Netflix and Amazon may grab all the headlines, but when it comes to original content in Europe, the U.S. cable giant has been quietly carving out its own niche for years — and now it’s looking to expand. Netflix, as usual, gets all the press. The new season of Narcos, the streamer's blood-soaked Columbia-set drug epic, is regularly praised as a game changer in international television. And other, lesser, international Netflix shows —French political drama Marseilles with Gerard Depardieu, say, or Spanish period drama Cable Girls — regularly attract critical attention and column inches. But before Narcos, before The Crown, before Netflix CEO Reed Hastings ever thought of making series outside the U.S., there was another big American broadcaster already out there, digging deep in high-end TV. For the past seven years, quietly and almost unnoticed outside the industry, HBO Europe has been turning out ambitious, award-winning and, yes, game-changing drama in … [Read more...] about HBO Europe: The Best TV You’ve Never Seen
MIPCOM
Howard Stringer Calls Harvey Weinstein Scandal “A Watershed Moment” for Film Industry
“Now women are organized and united and together will beat the system, whether the men want it or not,” said the former Sony CEO. "It's hard to believe this isn't a sea change. The scandal surrounding disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein will prove to be “a watershed moment” for the film industry, says Howard Stringer, the former head of Sony Corp., and will bring about much-needed change and equality for women in show business. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the international TV market MIPCOM in Cannes on Monday, Stringer addressed the ever-growing Weinstein scandal, which includes dozens of allegations against the Oscar-winning producer, including sexual harassment, assault and even rape. Weinstein has since been fired from his own company, expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is under investigation by U.S. and British police over some of the allegations. Since the allegations surfaced many prominent actresses have … [Read more...] about Howard Stringer Calls Harvey Weinstein Scandal “A Watershed Moment” for Film Industry
MIPCOM: Kew Media Buys Stake in U.K.-Based Awesome Media & Entertainment
The plan is to turn TV and novel writer Jeff Norton's character franchises into original primetime series. Canadian indie studio Kew Media Group has bought a stake in Jeff Norton's U.K.-based Awesome Media & Entertainment, creator of Metawars and other IP set to be adapted into primetime TV series, it was announced Monday at MIPCOM. Terms of the deal, such as the price tag or size of the stake, weren't disclosed. But Toronto-based Kew Media and Norton will bring his novels and other character franchises to life as TV series, with WME on board with packaging. "This partnership with Kew gives Awesome the resources to scale up into a world-class, creatively-driven IP and production company," Norton said in a statement. Awesome Media original projects in the works include Woodland, about the search for the missing grandson of a Tolkien-like literary icon; Cortex, a high-tech police procedural about human memory hacking; and Expat, a contemporary drama in development with … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Kew Media Buys Stake in U.K.-Based Awesome Media & Entertainment
MIPCOM: Gordon Ramsay Says Cocaine Ruining Restaurant Business
"It's everywhere. It bugs the hell out of me when chefs have this rock and roll image. It's all bullshit," the Fox TV chef told the Cannes TV market. TV chef Gordon Ramsay says he's tired of promising chefs doing lines on his restaurant worktops, so he went to Colombia to shoot Gordon Ramsay on Cocaine for Britain's ITV. "It's everywhere. It bugs the hell out of me when chefs have this rock and roll image. It's all bullshit," Ramsay told the MIPCOM market in Cannes during a keynote address on Monday. "I personally lost a promising chef. I had dinner with him the night before he died. And I have a brother who is an addict. So it's close, on a daily business," he added. The two-part documentary from Studio Ramsay had the TV chef traveling with his production team to Colombia, ground zero for the global cocaine trade, to look at the trail of criminality and addiction. Ramsay recalled being told they could film the jungle homes of drug smugglers and their illegal cooking kitchens from on … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Gordon Ramsay Says Cocaine Ruining Restaurant Business
MIPCOM: Discovery, ProSieben Unveil German Streaming Service
The online aggregator will bring together content from ProSiebenSat.1's family of German networks and Discovery's free-to-air channels DMAX and TLC. Discovery Communications and German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 have joined forces to launch a premium streaming service for the German market. The service, unveiled at MIPCOM on Monday, will aggregate content from ProSieben's bouquet of German networks —including Pro7, Sat.1, Kabel Eins, Sixx, Maxx, Sat.1 Gold and Kabel Eins Doku with Discovery’s free to air channels DMAX and TLC in Germany. The free, ad-supported service, which will be available on ProSiebenSat.1's digital platform and app 7TV, is set up to allow other partners to join and to carry third-party content. 7TV said it is also planning to launch a Eurosport Zone on its app, where viewers can watch selected sports highlights and clips from Discovery's pan-European sports network. … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Discovery, ProSieben Unveil German Streaming Service
MIPCOM: On the Set of ‘Deep State’ with Mark Strong
The ambitious eight-part thriller, which launched in Cannes Monday, is the first regional scripted show from Fox Networks Group Europe & Africa. In a dusty room on the outskirts of Casablanca in Morocco, one of the film industry’s most experienced gun handlers is carefully adding a scope to a sniper rifle he's just pulled out of a large sports bag. The man in question is Mark Strong, star of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Zero Dark Thirty, Kingsman and numerous other spy-tinged titles in which he’s been required to know his way around a firearm. This time, he’s playing Max Easton, a former agent brought out of retirement in the Pyrenees to track down and eliminate a treacherous MI6/CIA cell only to find himself caught up in a covert intelligence war and a major conspiracy to profit from chaos in the Middle East. But before Easton can line up his shot out of the window that looks out on a square below, his phone rings. It’s his wife, and an awkward conversation … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: On the Set of ‘Deep State’ with Mark Strong
MIPCOM: Peter Dinklage, Charles Dance to Executive Produce ‘Quasimodo’
The 'Game of Thrones' stars board the series, which is based on Victor Hugo's classic novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and is one of the drama pitches unveiled by new platform association Atrium TV. Game of Thrones stars Peter Dinklage and Charles Dance have joined epic series Quasimodo, a new adaptation of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as executive producers. The series, which Game of Thrones executive producer Frank Doelger is attached to produce, alongside The Frankenstein Chronicles' Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner, is being written by Ashley Pharoah (The Living and the Dead). It's one of the first drama pitches to come out of Atrium TV, a new association of international streaming and telecommunication platforms that was launched earlier this year and is run by former Sony boss Howard Stringer and Jeremy Fox, chairman of British distributor DRG. Atrium's members include European telecommunication giants such as France's Orange, Deutsche Telekom in Germany and … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Peter Dinklage, Charles Dance to Executive Produce ‘Quasimodo’
MIPCOM: ‘Borgen’ Star Signs on for CanneSeries Role
'Westworld' and 'Electric Dreams' star Sidse Babett Knudsen has signed on as patron of the festival. More pieces of the CanneSeries puzzle are being put in place as plans come together for the new television festival, scheduled to run alongside international market MIPTV next April. Westworld and Electric Dreams actress Sidse Babett Knudsen has signed on to be the first patron of the festival, bringing a bit of international star power to a role that will see the BAFTA- and Cesar-winning star promoting the festival internationally as it leads up to its first edition. Knudsen embodies the festival’s global ambition, said artistic director Albin Lewi. “Sidse embodies what series are today,” he said of the actress who became a worldwide name after her turn on Danish drama Borgen. “Any show from anywhere can be a massive global success and bring talent to the spotlight.” Managing director Benoit Louvet made clear that the focus will be international – … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: ‘Borgen’ Star Signs on for CanneSeries Role
MIPCOM: Vice, Econet to Launch African Network Kwese Vice
The joint venture will produce and distribute lifestyle and culture content across multiple platforms for viewers in sub-Saharan Africa. Vice Media has signed a joint venture deal with Econet Media to launch Kwese Vice, a multi-platform network to produce and distribute programming for sub-Saharan Africa. Econet Media owns Pan-African broadcast network Kwese, which targets millennials, the same audience demographic for Vice's factual and lifestyle programming. Kwese TV already carries Viceland, Vice Media's flagship cable channel. Vice and Econet will set up offices in South Africa to develop and produce content specifically for the new platform and for third party platforms. Kwese Vice will also house Vice's ad agency Virture Worldwide, which will focus on developing branded content for ad clients in the African market. The new venture is set to launch in 2018. The African deal is the latest in Vice's continued global expansion, which has seen the youth-focused media group launch … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Vice, Econet to Launch African Network Kwese Vice
MIPJr: Kids Networks Face Pipeline Pressure As They Compete for Viewers
“We need more, more, more,” said Disney vp worldwide programming strategy Karen Miller of the insatiable appetite for shows. As kids' appetites for content grows, pipeline pressure is the biggest challenge facing programmers as platforms fight for viewers said executives from Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network across the board at this year's MIPJunior. "Supply and demand is getting tricky,” said Cartoon Network vp acquisitions and co-productions Adina Pitt. “There is not enough out there or we can’t make it as fast as we need it. The economics are tricky." The “new normal” is all rights with a minimum of 20 episodes to prevent brand dilution, she said, which makes the financing deals more difficult. “It means more money we have to pony up,” she said, prolonging both negotiation and development times. As the 6 – 11 year old demographic is on all screens, shows are being launched in apps before premieres, and games are … [Read more...] about MIPJr: Kids Networks Face Pipeline Pressure As They Compete for Viewers
MIPCOM: European Networks Jump on Adaptations of Scandi Sensation ‘Shame’
Broadcasters in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have ordered local versions of the Norwegian teen hit that has generated global buzz on social media. Broadcasters across Europe have signed on to do local adaptations of Shame (Skam) Norwegian teen drama series that has become a social media sensation at home and around the world. The hit series, produced by public broadcaster NRK, follows the day-to-day lives of a group of teenage boys and girls hanging out in a suburb of the Norwegian capital Oslo. The stories, which have been praised for their realistic portrayal of modern teen life, play out in real time, with the show's characters also regularly publishing photos, updates and key plot events on their Instagram accounts. When something occurs in the story, the clip goes live at the same time as it happens for the characters – even in the middle of the night. The different story lines are wrapped in a weekly webcast and on TV. This innovative social media … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: European Networks Jump on Adaptations of Scandi Sensation ‘Shame’
Telecom Companies Get In on the Peak TV Boom
Deep-pocketed telcos — from France's SFR to Spain's Telefonica — are backing new series in an effort to drive subs to their streaming services. <!--[CDATA[ The single biggest new trend in international television is the move by telecommunications companies into original content. To compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime, telco giants — France's SFR, Spain's Telefonica, the U.K.'s BT, Germany's Deutsche Telekom and Australia's Foxtel, among others — are investing in original series to drive subscriptions for their homegrown pay TV and streaming services. Given the companies' size, reach and deep pockets — Deutsche Telekom had 2016 revenues of $73 billion, Telefonica of $52 billion — their shift to original content could be an industry game-changer. At MIPCOM this year, buyers will get a look at Telefonica's first original productions for its premium pay channel Movistar+. This will include the Oct. 16 premiere of thriller La Zona, which is set in … [Read more...] about Telecom Companies Get In on the Peak TV Boom
MIPCOM: Hulu Nabs Dominic Monaghan, NASCAR Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt Series for VR App
The 'Lost' and 'Lord of the Rings' star takes viewers on an immersive 3D dive into pop science with 'A Curious Mind.' Hulu has bolstered its move into virtual worlds by acquiring A Curious Mind, hosted by Lost alum Dominic Monaghan, and The Driver, featuring NASCAR rising star Jeffrey Earnhardt in a high-speed race car ride. The popular streamer, fresh off its Emmy win for best drama for The Handmaid's Tale, also acquired from Toronto-based CreamVR a third project, the horror film Happy Campers. Hulu first launched its VR app in June 2016. Monaghan, who also starred in Lord of the Rings and The X-Men Origins: Wolverine, hosts the pop-science VR series A Curious Mind. The 360-degree video experience explores the science that created our universe. Canadian indie Cream Productions also produces the reality TV show Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan, which takes viewers on a global hunt for unusual animals and insects. Hulu, which sponsors Earnhardt's 33 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup series, … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Hulu Nabs Dominic Monaghan, NASCAR Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt Series for VR App
MIPCOM: Entertainment One Sells ‘Ransom’ Worldwide
Season 2 of the hostage negotiator drama, starring Luke Roberts, has been licenced by the likes of NBCUniversal, Sony and AMC Networks globally. Entertainment One (eOne) has closed multiple sales for the second season of action procedural Ransom, inking deals for more than 100 territories worldwide. The show, which airs on CBS in the U.S. and Global in Canada, follows Luke Roberts as expert hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont as he leads a team around the world helping multinational corporations and government agencies with crisis situations and conflict resolution. Among the networks picking up the series' second season are NBCUniversal for its channels in the U.K. and Ireland, Foxtel for Australia, Sony for Central and Eastern Europe, AMC Networks for Spain and Portugal and Turner for its Nordic channels. Asian-based streamer Iflix grabbed Ransom rights for its services in Africa and the Middle East. Ransom was created by David Vainola (Combat Hospital) and Frank Spotnitz (The Man in … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Entertainment One Sells ‘Ransom’ Worldwide
MIPCOM: Lionsgate Sells ‘Ten Days in the Valley’ to France, Italy
The drama series, starring Kyra Sedgwick, airs on ABC in the U.S. Lionsgate has closed multiple territory deals for Ten Days in the Valley, the new drama starring Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) that airs on ABC in the U.S.. French pay-TV group Canal+, Telecom in Italy, MNET in South Africa and Greece's OTE have all nabbed rights to the drama, in which Sedgwick plays an overworked TV producer and single mother whose young daughter goes missing in the middle of the night. Erika Christensen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Emily Kinney co-star in the series, which was created and written by Tassie Cameron (Rookie Blue) and executive produced by Cameron, Sedgwick, Jill Littman, Sherry White, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross. Ten Days in the Valley was produced by Skydance Television’s Uncharted label for ABC. Lionsgate's president of international television and digital distribution, Peter Iacono, announced the deals just ahead of TV trade fare Mipcom, … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Lionsgate Sells ‘Ten Days in the Valley’ to France, Italy
MIPCOM: BBC, Germany’s RTL Take French Sci-Fi Series ‘Missions’
The award-winning drama follows an expedition to Mars, which becomes a rescue mission to save a competitor's ship and crew. BBC Four, German network RTL Passion and Danish public broadcaster DR have boarded French sci-fi series Missions. The space series, about an expedition to Mars that turns into a rescue mission, has been snatched up by multiple European networks after its critical acclaim at television festivals this year. The BBC, RTL and DR have acquired rights for both season one and the upcoming second season of Missions. France's Empreinte Digitale produces the series and AMC Networks has come on as a co-producer for season two, with shooting set to kick off next year. The series, created by Henri Debeurme, Julien Lacombe and Ami Cohen, and directed by Lacombe, won the Discovery Prize at French festival Series Mania and took the TV Critics' best series awards at the MIP Drama Screenings in Cannes in April VP Groupe, which is handling international sales for the show, said … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: BBC, Germany’s RTL Take French Sci-Fi Series ‘Missions’
MIPCOM: MGM, RedSeven Sign TV Joint Venture for Formats
The U.S. studio and the German company will co-produce and distribute local versions of such non-scripted fare as 'American Gladiators' and Steve Harvey's 'Funderdome' for Germany. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Worldwide Television Distribution and German production company RedSeven Entertainment have singed a multi-year joint venture to co-produce and distribute non-scripted TV formats for the German market. The deal, announced Wednesday, will include such U.S. formats as American Gladiators and Steve Harvey’s seed-funding competition series Funderdome. Other shows MGM and RedSeven plan to adapt and pitch to local German networks include house makeover format Minor Renovations and Signed, music reality competition in which aspiring musicians compete for a chance to sign to a major record label. “With MGM’s proven track record of inventive formats and RedSeven’s versatile production expertise, this venture gives MGM the ability to offer German broadcasters a … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: MGM, RedSeven Sign TV Joint Venture for Formats
MIPCOM: Billy Crystal, Banijay Take Kids Prank Show ‘Gotcha’ Global
Crystal's Jennilind Productions, 'The Real World' shingle Bunim/Murray and Israel's Nutz Productions are producing the show, about teens who prank celebrities, each other and innocent bystanders. Billy Crystal is bringing kids prank show Gotcha to the global market, courtesy of sales group Banijay International. The teen format follows a gang of teens who carry out pranks against celebrities, innocent bystanders and each other. The show is a co-production between Crystal's Jennilind Productions, Bunim/Murray Productions, creators of The Real World and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and Israel's Nutz Productions, producers of Netflix teen drama Greenhouse Academy. “Comedy has been in my blood throughout my life and career,” said Crystal in a statement. “I started performing when I was a kid, and I loved playing funny practical jokes on my friends and family. Developing and producing Gotcha and helping youngsters share the gift of comedy with their peers was really … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: Billy Crystal, Banijay Take Kids Prank Show ‘Gotcha’ Global
‘Little Women’ First Look: Meet the New March Sisters
BBC One and PBS' Masterpiece collaborated on the new adaptation of the Louisa May Alcott classic, from the creator of 'Call the Midwife.' PBS' Masterpiece, Britain's BBC and Wolf Hall producer Playground have released the first image from their hotly anticipated new TV adaptation of Little Women. Heidi Thomas, creator of BBC hit Call the Midwife, and director Vanessa Caswill (the BBC's Thirteen) have teamed up on this new version of Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of the March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy — as they pass from childhood to womanhood. Originally published in 1868, Little Women is set against the backdrop of the Civil War. With their father at war, the four girls learn to navigate love and loss with help from their mother, Marmee (Emily Watson). The first image from the three-hour series shows the four siblings: Amy, played by Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies); Meg, played by Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series); Jo, played by newcomer Maya … [Read more...] about ‘Little Women’ First Look: Meet the New March Sisters
MIPCOM: ITV Studios Buys ‘Gomorrah’ Producer Cattleya
The Italian production company has made its name with high-end mafia dramas, including 'Suburra,' Netflix's first Italian-language series. Brit production giant ITV Studios is continuing its global buying spree, acquiring a majority stake in Cattleya, one of Italy's leading television production companies and the creative force behind mafia dramas including Gomorrah, Romanzo Criminale and Netflix's Suburra. Cattleya was launched in 1997 by founder Riccardo Tozzi. who was joined by president and co-CEO Giovanni Stabilini and co-CEO Marco Chimenz. Producers and partners Francesca Longardi and Gina Gardini joined in 1999 and 2005, respectively. In 2010, the group created a commercials subsidiary, think|cattleya, with partner Monica Riccioni, a division that is now one of Italy's top producers. Cattleya has successfully made the shift from film (the company's feature lineup includes such highlights as Cristina Comencini's 2005 Oscar nominee Don't Tell and Gabriele Salvatores' I'm Not … [Read more...] about MIPCOM: ITV Studios Buys ‘Gomorrah’ Producer Cattleya
