BBC Studios, Clerkenwell Films & Anton Corp Team Together For Premium Short-Form Content

BBC Studios is getting into business with Misfits indie Clerkwenwell Films and Anton Corp. The three companies have pacted together to develop and fund a slate of high-end, short-form drama and comedy projects. The announcement was made today by BBC Studios CEO Tim Davie at the IBC Conference in Amsterdam. Under the deal, Clerkenwell will produce the projects, with BBC Studios and Anton providing the funding. It will see the creation of premium, high volume, short-form content produced for digital and linear platforms, with additional funds set aside to self-commission. Read More

Virgin Media To Launch Dedicated 4K Channel; Picks Up UK Rights To ‘Shut Eye’, ‘Masters Of Sex’ & More

Virgin Media has announced plans to launch the UK's first dedicated 4K channel, Virgin TV Ultra HD. Ahead of the launch, Virgin Media has agreed a wide-ranging deal with Sony Pictures Television for a number of U.S. scripted series from their distribution catalogue. They have picked up first run rights to Shut Eye and The Art Of More, neither of which has previously aired in the UK; and linear/repeat rights to House Of CardsMasters Of Sex and StartUp. Notably, Masters Of Sex was dropped by Channel 4 in 2016 and its final two seasons never aired in the UK. Read More

Nikki Amuka-Bird, Alex Jennings, Julia McKenzie & More Join BBC One’s ‘Gold Digger’

Nikki Amuka-Bird (NW, Hard Sun), Alex Jennings (Unforgotten, The Crown), Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie's Marple), Sebastian Armesto (Poldark, Broadchurch), Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen, Trauma) and Archie Renaux have joined the cast of BBC One's six episode drama series Gold Digger. They will star opposite series leads Julia Ormond and Ben Barnes.  Read More