10 Stories You Should Know: 02/02/2023
‘Severance’ Set To Launch Consumer Products With IMG (License Global)
Emmy Award-winning breakout series, “Severance,” is set to launch a wide-ranging slate of consumer products this year after appointing IMG as its exclusive global licensing representative. As production kicks off on the show’s second season, IMG will develop a range of products designed to evoke the show’s narrative and feel.
Warner Bros. Discovery Names Rebecca Rormark Head of Streaming Marketing for EMEA (The Hollywood Reporter)
Warner Bros. Discovery has promoted Rebecca Rørmark to the newly created role of senior vp, head of streaming marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The company said on Thursday that the Oslo-based executive, who has served as vp, marketing and PR for WBD since 2021, would report to Patrizio Spagnoletto, global chief marketing officer for direct-to-consumer.
Kocca To Inject 95.7 Billion Won In Content Industry This Year (Korea Joongang Daily)
The Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca) will inject a total of 95.7 billion won ($79.2 million) into the content industry this year in an aim to create the next global success. The budget shot up 269.5 percent compared to the previous year.
Ukrainian War Anthology Series ‘Those Who Stayed’ Boarded By Nordic Networks (Deadline)
Norway’s NRK has become the third Scandinavian public broadcasting network to join Those Who Stayed as a co-producer. The anthology comedy/drama will focus on the immediate aftermath of the February 24 invasion, with each episode telling the story of a group of characters whose paths cross with characters from different episodes. These encounters will be used as easter eggs that will tease what’s coming next.
Ampere Study Finds Comedy Is The Most Pirated Genre (Broadband TV News)
Comedy, driven by titles including Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ted Lasso, is the most-pirated genre, followed by the action and adventure genre, and the crime and thriller category respectively.
BBC Cuts 10 Top Presenter Jobs Ahead Of News Channel Merger (Deadline)
The BBC has told 10 of its most seasoned news anchors that they have lost their prestige presenting roles on the broadcaster’s rolling news channel. Deadline can reveal that journalists including Jane Hill, Martine Croxall, and Ben Brown were informed yesterday that they will not be among the chief presenters on a relaunched BBC News channel.
KKR Makes A Bid For Telecom Italia (Digital TV Europe)
US based investment company KKR has made a new non-bidding offer to take Telecom Italia (TIM). The undisclosed offer is for a purchase of a stake in the company that matches with the fixed-line network management and infrastructure perimeter, including FiberCop’s assets and activities, as well as the stake in Sparkle known as “Netco”.
Amazon Prime Video Inks Multi-Picture Licensing Deal With South Africa’s Known Associates (Variety)
The deal grants Prime Video exclusive SVOD access to over 20 South African feature films, including Zane Meas’ “Klip Anker Baai,” Marvin-Lee Beukes’ “Tickets,” Jahmil Qubeka’s “You Are My Favorite Place,” Dick d’vLz Reubïn’s “Gereza” and Norman Maake’s “Piet’s Sake 2.”
Viaplay Group Dials Up Dutch Distribution Deal With Solcon (Rapid TV News)
In a further boost for the increasingly expanding Nordic media company, Viaplay Group has inked a new distribution partnership in the Netherlands with KPN-owned provider of internet, television and telephone services Solcon.
Magnify Media Sales Chief To Exit As ITV Studios Takes Over Catalog (Deadline)
Magnify Media sales boss Anthony Appell is leaving the Handmade: Good with Wood distributor, with others changing roles as ITV Studios takes over the company’s catalog. Appell, who is Head of Sales and Co-Productions for the Plimsoll Productions-owned outfit, announced he is to exit his role on March 31 and Acquisitions and Operations Manager Emma Gosling has already departed, joining Belgian distributor Primitives this week.