is working on a documentary about a Nazi death camp deniers claim never existed. Treblinka: Inside the Murder Factory (WT) will be one of four films that will launch on the net next month as part of a season of films on the Nazi regime. The Treblinka camp was bulldozed in […]

ITV Studios moves UK broadcaster into the international spotlight

ITV has been the most active TV company in the M&A space in recent times. The UK broadcaster’s content arm has been driving that, buying production companies in the US, UK and Scandinavia. Its boss, Kevin Lygo, tells Stewart Clarke about his goals for ITVS and that its buying spree will continue. Soon after joining […]

Nick buys Wanda and the Alien for intn’l channels

Nickelodeon has acquired Wanda and the Alien for its international channels. The deal, which does not cover the US, means the animated series will be seen on over 70 Nick channels around the world. The 52x10mins preschool series is produced by Random House Children’s Screen Entertainment and Komixx Entertaiment. It will debut on free-to-air net […]

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