Sky high happy hour

Sky Studios CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz has called the plethora of shows on the market “really confusing” for viewers. In a keynote interview at Series Mania today, Frot-Coutaz addressed said the biggest challenge for platforms such as Comcast-owned Sky as one of discoverability. “The challenges of the industry have always been partnering with the right creatives and executing things well,” she said. “What’s changed massively recently is there’s just too much product. For consumers it’s really confusing.” The challenge was ensuring programs could cut through and reach the right audiences. “There’s going to be a real demand for simplification,” she said. RELATED: Deadline’s Full Coverage Of Series Mania 2023 Elsewhere in her talk, Frot-Coutaz declined to comment on reports Sky is looking at selling Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland, and instead spoke about the Sky Studios departments in Italy and Germany work together and with Sky UK & Ireland. “We are pretty … [Read more...] about “There’s Too Much Product”: Sky Studios Boss Cecile Frot-Coutaz On Need For “Simplification” – Series Mania

EXCLUSIVE: Non-English language drama streamer Walter Presents has acquired a package of five drama titles from Beta for release on its services in Australia and New Zealand. The titles include Italian YA drama The Sea Beyond , Spanish investigative drama Rapa and German WWII miniseries The Turncoat . The Sea Beyond , revolving around young inmates in a Naples prison, has enjoyed strong ratings in Italy on Rai, RaiPlay and Netflix since its launch in late 2020. The third season is currently enjoying linear success on Rai2. Rapa , which was the most watched show on Spanish streamer Movistar Plus+ in 2022, follows a high school teacher and local police officer in the Spanish port city of Ferrol, who form an unlikely team in solving a murder case. Two-part, event mini-series The Turncoat is about a young German soldier in 1944, who is posted to a small unit in the Polish woods, where he connects with local partisans and becomes torn between a sense … [Read more...] about Walter Presents Seals Five-Title Drama Deal With Beta For Australia & New Zealand

EXCLUSIVE: Jenna Lamia ( Good Girls ) has been tapped to write and executive produce The Perfect Couple adaptation, based on Elin Hilderbrand ’s bestselling novel, which is in the works at Fox . The previously announced one-hour mystery drama hails from Fox Entertainment’s SideCar Content Accelerator. Based on Hilderbrand’s book, The Perfect Couple centers around wedding season on Nantucket. The beautiful island is overrun with summer people – an annual source of aggravation for year-round residents. When one lavish wedding ends in disaster before it can even begin – with a body discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony – everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect. As Chief of Police Ed Kapenash digs into the bride, the groom, the groom’s famous mystery novelist mother, and even a member of his own family, the chief discovers that every wedding is a minefield – and no couple is perfect. Lamia executive produces with Hilderbrand and … [Read more...] about Jenna Lamia To Pen ‘The Perfect Couple’ Adaptation Based On Elin Hilderbrand Book In The Works At Fox

Apple is said to be interested in bidding for the rights to broadcast English soccer games, according to a new report published this morning. The report, found in Bloomberg, states that the rights currently under consideration at Apple would allow the company to broadcast games from the Premier League , the highest level of English soccer, alongside games from the lower-ranked English Football League. Deadline has reached out to Apple for comment on the matter. The move would expand the company’s global soccer coverage following its $2.5B, 10-year deal with Major League Soccer to stream games from the US-based league. The MLS deal was one of the biggest sports streaming deals in history. Apple also recently inked a deal with Major League Baseball and broadcasts live Baseball games on AppleTV+ every Friday alongside pre and postgame shows available across the world without local broadcast restrictions. The English Football League is offering the rights to seasons … [Read more...] about Apple Considering Bid For English Soccer Streaming Rights — Report

EXCLUSIVE: Canadian comedy Son of a Critch is establishing itself as a mainstay of CBC ’s schedule as it is greenlit for a third season before the second has finished airing. CBC said Season 2, which finishes next week, is the pubcaster’s most-watched English Canadian comedy series and most-watched show with 18-49 year olds. The series is produced by Schitt’s Creek’ s Andrew Barnsley and created by Mark Critch, who plays a fictionalized version of himself based on his award-winning memoir, with The Office scribe Tim McAuliffe. The show tells the story of 11-year-old Mark coming of age in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the ’80s, a boy much older inside than his 11 years – using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world. Filming begins on Season 3 in Newfoundland this summer. “I’m honoured to have such talented people bringing my life story to the screen,” said Critch. “It’s a joy to start work … [Read more...] about ‘Son Of A Critch’ Renewed For Season 3 By CBC

EXCLUSIVE : Hot on the heels of their historic Oscars sweep with Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Whale , A24 has set the cast for Y2K , a dial-up disaster comedy to be directed for the studio by SNL alum Kyle Mooney . Jaeden Martell ( It ), West Side Story breakout Rachel Zegler and Julian Dennison ( Deadpool 2 ) lead a stacked ensemble that also includes Lachlan Watson ( Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ), Mason Gooding ( Scream VI ), 5x Billboard Music Award-winner The Kid Laroi, Tim Heidecker ( Us ), Eduardo Franco ( Stranger Things ), Miles Robbins ( Blockers ), Alicia Silverstone ( The Killing of a Sacred Deer ), Fred Hechinger ( Fear Street Trilogy ) and Daniel Zolghadri ( Funny Pages ). In the film penned by Evan Winter , which is set on New Year’s Eve 1999, two high school nobodies (Martell, Dennison) decide to crash the last big party before the new millennium. When the clock strikes midnight, the night … [Read more...] about A24 Sets Disaster Comedy ‘Y2K’, To Be Directed By ‘SNL’ Alum Kyle Mooney; Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison & More To Star

EXCLUSIVE: The John Wick franchise has flourished in its post theatrical market, and strong the Keanu Reeves action series will remain in that sector. Ahead of John Wick: Chapter 4 ‘s opening tomorrow, Lionsgate has unveiled its largest consumer products program to date for the film. Together with the studio’s global consumer products representative, licensing giant IMG, a diverse range of John Wick products have been curated including an apparel collection with American Classics (currently available at Box Lunch, Spencer’s and Hot Topic) as well as a collectible figures line with YouTooz launching later this year. In addition, other partners include Hot Toys for John Wick action figures, Prime 1 for statues, and Medicom for collectibles. There’s also a collection with Ripple Junction featuring apparel and accessories comprised of drinkware, bags, and fleece throws, as well as an in-theatre merchandise deal with Zinc. “We’ve created a world of John Wick … [Read more...] about ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Consumer Products Line Includes Action Figures, Apparel, Drinkware & Fleece Throws

EXCLUSIVE : Principal photography has begun on Take My Hand , a romantic drama feature starring Radha Mitchell ( Finding Neverland ), Adam Demos ( UnReal ), Bart Edwards ( The Witcher ), Meg Fraser ( Bloody Hell ) and former Big Brother contestant Xavier Molyneux making his film debut. Former Neighbours star and singer Natalie Bassingthwaite ( Elvis ) is also among cast. Director Raftopolous co-wrote the screenplay with Dave Paterson ( 2067 ) based on the true love story between himself and his current wife. Take My Hand follows vibrant young Australian woman Laura, who forges a successful banking career in London and seemingly has the perfect marriage. Her world is turned upside down when she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and her husband starts to show his true colors. When a tragic accident leaves her a widowed mother with three sons, she returns home to Australia, and is reunited with Michael, a high school friend and a divorcee with one … [Read more...] about Radha Mitchell, Adam Demos & Bart Edwards Lead Romance Drama ‘Take My Hand’; Filming Underway In Australia

Picturestart and Picture Perfect Federation have set JC Lee to direct the English-language remake of Thai hit Bad Genius and also announced key cast members as well as a raft of international presales. Lee also takes co-writing credits for the English-language screenplay with Julius Onah, who was previously announced as the director. The pair previously collaborated on the Sundance 2019 title Luce , adapted from Lee’s original play of the same name. Up-and-coming talents Callina Liang, star of ITVX teen drama Tell Me Everything , and Jabari Banks (Bel-Air) will star with veteran UK actor Benedict Wong ( Doctor Stranger In The Multiverse Of Madness ). The English remake is billed as a high-stakes, high-octane thriller about a diverse group of young people who team up to fight the system of injustice and inequity and take down the rigged academic institutions around them. It is produced by Erik Feig and Jessica Switch at Picturestart with Patrick … [Read more...] about Picturestart & Picture Perfect Federation Set JC Lee To Direct ‘Bad Genius’; Unveil Key Cast & Int’l Deals

Fox just announced Season 2 renewals for two freshman drama series, anthology Accused and missing person drama Alert: Missing Persons Unit , both from Sony Pictures TV and Fox Entertainment. They join previously renewed sophomore drama The Cleaning Lady as well as animated stalwarts The Simpsons, Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers . That leaves dramas 9-1-1 , 9-1-1: Lone Star , The Resident and Fantasy Island and comedies Animal Control , Call Me Kat and Welcome Flatch on the live-action side. Last year, the renewals for 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star and The Resident — all from Disney’s 20th Television — went down to the wire, only closing an hour or so before the network’s upfront presentation. I hear conversations have started on the 9-1-1 franchise. The flagship is Fox’s top-rated scripted series and most watched series overall. It is also the most expensive six seasons in, with a big-name stars, Oscar nominee Angela Bassett and Peter Krause, and … [Read more...] about Fox Renewal Status Report: ‘9-1-1’, ‘Lone Star’, ‘The Resident’, ‘Animal Control’, ‘Call Me Kat,’ ‘Flatch’ & More