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ITV Pays $30M For Controlling Stake In ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ Producer Thinkfactory Media
5 hours ago
In yet another U.S. acquisition, Britain’s ITV is taking a controlling stake in reality, entertainment and drama producer Thinkfactory Media. Among the company’s credits are the award-winning miniseries Hatfields & McCoys. ITV will pay $30M for a 65% share of the company with a put and call option to buy the remaining 35%. The option could be exercised from between 3 years after the initial deal and at the end of year 5 with the total amount paid linked to the performance of the company over that period. Late last year, ITV acquired a controlling interest in Duck Dynasty producer Gurney Productions and in May it took a slice of Cake Boss maker High Noon Entertainment. Other recent acquisitions include UK production company The Garden. The takeovers are part of ITV’s five-year Transformation Plan. La-based Thinkfactory was founded in 1992 by Leslie Greif. Its portfolio includes R&B Divas, Preachers’ Daughters, Marriage »
- NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
Emmys Q&A: Mitch Hurwitz
10 hours ago
Paul Brownfield is an AwardsLine contributor. On May 26 at 12:01 a.m., 15 new episodes of Arrested Development went live on Netflix; by 5 a.m., the series’ legions of fans probably had exhausted the new supply. The comedy’s cancellation of Arrested by Fox in 2006, after two seasons, prompted an afterlife of rumors and almost-announcements, as series creator Mitch Hurwitz worked on a feature script of his cult series. Like the fans, Hurwitz didn’t want to let go of his extended band of crazies, the Bluths, either. And then Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, suggested resurrecting the show to Imagine Entertainment’s Ron Howard. “And Ron said, ‘That’s a very nice thought, I don’t think it’s ever going to happen,’” Hurwitz says. Except it did happen. Related: Emmys: Comedy Series Overview AwardsLine: How different was the process in working with Netflix? Mitch Hurwitz: I wasn’t turning scripts in, »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Talent Managers Association Elects Annet McCroskey President
10 hours ago
Exclusive: Annet McCroskey of Artistic Endeavors has been elected President of the Talent Managers Association, the non-profit organization created in 1954 to promote the talent management biz. Three months ago Phil Brock of Studio Talent Group stepped down from the post after serving for two years. Then-Board of Directors VP McCroskey filled in back in March when Brock suddenly vacated the position. She’ll now become the organization’s first female president in 20 years. Longtime Harrison Ford manager Pat McQueeney was elected to the post in 1980 and Christina Applegate’s manager Tami Lynn served in 1993. “Many of us were moved by Laura Linney’s acceptance speech this week at the Wif Crystal + Lucy Awards about women in entertainment and how much more progress we have to make as an industry,” said McCroskey. “As an organization we strive to be equally inclusive of all of our members and mentor other managers to »
- JEN YAMATO
Time Warner Cable Sued For Passing Lakers-Dodgers Costs On To Customers
12 hours ago
Time Warner Cable raised a lot of eyebrows when it paid $3B for TV rights to the La Lakers for the next 20 years and then a record $8B for La Dodgers rights for the next 25 years. When the Dodgers deal launches in 2014, the cable company will have four new networks for all that content. But the plan to partially pay for those new channels via boosting TWC customers’ fees — even from Southern California users who don’t want the channels and have no way to opt out of the bundles — apparently is not sitting well. Some of those customers filed a class action suit in La Superior Court today targeting TWC, the Lakers and the Dodgers for restitution and injunctive relief for violating California Business & Professions Code 172000. The complaint (read it here) says unless restrained by the court, TWC will “pass these costs along to its total Southern California subscriber base, »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Fox Business Fires Tobin Smith Over Off-Air Stock Tout That Netted His Company $50K
12 hours ago
Fox Business Network had some business advice for Tobin Smith today: Find work elsewhere. The investment manager and author who has been a familiar face on Fox News confirmed his sacking to the Wall Street Journal, which reported earlier in the day that Smith was in hot water over “sponsored investment research.” His Nbt Equities Research collects checks to tout the stocks of small companies via such paid research, which the businesses count on to boost their share price and volume. And last week, Smith – a regular panelist on Fox News’ Bulls & Bears – sent out an email and ad flier via his new Next Big Thing newsletter touting Petrosonic Energy. The campaign came with a disclaimer saying it was paid advertising, for which Nbt banked $50,000, and he did not mention Petrosonic on the air at Fox News. But some investors who bought into the company based on Smith’s recommendation »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Oxygen Greenlights ‘Secret Celebrity’ Series Executive Produced By Wendy Williams
13 hours ago
Exclusive: I’ve learned that Oxygen has quietly given the green light to Secret Celebrity, a reality series produced by T Group Prods, which Wendy Williams executive produces as part of her first-look deal with the cable network. Per Oxygen’s description when the project was announced in February as being in development, Secret Celebrity features stars in disguise as they surprise unsuspecting fans, friends and family. I hear celebrities who already have filmed episodes of the show include Nick Lachey, Ice-t & Coco and LuAnn de Lesseps, who just signed on to return to The Real Housewives Of New York on sibling Bravo. T Group’s Jenny Daly executive produces with Williams and Gunnar Wetterberg. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Changes At NBC’s ‘Today’: Joe Michaels Moved To Senior Director
13 hours ago
In the latest upheaval at NBC‘s ratings-challenged Today show, longtime director Joe Michaels has been named senior director of the show, the network said today. No word from NBC on what his specific responsibilities will be, but a source with knowledge of the situation says he will manage large initiatives and projects on the technical/directorial side, such as Today’s coverage of the Winter Olympics next February. There’s no word on who would be replacing Michaels as director of the morning news show. Today‘s ratings have been slipping for years but the program managed to keep its No. 1 slot until Ann Curry’s ouster last June. Since then, ABC’s Good Morning America has taken over the top spot. Last month Gma continued its dominance over Today by beating the NBC show by 1.6 million viewers. That’s the largest single-day total viewership spread Gma has had »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Reed Elsevier Countersues Variety Media
14 hours ago
Variety Media last month in New York added the trade publication’s former owners Reed Elsevier and Reed Business Information to its kickbacks and fraud case against branding company Beverly Hills Media Group, seeking $10M in damages in New York state Supreme Court for breach of contract and declaratory relief. Today, Reed has countersued, claiming it’s owed $1.3M more on the purchase price after Penske Media Corp acquired Variety in October 2012. Pmc is Deadline’s parent company. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Comedy ‘I Didn’t Do It’ Gets Series Order At Disney Channel
15 hours ago
Disney Channel has picked up to series comedy pilot I Didn’t Do It starring Olivia Holt (Disney Xd’s Kickin’ It, Disney Channel’s Girl Vs. Monster) and newcomer Austin North (Kickin’ It). Created by Tod Himmel (90210) and Josh Silverstein (So Random!), I Didn’t Do It centers on ultra-competitive fraternal twins Lindy and Logan Watson (Holt, North), who, together with their best friends (Piper Curda, Sarah Gilman, Peyton Clark), navigate their freshman year of high school. Each episode begins with a comedic “what just happened?” situation as Lindy and Logan each spin their own accounts in the form of flashbacks. Production will begin this summer in Los Angeles for a scheduled early 2014 premiere. Himmel and Judd Pillot executive produce, with Silverstein serving as supervising producer. The pickup comes on the heels of Disney Channel’s series order earlier this week to Boy Meets World sequel Girl Meets World. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
CNN’s ‘New Day’ Debut Up In Demo But Still Last Among Cable Rivals
15 hours ago
Well, looks like New Day has one bright spot in the morning for CNN. The jewel in Jeff Zucker’s rebranded network crown debuted yesterday down 7% in viewers but up 19% in the adults 25-54 demo compared with the same time slot a week ago. The new 6-9 Am morning show pulled in 247,000 total viewers Monday, with 95,000 in the key demo. However, the Chris Cuomo- and Kate Bolduan-hosted show with Michaela Pereira as news anchor still found itself No. 3 in viewers among the cable news morning shows, and No. 4 in the demo — even behind sister network Hln. And New Day’s numbers are down 19% among total viewers and 22% in the demo year to date. The show was up 15% in viewers but down 18% in the demo compared to CNN’s morning show offering on June 18, 2012. With the newly rehired Sarah Palin sitting in as a guest anchor, longtime leader Fox & Friends »
- DOMINIC PATTEN
Liv Tyler To Co-Star In Damon Lindelof’s HBO Pilot ‘The Leftovers’
15 hours ago
Exclusive: Liv Tyler is set to co-star opposite Justin Theroux in Damon Lindelof’s HBO drama pilot The Leftovers, directed by Peter Berg. Co-written by Lindelof and Tom Perrotta based on Perrotta’s book, the project takes place after the Rapture happens but not quite like it’s supposed to. It is the story of the people who didn’t make the cut… and a world that will never be the same. Tyler, repped by UTA and Untitled, will play Meg, a young woman on the verge of getting married, but needing an escape. As a result, she becomes a target for recruitment by members of an enigmatic cult. This marks the first TV gig for feature actress Tyler whose film credits include the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and The Incredible Hulk. She recently wrapped indies Space Station 76 and Jamie Marks Is Dead and wrote an etiquette book with her grandmother, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
DreamWorks Animation Launches Effort To Re-Position Itself As A Television Power
16 hours ago
The company told analysts this afternoon that it will produce 1,200 TV episodes over the next five years, which CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg says “will give us a significant footprint across the global TV landscape.” DreamWorks Animation is “now on a path to becoming one of the biggest producers and distributors” of television following yesterday’s agreement to create 300 hours of programming for Netflix and today’s deal to make up to 1,100 half-hours for Germany’s Super Rtl, which he calls “transformative.” All told, “it’s a big opportunity and a big undertaking.” Katzenberg adds that the company should see $100M in revenues from TV this year, about half of which will come from titles in the Classic Media library bought last year. Beginning 2015 the company expects to see at least $200M in TV revenue per year with gross profits of around 30%, close to what it sees from its films. Revenue from »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
NBC Greenlights Animated Special ‘How Murray Saved Christmas’
16 hours ago
NBC has ordered hourlong holiday musical special How Murray Saved Christmas from The Simpsons‘ writer/producer Mike Reiss. It’s scheduled to air in December 2014. Based on Reiss’ best-selling children’s book of the same name, the story centers on cranky deli owner Murray Kleiner, who is forced to fill in for Santa one Christmas and does a weirdly wonderful job. Walter Murphy (Ted, Family Guy) will compose the music of the special, produced by Universal TV. Rough Draft Animation will serve as the animation studio. Reiss has worked on The Simpsons since the show’s inception, at one point serving as exec producer/co-showrunner. His feature credits include The Simpsons Movie and Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaur. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Queen’s Corgis, Olympic Torch & More Are Top Excuses For UK TV License Fee Evaders
17 hours ago
British households with a television are required to pay an annual fee of £145.50 ($228) which goes towards funding public broadcaster the BBC. But more than 400,000 Britons were caught watching TV in the UK without having paid for a license in 2012, BBC News said today. Folks who believe they are exempt can make a “no license fee needed” claim to watchdog TV Licensing, with such valid reasons as having no TV set, if a TV is only used to watch DVDs or if catch-up services only are being accessed. Being caught without a valid license is a criminal offense and can come with a fine of up to £1,000, but even TV Licensing has kept a sense of humor about the recent revelations. Below are some of its favorite 2012 excuses from people caught without a permit: - “Why would I need a TV Licence for a TV I stole? Nobody knows I’ve »
- NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
FCC Nominee Tom Wheeler Vows To Move “Expeditiously” On Spectrum Auction
17 hours ago
President Obama’s choice to be FCC chairman deftly steered clear of controversies in the first part of his confirmation hearing today at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – which will be continued after a recess. Tom Wheeler says he’ll push ahead with the FCC’s effort to entice broadcasters to give up airwave spectrum so it can be auctioned to wireless broadband providers, although he called it a “monumental undertaking” that’s as complex as a Rubik’s Cube. He avoided taking a position on whether the FCC should regulate retransmission consent negotiations. Many lawmakers are frustrated by instances where an impasse in talks between broadcasters and pay TV providers left constituents unable to watch popular programs. “I look forward to looking into that issue and getting my arms around it” in light of recent and forthcoming court decisions, Wheeler said. “This is a situation that’s in flux. »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
Juan Antonio Bayona To Direct John Logan- Sam Mendes’ ‘Penny Dreadful’ At Showtime
17 hours ago
Showtime has officially announced that Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible, The Orphanage) will helm the first two episodes of the upcoming eight-episode drama series Penny Dreadful, created, written and executive produced by John Logan and executive produced by Sam Mendes and Neal Street’s Pippa Harris. The psychosexual horror series features some of literature’s most iconic figures — including Dr. Frankenstein and his creature, Dorian Gray, and characters from the novel Dracula — as then become embroiled in Victorian London, and will begin production in London this fall. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Mediabistro’s FishbowlLA No More
18 hours ago
The post today from Mediabistro editorial director Chris Ariens says the site is “taking five,” but it’s probably the end for the online media organization’s La outpost. FishbowlLA co-editor Richard Horgan is already aboard at flagship FishbowlNY where he will still cover Hollywood but now also a broader range of media stories. All existing FishbowlLA content will be archived on Fishbowl NY soon. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Claudia Lonow Signs Overall Deal With Universal Television
19 hours ago
Exclusive: How To Live With Your Parents creator Claudia Lonow has inked an overall deal with Universal Television. Under the pact, Lonow will join the writing staff of the studio’s upcoming NBC comedy series Sean Saves The World starring Sean Hayes and will also develop new projects. Wme-repped Lonow is a rare female comedy writer-producer who has created four shows that have gotten on the air: Accidentally On Purpose for CBS, Rude Awakening for Showtime, Good Girl’s Don’t for Oxygen and most recently How To Live With Your Parents for ABC this past midseason. “Claudia is a gifted writer and producer with a strong female comedic point of view,” Universal TV’s Evp Bela Bajaria said. “We know she’ll contribute greatly to our new comedy Sean Saves The World and enhances our strong roster of creative talent at Universal Television.” »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Showtime’s ‘Ray Donovan’ Debuts Online
19 hours ago
The first episode of Showtime‘s new series Ray Donovan has debuted on YouTube nearly two weeks ahead of its June 30 television premiere. The series stars Liev Schreiber as Ray, a “fixer” for La’s rich and famous whose life gets turned upside down when his father Mickey (Jon Voight) is released from prison. You can catch the entire first hourlong episode below: »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Jay Bienstock & Eugene Young Join A. Smith & Co. As Co-Managing Directors
19 hours ago
Leading reality production company A. Smith & Co. Productions has added veteran unscripted producers Jay Bienstock and Eugene Young as co-managing directors. The two will join the A. Smith’s senior leadership team alongside CEO Arthur Smith, president Kent Weed, and COO Frank Sinton. Bienstock and Young have spent the last three years running Bienstock Young Media, producing more than a dozen pilot and series, including Animal Intervention on Nat Geo Wild, Big Food for Cmt, and Times Up at MTV. The company will now be dissolved, with A. Smith & Co absorbing part of the Bienstoc -Young production slate. Last year, Bienstock and Young formed a partnership with Jay and Phil McGraw, which yielded several pilots in contention at A&E. In their new roles at A. Smith & Co, Bienstock and Young are charged with expanding the company’s production slate, which currently includes Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, American Ninja Warrior, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
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