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Sony TV Gives Univision Go-Ahead For ‘Breaking Bad’ Adaptation

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Monday May 13, 2013 @ 11:32am PDTTags: Breaking Bad, Sony Pictures TV, Univision

Univision jumped the gun on Friday when it announced during its upfront presentation that it has greenlighted a Spanish language adaptation of Breaking Bad — before there was a deal with series producer Sony Pictures Television. Now Sony TV is moving forward with the project, Metastasis, which the studio will co-produce with Teleset for Latin American audiences. The show has been cleared in most major Spanish speaking markets including Univision’s UniMas in the U.S.. Metástasis follows the story of an unassuming chemistry teacher who is given a fatal diagnosis and enters a world of drugs and crime, where he ascends to power. The cast includes Diego Trujillo as Walter Blanco; Roberto Urbina as Walter’s accomplice, Jose Miguel Rosas; Sandra Reyes as Walter’s wife, Cielo; and Julián Arango as Walter’s brother-in-law and Colombian narcotics agent, Henry Navarro. Sony has launched local productions of Married…With Children in 12 territories including Colombia, Israel and Bulgaria; Everybody Loves Raymond in five territories including the Middle East and Russia; and I Dream Of Jeannie in India.

Related: Univision Announces ‘Breaking Bad’ & ‘Gossip Girl’ Adaptations

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Andy Bobrow Signs Overall Deal With Sony

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday April 8, 2013 @ 5:12pm PDTTags: Andy Bobrow, Big Deals TV, Community, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Community co-executive producer Andy Bobrow has signed a new two-year overall deal with Sony Pictures TV, which produces the cult NBC comedy, which is on the bubble for renewal. In addition to his work … Read More »

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Darlene Hunt Inks New Overall Deal With Sony TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday April 3, 2013 @ 4:43pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Darlene Hunt, Sony Pictures TV, The Big C
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: As her comedy-drama The Big C recently wrapped its four-season run on Showtime with a miniseries-style final installment, the series’ creator/executive producer Darlene Hunt is staying in business with its studio Sony Pictures TV. … Read More »

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USA Network Eyes ‘Happy Endings’ Pickup If Cult Comedy Isn’t Renewed By ABC

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday April 3, 2013 @ 2:19pm PDTTags: ABC, Happy Endings, Sony Pictures TV, USA Network
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Despite ratings hardship and real and clear danger of cancellation, Happy Endings may live up to its title even if ABC opts not to order a fourth season. I hear that Sony TV, the leading studio behind the underrated comedy series, has quietly reached out to a couple of networks, including USA Network and NBC, about the possibility of continuing the comedy there if ABC does not renew it. I hear USA, which has been looking to break into the half-hour original series space, has expressed interest and has had discussions about picking up Happy Endings in case of a cancellation by ABC.

If the financials can be worked out, a Happy Endings pickup would be fortuitous for USA, which has been actively developing half-hour comedies and has ordered several pilots but has yet to greenlight a half-hour series. USA had been looking to have an original comedy on tap for the fall premiere of its marquee off-network series Modern Family. Happy Endings would be a suitable companion for Modern Family as it already spent two seasons on ABC paired with the Emmy-winning family comedy. Happy Endings did well behind Modern Family, but its fortunes changed this past fall when it was moved to Tuesday to form a comedy block with Don’t Trust The B—- At Apt. 23 in a crowded comedy hour. Despite strong cult following and critical praise, Happy Endings struggled mightily on Tuesday and was recently relocated to Fridays. ABC brass had been strongly supporting the show from Day 1, but they will likely won’t be able to keep the series on broadcast TV at these ratings levels. In a last-ditch effort, the network recently launched a Save The Show-themed promo campaign for Happy Endings‘ move to Friday. The call to arms didn’t help, with the two back-to-back Friday originals drawing a 0.9/3 and a 0.7/3 in adults 18-49, down 25% and 46% from the show’s last Tuesday airings on January 29.

Related: ABC’s Bid To Save ‘Happy Endings’: Video Read More »

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Alex Reid Inks Overall Deal With Sony TV, Will Co-Run Michael J. Fox’s NBC Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday April 3, 2013 @ 12:56pm PDTTags: Alex Reid, Big Deals TV, Michael J. Fox, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-winning comedy writer-producer Alex Reid has signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures TV. Under the two-year pact, which starts June 1, Reid will be joining the studio’s new NBC comedy series starring Michael J. Fox as executive producer. On the untitled project, which has a 22-episode order, Reid will serve as co-showrunner alongside creator Sam Laybourne. Reid, Laybourne and Will Gluck, who directed the pilot, will executive produce, with Richard Schwartz co-executive producing. Gluck’s Olive Bridge Entertainment co-produces the series, loosely based on Fox’s life, with Sony TV. It stars Fox as a husband and father of three in New York City dealing with family, career, and challenges — including Parkinson’s disease. Reid’s overall deal also calls for him to develop new projects, though he will initially focus exclusively on the Michael J. Fox series. Reid, who is finishing up a deal at Universal TV, most recently served as co-executive producer/director on the NBC/Uni TV comedy series Up All Night, reuniting with star Christina Applegate after serving in the same capacity on the actress’ previous series, ABC’s Samantha Who? Read More »

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Comedy Writer Robia Rashid Signs Overall Deal With Sony Pictures TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 21, 2013 @ 10:19am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Robia Rashid, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

Robia RashidTV writer Robia Rashid has signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures TV. This marks the first overall pact for Rashid, who spent the last four seasons on CBS/20th TV’s hit comedy How I Met … Read More »

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Fox Aircraft Carrier Pilot ‘Wild Blue’ Pushed

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 21, 2013 @ 8:00am PDTTags: Fox, Sony Pictures TV, Wild Blue
Nellie Andreeva

Fox is postponing production on drama pilot Wild Blue, which has been moved off-cycle. Written by Taylor Elmore and to be directed by Michael Dinner, the Sony Pictures TV-produced project is an upstairs/downstairs look at the working … Read More »

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Breckin Meyer Signs Overall Deal With Sony Pictures TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday March 19, 2013 @ 3:57pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Breckin Meyer, Men at Work, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: As his TBS series Men At Work is gearing up for its second-season premiere on April 4, Breckin Meyer has signed an overall deal with Sony Pictures Television, which produces the multi-camera comedy. This … Read More »

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Comedy Writer Erica Rivinoja Signs Overall Deal With Sony Pictures TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday March 18, 2013 @ 4:30pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Erica Rivinoja, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

Erica Rivinoja (South Park) has closed a two-year overall deal with Sony. This marks the first overall deal for UTA-repped Rivinoja, who was most recently a writer/consulting producer on NBC’s Up All Night. Her feature … Read More »

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‘Queen Latifah Show’ Sets Producing Team

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday March 1, 2013 @ 11:13am PSTTags: Sony Pictures TV, The Queen Latifah Show
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Television/Overbrook’s new daytime talk show The Queen Latifah Show has assembled its senior producing team under executive producer/showrunner Corin Nelson. Todd Yasui will serve as co-executive producer, while Jack Mori, Catherine McKenzie, David Harte and Sierra Lindsey will be supervising producers. “These producers bring tremendous experience, diversity of background and some of the most creative minds in this business to our show,” said Holly Jacobs, EVP, Syndication and Reality Programming, Sony Pictures TV. Read More »

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Global Showbiz Briefs: Savile Claims Hit BBC, Sony TV In Russia, TLC’s ‘Bizarre ER’, Fremantle’s ‘Family Harmony’ And More

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday February 13, 2013 @ 9:37pm PSTTags: BBC, FremantleMedia, Global Showbiz Briefs, Jimmy Savile, Phone-Hacking Scandal, Sony Pictures TV, TLC

BBC Hit With Civil Claims In Jimmy Savile Scandal
A lawyer acting on behalf of 31 victims of the late Jimmy Savile has lodged civil claims for compensation in the high court against the disgraced host’s estate and the BBC over allegations of sexual abuse. Attorney Alan Collins told The Guardian that all claims are against Savile’s estate with “seven or eight” against the BBC itself, which the suits allege has “vicarious liability” in the case. Another lawyer working on behalf of a further 62 victims told Bloomberg  that the action was premature, because parties involved had agreed to wait for the results of the police investigation into Savile. “We do not believe the commencement of litigation at this stage to be either necessary or in our clients’ best interest,” she said. – Joe Utichi
Read More »

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Global Showbiz Briefs: London Fest Dates, ‘The Audience’ Grows & More

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday February 8, 2013 @ 1:54am PSTTags: Global Showbiz Briefs, London Film Festival, Sony Pictures TV, The Audience

London Film Fest Dates Set
The British Film Institute has set the dates for this year’s London Film Festival. The 57th go-around will take place from October 9-20 this year, head of exhibition and festival director Clare Stewart announced. Last year’s festival saw banner local and international premieres for the likes of Frankenweenie, Great Expectations, Argo, Amour, Beasts Of The Southern Wild and Silver Linings Playbook. The festival is currently accepting submissions for 2013. - Joe Utichi

ITV Licenses Additional Deals For ‘The Audience’
ITV Studios and ITV Studios Global Entertainment have signed new deals for The Audience, created by indie The Garden originally for Channel 4 in the UK. ITV Studios Nordic will produce 8 x 45-minute episodes for Viasat’s TV 3 in Norway, while ITV Studios Global Entertainment has secured a deal in Hungary, where Paprika Latino will produce 6 hourlong episodes for Viasat 3. ITVS GE represents the format internationally for The Garden. The Audience is from the creators of One Born Every Minute and the producers of 24 Hours in A&E at The Garden. In each episode, the show introduces someone with a life-changing decision to make who opens up their lives to The Audience – 50 ordinary people who follow them for a week and draw on their collective life experience to solve the person’s problem. Read More »

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Bryan Cranston Inks First-Look Deal With Sony Pictures TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday January 31, 2013 @ 9:35am PSTTags: Bryan Cranston, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: As production is wrapping on the final season of AMC’s Breaking Bad, the series’ star Bryan Cranston is extending his relationship with Breaking Bad producer Sony Pictures Television. The Emmy-winning actor has signed a … Read More »

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BSkyB In New Deal With Sony Pictures TV, Reports Strong First Half Financials

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Thursday January 31, 2013 @ 12:06am PSTTags: Big Deals TV, BSkyB, News Corp, Sony Pictures TV

Sky and Sony Pictures Television have signed a new multi-year agreement giving the News Corp-controlled group first window rights to the studio’s new and classic movies in the UK and Ireland. BSkyB made the announcement this morning as it reported better-than-expected fiscal first half results. Operating profit for the six months ended December 31 was up 8% to £647M ($1.02B) versus £601M ($951M) in the last comparable period. The leading satcaster noted this morning that, “In a tough economic environment, more customers are taking more products and spending more money with Sky.” In the three months to December 31, the company added 615,000 products and 88,000 new subscribers for a total base of 10.7M. The period saw particular growth of weekly On Demand downloads, up 150%, and users of the recently-launched Sky Go service also increased by 46% to 3.1M. Chairman Jeremy Darroch commented, “Although we expect the consumer environment in 2013 to remain challenging, we have a strong set of plans for the year ahead. Read More »

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Amazon In Negotiations For ‘Zombieland’ Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday January 24, 2013 @ 12:29pm PSTTags: Amazon, Sony Pictures TV, Zombieland
Nellie Andreeva

Zombieland TV Series AmazonI’ve learned that Amazon is in negotiations with Sony Pictures TV for a half-hour comedy series based on the hit 2009 feature horror comedy Zombieland. I hear the project is eying a … Read More »

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Global Showbiz Briefs: Sony LondonTV Deal, Rebekah Brooks Severance, Jimmy Savile Crimes, Berlin Film Mart

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday December 12, 2012 @ 8:30pm PSTTags: Jimmy Savile, Rebekah Brooks, Sony Pictures TV

Sony Backs UK Consortium Bidding For LondonTV License
A group known as the Channel 6 Consortium has announced that Sony Pictures Television Networks in the UK has agreed to support LondonTV, the Consortium’s proposed local channel. There are currently 6 groups bidding for the license that regulator Ofcom will grant by February 2013. Under the agreement, SPT Networks will be a program schedule provider and deliver creative services for LondonTV in the event of a successful bid. SPT Networks’ UK advertising partner would also handle all advertising sales for LondonTV. The consortium is backed by London newspaper groups Archant, Tindle and Trinity Mirror. LondonTV’s mission is to produce thousands of hours of high quality local news and current affairs programming on an annual basis. Sony’s involvement would add series and films. Chief exec of the Channel 6 Consortium, Richard Horwood, said Sony’s “expertise in the multichannel sector will significantly strengthen LondonTV from the outset.” SPT Networks already operates Sony Entertainment Television and Sony Movie Channel in the UK. Read More »

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CBS TV Stations Land Sony TV’s Queen Latifah Daytime Talk Show For Fall 2013

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday October 29, 2012 @ 10:14am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Queen Latifah, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

Queen Latifah Talk ShowEXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures TV‘s The Queen Latifah Show is now a go for a fall 2013 launch. I’ve learned that, in a competitive situation, the daily syndicated talk show, executive produced by Latifah, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, has gone to the CBS TV Stations in a premium deal that will have the strip on the 16 CBS Owned & Operated stations.

The Queen Latifah Show will feature celebrity interviews, human interest stories, comedy, pop culture and musical performances. It is expected to showcase Queen Latifah’s talents, blending comedy and music into her hosting duties.

Shortly after the dust settled on this fall’s syndicated daytime talk show launches that failed to produce a breakout hit, Sony TV began conversations with station groups about the Queen Latifah talker, garnering interest from multiples places. I hear negotiations went down to the wire with the CBS and NBC station groups. The sale comes exactly a year after Sony TV, Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere’s Flavor Unit and Will Smith and James Lassiter’s Overbrook Entertainment closed a deal to develop a daytime talk show for the Oscar-nominated actress to host. In May, Corin Nelson was tapped as executive producer.

Related: Anderson Cooper’s Daytime Talk Show Cancelled

This is a rare major syndicated talk show acquisition for the CBS TV Station group that involves the flagship CBS stations. (The group includes duopoly stations in a number of major markets that are independent, the CW and MyNetworkTV affiliates). What is even more rare is the group going for a show not produced/distributed by its sister company CBS TV Distribution. Read More »

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Steve Mosko Re-Ups As President Of Sony Pictures TV

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday September 26, 2012 @ 10:47am PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Sony Pictures TV, Steve Mosko
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that Steve Mosko has quietly renewed his deal as president of Sony Pictures Television. This year marks Mosko’s 20th anniversary at Sony, where he oversees the entire global TV business: production, distribution and channels. I hear he was a frontrunner for the CEO of Tribune job but chose to stay.  The exact length of Mosko’s new multiyear deal is unclear; his most recent contract was for four years. He reports to Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal.

Mosko, who joined Sony in 1992 as a syndie sales executive, was named domestic TV president in 2001 when Sony’s chief executive Howard Stringer had dramatically downsized the company’s U.S. operation to a point of almost ceasing TV production. Over the past decade, Mosko has rebuilt the company’s domestic TV business. Sony became the first major studio to embrace cable with FX’s The Shield, Rescue Me, Damages, followed by AMC’s Breaking Bad and FX’s Justified among others. It has Masters Of Sex coming up on Showtime.

Additionally, Sony is the only major studio that produces all forms of TV programming — primetime network and cable scripted series (Rules Of Engagement, Community, Happy Endings, upcoming Last Resort and Made In Jersey), daytime talk shows (Dr. Oz, upcoming Queen Latifah talker), daytime soaps (Days Of Our Lives, The Young And The Restless), syndicated game shows (Wheel Of Fortune, Jeopardy!), reality shows (Shark Tank), TV movies (History hit Hatfields & McCoys, Lifetime’s upcoming Steel Magnolias), as well as digital programming (multi-platform video network Crackle). In 2009, Mosko added oversight of Sony TV’s international TV division, including Sony’s 120 international TV channels and local production (Sony TV has been the most active in setting up local versions of U.S. comedy hits like Married… With Children, The Nanny and Everybody Loves Raymond). Read More »

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Drama About Young Thomas Edison From Producer Mark Johnson Set Up At NBC

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday September 25, 2012 @ 6:08pm PDTTags: Big Deals TV, Sony Pictures TV
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: One of the world’s greatest inventors of all time, Thomas Edison, is the leading man of a new period crime drama project in the works at NBC. Titled Edison, the drama is produced by Sony Pictures TV and Mark Johnson’s Gran Via Prods. Written by Daniel C. Connolly (A&E’s Longmire), it is described as a big, fun, genre-driven show about young Thomas Alva Edison. John Shiban (Breaking Bad, Hell On Wheels), who worked on the Johnson-produced Breaking Bad, is overseeing the script for the project, set in 1880s Manhattan. Read More »

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