Universal Television


Exclusive: How to rescue a scripted series from cancellation

Shows get cancelled all the time, but a fortunate few get a second chance when a new network or platform steps in to renew them. Mark Layton finds out what it takes to pull a series back from the brink It is never welcome news when a show gets cancelled, but it can feel particularly […]

Universal Studio Group hires Netflix & Lee Daniels alums for development

Universal Studio Group has made new senior appointments to the development teams at Universal Television and Universal Content Productions. Former Netflix exec Naketha Mattocks is joining Universal Television as SVP of drama development, reporting to Vivian Cannon, EVP of drama development. Mattocks launched Netflix’s family film division in 2018, with the team producing films such […]

News round-up: Keshet Int’l to sell ‘Cuba Libre’; Peacock enters adult animation; Espresso brews German deals; Lineup & Gil connect

Keshet Int’l takes ‘Cuba Libre’ sales rights Keshet International has acquired international distribution rights to Portuguese period drama Cuba Libre. Produced by Hop! Films for pubcaster RTP, the 6 x 45-minute series tells the true story of a young Portuguese woman who gave everything to the Cuban revolution and Che Guevara. Beatriz Godinho plays Ana […]

‘Vampire Diaries’ creator Julie Plec unveils Universal Television slate

Julie Plec, the US creator and producer behind The Vampire Diaries, has unveiled a large slate of projects in development under her overall deal with Universal Television, and made two new appointments at her label, My So-Called Company. Plec has been based at Universal Television since 2020 after moving over from Warner Bros. Television. She […]

Disney’s Freeform opens US ‘The Office’ in the New Year

Disney-owned network Freeform has acquired non-exclusive rights to all nine seasons of the US version of mockumentary series The Office from NBCUniversal Global Distribution. Freeform will begin airing the Steve Carell-fronted comedy on 1 January 2022. Comedy Central had the exclusive syndicated rights to the end of this year, while Viacom Media Networks will continue […]

IMDb TV orders original comedy from Shea Serrano & Michael Schur

Amazon-owned AVOD IMDb TV has ordered Primo (working title), a new original single-camera comedy from Shea Serrano and Michael Schur. Primo is a coming-of-age comedy about a teenager balancing college aspirations, societal expectations, and a hectic home life anchored by his single mom and five uncles. The half-hour series, which is being produced by Amazon […]

Peacock seeks ‘The Missing’ with David E Kelley

NBCUniversal-owned streamer Peacock has ordered The Missing, a new crime drama series based on the novel The Missing File, by Israeli writer Dror A Mishani. Big Little Lies creator David E Kelley will adapt the book for the screen as an eight-part series, co-produced by Keshet Studios and Universal Television. The Missing tells the story […]