Advanced Television

Production

Bahrain pulls plug on Alwaleed channel

Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s hopes of launching a news channel have been wiped out by Bahrain’s government. The channel was initially suspended within an hour or so of going on air earlier this month, but now the ‘ban’ is said to be permanent. Bahrain’s Ministry of Information says all contracts between the […]

February 23, 2015By Chris Forrester

Amazon greenlights further original series

An intriguing tale about alternative history, a twisted story of friendship put to the ultimate test, a docu-series based on America’s most award-winning magazine, a kids series based on magic and another about being stinky and dirty—all coming exclusively to online video streaming service Amazon Prime Instant Video. Amazon has greenlit five new Amazon Original […]

February 18, 2015By Colin Mann

Netflix orders Dornan movie

Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan is set to star in a new movie made exclusively for Netflix. War thriller Jadotville will see Dornan portray real-life UN Commander Patrick Quinlan, who in 1961 led an Irish battalion of 150 besieged by thousands of Congolese troops. The film is the latest of Netflix’s exclusive movie […]

February 17, 2015By Nik Roseveare

BitTorrent, Rapid Eye original content

Following Netflix’s lead, BitTorrent has entered into an exclusive partnership with Rapid Eye Studios to identify, produce, and distribute original video content for the BitTorrent Bundle platform, to be known as BitTorrent Originals. BitTorrent Originals represent first-run video content debuting exclusively across the global Bundle platform for 30 to 60 days. After the BitTorrent exclusive […]

February 12, 2015

Baz Luhrman, Nintendo content for Netflix

Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, famed for movie adaptations such as The Great Gatsby and Romeo + Juliet, is heading to Netflix with a new musical drama. The show, entitled The Get Down, is set in New York City in the 1970s and centres on a group of teenagers from the South Bronx. Luhrmann will direct […]

February 9, 2015By Nik Roseveare

Netflix to raise $1.5bn in debt for content acquisitions

Netflix has unveiled plans to offer $1.5 billion in senior notes and plans to use the proceeds for “general corporate purposes, which may include content acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, working capital and potential acquisitions and strategic transactions.” The company originally said it would raise $1 billion but then later increased the offering to $1.5 billion, […]

February 3, 2015

beIN SPORTS secures major tennis rights deal

The International Tennis Federation and global sports channels network beIN SPORTS have announced a strategic media rights partnership for Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas. The seven-year agreement, signed this week by ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and the CEO of beIN MEDIA GROUP Nasser Al-Khelaifi, commences in 2015 and […]

February 3, 2015

NBCU: ‘Maintain investment-friendly regulatory framework’

Kevin MacLellan, Chairman of NBCUniversal International, has warned UK and European regulators against making widespread changes to copyright legislation, suggesting that innovation has flourished in the current regulatory framework. He nevertheless stressed the need for regulators and policy-makers to focus on the importance of Intellectual Property for the media industry. Delivering a keynote address at […]

January 27, 2015By Colin Mann

Exclusive programming for BBC iPlayer

Following on from the success of BBC iPlayer exclusive content in 2014, Victoria Jaye, Head of TV Content for BBC iPlayer, has announced 16 titles to kick off 2015. On Friday 13 February, nine original comedy shorts will go live on BBC iPlayer to mark Valentine’s Day. Nine comedians have created a short Funny Valentine […]

January 26, 2015

BBC serves up BBC Taster

The BBC has revealed BBC Taster, an initiative to develop its latest ideas for digital content and emerging technology. Taster will feature early and experimental concepts from across TV, Radio and Online, enabling the BBC to explore the future of content with audiences and offer them something completely new to try, rate and share. Taster […]

January 26, 2015