This summer, Sky will launch a major initiative to bring the best of the arts to its 21 million customers across Italy, Germany, Austria, Ireland and the UK. The broad commitment by the company is one of the first major international content initiatives since the creation of the new Sky in November 2014. It signals […]
South Africa’s SABC public broadcaster says it will now only launch its digital transmissions with just five channels. In 2011 SABC told a parliamentary committee that digital TV would see it transmit 18 channels. Currently SABC transmits SABC-1 (Nguni languages, some English), SABC-2 (some English/Afrikaans), SABC-3 (English/Afrikaans) and SABC News (multi-lingual), and a ‘catch-up/best of’ […]
MTV has announced five new series commissions including three brand new additions to its UK and international schedules – Car Crash Couples, Judge Geordie and working title Hire Me – and two returning smash hits, Geordie Shore and Ex on the Beach. Dating format Car Crash Couples will be produced by 5Production for MTV […]
Woody Allen regrets at agreeing to create exclusive programming for Amazon Prime TV. Speaking at a Cannes Film Festival event for his new movie, Irrational Man, Allen shared his misgivings for the six episode deal. “It was a catastrophic mistake for me,” Allen said. “I’m struggling with it at home. I never should have gotten […]
Last week Abu Dhabi scrapped its support for the capital city’s Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Its Media Zone will continue and centre its work of the fast-growing facilities from TwoFour54 and giving tempting 30 per cent cash-rebates to film and programme-makers who create their content in the Emirate. But the Film Festival, which has been […]
Ofcom has approved a request from ESTV, the owner of London Live, to maintain the hours of first run, local programming it currently broadcasts for this year and subsequent years, rather than have to increase them as promised. ESTV is committed to broadcast eight hours of first run, local programming per day in its first […]
Despite shows such as House of Cards and Orange is The New Black being billed as ‘Netflix originals’, they are not technically Netflix’s content – which is why the content can often also be seen on TV or via rival services. The online streaming giant plans to change that shortly though, with Netflix CEO Reed […]
Hulu Japan, the localised version of the online streaming service, is to produce a Japanese version of German drama format The Last Cop. The production represents Hulu Japan’s first foray into original content production. Remake rights were acquired by Nippon TV, parent company of Hulu Japan, from Germany’s Red Arrow International. The new version will […]
Fortitude has been renewed for a second series on Sky Atlantic. Sky has ordered ten new episodes of the arctic drama following its international success. Sky Atlantic channel director Zai Bennett added: “[Writer] Simon Donald created a unique and unsettling story which, week after week, has captivated our customers. I am absolutely delighted that we […]
Sky has acquired a 60 per cent stake in US production company Jupiter Entertainment, known for shows like Welcome to Myrtle Manor, Wild West Alaska and Snapped. The parties didn’t reveal the price. Jupiter produces non-scripted programmes including documentaries, reality series, true crime and lifestyle series for a range of networks. It will continue to […]