You are viewing the archive: “UK TV Finance”

Global Showbiz Briefs: UK Indie TV “Very Sick”, Current ‘SNL’ On Hulu Japan

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Friday September 21, 2012 @ 12:04am PDTTags: Global Showbiz Briefs, UK TV Finance

UK Indie TV Production “A Very Sick Sector”
Independent TV producers in the UK are maximizing profits by staying safe. A new study suggests pressure to produce commercially successful TV and shy away from risk has resulted in a tripling of annual revenue to $1B in the last 10 years. The 2003 Communications Act gave show ownership rights to independent producers. As these companies seek to sell their content internationally, they’re competing with UK public service broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4. So producers are moving away from “blue chip documentary” in favor of unscripted or reality entertainment. Increased pressure on production budgets has resulted in “a very sick sector” with production workers feeling the sting. According to one study interviewee, “Pay scales are down, working conditions are atrocious, exploitation is massive, training levels have fallen through the floor.” As the UK government reviews the 2003 Act, the report recommends that terms should not favor independent producers further. –Joe Utichi

Japan To Get ‘SNL’ On Hulu A Few Hours After U.S.
Hulu Japan has signed a content deal with Broadway Video Entertainment to receive the most current season of Saturday Night Live in Japan. SNL just launched its 38th season on September 15th and the debut episode became exclusively on Hulu Japan a few hours later the next day. Each SNL episode will be available in English initially, with Japanese subtitles to be made available a few days later. Hulu Japan premiun content includes Japanese films, anime, dramas, Hollywood films and TV drama series, and other foreign films and TV shows.

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UK TV Exports To U.S. Rise 3% To $769M

By TIM ADLER in London | Monday October 4, 2010 @ 7:32am PDTTags: Pact UK, UK TV, UK TV Finance

North America is still the UK’s biggest single TV export market, accounting for 41% of all overseas sales. But selling finished programmes, rather than formats remains as hard as ever, according to UK producers’ trade body Pact in its annual export survey. Australia and New Zealand were last year’s fastest-growing … Read More »

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Charles Dance Joins Sky’s ‘Neverland’

By TIM ADLER in London | Monday October 4, 2010 @ 5:14am PDTTags: Bob Hoskins, Neverland, Rhys Ifans, Sky Movies HD, Syfy, TV, UK TV Finance

He joins Rhys Ifans, Anna Friel and Bob Hoskins in the two-part miniseries that Sky Movies HD and Syfy are co-producing. Nick Willing is writing and producing this Peter Pan prequel, which Sky Movies HD is financing with Syfy. Currently in production in Genoa, Italy and Dublin, Ireland, Neverland is slated to air in 2011. Irish indie Parallel Films is the producer. Read More »

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UK Broadcasters Could Be Forced To Carry Local News Bulletins

By TIM ADLER in London | Tuesday September 28, 2010 @ 3:00am PDTTags: Jeremy Hunt, Ofcom, Ofcom Sky, Royal Television Society Conference, Sky, TV, UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, UK Local TV Channels, UK TV, UK TV Finance

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt raised the possibility of Sky also being told to run local news, at least in the short term. Otherwise it could risk being demoted on where it sits on electronic TV listings. Hunt thinks that Sky and … Read More »

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Five Promises ‘Astounding’ Acquisitions

By TIM ADLER in London | Monday July 26, 2010 @ 3:59am PDTTags: Dawn Airey, Five, Richard Desmond, Richard Desmond Five, UK TV, UK TV Finance

That’s what CEO Dawn Airey told senior managers at a group meeting this morning. Richard Desmond, Five’s new owner, told Sky News that he’s planning to invest £50-100 million ($77-155 million) in Five’s schedule. He can afford it. The Sunday … Read More »

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British Film Channel Launching On Sky

By TIM ADLER in London | Wednesday July 14, 2010 @ 6:59am PDTTags: BSkyB, Paul, Sky, UK TV Finance

British film bigFilm GB will launch on November 1 with six brand-new British features never seen on TV before. The British film channel will show mainly indie films, screening classic movies in the afternoons. Electric Sofa, the channel operator, … Read More »

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CinemaNX Fund Backs Its First TV Project

By TIM ADLER in London | Monday July 5, 2010 @ 8:59am PDTTags: BBC, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Eccleston, Stephen Rea, UK TV Finance, Vue

CinemaNXThe Isle of Man-based equity investor has announced its first TV drama, a six-part thriller for the BBC. Until now CinemaNX has invested in features, covering up to 100% of the budget. Company Pictures (Skins) is making The Shadow Line, starring … Read More »

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