ITV

Tag: Channel 4

  • WPP snaps up InfoSum, promising a data-driven bonanza for brands

    WPP snaps up InfoSum, promising a data-driven bonanza for brands

    MUMBAI:  WPP has bagged InfoSum, the data collaboration cutting edge solutions provider. This acquisition, a proper “data-licious” deal, promises to supercharge WPP’s AI-driven marketing arsenal, giving clients access to a treasure trove of data signals.

    “At WPP, we have been building the technology and data infrastructure that will give our clients a unique competitive advantage in the AI era. Bringing InfoSum into WPP is a major step forward for our data capabilities and the results we can deliver for our clients,” said WPP CEO Mark Read. “It allows clients to stay in complete control of their first-party data, while also giving them access to vastly greater quantities of high-quality, privacy-compliant data and pioneering technology that is not available anywhere else in the market today.”

    InfoSum’s patented cross-cloud tech allows brands to mingle their data with billions of signals from big hitters Channel 4, DirecTV, ITV, Netflix, News Corp, and Samsung Ads, as well as major retailers around the world and five billion identifiers through identity and data partners like Experian, TransUnion, Circana, Dynata, and NCSolutions. 
     
    “InfoSum’s mission has always been to reimagine how data powers marketing in a secure, privacy-first, and, most importantly, impactful way for advertisers and consumers. WPP and GroupM are the perfect partners to help us accelerate our impact on a truly global scale. We couldn’t be more excited to join forces with the team at GroupM as privacy and security become non-negotiables, and AI allows us to redefine what’s possible for advertisers and our network of media and data partners,” quipped InfoSum  chief executive Lauren Wetzel, who’ll now be pulling double duty as GroupM’s chief solutions officer.

    GroupM chief executive officer Brian Lesser was equally enthusiastic, stating, ” Directly integrating InfoSum’s global data network and technology infrastructure will allow our clients to create even more value from their first-party data and enable us to train client AI models against the most data, from the most places, at unprecedented scale and speed. Our approach recognizes the importance of identity data to today’s marketing strategies while allowing us to take advantage of the limitless opportunities for growth we can create by moving beyond them. As more and more clients leverage our AI-first solutions, every client model, every audience, and every campaign will benefit from network effects that will exponentially increase their intelligence and competitive advantage.” 

    The deal allows WPP’s clients to train custom AI models in secure environments, delivering smarter audiences, optimised campaigns, and better business outcomes. Basically, it allows the ability to get your hands on all the juicy information, without anyone else seeing your private bits.

    InfoSum’s network boasts hundreds of billions of data signals, and five billion identifiers, allowing for a level of insight that’s previously been the stuff of marketing fantasies. No more relying on those crumbling cookie-based systems, which are about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

    This acquisition represents a bold leap into the future of predictive performance and AI-driven marketing intelligence. WPP is betting big on AI, and with InfoSum in its pocket, it’s ready to unleash a marketing storm that’ll leave competitors scrambling for cover.

  • Liz Clarke joins Fabric as director of sales & business development

    Liz Clarke joins Fabric as director of sales & business development

    MUMBAI: Fabric, the entertainment industry’s powerhouse for data and operations solutions, has shaken up its sales and business development team by appointing Liz Clarke as director of sales and business development, EMEA. With over two decades of experience in media, entertainment, and post-production, Clarke is stepping in to steer Fabric’s growth strategy across the region, ensuring that media companies cut through the operational chaos and tap into new revenue streams with ease.

    Fabric, fresh off its integration with Xytech, continues to redefine media management by consolidating workflows, from quote-to-invoice to project management and content metadata. In other words, it’s taking the industry’s messy backend and tidying it up into one smart, seamless platform. And Clarke, with her extensive expertise, is stepping in at precisely the right moment to help drive that transformation.

    Before joining Fabric, Clarke served as EVP of strategy and development at Bitmax, where she championed business growth initiatives and streamlined workflows across international teams. Her journey has also included a pivotal role as VP of client operations at Mirriad, working with major broadcasters like Channel 4, Channel 5, RTE.ie, TF1, France Télévisions, Prosiebens, and RTL. Having previously held senior positions at Ascent Media, Deluxe, and Prime Focus Group, Clarke is no stranger to building and executing world-class media strategies.

    Fabric CRO Kira Baca expressed enthusiasm for Clarke’s arrival, “We are thrilled to welcome Liz to Fabric. Her impressive industry expertise, incredible reputation, and proven ability to drive business growth align perfectly with our mission to help media companies scale and succeed. Liz’s leadership will be instrumental in expanding our footprint across EMEA, ensuring that more organisations can leverage Fabric’s solutions to meet their content goals.”

    Fabric’s goal is simple but ambitious: unify media operations, streamline data, and help teams worldwide deliver seamless content experiences. The company’s solutions integrate operations and catalogue management, resource scheduling, data enrichment, and AI-powered workflow insights—effectively eliminating operational bottlenecks that have long plagued media companies.

    According to Clarke, the opportunity to be part of this mission was too compelling to pass up. “Fabric is focused on providing solutions that deliver provable value, from simplifying and streamlining operations to maximising content revenue potential globally. I am excited to join the team and bring my experience in business development and sales, along with my understanding of the M&E industry, to drive growth across the EMEA region. I look forward to working with the teams to unlock new opportunities and enhance operational efficiencies with Fabric’s innovative solutions.”

    With global digital ad spending projected to reach $667.6 billion in 2025, the demand for integrated, AI-driven media solutions has never been greater. The media landscape is shifting, and companies must adapt to stay relevant. Fabric’s integrated approach offers a competitive edge by eliminating inefficiencies, optimising workflows, and giving businesses a crystal-clear view of their content pipelines.

    Fabric’s expansion into EMEA comes at a time when media companies are grappling with increasing operational complexity. As advertisers pour more dollars into programmatic and AI-driven content personalisation, Fabric’s solutions provide the agility needed to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

    With Clarke leading the charge, expect Fabric to strengthen its presence across Europe, the middle east, and Africa, proving once again that smart, data-driven operations are the future of media management.

  • GoQuest Media licenses Polish drama ‘Crusade’ to Walter Presents

    GoQuest Media licenses Polish drama ‘Crusade’ to Walter Presents

    Mumbai: Global independent content distributor – GoQuest Media has licensed the Polish crime drama Crusade to Walter Presents for broadcast in the UK and Ireland. This aligns with GoQuest Media’s ongoing strategy to bring the best of Central and Eastern European (CEE) dramas to an international audience.

    Produced by Telewizja Poland (TVP), Crusade (13X45’) is a suspenseful police procedural following detective Jan ‘Manjaro’ Góra and his colleagues from the crime and criminal terror division of the Warsaw Metropolitan Police. The investigation into a series of celebrity murders quickly reveals a deeper, more intricate conspiracy involving an anti-system terrorist organization operating in Warsaw.

    Launched in 2016, Walter Presents is part of Channel 4’s streaming platform, focusing on foreign-language dramas with English subtitles. It brings award-winning international series to audiences in the UK, US, and other regions.

    GoQuest Media continues to expand its role in exporting CEE content to new markets, securing deals that place Polish and regional content on prominent global platforms.

    Walter Presents’ co-founder & curator, Walter Iuzzolino commented on the deal, “I have always been a fan of Polish drama, and Crusade is a perfect addition to our substantial and ever expanding slate of the best Eastern European titles on the market: it is an intoxicating cocktail of gritty and glamorous, fast pace and twisted – a brilliant show which will keep you glued to the screen”.

    GoQuest Media MD Vivek Lath said, “Crusade represents the latest success in our growing portfolio of internationally distributed crime dramas from the CEE. From the outset, we recognized its potential to resonate with crime genre fans worldwide. Its gripping suspense and unpredictable twists make it a standout in our catalog. We’re thrilled that Walter Presents, known for curating high-quality international content, will now feature this exceptional series.”

    GoQuest Media will present Crusade and fresh new crime dramas from their catalogue at MIPCOM later this month.

  • ThinkAnalytics launches ThinkFAST Solution at NAB Show 2024

    ThinkAnalytics launches ThinkFAST Solution at NAB Show 2024

    Mumbai: ThinkAnalytics, the world leader in Al-based TV content discovery, viewer data insights, and targeted advertising will be exhibiting at NAB Show 2024 with the latest product developments for cross-platform targeted/contextual advertising, content discovery, and viewer data insights. Demonstrations on the ThinkAnalytics booth in West Hall of the LVCC (booth W1313) and on the AWS booth (booth W1701) include ThinkFAST, a new innovative AI-powered content scheduling FAST channel solution for content rights holders to reduce time to curate content for channels, drive higher audience engagement and reduce churn.

    ThinkAnalytics will also be showcasing existing solutions to help content platforms, publishers and advertisers covering:

       Personalised content discovery: Helping content owners increase content engagement with deeper personalisation and recommendations reducing churn and driving higher audience value.

        Generative AI: Pioneering the next wave of innovation with ThinkAnalytics’ GenAI powered conversational voice and chatbot for content discovery and audience engagement.

       Targeted/Contextual Advertising: Transforming customer first-party data into real-time audience segments at scale with advanced addressability and household composition insights.

    Think360, ThinkAnalytics’ customer engagement platform, will be showcased throughout the West Hall on the ThinkAnalytics stand and the AWS stand. This solution has been integrated by the UK’s Channel 4, enabling content recommendations to be tailored to each user’s viewing tastes and preferences on and off platform. Channel 4 uses Think360’s insights to deliver relevant and personalized recommendations and increase streaming growth and subscriber loyalty.

    “As the industry looks for new ways to address challenges in growing its user base and reducing churn, we are accelerating innovation by working with some of the biggest brands to pioneer new ways of using GenAI that increase engagement with viewers, even unregistered users. We are excited to showcase our solutions for streaming platforms, content rights holders and broadcasters at NAB Show once again,” said ThinkAnalytics CEO Marc Aldrich. “Our unique products bring innovative solutions to reduce churn on streaming services, to build FAST channels from content libraries, and for the development of targeted TV advertising.”

    Marc Aldrich will be speaking at the Devoncroft Executive Summit co-located with NAB Show on Saturday, 13 April. He’ll be participating in the panel “The Technology Supplier C-Suite: Strategies for an Evolving Market” at 1:40 pm. Tickets for the Devoncroft Executive Summit are available for purchase through the NAB Show website through the “Conferences & Programs” section of the pass options.

    To book a meeting with ThinkAnalytics at NAB Show 2024, click here.

  • BBC Studios takes 25% minority stake in unscripted indie Mothership Productions

    BBC Studios takes 25% minority stake in unscripted indie Mothership Productions

    Mumbai: BBC Studios has taken a minority stake of 25 per cent in unscripted indie Mothership Productions set up by former Channel 4 deputy director of programmes, Kelly Webb-Lamb.

    The strategic partnership will see BBC Studios invest in Mothership’s slate of global formats and ideas of scale across the unscripted genres, which will complement the output of BBC Studios’ existing portfolio of in-house and indie labels. Under the terms of the deal, BBC Studios will have first look global distribution and format rights.

    On announcing the partnership, Mothership Productions’ founder Kelly Webb-Lamb said, “The whole Mothership team is delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios and to be joining a brilliant stable of invested indies. We’ve been so impressed with the Studios team and are really looking forward to working with them. And for some of us, this feels rather like coming home… you can take the girl out of the BBC, but she never forgets her staff number, and although this is a totally different kind of arrangement, I am super glad that this is where Mothership has ended up in terms of partnership.”

    BBC Studios Productions CEO Ralph Lee said, “Kelly is a highly sought-after creative leader who has assembled a team around her that has a formidable pedigree in hit shows and formats in a highly competitive field. It is a true testament to their talent and potential that within only a short period of time, Mothership has developed a slate that is brimming with ideas that we believe will appeal to both UK and international broadcasters and platforms. We can’t wait to have Kelly and the Mothership team join the BBC Studios family and look forward to a productive partnership.”

    Webb-Lamm launched Mothership earlier this month with the intention of making “some properly great, entertaining, warm and witty programmes.” She has assembled a senior team of female executives to support the business comprising Charlotte Desai (creative director), Gilly Greenslade (director of programmes), and Gudren Claire (head of production).

    Across Webb-Lamb’s career, she has been involved in creating, selling, producing and commissioning a multitude of unscripted shows on UK television, including The Apprentice, Great British Bake Off, Hunted, The Island with Bear Grylls, Mary Queen of Charity Shops and The Circle. In her final year at Channel 4, Webb-Lamb drove and landed the Black to Front Project – the most radical diversity programme in the channel’s history.

    BBC Studios’ deal with Mothership builds on its existing indie investments, which includes full ownership of five scripted labels: Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack & Happy Valley 3), Baby Cow Productions (Chivalry & The Witchfinder), House Productions (Sherwood & Life After Life), Clerkenwell Films (The Birth of Daniel F Harris) and Sid Gentle Films (Killing Eve & Ragdoll) as well as minority investments in a further six: Moonage, Various Artists Limited, Expectation Entertainment, Curve Media, Firebird Pictures and Boffola Pictures (a Lookout Point investment). The company also represents hundreds of other independent production companies through first-look and distribution deals and returned more than £180 million to the UK independent production sector in 2021/2022 in development funding, rights investment and royalties.

  • Channel 4 commissions IWC to make holiday hire makeover show

    Channel 4 commissions IWC to make holiday hire makeover show

    MUMBAI: Channel 4 has commissioned Banijay owned production outfit IWC to produce TX pilot, Hire My Home, a factual entertainment format.

    Channel 4 daytime head Hub & Glasgow head Jo Street  greenlit the project. Hire My Home will be distributed globally by Banijay Rights.

    Featuring two skilled interior designers, Anna Campbell-Jones (Scotland’s Home of the Year) and Zeena Shah, this show takes bland rentals and turns them into unique holiday lets. Each designers are assigned a property in the same area of the UK and are given a budget by the owner to transform it. It will be their job to give each property a stunning makeover, drawing inspiration from the character and culture of the surrounding area and creating a stand-out style would-be holidaymakers can’t ignore. The rejuvenated rentals will then be judged by 100 Brits via a Hire My Home app, with photographs and price point uploaded.

    The show has been commissioned in the summer where many are opting out of foreign travel and holiday rentals in the UK. For thousands of homeowners who advertise their properties online, there has never been a better time to make sure it stands out from the crowd. Whether it’s a first-timer who has never listed their place or someone who wants to refresh a rental that has seen better days, Hire My Home is ready to turn their property into a design dream.

    IWC executive producer Gerard Costello said, “Letting our designers loose on some of the UK’s holiday lets is a great way to see some exciting and characterful transformations. This format will not only give Channel 4 viewers great inspiration for their next staycation, it will be full of creative ideas for their own homes.”    

  • Prime Focus Technologies inks deal with channel 4

    Prime Focus Technologies inks deal with channel 4

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) has signed a strategic deal with UK’s public service broadcaster, Channel 4 for managing media processing and centralised content operations using its flagship product, CLEAR™ Media ERP.

    PFT will manage the following for Channel 4 – (1) media processing activities including ingest, content re-mediation, media management, content aggregation, quality assurance and processing functions within Channel 4’s content workflow; (2) Online services including DRM, VoD transcoding, packaging & delivery, simulcast and live to VoD. PFT will be responsible for providing all the content for Channel 4’s online presence, both on Channel 4’s own ‘All4’ platform, as well as 3rd party platforms. 


    As a single software combining MAM capabilities with Work Order Management, CLEAR will enable Channel 4 to manage end-to-end media operations, including assets, resources, tasks and workflows. CLEAR’s best-in-class task management framework will improve collaboration across all internal and external stakeholders, including Channel 4’s Access services and Playout partners.

    “We are delighted to be forming this new partnership with PFT; a company which shares Channel 4’s innovative spirit” said Keith Underwood, COO, Channel 4. “PFT has proven experience of managing content operations for major international broadcasters, and we look forward to working with them to establish their new UK base.”

    “We are excited to collaborate with a revered broadcaster like Channel 4, and the engagement marks a major landmark in our incredible journey of growth in the UK. We were chosen through a diligent evaluation process and look forward to delivering exceptional business value on the back of our automation-led technology and Cloud- enabled media services,” said Nick Kaimakami, Senior Vice President & Head – EMEA, Prime Focus Technologies. “To support our engagement with Channel 4, we will be creating job opportunities in the UK, and look forward to working with some of the best talent in the region.”

    PFT also announced the launch of a Media Centre in the UK, which will act as the hub of centralised content operations for Channel 4. This new location will strengthen PFT’s presence in the UK and enable them to offer extensive local support to Channel 4.

    CLEAR has been deployed successfully on Cloud for the last eleven years. It automates the content supply chain, and currently manages 1.5 million hours of content across 220+ multi-cloud locations. CLEAR helps content creators enhance efficiencies, lower costs and realise new monetisation opportunities. 

    PFT will be showcasing CLEAR with the latest powerful updates at IBC 2019 – Booth #7.C05.
     

  • Endemol Shine signs first international deal with Australia, Germany for Lego Masters

    Endemol Shine signs first international deal with Australia, Germany for Lego Masters

    MUMBAI: Content creator, producer and distributor Endemol Shine Group has recently announced that the new entertainment format Lego Masters has landed its first international deals with Endemol Shine Australia and Germany. The production house has been commissioned to produce series with this new format Nine in Australia and RTL in Germany.

    It is originally created by Tuesdays Child. The show launched on Channel 4 in the summer 2017, winning an average audience of two million viewers. The launch episode was the number one programme of the day, exceeding the primetime average by 68 per cent. An extended second series will air on Channel 4 later this year.

    “Lego is a globally renowned and much-loved phenomenon that appeals to people of all ages and Lego Masters most definitely has the same pull. It’s a hugely fun and family-friendly format and we expect it to engage Australian and German viewers and other markets in the way in which it has done in the UK,” says Endemol Shine Group CEO of Creative Networks Lisa Perrin as quoted by Rapid TV News.

    The company is also behind new entertainment formats All Together Now that has been sold to six markets. It has produced content for all platforms including global hits Black Mirror, Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, Humans, Hunted, MasterChef, Peaky Blinders, The Island, The Brain, Tin Star and Your Face Sounds Familiar.

    Last year Endemol Shine Group produced more than 800 productions, in 78 territories airing on more than 275 channels around the world.

    Also Read:

    Endemol Shine hires banks for a possible sale 

    Endemol Shine Group inks pan Balkan deal for ‘Big Brother’

  • Terry Burns appointed Ofcom chairman

    Terry Burns appointed Ofcom chairman

    MUMBAI: Lord Terry Burns has been appointed as the next chairman of Ofcom. This follows the digital, culture, media and sport committee pre-appointment hearing with Lord Burns. Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has now confirmed the appointment.

    Lord Burns was until January 2016 the chairman of Channel 4 having served for six years at the public service broadcaster.

    He has also served as chairman of a number of private and public-sector organisations, including Marks & Spencer, Santander UK, Welsh Water, the National Lottery Commission, and The Royal Academy of Music.

    From 2004 to 2006, Lord Burns was independent adviser to the Secretary of State on the BBC Charter Review. He sits as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords.

    Dame Patricia Hodgson is stepping down as chairman of Ofcom at the end of the year. Lord Burns will take up the role from 1 January 2018.

    “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to take on this role at an important time for Ofcom. The UK communications sector provides essential services to everyone in the UK and is critical to the future success of the economy,” Lord Burns said.

    Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: “Lord Burns brings with him a wealth of experience and I am looking forward to working together as we deliver on Ofcom’s priorities.

    “I am incredibly grateful to Dame Patricia Hodgson, who has provided expert stewardship to Ofcom as chairman and deputy chairman over the past six years. Colleagues across Ofcom thank her for the contribution she’s made.”

  • Globo’s ‘Merciless’ & ‘The Hunter’ premiere on U.K. & U.S. VoD

    MUMBAI: Globo’s series ‘Merciless’ and ‘The Hunter’ are now part of the Walter Presents VoD service, which is dedicated to foreign drama and comedy in the UK and U.S. The service is part of Channel 4’s online platform. The licensing of the series to the streaming service is part of Globo’s strategy to produce and distribute creative and quality content covering a range of different platforms.

    The Brazilian series are available in the platform in Portuguese language with subtitles in English. Written by award-winner Glória Perez (‘India – a Love Story’ and ‘The Clone’), ‘Merciless’ revolves around the psychopath Edu (Bruno Gagliasso, ‘Rising Sun’), a handsome, smart and articulated man who uses all of his charm to hide his real and dark personality. Responsible for a series of murders that baffle the police, Edu captivates the emotionally unstable Ray (Débora Falabella, ‘Brazil Avenue’), who falls in love with the young man while doesn’t even notice his other side. In the international market, the series has already been licensed in 4K to the Korean group EPG. In addition, SIC, one of Portugal’s largest open TV networks and a large consumer of Globo’s content, has also invested in the show.

    ‘The Hunter’ is a breathtaking 13-episode series that tells the story of André – played by charming actor Cauã Reymond (‘Above Justice’ and ‘Brazil Avenue’) –, a cop who is wrongfully imprisoned. When he gets out of jail, he is driven by a single goal: tracking leads to prove his innocence. He starts working as a bounty hunter after he is kicked out of the force, and his relentless search for the truth in the criminal underworld begins. Packed with action and sensuality, the thriller was broadcast by SIC and boosted the Portuguese network’s ratings by 55 per cent during its premiere.

    Click here to watch the trailer of ‘Merciless’

    Click here to watch the trailer of ‘The Hunter’