Here are the global TV and streaming television stories that should be on your radar for Friday, August 16th, 2024:
Netflix Acquires ‘State Of Silence,’ Documentary That Exposes Shocking Threat To Mexico’s Bravest Journalists (Deadline)
Netflix has acquired U.S. and Latin American rights to State of Silence (Estado de Silencio), Santiago Maza's documentary on the perilous threat facing investigative journalists in Mexico. Actor-activist Diego Luna executive produced the film.
Nordics: High Viewer Interest In Unclaimed Serie A Rights (Advanced-Television)
Despite the the new Serie A season kicking off this weekend, the TV and streaming rights for the Italian football league remain unsold – at least officially – across all Nordic countries. Whoever picks up the right to distribute the Italian top league will have a solid fan base of around a million interested viewers in the Nordics, of which half come from Sweden, reports Mediavision.
3 Million Czechs Now Using Streaming Services (Broadband TV News)
The popularity of video on demand (VOD) services in the Czech Republic continues to grow across all market segments. According to the latest atmedia index research, 47% of Czechs aged 15-69 actively used at least one streaming service in the first half of the year. Compared to the second half of last year, this is five percentage points more. “The number of users of streaming services such as Netflix, Voyo or Max increased quite significantly in the first six months of this year by 300 thousand to 3.1 million users,” calculates Pavel Müller, Senior Head of Research & Marketing, atmedia.
‘Angry Young Men’: Inside Prime Video’s Documentary Series On Bollywood Screenwriting Legends Salim-Javed (Variety)
Prime Video is set to premiere “Angry Young Men,” a three-part documentary series that captures the personal and professional journey of legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, known collectively as Salim-Javed.
Former BBC Studios Drama Boss Priscilla Parish Heads To Sky Studios (Deadline)
Former BBC Studios drama boss Priscilla Parish has headed in the opposite direction to Zai Bennett. Parish has joined Sky Studios as Senior Executive Producer in the scripted team, coming soon after it was revealed Bennett is leaving Sky to head up BBC Studios Productions.
Research: Streaming Saves UK Holidays (Advanced-Television)
Research from Virgin Media O2 finds majority (85 per cent) of parents consider reliable connectivity crucial for entertaining children during wet weather on rural outings during the school holidays.
Showmax Premier League Hijacks Matchday Live (Showmax Stories)
In an awkward live conversation with Manchester United legend, Eric Cantona – in his debut appearance on Matchday Live – host Julia Stuart and Owen Hargreaves attempted to placate the notorious Red Devils’ captain. Their efforts were in vain, as the Frenchman eventually tired of the conversation and stormed off the set. He offered a rambling monologue about revolution as his parting shot. Stuart says, “What can you and the millions of Manchester United fans around the world expect; what will be unfolding as the season progresses on their television sets?”
4iG Group To Exclusively Distribute RTL+ In Hungary (Broadband TV News)
4iG Group and RTL Hungary have agreed a strategic partnership for the distribution of RTL Hungary's television channels and the RTL+ streaming service, as well as cooperation in the areas of programme production.
India’s Applause Entertainment Unveils ‘Nyaya,’ As MD Sameer Nair Charts Course Of Studio’s Next Seven Years (Variety)
Applause’s upcoming slate is diverse and ambitious. “Black Warrant,” based on a bestselling insider account about Delhi’s Tihar Jail, is directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. “Gandhi,” a series about the Mahatma based on Ramachandra Guha’s books, stars Pratik Gandhi and is directed by Hansal Mehta. The first episode of documentary series “Modern Masters” featuring “RRR” director S.S. Rajamouli is now streaming on Netflix, while “Assassins – The Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Killers” is a crime procedural directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.
South Africa: Nicola van Niekerk Is Acting Content Boss At Showmax (Broadcast Media Africa)
The widely respected Nicola van Niekerk has been M-Net’s head of premium content and co-productions for a year since July 2023, after she was promoted from the senior manager for scripted content and factual entertainment position she held for the preceding five years, which she held until October 2018.