Lindsay Gibb
Katalyst and 3 Ball sell reality series to TV Land
NEWSU.S cable channel TV Land has picked up a new reality competition series pairing septuagenarians with 20-somethings to see how they work together despite the generation gap.
Smithsonian Channel launches iPhone app
NEWSSmithsonian Channel has launched its first app for the iPhone and iPod Touch which will allow viewers to watch full length episodes and hundreds of clips from their mobile devices. Also within the app is a feature entitled artiFacts which offers little snippets of information about history, science and music with links to program information and the channel’s programming schedule.
NPR blogger hypothesizes best DVD releases tend to be docs
NEWSAccording to NPR blogger Glenn McDonald, over the past few years the best DVDs to hit the shelves weekly, from his perspective, are independent documentaries. In saying so he writes a love letter to documentarians – admittedly full of generalizations, but praise nonetheless.
Distributor profile: Beyond Distribution
NEWSDespite the bumps of the rocky economy, Beyond Distribution GM Fiona Crago says the company weathered the storm well. Realscreen spoke with Crago about the company’s plans for MIPCOM and the secret to its success during hard times.
Canada’s Biography Channel announces fall line-up
TVCanada’s Biography Channel has announced six new series that will join the channel’s line-up this fall.
Pitch Guide preview: Claudia Schreiner, ARD/MDR
TVIn late August, realscreen will present its Global Pitch Guide, featuring valuable intelligence from commissioning editors and factual programmers around the world. In this preview, Claudia Schreiner, head of programming, history, culture and science for Germany’s ARD/MDR, explains how she commissions and what docs work for her.
BET to debut first original music doc
FILM / TVBET will debut its first original music documentary, My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women In Hip Hop on August 30. The doc – which examines the gender-specific differences between the artistry, marketing, promotion and economics of female versus male hip-hop artists – features interviews with artists such as Missy Elliott, EVE, MC Lyte, Questlove, as well as hip-hop moguls such as Jermaine Dupri and Russell Simmons. ‘This is a story that could not be told by one voice,’ says Stephen Hill, BET’s president of music programming and specials. ‘It required a chorus. And although this story is comprehensive, it is still likely one of many truths about the role of women in hip-hop.’
Debmar-Mercury acquires domestic rights to ‘Hell’s Kitchen’
TVDebmar-Mercury, a worldwide media company and wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate, has acquired domestic distribution rights to ITV STUDIOS’ U.S. series Hell’s Kitchen. This deal marks the third agreement between Debmar-Mercury and ITV STUDIOS this year, the other two being the joint development of syndicated panel talk show The Chefs and a U.S. version of the hit UK daytime talk show The Jeremy Kyle Show. The eighth season of Hell’s Kitchen, produced by ITV STUDIOS in association with A. Smith & Co. Productions, will premiere on FOX on September 22.
UKTV rolls out Eden and Good Food in HD
TVUKTV has announced the launch of its first two HD channels. Good Food and Eden will both be going HD through Sky. Good Food HD launches first, on August 31, and to coincide with the launch Good Food will bring 267 new hours of acquisitions and commissions to the air including the premiere of the third season of Man v Food, series two of Good Chef Bad Chef, series four of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Ronnie Corbett’s Supper Club and, new to the channel, Jimmy’s Food Factory. Eden HD will launch in early October with new additions to the channel including blue chip content such as Great Rift and South Pacific. Also on the channel are programs such as Life and Planet Earth.
Controversy over doc star’s funding of ABC doc
TVThe Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australian millionaire Dick Smith and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) are facing accusations that his funding of 10% of the doc Dick Smith’s Population Puzzle, in which he appears, undermines the independence of the national broadcaster. The ABC approved the funding model on the condition that it received final editorial approval.
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Factual Entertainment Forum 2011 - Sharon Levy, EVP original series and animation at Spike TV, during the “Mining for Gold” panel at Realscreen’s Factual Entertainment Forum in Santa Monica.