Here are the global TV and streaming television stories that should be on your radar for Wednesday, February 19th, 2025:
‘Vigil’ Renewed For Season 3 At BBC As Hit Thriller Heads To The Arctic Circle (Deadline)
BBC smash Vigil is heading to the Arctic Circle. The hit Suranne Jones-starring show, which comes from the makers of Line of Duty, has been greenlit for a third season and will move to a research station in the Arctic where a member of a covert British special forces mission has been shot dead.
Dataxis: Ad-Supported Streaming Plans Taking Off In Europe (The Desk)
The report found that hybrid video on-demand (HVOD) services grew by 783 percent across the top five streaming markets in Europe. HVOD is a relatively new industry term that refers to a streaming platform that offers both ad-supported and premium, commercial-free service plans. Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney Plus all offer HVOD services in Europe.
Spain: BBC Player Launching On Movistar Plus+ (Advanced-Television)
BBC Studios has renewed and expanded its partnership with Movistar Plus+ in Spain. The new agreement will see BBC Studios increase its content offering in the market with the debut of multi-genre VoD service, BBC Player, the launch of additional FAST channels, and a recommitment to natural history and BBC Earth content acquisitions.
BBC Studios Expands Partnership With Movistar Plus+ In Spain, Launching BBC Player And New FAST Channels (Variety)
Under the new, multi-year deal, BBC Studios will introduce BBC Player, a VOD service offering up to 1,000 hours of curated content from the BBC’s extensive catalogue. The service will feature a mix of scripted and unscripted titles, including popular shows like “The Louis Theroux Interviews” and “Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job.” BBC Player will be available to Movistar Plus+ subscribers later this year, alongside the launch of additional FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) channels.
Roku Secures American Idol Streaming Rights In Canada (World Screen)
Roku and Fremantle have inked an agreement to bring American Idol season eight live to The Roku Channel in its first single-territory live and simulcast deal, along with AVOD digital exclusive rights to the series. American Idol season eight will air on ABC in the U.S. on Sundays and Mondays and stream the next day on Hulu, with a free simulcast on The Roku Channel in Canada and streaming the next day on-demand on The Roku Channel.
Banijay Unveils ‘AI Love You,’ Docu-Format Allowing Couples To Preserve Love Beyond Death (The Hollywood Reporter)
The show follows couples, facing an early end to life, deciding to use AI to preserve their love. Guided by a psychologist and tech expert, they spend their final months creating a digital avatar of their loved one. The journey begins with a gathering where family and friends contribute memories, letters, videos and anecdotes to shape the AI, capturing the quirks and essence of the person. Once complete, the avatar is stored away until needed after their partner’s passing. The surviving loved one, supported by a psychologist, then chooses whether to engage with it, or leave it untouched.
FIFA Takes 2026, 2030 Rights Tender To Nine European Markets (Sportcal)
Soccer’s global governing body FIFA has opened a media rights tender covering the next two men’s FIFA World Cups across nine European markets. Rights covering the 2026 (the US, Canada, and Mexico), and 2030 (Spain, Portugal, and Morocco) tournaments went out to tender yesterday across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Ukraine.
IndyCar Reveals International TV Partners (Speed Sports)
IndyCar Series teams wrapped up two days of testing during its annual IndyCar Spring Training at Sebring Int’l Raceway. With the season beginning in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Feb. 28-March 2, IndyCar announced its international television package on Wednesday morning.
JioHotstar Uses City Billboards And Digital Platforms To Create Buzz Around Entry (Media 4 U)
In the days leading up to the launch of JioHotstar, JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar engaged in a playful exchange across city billboards and digital platforms, teasing each other in a light-hearted conversation. The banter witnessed JioCinema saying “Looking for someone who digs cricket, reality shows and live concerts. Know Anyone?” with Disney+ Hotstar’s responding “Cricket is my love language, who wants to match this Valentine’s Day?” teasing the launch on Valentine’s Day. The banter sparked curiosity and excitement among consumers across platforms and set the stage for the unveiling of JioHotstar.
Banijay’s Endemol Shine Australia Signs Development Deal With ‘Ninja Warrior’ Creator Tokyo Broadcasting System (Variety)
The first TBS format now in development with ESA is a take on the strategic gameshow “Actors Vs Reactors,” produced by Junya Ueda. Reinvented and scaled by ESA as “The Insider,” the format sees a group of celebrities in a strategic game where they will be continually and mercilessly pranked. But one celebrity sneakily knows the details of every prank and is faking their reactions. As the description goes, “Can the celebrities find The Insider before they win all the cash?”