Latest news with #CécileFrot-Coutaz
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sky Content Chief Says 'We Had an Amazing Bubble' in Production
The state of U.K. TV production 'has been really tough, and anybody who's been in production these days would echo that,' Cécile Frot-Coutaz, the CEO of Sky Studios and chief content officer of Sky, owned by Comcast, told the Media & Telecoms 2025 & Beyond Conference in London on Tuesday. 'I think it's been tough for a number of reasons,' she shared at the event, organized by Deloitte and Enders Analysis, . 'Less has been commissioned, although I think if you look back over a period of 10 [or 15] years, I'm not sure there's less today…. So, you know, we had an amazing bubble. Everybody got used to the bubble, and obviously now we're sort of coming back down to volumes that are more akin to those that were experienced 15 years ago.' More from The Hollywood Reporter U.K. Culture Secretary Talks AI Regulation at London Media Conference Netflix EMEA Content Boss Touts 'Adolescence,' Debunks a "Myth," Talks Ted Sarandos' Acting Debut Paolo Sorrentino to Receive Sarajevo Film Festival Honor and Retrospective Also, 'there's been a funding issue, because the U.S. hasn't been co-producing British content nearly in the same way, or actually not at all, potentially,' the Sky top executive added. But she also had a silver lining to tout. 'What we're seeing is [that] Europe is actually coming into some shows. We've seen that on some of our own programming. So you have to be very entrepreneurial these days when looking at how to get things financed, unless you're a goal player like Netflix.' About Sky's content output strategy, she highlighted: 'We were never a volume player. So actually, what we've been doing has been very consistent and very steady, and because we're part of the Comcast group, we're able to be flexible on the funding model.' She concluded by predicting that 'looking forward, I think things will settle again. Hopefully, the U.S. will start to come back online.' She made the comments during a panel discussion that also featured Larry Tanz, vp, content, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Netflix, Sarah Rose, president of U.K. broadcaster Channel 5 and U.K. regional lead at Channel 5 owner Paramount Global, and Wayne Garvie, president of Sony Pictures Television. The panel discussed commissioning trends and industry opportunities and challenges. Tuesday's conference also featured top executives from the likes of the Walt Disney Co., U.K. public broadcaster BBC, streaming giant Netflix, and Comcast-owned Sky. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Express Tribune
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
SNL is heading to the UK with an all-British cast for new series
Get ready, Britain — your Saturday nights are about to get a lot funnier (and possibly a lot weirder). Sky officially announced on Thursday that a UK version of 'Saturday Night Live' is in the works, set to premiere in 2026 with an all-British cast. That's right — "Live from across the pond, it's Saturday night!" The London-based show will mirror the original's legendary format: live sketches, chaotic improv, celebrity hosts, and musical guests — just now with more tea, accents, and probably at least one sketch about queueing politely. Legendary SNL creator Lorne Michaels (who, in case you're wondering, is still not planning to retire at age 80) will executive produce the series alongside Broadway Video and Universal Television Alternative Studio's UK division. No pressure, right? Sky Studios CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz said in a press release: "For over 50 years 'Saturday Night Live' has held a unique position in TV and in our collective culture, reflecting and creating the global conversation all under the masterful comedic guidance of Lorne Michaels." "The show has discovered and nurtured countless comedy and musical talents over the years and we are thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the SNL team to bring an all-British version of the show to UK audiences next year – all live from London on Saturday night." SNL first hit American TV screens on October 11, 1975 and is now celebrating its 50th season — half a century of iconic sketches, presidential impressions, and enough celebrity cameos to fill Wembley Stadium. Over the years, it helped launch careers of comedy royalty like Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, and so many others. Michaels recently told The Hollywood Reporter he's in it for the long haul, reassuring fans he has "no plans to leave" the US show anytime soon. This isn't the first time SNL has crossed borders — previous (and short-lived) versions have aired in Japan, Italy, and China. Fun fact: South Korea's take on SNL is still running strong. And if this sounds slightly familiar to British audiences, it's because Channel 4 had a show called 'Saturday Live' from 1985 to 1988, with a brief revival on ITV in 1996. That series featured an impressive lineup, including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton, Chris Barrie, Julian Clary, Tracey Ullman, Craig Ferguson, Josie Lawrence, and Rik Mayall. Basically, a who's who of British comedy legends. The real question is: Will Brits roast their politicians even harder than Americans do? Given the state of things... safe bet. Stay tuned for the chaos — because in 2026, Saturday nights in London are about to get seriously loud.
New York Times
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Live From London, It's Saturday Night!
'Saturday Night Live' is coming to Britain. A British version of NBC's late-night comedy sketch show is set to premiere next year on Sky, the broadcaster announced on Thursday. The new edition of the program will have Lorne Michaels, the show's creator, as executive producer and will feature 'a star-studded lineup of hosts.' The familiar catchphrase used to kick off the weekly show will be slightly modified: 'Live from London, it's Saturday night!' Sky said the show would follow a similar format to the American version, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary. It will star a yet-to-be-announced cast of British comedians who will perform sketches, alongside rotating hosts and featured musical acts. 'For over 50 years, Saturday Night Live has held a unique position in TV and in our collective culture,' Cécile Frot-Coutaz, the chief executive of Sky Studios, said in the announcement. 'The show has discovered and nurtured countless comedy and musical talents over the years, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the 'S.N.L.' team to bring an all-British version of the show to U.K. audiences.' The remake comes after years of speculation that a British version of the comedy show was in the works. Versions of the program have already been produced around the world, including in Germany, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, South Korea and Egypt.
