Chris Hilton


The ascent of Aussie drama

Drama from down under is enjoying a watershed moment as productions attract the attention of global SVODs and travel seamlessly around the world – what’s behind Australian TV’s global walkabout? Manori Ravindran reports. Once on the periphery of the international drama market, global-facing offerings such as ABC’s The Letdown are drawing the interest of global […]

Kew-backed EMG launches Essential Scripted

Sydney and LA-based Essential Media Group (EMG) has launched Essential Scripted, a new international arm focused on producing premium international scripted content for the small and big screen. The move follows the recent acquisition of the EMG by Kew Media Group. It also signals a return to the scripted market for Essential Media, following the sale of its […]

Essential hires Network Ten exec for key post

Australia’s Essential Media and Entertainment has appointed Network Ten’s Kate Brady as commercial director. Brady joins from her former role as network business affairs manager at Network Ten to  focus on commercial interests and business affairs for Essential’s TV, theatrical and digital content. She will report to Essential’s CEO Chris Hilton. Brady has held senior […]

TCB secures Essential catalogue

London-based distribution company TCB Media Rights has closed a representation deal with Sydney’s Essential Media and Entertainment for 55 hours of factual-entertainment programming. The volume deal was brokered by Kate Llewellyn-Jones, managing director of TCB (pictured), and Chris Hilton, CEO and executive producer at Essential. Top Essential titles include Gourmet Farmer and #Shelfie with Dan […]

Essential, Quail create LA joint venture

Australian prodcos Quail Television and Essential Media and Entertainment has entered into a production joint venture, with a series of hires also revealed. Essential’s existing LA arm, Essential Media USA, and Quail have created Essential Quail Television (EQTV), which is already in production on DIY Network series Texas Flip N Move, spin-offs Louisiana Flip N […]

TV’s Big Questions: is linear TV dead or dying?

At the recent CES show in Las Vegas, YouTube’s chief business officer Robert Kyncl forecast online video will overtake linear TV by 2020. Netflix boss Reed Hastings has said that all viewing will be online within 20 years. The prognosis for linear TV is grim. Or is it? We asked the industry. For Peter Higgings […]

TV’s Big Questions: have direct-to-consumer services affected the market?

Many believe 2015 was the year traditional pay TV broadcasters finally accepted they would need to go over-the-top to gain the dollars of the binge-watching, ‘cord-nevers’ generation. Here senior executive offer analysis on how this new trend has changed the market. The announcement of the launch of HBO Now was hailed as a watershed moment […]

TV’s Big Questions: is the golden age of TV drama over?

We asked the industry whether the drama golden age had hit its peak and it’s safe to say, received varying opinions, from “no, it’s just getting started” from Amazon UK’s film and TV strategy director Chris Bird, to Barcroft Media founder Sam Barcroft’s unequivocal: “Yes, it is over.” For others, the golden age continues but […]

TV’s Big Questions: which digital platform made the most impact in 2015?

“I am in no doubt that Netflix in particular has completely changed the way we watch and think about television,” says S4C boss Ian Jones, summing up what most in the industry think. “A whole new generation is growing up in a world where an entire series can be watched in one sitting. People don’t […]

New-look Essential emerges after Canada MBO

Toronto-based 11 Television Canada has rebranded under a new CEO after a management buy-out. The firm will now be known as Essential Media Canada, with executive producer Jonathan Dueck (pictured, left) installed as CEO and Joey Case (right) named executive producer and creative director. This comes after Dueck and Case bought former CEO Michael McMahon […]