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NBCUniversal ’s advertising and partnerships group has formalized a new executive structure reflecting its recent moves to streamline efforts in broadcast, cable, sports and streaming. In a blog post, Linda Yaccarino , chairman of global advertising and partnerships, said the new setup aims to “continue mirroring how our customers use One Platform,” the company’s system for advertisers. The changes come as the company is looking to fortify its resources in data, distribution, ad tech, commercial innovation and measurement. NBCU is getting set to host its annual developer conference, One23, next month ahead of NewFronts and upfront presentations in May. While the blog post does not cite any departures from the ranks, some contraction has rippled through the total NBCU workforce in recent months, including in sales, amid an overall downturn in ad spending. Yaccarino’s longtime deputy, Laura Molen, recently announced plans to exit by the end of March. At the same … [Read more...] about NBCUniversal Ad Group Formalizes New Exec Structure, Streamlining Efforts Across Broadcast, Sports, Cable & Streaming

Warner Bros. Discovery’s plan to distribute Westworld and other key shows via FAST channels has materialized. Deals have been struck with Roku and Tubi to launch branded channels this year, bringing more than 2,000 hours of programs in total to each service. Deadline had reported WBD was likely to sell Westworld and other key titles to FAST channel providers in December, when it was pulled from HBO Max. That came amid a financial review of the HBO portfolio. Other shows, including The Nevers , Raised By Wolves and F-Boy Island were pulled at the same time, as WBD CEO David Zaslav eyed new ways to monetize his catalog. Tubi noted The Nevers is included in its agreement. Following the deals, Westworld , The Bachelor , Cake Boss , Say Yes to the Dress and F-Boy Island will all join The Roku Channel in the spring through Warner Bros-branded channels, while Fox Corp-owned Tubi will launch 14 WB-branded channels and 225 titles on its … [Read more...] about ‘Westworld’ Gets New Home As Warner Bros. Discovery Strikes Roku & Tubi FAST Channel Deals

EXCLUSIVE: The Russo Brothers ’ AGBO has named Ian Unterreiner president and partner of virtual production studio VisualCreatures , which the company recently acquired. A specialist in real-time applications in visual effects and animation , the outfit has opened a studio equipped with a motion-capture-enabled sound stage at AGBO’s downtown LA campus. The appointment of Unterreiner, who spent 13 years at Zoic Studios, will advance the virtual production efforts at AGBO, whose recent projects include 2022 Netflix feature The Gray Man . Unterreiner will report to AGBO and team with VisualCreatures co-founders Ryan McNeely and John Cranston on a range of initiatives. “Ian joins our team with an abundance of thoughtful leadership and vision. His passion for forward thinking perfectly aligns with VC & AGBO’s common goal of making the very best work with the very best people. He will be an incredible partner on our continued path towards creating innovating … [Read more...] about AGBO’s VisualCreatures Names Ian Unterreiner President And Partner Of Russo Bros’ Effects And Animation Operation

Apple TV+ has renewed the bilingual comedy series Acapulco for a 10-episode third season. Production is set to begin this spring. In Season 3 of the series inspired by the 3Pas Studios and Pantelion Films’ feature How to Be A Latin Lover , it’s a time of reconciling past mistakes and exciting new beginnings. In the present story, older Maximo ( Eugenio Derbez ) finds himself returning to a Las Colinas he no longer recognizes. While in 1985, younger Maximo continues his climb up the ladder of success while potentially jeopardizing all the relationships he’s worked so hard to build… “We at 3Pas Studios are thankful to Apple TV+, the perfect home for Acapulco , along with our production partner Lionsgate, filmmakers, and cast and crew,” said star and executive producer Eugenio Derbez . “We have always believed that the stories we tell about our communities and cultures can resonate with global audiences, so crank up the AC, it’s about to get a lot hotter at Las … [Read more...] about ‘Acapulco’ Renewed For Season 3 At Apple

EXCLUSIVE: The truth is out there – and it’s headed to History in the UK and AMC Network’s European channels. The pair are among buyers of Alien Files: Reopened , an eight-part doc series from Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified maker Big Media about extra-terrestrial encounters and UFO sightings. AMC Networks International’s deal covers Spain, Portugal, Poland and Romania. Also on board are NTV in Germany, Slovakia TV and Czech TV. With the pre-buyers in place, production set to begin to Slovakia. The series will take viewers inside the process of how UFO sightings and reported encounters are analyzed by scientists, government intelligence and military experts, and then investigated to answer if any real threats are posed to national security. “ For Alien Files: Reopened we are using the same investigative techniques developed and utilized by top experts in science and military intelligence,” said Danny Wilk, President of New York-based Big Media … [Read more...] about ‘Alien Files: Reopened’: Next Series From ‘Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified’ Producer Set For History And AMC In Europe

I May Destroy You and Chewing Gum creator Michaela Coel has partnered with the BFI and German carmaker BMW to launch a new filmmaking challenge. The BMW Filmmaking Challenge will provide five shortlisted filmmakers with access to a $12,000 (£10,000) production fund alongside a series of mentoring sessions with Coel and an executive producer from the BFI to create a 90-second short film. From the five shorts, a winning film will be selected to premiere as part of the closing night gala of the BFI London Film Festival in October 2023. All five films will be available on BFI Player. The BFI will open applications in March 2023. The chosen filmmakers will be given the budget to produce their films over the summer months. The BFI said “high-profile talent” will be drafted in to judge the challenge. The challenge has been launched to celebrate BMW’s new flagship vehicle, the BMW i7, which features a 31.3-inch widescreen rear-passenger screen. To promote the challenge, … [Read more...] about Michaela Coel & BFI Launch $12,000 Filmmaking Challenge With BMW

EXCLUSIVE: Video Solutions, the European media house behind the WeDoTV brand, has entered into a joint venture with international non-scripted studio Big Media to launch FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channels globally. The JV launches through Wedo Big Docs , a channel that will launch this Fall on Zattoo in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Waipu TV in Germany, and on Netgem TV in the UK. It will feature Big Media doc series such as Wild Ones , Fight to Survive and Desperate Hours , with new series added monthly. The launch comes as ever more companies push into the FAST channels space to squeeze out revenue from their library content. Video Solutions and Big Media will look to develop more channels based on Big Media’s catalogue of non-fiction programs in coming months, and will create exclusive content as the business expands globally. “This joint venture combines the years of experience Big Media has in documentary and factual entertainment content … [Read more...] about WeDoTV Parent Video Solutions And Big Media Form FAST Channels Joint Venture

Pierce Brosnan , Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne are set to co-star in Polly Steele’s upcoming drama Four Letters Of Love as the parents of fated lovers played by up-and-coming actors Fionn O’Shea and Ann Skelly. Cornerstone, which is handling worldwide sales and distribution, will launch the film at the Berlinale’s European Film Market next month. The Reset Collective will handle the release in Australia and New Zealand. The film based on Niall Williams’s international bestselling novel is described as a lyrical and deeply romantic Irish story. The feature is a Genesius Pictures, AX1 Films and Port Pictures production. It is produced by BAFTA Award nominee and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande producer Debbie Gray and Douglas Cummins ( Let Me go, The Girl ) in co-production with Martina Niland ( Once, Sing Street ). With funding from Northern Ireland Screen, the film will start shooting in February in Northern Ireland before moving to the Republic of … [Read more...] about Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter & Gabriel Byrne Join Polly Steele’s ‘Four Letters Of Love’; Cornerstone To Launch Film At EFM

After bursting out of the gate in India and 100 other markets last Wednesday, Shah Rukh Khan -starrer Pathaan finished its five-day opening weekend with an astonishing $66.24M worldwide (including $25.5M from outside India). Along the way, it broke several records including setting the biggest opening weekend of all time for a Bollywood film in India, North America and the UAE, as well as the top start for any Indian title in the UK, Australia, Germany and more. (See a full rundown below). The action-packed espionage pic, directed by Siddharth Anand and also starring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham , marked a huge comeback for SRK who had been absent from the big screen in a lead role for four years. It also gave a needed shot in the arm to Bollywood, whose industry has had a rough run of late. When adding in Monday’s figures, Pathaan is at $72.1M global including 367 crore ($45M) gross from India. Overseas, it’s logged $27.6M through Monday. The … [Read more...] about Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Pathaan’ Makes Box Office History For Bollywood & India Around The Globe – Opening Weekend Records List

Instagram / @obj Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't look like he's lost a single step after 2 ACL tears ... the star NFL free agent released a new workout video on Monday, and it makes you think -- OBJ won't be team-less for long! The 30-year-old 3x Pro Bowler shared the workout sesh on social media, showing the wide receiver running a dig route and catching a pass from the quarterback. And, he was GONE ... in fact, the camera guy tried to run with Odell, but he couldn't keep up. Beckham Jr. was out! "I swear I’m loadin," OBJ said on Tuesday via Twitter, "No where near I wanna be but exactly where I need to be." Getty The former L.A. Rams star has been documenting his progress since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI last February ... which was less than a year and a half after his first ACL tear with Cleveland in 2020. Odell's been hitting the gym consistently and even balled out in a pickup hoops game earlier this month. … [Read more...] about Odell Beckham Shows Off Insane Speed In Workout Sesh, ‘I Swear I’m Loadin”