Latest news with #ITVStudios
ITV News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Tim Carter Confirms New Creative Leadership Structure For Twofour As Company Enters Next Chapter of Growth
Tim Carter, Managing Director, Unscripted, UK, ITV Studios, today confirms a new creative leadership structure for Emmy and BAFTA award-winning unscripted label Twofour. In the first announcement to come from Carter in his newly appointed role, the senior leadership team at Twofour, are promoted into their roles with immediate effect. Today, David Brindley is named as the label's new Chief Executive Officer replacing Carter; Dan Adamson becomes Chief Content Officer; David Clews is made Chief Creative Officer and Shireen Abbott becomes Chief of Production. Over the past five years, the current management team has earned Twofour a reputation for delivering an impressive range of high-end unscripted reality, entertainment and adventure formats alongside award-winning talent-led documentaries. The Twofour slate currently includes Destination X, coming soon to the BBC and recently launched on NBC to great success - ranking the No. 1 alternative series launch on Peacock yet, garnering 14M viewers to-date across both linear and streaming; the third series of the award-winning travel series The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV+) and four series of the award-winning and genre-defining I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl (BBC). This year, it will also include a new series of Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4). The label has fast become the home of the biggest travel, reality and adventure formats, as well as attracting an impressive roster of global and domestic talent to its slate that includes Eugene Levy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Rob Brydon, Dannii Minogue, Matt and Emma Willis, Rosie Jones, Roman Kemp, Big Zuu, Alex Polizzi and Billy Monger. This new creative leadership restructure will set the company up for future growth, as it continues to develop and deliver the most ambitious, innovative series at the highest quality. Further detail on the roles As CEO of Twofour, David Brindley will be responsible for the company's overall strategy, vision and continued growth. Brindley reports directly into Carter. In the newly created position of Chief Content Officer, Dan Adamson will lead on blending the editorial and the commercial, creating new shows and building them into global brands by knitting together teams from development through to distribution. David Clews, as Chief Creative Officer, takes on an expanded role leading Twofour's creative strategy, developing and delivering wholly new IP and ensuring excellence and ambition across the company's output. In the new role of Chief of Production, Shireen Abbott will lead the expansion of the production management team behind the delivery of Twofour's ambitious slate. Abbott will also drive the company's operational strategy and innovation as it continues to grow. The management team is completed by Jake Roberts who remains Financial Director, with oversight for financial strategy, planning and operations. Tim Carter said: 'This is a hard earned and hugely deserved step up for Twofour's brilliant management team. The shows they've created over the past five years speak for themselves. With their ambition and talent, Twofour is set for greater creative achievement and robust growth'. David Brindley, added: 'I'm a big believer that a company's output should reflect the people who create it. These past five years, it has been a joy to shape the business with Dan, David, Shireen and Jake to have it mirror both the demands of the market, as well as our tastes and ambitions. We're very lucky to work with an extraordinary talented team of staff and the very best freelancers to achieve that. I'm looking forward to building more global brands together." Twofour continues to operate out of London and Plymouth. -Ends- About ITV Studios Notes to editors ITV Studios is a creator, producer and distributor of world-leading programmes that people can't get enough of. We connect millions of people every day and shape and reflect the world they live in. ITV Studios is home to some of the best creative minds, crafting around 7,500 hours of original programming across 60 production labels. Our global footprint spans 13 countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands and our global distribution business sells our catalogue of 95,000+ hours to broadcasters and platforms around the world. ITV Studios has 160+ owned and operated channels in the social space delivering over 10bn views in 2024, as well as 20 FAST channels on 100+ channel feeds globally. It launched a new label, Zoo 55 dedicated to expanding its digital and gaming activity, in January 2025. ITV Studios is part of ITV PLC, which includes the UK's largest commercial broadcaster ITV and the ad-funded, free streaming home for ITV, ITVX.
ITV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
ABC's heartwarming series Austin returns this July
The eagerly awaited second season of the ABC's hit comedy series Austin premieres Sunday 27 July at 7.30pm on ABC TV with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview. Praised for his standout performance in season one, Michael Theo is back as the straight-talking and brilliantly authentic Austin, alongside adored UK stars Ben Miller (Bridgerton, Death in Paradise) and Sally Phillips (Veep, Bridget Jones's Diary), and Australian favourites Gia Carides (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Big Little Lies), and Roy Billing (Jack Irish, Underbelly). Rob Collins (Total Control, Cleverman) and Kate Elliott (Wentworth Prison, The Gulf) reprise their roles, with Rodger Corser (Doctor Doctor, The Floor), Katrina Milosevic (Wentworth, Population: 11), Claire Lovering (Gold Diggers, Class of '07), and Natalie Abbott (Aftertaste, The Deb), joining the cast for season two. Across the eight-part season, Austin (Michael Theo) grapples with sudden literary fame when his novel, 'An Autistic Guide to Britain' is picked up by an international publisher. Meanwhile his previously estranged father Julian (Ben Miller), and stepmother Ingrid (Sally Phillips), sell their beloved Big Bear series to Australian TV. Julian is swiftly cut out of the process due to his status as a social media pariah, leaving Ingrid to take the wheel. As Austin tries to stay true to himself, everyone else scrambles for relevance. At its heart, this season is all about love – finding it, falling into it, leaving it behind – woven through a heartfelt comedy about family, ambition, and the unpredictable pitfalls of success. Always free and Always entertaining, stream season one of Austin on ABC iview now. Production Credits: Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Northern Pictures production with Lincoln Pictures, in association with ITV Studios. Major Production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia, the ACT Government, and Screen Canberra. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Created by Darren Ashton, Ben Miller, Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf. Executive Producers: Ben Miller, Sally Phillips, Jessica Parker, Joe Tucker, Lloyd Woolf, Peter Anderson, Darren Ashton and Catherine Nebauer. Produced by Joe Weatherstone. ABC Executive Producers: Rebecca Anderson and Rachel Okine. ITV Studios distributes the series internationally. 0404 026 039
ITV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Catchpoint lands first Asian commission as ITV Studios expands partnership with SIRASA TV in Sri Lanka
ITV Studios and SIRASA TV have reinforced their long-standing partnership with the renewal of The Voice franchise and the first-ever Asian commission of the high-energy physical game show, Catchpoint, localized as SIRASA Catchpoint, marking a major milestone for entertainment programming in the region. As part of the renewed deal, SIRASA TV will continue its successful run with The Voice Sri Lanka and The Voice Teens, commissioning a third and fourth season respectively, to air this year. The format has grown into a cultural phenomenon in Sri Lanka since its debut in 2019, consistently attracting strong ratings and showcasing the nation's rich musical talent. SIRASA TV has commissioned Catchpoint to be launched in mid-July 2025. When Catchpoint made its debut in the UK, it attracted 3m viewers and a 20.2% share, the celebrity version was one of BBC One's top 10 quiz shows delivering a unique mix of excitement, suspense, and humour. Catchpoint pits two teams of two against each other in a thrilling combination of quiz play and physical action. In this visually striking game, players must answer questions correctly — or be just close enough — to position themselves under the right spot and catch a falling ball. Fast thinking, sharp reflexes, and a touch of luck could lead to big cash prizes. 'The expansion of our partnership with SIRASA TV is a testament to the strength and versatility of our formats,' said Augustus Dulgaro, EVP, Asia Pacific, Global Partnerships, ITV Studios. 'We're proud to see The Voice continue to thrive in Sri Lanka, and we're equally excited to bring the dynamic energy of Catchpoint to Asian audiences for the first exciting gameshow is definitely one to watch.' 'Catchpoint and our enduring, exciting partnership with ITV Studios signals SIRASA TV's clear intent to give Sri Lankan audiences the very best international entertainment that's proudly Made in Sri Lanka', noted Chevaan Daniel, Group Director of The Capital Maharaja Group that owns SIRASA TV. The Voice franchise renewal and new commission for Catchpoint were negotiated by Ayesha Surty, Head of Brand Partnerships, Asia at ITV Studios, and the team at SIRASA TV headed by Yasarath Kamalsiri, CEO of SIRASA TV (MTV Channel (Private) Limited). – ENDS – About ITV Studios ITV Studios is a creator, producer and distributor of world-leading programmes that people can't get enough of. We connect millions of people every day and shape and reflect the world they live in. ITV Studios is home to some of the best creative minds, crafting around 7,500 hours of original programming across 60 production labels. Our global footprint spans 13 countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands and our global distribution business sells our catalogue of 95,000+ hours to broadcasters and platforms around the world. ITV Studios has 160+ owned and operated channels in the social space delivering over 10bn views in 2024, as well as 20 FAST channels on 100+ channel feeds globally. It launched a new label, Zoo 55 dedicated to expanding its digital and gaming activity, in January 2025. ITV Studios is part of ITV PLC, which includes the UK's largest commercial broadcaster ITV and the ad-funded, free streaming home for ITV, ITVX.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Millions of Brits can unlock two new TV channels for FREE with no change to their subscription in major shake-up
MILLIONS of Brits are set to unlock TWO new TV channels for FREE with no change to their subscription. Virgin TV customers can expect the freshly added channels to the guides in a major shake-up. 1 They will be FAST channels, Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television, which means they will be available through broadband connection. This means customers will need to have a Virgin TV 360 box, Virgin Stream or a Virgin V6 box with Wi-Fi or ethernet. The new channels are British Screen Classics on 450 and wedotv movies on 451. British Screen Classics offers a 24/7 stream of hits from ITV Studios and Studio Canal. It features adored titles from every genre, including comedy, horror, war, adventure, drama, and romance. Meanwhile wedotv boasts over 500 films which are rolled out across Romance Mondays and Sci-fi Wednesdays. This comes as 33 more FAST channels are also accessible on Virgin TV, including Inside Crime, Homes Under The Hammer, Red Bull TV, Hell's Kitchen, and many more. Virgin Media O2 Chief TV and Entertainment Officer, David Bouchier said: "Virgin TV is home to the best in entertainment and more choice for our subscribers. We offer enhanced value with fantastic on demand and channel content at no extra cost, including two brand-new streaming movie channels. "On top of the existing streaming channels available to Virgin TV customers, they now have even more choice and 24/7 access to exciting movies for free." The new channels can be found on the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) on your Virgin TV box. This comes as customers have been warned BBC iPlayer will stop working on some of Virgin's TV boxes in a matter of weeks. The Sun can exclusively reveal how telecoms giant has been informing affected customers about the changes that are due to take place on July 23. Those impacted are being offered a free upgrade to a newer Virgin Media box. The firm says it has written directly to customers who have accessed BBC iPlayer in the last six months. Only a small portion are expected to be affected due to the TV box's age. The boxes affected are the older TiVo models - V6 and Virgin TV 360 boxes will continue to offer access to BBC iPlayer as normal. And, a much-loved sports channel has disappeared from Virgin Media boxes - but there's a way to continue enjoying the matches for free. Channel operator DAZN has made changes that affect all viewers, whether they're on Virgin Media or watching via other platforms. But, Virgin Media often has sweetened its TV and broadband deals with free tech to attract new customers. And right now, you can bag yourself a free 9th Gen iPad when you sign up for its £88.99 MegaVolt bundle. I've covered similar Virgin Media deals like this before, and they consistently deliver great value for money. One of the most recent included up to £100 bill credit for new TV and broadband customers. This month, the provider is throwing a free 9th generation Apple iPad exclusively to those opting for the MegaVolt package. The 18-month contract is £88.99 per month, and gets you Virgin broadband, TV, and an O2 SIM, It's packed with top features, including Virgin Media's fastest Gig1 Fibre broadband with speeds of up to 1130Mbps. That's ideal for busy households with lots of devices competing for bandwidth. Of course, that free iPad is the icing on the cake here, and it's a fantastic gadget to make the most of the super-fast speeds. Whether that's streaming your favourite shows, keeping little ones quiet for an hour, or browning the web.
ITV News
23-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
ITV STUDIOS PARTNERS WITH PAPRIKA STUDIOS TO REPRESENT KEY NON-SCRIPTED FORMATS ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
ITV Studios has today announced at NATPE Budapest a strategic partnership with Paprika Studios, one of the leading independent production companies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Paprika Studios will exclusively represent six of ITV Studios' top non-scripted formats across seven key markets: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. This strategic collaboration brings together a diverse mix of non-scripted formats spanning cooking, reality, and entertainment – marking a significant step forward in ITV Studios' commitment to innovative and locally resonant production in the region. The six titles Paprika Studios will represent are: This collaboration reflects ITV Studios' strategic focus on building closer creative and commercial partnerships in key international markets, ensuring broadcasters across the region have access to high-quality content with efficient, locally tailored production support. Where formats are already established, existing production partners will continue their local adaptations. Gisela Minnbergh, EVP EMEA Global Partnerships at ITV Studios, said: "Central and Eastern Europe is a dynamic and competitive region, and we're thrilled to be joining forces with Paprika Studios, who have a proven track record and deep expertise in the region. This partnership enables us to offer broadcasters a powerful combination of creative content and streamlined production, perfectly suited to local audiences." Ákos Erdös, CEO of Paprika Studios, added: "We're proud to represent ITV Studios' exciting slate of formats in CEE. These are compelling, high-quality titles that we believe will resonate strongly with local viewers. With more than 15 years of experience, offices in eight countries and a deep understanding of audience expectations and market trends in the CEE region, we are a reliable and competent partner — bringing significant added value to this strategic collaboration. Together with ITV Studios, we aim to bring fresh energy to the region's non-scripted landscape." The deal was brokered by Martijn Plaizier, Content Brand Partnership Manager, ITV Studios. – ENDS – About ITV Studios ITV Studios is a creator, producer and distributor of world-leading programmes that people can't get enough of. We connect millions of people every day and shape and reflect the world they live in. ITV Studios is home to some of the best creative minds, crafting around 7,500 hours of original programming across 60 production labels. Our global footprint spans 13 countries including the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, The Nordics, Italy and the Netherlands and our global distribution business sells our catalogue of 95,000+ hours to broadcasters and platforms around the world. ITV Studios has 160+ owned and operated channels in the social space delivering over 10bn views in 2024, as well as 20 FAST channels on 100+ channel feeds globally. It launched a new label, Zoo 55 dedicated to expanding its digital and gaming activity, in January 2025. ITV Studios is part of ITV PLC, which includes the UK's largest commercial broadcaster ITV and the ad-funded, free streaming home for ITV, ITVX.
