Tuesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Tuesday, 6.12pm: Netflix adapts 20th TV and Merman’s Vladimir

Netflix has greenlit limited series Vladimir, which will star and be exec produced by Rachel Weisz.

The show has been created by Julia May Jonas and is based on her 2022 novel of the same name, which tracks Weisz’s character as she falls for her new colleague.

20th Television is producing with Kate Robin attached as showrunner, alongside exec producers Sharon Horgan, Stacy Greenberg and Kira Castensen of Merman. Jason Winer and Jon Radler are attached from Small Dog Picture Co.

Tuesday, 5.39pm: Earth Touch lands Nat Geo Wild, Arte, RTVE, KBS & CCTV deals

Wildlife and factual entertainment producer Earth Touch has secured five package deals with Nat Geo WILD, Arte (France), RTVE (Spain), KBS (Korea) and CCTV (China).

In Europe, Arte has taken four hours of programming including one-off specials India’s Lion Queen and Secret Ways of a Whale Shark, while RTVE in Spain has concluded a 14-hour deal including India’s Lion Queen, Day of the Dragon and the 4 x 60 minute series Epic Yellowstone.

Nat Geo Wild International is taking 35 hours across three years, with the first six hours of 50 minute specials already in production for delivery before October. Shows include Monkey Wars, which details the lives of gelada baboons in Ethiopia’s Simien mountains, and China’s Killer Hornets, revealing the dangers posed by the apex predators of the insect world. A further six hours are in production and slated for later this year, including Croc Wars, Big Cat Planet and the 3 x 60 minute series Strangest Nature.

Earth Touch will have worldwide distribution rights on all 35 hours of programming following Nat Geo Wild’s exclusivity period.

In Asia, KBS has picked up 12 hours overall including titles such as Legends of Venom, Australia’s Land of the Ancients and Africa’s River Titans, and Chinese state broadcaster CCTV will air 10 hours of Earth Touch documentaries including Crocodiles Revealed, Legends of Venom and the 3 x 60 minute series Wild Belgium.

Tuesday, 3.55pm: Glassriver reveals Masquerade deal

Icelandic film and TV studio Glassriver is to co-produce scripted series Masquerade with Nicholas Weinstock, producer of AppleTV+’s Severance and with his Hollywood-based company Invention Studios, and The Art of Coproduction’s Marc Lorber.

The show follows a young US reporter arrives in a small Icelandic village, investigating the old unsolved abduction case of a four-year-old girl - the granddaughter of the town’s most wealthy and powerful man - who vanished while on vacation in Florida 25 years ago. As she digs deeper, she begins to unravel the village’s darkest secrets, only to realise that those responsible for the abduction are probably still living in the village.

Weinstock is known for developing and producing Apple TV+ series Severance, which he continues to executive produce, while Lorber started The Art of Coproduction following his departure from Lionsgate after 10 years, where he served as senior vice president of international TV co-productions and acquisitions.

Series creators are Glassriver’s Andri Óttarsson and Baldvin Z. Screenwriters are Andri Óttarsson, Elísabet Hall, Urður Egilsdóttir, Karen Björg Eyfjörð Þorsteinsdóttir, and Elías Helgi Kofoed-Hansen. Baldvin Z is the lead director of the series. Chief exec Andri Ómarsson and creator Andri Óttarsson will present the project at this year’s Series Mania Co-Production pitch event. 

Tuesday, 3.30pm: ITVX snaps up Apple TV+ drama Suspicion

UK broadcaster ITV has acquired Apple TV+’s thriller Suspicion for its streaming platform ITVX.

Starring Uma Therman, the eight-part series follows four ordinary Brits accused of kidnapping the son of a prominent US media mogul as they attempt to prove their innocence.

ITV has acquired the series via distributor Fifth Season, which handles international sales, in a free-to-air second window. The thriller had originally hit the sales market in 2023 under Keshet International, which was selling linear rights for the series.

Apple TV+ commissioned Keshet UK to produce Suspicion, which is based on the Israeli series False Flag. The latter show also launched on Apple TV+ and was sold by Keshet International, which held linear and format rights.

The sale of the drama is a rare instance of an Apple TV+ original being sold on the open market and thought to be the first time a UK broadcaster has acquired one of the tech giant’s commissioned shows. Read more

Tuesday, 1.55pm: BBC names interim BBC unscripted director

BBC editor of unscripted Syeda Irtizaali is to step into the role of unscripted director following Kate Phillips promotion to cover the top job of chief content officer, Broadcast has learned.

Irtizaali’s new position, which will be on an interim basis, comes after content chief Charlotte Moore announced her departure last week.

It is understood Irtizaali will takes up her duties with immediate effect, and her current role will be replaced on a temporary basis shortly. Read more

Tuesday, 12.38pm: TVF unveils deal across ANZ for AIDC

UK-based distributor TVF International has struck a slew of deals with broadcasters across Australia and New Zealand during the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) this week, including an SBS pre-sale for original series, Great British Train Journeys From Above (3 x 47 minutes).

The TVF original production, which also pre-sold to Channel 4, is narrated by Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) and showcases three of Britain’s most iconic stream train journeys from the air, taking viewers through the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia National Park, and the North Yorkshire Moors.

SBS also acquired How the Second World War Became a Global War and Who Paid for World War II?, both produced by Odyssey Films, to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War later this year.

Among a raft of SBS acquisitions, the broadcaster has also added season 12 of aerial travelogue, The World from Above, to its slate, while SBS Food has added CNA’s Southeast Asia on a Plate and Have You Eaten Yet? Tasting Taiwan from Taiwan+. 

The ABC in Australia, meanwhile, has licensed When Titans Clash: A New Global Trade War? and When Titans Clash: Knives Out in the South China Sea for its Four Corners current affairs strand, while Māori Television in New Zealand has picked up an array of wildlife titles including the SVT-commissioned Secret Life of Seals.

Acquisitions and productions exec, Zoe Stinson, who manages TVF’s producer partnerships across Australia, will be attending AIDC Online this week. All deals were brokered by Alex Lindsay, sales executive at TVF International. 

Tuesday, 10.19am: Netflix hires for Canada

Netflix has added former Blue Ice Productions exec Armand Leo to its senior production ranks in Canada.

Leo, who was senior vice president of global physical production at Entertainment One prior to joining Blue Ice in 2018, will work across Netflix originals in Canada. Local trade Playback first reported the news. 

The global streamer’s upcoming Canadian output includes an as-yet-untitled Newfoundland-set drama from The Umbrella Academy scribe Jesse McKeown, which was revealed last week.

Tuesday 9.32am: Spirit Studios launches advisory board

Multi-platform production company Spirit Studios has unveiled a new advisory board which comprises Matt Risley, managing director of Channel 4’s 4Studio Matt Ford, co-founder of CoLabX and content sales and commercial consultant Katy Llewelyn-Jones.

The figures will bring guidance to help Spirit Studios advance its IP360 trategy. The company is also welcoming Fatima Dowlet who serves as head of streaming and social propositions at Channel 4 as an observer to its main board, underlining Channel 4’s commitment to supporting Spirit Studios.

Tuesday, 9.03am: Polsat returns to Must Be The Music 

Polsat has ordered a local version of Banijay Entertainment format Must Be The Music from Endemol Shine Poland.

The reality talent format last aired in Poland in 2016 but is returning with a 10-episode reboot that will see solo artists, groups, vocalists and instrumentalists competing to receive creative support, promotional advice and a chance to win a cash fund to kickstart their careers. Viewers choose the winner, and all performances are available for immediate download.

The show was originally produced in the UK for Sky 1 by Princess Productions.

Tuesday, 8.46am: WTFN’s Radar engages Empire, reveals talent deals 

Australian producer WTFN is rebranding Empire Talent as Radar Talent and will position the division as a content creator-focused agency for its digital business.

Radar Talent aims to be “a new-style agency focused on the representation and management of Australian and international content creators” who are looking to expand on digital channels and platforms.

Radar, which has just celebrated its second anniversary, currently creates and manages more than 30 digital channels for the likes of YouTube and Facebook for owned brands such as Bondi Vet, as well as for third parties such as The Dog Whisperer. It has more than 12 million followers, with more than 150 million views each month. 

Radar Talent is now home to Real Housewives of Sydney’s Dr Kate Adams, The Block’s Rachel and Ryan Carr, Steve Van Aperen, co-host of The Hunters, and YouTuber Mathew McKenna. International names on the roster include WWE star Maven Huffman from the US and Dr Michael Says, the Scottish-born TikTok star known for brilliantly debunking wellness myths and providing accessible advice. These names alone already have more than two million subscribers to their channels.

Tuesday, 8.45am: Ánima Kitchent and Indonesia’s Mocca link on Tippi  

European animation company Ánima Kitchent and Indonesia’s animation studio Mocca Studio have unveiled a new coproduction pact for kids show, Tippi T-Rex.

The two companies are coproducing two seasons of 26 x 5 minute episodes of the 2D series, which launched 18 months ago initially via YouTube. 

Following performance analysis, the company moved towards long-format, multiplatform content, resulting in the production of a first 26-episode season. It then sought a co-production partner for the upcoming new 26 x 5 minute episodes, with Mocca being onboarded. 

Tuesday, 8.33am: Bad Boy lands 14 Israeli Academy noms

Israeli drama Bad Boy, from Sipur and The North Road Company, has received a total of 14 Israeli Academy Award nominations, including for best drama series as well as directing, writing and lead actor.

The eight-parter has captured the most noms by a single series at this year’s awards, which is Israel’s equivalent of the Emmys in the US, and will become available globall on Netflix this Spring having recently completed its run on HOT in Israel.

Bad Boy is inspired by a true story and revolves around Dean, who was held in a cruel juvenile detention facility in his youth and befriends a mysterious teenage prisoner serving time for murder. Twenty years later, Dean is a star comedian who is desperate to keep his record of youthful imprisonment a secret.

It has been written by Ron Leshem (Euphoria), who serves as showrunner on the series. Director is Hagar Ben-Asher (The Slut), with the show produced and co-financed by Sipur and The North Road Company, with Israeli broadcaster HOT and Tedy Productions producing. It stars Daniel Chen, Havtamo Fard and Guy Manster. Voting begins 10 March and winners are to be announced on 2 April.