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
Television
Liv Tyler Joins the Cast of Hulu’s ‘Harlots’
Liv Tyler is returning to the small screen. The Leftovers grad has joined Hulu's Harlots as a series regular for its upcoming second season. Set against the backdrop of 18th century Georgian London, Harlots follows the Wells family, led by matriarch Margaret (Samantha Morton). Tyler will play Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam, the aristocratic social butterfly whose long-held secrets keep her in the thrall of Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville). She is an increasingly desperate victim of Lydia’s blackmail. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Lady Fitz will find an unexpected friend and ally in courtesan Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown Findlay). The role marks the latest TV part for Tyler following her three-season turn in HBO's The Leftovers. Tyler, the daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and model Bebe Buell, counts features Empire Records, That Thing You Do, Armageddon and The Lord of the Rings among her credits. She's repped by UTA, Tavistock Wood Management … [Read more...] about Liv Tyler Joins the Cast of Hulu’s ‘Harlots’
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
John Oliver Slams Trump Over Iran Nuclear Deal: He’s A “Scared Monkey On A Submarine Randomly Pushing Buttons”
The 'Last Week Tonight' said the decision to de-certify the agreement is “equal parts dangerous and bizarre.” John Oliver had choice words for Donald Trump, describing the president as a "scared monkey on a submarine randomly pushing buttons" after the White House's decision to question the validity of the Iran nuclear deal. Trump announced that he would no longer certify the Iran nuclear deal, which was signed by the Obama administration, despite the advice of his national security team and U.S.'s allies. The decision has been met with widespread bewilderment and worries that it could lead to the entire deal falling apart. "Congress passed a law whereby the president has to re-certify the deal every 90 days. No other nation has a requirement like this because it is a stupid idea," Oliver said as he launched into a tirade of why jeopardizing the deal was detrimental to global safety but also future U.S. diplomacy. The Last Week Tonight host noted … [Read more...] about John Oliver Slams Trump Over Iran Nuclear Deal: He’s A “Scared Monkey On A Submarine Randomly Pushing Buttons”
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
John Oliver Criticizes Academy for Keeping Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski After Expelling Harvey Weinstein
"Yes, finally, the group that counts among its current members Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby and Mel Gibson has found the one guy who treated women badly and kicked him out." John Oliver says it's not enough for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to expel Harvey Weinstein from its ranks. The Academy's 54-member board of governors — which includes such Hollywood luminaries as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Kathleen Kennedy — held an emergency meeting Saturday at the organization's Beverly Hills headquarters and voted to strip away Weinstein’s lifetime membership. Following the meeting, the Academy issued a statement saying the board had voted "to immediately expel him from the Academy. We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our … [Read more...] about John Oliver Criticizes Academy for Keeping Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski After Expelling Harvey Weinstein
Al Michaels Apologizes for Making Harvey Weinstein Joke During ‘Sunday Night Football’
"The Giants are coming off a worse week than Harvey Weinstein," he said during the live broadcast. Al Michaels has apologized for a joke he made during NBC's Sunday Night Football that referenced Harvey Weinstein. During the third quarter of the game between the New York Giants and the Denver Broncos, Michaels compared the Giants to the disgraced movie mogul. "I mean, let's face it. The Giants are coming off a worse week than Harvey Weinstein and they're up 14 points," he said, referencing recent season-ending injuries to three players along with another player's suspension. Many Twitter users — including fellow sports broadcasters, reporters and viewers — were quick to criticize the veteran broadcaster. "Al Michaels is probably the best play-by-play guy in history. But boy... that was a big, big lapse in judgment," wrote The Bleacher Report's Doug Farrar. Added the Tucson Star's Zack Rosenblatt: "Al Michaels just tried making a Harvey Weinstein joke. It didn't … [Read more...] about Al Michaels Apologizes for Making Harvey Weinstein Joke During ‘Sunday Night Football’
‘Fear the Walking Dead’: Outgoing Showrunner Discusses Season 3 Finale, Season 4 Ideas
[Warning: This story contains spoilers from Sunday's season three finale of Fear the Walking Dead.] Sunday marked the end of an era on Fear the Walking Dead, as co-creator Dave Erickson's run on the show wrapped with the conclusion of the two-part season three finale. Erickson, who announced many months ago his decision to step away from the AMC zombie drama at the end of the season, is only now getting a chance to catch his breath after finishing his work on the AMC drama. "We finished VFX on the finale last week," says the outgoing showrunner, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter during what's supposed to be a long-in-the-making vacation. "It's been dragged out a bit." Also dragged out: Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and the others in her world, swept away in copious amounts of water, as her occasionally drug-addled son Nick (Frank Dillane) detonated a bomb that destroyed the Gonzalez Dam at the heart of the third season. The explosive act occured after Madison already … [Read more...] about ‘Fear the Walking Dead’: Outgoing Showrunner Discusses Season 3 Finale, Season 4 Ideas
‘Games of Thrones’ Star Sophie Turner Engaged to Joe Jonas
The couple shared the news on their Instagram accounts. Joe Jonas and Game of Thrones Sophie Turner are engaged. The duo shared the news of their engagement on social media Sunday. "She said yes," the DNCE frontman captioned an Instagram photo of Turner's hand with her new engagement ring. The British actress posted the same photo with the caption, "I said yes." Jonas, 28, and Turner, 21, began dating last year and have since traveled to London together to meet her parents and spent Thanksgiving with the Jonas clan at the California skiing destination Mammoth Mountain. "You do feel like you're living in a fishbowl," Turner recently told Marie Claire of her public relationship with Jonas. "It's frustrating [that] it's the most mundane things that make the news -- how boring! There are really no other headlines?" She said yes. A post shared by J O E J O N A S (@joejonas) on Oct 15, 2017 at 10:39am PDT I said yes. A post shared by Sophie Turner (@sophiet) on … [Read more...] about ‘Games of Thrones’ Star Sophie Turner Engaged to Joe Jonas
James Corden Apologizes for Harvey Weinstein amfAR Jokes
The 'Late Late Show' host was criticized by Rose McGowan and Asia Argento for his quips, which received a mixed response at the L.A. gala on Friday night. James Corden has apologized for his jokes about Harvey Weinstein at Friday night's amfAR gala in Los Angeles. The Late Late Show host, who emceed the event, made light of the sexual harassment and assault allegations against Weinstein. The quips received a mixed response in the room and later actresses Rose McGowan and Asia Argento, who have accused Weinstein of rape, slammed Corden for his comments. Corden himself took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon to apologize for what he said. More to come... … [Read more...] about James Corden Apologizes for Harvey Weinstein amfAR Jokes
Amazon Exec Roy Price’s Fiancée Calls Off Wedding After Harassment Claim
Amazon Studios programming chief Roy Price was set to marry playwright and TV writer Lila Feinberg on Nov. 12 in New York but The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Feinberg has called off the wedding. The move comes just days after Isa Hackett, an executive producer on Amazon's The Man in the High Castle and Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams, came forward in an interview with THR accusing Price of propositioning her during San Diego's Comic-Con in 2015. Price was accused of lewdly propositioning Hackett who claims that he told her, “You will love my dick.” (Hackett is the daughter of the late Philip K. Dick.) The wedding news was first reported by Page Six's Emily Smith and confirmed by THR through a rep for Feinberg. The couple, who had made many red carpet appearances in 2017 including events such as the Golden Globes and the streaming service's post-Oscar party, were due to wed in New York at the Carlyle. Also confirmed is that Feinberg had … [Read more...] about Amazon Exec Roy Price’s Fiancée Calls Off Wedding After Harassment Claim
MIPJr: Netflix Launching First Indian, Korean Kids’ Originals
Netflix children's programming has more viewers outside the U.S. says division head as they push into international development. Netflix is adding India and Korea to its original kids slate, with the first local kids originals produced in each territory. “This is the marker of our expansion to do more international originals,” Andy Yeatman, head of global kids' content, told The Hollywood Reporter. In India, Netflix is launching Mighty Little Bheem, a non-dialogue, pre-school version of the country’s most popular kids’ character. It will focus on the pre-school audience, which Yeatman said is “very underserved” in the territory. In Korea, the streamer will launch Yoohoo & Friends, another pre-school aged show developed from a plush toy IP into a cartoon which sees Yoohoo and his pals travel around the world to help animals. It’s also picked up a second season of its Mexican original Las Leyendas, which was its first international … [Read more...] about MIPJr: Netflix Launching First Indian, Korean Kids’ Originals
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
‘SNL’ Turns Kellyanne Conway Into ‘It’ Clown During Kumail Nanjiani-Hosted Episode
In typical fashion, Saturday Night Live poked fun at a little bit of everything. In one of the night's biggest highlights, demonic Pennywise the Clown from the horror hit It took the form of Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and made an appearance to terrorize faux Anderson Cooper (Alex Moffat), who goes outside after taping a segment. After Cooper follows a piece of paper to a gutter, Conway (played once again by Kate McKinnon) appears. "You can call me Kellywise, Kellywise the Dancing Clown," she tells him. When he says he must go, Kellyanne stops him. "Don't go! I'll give you a quote, a crazy quote," she taunts. "How about this? Ok so Puerto Rico was actually worse before Hurricane Maria and the hurricane actually did blow some things back together," she tells him. (President Donald Trump had lashed out at hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico on Thursday, insisting in tweets that the federal government can't keep sending help "forever" and suggesting the U.S. territory was to … [Read more...] about ‘SNL’ Turns Kellyanne Conway Into ‘It’ Clown During Kumail Nanjiani-Hosted Episode
