A frenzied period of consolidation is beginning to leave an indelible mark on the distribution business as more projects and producers find themselves caught in the crosshairs of mergers. Mega-deals such as Comcast’s acquisition of Sky, the impending Banijay-Endemol merger and a Red Arrow sale on the horizon are changing the face of the distribution […]
Frankie Drake Mysteries producer Shaftesbury has appointed Lesley Grant as creative producer. She will be responsible for expanding the business’s creative slate, reporting into Julie Lacey, VP of creative development. Grant began her career as an editor at Random House Canada until 1999, when she joined CTV as a drama development exec. She has held similar […]
This week, damning numbers hinting US pay TV may face significant trouble in its near future emerged. There are some that believe that pay TV platforms may not have a future over the next few years and decades, as the industry continues to fragment and direct-to-consumer services reach astronomical figures in viewership and subscriptions. In […]
As Canada’s most well-known indie producer, Shaftesbury Films’ Christina Jennings knows how to put a production deal together. The winner of TBI’s inaugural Content Innovation Awards Lifetime Achievement gong tells TBI about her career and how funding is changing. When Christina Jennings founded Toronto-based indie Shaftesbury Films in 1987, she wouldn’t have known she’d become […]
Endemol Shine International chief Cathy Payne and Shaftesbury Films founder Christina Jennings were last night recognised for their achievements in television. More than 200 guests saw Payne named the first winner of the Content Innovation Awards’ International Content Leader Award and Jennings the inaugural recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Awards. The Endemol Shine sales chief […]
Jay Bennett has been handed a wider remit at Canadian producer-distributor Shaftesbury. Currently head of the company’s digital arm, Smokebomb Entertainment, he will move into a new post as senior VP, creative and innovation. The company-wide post, a new role, will see Bennett (pictured) oversee creative direction and innovation at Shaftesbury, including digital original projects, […]
Canada-based producer and distributor Shaftesbury has joined forces with millennial agency Youth Culture to launch a digital agency, shift2. The joint venture will create and distribute youth-skewed content for brands, on YouTube, across the reality, how-to and scripted programming genres. Shaftesbury’s content creation contribution will come through its existing digital arm Smokebomb Entertainment. Sahftesbury said […]
Canada’s Shaftesbury has promoted Ryan St. Peters to the role of VP, sales and business development. In his expanded role, he will continue to work on television and digital presales, sales and distribution strategies across the Shaftesbury and Smokebomb Entertainment imprints, but will now work with third parties to find new kids, factual and digital […]
Broadcast network The CW has launched an experimental digital-only studio with an initial four web series slate. Digital prodco CW Seed counts season three of comedy Husbands, and new series Backpackers, The P.E.T. Squad Files and Gallery Mallory as its first properties. The digital initiative was first announced earlier this summer at The CW’s Upfront […]
