Realscreen day three round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Dom Bird exits Amazon to launch indie

Amazon MGM Studios’ UK unscripted chief Dom Bird is to leave the company to launch his own indie.

EarlyBird will maintain a studio deal with Amazon MGM Studios and Bird will continue to executive produce some of its major unscripted IP including BBC1’s Gladiators and The Apprentice. He will also develop his own unscripted formats and factual shows under a first-look arrangement with Amazon.

Bird said: “Launching EarlyBird represents an exciting new chapter in my career, enabling me to build on my passion for innovative, audience-captivating formats. With full creative independence, backed by one of the industry’s leading studios, EarlyBird will focus on developing bold, original unscripted programmes that resonate globally. Read more

Edinburgh TV Festival names chair

Netflix UK’s director of documentary series Adam Hawkins has been named advisory chair for the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026.

Hawkins, who succeeds Bad Wolf chief executive Jane Tranter in the role, will oversee the creative direction of the festival and the development of this year’s programme.

Since joining Netflix in 2022, he has commissioned programmes including American Nightmare, Victoria Beckham, Amy Bradley Is Missing, and Attack On London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers. Read more

RTÉ chief ‘didn’t apply’ for BBC role 

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst has counted himself out of the running to take up the same role at the BBC.

He told Broadcast that he did not apply for the role which is being vacated in April by incumbent Tim Davie, who resigned as head of the corporation in November.

“I love it here [at RTÉ], I love this job and I didn’t apply for the BBC job. That speaks for itself, right?” he said.

He gave an unequivocal “no” to Broadcast when asked whether he is interested in the deputy director general role, which will be focused on journalism.