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Apple TV+ orders World Surf League docu-series

Apple TV+ has ordered a new six-part documentary series from Box to Box Films and the World Surf League (WSL) that will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the aspirations, failures and accomplishments of the world’s best surfers as they battle for the WSL Title and struggle to remain on the elite WSL Championship Tour (CT). […]

December 7, 2020

Switzerland: TDC launches with SALT

SPI/FilmBox and Swiss telecommunications provider SALT have partnered to bring SPI’s global Turkish drama channel Timeless Dizi Channel (TDC) to Switzerland. The channel is available now in the primary basic package. Viewers can watch the channel in the original Turkish version with English subtitles, or with Arabic dubbing. “Turkish series or Dizi has quickly become […]

December 7, 2020

Warner Bros: All 2021 movies on HBO Max same day as cinema

Warner Bros Pictures Group has announced that it is “committed to releasing its 2021 film slate via a unique, consumer-focused distribution model” in which the studio will continue to exhibit its movies theatrically worldwide, while adding an exclusive one month access period on the HBO Max streaming platform in the US concurrent with the film’s […]

December 4, 2020By Nik Roseveare

Mediaset wins La Liga highlights lawsuit

The Spanish Court Audiencia Nacional has sided with Mediaset in its four-year legal conflict with La Liga and ruled that the TV group has the right to air TV highlights and summaries of La Liga football matches. Following the ruling, Mediaset’s Tele 5 will be able to enter stadiums with its TV crew and equipment […]

December 4, 2020From David Del Valle in Madrid

Report: Record investment in UK drama

Increases in both co-commissions between traditional broadcasters and SVoDs, and in sole commissions, drove investment in British TV drama to a record £2.6 billion (€2.88bn) in 2019, according to a new report commissioned by COBA, the industry association for commercial broadcasters and on-demand services. Fuelling the growth, co-commissions surged by 17 per cent, from 30 […]

December 4, 2020By Colin Mann

Universal Music Group launches Mercury Studios

Universal Music Group (UMG), has announced the formation of Mercury Studios – a new multi-faceted content studio established to develop, produce, and invest in innovative, music-based storytelling. In addition to content development and production, Mercury Studios will include global film and television producer, Eagle Rock Entertainment (ERE) and build upon ERE’s award winning library that […]

December 4, 2020

ITV Studios sells content to India  

ITV Studios has announced a raft of new sales in India totalling over 300 hours, from across its enviable scripted and non-scripted slates. A deal has been concluded with Lionsgate Play for World Productions’ forthcoming thriller Vigil, as well as Romulus, Cattleya, Groenlandia and Sky’s ambitious drama that reconstructs the epic tale of the founding of Rome. […]

December 4, 2020

Katherine Jenkins: Christmas Spectacular on BritBox

BritBox UK has announced that Katherine Jenkins: Christmas Spectacular from the Royal Albert Hall will be streaming on the service from December 7th. This festive celebration sees classical music superstar Jenkins present a unique Christmas musical from the iconic Royal Albert Hall. With exclusive access to the historic venue, the Welsh singing sensation performs seasonal […]

December 4, 2020

discovery+ launching in Jan

Multichannel programmer Discovery has revealed details of its SVoD service, discovery+. Declaring the day to be “very special and historic” for the company, President and CEO David Zaslav confirmed the global launch of what it calls a “definitive” non-fiction, real-life subscription streaming service, debuting in the US on January 4th, 2021. The new service will […]

December 3, 2020By Colin Mann

Analysis: Sports rights-holders value D2C services

Media technology and services specialist MediaKind has unveiled the MediaKind 2021 Sports D2C Forecast, which it claims is the most significant analysis ever undertaken of the direct-to-consumer (D2C) OTT platforms owned and operated directly by sports rights-holders. The report explores a wide range of trends in the D2C sports space, including the use of live […]

December 3, 2020