NBC has extended Seth Meyers’ contract through February 2021. Meyers has been the host of Late Night for two years. “As a writer, performer and host, Seth has a rich history at NBC and we are thrilled that he’ll be at the helm of Late Night for many more years,” Greenblatt commented in a statement. In addition to his contract extension, Meyers will host a primetime special on New Year’s Eve underlining the current events and big news stories of 2016, in a move replacing the previous host, Bravo’s Andy Cohen.
The cable news channel Al Jazeera America, which began operating in 2013, is shutting down at the end of April. The shuttering of the broadcaster was announced at a company-wide meeting today. In a memo to the staff, Al Jazeera America’s chief executive, Al Anstey, said the “decision by Al Jazeera America’s board is driven by the fact that our business model is simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges in the U.S. media marketplace. I know the closure of AJAM will be a massive disappointment for everyone here who has worked tirelessly for our long-term future. The decision that has been made is in no way because AJAM has done anything but a great job. Our commitment to great journalism is unrivaled.”
BillBlock Media has signed a multi-year agreement with Red Granite International to act as the exclusive international sales agent for the company’s upcoming production slate. BB Media plans to produce three to four original titles per year that will be handled by RGI as well as serve as executive producer on select third party projects. The wide ranging agreement extends to include co-financing and co-producing opportunities between the two entities. Block’s recent production titles include Dirty Grandpa and Bad Moms.
As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, Relativity Media has acquired Trigger Street Productions and has named Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey Chairman of Relativity Studios and Producer Dana Brunetti as President. Together, they will guide Relativity’s resurgence in feature films and scripted television, and expected in their new positions beginning next month. Trigger Street’s track record includes Best Picture-nominated films such as Captain Phillips and The Social Network, as well as the Emmy-nominated House Of Cards and Recount.
eOne has made a strategic equity investment in Sierra Pictures in a move to enhance its global film portfolio and international sales and distribution reach. Sierra Pictures will continue to operate autonomously, utilizing eOne’s global production and financing resources to support its production slate. Sierra will rep both its own and eOne’s slate at the European Film Market in Berlin. Sierra will also handle international sales and distribution of films produced and acquired by eOne Features and eOne-distributed films from the Mark Gordon Company. Due to the deal, eOne International’s film sales division will be shuttered. There has been no official comment on the number of job losses. Sierra’s Nick Meyer will now head sales on upcoming eOne titles. Sierra/Affinity, the joint international sales venture between Sierra Pictures, OddLot Entertainment and Bold Films, will continue to operate.
As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, Hulu and Sony now have a new multi-year content deal. Several new series, including The Shield, Party of Five and Dawson’s Creek will be available on Hulu. And several new films from Sony’s archive, including Jerry Maguire, Midnight in Paris, and My Best Friend’s Wedding, will be coming to Hulu as well.
John Ridley and his production arm, International Famous Players Radio Picture Corporation, have extended their overall deal with ABC Studios for another three years. The deal includes a feature first-look arrangement with Disney and its related entities for any feature film project that Ridley develops and/or writes during the term. Ridley will expand his company with the forthcoming hire of a dedicated development executive. Ridley’s pilot Presence for ABC Studios starts production next week in Los Angeles.
Sony Movie Channel has inked a multi-year distribution agreement with Massillon Cable TV to include linear, Video-on-Demand and TV Everywhere rights for MCTV subscribers.
Raconteur Associates has signed a first look deal with BBC Worldwide. The start-up indie was launched in 2015 by William Miller and Ruth Wrigley and will focus on high-end, unscripted programming and formats for the UK and international markets. Raconteur will develop and retain IP while also collaborating with third party production companies and broadcasters on delivering content. BBC Worldwide will distribute Raconteur’s programming. Raconteur also hired BBC producer Charlotte Crosse as its new head of development and talent. Crosse was previously the on-screen talent producer for the BBC’s Natural History Unit.
The CW and Litton Entertainment have signed a multi-year deal for Saturday morning educational block One Magnificent Morning to run through the 2020-2021 season.
ABC Family is officially now Freeform and celebrated the brand makeover with a daylong virtual event. The brand relaunch “speaks to the network’s ongoing priority to super-serve Becomers, fans on that epic adventure of becoming and adult.” Launch partnerships included a Social DNA Project through Twitter, an event live stream via Periscope, a Vine booth, a BuzzFeed/Facebook Live chat, a Pretty Little Liars Facebook icon and Snapchat filter and Instagram content and talent takeovers.
As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, 21st Century Fox has entered into a preliminary agreement with Osterhour Design Group, a virtual and augmented reality and smartglass designer. Under the deal, 21st Century Fox would gain a minority stake in Osterhour, and become the company’s principle outside investor with the ultimate goal to merge ODG’s tech with 21st Century Fox’s entertainment content.
WGN America will be available on Cablevision, the New York based company, beginning January 16, expanding the net’s reach to 80 million homes across cable platforms. “We’re no longer a Superstation,” commented WGN President Matthew Cherniss at TCA.