More News – Page 3710
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Talent group opens
The Stellar Network, a US-based talent agency, is to launch in the UK. BBC Films head of rights and commercial affairs Jane Wright will be on the board of the organisation's UK arm, alongside actors Jude Law and Alan Rickman, director Anthony Minghella and playwright Sir David Hare.
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Quickfire scores two BBC series
Former Granada head of history Mark Fielder's new indie, Quickfire Media, has picked up its first commissions with orders from the BBC and for a South Bank Show film for ITV, writes Paul Revoir.
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BBC4 cash earmarked for science and ethics
BBC4 controller Roly Keating - who was given a£10m budget increase last month - has commissioned a range of science and ethics series in a bid to create more 'appointment to view' slots on the channel, writes Leigh Holmwood.
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ITV Saturday night show gives the talentless hope
RDF Media is to produce a new Saturday night entertainment show for ITV in which two of Britain's top music managers will each have to transform a talentless group of friends into a credible band of performers, writes Glen Mutel.
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Heggessey brings back drama favourites
BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey has recommissioned three of the channel's dramas. Filming on a new 8 x 60-minute run of Down to Earth - now in its fifth series - begins in May with Sharon Houlihan returning as producer and Mervyn Watson executive producing. A ...
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C4 pays tribute to influence of friends
Channel 4 is to mark the final episodes of Friends by airing a 90-minute documentary about the series. What Friends Did for Us , produced by indie Shine, looks at the effect the hugely popular sitcom has had both on ...
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Mentorn takes a look at foreign affairs
Indie Mentorn has been commissioned by Five controller of history Alex Sutherland to make a 60-minute documentary on women who fall in love with foreign men. Leaving for Love - produced by Nathalie Goldberg and executive produced by Rob Carey - will follow the stories of women who have left ...
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It's all in the worst possible taste
Sky One head of factual Matthew Paice has commissioned three independents to make 4 x 60-minute programmes each about medical mishaps, sick movies and other tasteless subjects. The as-yet-untitled 12-part series will be made by Shine, Ten Alps and Bullseye Television.
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Year of the deal
Deals and mergers are set to change the face of the indie sector as size becomes increasingly important.
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Post industry body given name
UK Post has been confirmed as the name for the trade body representing the UK's post-production industry which last week attracted 250 people to its inaugural meeting. The new body has been given around£45,000 by the Department of Trade and Industry and the UK Film Council and post companies will ...
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BBC checked for misleading advertising
The BBC has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority for promoting six digital channels as 'new'. The advert carried the line: 'Six bright new channels for your bunch - BBC.' The ASA upheld a complaint from a member of the public who pointed out that some of the channels ...
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SMG divisions suffer fall in profits
SMG, the owner of Scottish TV, Grampian TV and Virgin Radio, has recorded a 28% slump in pre-tax profits for 2003, pulling in£17.5m compared to£24.2m in 2002. Turnover from continuing operations fell 6% from£199.8m in 2002 to£188.2m in 2003. Turnover from STV and Grampian fell by 5% and total revenue ...
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BBC4 to invite tenders for media series
BBC4's flagship new media series, announced last month as part of an£8m corporation-wide boost to cultural programmes, is to be tendered out to indies. Pitches for the working-titled The Media Programme are set to be invited within the next six weeks once an editor ...
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Silent Witness producer joins BBC NI
BBC Northern Ireland has appointed former BBC head of drama series development Patrick Spence as its new head of drama. Spence, who previously executive produced Silent Witness , replaces Robert Cooper, who left in December to set up his own independent production company. Spence joins ...
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NewsHat Trick in talks to buy Shed for£20m
Hat Trick, the maker of Have I Got News for You , is in advanced negotiations to buy Shed, the indie behind Footballers' Wives , in a deal that could be worth£20m.
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NewsJobs to go in Five news move
Up to 60 jobs are under threat after Five dropped ITN as its news provider and handed the £35m five-year contract to Sky News.
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NewsUlster TV disputes ITV1 charges
A row has blown up between Ulster TV and ITV over claims that the newly merged company is selling on hit shows such as Coronation Street to ITV2 too cheaply.
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NewsITV puts£4.5m into peak science thriller
ITV is ploughing£4.5m into a science fiction thriller series about a government scientist who is called in to tackle disasters caused by modern science.
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NewsFamily Affairs love triangle to be put to vote
Family Affairs is to become the first British soap to let viewers decide the fate of a number of key characters.
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NewsOuthwaite poised to make ITV debut
Former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite has jumped ship to ITV to star in her first drama for the commercial network, but BBC Worldwide will hold onto the rights to the series.