News

Exclusive: Australia’s Wtfn is relaunching its management arm as Radar Talent.

The Melbourne-based operation was previously named Empire Talent and debuts in its new guise with a roster of newly-signed international stars including former WWE wrestler Maven Huffman and Dr Michael Says, the Scottish-born TikTok star Dr. Michael Mrozinski, who is known for debunking wellness myths.

Australian talent includes Real Housewives of Sydney’s Dr Kate Adams; The Block stars Rachel and Ryan Carr; Steve Van Aperen, co-host of Seven Network’s The Hunters; and YouTuber Mathew McKenna.

Radar Talent will sit within Australian producer Wtfn’s digital business, Radar, which has just had its second birthday. Radar manages more than 30 digital channels, including those for Wtfn’s unscripted series such as Bondi Vet and third-party series shows including The Dog Whisperer, and the plan is to integrate the units to push talent forwards.

Kristen Mahar will be lead agent at Radar Talent,...

Exclusive: Australian producer Wtfn has reshuffled its management pack.

Co-founder Daryl Talbot has moved out of the CEO seat at the 22-year-old company to become Executive Director, with COO Wes Crook rising to replace him. Steve Oemcke, the other co-founder, remains Chief Creative Officer and Derek Dyson is Chief Commercial Officer.

Wtfn is best known for Australian unscripted shows such as Bondi Vet, Sydney Harbour Force, The Hunters, Emergency and Space Invaders, but also operates in international distribution through subsidiary Fred Media and digital vendor Radar. The two sales businesses merged in September last year.

Talbot, a former Nine Network producer and news reporter, launched Wtfn with former gameshow host Oemcke in 2003, and they have gone on to build one of Australia’s most prolific independent production and distribution operations. The Sydney-based company owns a library of more than 2,000 in-house hours, a sizeable number including numerous multi-season returners, and talent agency Empire Talent,...

Exclusive: The Australian television M&a market is set for its first big deal in a minute or two.

We can reveal Wtfn, one of the remaining indies in Australia’s consolidated production market, has put itself up for sale.

Bosses at the 23-year-old company are seeking buyers and we hear they have instructed Abp Advisory, the UK-based M&a firm run by former Acf Investment Bank MD Hasham Khan, to explore a deal. At present, the company is privately owned.

Wtfn didn’t respond to requests for comment and Abp declined to comment.

Melbourne-based Wtfn is known for returning unscripted series such as Nine Network’s reno show Space Invaders, long-running Network Ten doc series Bondi Vet and medical series Paramedics and Emergency. Deadline hears there are plans for concerted pushes into scripted and high-end docs.

Launched by producers Daryl Talbot and Steve Oemcke in 2001, the company owns a library of more than 2,000 in-house hours,...

‘Elsbeth’ Flies To France

Paramount Global Content Distribution has licensed the highly anticipated CBS Studios series “Elsbeth” to TF1 in France.

Starring Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston, “Elsbeth” is based on the popular character of Elsbeth Tascioni, the astute but unconventional attorney featured in “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.” “The series has been highly sought after in the French territory and this agreement will provide TF1 viewers exclusive access to the series in the market,” Paramount Global Content Distribution said.

The new series finds Elsbeth in New York City tackling a new investigative role and working alongside the NYPD after leaving her successful legal career in Chicago.

“TF1 is delighted to welcome this new series, driven by the talent of the amazing Carrie Preston,” said Sophie Leveaux, Tfi’s artistic director of acquisitions and international drama development, noting that the “Good Wife” universe was adored by audiences. “‘Elsbeth...

Streaming

Amazon miniTV, the free streaming service available on the Amazon Shopping app in India, is dubbing a raft of Korean, Turkish, Mandarin and Spanish dramas into the Hindi language for local consumption under the MiniTV Imported banner. The first set of shows, which streams from July 7, are all Korean and includes “Cheer Up,” “Heart Surgeons” and “Doctor Detective.”

Amogh Dusad, head of content, Amazon miniTV, said: “In recent times, the viewing preferences of digital video consumers in India have changed significantly. They love diversity in content offering and are looking for unique stories & captivating characters from across the world. We have curated a list of blockbuster shows, from Korean, Turkish, Mandarin, Spanish and many more languages, that we believe will resonate with Indian viewers.”

Understanding

U.K. producers alliance Pact has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the U.K. Business Centre (Ukbc) Lille to facilitate cooperation and...

Australian indie Wftn Entertainment – the company behind hit blue-light shows including “Bondi Vet” and “Paramedics” – is hoping to lure unscripted creatives Down Under in a new hiring drive, Variety can reveal.

Wftn says it has already identified 20 roles it needs to fill – including editors, producers, showrunners, post producers, field producers and production managers – and is prepared to spend up to seven figures to snap up a host of U.K. creatives. That sum will go towards flights, accommodation and work permits as well as salaries.

The indie says that due to growing demand – it reports an uptick in commissions – plus the post-covid production boom Australia is currently experiencing means it is becoming increasingly hard to fill those roles domestically – which is why Steve Oemcke, Wtfn Group’s co-founder and Cco, is now casting his eyes across to the U.K.

Among the shows Wtfn is currently working on are a...

Stephen Peters has been appointed head of development at Wtfn after working with the company for nearly a year as a contracted consultant.

Peters is an executive producer on Wtfn obs-doc series Sydney Harbour Force, which is being produced for Discovery Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

His other EP credits include Nine Network programs True Medical, Inside Crime, Australian Survivor, and Fremantle’s Australian Idol.

Peters also worked as head of television at Eyeworks, where he managed series such as Kalgoorlie Cops and Gangs of Oz, and spent three years as head of development at Endemol Southern Star.

In his new role, he will be responsible for expanding Wtfn’s development slate by creating more returning documentary and access series – such as Paramedics and Bondi Vet – as well as branching out into new factual genres.

Peters said his prior knowledge of working with the company meant he “didn’t...

A Playmaker Media drama starring Jessica Marais and a reality series which reunites people with long-lost family members are among six new Australian shows for Network Ten in 2016.

The line-up includes Australian Survivor, All Star Family Feud, the spin-off I.m A Celebrity. Get Me Out Of Here! Now, and the previously announced telemovie Brock.

Ten said more new local series will be announced next year as it strives to build the momentum which saw the broadcaster record its highest commercial prime time shares since 2011 as audiences increased by 15 per cent this year.

In Playmaker Media's The Wrong Girl, Love Child star Marais will play Lily, a modern woman caught between two guys — one too good to be true and the other so wrong he might be Mr. Right.. Lily and her flatmate Simone are supposed to be taking a sabbatical from men but Lily falls in love with Jack,...

Network Ten is betting heavily on new and returning reality shows in 2015 to maintain the momentum of this year.s ratings growth and to make the company a more attractive take-over target as potential buyers circle.

News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch has confirmed the 50%-owned Foxtel is looking at buying a small stake in the loss-making broadcaster, reportedly in partnership with Discovery Communications. Cross-media laws would limit Foxtel to a 14.9% stake.

Murdoch told News' Agm that independent advisers have been hired to look at the potential purchase but he ruled out buying his son Lachlan.s stake in Ten.

There were only two fresh dramas among eight new local productions highlighted at Ten.s upfronts presentation on Thursday night.

FremantleMedia Australia will produce Mary: The Making Of A Princess, a telemovie dramatizing the fairytale of the Tasmanian-born real estate agent who met a Danish crown prince in a Sydney pub and became Mary,...

Network Ten is betting heavily on new and returning reality shows in 2015 to maintain the momentum of this year.s ratings growth and to make the company a more attractive take-over target as potential buyers circle.

There were only two fresh dramas among eight new local productions highlighted at Ten.s upfronts presentation on Thursday night.

FremantleMedia Australia will produce Mary: The Making Of A Princess, dramatizing the fairytale of the Tasmanian-born real estate agent who met a Danish crown prince in a pub and became Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark.

Shine Australia will produce The Peter Brock Story, a bio on the motorsports champion who was plagued by self-doubt. He died in 2006, aged 61, when his car hit a tree during a rally in Western Australia.

Fremantle Media.s Wonderland returns next year and Neighbours will celebrate its 30th year, but there is no Offspring.

The only major new Australian...

Micah Hewson..

ITV Studios Australia.s new head of content Ben Ulm has promoted Micah Hewson to head of development.

Hewson had served as executive producer, development, for ITV and its predecessor Granada Media Australia since 2010.

He was on the development team for Paddock to Plate, whose series 2 is in production for The LifeStyle Channel, River Cottage Australia and Please Marry My Boy!.

In previous roles at Southern Star and Endemol Southern Star he was a producer on the first six seasons of Big Brother Australia and he produced The Aria Awards and Ready Steady Cook.

Ulm joined ITV after serving as head of factual Entertainment at Wtfn where he was executive producer of The Living Room and Bondi Vet.

Hewson will work closely with Ulm and other genre heads to develop innovative programming and third party opportunities with broadcasters.

.I.m thrilled that Micah is stepping up to lead development for ITV Studios Australia.

ITV Studios Australia.s new head of content Ben Ulm has promoted Micah Hewson to head of development.

Hewson had served as executive producer, development, for ITV and its predecessor Granada Media Australia since 2010.

He was on the development team for Paddock to Plate, whose series 2 is in production for The LifeStyle Channel, River Cottage Australia and Please Marry My Boy!.

In previous roles at Southern Star and Endemol Southern Star he was a producer on the first six seasons of Big Brother Australia and he produced The Aria Awards and Ready Steady Cook.

Ulm joined ITV after serving as head of factual Entertainment at Wtfn where he was executive producer of The Living Room and Bondi Vet.

Hewson will work closely with Ulm and other genre heads to develop innovative programming and third party opportunities with broadcasters.

.I.m thrilled that Micah is stepping up to lead development for ITV Studios Australia.

Ben Ulm.

Producer Ben Ulm joins ITV Studios Australia on May 5 in the newly created position of head of content, reporting to managing director Anita Jacoby.

Ulm has been head of factual entertainment at Wtfn since 2009 and before that was an executive producer of FremantleMedia.s The Farmer Wants a Wife.

He.s Jacoby.s first key hire since she took the post last September, succeeding Leonie Lowe who set up her own production outfit after more than 11 years with the British-owned company.

.Ben is unquestionably one of the best in the business and he will play a pivotal role in the next phase of growth of ITV Studios Australia,. said Jacoby. Ulm will work closely with Jacoby to grow the content business with networks in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Currently ITV Studios Australia is producing series 2 of the Matt Moran-hosted Paddock to Plate for The LifeStyle Channel...

A new Australian distribution company will launch at the international TV market Mipcom in Cannes this year with a range of content from Australian production companies.

Fred Media, a distribution arm to Wtfn will also be representing Wtfn’s factual show Bondi Vet as well as shows from Gibson Group, Hark Attack, Big Dog, Lachdown, The Media Mix and Media Farm.

Heath Watt, Fred Media’s CEO, said: “I am delighted to lead the birth of Fred. With its base of world-class factual and documentary content and formats, Fred promises to become a major player in the

international distribution market.”

Watt joins the company after serving as head of business affairs at Network Ten and COO of pan regional Asia Pacific channel, Australia Network.

Joining Watt is Michael Aldrich as international distribution manager. Aldrich said: “Fred will be focussed on the needs of our clients in an ever-changing market. We...

Nine’s talent contest The Voice dipped below 2m viewers for the first time since its debut a month ago.

The two-hour long juggernaut ran from 7.33pm to 9.47pm, beating Revenge on Seven, which came closest with 1.353m in the 8.30pm time slot, and half an hour of MasterChef on Ten, which took just over 1m.

With ratings of 1.914m – down from 2.177m on its debut - The Voice also overcame Border Security and The Force on Seven, and Bondi Vet and NCIS on Ten, according to preliminary results from OzTam.

The show also won in every key advertising demographic – 25-54, 16-39 and 18-49 – followed by Revenge.

The second episode of Tricky Business on Nine, which followed The Voice, rated with 744,823 between 9.48pm and 10.47pm, down from 0.987m on its opening night.

The Block took 1.322m for Nine in the 7pm time slot before The Voice.

At breakfast, Sunrise recorded another convincing win over Today,...

The nominations for the 2012 TV Week Logies were announced on Sunday, with long-running soap Home and Away and Nine.s Underbelly: Razor leading the pool with seven nominations each.

Home and Away, which has been on air since 1988, received its nominations in the public-voted categories. It is up against Offspring, Packed To The Rafters, Winners And Losers and Underbelly: Razor for most popular drama series.

Esther Anderson (who plays Charlie Buckton) is nominated for both the gold logie for most popular TV personality and the silver logie for most popular actress. Veteran Ray Meagher (aka Alf Stewart) will compete against stars from Wild Boys, Packed to the Rafters and Offspring for most popular actor, while Dan Ewing, Steve Peacocke and Demi Harman are nominated in the most popular new talent categories.

Underbelly: Razor was acknowledged by both the public and industry peers. It earned nods for most popular series, actress...

Ian Robertson has been appointed president of the Film Victoria Board as the organisation attempts to move on from embarrassment surrounding the reported $45,000 it spend on a farewell party for outgoing CEO Sandra Sdraulig.

When news of the shindig reached the public domain acting CEO Jeni Tosi wrote an open letter promising accountability. The letter appears to have since been removed from the Film Victoria website.

Ian Robertson, a corporate and media lawyer and deputy chair of Screen Australia, had been appointed. Robertson is currently Sydney managing partner of law firm Holding Redlich. He has previously worked as the in-house counsel for The Age newspaper in Melbourne and as an executive at production company Avv Australia. He is also a director of Beyond International.

Also joining the board is Daryl Talbot, MD of Wtfn Entertainment which produces shows including Bondi Vet.

Louise Asher, Victoria’s minister for innovation, services and...

Bondi Vet's Lisa Chimes has married long-term boyfriend Brad Nissen in a Melbourne ceremony. The 27-year-old Australian television star, who regularly tends to animals on the Logie-nominated documentary show, said that she couldn't resist dressing her two cavalier-cross-poodles up so that they could be a part of her wedding. Chimes told Woman's Day magazine: "The lady who altered my bridesmaids' dresses also made up the boys' suits. I know... I'm crazy, right? They had little tuxes - a white shirt and bow tie and their charcoal bit of material that matches the groomsmen. Just gorgeous! "Nelson is an absolute angel - if I put anything on (more)...