News

Exclusive: True-crime veteran and distribution exec Sherry Fynbo has set up Last Word Entertainment, whose debut show launches on Crave this week.

Fynbo, known for the likes of Drug Lords: The Takedown and Escobar Exposed, will lead the company as President and executive producer, and has hired former Beyond Rights colleague Fiona Crago and The Night Stalker co-director James Carroll to join her.

Last Word is officially launching as its first series, Mafia: Most Wanted, launches on Crave on Friday (March 7). The three-part series exposed how Italian mafia syndicate the ‘Ndrangheta, which controls a huge portion of the world’s cocaine supply, has established a stronghold in Toronto, Canada. Fynbo is taking it out to the U.S. and international markets.

Through access to police wiretaps, confidential case files and exclusive interviews with mob hitmen, the series builds a picture of the shadowy organization and the relentless pursuit to dismantle it.

Plex offers hundreds of free, ad-supported television content streams through its app for smart TVs, phones, tablets and other devices. (Courtesy image)

(The following is a press release; its contents were not editorially vetted by The Desk.)

Global streaming media company Plex, the largest independent streaming media platform, announced today that it launched 92 more free ad-supported streaming television (Fast) channels worldwide in July. The new channels were launched in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, France, and Germany.

In the first seven months of 2024, Plex has launched more than 300 channels, focused on its goal to be the first place people go to find any show or movie, as well as to watch it, rate it, and talk about it with friends and family.

An emerging leader in Fast and AVOD, the company recently announced it has the most extensive Fast channel lineup worldwide,...

“We’ll launch Fast channels pretty darn soon” Sean Cohan told Deadline back in March and the Bell Media President has delivered on that pledge with the rollout of ten new channels.

The Canadian media giant has launched English and French-language offerings across the entertainment, factual, news, comedy and sports categories. They are initially available on LG Channels, and will launch on Samsung TV Plus later this quarter.

The English channels include lifestyle net CTV@Home, Corner Gas Channel featuring eps of the classic comedy and its animated spin-off. Shows including Highway Thru Hell will be on CTV Gridlock, while news will be covered on CTV News. Niche sports will be the order of the day on the Tsn The Ocho channel.

The French-language offering includes reality net Noovo télé-réalités, film channel Noovo cinema and comedy service Noovo comedies.

Fast channels have become a way for media companies that own...

Exclusive: The Weather Channel and Bell Media’s Discovery Canada are set to ride the dangerous I-80/I-15 interstate ring highway.

Weather Channel has greenlit docu-series Rocky Mountain Wreckers, which will follow the harrowing adventures of four family-owned heavy wrecking businesses — Mountain Recovery, Stauffer’s Towing & Recovery, Reliable Towing and Big Al’s Towing — across Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Weather Channel has U.S. rights and will act as international distributor. Bell Media is the Canadian production partner and has taken rights for Discovery Canada. Production has begun, with the series set to deliver in fall 2024.

Thunderbird Entertainment’s Great Pacific Media is producing the show, marking its first majority U.S. commission. David Way, Todd Serotiuk, Millan Curry-Sharples and Michael Francis serve as executive producers for the Canadian unscripted producer.

The series is a familiar set-up, as Great Pacific already makes Weather Channel-Discovery Canada series Highway Thru Hell, which about a treacherous trucking route,...

French TV giant Banijay has sold back the production arm of Beyond International — the Australian producer and distributor best known for “Mythbusters” it fully acquired in Dec. 2022 — to the company’s managing director, Mikael Borgland.

“Both parties confirm the buy-back of the production division of the Beyond group and its current production subsidiaries by Mikael Borglund’s personal holding, Byi Holdings Pty Limited,” the companies said in a statement.

Under the deal, Banijay will retain control of Beyond’s distribution business, which Variety understands has already been integrated into its own operations, and Beyond’s catalog of more than 8,000 hours of programming, also including shows such as “Highway Thru Hell,” “Heavy Rescue: 401,” “Massive Engineering Mistakes,” and “Deadly Women.” Beyond will own future projects with immediate effect, while ongoing productions will not be affected.

Beyond International and Banijay Rights have also concluded a five-year first-look distribution deal with regard to...

Beyond Rights CEO David Smyth is leaving the UK-based distributor following its parent’s sale to Banijay.

Industry veteran Smyth joined Beyond International’s sales arm in December 2021, selling shows such as Mythbusters around the world.

Banijay swooped to buy Beyond International in October last year and completed the circa-30M deal early this month. Banijay has its own sales arm, Banijay Rights.

A Banijay Rights spokesman confirmed his exit. “David Smyth, CEO, Beyond Rights, will be leaving the business, with his last day being January 31,” he said.

“He joined Beyond Rights in December 2021 and made a significant contribution to the company through his strong and effective leadership. We’d like to thank him for his hard work and commitment to the business and wish him all the best with his future endeavours.

“The move comes as Banijay embarks on integrating Beyond International Limited into its existing group.”

Upon taking full control of Beyond,...

Production giant Banijay on Wednesday signed a Scheme Implementation Deed to acquire Beyond International Limited, the scripted and nonscripted production company behind such shows as Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters, Hulu’s new dating series Back in the Groove, and the eight-part scripted series Troppo, co-produced with Eq Media, which screens on Freevee in the U.S and on ABC Australia.

Beyond has been publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange since 1987, but the deal will see the group become a wholly owned subsidiary of Banijay and be withdrawn from the market.

The agreement adds Beyond’s catalog of more than 8,000 hours of programming, including such titles as Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401, and Halifax: Retribution, to Banijay’s vast existing library of some 130,000 hours.

“As content demand continues to soar, catalogue remains key, and in acquiring Beyond, we would take our offering up considerably,” Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti said in a statement.

Banijay Takes Full Control Of Beyond And Prepares For Rebrand

Banijay has taken full control of Mythbusters firm Beyond International and intends to rename and rebrand the Australian outfit as the “necessary integration process” kicks off. The circa-30M acquisition was first revealed in October last year, giving the acquisitive French powerhouse control of an 8,000-hour catalog including factual hits such as Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401, Massive Engineering Mistakes, Halifax: Retribution and Deadly Women. The move leaves distributor Banijay Rights, which shops the likes of MasterChef and Big Brother, with a circa-130,000 hour catalog. Today, Banijay took full control and a spokeswoman said the intention is that “[Beyond’s] distribution activities will fall under Banijay Rights’ name.” The acquisition was carried out via a Scheme Implementation Deed which, once implemented, means Beyond ceases to be publicly traded. Beyond Managing Director and CEO Mikael Borglund is remaining in his current role. Banijay...

Lee’S Legacy Lauded

Lee Jung-jae, star of hit series “Squid Game,” and the show’s director Hwang Dong-hyuk were awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, South Korea’s highest cultural medal at a ceremony last week held at the office of Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol. Hwang was honored for his career efforts that included “Miss Granny” and “Silenced.” Lee was noted for being the first Asian the US critics’ Choice Award for best actor, the first Asian to win an Emmy for best actor in a drama series and for his SAG Award.

In a separate Korean honors list Lee, director Park Chan-wook, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” star Park Eun-bin and star Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) were named on a list of 10 cultural icons who received 2023 Visionary Awards from Cj Enm. In addition to his “Squid Game” success, Lee last year also made his feature directing debut “Hunt.

Beyond Rights Deals

Beyond Rights has announced a raft of new deals in Benelux comprising 600 hours of long-running property, reality and engineering content. Sbs in Belgium has acquired a 200-hour package featuring “Pooch Perfect Australia,” two seasons each of “Highway Thru Hell,” “Heavy Rescue: 401” and “Ice Vikings,” four seasons of “The Cruise,” three of “Age Gap Love” and “Stalkers.” Also in Belgium, Dpg Media acquired all three series of “Filthy House Sos”, two series of “Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords” and reality series “Back with the Ex”. Tivoli TV has picked up the format for “Love It or List It.”

For its Benelux regional footprint, Disney has licensed four series of “Massive Engineering Mistakes” and series two of “Underground Worlds,” while Discovery acquired the last three seasons of “Abandoned Engineering” and series three of “Flipping Bangers.”

In the Netherlands, Talpa TV has also acquired a “Love It Or List It” package totalling more than 140 hours,...

Deal is super indie group’s biggest since acquiring Endemol Shine Group in 2020.

Banijay is set to acquire Australian producer and distributor Beyond International.

The deal will add more than 8,000 hours of IP to Banijay’s existing catalogue of over 130,000 hours of content.

In English-language markets, Beyond Productions’ titles include eight-part scripted series Troppo, co-produced with Eq Media, airing on Freevee USA and ABC Australia.

Beyond’s sales arm, Beyond Rights, represents titles including Highway Thru Hell, Heavy Rescue: 401, Massive Engineering Mistakes, Halifax: Retribution, MythBusters and Deadly Women.

The deal is Banijay’s biggest since it acquired Endemol Shine Group...

Banijay announced its plans to formally acquire scripted and non-scripted multi-territory content group Beyond International on Wednesday.

Under the terms of the agreement, Banijay would assume full control of the Beyond International group of companies and departments — as well as its more than 8,000 hours of IP — with all elements of the business boarding the Banijay production and distribution footprint. Beyond’s titles includes “Highway Thru Hell,” “Heavy Rescue: 401,” “Massive Engineering Mistakes,” “Halifax: Retribution,” “MythBusters” and “Deadly Women.”

The deal remains subject to certain conditions, including Beyond shareholders’ approval, court approval and other customary closing conditions. It is hoped the deal will close at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023. Once the deal is completed, Beyond International will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Banijay and its Australian Stock Exchange-listed shares will cease to be publicly traded.

Beyond International Managing Director and CEO, Mikael Borglund, will remain in his role through the acquisition.

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Production giant Banijay has struck a deal to acquire scripted and non-scripted producer/distributor Beyond International (MythBusters), the company said on Wednesday.

Beyond has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange since 1987, but will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Banijay and its shares will cease to be publicly traded. Headquartered in Dublin, it operates internationally.

Banijay has grown through acquisitions over the years, including its takeover of Zodiak Media in 2016 and Endemol Shine Group in 2020. Banijay — owned by Fl Entertainment, which in July became listed on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange — said the deal would complement its existing content catalog of more than 130,000 hours of content.

Beyond Productions listed its recently announced titles as “Back in the Groove, a new dating series for Hulu, produced in partnership with Walt Disney Television Alternative; multi-territory franchise, Love It or List It Australia; the eight-part...

Banijay is set to acquire Australia’s Beyond International in a deal worth more than 30M.

The Big Brother and MasterChef firm has entered into what’s been described as a Scheme Implementation Deed to buy Beyond, which has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange since 1987.

According to a filing to the Asx, shareholders will get A0.77 a share, a representing a 57 premium. This values the deal at an estimated A47M (30.7M).

Once the deal closes, Dublin-headquartered Beyond will cease being publicly traded and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Banijay. Financial details were not disclosed.

For the international TV community, the deal will likely be the talk of Mipcom later this month and represents France-based Banijay’s biggest M&a move since it closed its deal to acquire Endemol Shine Group in 2020. Prior to that, it had merged with Zodiak Media in 2016.

Banijay itself is now part of Fl Entertainment,...

Festivals

The Cannes Film Market has added to its previously announced Ukraine in Focus program, which will provide Ukrainian filmmakers and producers with networking, pitching and co-financing opportunities over two days during the Cannes Film Festival, on May 21 and 22. A panel discussion titled “Ukrainian Cinema: From Surviving to Thriving Again: How the Global Film Community Can Come Together to Support the Country’s War-Torn Industry” will take place on May 21.

In addition the market has confirmed the full endorsement and patronage of Ukrainian Films Now, an initiative promoted by Eave, First Cut Lab, and When East Meets West, which aims at gathering a pool of European regional and national film funds to support Ukrainian films at a late post-production stage to complete the final financial gap.

“We hope that these initiatives will allow Ukraine’s cinema and audiovisual industry to not only survive in the challenging context, but to thrive...

Streaming

Discovery racked up subscription numbers during the opening week of the ongoing Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the company has revealed. Eight times more viewers are streaming Olympic content on Discovery’s streaming services compared to the same period for Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, with total new paid subscribers already surpassing 2018 with a week of competition still to go. Three-quarters of a billion streaming minutes have been consumed on Discovery’s subscription services so far, more than 18 times higher than the same period of PyeongChang 2018. Average minutes consumed per viewer across Discovery Plus and Eurosport streaming services has more than doubled, with audiences also n average watching 29% longer on television vs PyeongChang 2018. Discovery’s free Olympic news and short video clips on Eurosport.com have also more than doubled their reach. On the linear TV front, Eurosport audiences have maintained 2018 levels.

Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO, Discovery streaming and International,...

The virtual Mipcom begins in earnest today and, although the industry is not gathering in Cannes, there is still a glut of news as studios announce sales. Deadline will keep this page updated with some of the day’s most notable deals. Hit refresh for updates. While you’re here, two things worth reading: we spoke to 10 sales chiefs about how the pandemic has changed TV distribution and sat down with Mipcom organizer Laurine Garaude.

‘All Creatures Great And Small’ Sales

All3Media International has clinched a raft of deals for Channel 5 and PBS’s hit drama All Creatures Great And Small. Acorn Media has taken streaming rights in the UK, South and Central America, Ireland and Malta. Other deals include Sky Deutschland, Dr (Denmark), Nrk (Norway), Svt (Sweden), Yleisradio Oy-TV1 (Finland), Filmin (Spain), Viasat World (Cee) and Mtva (Hungary). Produced by Playground Entertainment, the...

Powerful engines, harsh weather, and steep drop-offs are only a few of the elements that have defined Highway Thru Hell. The Canadian docuseries, which premiered in 2012, follows the daily operations of tow truckers working in British Columbia. A big part of the show takes place along the Coquihalla Highway, a 201-mile stretch of road that connects Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies.

As the Coquihalla rises into the mountains, temperatures dwindle and driving conditions worsen. During the winter months, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in North America. When snowstorms hit or ice forms on the road, vehicles risk sliding out of the lane and getting stuck in a ditch - or worse. Accidents can shut down traffic for hours and leave motorists stranded along the road in arctic temperatures. In critical situations like this, the rescue operators from Highway Thru Hell are called to the...

Beyond Distribution is launching twelve new titles and 160 hours of returning series at the world's biggest market for entertainment content, Mipcom..

The varied slate, which spans children.s, factual, lifestyle, crime and documentary, originates from the Us, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Beyond head of acquisitions, Caitlin Meek-o.Connor, said the company was arriving at Mipcom with a diverse slate that woudl appeal to buyers and audiences around the world..

"Alongside our fantastic new titles, we have a huge roster of returning series, showing the continued strength of the Beyond catalogue,. she said..

Lead titles at market include Chasing Monsters, an adrenaline-packed journey to seek out colossal and dangerous underwater creatures; Mountain Rescue, a thrilling ride with the helicopter rescue squad of the Pghm; an elite Alpine force trained for the world.s deadliest peaks; Natural Born Outlaws, the larger-than-life stories of some of history.s toughest and meanest outlaws; and The Dengineers,...

Ottawa-based director and Dop John Driftmier was killed in a plane crash in Kenya on Sunday, production company Pixcom has confirmed. He was 30. Driftmier was in Kenya shooting aerial sequences for the second season of Dangerous Flights, which airs on Discovery Channel Canada. The action adventure series follows six American pilots “who risk their lives in the high-danger, no-holds-barred, high-stress business of aircraft delivery,” according to the show’s website. Pixcom said the plane in which Driftmier was flying crashed Sunday morning, killing both him and the pilot. Driftmier’s other credits included Discovery series Highway Thru Hell and License To Drill. Paul Lewis, president of Discovery Canada, said: “This is a day of great sadness for us all. The Canadian production community has lost a brilliant young man who had the promise of a big future. We will miss his many talents.” Driftmier is survived by his wife and his parents.