Monday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Italy’s MIA brings in Cattleya co-founder

Marco Chimenz, the former co-managing director at France’s Federation prior to his exit earlier this month, has joined the 2026 edition of Italian conference MIA (Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo) as a strategic consultant.

Chimenz will work to expand the international profile of the event and to reflect the latest changes in the industry in its offering to delegates.

The exec left Federation on 8 April following a two-and-a-half year spell with the company. Prior to that, he was one of three founding partners of Cattleya, alongside Riccardo Tozzi and Giovanni Stabilini. He led the production firm from 1999 to 2023, overseeing its sale to ITV Studios.

HBO, Rolling Stone prep Zizians docuseries

HBO Documentary Films has started production on a multi-part documentary series exploring the Zizians, a group of young technologists linked to a series of violent crimes across the US.

The series is based on reporting by Tessa Stuart for Rolling Stone and is being directed by Matthew Galkin (One Night in Idaho).

US-based XTR is producing in collaboration with Rolling Stone Films, with the show debuting on HBO and HBO Max.

The as-yet untitled access-driven series will trace the group’s origins and evolution, examining how it formed, operated, and attracted attention for its extreme ideology and alleged violence.

Hazbin Hotel to close after fifth run

Prime Video is bringing the curtain down on adult-animated musical comedy series, Hazbin Hotel.

The show has been renewed for a fifth and final season by the streamer, with creator Vivienne Medrano, A24, and Fox Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment again attached.

Hazbin Hotel follows the princess of hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom.

The show is based on Medrano’s show of the same name, which was released on YouTube in 2019. A live experience based on the series recently launched on Broadway.

ITV alum joins Paramount+

Paramount+ in the UK has hired former ITV fact-ent commissioner Satmohan Panesar, Broadcast has learned.

London-based Panesar has joined Paramount as a contractor and is working as a commissioning editor for unscripted projects, reporting to senior content director Kris Graham.

The latter is responsible for the content strategy across commissioning and acquisitions for P+ in the UK and Ireland.

It is understood Panesar’s role is focused solely on the streaming service, and that his remit is distinct from 5 and the organisation’s other free-to-air channels. The duration of his contract is not known. Read more