Businessweek reports that Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox Inc. plans to form a TV-production venture with Apollo Global Management LLC, combining the companies that made American Idol and The Biggest Loser. Fox, the New York-based media company, and funds affiliated with Apollo, the private-equity group led by Leon Black, reached a preliminary accord to own and manage the venture, the parties said in a statement on May 15. Murdoch would combine Fox’s Shine … [Read more...] about Shine and Endemol enter joint-venture talks
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BSkyB in talks to buy Murdoch’s Europe pay-TV businesses
Reuters – Britain's largest pay-TV company BSkyB is in talks to buy Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia, a €10 billion deal that would realise Rupert Murdoch's long-held ambition to combine his European TV interests in a single business. The potential tie-up would create a broadcaster with 20 million subscribers and more clout to deal with growing competition from rivals such as BT in sport as well as online groups like Netflix in movies and blockbuster TV shows. In 2010, Murdoch had … [Read more...] about BSkyB in talks to buy Murdoch’s Europe pay-TV businesses
FIC secures international rights for “Wayward Pines”
Singapore – FOX International Channels (FIC), FOX Broadcasting Company and FX Productions have locked in an international partnership on M. Night Shyamalan’s new suspense-filled 10-episode event thriller, Wayward Pines. FIC will control all rights outside of the U.S. to be the exclusive first-window broadcaster in its 125-country network as well as the exclusive international sales arm. Wayward Pines joins the ranks of The Walking Dead, The Bridge, the … [Read more...] about FIC secures international rights for “Wayward Pines”
“Gotham” gets series order from Fox
According to reports, Fox has officially given a series order to its upcoming drama Gotham, an origin story of the great DC Comics super-villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. The series, based upon characters published by DC Entertainment, will star Southland alum Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon, Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney and Donal Logue as Harvey Bullock, among others. Bruno Heller (The Mentalist) wrote the pilot for … [Read more...] about “Gotham” gets series order from Fox
FOX to broadcast “Grease Live”
FOX is hopping on the bandwagon of live musicals, first kicked off at NBC with The Sound of Music Live! last December, with their own version of Grease Live (working title), a live three-hour production of the massively popular crossover musical Grease. Scheduled to air live during 2015 and featuring a young ensemble cast, Grease Live (wt) will reintroduce the great music and timeless story to an entirely new generation. Based on the 1971 Broadway musical of … [Read more...] about FOX to broadcast “Grease Live”
Scott Gregg appointed EVP at Fox TV Distribution
London – Scott Gregg has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Sales Operations for Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, effective immediately. The announcement was jointly made on April 28 by Mark Kaner, President of Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution and Marion Edwards, President of International Television, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution. In his expanded position, Gregg will continue to manage all aspects of the business operations that support … [Read more...] about Scott Gregg appointed EVP at Fox TV Distribution