The BBC has suggested the radical idea of opening up its iPlayer platform to rival public broadcasters, as the corporation seeks to find new ways of compelling millions more people to pay the license fee. Firing the starting gun on a negotiation with the government that will set the BBC up for the next decade, … Read more
Fremantle has hired NBCUniversal‘s Ben Crompton as the replacement for the outgoing Andrew Llinares. Crompton has been named Global Head of Entertainment, reporting to Fremantle CEO Jennifer Mullin, who described him as a “business-minded leader.” Fremantle recently announced Llinares would step down as Director of Global Entertainment after three years. Mullin had been overseeing the … Read more
ITV top brass said that Paramount and WBD are back in business as commissioners after agreeing their merger deal. Paramount-Skydance has been busy battling Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery and having beaten Netflix to the punch is back in buying mode. “WB, and interestingly for us, Paramount, now that they have stability in terms of … Read more
EXCLUSIVE: Brady & The Blues producer Whisper has exited its Sony Pictures Television (SPT) stake after five years and returned to private ownership. The sports and entertainment producer, which was founded 15 years ago by Sunil Patel, broadcaster Jake Humphrey and Formula 1 champion David Coulthard, has spent the past year seeking new ownership or minority investment. In … Read more
Canal+ has made a big early decision as the new owner of MultiChoice by axing loss-making streamer Showmax. The decision follows a “comprehensive” review into Showmax, which has carved out a reputation for high-end original series such as Spinners, Catch Me a Killer and Khaki Fever, which found “substantial annual losses at the subscription streamer. … Read more
As ITV prepares to sell its networks biz to Sky, the 70-year-old broadcaster’s studios arm has hit a milestone. With the publication of its annual results this morning, CEO Carolyn McCall said ITV has hit a “key strategic goal” with ITV Studios, plus its digital Media & Entertainment biz, now accounting for two thirds of … Read more
Netflix CFO Spencer Neumann said the company has plenty of room for growth despite its decision not to stay in the running to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. “Even though we’re pretty big, we’re pretty small,” the exec said at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. Elaborating, he continued, “Every way we look at … Read more
Lou Holtz, the coach who took the undefeated Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to an NCAA football national championship in 1988, died Wednesday in Orlando. He was 89. His family confirmed the news in a statement shared on social media by Notre Dame but did not provide a cause of death. Holtz was known for … Read more
Better Call Saul co-creator Peter Gould has joined the FX and Hulu family. The Gould and T-Street project Disinherited has been ordered to series for the network and the streamer. Deadliner revealed in June that the pilot was in the works with Victoria Pedretti and Kiera Allen set to star. Additional cast included Karl Glusman, Alan Ruck, … Read more
SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the One Chicago 3-episode crossover event airing March 3. Tonight’s Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. epic crossover on NBC has exceeded the expectations set by prior events, going well beyond anything they’ve ever done. Hello, this team had a plane land in freezing temperatures, … Read more