Charlie Parsons


Banijay secures €365m as Survivor deal nears

Banijay Group has raised €365 million (US$416 million), which will be used in part to fund its takeover of Survivor owner Castaway Television. The cash injection will also be used to service debts accrued in its merger with Zodiak Media last year. Nataxis, Société Générale and Credit Suisse lead the bond issue transaction, which Banijay […]

Banijay buys Survivor prodco Castaway

Banijay has acquired Survivor prodco Castaway Television, TBI can reveal. Castaway owners Charlie Parsons, Lord Waheed Alli and Bob Geldof have sold the company and format to France-based Banijay, and Banijay Rights will be selling it internationally once the deal closes, TBI has learned. Contacted this morning, Castaway confirmed the news. “We have had an […]

Nerd production chief exiting

UK prodco Nerd TV has said goodbye to long-serving production chief Elaine Foster, TBI has learned. Foster (pictured) has been with Red Arrow Entertainment-owned Nerd since 2012, and until her departure was head of production. In the role, Foster oversaw production, office management, business affairs and company finance. She counts Tiger Aspect productions, Blink Films […]

UK factual prodco Nerd TV opens LA office, staffs up

UK independent producer Nerd TV is opening an LA production office having recently won several US series and pilot commissions. Nerd said it is developing three pilots for US channels. These come in addition to a commission earlier this year from OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network for Dogfellas (WT), a fact-ent series about a mobster […]

Nat Geo orders Okies vs. Aliens

National Geographic is teaming with Shark Teeth Films to make a pilot of a new reality series about pest exterminators in the US deep south. Okies vs. Aliens follows Bobby Sparks Jr. and Sr. and their crew of inventive outdoorsmen turned nuisance control experts as they travel across Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Production starts on […]

Discovery orders gangster show from British Nerd

Discovery has ordered a new show that delves into the world of gangs, from UK production house Nerd. Inside the Gangster’s Code will be a 5x60mins factual series presented by former Mafia street boss Lou Ferrante. He will use his connections and underworld knowledge to delve into gangster communities. Elizabeth McIntyre, VP production & development, […]