Sonar Entertainment


Deal Round-up: Taboo attracts global networks

A number of broadcasters have acquired rights to Tom Hardy drama Taboo from US-based independent prodco Sonar Entertainment. Viasat’s TV1000 from the Russian/CIS territory bought rights to the eight part historical drama. It was also picked up by HBO in Spain, the Nordics and eastern Europe, Fox Networks Group Latin America, AMC in Portugal, Digiturk in […]

Sonar pacts with Robert Downey Jr.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. will create scripted and unscripted programming for television and digital platforms through a pact with LA producer sonar Entertainment. His indie prodco, Team Downey, which he operates with wife Susan Downey, is already working on Singularity, a series starring Anthony Michael Hall (The Breakfast Club). Downey Jr. created the series and […]

Ex-Sonar exec Zuccarelli returns to GRB

Marielle Zuccarelli has left Sonar Entertainment and rejoined GRB Entertainment. She will be COO at GRB, the producer and distributor she was at between 2003-2012, running sales. In addition to overseeing development, distribution and acquisitions at GRB, Zuccarelli will also launch a new branded entertainment division at the company. Longtime GRB exec Michael Branton will […]

Ex-Viacom, Sonar exec takes on Big role

Former Viacom and Sonar distribution exec Debbie Back has joined New York’s Big Media to become head of sales and acquisition for a new movie unit. Back is known for a 16-year tenure at Viacom International Media Networks predecessor MTV Networks International, during which she rose to senior VP, international programme sales level. She was […]

Das Boot fits as Sonar joins Sky drama

LA-based Sonar Entertainment will coproduce Sky’s German television remake of the anti-war film Das Boot. Sonar will coproduce the eight-part drama with Bavaria Fernsehproduktion and Sky Deutschland, the German arm of European paycaster Sky. Sonar also takes worldwide sales rights, excluding the Sky pay TV territories: Germany, Austria, UK, Ireland and Italy. In June, Sky […]

Sonar makes raft of distribution hires

Sonar Entertainment has expanded its distribution team, adding new execs from Sky Vision, Televisa and Lionsgate. Carol Eymery and Roberta Ibba-Hartog have joined the US producer and distributor from Lionsgate UK; Kylie Munnich has come over from Sky Vision; and Andres Santos from Televisa. Sonar said it is making an aggressive push in content sales, […]

The TBI Scripted Survey 2016 – part III

The TBI Scripted Survey 2016 reveals why, where and how the genre is evolving, tackling the big issues with anecdotal evidence and data gathered from the world’s top scripted executives. Lights… camera… action!   In a fragmented market, what is the most fruitful way to source IP?   Have you got a idea burning away, […]

The TBI Scripted Survey 2016 – part II

The TBI Scripted Survey 2016 reveals why, where and how the genre is evolving, tackling the big issues with anecdotal evidence and data gathered from the world’s top scripted executives. Lights… camera… action!   The Netflix question: what is the single most important way in which Netflix has changed the TV drama market?   It […]

Sonar developing The Birth of the Pill

US prodco Sonar Entertainment has optioned rights to non-fiction title The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution. Sonar is planning The Birth of the Pill as a multi-part event series. Direct R.J Cutler is attached to direct and executive-produce, alongside Denise DiNovo from DiNovo Productions (Batman Returns), Alison […]

David Ellender joins Sonar

David Ellender has joined Sonar Entertainment and will be president, global distribution at the LA-based producer and distributor. Ellender, the former boss of FremantleMedia’s commercial division, earlier this month exited Slingshot Global Media, the LA-based prodco he created in 2014. He will work across distribution in key territories as well as expanding coproduction initiatives at […]