Co-founders Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn taking back full control of the business.
Lightbox is to exit Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund, with co-founders Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn taking back full control of the business.
The Chinns are to buy back their shares for an undisclosed sum, with C4 relinquishing its strategic input after six years of collaboration.
Over that period, Lightbox has more than tripled in size, become a major supplier to Netflix and won an Emmy for its Nat Geo feature doc LA 92.
The Chinn’s said that the fund “has enabled us to achieve our...
Lightbox is to exit Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund, with co-founders Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn taking back full control of the business.
The Chinns are to buy back their shares for an undisclosed sum, with C4 relinquishing its strategic input after six years of collaboration.
Over that period, Lightbox has more than tripled in size, become a major supplier to Netflix and won an Emmy for its Nat Geo feature doc LA 92.
The Chinn’s said that the fund “has enabled us to achieve our...
- 2/5/2021
- by Hannah Bowler Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Founded by Oscar-winning “Man on Wire” producer Simon Chinn and Emmy winner Jonathan Chinn, high-end documentary producer Lightbox is navigating the next phase of its evolution, and exiting one of the key initiatives that helped the transatlantic company set up shop.
Variety can reveal that the London- and Los Angeles-based outfit is buying back its shares and leaving U.K. broadcaster Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund (Igf), which invests in British production companies by taking minority stakes to help them grow. Lightbox is now fully independent, and plans to remain so “for the short term” before considering a sale in the future.
Since accepting the Channel 4 investment in 2014, the “Whitney” producer has more than tripled in size, growing from a £4-million to £13-million turnover company, and establishing itself as a bona fide U.S.-U.K. player specializing in high-end documentaries for streaming services and premium cablers.
“It’s...
Variety can reveal that the London- and Los Angeles-based outfit is buying back its shares and leaving U.K. broadcaster Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund (Igf), which invests in British production companies by taking minority stakes to help them grow. Lightbox is now fully independent, and plans to remain so “for the short term” before considering a sale in the future.
Since accepting the Channel 4 investment in 2014, the “Whitney” producer has more than tripled in size, growing from a £4-million to £13-million turnover company, and establishing itself as a bona fide U.S.-U.K. player specializing in high-end documentaries for streaming services and premium cablers.
“It’s...
- 2/4/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Few European TV execs have a better sense of the bigger picture than Movistar Plus president Sergio Oslé. Variety caught up with him as HBO Max announced it had acquired “Perfect Life” for the U.S. and committed to produce a second season with Movistar Plus, the pay-tv arm of telco giant Telefonica, which has also wrapped the first Spanish shoot on Alejandro Amenábar’s “La Fortuna,” produced with AMC Studios.
Here, Oslé reflects on how Movistar Plus has found its own audience; puts production value before production volume; and how upscale drama series now form part of a larger cultural conversation.
Through to the mid-2000s, national fiction dominated free-to-air and U.S. series and movies largely made the running on pay TV. Movistar’s 2020 results — where its five top shows were all Movistar Plus original series — suggests some kind of paradigm shift. Would you agree?
People are now watching television more than ever,...
Here, Oslé reflects on how Movistar Plus has found its own audience; puts production value before production volume; and how upscale drama series now form part of a larger cultural conversation.
Through to the mid-2000s, national fiction dominated free-to-air and U.S. series and movies largely made the running on pay TV. Movistar’s 2020 results — where its five top shows were all Movistar Plus original series — suggests some kind of paradigm shift. Would you agree?
People are now watching television more than ever,...
- 1/25/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish pay TV operator Movistar Plus and HBO Max have joined forces on the upcoming second season of Leticia Dolera’s “Perfect Life,” which recently wrapped shooting under strict Covid-19 restrictions. HBO Max will also pick-up U.S. streaming rights for the first season of the highly rated Spanish series, making it available to U.S. audiences from Jan. 21.
Season 2 of “Perfect Life” is co-produced by Movistar Plus and HBO Max in collaboration with Barcelona’s Corte y Confección de Películas and in partnership with the series’ sales agent, Jan Mojto’s Munich-based Beta Film, a powerful player on the Spanish drama series scene handling, just among recent hits, series such as “Tell Me Who I Am” and “Alive and Kicking” from “Red Band Society” creator Albert Espinosa.
The first season of the series was a hit for Movistar Plus, receiving strong domestic ratings and selling to Germany’s Rtl and France’s M6 Group,...
Season 2 of “Perfect Life” is co-produced by Movistar Plus and HBO Max in collaboration with Barcelona’s Corte y Confección de Películas and in partnership with the series’ sales agent, Jan Mojto’s Munich-based Beta Film, a powerful player on the Spanish drama series scene handling, just among recent hits, series such as “Tell Me Who I Am” and “Alive and Kicking” from “Red Band Society” creator Albert Espinosa.
The first season of the series was a hit for Movistar Plus, receiving strong domestic ratings and selling to Germany’s Rtl and France’s M6 Group,...
- 1/11/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Having closed Latin America with HBO earlier this year, Beta Film has clinched first-phase sales in Europe on “Tell Me Who I Am,” an epic tale of a woman’s emancipation, and its cost, which celebrates its international premiere today at Mipcom Online Plus.
First fruit of a three-year, three series co-production alliance between Spain’s Movistar Plus and Telemundo Intl. Studios (Tis) in the U.S., “Tell Me Who I Am” has closed Nordic territories, selling to Norway’s Nrk, Denmark’s Dr and Yle in Finland, the public broadcasters in all three countries.
Further deals on the historical drama, which spans the Spanish Civil War, WWII and the fall of the Berlin Wall, take in Portugal (Rtp) and Greece and Cyprus (Forthnet Group). Tis is handling distribution in the U.S.; Movistar Plus plans an event release release in Spain.
Further deals are in final negotiations, Beta Film announced Tuesday.
First fruit of a three-year, three series co-production alliance between Spain’s Movistar Plus and Telemundo Intl. Studios (Tis) in the U.S., “Tell Me Who I Am” has closed Nordic territories, selling to Norway’s Nrk, Denmark’s Dr and Yle in Finland, the public broadcasters in all three countries.
Further deals on the historical drama, which spans the Spanish Civil War, WWII and the fall of the Berlin Wall, take in Portugal (Rtp) and Greece and Cyprus (Forthnet Group). Tis is handling distribution in the U.S.; Movistar Plus plans an event release release in Spain.
Further deals are in final negotiations, Beta Film announced Tuesday.
- 10/13/2020
- by John Hopewell and Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Movistar Plus’ first U.S. co-production, “Tell Me Who I Am,” produced with Telemundo, has been sold by Germany’s Beta Film to HBO Latin America, a deal announced today during the sales company’s pioneering live virtual pitching event – Beta Summer Insights.
In addition to the Latin American deal, Telemundo’s boarding production at last year’s Natpe ensured U.S. distribution for the series as well.
One of Movistar Plus’ biggest gambles since moving into original production, deals for U.S. and Latin American distribution look like promising early payback, and that payout is likely.
Based on the popular Spanish novel “Dime Quien Soy” from writer Julia Navarro, the series takes place across multiple decades of the 20th century, kicking off when 30-something internet journalist Javier is tasked by his aunt to investigate the life of his great-grandmother, Amelia Garayoa, who left her husband and son behind her...
In addition to the Latin American deal, Telemundo’s boarding production at last year’s Natpe ensured U.S. distribution for the series as well.
One of Movistar Plus’ biggest gambles since moving into original production, deals for U.S. and Latin American distribution look like promising early payback, and that payout is likely.
Based on the popular Spanish novel “Dime Quien Soy” from writer Julia Navarro, the series takes place across multiple decades of the 20th century, kicking off when 30-something internet journalist Javier is tasked by his aunt to investigate the life of his great-grandmother, Amelia Garayoa, who left her husband and son behind her...
- 6/18/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Munich-based TV sales company Beta Film is launching an extended virtual sales pitch, titled Beta Summer Insights, which will stream live on June 18 from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (Cest).
Guests will be able to take a look inside Beta’s upcoming productions, which come from across Europe and cover a variety of genres, from period drama to young adult, and from crime procedural to comedy.
The event will include visits to the sets of productions during their shoots, live Q&As with creatives and producers, presentations of upcoming series, and, during the last hour, visitors will be able to enjoy a live screening of two of Beta’s new series.
The event is a next step in Beta’s online marketing strategy, providing a bridge between the international TV markets MipTV and Mipcom, and is given greater urgency given that sales agents are unable to visit their clients for their usual updates.
Guests will be able to take a look inside Beta’s upcoming productions, which come from across Europe and cover a variety of genres, from period drama to young adult, and from crime procedural to comedy.
The event will include visits to the sets of productions during their shoots, live Q&As with creatives and producers, presentations of upcoming series, and, during the last hour, visitors will be able to enjoy a live screening of two of Beta’s new series.
The event is a next step in Beta’s online marketing strategy, providing a bridge between the international TV markets MipTV and Mipcom, and is given greater urgency given that sales agents are unable to visit their clients for their usual updates.
- 6/15/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Movistar Plus’ upcoming original series “Tell Me Who I Am,” based on Julia Navarro’s popular Spanish novel “Dime Quien Soy,” has finished shooting and will head to post-production for delivery later this year.
Set across multiple decades of the 20th century, the story kicks off with 30-something internet journalist Javier, tasked by his aunt to investigate the life of his great-grandmother, Amelia Garayoa, who left her husband and son behind her as she fled Spain as a result of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Amelia becomes embroiled in some of the most important historical events of the century, from Franco’s ascent in Spain, the uprising and liberation of Berlin, the rise of Stalin’s communist U.S.S.R., the barbarity of Warsaw’s ghettos, Rome in the final years of Mussolini and the decline of Nazi Germany in occupied Athens. With a foot in both the past and future,...
Set across multiple decades of the 20th century, the story kicks off with 30-something internet journalist Javier, tasked by his aunt to investigate the life of his great-grandmother, Amelia Garayoa, who left her husband and son behind her as she fled Spain as a result of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Amelia becomes embroiled in some of the most important historical events of the century, from Franco’s ascent in Spain, the uprising and liberation of Berlin, the rise of Stalin’s communist U.S.S.R., the barbarity of Warsaw’s ghettos, Rome in the final years of Mussolini and the decline of Nazi Germany in occupied Athens. With a foot in both the past and future,...
- 1/22/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Beta Film has added two more high-profile Spanish scripted series from Movistar Plus to its lineup ahead of Mipcom. The Germany-based content outfit has a history of selling Spanish drama globally, and has snagged the rights to action-thriller “La Unidad” and drama series “Tell Me Who I Am.”
The scripted series will be highlights of the Movistar Plus 2020 lineup as the pay-tv and streaming outfit goes deeper into original drama. Beta and Movistar Plus have a co-production and distribution deal in place, with recent successes including Alex Pina’s “The Pier,” Leticia Dolera‘s “Perfect Life” and Paco Leon’s “Arde Madrid.”
Beta Film will bring the two new dramas to market for the first time at Mipcom, the biggest event on the international TV calendar. Both “La Unidad” and “Tell Me Who I Am” are in production, and the focus at Mipcom will be pre-sales.
“La Unidad” re-teams director...
The scripted series will be highlights of the Movistar Plus 2020 lineup as the pay-tv and streaming outfit goes deeper into original drama. Beta and Movistar Plus have a co-production and distribution deal in place, with recent successes including Alex Pina’s “The Pier,” Leticia Dolera‘s “Perfect Life” and Paco Leon’s “Arde Madrid.”
Beta Film will bring the two new dramas to market for the first time at Mipcom, the biggest event on the international TV calendar. Both “La Unidad” and “Tell Me Who I Am” are in production, and the focus at Mipcom will be pre-sales.
“La Unidad” re-teams director...
- 9/27/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
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