All articles by Peter White – Page 61
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NewsToronto Film Festival launches TV event
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has launched a television spin-off event with the world premiere of the second series of Les Revenants (The Returned).
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NewsComedy Central strikes US deals
Comedy Central has acquired NBC slacker comedy Undateable and animated series Bob’s Burgers.
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NewsChina's Alibaba eyes international deals
Chinese media company Alibaba Group has made a number of senior appointments and wants to strike mergers and acquisitions to grow its international TV and film business.
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NewsFremantle sets sights on non-scripted
Fremantle Media International (FMI) is aggressively targeting the international rights to non-scripted shows after beefing up its acquisitions budget.
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NewsThe Word: the show that shook up TV
A quarter of a century ago, C4 ushered in a new era of reality TV and unknowingly launched the careers of a generation of producers and executives. Peter White looks back at The Word
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News‘Fear’ stifling edgy formats
The Word alumni claim creative risks are few and far between in British entertainment formats
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FeaturesThe Word: the genesis
Oxford-educated Charlie Parsons started his career as a reporter on local newspaper the Ealing Gazette before becoming a researcher at LWT, and then series editor of Channel 4’s groundbreaking factual show Network 7 and arts magazine show Club X.
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FeaturesThe Word: the launch
The show launched on 17 August 1990 with guests including Brookside actor Bill Dean, Bond girl Maryam D’Abo and music acts The Farm and Adamski. It ran for 11 episodes at 6pm, playing host to LL Cool J, Pixies and The Charlatans, before it was switched to 11pm on 9 ...
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FeaturesThe Word gets serious
In series one, items included a piece on ex-criminals in the evangelical Christian ministry Power Team. The storytelling side was important to Parsons.
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FeaturesThe Word: series two
Sebastian Scott became the series editor for the second series, having worked with Parsons on Network 7. Scott came from Janet Street Porter’s BBC2 youth strand Def II and worked alongside series producers Boland, Lux and Richard Godfrey.
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FeaturesThe Word: creation of Planet 24
After series two, Parsons was offered the opportunity to pitch for The Big Breakfast. He and Alli partnered with Bob Geldof and Tony Boland, father of Murray Boland, to create Planet 24 and the new company beat a host of rivals to win the five-day live breakfast show.
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FeaturesThe Word: the controversy
Series three’s eclectic guests included Peter Stringfellow, Bill Hicks, Pamela Anderson and the Marquis of Blandford.
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FeaturesThe Word: The Hopefuls
The Hopefuls, a segment in which people offered to do ‘anything to be on TV’, from snogging a granny to licking armpits, is one of the most vividly remembered parts of The Word. Created by Sebastian Scott, it was taken on by Paul Ross.
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NewsHumans creator lifts lid on slate
The Scandinavian indie behind the series that Kudos remade as Channel 4’s ratings smash Humans is lining up its first English- language project.
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NewsCommercial rivals could secure BBC3 spectrum
BBC3’s HD slot could be leased to commercial rivals following the decision to close the linear channel.
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NewsBBC3 programming strategy revealed
The BBC has laid out its programming plans for BBC3 content when it moves online, including scrapping long-running formats and earmarking slots on BBC1 and BBC2 which will house its shows.
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NewsC4 visits Gretna Green for wedding format
Big Fat Gypsy Wedding indie Firecracker Films has landed a 15-part daytime commission about marriages from Channel 4.
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NewsThe CW to remake C4's Dates
Bryan Elsey’s Channel 4 drama Dates is to be remade in the US by The CW.
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NewsOvation buys Sky's Portrait Artist of the Year
US cable network Ovation has acquired Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year after striking a deal with Zodiak Rights.
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NewsFriends to remain on Comedy Central
Friends is to remain on Comedy Central for the next four years after the broadcaster renewed its agreement with Warner Bros International Television Distribution.