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Talking TV: 10,000 BC & BBC IP rules Video
The latest episode of Talking TV gets the inside track on Channel 5’s ambitious new social experiment 10,000 BC and ponders commissioning changes at the BBC.
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C4 holds Immigration Street talks with Southampton Council
Channel 4’s head of documentaries Nick Mirsky will travel to Southampton today to tackle the local council’s concerns over upcoming series Immigration Street.
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I'm A Celebrity co-creator hired as ITN Prods factual chief
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! co-creator Will Smith has been appointed as ITN Productions’ head of factual.
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HBO signs first-look deal with Roughcut
Ash Atalla’s Roughcut Television has agreed a first-look deal with HBO for the next two years - its third partnership deal in the last 12 months.
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Tern hires Lion Scotland creative director
Tern TV has hired Andrew Snowball, the creative director of Lion Scotland, to the newly created role of director of features and popular factual.
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South Side Story trials SnapChat
The BBC has kicked off a trial of messaging app SnapChat to support BBC3 reality show South Side Story.
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Idris Elba fronts BBC Taster interactive series Video
Idris Elba is fronting a 20-part interactive series exploring the history of the world for BBC Taster, the corporation’s innovation website.
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Discovery hunts True Detective-style formats
US cable network Discovery Channel is hunting for True Detective-inspired factual crime series as part of a drive to grow its female audience.
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Amazon nabs US Catastrophe rights
Amazon Prime Instant Video has secured the exclusive US rights to Channel 4 comedy Catastrophe.
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In brief: Mentorn clip shows & London Irish halted
Mentorn has landed two Channel 5 clip shows and while Channel 4 has no plans to bring back sitcom London Irish. Click for more in today’s round-up.
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Channel 5 revamps commissioning
Channel 5 is overhauling its commissioning process, introducing a 12-week cycle designed to provide indies with greater clarity and deliver more ambitious ideas.
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BBC factual plan in spotlight
Sweeping changes to the BBC’s factual commissioning team came as a “massive shock” to insiders and are likely to result in the departure of some of the corporation’s highest-profile commissioners.
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Tom Giles handed new BBC role
Former Panorama editor Tom Giles has left BBC News to become a specialist factual producer at BBC Productions, Broadcast understands.
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BBC sets strict IP guidelines
The BBC has banned commissioners from leaving with an idea they developed at the corporation, following last year’s controversy over Prized Apart.
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Sky eyes new drama partners
Sky is hunting for more international drama co-pro partners and has targeted broadcasters in Australia and Canada for its next wave of big-budget commissions.
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Stephen Lambert targets drama after committing to All3Media
Stephen Lambert has committed his future to All3Media until at least 2020 and plans to launch a drama division at Studio Lambert.
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Analysis: Sky in Silicon Valley
Sky will continue its spate of San Francisco acquisitions at a steady pace over the next year as the seven businesses it has already backed begin to have a direct impact on its business.
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Sky to enter mobile market
Sky is to enter the mobile sector for the first time after striking a deal with Telefónica UK, which trades as O2.
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Ben Frow: letter to producers
Click to view Channel 5 director of programmes Ben Frow’s letter to suppliers informing them of the introduction of a 12 week commissioning cycle.
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BBC commissioner IP guidelines: in full
Click to view the BBC’s newly introduced IP guidelines.
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Broadcasters confirm debate proposals
The broadcasters’ proposals for the TV election debates look set to remain unaltered after the BBC and ITV released a joint statement confirming their intentions.
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BBC retains Premier League rights for £204m
The BBC will keep hold of Premier League football until 2019 and launch a mid-week Match of the Day on BBC2 as part of a £204m deal.
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Downton Abbey to ‘end this year’
Downton Abbey will reportedly close its doors after its sixth series with creator Julian Fellowes ready to concentrate on other projects.
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C4 backs disabled trainees with £500,000 pot
Channel 4 will plough £500,000 into training schemes to ensure that people with disabilities make up at least 10% of its 2016 Paralympics production team.
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Row breaks out over job sites
A row has erupted over the way indies employ freelance runners after four subscription job sites slammed the findings of a survey questioning their effectiveness.
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BBC Taster targets YouTube generation
The BBC’s efforts to reach new audiences with digital storytelling were ratcheted up this week with the unveiling of BBC Taster.
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TV spend surges for Nordisk Film & TV Fund
The Nordisk Film and TV Fund’s investment in television surged to support 14 drama projects last year as local producers targeted the small screen.
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Nordic drama execs eye growth
Nordic territories will need to see an increase in the number of digital platforms and local commissioners if they are to showcase their drama globally, according to industry experts.
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Smithsonian orders Nutopia invention doc
US cable network Smithsonian has ordered documentary series My Million Dollar Invention from Jane Root’s Nutopia.
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C4 hires Shorts commissioner Video
Channel 4 has strengthened its Shorts commissioning team with the addition of Little Dot Studios’ content exec Isaac Densu.
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Retort hires head of development
FremantleMedia UK indie Retort has hired former Channel 4 deputy commissioner Nana Hughes as its head of development.
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Pact to launch in the US
Industry trade body Pact is to launch a US arm to support the growing number of indies winning business across the Atlantic.
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ITV returns to boxing with Carl Frampton fight
ITV is to air its first live boxing match in five years – covering Carl Frampton’s title defence against Chris Avalos.
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In brief: Suspects sale & C4 doc scheme
Channel 5 drama Suspects is heading to Australia and Channel 4 has opened its Cutting Edge training scheme. Click for more in today’s round-up.
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Sky News and Facebook partner for election debate Video
Sky News has partnered with Facebook as part of its Stand Up Be Counted (SUBC) initiative for an online debate in which youngsters will grill the major political leaders.
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NBC orders The Island with Bear Grylls remake
NBC is to remake Channel 4’s The Island with Bear Grylls later this year.
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London Live to cut 20 staff
The Evening Standard’s local television station London Live is to cut 20 jobs and plough the savings into commissioned and acquired content.
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More Catastrophe planned for C4
Channel 4 has moved quickly to recommission Catastrophe after just two episodes of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney’s sitcom have aired.
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Realscreen 2015: key trends
Executives who battled through the super-blizzard which swept America’s east coast this week to reach Realscreen have heard about the death of the derivative docu-soap, the revival of the classic British format and the importance of mega-agents.
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ITV lines up Cricket World Cup highlights
ITV has applied for permission from Ofcom to air highlights of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
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Bear Grylls to front I’m A Celebrity-style format
Bear Grylls will lead a band of eight celebrities through an unforgiving rainforest in a new I’m A Celebrity-style entertainment format for ITV.
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Tony Hall: TV watershed won't last
BBC director general Tony Hall has suggested that the TV watershed will become increasingly irrelevant as viewing habits change.
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C4 loads up The Jump game
Channel 4 will offer fans of The Jump the chance to get involved in the action via a mobile game.
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In brief: Crossing Lines & The Undateables
Alibi has picked up Crossing Lines, while Channel 4 has greenlit a fifth series of The Undateables. Read on for more of the day’s round-up.
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Big Star’s Little Star gets third run
12 Yard Productions’ celebrity parent-and-child format Big Star’s Little Star has been commissioned for a third series by ITV.
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Zodiak Rights targets US growth
Zodiak Rights has promoted Andreas Lemos to lead a renewed push into the US.
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BBC sells Cardiff HQ
The BBC has agreed the sale of its Wales headquarters to Taylor Wimpey.
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Sky Vision and Passion land factual deals
Sky Vision and Passion Distribution have struck separate factual development deals with Night Will Fall-producer Spring Films and Amanda Rees’ Tifini.
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Avalon & Hat Trick detail BBC3 plans
Avalon Entertainment and Hat Trick Productions chief executives Jon Thoday and Jimmy Mulville have revealed plans to rebrand BBC3 and run it as an ad-funded service if the corporation accepts their £100m offer for the channel.
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BBC unveils online testing ground Video
The BBC has launched an online proving ground to test early-stage digital content and emerging technologies.
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BT Sport confident of landing Gary Lineker
BT Sport is in serious discussions with Gary Lineker over signing the presenter to host its Champions League coverage from next season.
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BBC1 cancels Atlantis
BBC1 has axed teatime fantasy drama Atlantis after two series.
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BBC Scotland appoints drama boss
Gaynor Holmes has been appointed as the permanent head of drama for BBC Scotland.
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In brief: Heather Jones & Project Diamond
Heather Jones lands a promotion and the CDN’s hunt for a training partner are revealed in today’s round-up.
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Todd Austin leaves Leopard Films
Leopard Films chief creative officer Todd Austin is leaving the Argonon-owned business after four years.
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Adrian Chiles replaced as ITV's main football host
Adrian Chiles is to be replaced as ITV’s main football anchor by BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mark Pougatch.
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BBC iPlayer commissions batch of shorts
House of Fools indie Pett Television, Sharon Horgan’s Merman Films and Comedy Unit are among the indies responsible for a slate of iPlayer shorts.
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In brief: Carnival hire and more Most Haunted
In today’s news round-up, Carnival Films hires an ABC executive and Really orders two more series of Most Haunted.
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Hungry Bear Media wins ITV2 panel show
Dan Baldwin’s fledgling indie Hungry Bear Media has been commissioned to produce a reality TV panel show for ITV2.
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TV debates: broadcasters threaten to ‘empty chair’ leaders
The UK’s major broadcasters have threatened to ‘empty chair’ any party leader that decides not to participate in its latest proposals for the election debate.
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ITV staff plan strike vote over pay
ITV staff have moved a step closer to taking possible strike action after rejecting the broadcaster’s 2015 pay increase offer of 2%.
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Scotland to get BBC charter renewal role
The UK government has published draft legislation which will hand the Scottish government and parliament a formal role in BBC charter renewal.
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Andy Harries & Tony Grisoni to appear at Nordic TV event
Left Bank chief executive Andy Harries and Southcliffe writer Tony Grisoni are among leading industry figures set to speak at expanding Nordic TV conference TV Drama Vision.
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BBC staff reveal recruitment and bullying worries
The BBC has admitted that it must do more to demonstrate its internal recruitment processes are fair and transparent following the results of a staff survey, which also revealed concerns about the corporation’s bullying deterrents.
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BBC to cut back factual commissioning team
Four of the BBC’s most senior commissioners will have their roles closed as part of a major overhaul of the factual division.
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Broadcasters table fresh leader debate proposals
The Green Party, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru are to be invited to take part in the general election leader debates, according to reports.
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BBC Trust seeks views on in-house plans
The BBC Trust will welcome views on the corporation’s radical proposals to commercialise BBC Productions as part of a wider consultation on its content supply.
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C4 assembles All 4 team
Channel 4 has restructured its digital team ahead of the launch of its multiplatform hub All 4.
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Battle for BBC3’s future begins
The BBC’s attempt to convince viewers, the industry and the BBC Trust that BBC3 should move online has begun in earnest.
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Tiger Aspect hires new animation exec
Baby Cow Animation founder Tim Searle has been appointed by Tiger Aspect as its creative director of animation and children’s.
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Indies eye Realscreen boost
UK indies are looking to supercharge their non-scripted ambitions in the US and get shows away with broadcast networks as a record number attend next week’s Realscreen.
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Class of ’92 take lead role in Salford FC doc for BBC1
Former Manchester United players including Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are to star in a three-part Electric Ray documentary for BBC1 about their acquisition of non-league Salford City FC.
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Ugly Brother thinks global
Ugly Brother Studios is using its investment from Sky Vision to help it emerge from a spell of more conservative commissioning patterns in the US.
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Zealot earmarks ITV funding for acquisitions
Zealot Networks, the digital content firm established by Maker Studios founder Danny Zappin, plans to use its investment from ITV to help it on the acquisitions trail.
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Diversity: indies speak out
Indie bosses have voiced concerns about meeting the “challenging but necessary” industry diversity targets – but are upbeat that they will be supported in their efforts by broadcasters.
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High Noon sets sights on UK
Cake Boss producer High Noon Entertainment hopes to get shows commissioned in the UK and around the world 18 months after it was acquired by ITV.
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Evolution of iPlayer part of BBC3 proposals
The BBC has submitted a jigsaw of proposals that sit alongside its vision for BBC3, including plans for the next evolution of the iPlayer.
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ITV pulls Julia Bradbury series
Lion Television’s Julia Bradbury-fronted series The Wonder of Britain has been temporarily shelved by ITV due to a poor ratings.
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Deadline for Premier League rights bids looms
The battle for Premier League football could be settled in the next fortnight as Sky, BT and Eurosport-owner Discovery submit first-round rights bids by February 6.
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Tina Malone returns to TLC
Shameless star Tina Malone is returning to TLC for a one-off documentary produced by True North.
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Sherlock tops iPlayer chart for 2014 Video
Sherlock was the most-watched show in iPlayer in 2014 – as drama Murdered By My Boyfriend racked up almost as many views on the VoD service as it managed on BBC3.
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Mr Bean makes Comic Relief comeback
Tiger Aspect has resurrected legendary comedy character Mr Bean for the BBC’s Red Nose Day coverage this March.
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Beyond poaches DRG's Meek-O'Connor
Mythbusters producer and distributor Beyond has poached DRG’s Caitlin Meek-O’Connor to become head of acquisitions.
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Dave doubles up on Storage Hunters Video
Auctioneer Sean Kelly is to remain in the UK after Dave ordered two more series of Storage Hunters UK.
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Company options ‘next Wolf Hall’
Wolf Hall producer Company Pictures has snapped up the rights to Jessie Burton’s bestselling book The Miniaturist.
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In brief: Kantar hires MD & BBC News revamps app
In today’s round-up a BBC exec joins Kantar and BBC News prepares to personalise its app
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E4 slopes off with The Jump companion
E4 will take to the slopes with a companion series for Channel 4 celebrity winter sports format The Jump.
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BBC3 orders drama from emerging writer
BBC3’s plans for an online-only future have taken a step forward with the commission of a drama from emerging writer Marnie Dickens.
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The Garden uncovers everyday heroes for ITV
24 Hours in A&E indie The Garden has won two commissions from ITV: a four-part series about ordinary heroes and a one-off film exploring household pests.
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Netflix’s The Crown to shoot from July
The Crown, Netflix’s £100m biopic of Queen Elizabeth II, is due to start filming in the UK this July according to director Stephen Daldry.
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BBC HQ running costs criticised
The £89m cost of running the BBC’s London headquarters has been labelled “staggering” by the chair of the Public Accounts Committee following an audit on the corporation’s estate.
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ITV News promotes Singleton to deputy editor
ITV News has promoted its director of newsgathering Tim Singleton to deputy editor to replace Richard Zackheim.
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Short-form plan revealed for online BBC3
The proposed online-only BBC3 will offer visitors more than 100 pieces of new-form content a month via a new Daily Stream service.
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BBC3: genre by genre
Click to discover how BBC3’s “make me think and make me laugh” programming strategy will impact each genre.
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BBC Trust: no back door deal on BBC3
The BBC Trust could make a “provisional conclusion” on the future of BBC3 in April and has insisted that there will be no “back door deal” when deciding the channel’s fate.
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Research finds ‘little appetite’ for BBC3 plans
There is “very little appetite” among audiences to close BBC3 as a television channel, according to a study by the corporation.
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BBC plans to supercharge iPlayer
The BBC has revealed plans to premiere around 25 shows from its linear channels and third party organisations on iPlayer.
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Kay Mellor lands top Writers' Guild prize
Kay Mellor, writer of hit BBC dramas The Syndicate and In the Club was awarded the outstanding contribution to writing award at last night’s annual Writers’ Guild Awards.
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Hat Trick and Avalon to make BBC3 bid
Hat Trick Productions and Avalon Entertainment are to make an audacious bid for BBC3 in an attempt to save it as a TV channel.
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ITV News deputy editor departs
ITV News’ deputy editor Richard Zackheim has stepped down after only a year in the job.
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BBC3: proposals in full
Click to view the BBC Trust’s public value assessment for the reinvention of BBC3.
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C4 to pilot King Bert porn comedy
Miranda Hart and David Walliam’s fledgling indie King Bert Productions is to pilot a sitcom set in a porn shop for Channel 4.
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Simon Cowell and Objective prepare BBC2 gameshow
Simon Cowell’s indie Over The Top Productions has partnered with Objective Productions for a 30-part daytime gameshow for BBC2.
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Damian Kavanagh: BBC3 is not for sale
The BBC has ruled that BBC3 is “not for sale” after Hat Trick Productions and Avalon Entertainment revealed plans to buy the channel.
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In brief: Jane Mote & BBC diet calculator
Read about Tru TV’s latest hire and the success of Horizon’s diet calculator
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Simon Andreae leaves Fox
Fox’s reality chief Simon Andreae has left the US network after just over a year and been replaced by a former Electus executive.
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Sky Arts delivers Stephen Mangan pregnancy drama
Stephen Mangan is to star as a heavily pregnant man in a new one-off drama for Sky Arts.
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Sioned Wiliam joins Radio 4 commissioning team
Former ITV comedy controller Sioned Wiliam is to become BBC Radio 4’s comedy commissioner.
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