LONDON: FremantleMedia has purchased a majority stake in Fontaram, a French production company specialized in scripted programming. FremantleMedia will have a 51-percent holding, with the opportunity to buy the remaining shareholding in the future. Fontaram was recently formed by producer/writer partners François Aramburu and Pascal Fontanille, who are best known …
World Screen
Antenna Group Buys into Serbian Broadcaster B92
September 8, 2015
LONDON: Antenna Group has picked up a controlling stake in B92, a leading broadcaster in Serbia. B92 is a free-to-air, news-oriented TV station. It also has a web asset, B92.net, and a presence on radio. The acquisition strengthens Antenna Group's presence in Southeastern Europe, where it now has operations in …
FremantleMedia UK Names Non-Executive Chairman
September 8, 2015
LONDON: David Liddiment, a seasoned media executive, has been appointed as non-executive chairman at FremantleMedia UK (FMUK). Liddiment will sit on FremantleMedia's Operating Board, advising on a number of matters in the U.K. and around the globe. He will support and advise Richard Holloway, FMUK's interim CEO, as well as …
ITV Studios Finland Appoints Creative Director
September 8, 2015
HELSINKI: Yellow Film & TV producer Anna Hallenberg has been lined up to become the creative director of ITV Studios Finland, effective September 21. In her new role, Hallenberg will work under Aram Aflatuni, the CEO of ITV Studios Finland. She will be charged with developing new programming and working …
Sky Poised to Overtake Liberty Global as Largest Pay-TV Firm in W. Europe
September 9, 2015
LONDON: While Liberty Global has been the largest pay-TV operator in Europe for some time, Sky Europe is expected to overtake its subscriber count in Western Europe in 2017, according to Digital TV Research. Liberty Global’s subscriber count will dip, as the company has to try to convert 8 million …
BBC to Air NFL 2016 Super Bowl
September 9, 2015
LONDON: The BBC and NFL have inked a new two-year rights deal that includes live coverage of all three International Series games at Wembley, along with the Super Bowl. Additionally, the new agreement includes a weekly highlights show on BBC Two and online. Titled The Road to the Super Bowl, …
French TV Exports Hit All-Time High
September 9, 2015
BIARRITZ: International sales of French TV programs reached an all-time record of 153.8 million euros ($171 million) in 2014, up 12.1 percent on the previous year, driven by fiction programming in particular. Exports (sales and presales) increased by 17.1 percent to reach 210.3 million euros ($234.8 million), a historic record. …
HD Feed of Outdoor Channel Launching in Benelux & CEE
September 9, 2015
LONDON: AMC Networks International – Zone has teamed with European pay-TV provider M7 Group to launch a new HD feed of Outdoor Channel in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium and the Netherlands. The network will be available as a new second feed in those countries starting September 15. It will …
BBC Worldwide’s Tim Davie
September 10, 2015
CEO Tim Davie highlights BBC Worldwide’s key accomplishments in the last year and sees potential for growth in several areas. WS: What has been some of BBCWW’s best-selling content? DAVIE: Core brands like Dancing with the Stars and Doctor Who have continued to go from strength to strength. In the …
Sky Sports Renews Agreement with SPFL
September 10, 2015
LONDON: Sky Sports is continuing its partnership with the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) for three more seasons, guaranteeing subscribers up to 30 live matches per season. The deal runs through the end of the 2019-20 season. SPFL will be available to Sky Sports subscribers on mobile, laptop and certain …