Patrick Dempsey is heading to Mipcom in Cannes for the world premiere of his Sky-backed Italian drama Devils.
The Sky Italia financial thriller, produced by Lux Vide and Orange Studio, funded by Sky Studios and distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Global Distribution, will launch in the Palais on Monday October 14.
The Grey’s Anatomy star, along with co-stars Alessandro Borghi (Suburra) and Kasia Smutniak (Loro) will be in attendance.
Based on the best-selling novel by Italian trader Guido Maria Brera, the anticipated ten-part English-language series will be set in the London office of a major U.S. bank, where the ruthless Head of Trading, Massimo Ruggero (Borghi) from Italy, has been welcomed and introduced to the world of finance by Dominic Morgan (Dempsey), the bank’s CEO. When Ruggero ends up involved in an intercontinental financial war rocking Europe, he has to choose whether to ally himself with his mentor or fight him.
The Sky Italia financial thriller, produced by Lux Vide and Orange Studio, funded by Sky Studios and distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Global Distribution, will launch in the Palais on Monday October 14.
The Grey’s Anatomy star, along with co-stars Alessandro Borghi (Suburra) and Kasia Smutniak (Loro) will be in attendance.
Based on the best-selling novel by Italian trader Guido Maria Brera, the anticipated ten-part English-language series will be set in the London office of a major U.S. bank, where the ruthless Head of Trading, Massimo Ruggero (Borghi) from Italy, has been welcomed and introduced to the world of finance by Dominic Morgan (Dempsey), the bank’s CEO. When Ruggero ends up involved in an intercontinental financial war rocking Europe, he has to choose whether to ally himself with his mentor or fight him.
- 9/3/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Mipdrama Buyers’ Summit: Scale, Comedy, Noir
European drama serie production continues to scale up, is driving ever more into comedy, while Nordic Noir’s is still going international, if the selection of 10 productions at this year’s MipDrama Buyers’ Summit is anything to go by. Meanwhile, established players are driving ever more into drama series production.
Produced by Mammoth Screen, BBC One’s “World on Fire,” an epic drama about ordinary people in early WWII starring Sean Bean and Helen Hunt, weighs in as the Summit’s biggest series.
Also to be pitched via 15 minutes of extracts, however, is Norwegian broadcaster Nrk’s “Atlantic Crossing,” charting the relationship between Norway’s Crown Princess Märtha and Franklin D. Roosevelt (Kyle Maclachan).
Nordic Noir continues its global roll-out with Kiwi Noir – crime thriller “The Gulf,” chronicling a woman cop’s moral disintegration, another MipDrama entry – and Ukrainian Noir: Missing child crime drama-thriller “Hide and Seek.
European drama serie production continues to scale up, is driving ever more into comedy, while Nordic Noir’s is still going international, if the selection of 10 productions at this year’s MipDrama Buyers’ Summit is anything to go by. Meanwhile, established players are driving ever more into drama series production.
Produced by Mammoth Screen, BBC One’s “World on Fire,” an epic drama about ordinary people in early WWII starring Sean Bean and Helen Hunt, weighs in as the Summit’s biggest series.
Also to be pitched via 15 minutes of extracts, however, is Norwegian broadcaster Nrk’s “Atlantic Crossing,” charting the relationship between Norway’s Crown Princess Märtha and Franklin D. Roosevelt (Kyle Maclachan).
Nordic Noir continues its global roll-out with Kiwi Noir – crime thriller “The Gulf,” chronicling a woman cop’s moral disintegration, another MipDrama entry – and Ukrainian Noir: Missing child crime drama-thriller “Hide and Seek.
- 3/15/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
A report that Asia Argento has paid a former child actor and musician a settlement after an alleged sexual encounter when he was 17 is raising questions about her participation as a judge on “X Factor Italy.”
Argento has been one of the most outspoken voices against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and is an accuser of disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein. The New York Times’ report that Argento agreed to pay Jimmy Bennett $380,000 because of an alleged sexual encounter with him in 2013 took many by surprise. Bennett played the Italian actress-director’s son in her film “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things.”
Reactions from Italy’s media personalities have so far been muted, in a country where Argento has been criticized and ridiculed for speaking up against sexual harassment. But a growing number of Italians have taken to Twitter to demand that FremantleMedia Italy, which is producing “X Factor Italy,...
Argento has been one of the most outspoken voices against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and is an accuser of disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein. The New York Times’ report that Argento agreed to pay Jimmy Bennett $380,000 because of an alleged sexual encounter with him in 2013 took many by surprise. Bennett played the Italian actress-director’s son in her film “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things.”
Reactions from Italy’s media personalities have so far been muted, in a country where Argento has been criticized and ridiculed for speaking up against sexual harassment. But a growing number of Italians have taken to Twitter to demand that FremantleMedia Italy, which is producing “X Factor Italy,...
- 8/20/2018
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Colette first English-language film for buyer backed by Sky; will co-release with Good Films.
Wash Westmoreland’s (Still Alice) upcoming biopic Colette, starring Keira Knightley, will be the first international title released by major new Italian distributor Vision Distribution, which is backed by Sky Italia.
Vision will release the movie in partnership with Good Films who picked up the anticipated biopic from HanWay last year.
A launch date has yet to be finalised for the film, which is currently in production.
The Wire And The Affair star Dominic West stars opposite Keira Knightley in Colette, which is based on the colourful life of the French author who wrote Gigi and Cheri and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. Producers are Killer Films, Number 9 and Bold Films.
Shakeup
Headed by former Warner Bros. Italy managing director Nicola Maccanico, Vision Distribution is the Jv between Sky Italia - Italy’s top pay-tv provider - and major local producers...
Wash Westmoreland’s (Still Alice) upcoming biopic Colette, starring Keira Knightley, will be the first international title released by major new Italian distributor Vision Distribution, which is backed by Sky Italia.
Vision will release the movie in partnership with Good Films who picked up the anticipated biopic from HanWay last year.
A launch date has yet to be finalised for the film, which is currently in production.
The Wire And The Affair star Dominic West stars opposite Keira Knightley in Colette, which is based on the colourful life of the French author who wrote Gigi and Cheri and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. Producers are Killer Films, Number 9 and Bold Films.
Shakeup
Headed by former Warner Bros. Italy managing director Nicola Maccanico, Vision Distribution is the Jv between Sky Italia - Italy’s top pay-tv provider - and major local producers...
- 7/10/2017
- ScreenDaily
Someone at Sky Italia evidently got a little too excited for cherry pie. According to multiple reports, the network prematurely posted the first two episodes of the David Lynch revival of Twin Peaks, pulling them only after nearly six hours. The episodes appeared on the network’s online and streaming platforms, Now TV and Sky on Demand, beginning around 6 Am local time Sunday. They were pulled at about 11:30. Originally, the plan was for Sky Italia to air them at 3 Am Cet…...
- 5/21/2017
- Deadline TV
Rob Leane May 17, 2017
A fresh pontiff will follow in Jude Law's footsteps, as Sky and HBO announce The New Pope...
Instead of The Young Pope season 2, Sky and HBO are pressing ahead with a limited series entitled The New Pope.
See related Doctor Who: Phoebe Waller-Bridge is now the joint favourite Doctor Who: Moffat on budget issues, advice for Chibnall Doctor Who series 10: Michelle Gomez is leaving
Variety reports that the previous show's head scribe Paolo Sorrentino - and his co-writer Umberto Contarello - will return to pen this new drama, which once again takes place "in the world of the modern papacy".
Filming in Italy is scheduled for late 2018. It'll be a while before the show is on our screens, then. We assume that it will air in 2019, but that's just guesswork on our part.
"Just like The Young Pope, Sorrentino is writing the script for the new show,...
A fresh pontiff will follow in Jude Law's footsteps, as Sky and HBO announce The New Pope...
Instead of The Young Pope season 2, Sky and HBO are pressing ahead with a limited series entitled The New Pope.
See related Doctor Who: Phoebe Waller-Bridge is now the joint favourite Doctor Who: Moffat on budget issues, advice for Chibnall Doctor Who series 10: Michelle Gomez is leaving
Variety reports that the previous show's head scribe Paolo Sorrentino - and his co-writer Umberto Contarello - will return to pen this new drama, which once again takes place "in the world of the modern papacy".
Filming in Italy is scheduled for late 2018. It'll be a while before the show is on our screens, then. We assume that it will air in 2019, but that's just guesswork on our part.
"Just like The Young Pope, Sorrentino is writing the script for the new show,...
- 5/17/2017
- Den of Geek
Gurinder Chadha indie gets backing; Series Mania launches in Australia.
Freemantle backs Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It TV
British production company FreemantleMedia has taken a 25% stake in Bend It Like Beckham and Viceroy’s House director Gurinder Chadha’s UK indie Bend It TV, which focuses on scripted content.
Walter Presents grabs Studiocanal political thriller
Studiocanal has inked further deals on its political thriller series Baron Noir, including with Us based SVoD platform Walter Presents, which is a joint venture from Channel 4 and Global Series Network.
The 8x60 drama series was broadcast in France last year and a second season is now in development. The programme was recently acquired by Sony Channel for Germany where it will launch on April 6, as well as Sbs Australia and Amazon Prime in the UK.
Baron Noir
Series Mania launches in Australia
French TV festival Series Mania is launching an Australian incarnation in partnership with the Australian Centre for the...
Freemantle backs Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It TV
British production company FreemantleMedia has taken a 25% stake in Bend It Like Beckham and Viceroy’s House director Gurinder Chadha’s UK indie Bend It TV, which focuses on scripted content.
Walter Presents grabs Studiocanal political thriller
Studiocanal has inked further deals on its political thriller series Baron Noir, including with Us based SVoD platform Walter Presents, which is a joint venture from Channel 4 and Global Series Network.
The 8x60 drama series was broadcast in France last year and a second season is now in development. The programme was recently acquired by Sony Channel for Germany where it will launch on April 6, as well as Sbs Australia and Amazon Prime in the UK.
Baron Noir
Series Mania launches in Australia
French TV festival Series Mania is launching an Australian incarnation in partnership with the Australian Centre for the...
- 4/3/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Paolo Virzi’s Like Crazy was the big winner at Monday night's David di Donatello Awards in a decadent ceremony in Rome that aired on Sky Italia.
Like Crazy, the story of two women who escape a Tuscan psychiatric home to confront their pasts, won honors for best film, director and actress (for Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), as well as prizes for production design (for Tonino Zera) and hair (for Daniela Tartari).
Virzi previously won David di Donatello best film awards for Human Capital and August Vacation.
Best foreign film honors went to Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals, which also also took home the Venice Film Festival's Silver...
Like Crazy, the story of two women who escape a Tuscan psychiatric home to confront their pasts, won honors for best film, director and actress (for Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), as well as prizes for production design (for Tonino Zera) and hair (for Daniela Tartari).
Virzi previously won David di Donatello best film awards for Human Capital and August Vacation.
Best foreign film honors went to Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals, which also also took home the Venice Film Festival's Silver...
- 3/28/2017
- by Ariston Anderson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Marco van Geffen, Mira Fornay among directors to develop TV series in new initiative.
Dutch filmmaker Marco van Geffen and Slovakia’s Mira Fornay will be among the directors participating in the first edition of the SeriesLab!.
The development lab – a joint initiative between the Paris-based Series Mania Coproduction Forum and the TorinoFilmLab – aims to support screenwriters and creators in the development of a new TV series.
Van Geffen, best known internationally for festival hits Among Us and In Your Name, will attend with a new crime series entitled Augustus with producer Fleur Winter.
Produced under the banner of Amsterdam-based Lemming Film, the eight-part series is described as a The Wire-style drama set against the backdrop of the Benelux drugs trafficking scene.
Slovakian director Mira Fornay, whose My Dog Killer about a teenage Nazi skinhead won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) in 2013, is bringing Carpathian Beast, a crime series...
Dutch filmmaker Marco van Geffen and Slovakia’s Mira Fornay will be among the directors participating in the first edition of the SeriesLab!.
The development lab – a joint initiative between the Paris-based Series Mania Coproduction Forum and the TorinoFilmLab – aims to support screenwriters and creators in the development of a new TV series.
Van Geffen, best known internationally for festival hits Among Us and In Your Name, will attend with a new crime series entitled Augustus with producer Fleur Winter.
Produced under the banner of Amsterdam-based Lemming Film, the eight-part series is described as a The Wire-style drama set against the backdrop of the Benelux drugs trafficking scene.
Slovakian director Mira Fornay, whose My Dog Killer about a teenage Nazi skinhead won the Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) in 2013, is bringing Carpathian Beast, a crime series...
- 12/1/2016
- ScreenDaily
Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino's first-ever TV show, The Young Pope, a production of HBO, Sky and Canal Plus starring Jude Law, has been picked up for a second season before its international debut. Wildside producer Lorenzo Mieli announced the news at the show's Rome premiere. The show, a Sky original, debuts on Sky Italia, Germany and Austria on its Sky Atlantic channel on Friday. It will also air on Canal Plus beginning Oct. 24, on Sky Atlantic in the U.K. and Ireland starting on Oct. 27, and on HBO in the U.S. early next year.
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- 10/20/2016
- by Ariston Anderson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update: Zdf Enterprises, Fisher King, BeIN and Netflix deals; Fmi acquires War Child doc sales rights.
The blurring of the lines between film and TV as well as the platforms on which both features and series are distributed was a recurrent theme at Mipcom on Tuesday.
At a panel on the the crossover of talent from film to TV, speakers See-Saw Film‘s COO Hakan Kousetta, eOne Television president of global scripted programming Pancho Mansfield and Wme Img partner Chris Rice were unanimous that there was no turning back the trend.
“We’ve stopped looking at them as different,” said Rice, who helped package the BBC’s The Night Manager and Canal Plus, Sky Italia and HBO’s The Young Pope. “Virtually ever actor and director has come round to this. It’s a great time to tell stories.”
Kousetta said See-Saw Films had expanded into TV from a feature film base “accidentally” after Australian Oscar and Cannes...
The blurring of the lines between film and TV as well as the platforms on which both features and series are distributed was a recurrent theme at Mipcom on Tuesday.
At a panel on the the crossover of talent from film to TV, speakers See-Saw Film‘s COO Hakan Kousetta, eOne Television president of global scripted programming Pancho Mansfield and Wme Img partner Chris Rice were unanimous that there was no turning back the trend.
“We’ve stopped looking at them as different,” said Rice, who helped package the BBC’s The Night Manager and Canal Plus, Sky Italia and HBO’s The Young Pope. “Virtually ever actor and director has come round to this. It’s a great time to tell stories.”
Kousetta said See-Saw Films had expanded into TV from a feature film base “accidentally” after Australian Oscar and Cannes...
- 10/18/2016
- ScreenDaily
Sky Italia is developing high-end dramas based on the country’s football corruption scandal, the impact of the Arab Spring and Europe’s financial crisis.
Following Paolo Sorrentino’s Jude Law-starring The Young Pope series, the first two episodes of which premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival, Sky Italia is plotting several further high-end dramas.
The projects are being lined up as international coproductions with the company’s sister pay-tv services in the UK and Germany, as part of a strategy to launch up to six big-budget dramas per year.
Sky Italia executive vice-president of programming Andrea Scrosati told Screen’s sister publication Broadcast that Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch has given him the opportunity to “power up” his scripted slate with a “European approach”.
The group is also still working on 10 x 60-minute comic book adaptation Diabolik.
The Robin Hood-style project, which is based on a 1960s comic and centres on a thief...
Following Paolo Sorrentino’s Jude Law-starring The Young Pope series, the first two episodes of which premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival, Sky Italia is plotting several further high-end dramas.
The projects are being lined up as international coproductions with the company’s sister pay-tv services in the UK and Germany, as part of a strategy to launch up to six big-budget dramas per year.
Sky Italia executive vice-president of programming Andrea Scrosati told Screen’s sister publication Broadcast that Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch has given him the opportunity to “power up” his scripted slate with a “European approach”.
The group is also still working on 10 x 60-minute comic book adaptation Diabolik.
The Robin Hood-style project, which is based on a 1960s comic and centres on a thief...
- 10/13/2016
- ScreenDaily
Whether you like it or not, a follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario is on its way, and Deadline has learned that Italian filmmaker Stefano Sollima is in final talks to direct the sequel, titled Soldado. Sollima has helmed feature films such as Suburra and A.C.A.B., as well as the Sky Italia crime drama series Gomorra, whose second season premiered last month. Sicario scribe Taylor Sheridan is... Read More...
- 6/2/2016
- by Jesse Giroux
- JoBlo.com
Deal includes forthcoming titles Ghostbusters and Money Monster.
Sky has struck a European movie deal with Sony Pictures Television – its first pan-regional agreement since the creation of Sky Europe.
The deal will enable the pay-tv operator to launch all new and future Sony films across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy.
It covers new movies including the forthcoming Ghostbusters reboot, Angry Birds, Money Monster and Inferno shown on its linear Sky Movies, Sky Cinema and Sky Film services as well as its transactional movie services Sky Store, Sky Select and Sky Primafila. It will also cover Uhd productions for the first time, as well as library titles including the Spider-Man franchise, Lawrence Of Arabia, Philadelphia, Men In Black and The Karate Kid.
It is the first cross-territory deal that Sky has struck since it brought together its services in the UK and Ireland with Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland in 2014.
“Along with our investments in entertainment...
Sky has struck a European movie deal with Sony Pictures Television – its first pan-regional agreement since the creation of Sky Europe.
The deal will enable the pay-tv operator to launch all new and future Sony films across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy.
It covers new movies including the forthcoming Ghostbusters reboot, Angry Birds, Money Monster and Inferno shown on its linear Sky Movies, Sky Cinema and Sky Film services as well as its transactional movie services Sky Store, Sky Select and Sky Primafila. It will also cover Uhd productions for the first time, as well as library titles including the Spider-Man franchise, Lawrence Of Arabia, Philadelphia, Men In Black and The Karate Kid.
It is the first cross-territory deal that Sky has struck since it brought together its services in the UK and Ireland with Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland in 2014.
“Along with our investments in entertainment...
- 4/18/2016
- ScreenDaily
The first series of the Italian crime drama will be broadcast in summer 2016.
Us network SundanceTV has picked up the first two series of Gomorrah, the popular Italian crime drama, from the Weinstein Company.
Based on the best-selling book by journalist Roberto Saviano, which also inspired the film of the same title, the first 12-episode series will premiere on the network in summer 2016.
Originally broadcast on Sky Italia, Gomorrah attracted 1.2m viewers per episode in its native Italy. Beta Cinema has since sold the title into more than 30 territories.
Series two is set to premiere in Italy in March this year.
The story focuses on the inner-workings of the Camorra, the infamous Neapolitan crime syndicate.
Giovanni Bianconi, Leonardo Fasoli, Ludovica Rampoldi, Roberto Saviano and Stefano Bises developed the concept for television, with the latter also writing the series. Stefano Sollima, Francesca Comencini and Claudio Cupellini were directors.
Producers are Sky Atlantic, Cattleya and Fandango...
Us network SundanceTV has picked up the first two series of Gomorrah, the popular Italian crime drama, from the Weinstein Company.
Based on the best-selling book by journalist Roberto Saviano, which also inspired the film of the same title, the first 12-episode series will premiere on the network in summer 2016.
Originally broadcast on Sky Italia, Gomorrah attracted 1.2m viewers per episode in its native Italy. Beta Cinema has since sold the title into more than 30 territories.
Series two is set to premiere in Italy in March this year.
The story focuses on the inner-workings of the Camorra, the infamous Neapolitan crime syndicate.
Giovanni Bianconi, Leonardo Fasoli, Ludovica Rampoldi, Roberto Saviano and Stefano Bises developed the concept for television, with the latter also writing the series. Stefano Sollima, Francesca Comencini and Claudio Cupellini were directors.
Producers are Sky Atlantic, Cattleya and Fandango...
- 3/15/2016
- ScreenDaily
Pan-European pay TV giant Sky on Friday said that James Murdoch has been tapped to become its chairman in the spring as it reported improved operating earnings for the first half of its fiscal year and subscriber growth for the fiscal second quarter that ended in December. Murdoch, who is CEO of 21st Century Fox, Sky's largest shareholder, was previously CEO of Sky's U.K.-only predecessor BSkyB between 2003 and 2007 and then chairman until April 2012 before becoming a non-executive director on the board. In late 2014, after BSkyB acquired Fox's Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland,
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- 1/28/2016
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Img and The Ink Factory have unveiled a raft of sales on their highly-anticipated adaptation of John le Carré's best-selling novel The Night Manager. The TV series, which stars Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston, was developed by BBC1 with The Ink Factory and AMC as U.S.network partners. Sales include Tele München Gruppe for German-speaking Europe, C More and TV4 for the Nordic territories, Dr for Denmark, Sky Italia for Italy, BBC First and Sbs for Australia, TV3 for New…...
- 10/16/2015
- Deadline TV
Despite winding people up wherever they roam, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond actually made the biggest show in the world, with Top Gear apparently boasting 350 million viewers in 214 countries.
Top Gear may have a very British sense of humour, but this hasn't stopped several nations launching their own versions.
China
Top Gear is truly taking over the world, as it has now landed its own Chinese version on Shanghai Dragon Television, after an initial attempt back in 2011.
There is of course a Chinese Stig and the usual features, with BBC Worldwide stating that it "mirrors the UK show's irreverent humour, presenter camaraderie, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation, and its often eccentric methods of testing cars".
It is hosted by veteran TV host Cheng Lei, Taiwanese singer Richie Jen and former Olympic diving gold medallist Tian Liang. What a team! They certainly look a...
Top Gear may have a very British sense of humour, but this hasn't stopped several nations launching their own versions.
China
Top Gear is truly taking over the world, as it has now landed its own Chinese version on Shanghai Dragon Television, after an initial attempt back in 2011.
There is of course a Chinese Stig and the usual features, with BBC Worldwide stating that it "mirrors the UK show's irreverent humour, presenter camaraderie, epic races, outrageous stunts and challenges, unique celebrity guest participation, and its often eccentric methods of testing cars".
It is hosted by veteran TV host Cheng Lei, Taiwanese singer Richie Jen and former Olympic diving gold medallist Tian Liang. What a team! They certainly look a...
- 8/12/2015
- Digital Spy
Pay TV giant Sky, in which Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox owns a 39% stake, announced its first earnings Wednesday since the UK’s BSkyB completed its acquisition of Sky Italia and majority interest in Sky Deutschland to create a European TV titan in a deal worth nearly $11 billion last November. The UK's largest pay TV company revealed operating profit in the year to 30 June was $2.18 billion, while profit before tax was up by 6% on an adjusted basis to just under…...
- 7/29/2015
- Deadline TV
European Commission launches case against broadcaster and studios for potentially “serious violation of EU rules.”
The European Union has launched an anti-trust case against pay TV giant Sky and the six major Hollywood studios, accusing them of illegally curbing cross-border access to Sky’s pay-tv content.
The six studios comprise Disney, Comcast-owned NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros.
The EU says the studios and Sky unfairly prevent consumers located elsewhere in Europe from accessing pay-tv services available in the UK and Ireland.
According to regulators, contracts between Sky and the studios require that Sky block access to films through its online or satellite services to consumers outside of the UK.
In turn, the studios are required to prevent other broadcasters from making their pay TV services available in the UK and Ireland, giving Sky “territorial exclusivity.”
An EC communique stated: “The EC is taking ‘the preliminary view’ that each of the companies...
The European Union has launched an anti-trust case against pay TV giant Sky and the six major Hollywood studios, accusing them of illegally curbing cross-border access to Sky’s pay-tv content.
The six studios comprise Disney, Comcast-owned NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, and Warner Bros.
The EU says the studios and Sky unfairly prevent consumers located elsewhere in Europe from accessing pay-tv services available in the UK and Ireland.
According to regulators, contracts between Sky and the studios require that Sky block access to films through its online or satellite services to consumers outside of the UK.
In turn, the studios are required to prevent other broadcasters from making their pay TV services available in the UK and Ireland, giving Sky “territorial exclusivity.”
An EC communique stated: “The EC is taking ‘the preliminary view’ that each of the companies...
- 7/23/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Shares in Sky surged today, at one point rising 5% and topping the Ftse 100 leaderboard, after reports emerged that the Murdoch family had knocked back interest from both Vivendi and Vodafone for its 39% stake in the pan-Euro pay TV giant. The fate of what Rupert Murdoch intends to do with his 39% stake in Sky has been up in the air ever since Sky, previously known as BSkyB, completed its acquisition of Sky Italia and majority interest in Sky Deutschland to create a…...
- 6/22/2015
- Deadline TV
Shares in Sky surged today, at one point rising 5% and topping the Ftse 100 leaderboard, after reports emerged that the Murdoch family had knocked back interest from both Vivendi and Vodafone for its 39% stake in the pan-Euro pay TV giant. The fate of what Rupert Murdoch intends to do with his 39% stake in Sky has been up in the air ever since Sky, previously known as BSkyB, completed its acquisition of Sky Italia and majority interest in Sky Deutschland to create a…...
- 6/22/2015
- Deadline
Europe’s largest pan-continental pay TV platform Sky is setting up a dedicated Sky Arts Production Hub in Milan to bring new dedicated content its 21 million customers across Italy, Germany, Austria, Ireland and the UK. The move, which carries with it a commitment of $20 million in new spending, is one of the first moves since BSkyB completed its acquisition in November last year of Sky Italia and majority interest in Sky Deutschland to create a European TV giant in a…...
- 5/28/2015
- Deadline TV
Europe’s largest pan-continental pay TV platform Sky is setting up a dedicated Sky Arts Production Hub in Milan to bring new dedicated content its 21 million customers across Italy, Germany, Austria, Ireland and the UK. The move, which carries with it a commitment of $20 million in new spending, is one of the first moves since BSkyB completed its acquisition in November last year of Sky Italia and majority interest in Sky Deutschland to create a European TV giant in a…...
- 5/28/2015
- Deadline
Twenty-First Century Fox’s third quarter profits were down significantly from the previous year, but it wasn’t all bad. The media company had the benefit of hosting the Super Bowl on its Fox broadcast channel in fiscal Q3 2014, which delivered about $350 million in revenue. Sans the big game this time around, Fox was almost guaranteed a comparative decline in domestic ad sales. Also contributing to a decrease in potential (and actual) revenue in 2015 is that the company sold off Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland last year. Still, Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment company topped Wall Street’s Q3 earnings forecast,...
- 5/6/2015
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
The American concept of the showrunner is a relatively new one in Italy. But a new generation of young writers, Ludovica Rampoldi, 36, Stefano Sardo, 43, and Alessandro Fabbri, 36, are hoping to change that. The trio are behind the widely acclaimed new political series 1992, which premieres Tuesday to over 20 million subscribers across Sky TV’s five networks. The trio, in addition to writing credits, were also granted “created by” credits, almost unheard of in Italy. As creative producers, they saw the series through from creation to completion. Bolstered by Sky Italia’s new production initiatives, the group is intent
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- 3/24/2015
- by Ariston Anderson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Italian media went pazzo over the weekend with rumors that Jude Law was being lined up as a fictional Italo-American pontiff in Paolo Sorrentino’s upcoming mini The Young Pope. A source confirms the British actor is in negotiations for the titular part, but says it’s early days. The Young Pope is an eight-episode series to be written by the Oscar-winning Great Beauty helmer along with Umberto Contarello and Stefano Rulli for Sky Italia. Italy’s Wildside is producing. The…...
- 3/9/2015
- Deadline TV
Sources have confirmed Italian media reports that Jude Law is in talks to play the American pope in Paolo Sorrentino's first-ever television series: The Young Pope. The series revolves around a fictional American pope who becomes the most conservative one the Vatican has ever seen. The show is in the works at a time when Pope Francis is widely considered the most open-minded pope in recent times. The series is set in the U.S. and the Vatican. The Young Pope is being produced by Wildside's (1992) Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani in collaboration with Sky Italia. John Lyons, former Focus Features president
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- 3/9/2015
- by Ariston Anderson
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Filming on the second series of acclaimed Sky Italia crime-drama Gomorrah is due to get underway in Naples next month.
Sky Italy, Fandango Films, Cattleya and Beta Film produce the series about the Neapolitan mafia, which was Sky Italia’s biggest ratings hit to date.
While deals have yet to be finalised, Sky Atlantic (which made the series its first foreign-language acquisition, picking up from Arrow Films and Beta) is expected to carry the second series in the UK.
The creation of Sky Europe last year has seen Sky pushing drama out simultaneously across its five markets, with Fortitude the first and upcoming Sky Italia series 1992 also due to premiere across the five markets.
Plot details are being kept under wraps on the second series of Gomorrah, which will combine existing and new characters.
The Weinstein Company has Us rights to the first series with a distribution deal understood to be in the works.
The Us outfit...
Sky Italy, Fandango Films, Cattleya and Beta Film produce the series about the Neapolitan mafia, which was Sky Italia’s biggest ratings hit to date.
While deals have yet to be finalised, Sky Atlantic (which made the series its first foreign-language acquisition, picking up from Arrow Films and Beta) is expected to carry the second series in the UK.
The creation of Sky Europe last year has seen Sky pushing drama out simultaneously across its five markets, with Fortitude the first and upcoming Sky Italia series 1992 also due to premiere across the five markets.
Plot details are being kept under wraps on the second series of Gomorrah, which will combine existing and new characters.
The Weinstein Company has Us rights to the first series with a distribution deal understood to be in the works.
The Us outfit...
- 3/6/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Beta wins My Special Prize for the Best Berlin Lineup of all the International Sales Agents
From the producer of 2013 Golden Bear winner “Child’s Pose” comes “Aferim!” playing in Berlinale Competition. Policeman Costandin, a charismatic mixture of a funny Stalin and a somewhat more pragmatic Don Quixote, and his shy and introverted son ride through the rural countryside In search of a fugitive Gypsy slave. Meeting hundreds of characters, delivering a surprise in every scene, this is an ingenious Western in a very wild East of 19th century Romania directed by Radu Jude (“Everybody in our Family”) and produced by HiFilm’s Ada Solomon, Klas, Endorfilm and Mulberry Development, and stars Teodor Corban (“Child’s Pose”, “Beyond the Hills”), Mihai Comãnoiu and Cuzin Toma.
Forum entry “Zurich," Oliver Hirschbiegel’s "13 Minutes" (Competition - Out of Competition) plus this year’s Sundance Audience Award winner “Umrika” and the new Sky Italia series “1992" kicking off the Berlinale Special Series section make this a banner Berlin for Beta Cinema.
In official selection/out of competition bows Nazi resistance drama "13 Minutes" about failed Hitler assassin Georg Elser. Oliver Hirschbiegel, whose Academy Award nominated “Downfall” is one of the most successful Beta Cinema titles ever with 145 sold territories, presents a stunning, emotional portrait of the resistance fighter and his attack on the Munich Bürgerbräukeller on November 8th 1939. Georg Elser was a man who could have changed world history and saved millions of human lives, but his bomb, built to tear Adolf Hitler apart, exploded 13 minutes late. Produced by Lucky Bird’s Oliver Schündler and Boris Ausserer, who just recently won the Bavarian Film Award for "13 Minutes", and written by Fred Breinersdorfer (“Sophie Scholl”), the feature stars Christian Friedel (“The White Ribbon”), Katharina Schüttler (“Generation of War” ) and Burghart Klaussner (“The White Ribbon”).
Dutch filmmaker Sacha Polak, who received the prestigious Fipresci-award at the 2012 Berlinale for Hemel, presents with "Zurich" her second feature film, a road movie starring famous Dutch singer and performance artist Wende Snijders. "Zurich" (Viking Film/Rohfilm/Private View/Nrt/Zdf/arte) revolves around Nina, who is wandering along Europe’s motorways in a desperate attempt to leave the past behind. Slowly it becomes clear that Nina’s drive to hang around in the truckers’ scene is a result of the pain caused by the ultimate betrayal that has befallen her. Sacha Polak developed the script by author Helena van der Meulen during last year’s Berlinale Residency program.
Kicking off the Berlinale Special Series, designated to promote outstanding international TV-series, is the political thriller "1992" from Sky Italia ("Gomorrah"), La 7 and Wildside. Over 20 years ago, on February 17th 1992, the first arrest within the so-called Mani Pulite (Clean Hands) maxi-investigation was made in Italy. It was the symbolic start of a revolution. "1992" revolves around six ordinary people whose lives are intertwined with the country's political, civil and social earthquake. The 10xone hour series stars Stefano Accorsi (idea), Guido Caprino and Miriam Leone; director is Giuseppe Gagliardi.
Celebrating its Berlin Market Premiere is Prashant Nair’s Indian drama "Umrika," which just recently received the Audience Award at Sundance, starring world-renowned, up-and-coming young actors Suraj Sharma ("Life of Pi") and Tony Revolori ("The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Dope"). "Umrika" (Hindi for America) is about a small village in India that is invigorated when one of their own travels to America, sharing his adventures and inspiring hope through letters home. But when the letters mysteriously stop coming, his brother sets out on a journey to find him.
Also premiering at the market is the fourth adventure of "The Famous Five" (Sam Film/Constantin), in which Enid Blyton’s teenager gang venture thousands of miles and thousands of years back in time to solve yet another nail-biting mystery. Prolific maverick filmmaker Detlev Buck ("Hands off Mississippi") presents as international market premiere "Bibi & Tina 2," an inventive live-action adaptation of the teen-adventure and romance in the beloved “Bibi & Tina” universe.
Amongst the upcoming titles, "Colonia" is heading the slate, starring Emma Watson in her first lead role since "Harry Potter" alongside Daniel Brühl ("Rush") as her abducted boyfriend and opposite a very sinister Mikael Nykvist ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"). The $15 million production wrapped shooting mid-January and is being presold at the European Film Market.
"Ghosthunters: On Icy Trails" marks another English-language presales highlight for the Efm. This witty and charming Family Entertainment movie sees Milo Parker ("Robot Overlords") team up with the animated Asg, the “Averagely Spooky Ghost” Hugo, to save the world from the “Ancient Ice Ghost”. A promo will be made available for buyers.
From the producer of 2013 Golden Bear winner “Child’s Pose” comes “Aferim!” playing in Berlinale Competition. Policeman Costandin, a charismatic mixture of a funny Stalin and a somewhat more pragmatic Don Quixote, and his shy and introverted son ride through the rural countryside In search of a fugitive Gypsy slave. Meeting hundreds of characters, delivering a surprise in every scene, this is an ingenious Western in a very wild East of 19th century Romania directed by Radu Jude (“Everybody in our Family”) and produced by HiFilm’s Ada Solomon, Klas, Endorfilm and Mulberry Development, and stars Teodor Corban (“Child’s Pose”, “Beyond the Hills”), Mihai Comãnoiu and Cuzin Toma.
Forum entry “Zurich," Oliver Hirschbiegel’s "13 Minutes" (Competition - Out of Competition) plus this year’s Sundance Audience Award winner “Umrika” and the new Sky Italia series “1992" kicking off the Berlinale Special Series section make this a banner Berlin for Beta Cinema.
In official selection/out of competition bows Nazi resistance drama "13 Minutes" about failed Hitler assassin Georg Elser. Oliver Hirschbiegel, whose Academy Award nominated “Downfall” is one of the most successful Beta Cinema titles ever with 145 sold territories, presents a stunning, emotional portrait of the resistance fighter and his attack on the Munich Bürgerbräukeller on November 8th 1939. Georg Elser was a man who could have changed world history and saved millions of human lives, but his bomb, built to tear Adolf Hitler apart, exploded 13 minutes late. Produced by Lucky Bird’s Oliver Schündler and Boris Ausserer, who just recently won the Bavarian Film Award for "13 Minutes", and written by Fred Breinersdorfer (“Sophie Scholl”), the feature stars Christian Friedel (“The White Ribbon”), Katharina Schüttler (“Generation of War” ) and Burghart Klaussner (“The White Ribbon”).
Dutch filmmaker Sacha Polak, who received the prestigious Fipresci-award at the 2012 Berlinale for Hemel, presents with "Zurich" her second feature film, a road movie starring famous Dutch singer and performance artist Wende Snijders. "Zurich" (Viking Film/Rohfilm/Private View/Nrt/Zdf/arte) revolves around Nina, who is wandering along Europe’s motorways in a desperate attempt to leave the past behind. Slowly it becomes clear that Nina’s drive to hang around in the truckers’ scene is a result of the pain caused by the ultimate betrayal that has befallen her. Sacha Polak developed the script by author Helena van der Meulen during last year’s Berlinale Residency program.
Kicking off the Berlinale Special Series, designated to promote outstanding international TV-series, is the political thriller "1992" from Sky Italia ("Gomorrah"), La 7 and Wildside. Over 20 years ago, on February 17th 1992, the first arrest within the so-called Mani Pulite (Clean Hands) maxi-investigation was made in Italy. It was the symbolic start of a revolution. "1992" revolves around six ordinary people whose lives are intertwined with the country's political, civil and social earthquake. The 10xone hour series stars Stefano Accorsi (idea), Guido Caprino and Miriam Leone; director is Giuseppe Gagliardi.
Celebrating its Berlin Market Premiere is Prashant Nair’s Indian drama "Umrika," which just recently received the Audience Award at Sundance, starring world-renowned, up-and-coming young actors Suraj Sharma ("Life of Pi") and Tony Revolori ("The Grand Budapest Hotel," "Dope"). "Umrika" (Hindi for America) is about a small village in India that is invigorated when one of their own travels to America, sharing his adventures and inspiring hope through letters home. But when the letters mysteriously stop coming, his brother sets out on a journey to find him.
Also premiering at the market is the fourth adventure of "The Famous Five" (Sam Film/Constantin), in which Enid Blyton’s teenager gang venture thousands of miles and thousands of years back in time to solve yet another nail-biting mystery. Prolific maverick filmmaker Detlev Buck ("Hands off Mississippi") presents as international market premiere "Bibi & Tina 2," an inventive live-action adaptation of the teen-adventure and romance in the beloved “Bibi & Tina” universe.
Amongst the upcoming titles, "Colonia" is heading the slate, starring Emma Watson in her first lead role since "Harry Potter" alongside Daniel Brühl ("Rush") as her abducted boyfriend and opposite a very sinister Mikael Nykvist ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"). The $15 million production wrapped shooting mid-January and is being presold at the European Film Market.
"Ghosthunters: On Icy Trails" marks another English-language presales highlight for the Efm. This witty and charming Family Entertainment movie sees Milo Parker ("Robot Overlords") team up with the animated Asg, the “Averagely Spooky Ghost” Hugo, to save the world from the “Ancient Ice Ghost”. A promo will be made available for buyers.
- 2/8/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Goteborg: Left Bank CEO Andy Harries and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas writer Tony Grisoni revealed details about upcoming projects during keynotes at TV Drama Vision, the Gothenburg Film Festival’s TV event.
Grisoni, writer of films including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and TV series Southcliffe and the Red Riding trilogy, told the industry audience that he intends to direct his first TV project.
“I’m writing a single drama for TV, which I hope to direct,” he said.
The London-based writer is also adapting the China Mieville novel The City & The City as “a four-part drama for the BBC.”
British author Mieville’s well-received novel is part ‘weird fiction’, part police procedural, following an inspector’s hunt for the killer of young student.
During his keynote Grisoni spoke candidly about his disagreement with the ‘auteur theory’.
“Film is a social act. I’m a screenwriter so of course I’m against the auteur...
Grisoni, writer of films including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and TV series Southcliffe and the Red Riding trilogy, told the industry audience that he intends to direct his first TV project.
“I’m writing a single drama for TV, which I hope to direct,” he said.
The London-based writer is also adapting the China Mieville novel The City & The City as “a four-part drama for the BBC.”
British author Mieville’s well-received novel is part ‘weird fiction’, part police procedural, following an inspector’s hunt for the killer of young student.
During his keynote Grisoni spoke candidly about his disagreement with the ‘auteur theory’.
“Film is a social act. I’m a screenwriter so of course I’m against the auteur...
- 1/29/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The coming year promises to bring further consolidation in the European TV biz as deep-pocketed telcos like Spain’s Telefonica entrench themselves further in content provision and quadplay services. There are potential acquisition plays from such giants as Vodafone and BT, while sports rights remain a key bone to be fought over, impacting the business in different ways. The new year also offers the prospect of some power plays from two of Europe’s heaviest hitters in Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Europe and French conglomerate Vivendi.
What Murdoch plans to do next, following the creation this year of Sky Europe — which merged his UK, Italian and German pay-tv operations — is likely to have a seismic impact on the European and international TV landscape. Rumors have been rife that Murdoch, who has stayed one step ahead of his competitors for the majority of his career, plans to divest his 39% stake in...
What Murdoch plans to do next, following the creation this year of Sky Europe — which merged his UK, Italian and German pay-tv operations — is likely to have a seismic impact on the European and international TV landscape. Rumors have been rife that Murdoch, who has stayed one step ahead of his competitors for the majority of his career, plans to divest his 39% stake in...
- 1/1/2015
- by Ali Jaafar and Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
BSkyB has been renamed as Sky after it completed its £7bn acquisition of Sky Italia and purchase of a majority stake in Sky Deutschland.
The newly-formed group has a total programming spend of £4.6bn and will serve 20 million customers across five countries – Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland.
Sky is eying subscriber gains it can make from the 60m homes yet to subscribe to pay-tv services across its markets, while it also believes there is an opportunity to launch new products and services.
Sky paid £2.45bn in cash for Sky Italia and £4.4bn for almost 90% of Sky Deutschland.
Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch becomes group chief executive and will oversee the enlarged group as well as continuing to head the UK and Ireland operations. Andrea Zappia and Brian Sullivan remain in charge of Sky Italia and Deutschland respectively.
Darroch said the businesses would perform “better together”.
“Customers will benefit as we launch exciting new services, bring...
The newly-formed group has a total programming spend of £4.6bn and will serve 20 million customers across five countries – Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland.
Sky is eying subscriber gains it can make from the 60m homes yet to subscribe to pay-tv services across its markets, while it also believes there is an opportunity to launch new products and services.
Sky paid £2.45bn in cash for Sky Italia and £4.4bn for almost 90% of Sky Deutschland.
Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch becomes group chief executive and will oversee the enlarged group as well as continuing to head the UK and Ireland operations. Andrea Zappia and Brian Sullivan remain in charge of Sky Italia and Deutschland respectively.
Darroch said the businesses would perform “better together”.
“Customers will benefit as we launch exciting new services, bring...
- 11/13/2014
- ScreenDaily
U.K. pay TV giant British Sky Broadcasting, or BSkyB, said early Thursday London time that it would change its name to Sky following the completion of the acquisitions of Sky Italia and a majority stake in Sky Deutschland late Wednesday. It said the new name would "recognize the international scope of the business." The name change is subject to shareholder approval at the company’s annual meeting on Nov. 21. It also touted the combined company's programming spending, saying it was now "Europe’s leading investor in television content" with a combined program budget of $7.3 billion (£4.6
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- 11/13/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
German pay TV company Sky Deutschland, controlled by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, swung to a fiscal first-quarter profit, its first net profit in years. Reuters said it was the company's first quarterly net profit since the third quarter of 2007. The company has in recent years reported the one or the other quarterly profit on an operating basis, but not on a net basis. U.K. pay TV giant BSkyB, in which Fox owns a 39 percent stake, has struck a deal to acquire Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia from Fox. The deals are expected to formally
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- 11/3/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
British pay TV giant BSkyB said Monday that it will end up owning at least 69 percent of Sky Deutschland, the German pay TV group it agreed to acquire as part of a pan-European buyout of assets owned by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. The U.K. giant agreed this summer to pay $9 billion for Fox's 57 percent stake in Sky Deutschland, as well as full control of Sky Italia, an Italian pay TV company. BSkyB management last week had signaled that Sky Deutschland minority shareholders had also started to accept the buyout offer. on Monday, it said
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- 10/20/2014
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sky Italia is trying out its own House of Cards meets The Sopranos. The Italian pay-tv group is following the success of its mafia drama Gomorrah with 1992, a political thriller set during the tumultuous early 90s, when the mafia, police and politicians of all stripes fought for control of Italy's First Republic. Italian production company Wildside is producing 1992 for Sky Italia with Germany's Beta Film, a partner on Gomorrah, coming on board as a co-producer and world sales agent. Sky Italia will bow the first, 10-episode season of 1992 in Italy next year. 1992 is
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- 10/13/2014
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Joining the current exodus of film directors and stars to the small screen, Barry Levinson will follow up his recent The Humbling with the pilot for NBC's new series Shades Of Blue. The show, written by Adi Hasak (3 Days To Kill), will star Jennifer Lopez as an undercover FBI detective.Levinson will also serve as executive producer on the series, which involves Lopez' Detective McCord struggling as a single mother whilst also getting involved in an investigation into corruption that will compromise many of McCord's former colleagues on the police force. Following the pilot, he will, according to the press release, remain "hands-on in the development process". It's not his first brush with TV: he plays a similar role on the Canal+ / Sky Italia / Netflix historical drama Borgia."It’s an exciting project to be working on with Jennifer,” says Levinson. “Adi has written a police drama that gets into...
- 10/7/2014
- EmpireOnline
BSkyB’s plans to build a European pay-tv empire hit some opposition on Wednesday, but none that is expected to derail it. The supervisory and executive boards of 21st Century Fox-controlled German pay TV operator Sky Deutschland advised minority investors not to accept a multi-billion dollar takeover offer from BSkyB. Fox is also the largest shareholder in BSkyB, with a 39 percent stake. The planned deal would see BSkyB pay $4.7 billion for Fox’s 57 percent stake in Sky Deutschland and take over full control of Italian pay-tv platform Sky Italia from Fox for around $4.
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- 9/17/2014
- by Scott Roxborough, Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
European Union regulators on Thursday approved the planned takeover by BSkyB of 21st Century Fox's pay TV operators in Germany and Italy. Rupert Murdoch's Fox and BSkyB, in which the entertainment conglomerate owns a 39 percent stake, recently finalized a multibillion dollar deal that would give the British company control over the other two firms. BSkyB said Thursday that it has now received "unconditional merger control clearance from the European Commission and approval from the Austrian Federal Competition Authority" for the acquisition of Sky Italia and at least the 57.4 percent of Sky Deutschland that Fox currently owns. "Completion
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- 9/11/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
German pay TV provider Sky Deutschland, controlled by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, on Wednesday reported a higher second-quarter underlying profit, adding 82,000 subscribers. But it posted to a wider net loss, while analysts had predicted a small profit. The company, which U.K. pay TV giant BSkyB recently agreed to acquire along with Fox's Sky Italia, said subscriber cancellations hit a record low. Sky Deutschland posted a loss for the quarter of $3.3 million (2.5 million euros), compared with a loss of 900,000 euros a year ago. The company cited higher interest payments.
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- 8/6/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Less than a month after BSkyB sealed a $9.1 billion deal with 21st Century Fox to take over Italian pay TV group Sky Italia and Germany's Sky Deutschland, the British pay TV giant will get its first real look at what a pan-European satellite operator looks like. On Monday, BSkyB will premiere Gomorrah, Sky Italia's inspired-by-real-life mafia drama. The series also debuts on Sky Deutschland in October. Photos Meet 12 of Emmy's First-Time Acting Nominees Achieving the scale to produce high-end, HBO-style drama in-house that can be rolled out across Europe was
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- 8/1/2014
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – Analysts on Friday discussed the financial details of a long-expected deal announced in the London morning hours that will see Britain's BSkyB acquire Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland from 21st Century Fox for $9.1 billion to form a pan-European pay TV giant. Rupert Murdoch's Fox will retain a 39 percent stake in BSkyB. Analysts mostly focused on the financial flexibility for BSkyB after the deals, including its ability to big for English Premier League soccer rights next year when British telecom giant BT is expected to once again bid aggressively. BSkyB in the most recent
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- 7/25/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BSkyB has completed a deal to create Sky Europe, bringing together Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland in a multi-billion pound deal.
The company has agreed to acquire 21st Century Fox’s 100% stake in the Italian operation and its 57.4% stake in the German unit in a move that will create a pay-tv firm with 20m subscribers.
It will pay £2.45bn in cash for Sky Italia, as well as transferring BSkyB’s 21% stake in National Geographic Channels International, which is worth £2.07bn, and £2.9bn for its interest in Sky Deutschland.
BSkyB hopes that the enlarged group will be able to save £200m by the end of the second year, taking advantage of synergies between the UK and Italian arms. It expects to be able to save money on acquired programming rights, production of live events and commissioning as well as back office costs.
Jeremy Darroch, BSkyB’s chief executive, said: “This transaction will create a world-class, multinational pay TV...
The company has agreed to acquire 21st Century Fox’s 100% stake in the Italian operation and its 57.4% stake in the German unit in a move that will create a pay-tv firm with 20m subscribers.
It will pay £2.45bn in cash for Sky Italia, as well as transferring BSkyB’s 21% stake in National Geographic Channels International, which is worth £2.07bn, and £2.9bn for its interest in Sky Deutschland.
BSkyB hopes that the enlarged group will be able to save £200m by the end of the second year, taking advantage of synergies between the UK and Italian arms. It expects to be able to save money on acquired programming rights, production of live events and commissioning as well as back office costs.
Jeremy Darroch, BSkyB’s chief executive, said: “This transaction will create a world-class, multinational pay TV...
- 7/25/2014
- ScreenDaily
In a deal that's been in development for months, Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox and British pay TV company British Sky Broadcasting Group have purportedly finalized a deal to give BSkyB a controlling interest in the European Sky TV companies that Fox owned. 21st Century Fox will retain its 39 percent ownership stake in BSkyB, but is selling off its 100 percent stake in Sky Italia and approximately 57 percent stake in Sky Deutschland. According to media reports, the deal could net Fox roughly $7 billion in after-tax funds. Fox 21 will also receive BSkyB's 21 percent interest in National...
- 7/25/2014
- by Jason Hughes
- The Wrap
London – Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox and U.K. pay TV giant BSkyB made things official on Friday, unveiling a $9.1 billion European pay TV deal that has been in the works for months. In May, the companies confirmed that they have had talks about the possible deal that will consolidate under BSkyB the European pay TV companies that Murdoch's entertainment company controls. Fox will retain its 39 percent stake in BSkyB, which will acquire Fox's 100 percent ownership of Sky Italia and roughly 57 percent stake in Sky Deutschland. Fox said it will receive approximately $9.3
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- 7/23/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is nearing a deal to combine its European pay TV operations under the leadership of Britain's BSkyB. The entertainment conglomerate and BSkyB, in which it holds a 39 percent stake, earlier this year said that they have discussed a sale by Fox of its fully owned Sky Italia unit and its 57 percent stake in Sky Deutschland to BSkyB. The transaction could create a combined Sky Europe. Photos Next Gen at 20: Hollywood's Power Elite Then and Now With BSkyB reporting its full fiscal year earnings on Friday, Ubs analyst
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- 7/21/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Italian outfit sets new film and TV production divisions.
Rome-based production outfit Wildside has launched new production divisions Wildside Series and Wildside Cinema in order to differentiate and grow its TV output.
According to the company, the aim is to produce and acquire more formats with international and local appeal.
Current Wildside Series TV projects include The Miracle, based on a story written by Niccolo’ Ammanniti, Tomorrow Is A Big Day, made in collaboration with Mediaset – and with discussions on-going around an English-language redo - and The Young Pope, Oscar-winner Paolo Sorrentino’s anticipated first foray into TV directing, which will be broadcast locally by Sky Italia.
To date, Wildside has produced an Italian version of In Treatment, and crime-series 1992, about the large-scale criminal investigation in the early 1990s into widespread corruption and bribery in Italian administrative, political, and business circles.
Directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi and Gianluca Iodice, the latter will be broadcast by Sky Italia this autumn...
Rome-based production outfit Wildside has launched new production divisions Wildside Series and Wildside Cinema in order to differentiate and grow its TV output.
According to the company, the aim is to produce and acquire more formats with international and local appeal.
Current Wildside Series TV projects include The Miracle, based on a story written by Niccolo’ Ammanniti, Tomorrow Is A Big Day, made in collaboration with Mediaset – and with discussions on-going around an English-language redo - and The Young Pope, Oscar-winner Paolo Sorrentino’s anticipated first foray into TV directing, which will be broadcast locally by Sky Italia.
To date, Wildside has produced an Italian version of In Treatment, and crime-series 1992, about the large-scale criminal investigation in the early 1990s into widespread corruption and bribery in Italian administrative, political, and business circles.
Directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi and Gianluca Iodice, the latter will be broadcast by Sky Italia this autumn...
- 7/17/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Anti-mafia journalist and author Roberto Saviano will be heading to Munich, under heavy police protection, to present the small-screen version of his best-selling expose Gomorrah at the Munich International Film Festival. Photos 'Game of Thrones': Season 4's Most Buzzed-About Moments The drama, adapted from Saviano's non-fiction account of the Camorra mafia in Naples, has been a massive hit on 21st Century Fox's Sky Italia, with more than 1.2 million viewers per episode. Saviano's book was previously made into a Golden Globe-nominated film by Matteo Garrone in 2008. Photos 'Orange Is the New Black':
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- 6/24/2014
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rome – 21st Century Fox co-coo James Murdoch met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Monday to outline a $55 million (€40 million) plan to develop two new high-profile Italian TV series and increase the use of Rome’s historic Cinecitta Studios. The plan dovetails into Renzi’s efforts to increase investment in Italy to spark faster economic growth and into plans at Fox’s Italian pay TV unit Sky Italia to build on the success of the new series Gomorra. Murdoch, whose various titles include that of president of Sky Italia, was accompanies by Sky Italia’s managing director, Andrea Zappia,
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- 6/23/2014
- by Eric J. Lyman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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