News from Netflix U.K., COL Group, Utopai Studios, Roku Sports Channel, Disney+ EMEA, Prime Video, the BBC, MGM+ & All3Media International, ITV, Primitives, MIPJunior & Disney Kids & Family, and Boat Rocker Studios. Plus, ScreenMDM Talks with Jeff Biederman and Jake Horowitz about their new Canadian comedy series Estate of Mind; ScreenMDM Selects with BossaNova's The Accused; and details on our MIPCOM plans. |
Netflix Reveals New U.K. Commissions
Netflix has unveiled a new batch of U.K. commissions, including a Jack Thorne drama starring Kate Winslet, a darts competition, and two series set in the Top Boy universe.
COL, VIRTUE & V47 Align for Vertical Video Upfront
COL Group, VIRTUE Asia and V47 Entertainment have joined forces to stage what is being billed as the first-ever upfront event for microdramas and the vertical video economy, taking place in Singapore on October 27.
Utopai Studios Unifies AsiaPac Business
Utopai Studios has integrated its Asia-Pacific operations, including its Korean production infrastructure, Japanese development business, and regional alliances, and appointed Hyun Park as president to oversee its footprint across the region.
Roku Expands National Women’s Soccer League Coverage
Roku has expanded its relationship with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), adding Sunday night matches to the Roku Sports Channel.
An Estate of Mind with Jake Horowitz & Jeff Biederman
As their new series Estate of Mind arrives on Bell Canada’s Fibe TV1, Jeff Biederman and Jake Horowitz join ScreenMDM Talks to share the genesis of the hybrid docu-comedy series from indies Sideways Dog Productions and Grainey Pictures.
Italy-Set Romcom from Element Pictures & Sinestra Lands at Disney+
Fremantle's Element Pictures and Brooklyn-based outfit Sinestra are producing Mad Love (w.t.), a romantic comedy-drama set in Italy for Disney+.
Disney+ Renews Clerkenwell Films’ Alice and Steve
Alice and Steve, produced by Clerkenwell Films, will return for a second season on Disney+ in the U.K. and Ireland and on Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S.
Stephen King’s Crouch End Adaptation Set at Prime Video
Prime Video has commissioned a six-part limited series based on Stephen King's London-set short story Crouch End.
Ann Droid Renewed at BBC One
Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall's Ann Droid, from Boffola Pictures and Witchcraft Industries and distributed by BBC Studios, will be back for a second season on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
MGM+ Acquires All3Media International’s Secret Service
Potboiler Productions' Secret Service, an espionage thriller for ITV, has been licensed to MGM+ for the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Italy by All3Media International.
ScreenMDM Scripted Digest: International Drama’s Summer of IP, Microdrama & Regional Expansion
ScreenMDM Scripted Digest recaps some of our best coverage of the sector this summer, from book adaptations and real-life dramas to vertical video growth, romance commissions, anime, and regional momentum in Canada, Iberia, and Türkiye. Sign up for ScreenMDM Scripted Digest here.
72 Films Preps Monarchy Doc Series for BBC Two
72 Films has landed a commission from BBC Factual for Kings and Queens: The Story of the Monarchy, a six-part series fusing dramatic reenactments, graphics, and insights from historians, with Fremantle handling international distribution.
ITV Slates Big Brother Companion Show from Initial
Banijay UK's Initial is making a Big Brother companion show that will air following each episode, Sunday to Thursday nights, on ITV2, ITVX and YouTube, and be distributed across major podcast platforms.
Primitives Format On the Right Track Renewed at STVR
Slovak public broadcaster STVR has committed to a second season of On the Right Track, a long-running entertainment quiz from SVT in Sweden distributed by Primitives.
F1 World Champion Lando Norris Lands Prime Video Docuseries
Prime Video has unveiled its latest sports docuseries, this one focused on reigning F1 World Champion Lando Norris.
ScreenMDM Factual & Formats Digest: True Crime, History, & Format Battles
ScreenMDM Factual & Formats Digest features a comprehensive look at the latest commissions, digital pivots, and global distribution trends shaping the unscripted landscape. Subscribe—it's free!
Disney Kids & Family Leaders Set for MIPJunior Stage
Senior leaders from Disney Kids & Family, including Ayo Davis, will take to the stage at MIPJunior as the company boards the event as a first-time presenting partner.
Boat Rocker Studios Greenlights Return of Dino Ranch: Island Explorers
With CBC, Radio-Canada, and Warner Bros. Discovery on board, Boat Rocker Studios has greenlit a second season of Dino Ranch: Island Explorers.
ScreenMDM Kids/YA Digest: Pubcaster Pacts, AI Moves & YouTube Shifts
A recap of the kids' media headlines from the last month, from pubcaster alliances to AI opportunities and the game-changing shifts at YouTube. Get your free subscription here.
The Accused: A new true crime series exploring the impact that fighting against miscarriages of justice has on the people involved. BossaNova Media.
ScreenMDM at MIPCOM
Reach, impact, and engagement at every budget level.
Digital-only packages starting at US$500. Print and digital packages start at US$1,000.
Contact Mansha Daswani (editorial) or Kate Roach (advertising) for more information.
This week features Balance: A Perimenopause Journey, MasterChef, A Toxic Love Story, Alley Cats & Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea. Email Mansha if you have ideas or want to be a guest.
ICYMI
Ampere: Global SVODs Slow Price Hikes
Average subscription price hikes at Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video have fallen from 24% in 2023/24 to 14% in 2026/26, according to Ampere Analysis.
Building a Premium Subscription Ecosystem in Pakistan
Jonathan Mark Tatti, CEO of Begin, tells ScreenMDM about how the platform is using high-end entertainment—imported and domestic—and premium sports to set new benchmarks for streaming in Pakistan.
ScreenMDM Talks: The MIPCOM Marathon Begins
It's ScreenMDM's first MIPCOM Cannes, and we've got a lot planned, from print magazines with premium distribution to our thought-leadership strands, podcasts, and digital shorts across our social footprint.
Local Streamers in Asia: Convergence Takes Center Stage
Local streaming platforms in Asia are winning share with originals, vertical video, sports, and partnerships.
The SwitchScreen: FAST Times at TV5MONDE with Patrice Courtaban
Patrice Courtaban, EVP of global growth and business development at TV5MONDE and CEO of TV5MONDE USA, joined ScreenMDM Talks’ The SwitchScreen strand to weigh in on how the French-language broadcaster is betting on CTV expansion and AI discovery tools to power its international reach.
Vertical, Viral & Bundled: Recapping the Summer’s Digital Shifts
New YouTube milestones, a wave of vertical video investment, bigger streaming bundles, and fresh creator alliances: recapping the digital-facing deals that made headlines over the last month. Subscribe to ScreenMDM Digital-First Digest here.
Building a $1 Billion Vertical Video Giant: The View from Crazy Maple Studio
2026 is proving to be the breakout moment for vertical video, according to Joey Jia, whose Crazy Maple Studio, owner of the ReelShort app, is on track to top $1 billion in revenues this year.
Ex-China Microdrama Revenues Projected to Reach $9.5 Billion in 2031
Microdrama revenues outside of China are expected to hit $3.6 billion this year, rising to $9.5 billion by 2031, according to Media Partners Asia (MPA), with ReelShort/Crazy Maple Studio among a handful of dominant players, generating revenues of more than $1 billion this year.
Hub Research: Smart TV Operators Gain Influence as Streaming Gatekeepers
TV OS operators are emerging as the most influential gatekeepers in the streaming era, Hub Entertainment Research says in a new study of U.S. audiences.
The Vertical Video Revolution with RoseBerry Media’s Guy Hameiri & Lior Friedman
On the heels of the launch of their new vertical video platform Epis, Guy Hameiri and Lior Friedman, co-founders of RoseBerry Media, joined ScreenMDM Talks to discuss reformatting content for mobile-first audiences and leveraging data and analytics to chart a new path in premium, short-form, 9:16 content.
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ScreenMDM's inaugural White Paper, Digital-Shift, delivers practical insights for making sense of the trends reshaping content production, monetization, and distribution.
Find out more here.
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