Mad Men


The script for AMC International

With consumers and the TV industry fixated on high-end drama, TBI speaks to the people behind the new international AMC channel about bringing its brand of scripted cool to market. When US-listed channels group AMC Networks stumped up US$1 billion for Chellomedia’s channel portfolio last October, AMC was already part of the plan. In August, […]

AMC exits unscripted

US cable channel AMC is stopping production of its unscripted slate in order to focus efforts on premium drama, which have already yielded Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Mad Men. As part of the strategy, all development will end. Production of all unscripted shows, including the recently-recommissioned Game of Arms but excluding Walking Dead […]

AMC launching internationally after MGM rebrand

AMC Networks is launching its flagship AMC channel internationally. The US-listed channel operator is rebranding the MGM channel, which it took ownership of as part of its US$1 billion deal for Chellomedia, meaning AMC will roll out in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. The MGM channel is programmed with movies from the Hollywood studio […]

Lionsgate, e-commerce giant create China streaming service

US media group Lionsgate has linked with Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba Group to launch a subscription streaming service. Lionsgate Entertainment World (LGEW) will be an SVOD service for the lucrative mainland China market available through Alibaba’s latest generation set-top boxes. Lionsgate and Alibaba will jointly operate LGEW, which will offer Lionsgate shows such as upcoming […]

The Royals – Lionsgate’s regal ambition

E! is best-known for its glossy entertainment programming and awards show coverage, but like many US cable channels has now taken the leap into drama, ordering its first series, The Royals. Shot in London, the show stars Elizabeth Hurley as Queen Helena, the head of a fictional British Royal family. Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill) […]

BBC boss: UK drama matches US fare

The director of television at UK pubcaster the BBC has claimed the notion that US dramas like Breaking Bad and Mad Men are superior to British series is an argument “driven by box-set consumers”. In a blog post, Cohen said dramas originating at the BBC and the wider British television sector should be saluted by […]

Josh Sapan’s drama lessons

AMC has struck pay (TV) dirt three times with Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead among the most iconic series ever. AMC Networks boss Josh Sapan tells Stewart Clarke about the company’s new shows, how technology is boosting TV drama and how AMC will grow its international business following the US$1 billion acquisition […]

Amazon UK snags Mad Men and Lionsgate TV content

Amazon has struck a programming deal with Lionsgate UK for a range of content including Mad Men (left) and Charlie Sheen comedy Anger Management. The exclusive deal means Amazon’s Prime Instant Video customers in the UK can stream the Lionsgate fare, which also includes comedy drama Weeds and country music drama Nashville. The agreement is […]

TV gains hand Lionsgate $2.6bn revenues

Record results for Lionsgate Entertainment’s television production and international businesses helped the US studio to full-year revenues of US$2.63 billion. That figure is down on the US$2.71 billion posted the year before, but this primarily reflected a domestic theatrical slate of 13 releases, compared with 19 the prior year. The studio said those losses were […]

AMC chief: on-demand has changed shape of TV drama

Technology including video-on-demand and digital video recording has helped change the shape and improve the quality of scripted drama on TV and allowed TV to partly supplant cinema as the home of truly original content, according to AMC Networks boss Josh Sapan. Delivering the opening keynote at Cable Congress yesterday morning, Sapan (left), who is […]