The Voice


Mick Desmond exits IPCN as CMC buys in

China-focused rights business IPCN has secured an injection of capital from Chinese state-backed private equity fund CMC, while former ITV executive Mick Desmond has sold his share in the company and exited the business. The undisclosed investment from CMC, executed through its investment vehicle Gravity, gives it 48.1% of a new holding company, Pegasus. IPCN […]

ITV confirms Talpa takeover talks

UK broadcaster ITV has confirmed a British report that it is advanced stage talks to acquire John de Mol’s production group, Talpa Media. Talpa has entertaining bids for some time, with various sources linking Chinese companies with a deal as recently as last week. However, stock market-listed ITV confirmed on Friday a report in UK […]

Mongolia takes The Voice

Mongolia has become the latest territory to order a local version of Singing competition series The Voice. National Times News Media’s NTN channel, which has a reach of abut three million homes, has commissioned the format, the first time it has greenlit a local version of an international show. “It was high time we brought […]

Boomerang restructures entertainment team

Spain’s Boomerang TV Group has hired a pair of executives, one a MasterChef producer, as its restructures its entertainment division. Encarna Pardo’s entertainment unit has promoted Susana Pérez (pictured left) to deputy general director, while Eva Sanz has rejoined the firm to become coordinator of content, taking executive responsibility for production and direction. Former Antena 3 […]

Walking Dead feasts on social media

The Walking Dead generated more Tweets and had a larger audience on Twitter than any other show in the US in 2014, according to Nielsen. The research firm said that an average of 4.9 million people saw at least one Tweet about each new episode of the programme, and that people sent an average of […]

TV Formats: Made in China

A decade ago China was considered the enemy of the international formats business, but today it is a key international buyer. Now, its producers and broadcasters are looking to export their own wares. “I’ve been doing business in China for the last decade. I was there trying to sell my formats when they were all […]

Talpa recruits Kebbi for Middle East launch

John de Mol’s Talpa has launched a Middle East production unit, which will be run by former Sony Pictures Television exec Ziad Kebbi. He will run Talpa Middle East alongside Maximum Media, the regional prodco he formed after leaving SPT. Sources first linked Kebbi with Talpa as TBI revealed news of Zebbi’s departure from SPT in […]

MGM buys Mark Burnett prodco

US studio MGM has taken a 55% stake in Lightworkers Media, the production company run by Mark Burnett, his partner Roma Downey, and Hearst Entertainment. The deal, which also includes Burnett’s One Three Media, includes all of the prodcos’ key intellectual property, giving MGM control of series including Survivor, The Voice, Shark Tank, The Bible […]

News brief: Blacklist, Voice go day-and-date on AXN

Asian general entertainment channel AXN is launching the latest seasons of US hits The Blacklist and The Voice day-and-date. Season two of NBC drama Blackist and season seven reality singing series The Voice will join The Amazing Race as part of Sony Pictures Television-owned AXN’s day-and-date offer. Blacklist and The Voice debut on September 23, […]

Ziad Kebbi on SPT Arabia departure

Ziad Kebbi says it was his departure from Sony Pictures Television Arabia, which both sides describe as “amicable”, that triggered the US studio’s decision to pull back from production in the Middle East. Yesterday, TBI broke the news Kebbi was leaving his role as president of SPT Arabia after four years. Sources close to Sony […]