UK directors Anand Tucker and Sharon Maguire have launched a production company backed by All3Media called Seven Stories to create TV projects for the UK and U.S. markets. Under the deal, All3Media will hold an undisclosed stake in the company and distribute its content through All3Media International. Stephen Lambert will be a Non-Exec Chairman. Jo McClellan and Colleen Woodcock will join as Creative Directors. McClellan was previously a Drama EP for Sky while Woodcock served as Pathe Productions’ Head of Creative Affairs.
Fremantle Media has acquired a 25% stake in Naked Entertainment. The shingle is run by Simon Andreae, the former Head of Alternative Entertainment at Fox. Under the deal, Fremantle will cover some overhead and distribution. Andreae also has a first-look deal at Fox for his U.S.-based projects. His target for Naked is to generate half its revenue from America within two years, with an immediate focus on working with UK broadcasters.
Billionaire Patrick Drahi’s telecom company, Altice is set to purchase Cablevision, which currently has an estimated 2.6 million video customers, in a deal worth around $10 billion. Upon Altice combining Cablevision with Suddenlink it will become the number four operator in the United States.
TV producer Archie Gips has inked an overall first-look deal with 44 Blue Productions to develop unscripted TV formats for 44 Blue under his Glad I Thought of It Productions banner. Gips is the EP and showrunner for the 44 Blue-produced Wahlburgers on A&E and was an EP on its sister show, Donnie Loves Jenny. Gips’ other producing credits include Duck Dynasty, Top Chef, Last Comic Standing and Blind Date.
Sonar Entertainment has inked an exclusive first-look deal with indie production company StoryBy Entertainment with the goal of packaging underlying literary material. The first project set under the deal is a family drama based on real-life events written and executive produced by Rick Cleveland, known for House Of Cards and The West Wing.
TV director Niels Arden Oplev has inked an overall deal with Universal TV. He recently directed the pilot to the USA drama Mr. Robot and NBC’s upcoming series, Game of Silence. He also directed the highly-rated opening episode of the CBS summer drama series Under The Dome.
Jon Taffer has signed a first-look deal with Spike TV to develop future series. He is the current star of Spike TV’s hit original series, Bar Rescue currently in Season 4. Season 3 averaged 1.8 million viewers.
Long-time TV showrunner Tim Doyle has inked a two-year overall deal with ABC Studios to develop comedy projects for network, cable, and streaming services and will serve as a consulting producer on ABC Studios’ midseason family comedy series for The Real O’Neals. He previously was the executive producer and showrunner on Last Man Standing for three years.
Warner Bros has joined forces with China Media Capital to form the venture, Flagship Entertainment Group. The goal of the venture is to develop, invest in, acquire and produce a wide range of Chinese language films for distribution throughout China and around the world through Warner Bros’ network with the first titles to release in 2016.
Marlon Wayans has launched an as yet-unnamed production company with business partner Rick Alvarez to be based at Universal TV, where Wayans has inked an overall deal. Under the deal, Wayans is developing a semi-autobiographical comedy series with co-creator Chris Moynihan, who also is under an overall deal at Universal TV. The goal of the deal is to develop scripted and unscripted projects.