Monday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Muse strikes first-look deal with Walrus

Coroner and Three Pines producer Muse Entertainment has struck a first-look development deal with Canadian publisher The Walrus.

The deal will see Muse adapting original reporting and longform journalism from The Walrus into documentary and unscripted programming.

Muse will receive exclusive early access to unpublished stories slated for the Canadian title, along with a first right of negotiation to adapt select reporting into projects. Development discussions on several potential projects are already underway.

The partnership marks the latest step in Muse’s expansion of its factual business, and was brokered by the latter’s unscripted chief Jonas Prupas and Carmine Starnino, editor-in-chief of The Walrus.

Cineflix Rights unveils Banff deals

Movistar in Spain and Japan’s NHK are among buyers of almost 300 hours of shows from Cineflix Rights, with the deals revealed as the 2026 Banff World Media Festival kicks off.

The broadcasters have acquired Idéacom International’s Can Dogs Talk? along with RSI (Switzerland), while CBC’s Little Sapiens has been picked up by TeleMadrid (Spain).

Scott Brothers Entertainment’s Top of the Block is heading to AMC Multicanal in Iberia, while Property Brothers: Under Pressure has sold to Mediaset (Spain) and AMC Multicanal (Iberia).

Other deals include Germany’s Hearst buying Shark Teeth Films’ Ancient Justice and Mediaset in Italy taking Vanished History.

Fred Media relaunches Life Down Under

Australia’s Fred Media is re-launching FAST channel Life Down Under with the introduction of hundreds of hours of content from partner Seven Network.

At launch, Life Down Under showcased lifestyle, documentary and factual content about Australia such as Mega Zoo, Space Invaders and Sydney Harbour Force, all produced by Fred Media’s parent company WTFN.

It will relaunch with Seven’s primetime series across reality, home & design, and food genresm with titles including Australia’s Amazing Homes, Extreme Weddings, Zumbo’s Just Desserts and Yummy Mummies.

Life Down Under will also offer a new home to content from Great Home Ideas, the YouTube channel that Fred Media’s sister company, Radar, began managing for Seven in 2025.