10 Global TV Stories You Should Know: 01/03/2024

Here are the stories that should be on your radar

Here are the global TV and streaming video stories that should be on your radar for Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024:

Canal Plus And PPF Group Increase Stakes In Viaplay (Sportcal)
French TV heavyweight Canal Plus has announced that it will increase its stake in beleaguered Scandinavian media service Viaplay’s ownership to above 25%. PPF Group, a European investment firm based in Prague, Czech Republic that acquired 6% in Viaplay last August, will also take its stake in the firm to above 25% per a filing with Denmark’s Federal Competition Authority.

Disney+/Hulu Gears Up For Song Kang-ho Drama Series ‘Uncle Samsik’ (Deadline)
Disney+/Hulu has been confirmed as the global home of Uncle Samsik, the South Korean drama series starring Parasite‘s Song Kang-ho. News of the 1960s-set series first emerged last year, at which point the network or streamer behind it hadn’t been confirmed.

Love Nature On Allente Across Nordics (Advanced-Television)
Love Nature, a wildlife and nature brand with linear and streaming channels, has announced that it will launch on Allente, the pan-Nordic pay-TV and streaming platform. As part of the deal, Love Nature will reach Allente audiences across Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, expanding its reach across Nordic countries and marking its debut in the in the Finnish market.

Malaysian Originals Gain Global Exposure (FreeMalaysiaToday)
At the Asia TV Forum & Market 2023 held last month, iQIYI Malaysia’s head of original content, Zebedee De Costa, explained that the platform is establishing a unique position by focusing on revitalising and exporting local Malay content.

Former SkyShowtime Exec Jon Farrar Joins BritBox International (Digital TV Europe)
Streaming service BritBox International has hired Jon Farrar as SVP of group editorial & content, following his exit as head of programming at SkyShowtime in November. Farrar, a BBC Studios veteran who moved to SkyShowtime in August 2022, shared the news of his appointment on social media.

Asia Video Market Forecast To Hit $165 Billion By 2028, Says Study (Variety)
Asia’s video industry is set to grow by an annual 2.6% over the next five years to reach $165 billion by 2028, says a new study from research and consultancy firm Media Partners Asia. That follows 5.5% growth in 2023.

Formula E Signs Germany, Austria TV Deals (Advanced-Television)
All-electric single-seater racing series Formula E has agreed a new strategic multi-year media partnership with Red Bull Media House, DF1 and ServusTV that will deliver all Formula E races live in Germany and Austria across free-to-air (FTA), pay-TV and digital channels beginning this coming season.

British Basketball League Teams Up With Fubo Sports (Sportcal)
The British Basketball League has announced a streaming partnership with live sports streaming service Fubo to bring coverage of the league to the United States and Canada. As part of the deal, Fubo Sports has begun streaming a selection of weekend games, with the full schedule set to be released “very soon”.

Gérard Depardieu: Swiss Public Television Removes The Actor From Its Programming When He Plays “One Of The Main Roles” (LeMonde)
“When we feel that the majority of the public may feel offended by a work or personality that was previously accepted, we occasionally remove it from our programming,” explained the spokesperson for Swiss public television.