OWN


Tom Forman – why you need me if you want to crack the US

The meeting always goes the same way. On one side, you’ve got me and my development exec. On the other, a smart producer from Spain. Or Israel. Or Timbuktu. We’re knee-to-knee in the Majestic lobby. Or camped at a table at the Carlton. If it’s after lunch, we’ve ordered wine. If it’s earlier, we’re pretending […]

Oprah net launches web series Who Am I

Oprah Winfrey and Discovery joint venture channel OWN has launched a new online series Who Am I. The shortform series has started rolling out on YouTube and the OWN website. It was developed in-house by the team behind OWN series Oprah’s Lifeclass after they spent over six months at YouTube Space LA community developing original […]

FremantleMedia bags Lindsay Lohan doc series

FremantleMedia International has acquired worldwide sales rights to an OWN doc series about troubled actress Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay is an eight-part series that comes from Pilgrim Studios and is set to launch on US cable channel OWN on March 9. It is billed as offering “unprecedented” access to Lohan, whose legal and personal issues have […]

Oprah Winfrey net licenses The Butler from Weinstein Company

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has netted rights to The Butler, the Hollywood movie that stars Forest Whitaker and Oprah. The film launched theatrically in August, scooping box office receipts of US$100 million. Oprah’s cable net, a joint venture with Discovery, will be able to show the film in 2017. OWN licensed the film from The […]

All3Media America launches German prodco in LA

The latest step in All3Media’s push into the US has seen it hire TwoFour America executive Danny Villa to launch an LA base for German formats prodco MME/Filmpool, TBI has learned. Villa has been named executive VP, MME/Filmpool USA, and will helm a new LA office, reporting into MME/Filmpool Germany CEO Christian Franckenstein. He will […]

Lohan gets OWN reality series

Discovery-backed Oprah Winfrey Network has given Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan her own eight-part reality series. The troubled former child star has made headlines over the past few years due to a string of legal problems and reports of drugs and alcohol abuse. OWN founder Oprah Winfrey will interview her about her attempts to rebuild her […]

Crime, seen investigation

As factual crime shows go from strength to strength, TBI takes witness statements from channel controllers, distributors and executives. Tim Adler uncovers why crime pays. Wives With Knives. Born to Kill. Surviving Evil. All true-crime shows whose titles could have been ripped from the headlines of this morning’s tabloids. From serial killers bip-bopping around the […]

Oprah’s Lance Armstrong interview to be streamed live globally

Oprah Winfrey’s interview with disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong will be streamed live around the world. The 90-minute interview, in which Armstrong will address the doping and cheating scandal that has enveloped him, will take place next Thursday. The interview will take place at Armstrong’s home in Austin, Texas and will be the first he has […]

US Cable Upfront Report

TBI has teamed with independent research specialist CableU to get under the skin of this year’s new cable shows. CableU’s analysts have run the rule over 30 key US ad-supported cable networks, based on their distribution levels, influence in the marketplace and their reliance on programming from independent television producers. Using data from the CableU […]