Thursday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Stan buys Walsh Sisters

Australian streamer Stan has picked up comedy drama series The Walsh Sisters from distributor Cineflix Rights. 

The show was commissioned by Ireland’s RTÉ in association with the BBC, and is based on the novels by author Marian Keyes. Cuba Pictures and Metropolitan Pictures produce. 

The first series revolves around characters from the Rachel’s Holiday and Anybody Out There novels, exploring the lives of a chaotic, dysfunctional but deeply loveable family of five sisters, their mother and bemused father.

Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) and Caroline Menton (Oddity) are among cast, with the show adapted by Stefanie Preissner and Kefi Chadwick writing two episodes. It is directed by Ian Fitzgibbon and the producer is Patrick O’Donoghue. 

The deal with Stan was brokered by Cineflix Rights’ Chris Bluett, senior vice president of sales in Asia Pacific. 

BBCS expands Player in India

BBC Studios has linked up with Tata Play Binge to expand access to its streaming service BBC Player for audiences across India.

The deal, which expands BBC Player’s existing coverage in India via Amazon’s Prime Video, will see Tata customers gaining access to shows such as Luther, Pride and Prejudice, Doctor Who, and Top Gear, along with The Great British Bake Off, Nigella’s Cook and Jamie Oliver: Cooking for Less.

Natural history show Planet Earth III and kids titles such as Andy’s Aquatic Adventures and JoJo And Gran Gran will also be available. Stanley Fernandes, vice president of distribution for South Asia at BBCS, said the deal would grow his company’s presence across the country, following a previous partnership with Tata that has taken BBC News and CBeebies into India.

Prime Video extends Beast Games

Amazon Prime Video is set for more seasons of Beast Games, following its apparent smash debut late last year.

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, told the Milken Institute Global Conference in LA yesterday that the streamer is “going to do a couple more seasons”, with casting reportedly now open.

The competition show from YouTube star Mr Beast (aka Jimmy Donaldson) became the streamer’s most-watched unscripted show after its first 25 days. It also clocked up 50 million viewers globally, Prime Vidoe said, becoming its second most-watched show last year.

NEM unveils Dubrovnik agenda

Organisers of NEM Dubrovnik have announced its full agenda for the June event, which is to host more than 70 speakers across four days. 

Keynotes include Bob McCourt, Fremantle’s chief operating officer for commercial and international, BBC Studios CEE chief Bartosz Witak, and Warner bros Discovery duo Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz and Jamie Cooke.

A host of panels, keynotes and presentations will explore topics such as changing business models, rising content costs, advertising shifts, regulation and regional partnerships, while showcases from companies including Amazon MGM Studios Distribution will also feature.

The event, which is expecting more than 1,000 delegates from 300 companies, takes place at Hotel Dubrovnik Palace from 9-12 June. 

FX, Roku, RedBird execs set for RTS Cambridge

FX chair John Landgraf and RedBird IMI chief exec and former CNN Worldwide boss Jeff Zucker will be among the speakers at this year’s RTS Cambridge Convention.

The BBC is the event’s principal sponsor, with director general Tim Davie chairing the two-day conference. With a theme of ‘Where Do We Grow From Here?’, other speakers among the line-up are Jonathan Allan, interim chief exec of C4, Mark Burnett, feted US producer and US special envoy to the UK, Nick Clegg, former deputy prime minister and most recently president of global affairs at Facebook parent Meta.

They will be joined by Anthony Wood, founder and chief exec of Roku, Baroness Shriti Vadera, chair of the Creative Industries Council, and Ed Balls and George Osborne, former MPs and hosts of podcast Political Currency. Read more

EndemolShine India, Mediascope link for branded content 

Banijay-owned EndemolShine India is moving into branded entertainment, after revealing a new partnership with local agency Mediascope.

EndemolShine India aims to create content that integrates brand narratives to extend reach, with shows being developed across all formats and for all platforms.

The deal follows the launch of specialist division Banijay Branded Entertainment, which is attempting to tap into demands from advertisers. A slate of original IPs and content formats are being co-created with brands, with Mediascope providing knowledge of the advertiser landscape.

Japan’s Wowow buys Bergerac 

Banijay Rights has sold six-part drama Bergerac to Japanse pay-TV operator and streamer Wowow.

The series, which is produced by Banijay UK’s BlackLight TV and Jersey-based Westward Studios, debuted on U&Drama in the UK and was recently extended into a second series.

The 6 x 60-minute show sees Damien Molony (The Split) star in the role of Jim Bergerac and is based on the original show created by Robert Banks Stewart, which starred John Nettles and ran for nine seasons on the BBC between 1981 and 1991.

The deal was negotiated by Rashmi Bajpai, exec vice prwsident of sales for Banijay Rights in Asia, and follows sales to companies inlcuding SVT in Sweden, BBC First in Poland, TVNZ in New Zealand and ABC in Australia. 

NATPE Budapest reveals line-up

NATPE Budapest has unveiled the conference line-up for its event next month, which includes a keynote from YouTube’s Andreas Briese, country director for Germany and regional director for Central and Northern Europe.

Leaders from the region including Antenna Studios’ George Levendis, RTL Croatia’s Stella Litou, AMC Networks CEE’s Levente Málnay and MAG Entertainment’s Magdalena Szwedkowicz will join a panel exploring the future of the CEE industry, while format, financing and production sessions are also planned.

Talpa Studios is among companies presenting, with more than 350 buyers expected.

The event runs 23-26 June at the InterContinental Budapest Hotel.