Richard Desmond’s Channel 5 is to launch its own in-house production division. The new department, called Channel 5 Productions, will be the first time in the broadcaster’s 15 year history that it has made its own programmes. A new cookery format presented by Pierre White, who previously fronted ITV1’s Hell’s Kitchen, is one of a […]
Endemol has reached an agreement with a “significant majority” of its lenders, bringing to an end more than a year of talks to restructure its €2.8 billion debt. The TV production company said that it had reached an agreement in principle with more than two-thirds of its lenders to push through a restructuring of its […]
FremantleMedia has created a new digital division, FremantleMedia UK Interactive, combining the expertise and knowledge of the former talkbackTHAMES digital team and Screenpop, the group’s innovation and mass participation unit. The division will be headed up by Peter Cassidy, formerly Managing Director of Screenpop. Cassidy will report into Christian Grobel, FremantleMedia UK’s new Director of […]
Hulu has announced its original programming slate for the first half of 2012. The line-up kicks off on February 14th with the launch of Hulu’s first original scripted series, “Battleground”. On the heels of a successful season as Hulu’s first original series, Morgan Spurlock’s “A Day in the Life” will premiere its second season in […]
A government report into the future of the UK film industry has called on ITV and Sky to invest more money in British films. The Film Policy Review Panel, led by Lord Chris Smith, the former Culture Secretary, also recommended a new programme to bring film education to every school and a renewed commitment to […]
MPAA Chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd has reaffirmed the entertainment community’s commitment to both free speech and the fight against criminals who steal online content. In remarks to Washington, DC think-tank the Center for American Progress, Senator Dodd said that creative technology and creative content were “absolutely essential to each other” and that those […]
Mediaset has put in a joint bid for Endemol, the indebted Dutch TV producer behind Big Brother, together with Clessidra, the Italian private equity group. Mediaset already owns approximately one-third of Endemol. A deal could still be months away as Endemol is going through a large restructuring of its €2.8 billion net debt following a […]
One of British TV production’s most famous brand names, Talkback Thames, is to be scrapped. RTL’s UK production subsidiary, which makes shows including The Apprentice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Channel 4’s Grand Designs is going back to its roots, with the names Thames and Talkback being separated out. The two brand names came together […]
An anticipated surge in the household penetration of next-generation Internet-connected devices indicates solid consumer interest in new content to experience on these devices, according to a new study – Connected Devices and Services: Reinventing Content – presented by global consulting firm Bain & Company at the Forum d’Avignon event, which brought together players from the […]
Discovery Communications has made its first acquisition of an independent production company by snapping up Betty – the UK firm behind shows such as Dirty Sexy Things, The Joy of Teen Sex and Freaky Eaters. The US factual broadcaster is reported to have paid about £10 million (€11.7m) for Betty as it looks to expand […]