The Story Lab


Opinion: How to engage with advertisers & why unbranded shows are about to boom

Former Story Lab exec & brand-funded programming expert Luci Sanan tells TBI why advertisers and producers (and even commissioners) should become better friends – and why unbranded content is the future ‘Branded entertainment’ encapsulates a myriad of different models and outcomes. For many, it is synonymous with being a right old pain in the ass: […]

Story Lab MD joins with Discovery & Nippon execs for new Asian prodco

Fotini Paraskakis has departed as MD of The Story Lab to launch her own outfit with Nippon TV alum Shigeko (Cindy) Chino and former Discovery APAC and EMEA president, Arthur Bastings. Empire of Arkadia (EOA) will look to exploit Asian creative and aims to bring Asian inspired stories, in both scripted and non-scripted, to the […]

Scripted round-up: ‘Moominvalley’ prodco Gutsy moves into drama; ITV orders ‘Without Sin’; Starzplay, Sony & ‘Homeland’ duo prep Spanish drama

Gutsy Animation moves into drama Moominvalley producer Gutsy Animations is developing its first adult-targeted drama series and has linked up with All3Media’s UK prodco Lime Pictures to co-produce. Beyond Nature will be a 6 x 50-minute English-language psychological drama that will blend live-action with VFX and CG animation. Gutsy has attached writers Jessica Ruston (Harlots), […]

Japan’s Fuji TV & Story Lab unveil first co-developed format

Japanese commercial broadcaster Fuji TV and producer-distributor group The Story Lab have revealed the first format to emerge from their recently struck co-development pact. The Spin will be launched internationally and is a studio-based physical gameshow that follows a team comprised of five players, who must step up to a huge spinning machine, competing individually […]

Japan’s Fuji TV enters format partnership with The Story Lab

Japanese comcaster Fuji Television Network and global production and distribution studio The Story Lab have forged a strategic alliance to jointly develop and produce original unscripted formats for the global market. Formats created by the two companies will debut on Fuji TV before being distributed internationally by The Story Lab, with development already underway on […]

SBS cooks up Story Lab’s socially-distanced format ‘All Together At The Table’

SBS in Belgium has ordered a local version of remotely filmed cooking class format All Together At The Table. The format was created in March by France’s Kitchen Factory Production, which has now been behind almost 100 episodes across two seasons for M6, with another run in the works. It was launched to international buyers […]

Future-proofing formats; securing sales in a pandemic

With the pandemic upending the TV industry across the world, Mark Layton finds out what the impact has been on the global format sales business and how it has adapted to the new normal. As the world continues to grapple with the impact of Covid-19, and broadcasters find their budgets stretched thin, the knock-on effect […]

Nippon and Story Lab open ‘9 Windows’ with first format co-development

Japanese multi-platform network Nippon TV and global production and distribution studio The Story Lab have unveiled 9 Windows, a new comedy gameshow/talent contest and the first format to result from their recent co-development partnership. Presented by a famous comedy host, the format celebrates “ordinary people with outlandish skills” with each episode featuring nine contestants beamed […]

Amazon, Record TV agree to share ‘Game Of Clones’ remake in Brazil

Amazon Prime Video is working with Brazil’s Record TV on a joint version of Youngest Media’s show Game Of Clones, which will be available concurrently on both services in Brazil. The format, sold by The Story Lab, is to be produced by Endemol Shine Brazil and is now in production in São Paulo, ahead of […]

1 2 3