HBO has extended its licensing deal with Summit Entertainment through 2022. HBO also plans to extend their stand-alone streaming service, HBO Now to Brazil and Argentina in addition to their plans to go to Spain. Their streaming service is already available in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Colombia, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
DirecTV will offer three nationwide, streamed video services next fall. DirecTV Now, will offer wired and wireless Internet users “a range of content packages, including much of what is available from DirecTV today,” AT&T says. DirecTV Mobile will be made available to any wireless customer who want to watch “premium video and made-for-digital content directly on a smartphone,” says AT&T. Lastly, DirecTV Preview will be a free, ad-supported offering for wired and wireless devices with original and acquired programming on AT&T’s Audience Network as well as “many networks and other content sources, and millennial-focused video from Otter Media.”
Patrick Milling-Smith and Brian Carmody, founders of talent and production firm Smuggler Inc, and Red Arrow Entertainment have launched TV company, Cove Pictures, to be headed by Heather Rabbatts. The goal is to make high-end drama, comedy and factual programs for the international market. Red Arrow will hold a minority stake in the company and distribute Cove projects internationally. In addition, they have set a creative alliance with James Bond producers Eon Productions.
NCIS star and executive producer Mark Harmon has signed with CBS TV Studios to extend his deal another two years. The studio is behind the hit CBS drama, which has been renewed another two years. NCIS is currently averaging 20.47 million viewers this season.
TV and film production company Wind Dancer Films is launching a new division aimed at kids. Wind Dancer Films President Dete Meserve, recently named Principal, will head children’s programming in the new division. In addition, Meserve has hired Rusty Tracy as the company’s new VP of Animation. Tracy previously worked on various animated kids TV series, including Monsters & Aliens and Kung Fun Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
Alex Saks has launched June Pictures, which she’ll run with CEO Andrew Duncan. Saks was previously at ICM Partners, where she spent the past four years as an agent in their Independent and International Department. June Pictures will finance and produce features and documentaries, feature-length narrative and documentary films. The company recently finished production on Dude, directed by Olivia Milch and starring Lucy Hale.
Open Road Films and MadRiver Pictures have inked a non-exclusive production deal for all of Open Road Films’ inside productions over the coming years. Marc Butan’s MadRiver Pictures will collaborate with Open Road’s team to source and lead production on Open Road Films’ in-house productions. The plan is to produce two to four films a year, which Open Road will distribute in the U.S.
Separately, Open Road Films has signed a first-look deal with MadRiver Films to acquire U.S. distribution rights of MadRiver features. on acquiring U.S. distribution rights on MadRiver films. Foreign sales on MadRiver productions will be overseen by MadRiver’s new international sales division headed by Kimberly Fox. Foreign sales on Open Road’s in-house productions will still be run by Open Road International and partner FilmNation.