Thursday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

AMCNI’s Lat Am chief to exit amid reshuffle

AMC Networks International is combining its Southern Europe and Latin America businesses into a single entity, with the latter’s managing director John Huff set to depart.

AMCNI – Southern Europe managing director Antonio Ruiz and his leadership team will assume oversight of the company’s Lat Am business, expanding their remit across both regions.

“This single leadership structure will enable us to deepen collaboration across markets with shared cultural ties, leverage our collective expertise and ultimately, be stronger together,” said Eduardo Zulueta, president of AMC Networks International.

AMCNI is behind AMC/AMC+, Canal Hollywood, Canal Historia and Canal Cocina in Southern Europe, while Lat Am brands include AMC Series, El Gourmet, Film&Arts and Europa Europa.

Issa Rae joins Paramount

Paramount has struck a first-look producing deal with Insecure creator Issa Rae, which will see her departing HBO after more than a decade.

Rae has agreed a new three-year TV and film deal with the Warner that includes the writer’s Hoorae Film & Television banner.

Rae marks the latest addition to Paramount’s talent roster, which also includes Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer and Jessica Biel. The David Ellison-led company is also having to content with imminent exit of Taylor Sheridan, however.

UKTV reports record streaming

Blacklight TV’s reimagining of Bergerac is among the shows that helped UKTV achieve its best performance on record last year, with streaming views up by 15% and linear share by 3%.

In 2025, the first full year since its major rebrand as U in summer 2024, direct-to-consumer views on the broadcaster’s streaming service rose by 15%, accompanied by a 23% uplift in average monthly active users and an 18% growth in registrations.

Drama that has proven to be its most popular river to the channel, The top 5 best performing shows on U were Bergerac, Outrageous, The Marlow Murder Club, The Chelsea Detective and Whitstable Pearl.

Bergerac has, according to UKTV, been the highest-rated show on the network for 2025, with 2.4m viewers to date across digital and linear.

A24, HBO Max pact extended

HBO Max and A24 have renewed their multi-year partnership that will bring the latter’s films exclusively to HBO and HBO Max in the US. during the pay-1 window.

As part of the agreement, HBO Max subscribers will also have access to a library of dozens of A24 films throughout the course of the deal.

HBO Max subscribers will have access to A24 films when they first become available to stream, with highlights including The Backrooms, The Death of Robin Hood, The Drama, and Enemies.