Ziad Kebbi


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 […]

Ex-Sony exec Ziad Kebbi launches new prodco

Former Endemol and Sony executive Ziad Kebbi has launched his own Middle East-focused production company, Maximum Media, TBI has learned. Kebbi will be CEO of the new Dubai-based company, which will bring international formats to the Middle East as well as work up ideas originated in the region. “Non-scripted will be the focus at the […]

Sony hires ex-Disney exec as Russia chief

Sony Pictures Television has hired a former Disney Russia producer to run its production business in Russia following the exit of Maria Smirnova to CTC, TBI has learned. Vadim Sokolovsky will oversee SPT Productions Russia and Sony’s locally owned prodco Lean-M Productions as managing director, reporting to SPT’s senior VP, scripted programming and international production […]

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 […]

Sony scales back Middle East production, Kebbi exiting

Sony Pictures Television Arabia’s president Ziad Kebbi is exiting the business as part of a restructure that will scale back production operations in the Middle East, TBI can reveal. TBI understands SPT is scaling down its Dubai, UAE headquarters, closing down its production office in Beirut, Lebanon and reducing operations at its Cairo, Egypt base. […]

Middle East nets ready Millionaire spin off, new formats

Middle Eastern and North African broadcasters have partnered with Sony Pictures Television on the latest versions of a Who Wants to be a Millionaire? spin off, a singing-themed factual entertainment format and a remade CBS studio game show. In Dubai, national broadcaster Dubai Television has ordered Sony Pictures Television Arabia to produce a 26-episode season […]