News

‘Squid Game’ Driving Rise In Foreign-Language Appetite In English-Speaking Markets — Study

Demand for foreign-language content in English-speaking markets has risen by nearly a quarter in the last four years, according to Ampere Analysis, and the likes of Squid Game and Parasite have been named as among the key drivers. Regular viewing of non-English TV shows and movies has increased by 24% among 18-64s in the UK, U.S., Australia and Canada since Q1 2020, according to the research firm’s study. In good news for streamers, some 54% said they watched non-English titles “very often” or “sometimes,” up 43% in that period. South Korean shows are, perhaps unsurprisingly, driving the viewing with a 35% rise in frequent viewing, with the likes of Squid Game and Parasite highlighting the wares from South Korea. The number of 18-34s watching foreign-language content is particularly good news for streamers and distributors, with 66% saying they regularly partake. Subtitling is most popular,...

In the exciting finale of this Come Dine with Me Paralympics Special, retired swimmer and host Liz Johnson welcomes her fellow Paralympians to a dinner party with a charitable twist. With a £1000 prize on the line for a charity of the winner’s choice, the evening promises to be both entertaining and meaningful. Johnson, a […]

Come Dine with Me Paralympics Special: Day Five...

On Wednesday, 10 July 2024, E4’s Come Dine With Me: Paralympics Special features Paralympic presenter Arthur Williams as the host for day three of this unique dining experience. Arthur pulls out all the stops with a menu that takes his guests on a global culinary journey. Arthur’s dinner party takes flight with an aviation theme, […]

Come Dine With Me: Paralympics Special Day Three...

In this special week of episodes of Come Dine with Me, five stars of the Paralympic Games showcase their culinary skills and hospitality as they take turns hosting dinner parties. On Day 2, it’s Paralympic judoka Chris Skelley’s turn to impress his guests and win a £1000 charity prize. Chris’s unique menu leaves wheelchair basketball […]

Come Dine with Me: Paralympics Special: Day 2...

In the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, five stars of the games take on the challenge of hosting a dinner party for their fellow Paralympians. Each night, the guests secretly score the host, and at the end of the week, the highest-scoring host wins £1000 for a charity of their choice. Kicking off […]

Come Dine with Me Paralympics Special: Day 1...

Join Channel 4 this Wednesday at 5:00 Pm for a tantalizing episode of “Come Dine with Me: The Professionals.” In Season 2, Episode 18, viewers are treated to culinary delights as contestants showcase their skills in Devon.

At Honky Tonk, guests can expect a laid-back atmosphere with grazing options and plenty of plonk to go around. Meanwhile, The Bear and Blacksmith offers a farm-to-fork experience, promising fresh and flavorful dishes straight from the source.

As the competition heats up, all eyes are on Twenty Seven’s fine food as they strive to impress with their sophisticated cuisine. With high expectations and taste buds tingling, viewers are in for a mouthwatering journey as each contestant pulls out all the stops to win over the judges and claim the top spot.

From appetizers to desserts, “Come Dine with Me: The Professionals” delivers a feast for the senses that’s sure to leave viewers hungry for more.

Armoza Formats is back to being an independent after founder Avi Armoza bought the company back from ITV Studios.

Established in 2005, Armoza Formats is a top creator and distributor of global content internationally. They joined the ITV Studios umbrella in 2019 and in 2022 became ITV Studios’ Israeli production arm.

Going forward the formats company will continue to have exclusive rights to producing ITV Studios’ catalogue of formats – including “Love Island” and “Come Dine With Me” – for the Israeli market.

In Israel the local version of “Love Island” airs on Keshet Media Group’s Free TV while “Come Down With Me” and “The 1% Club” (created by Magnum Media) are on Kan 11.

Armoza is currently working on an Arabic-language version of “Come Dine With Me” and an Arabic-language version of “The Chase” in addition to original production “Cooking Up Memories,” which is currently broadcasting on Makan.

ITV Studios will hold on...

ITV Studios, the production arm of U.K. TV giant ITV, has sold Tel Aviv-based company Armoza Formats — which backed game show Still Standing, docu-reality series Marry Me Now and singing show The Four — back to its founder Avi Armoza.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but Armoza will become an independent firm again only a few years after ITV had acquired in 2019. The company will keep the exclusive rights to produce ITV Studios formats in Israel, while ITV Studios will retain the rights to the Armoza catalog it acquired in 2019. Ongoing productions won’t be affected by the deal.

In Israel, Armoza’s productions of ITV Studios formats include the likes of the upcoming local version of Love Island for Keshet, as well as Israeli versions of Come Dine With Me and The 1% Club.

“Under Avi’s leadership, shows like Love Island and Come Dine with Me have launched successfully,...

International TV veteran Avi Armoza has bought back his Tel Aviv formats company from ITV Studios.

Following the deal, Armoza Formats will return to independent status, but retain the exclusive rights to produce ITV Studios formats in Israel.

ITV Studios, ITV’s production and distribution wing, will retain the rights to the Armoza Formats catalog it acquired in 2019.

Known as one of the more successful indies in the international formats space, Armoza launched 19 years ago and built a reputation on entertainment shows such as Still Standing Marry Me Now and The Four. Those shows remain with ITV, but all future formats will be owned by Armoza. Ongoing productions aren’t affected.

In Israel, Armoza has produced ITV Studios formats such as Keshet’s upcoming version of dating show Love Island, plus three seasons of Come Dine With Me and two of quiz The 1% Club. An Arabic-language version of Come Dine With Me...

Prepare to cringe and chuckle in equal measure as Channel 5 presents “When Sex On TV Goes Horribly Wrong,” airing this Sunday at 10:00 Pm. In this eye-opening documentary, viewers are taken on a wild ride through some of the most unforgettable and, at times, cringeworthy moments of on-screen intimacy.

From unexpected intergenerational encounters on “Come Dine with Me” to scandalous mile-high antics on “Footballer’s Wives” that sparked a frenzy of complaints, these tales of sex on the box are sure to leave audiences both entertained and astonished. Whether it’s a case of misplaced passion or risqué scenes that missed the mark, this documentary dives deep into the moments when on-screen romance turned into a major turn-off for viewers.

Join Channel 5 as they explore the highs and lows of television’s most titillating moments gone awry, offering a humorous and insightful look at the intersection of sex and television.

This Thursday at 6:00 Pm on Channel 4, “Come Dine with Me” ventures to Dundee and Perth, introducing the charismatic host, Guy, into the culinary arena. Known for his days as an ex-British champion racing driver, Guy shifts gears and takes the wheel in the kitchen, intending to treat his guests to a night of gastro-style fast food.

Viewers can expect an evening filled with the revved-up energy of Guy as he aims to wow his fellow contestants with a unique flavor inspired by life on the track. As the fourth host in this week’s culinary showdown, Guy brings a competitive spirit to the dining table, promising a feast of flavors and an atmosphere that mirrors the excitement of the racetrack.

Tune in at 6:00 Pm for an episode of “Come Dine with Me” that guarantees a culinary journey with a dash of adrenaline, as Guy aims to prove...

Actor and comedian Ewen MacIntosh, best known for playing Keith Bishop in Ricky Gervais’ original U.K. series of “The Office,” has died. He was 50.

“It is with a heavy heart I can confirm the very sad news of our client Ewen’s passing,” his management company said in a statement to Variety. “Ewen was a wonderful actor and an even better human being. He made people laugh and possessed such a kind heart. He touched the lives of all who came into contact with him. Ewen suffered from ill health these past two years and passed peacefully on the 19th February from undisclosed causes. His family are heartened by and deeply appreciate all the outpouring of love for Ewen but would appreciate the privacy for them to grieve at this very difficult time.”

Born in Wales, MacIntosh appeared in various shows on stage and screen, including “Little Britain” and...

Get ready for an evening of elegance and culinary delights on “Come Dine with Me” as cleaner Hannah steps up to the plate! Airing at 6:00 Pm on Tuesday, February 20th, on Channel 4, this episode titled “Hannah” promises a night of glitz, glam, and a touch of class.

Hannah is determined to dazzle her fellow contestants and the viewers at home with her home-cooked creations. With her sights set on the prize, she’s pulling out all the stops to impress with her culinary skills.

But will Hannah’s ambition and attention to detail be enough to outshine the competition? As she sets the table and prepares her menu, viewers will be on the edge of their seats to see if she can wipe the floor with her rivals and sweep up the coveted prize.

Don’t miss out on the excitement as Hannah vies for culinary supremacy on “Come Dine with Me.

Channel 4 invites viewers to an enchanting evening with the multi-award-winning mind reader and magician, the ‘Amazing’ Anthony, on “Come Dine with Me.” Airing at 6:00 Pm on Monday, February 19th, 2024, this episode promises a feast for both the palate and the senses as Anthony dazzles his guests with dishes close to his heart.

As a master of illusion and culinary delights, Anthony aims to leave his guests spellbound with his magical creations. With each dish carefully crafted to delight and surprise, viewers can expect a dining experience unlike any other.

But the question remains: will Anthony’s culinary skills match his mesmerizing performances on stage? Can he weave his magic in the kitchen and win the grand prize? With his reputation on the line, Anthony faces the ultimate challenge of impressing his fellow diners and securing the coveted title of Come Dine with Me champion.

Don’t miss out...

This Friday, February 2nd, 2024, at 6:00 Pm on Channel 4, viewers are in for a treat with an episode of “Come Dine with Me” featuring Kerry, a creative jewellery designer. Kerry is set to host an evening that promises a unique blend of culinary delights and personal flair, hoping to impress her guests with a cozy and communal dining experience.

Kerry’s approach to the evening is all about share-and-tear fare, aiming to create a warm, homey atmosphere where her guests can bond over food. The menu features handmade pizzas, a universally loved dish that she hopes will win over her guests with its fresh, authentic taste. However, not everything goes as planned, as the night unfolds with a series of unexpected events.

In an intriguing twist, Kerry’s guests stumble upon mysterious discoveries in her jewellery workshop. This peek into her professional world adds an element of surprise and fascination to the evening,...

Pictures: Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox

We’re only a handful of days into the New Year, but we’re already receiving news of what movies and TV shows will leave Netflix UK in February 2024.

In case you missed it, we’re also keeping track of all of the movies and TV shows leaving Netflix UK in January 2024. If you’re looking for the US removals list, you can find all the departures for those in our February list here.

As a reminder, we typically get word of Netflix removals around 30 days before they’re due to happen. Netflix removes titles because much of its library consists of licensed titles. These licensed titles are essentially rented to Netflix for a fixed period of time, and when that time is up, they’re removed from the platform.

Unlike the United States, Netflix UK doesn’t confirm or publicize its own list of removals,...

Exclusive: Jobs are under threat at ITV Studios-backed Scared of the Dark and Come Dine With Me producer MultiStory Media as the indie kickstarts a formal consultation process.

Deadline understands a handful of the producer’s circa-80 staff could be made redundant as part of the process that started last week. If there are layoffs, the number leaving will be in the single figures, we understand.

A MultiStory spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have entered into formal consultation with colleagues and are supporting them during this time. As you can imagine, it would be inappropriate to share any further details at this stage, and as such, we will not be making any further comment.”

The news comes several months after Channel 4 abruptly canceled MultiStory’s high-profile reboot of former Sky reality series Four Weddings.

The ITV Studios-backed company rebranded from Shiver around four years ago to...

Paramount Global will combine its free streaming services Pluto TV and My5, the video-on-demand service of British broadcaster Channel 5, in the U.K. next year.

The entertainment conglomerate said on Wednesday that the move will bring together broadcast video-on-demand (Bvod) service My5 “with its leading Fast service Pluto TV to bring audiences in the U.K. a supersized, free streaming service in 2024.” It called the U.K. a “critical market.”

The launch is planned for the second half of next year. “Further details on the brand and product will be announced in early 2024,” Paramount said on Wednesday.

However, it promised “an extensive range of new, exclusive and archived content from Channel 5, as well as an extensive on-demand section and an outstanding collection of curated Fast channels from Pluto TV.” And it highlighted: “The product, which will leverage Pluto TV’s best-in-class technology platform, will combine Bvod, Fast, AVOD and live TV all at once,...

As commissioning budgets continue to tighten, and with content powerhouses feeling the economic squeeze, there is renewed pressure to think laterally in the international formats business.

“Producers are struggling to survive. People need to up their game and think outside the box in terms of their business models and how shows are made,” says Jan Salling, co-chairman of the Format Recognition and Protection Assn. (Frapa) an organization that seeks to protect the rights of format creators and head of BBC Studios Nordic, international production and formats. “The old distribution model is broken.”

He adds: “The days when streamers invested to establish their brand without thinking about a return are over. Everyone is looking for a return on their investment and slimming down to accommodate the new situation in the market.”

Nevertheless, for those attending Mipcom hoping to find a format capable of delivering audiences and advertisers at scale, there will...

Jochen Koestler will take up the position of executive vice president non-fiction at German media company Leonine Studios on Jan. 1, 2024.

Together with CEO Fred Kogel, he will head the group’s non-fiction production division, which includes production banners gebrueder beetz Filmproduktion, hyperbole Medien, i&u TV, Madame Zheng Production and Seo Entertainment.

From January 2025, he will assume sole overall responsibility for Leonine Studios’ non-fiction production business.

In addition, Koestler will join the management board of Cologne-based i&u TV, one of the leading production companies for information and entertainment programs, on Jan. 1, 2024, where he will be responsible for the entire entertainment division, including the genres show and comedy.

As managing director of i&u TV, Andreas Zaik will remain responsible for the information productions comprising the weekly news magazine “Stern TV” as well as documentaries and will continue to act as chairman of the management board. As chief digital officer of...

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has addressed the Russell Brand allegations for the first time, urging the UK TV industry not to become “synonymous with the scandals of #MeToo.”

Speaking at the Rts Cambridge Convention, Frazer wouldn’t go into detail on the allegations that emerged over the weekend but delivered a calling card to the wider industry to provide “places where people feel safe, where working cultures are responsible and accountable and don’t allow abuses of power.”

“I would urge all of you as leaders in your industry to look hard at your culture and processes in your own organizations and lead change if change is needed,” she added.

“This is an industry that young people grew up dreaming of working in, one where the sky is the limit for talent. It is incumbent on all of us to make sure this industry is synonymous with talent, opportunity and inclusivity,...

Watching an international version of Taskmaster has the uncanny quality of trying to explain a dream. The sets are the same, but also not. The theme music’s a match, but it’s playing over people and tasks you don’t recognise. The Taskmaster was there, but it wasn’t the Taskmaster, just some other tall man in a suit. And instead of the familiar comedian configuration of ‘two off telly, two off Twitter and one you’ve never heard of’, you (probably) haven’t heard of anybody.

Once you have your bearings though, free Taskmaster! Multiple new-to-you episodes to fill the gap while we wait for series 16. And it’s good stuff. The New Zealand version is particularly strong, with an excellent choice of Taskmaster’s Assistant and consistently funny comedians. Also, thanks to (the show’s own) joke that New Zealand has a population of just eight people,...

U.K. broadcaster ITV’s total external revenues declined 2% to £1.63 billion ($2.11 billion), according to half year financial results released on Thursday.

The decline, which is due to a challenging advertising market, was offset by growth in ITV Studios and digital revenues.

Earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (Ebita) plunged to £133 million from £295 million during the same period last year. Statutory profit before tax was £45 million, a steep drop from the £219 million declared during the 2022 half yearly results.

Group adjusted Ebita was down 52% at £152 million, which the “Love Island” broadcaster said was “as expected” and reflected the challenging advertising market and the planned investment in streamer Itvx.

Media and entertainment revenue was down 9% at £964 million, with total advertising revenue (Tar) down 11%. Within this, digital advertising revenue was up 24% to £179 million. Media and entertainment adjusted Ebita was £23 million, down from £194 million in 2022.

Total ITV Studios revenue was up 8% to £1 billion, driven by the U.

Exclusive: ITV Studios has struck its 17th I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! territory sale and is heading out on a renewed U.S. pitching drive.

The Greek version of the 20-year-old format will launch on free-to-air network Skai TV in the autumn and be filmed in the Dominican Republic. Produced by Acun Medya, the series will follow the same format as the original, with a group of celebrities taken to a jungle where they compete in challenges and are slowly voted off by the public. Versions in French Canada, Hungary and Romania have been ordered of late, along with an All Stars spin-off in the UK.

“The format’s ability to engage viewers across multiple platforms and consistently deliver high ratings shows its enduring appeal and entertainment value,” said Ruth Berry, ITV Studios’ MD of Global Partnerships.

“The big territory”

Speaking to Deadline, the outfit’s...

While scripted TV tends to get more attention than unscripted programming, the executives gathered in Cannes this week for the 60th MIPTV international television market know that formats like reality TV and game shows help pay the bills.

And with budgets for high-end TV tightening worldwide, making more money off of those formats has never been as important as it is now.

For giant ITV Studios, home to a 90,000-strong catalog of more than 250 titles, including global formats Love Island, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and The Voice, extending established brands across different platforms has become a key to future growth.

ITV Studio veteran Ruth Berry, giving MIPTV’s Media Mastermind keynote on Tuesday, talked up how the group has pushed its non-scripted shows into the multiverse, with I’m a Celebrity jungle trials in Fortnite and metaverse extensions of The Voice.

“I’m so fortunate...

ITV Studios has forged a Global Partnerships division combining formats and finished tape, helmed by the newly-promoted Ruth Berry, who detailed her new role, the Plimsoll acquisition and Fast opportunities.

Berry said the move to rebrand Global Distribution and Global Entertainment is “emblematic of the inspiration for us to partner in a broader, deeper way with more content across our portfolio.”

“There is a fair amount of overlap in our clients looking at both formats and scripted,” Berry told Mip TV.

“If we can bring that all together we can really focus these conversations and look at how we can leverage the breadth and scale of our portfolio with what our buyers need.”

Berry, who now oversees a 90,000-strong catalog with more than 250 formats, took on the newly combined finished tape/formats role late last year, at which point Arjan Pomper departed the business. Soon after, former Film and TV...

Multistory Media Bolsters Entertainment Team

ITV Studios label MultiStory Media has bolstered its entertainment team. Simone Haywood has been promoted to Creative Director for MultiStory London, while Jon Cahn has joined as Executive Producer and Zinia Scroggs has been appointed Series Editor. Haywood was previously Head of Factual Entertainment, steering shows such as Scared of the Dark for Channel 4, BBC Three’s Project Icon, Big Flower Fight for Netflix and Come Dine With Me for Channel 4. Reporting to Chief Creative Officer Ana de Moraes, she will work with Ceri Aston, Creative Director at MultiStory North. Cahn most recently worked on the Danny Dyer-hosted, celebrity show Scared of the Dark, with other credits including Channel 4’s Sas: Who Dares Wins and Married at First Sight. Scroggs is currently working on Project Icon with previous credits inlcuding BBC Three’s Glow Up. “Simone is fearless about breaking new ground and...

Distribution

BFI Distribution has acquired Joanna Hogg’s gothic ghost story “The Eternal Daughter,” starring Tilda Swinton in a dual role, for theatrical release in the U.K. and Ireland and will release in cinemas this fall. In the film, an artist and her elderly mother confront long-buried secrets when they return to a former family home, now a hotel haunted by its mysterious past.

The film had its world premiere at Venice in 2022 and also screened at the London and Toronto festivals. Alongside its wider distribution, it will also screen at London’s BFI Southbank as part of a complete Hogg retrospective season, which will run alongside a program of films that have influenced her work. The film is the BFI’s second acquisition from A24, following “God’s Creatures” earlier this year.

Executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Rose Garnett and coproduced by Eimhear McMahon, the film is produced by Hogg alongside Ed Guiney,...

‘Love Island’ Heads To Israel

Israel has become the latest destination to embrace Love Island, with ITV Studios-backed Armoza Formats set to produce a local version for new Keshet streamer Free TV. Filming will take place in May for a summer air date, as Israel becomes the 26th territory to commission a version following the announcement of Malta and Albania last week. Avi Armoza’s ITV Studios-backed The Four creator Armoza Formats is producing the local version. The company, which was acquired by ITV Studios in 2019, pivoted earlier this year to become ITV Studios’ production arm in Israel and has already produced two local versions of Come Dine with Me for Kan 11 along with the likes of The 1 Club and The Chase. The show will air on Free TV, Keshet and Rge’s streamer that is set to launch early next year. “Since establishing Armoza Productions and producing hits...

ITV is taking a walk on the fabulous side of life with the one-off show, Queens for the Night.

For one night only, six male celebrities will step into the heels of drag queens as they show off their various performance skills.

From dance with Chris Hughes, to a lipsync challenge with Mr Motivator, the show is all about fun and an appreciation of the art of drag.

Lorraine Kelly takes on hosting duties and is joined by a star-studded judging panel: singer and Spice Girl Melanie C, comedian Rob Beckett, Bad Education and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie actor Layton Williams and international drag star Courtney Act.

But who is Courtney Act, and where have you seen her before? Find out all you need to know below...

Courtney Act has been a known drag performer since the Noughties and had her first taste of fame when she competed on...

BBC Three has greenlit a drama following five underprivileged Black students who win scholarships to an elite British boarding school from BAFTA-nominated Timewasters creator Daniel Lawrence Taylor and Three Girls producer Studio Lambert.

In Boarders, the students, who are all based in inner-city London, will find out what life is like in a Harry Potter-esque world as they learn about themselves, their identities and forge crushes, friendships and enemies. The BBC said the six-parter will “look at the experience of going to a top public school from a unique perspective.”

Boarders is Lawrence Taylor’s first BBC writing gig. He is best known for creating ITV2’s BAFTA-nominated Timewasters, a satirical show about time travel that he also stars in. Having also been home to the likes of Normal People and Gavin and Stacey, BBC Three could catapult him to stardom.

“As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow momentum,...

Exclusive: Channel 4 has greenlit formats on auctions and dogs in the search for its next Gogglebox-style international smash via the £30M (£37M) two-year Global Format Fund, which has kicked off its third funding round.

Responsibility for the fund has passed from Head of Factual Entertainment Alf Lawrie to Senior Commissioning Editor Vivienne Molokwu, one of the architects of last year’s Black to Front day of programing, who unveiled The Dog Academy and The Greatest Auction to Deadline.

In the former, difficult dogs will be sent to an academy by their desperate owners and a crack team of Britain’s top trainers will help them in dog management skills and dog psychology. The show comes from former Channel 4 Head of Documentaries Nick Mirksy’s Five Mile Films shingle.

Meanwhile, Salvage Hunters producer Curve Media’s The Greatest Auction takes a competitive, youthful twist on the traditional auction genre...

Some of the UK’s biggest stars and creators issued passionate defences of Channel 4 at tonight’s BAFTA TV Awards in the wake of the UK government’s decision to privatize it.

Big names, from 12 Years A Slave creator Steve McQueen to Studio Lambert founder Stephen Lambert and comedy presenter Mo Gilligan, used their BAFTA victory speeches to back the network and criticize the government’s decision.

McQueen, who won Best Factual Series for BBC doc Uprising, said passionately: “The BBC and Channel 4 are things we have to hold on tight to and fight every inch for.”

Lambert, whose production company has created some of the network’s biggest hits, including Come Dine With Me and Gogglebox, which won for Reality & Constructed Factual, described the government’s move as a “destructive plan.”

“If the government goes ahead with this plan to sell Channel 4 then a big part of...

Fremantle International Bolsters Scripted

Fremantle International has bolstered its scripted content team, promoting Rebecca Dundon to Senior Vice President, Scripted Content and bringing in former ITV Studios and BBC Studios exec Jill Kellie in the newly-created Director of Acquisitions, Scripted Content role, reporting into Dundon. Both will work on scripted programming for Fremantle International, with Dundon, who has been with Fremantle for six years, widening her role to include the development of new funding models and producer outreach. Fremantle label Dancing Ledge was behind Martin Freeman-starring BBC One drama The Responder and the outfit is also producing Italian dystopian drama Anna and Germany’s We Children of Bahnhof Zoo, amongst others. Kellie is a former Global Scripted Consultant for ITV Studios Global Distribution and Commercial Director, BBC Earth for BBC Studios. “Rebecca’s expertise in deal making and development has helped elevate our business to deliver a number of...

Avi Armoza’s 17-year-old company Armoza Formats is becoming the Israeli production arm for ITV Studios, Variety can reveal.

The business, which has specialized in global formats, will expand under the new structure to become Armoza Productions. Meanwhile, Armoza Formats will remain the development hub for new format IP and will continue to serve as the brand used for international distribution.

Armoza told Variety that the company’s expansion boils down to “facing the challenges of the new world of television.”

“With consolidation and the global streamers, and the fact that often you need to sell worldwide rights, how do you complement [your] income? It’s raised the importance of being a production company and being part of a production group,” said Armoza. “It’s a natural development and extension that we get into production.”

The company will produce all ITV Studios content out of Israel in the future, and is...

Andrew Neil Handed Channel 4 Politics Show

Andrew Neil, the British news heavyweight who launched Gb News last year before leaving within weeks, is to host a Sunday night political show on Channel 4. Sunday Politics with Andrew Neil (working title) will see the ex-BBC presenter and founding Sky Chairman interview high-profile politicians and newsmakers, accompanied by a weekly podcast. Channel 4 News producer ITN Productions will produce the half hour show. Neil has had a hugely successful 50-year career but was left embarrassed last year after launching Gb News then leaving within weeks due to differences of political opinion with the other founders. He is known for grilling politicians and attracted the government’s ire in 2019 when he called out Prime Minister Boris Johnson for failing to appear on his show. Speaking at a Freeview event in November, Neil said he didn’t want Gb News to be the...

Arjan Pomper has been promoted to managing director, global entertainment, at “Love Island” producer ITV Studios. Pomper reports into David McGraynor, chief operating officer, ITV Studios.

He replaces Maarten Meijs, who has joined John de Mol’s Netherlands based media company Talpa as CEO.

ITV Studios also produces prominent formats “The Voice,” “The Chase,” “I Am A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!,” “Come Dine With Me” and “Walk The Line.” The global entertainment division is is responsible for selling and monetising ITV Studios unscripted formats around the world and Pomper is tasked with growing the global formats business.

Pomper joined the division as chief operating officer in Sept. 2020 and since October last year, has been jointly running the business with Kim Dingler, who will continue in her role as chief commercial officer.

Pomper has had previous stints as as CEO of Netherlands, Middle East and Africa at media and...

Tom O’Connor, the British comedian and host of game shows like “Crosswits,” “Password” and “Name That Tune,” has died. He was 81.

O’Connor’s family told the BBC that the comedian, who had Parkinson’s disease for over a decade, died in a hospital in Buckinghamshire on Sunday.

O’Connor began his career in show business on the talent show “Opportunity Knocks,” which he won three times. His television breakthrough was on the show “The Comedians,” where he performed stand-up sets. But O’Connor was best known as the host of several classic game shows, including “Crosswits,” “Password,” “Name That Tune,” “The Zodiac Game” and “Gambit.”

Born on Oct. 31, 1939 in Bootle, Merseyside in England, O’Connor originally became a math and music teacher at a school in Bootle, performing at night in the working men’s clubs of the time. After appearing on “Opportunity Knocks” and “The Comedians,” O’Connor...

Tom O’Connor, a comedian and television show host for decades in the UK, died Sunday in a hospital in Buckinghamshire at age 81 of complications related to Parkinson’s disease.

His son, Steve Finan O’Connor, said he was a “unique comedian who was light years ahead of political correctness.” He added, “Tom was famously known for a brand of humour that was 100% clean and always totally family friendly.”

Born in Bootle, Merseyside, O’Connor started out as a teacher. His early show business days was as a singer, before introducing comedy into his act. That won him attention from TV scouts, and he soon was hosting shows like Pick Pockets and The Zodiac Game.

He also won attention for the show Opportunity Knocks, which he won three times.

O’Connor became a staple of British television, starring in The Comedians and hosting shows like Name That Tune, Crosswits, I’ve Got a Secret,...

Channel 4 has spelled out what could be at risk if the UK government pushes ahead with proposals to sell the iconic broadcaster behind hits including The Great British Bake Off and It’s A Sin.

The noise around privatization has grown significantly louder in recent weeks, with ministers expected to launch a consultation on the matter, alerting potential buyers to a prized piece of UK broadcasting real estate.

Speaking as Channel 4 published its annual report on Tuesday, CEO Alex Mahon told journalists that a sale “could possibly damage some of those things that we do for the sector and that we do for the UK.”

Specifically, she pointed to Channel 4’s unique remit as a not-for-profit publisher broadcaster and the role it has played in building the UK’s world-leading independent production sector since its launch in 1982.

Producers retain rights to shows Channel 4 commissions and then exploit them around the world,...

ITV America, the production company behind CBS’ Love Island, Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen and ABC’s The Chase, is banking on a non-scripted boom.

The company has also sold a slew of projects to the streamers in recent months and is retooling a raft of international formats that it hopes will bolster its business further.

CEO David George tells Deadline which of these it has high hopes for and how the business is changing, forcing it to adapt its unscripted strategy.

George believes that long-running British format Come Dine with Me is perfect post-pandemic fodder and is also in talks to bring back a retooled version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.

Come Dine with Me (below), which has aired over 1,000 episodes in the UK on Channel 4, follows a group of amateur chefs who host a three-course dinner party. The show has previously been remade in the U.

British broadcaster Channel 4 has unveiled plans to launch a £30M ($40M) Global Format Fund to secure a bigger cut of international content sales as it bids to generate 40% of its revenue from non-tv advertising sources.

The Format Fund, detailed today as part of Channel 4’s so-called Future4 strategy, will involve the broadcaster investing early in the development of non-scripted shows with international potential. Think Gogglebox or Come Dine With Me, which started life in the UK on Channel 4 and have gone on to have success on the world stage.

Channel 4 will partner with producers at an early stage and back ideas with guaranteed minimum series runs and recommissioning triggers upfront. It will also commit to certain levels of marketing support for the shows selected under the two-year scheme and provide audience intelligence to bolster global sales materials. Producers will retain control of international rights, but in return for its upfront commitment,...

Netflix’s UK vice president of original series Anne Mensah is to chair the Royal Television Society’s Craft & Design Awards. The awards, which take place in November, are now open for entries and a Casting Award has been added as a new category. The 31 categories also include Make Up Design: Drama and Director: Multicamera. Mensah said: “As we face unprecedented times in the television industry, it is even more important we recognize the tireless creativity and hard work that goes into the amazing output of the UK television community.”

Come Dine With Me is going to be remade in Arabic for the first time after ITV Studios sold the hit format to Middle Eastern broadcaster Osn. Yalla Neta’asha will be produced by ITV Studios Middle East and filmed in the United Arab Emirates over the summer, with 45 episodes being produced. Rolla Karam, interim chief content officer at Osn,...

Netflix is bolstering its global entertainment formats team, hiring “The Circle” exec producer Daisy Lilley to work out of its London office, Variety has confirmed.

Lilley has joined Netflix as a manager in its London-based operation, working closely with former ITV commissioner Ben Kelly.

She reports in to Sean Hancock, Netflix’s U.S.-based director of unscripted originals, and will be responsible for ordering global entertainment formats out of the U.K.

Netflix has stepped up its commissioning of entertainment formats out of the U.K., and recently enjoyed success with “Too Hot to Handle,” a reality dating competition produced by Fremantle-owned U.K. entertainment label Talkback. On May 18, Netlfix also launched “The Big Flower Fight,” produced by the U.K.’s MultiStory Media.

Netflix has also commissioned U.S., Brazilian and French versions of Studio Lambert format “The Circle,” which Lilley developed and then executive produced.

In October,...

Exclusive: Netflix is continuing its push for UK-originated entertainment formats after hiring The Circle exec producer Daisy Lilley in its non-fiction team.

Lilley has joined the streamer as a manager in its London-based division, reporting to Sean Hancock, its U.S-based director of unscripted originals. She will work closely with former ITV commissioner Ben Kelly, who Deadline revealed last year had joined in a similar role.

She will be responsible for ordering global entertainment formats out of the UK.

The hire comes as its latest UK-developed entertainment show, Too Hot To Handle, a reality dating competition produced by Fremantle’s Talkback, launched on the service last month.

Netflix’s own U.S. take on The Circle, the British format produced by Studio Lambert and Motion Content Group, launched on the service in January with Brazilian and French adaptations as well.

Lilley was one of the exec producers of The Circle for All3Media-backed Studio Lambert.

Nailed It: Season 4 is a high energy show that shows a side to amateur baking that we, as an audience, never really get to see – one that will have you all shouting at the screen and rolling in laughter!

If you have not heard of this show before, Nailed It is a series which features completely amateur bakers taking part in the show to try and bake some of the most complicated and difficult cakes I have ever seen, with the hopes of winning some cash. Due to the contestant’s lack of skills it leads to some very hilarious scenes – and cakes – at the end of the show. I think too many times we hear of people who have never baked before being able to make the most wonderful cakes so its nice to see the actual struggle in baking.

This show is hosted by Nicole Byer and...

In this week’s International TV Newswire Variety checks out Netflix’s new and explosive trailer for “Money Heist: Part 4,” details Mediapro’s 2019 results, and reviews hirings and promotions at ViacomCBS, Frapa and Red Arrow’s Studio71.

Netflix Drops Trailer For “Money Heist: Part 4”

Netflix launched a new trailer for Part 4 of Spanish original series “Money Heist,” (“La Casa de Papel”), its highest profile non-English-language series to date.

Whereas Part 3 saw the surviving members of a misfit band of bank robbers get the band back together after spreading across the globe, Part 4 feels almost claustrophobic as Tokyo, the Professor and the whole gang, including – it seems – fan-favorite Berlin, are back in Madrid and most cleaning out the Banco de España, an iconic landmark in the center of Madrid.

From the moment Nairobi is brought in on a stretcher, covered in blood, it’s clear that Part 4’s heist has upped the ante.

Distributor Banijay Rights has struck a first-look deal with U.K. factual and formats producer Chatterbox, a relatively new production company founded by former Channel 4 commissioner Nav Raman and producer/director Ali Quirk.

Chatterbox last year picked up two BAFTA Children’s TV Awards for its BBC documentary “Leaving Care.”

Its agreement with Banijay gives the distributor exclusive access to Chatterbox’s slate of factual programming and formats.

The first title in the deal is BBC Three documentary “Stacey Dooley Investigates: The Whale Hunters,” which has rare access to a Norwegian commercial hunting vessel. Chatterbox has also landed a talent-led factual entertainment format and a new documentary, which it says is being directed by an Oscar and BAFTA award-winning producer.

Chatterbox co-founder Raman is a former Channel 4 factual entertainment commissioning editor, whose slate included “Brat Camp,” “Child Genius” and “The Unteachables,” while Quirk’s popular factual credits include “Gogglebox,...

ITV Studios has bought Armoza Formats. The Israel-based formats creator and distributor’s shows include “The Four,” which is on Fox in the U.S. It roster of shows also includes “Still Standing” and “I Can Do That.”

Founded by Avi Armoza, the Tel Aviv-based company specializes in unscripted formats. The deal will see ITV produce all new Armoza formats in territories where it has a production presence. Armoza currently sells its own formats internationally through its distribution arm. ITV also has a large sales division, but it said Armoza will continue to take its shows to market itself.

“Armoza always strives to be at the forefront of creativity and stay ahead of the challenges in our industry, and we are therefore thrilled to be joining ITV Studios,” said Avi Armoza, who is a well-known figure on the international TV circuit. “We both share the same values and passion...

Miami — Turner Latin America and Mexico’s Dopamine, a Salinas Group company, have struck a production alliance to develop and produce three original series: “Tu parte del trato,” “Amarres” and “Coyatl.”

The pact adds to the Natpe announcement on Monday of “Las Bravas F.C,” the first series in Turner Latin America’s five-year strategic production partnership with Mediapro.

In another deal, ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Turner Latin America announced Tuesday an exclusive non-scripted representation and formats production deal for Tla on ITV formats for Latin America.

The Dopamine, Mediapro and ITV partnerships give further force to the muscular build in original production volume by the Warner Media-owned Turner Latin America, as it seeks to expand even more its leading pay TV market share of 26%, and prepare for an Ott and skinny bundle age.

Three highly contrasting series, all to be produced out of Mexico, the Dopamine trio also...