Crackle

Sony looks to sell stake in Crackle

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is looking to sell a piece of its streaming service, Crackle, as it looks to grow revenue for the platform and compete with tech rivals. The move was announced by Mike Hopkins (pictured), the former Hulu CEO who joined SPT as chairman last autumn, in a company memo. He said the […]

Crackle chief upped to Sony networks digital boss

Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPTN) has promoted the boss of its on-demand service, Crackle, to executive VP and chief digital officer. Eric Berger will remain general manager of OTT service Crackle, but also now oversees worldwide digital strategy across all Sony channels. The long-serving exec has been with Sony since 2006 and Crackle since 2008, […]

BT/AMC snatch Rupert Grint crime caper for UK

The Rupert Grint television remake of crime caper Snatch is headed exclusively for BT-distributed network AMC in the UK. The ten-episode original drama debuted recently on Sony Pictures Television (SPT)’s VOD service, Crackle, and is now headed for the UK. It will launch there on October 31 in a 10pm slot on the BT pay […]

Jerry Seinfeld leaves Crackle for Netflix

US streamer Netflix has pulled off a big-money coup by signing comedian and writer Jerry Seinfeld to an exclusive multi-faceted production deal. Seinfeld was previously with Sony’s on-demand platform Crackle, with various commentators immediately noting this is among the first cases of a major VOD platform poaching talent from another. The pact will see 24 […]

Sony’s Crackle preps Charlie Sheen original

Sony’s OTT service Crackle has greenlit Mad Families, a comedy film featuring troubled star Charlie Sheen as a loveable man child. The film will follow three families from different ethnic backgrounds who find themselves sharing the same space on a bank holiday camping trip and end up competing against each other in a series of […]

Comcast on-demand platform adds Sony’s Crackle

Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand is adding Sony Pictures Television’s streaming platform Crackle to its cable and TV Everywhere services. The deal means Comcast subscribers with access to catch-up platform Xfinity will be able to watch Crackle as of tomorrow (April 20). This marks the first time Crackle has been made available via a cable subscription, […]

Tech crime drama for on-demand net Crackle

An original drama from the newly-established Critical Content is headed to Sony-owned on-demand platform Crackle. Martin Freeman (Fargo, Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Adam Brody (The O.C.) will star in Star Up, which will run to ten episodes and comes from Ben Ketai. The show, which begins filming this week in Puerto Rico, follows […]

News brief: Shomi takes Sony’s Art of More

Canadian streaming service Shomi has acquired Dennis Quaid and Kate Bosworth drama series The Art of More. The show, which is set in the world of high-end auction houses, was made for Sony’s digital Crackle service in the US and is distributed by Sony Pictures Television, which struck the Shomi deal. Sony launched The Art […]

Dead Rising sequel piped through Legendary

The sequel to Crackle’s online film Dead Rising: Watchtower will go out through producer Legendary. Watchtower was Legendary Entertainment’s first digital television show, and launched before the Hollywood studio had hired Michael Grindon to run distribution. Therefore, digital sales specialist Content Television snapped up the rights. However, Legendary’s international TV boss Michael Grindon told TBI […]

Legendary status

Former Sony TV sales boss Michael Grindon tells Jesse Whittock how Legendary Television’s emerging international sales division can offer an alternative to the Hollywood studios. Despite being the LA production studio behind The Hangover movie franchise, Legendary Entertainment’s push into television has been anything but lethargic. Less than a year since former Sony Pictures Television […]