Latest news with #ITVStudios
ITV News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
ITV Studios inks four-title scripted deal with CBC in Canada
ITV Studios today announces a series of significant sales to CBC across its world-class drama slate. Picked up by Canada's national public broadcaster for exclusive Canadian premieres on the free CBC Gem streaming service are Optics, Four Years Later, the second series of Showtrial and the final series of hit comedy Brassic. The deal was brokered by Craig Bohland, VP Sales, Canada, ITV Studios and Jenna Bourdeau, Senior Director, Acquisitions, at CBC. Optics and Showtrial will launch on CBC Gem in Canada this fall, Brassic in 2026, and Four Years Later is available now. 'CBC is always looking for top-tier series to further build CBC Gem's library of acclaimed international titles, and these strong comedies and dramas from ITV Studios offer audiences in Canada a range of memorable characters and engaging storytelling that they can't find anywhere else,' said Jenna Bourdeau, Senior Director, Acquisitions, CBC. Katie Buchanan, EVP Sales, Americas at ITV Studios, said, 'These four titles exemplify the breadth and ambition of ITV Studios' scripted offering - bold, compelling stories with broad international appeal. CBC is a broadcaster that truly values premium content and is the perfect home for this collection. We're excited for Canadian audiences to discover these standout titles.' Optics (6 x 30 Easy Tiger and Chaser Digital) follows two whip-smart 20-something women (Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst) who are unexpectedly promoted to run crisis management PR firm Fritz & Randell, after the death of office patriarch Frank Fritz. As they battle weekly public relations crises from celebrities, sports stars and corporate titans, and power challenges from veteran PR flack Ian Randell (Charles Firth), they slowly come to realise that their firm might have a scandal brewing of its own, and start to wonder: have they been set up to fail? Four Years Later (8 x 30, Easy Tiger Productions) stars award-winning actress Shahana Goswami (Bombay Begums, A Suitable Boy) and Akshay Ajit Singh (24: India), as Sridevi and Yash, who have to endure four years apart right after their wedding when Yash lands a medical traineeship in Australia. The intoxicating romantic drama from the makers of Colin From Accounts and The Twelve. follows Yash and Sridevi's turbulent time apart and their reconnection - two timelines, two worlds, using both English and Hindi languages - through dual perspectives, explores the changing nature of love, intimacy and belonging as you change within yourself. Showtrial (5 x 60, World Productions) is an anthology legal drama, in which each series tells a new story of a criminal case that grips the media and divides the nation. In the second series, high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer - a serving policeman. But who is this unnamed 'Officer X'? What does his own history reveal about the nature of trauma and revenge, and was Marcus's death a careless accident or cold-blooded murder? Having acquired the previous six seasons of BAFTA-nominated hit comedy series Brassic, CBC has ordered the seventh and final series (6 x 30, Calamity Films). The unruly gang led by Joe Gilgun's Vinnie and Michelle Keegan's Erin Croft go out with a bang, with even more of the madness and mayhem that fans have cherished over the years. [ENDS] 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.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Janet Street-Porter addresses Loose Women future as she plans to 'bully ITV boss'
Speaking in a recent podcast episode, Janet Street-Porter detailed how the number of shows would be reduced to the "level it started", but also had some encouraging words for fans Janet Street-Porter has opened up about the future of Loose Women and revealed that she plans to "bully" the boss of ITV Studios. Speaking on the Off Air with Jane and Fi podcast, the panellist shed light on the financial pressures facing ITV, adding that its advertising revenue had been "diminishing hugely". ITV announced in May that it would axe more than 220 jobs and impose cuts to popular shows like Loose Women and Lorraine as it sought to claw back what Janet described as a "massive amount" of savings. When asked to discuss the "fate" of the show, Janet had some encouraging words for fans. She described how the number of shows had risen "inexorably" over the years and would be reduced back to the level it started on. She confirmed the show would air for 30 weeks of the year (or 150 episodes) and revealed that she'd presented her case for the show to Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV Studios, whom she knows "very well." Janet said: "So, I've said to him in no uncertain terms what I feel about it, which is that Loose Women performs a valuable service. "It talks about things women are interested in, in a pretty straightforward way. It gives people a bit of a laugh in the middle of the day, doesn't take itself too seriously." When asked if the show would "carry on", she responded: "Yes, course it's carrying on! Of course it's carrying on. It's carrying on for 30 weeks of next year and maybe more if I can bully Kevin Lygo into submission." She added that the bullying was "metaphorically speaking". Following the ITV announcement, fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha described the cuts as "out of the blue" and "absolutely brutal" for people working on the daytime chat show. Opening up on her YouTube channel at the time, Nadia said: "What's been brutal, absolutely brutal, over the last week, honestly I feel tearful about it, is that hundreds of people... are going to be made redundant out of the blue, these are all the people behind the scenes that support us in every way." Meanwhile, reports have emerged this week that the broadcaster plans to step up its cost-cutting strategy further, adding an additional £15 million to the £30 million already announced. ITV said that although the economic environment "remains uncertain," the broadcaster can expect a "better outturn" for the full year 2025, noting that it was "driven by these cost efficiencies." Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, said: "ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market. "We are on track to deliver our 2026 key financial targets, with sustained good growth in ITV Studios and ITVX coupled with strategic cost management as we reshape our cost base to reflect the dynamics of the industry in which we operate."
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
ITV ramps up cost cutting as profits fall
The group behind hit TV shows including Britain's Got Talent and Love Island said it was slashing costs by another £15 million, on top of £30 million previously announced, with spend on content being trimmed. It reported a 44% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to £99 million for the six months to June 30, down sharply from £178 million a year ago. Operating profits were 44% lower at £76 million. But ITV said cost-cutting actions would help offset a tough advertising market. 'While the economic environment remains uncertain, we now expect a better outturn for the full year 2025, driven by these cost efficiencies,' it said. Shares lifted 9% in morning trading on Thursday Total advertising revenues fell 7% in the first half after a 12% plunge between April and June, although it said the half-year fall was better than feared. It expects ad revenues to be down 'marginally' in the third quarter, 'reflecting the tough comparative from the final knockout matches of the men's Euros in July 2024'. Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, said: 'ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market. 'We are on track to deliver our 2026 key financial targets, with sustained good growth in ITV Studios and ITVX coupled with strategic cost management as we reshape our cost base to reflect the dynamics of the industry in which we operate.' The group flagged using technology among efforts to drive the latest round of cost cutting. It said on unveiling full-year results in March that it had been able to strip out £60 million of costs in 2024, £10 million more than first forecast. At the time, the group said there would not be any impact on jobs this year from the cost savings after its overhaul saw it shed more than 220 roles in 2024, largely from its media and entertainment division.
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
ITV ramps up cost cutting as profits fall
The group behind hit TV shows including Britain's Got Talent and Love Island said it was slashing costs by another £15 million, on top of £30 million previously announced, with spend on content being trimmed. It reported a 44% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to £99 million for the six months to June 30, down sharply from £178 million a year ago. Operating profits were 44% lower at £76 million. But ITV said cost-cutting actions would help offset a tough advertising market. 'While the economic environment remains uncertain, we now expect a better outturn for the full year 2025, driven by these cost efficiencies,' it said. Shares lifted 9% in morning trading on Thursday Total advertising revenues fell 7% in the first half after a 12% plunge between April and June, although it said the half-year fall was better than feared. It expects ad revenues to be down 'marginally' in the third quarter, 'reflecting the tough comparative from the final knockout matches of the men's Euros in July 2024'. Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, said: 'ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market. 'We are on track to deliver our 2026 key financial targets, with sustained good growth in ITV Studios and ITVX coupled with strategic cost management as we reshape our cost base to reflect the dynamics of the industry in which we operate.' The group flagged using technology among efforts to drive the latest round of cost cutting. It said on unveiling full-year results in March that it had been able to strip out £60 million of costs in 2024, £10 million more than first forecast. At the time, the group said there would not be any impact on jobs this year from the cost savings after its overhaul saw it shed more than 220 roles in 2024, largely from its media and entertainment division.
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
ITV ramps up cost cutting as profits fall
The group behind hit TV shows including Britain's Got Talent and Love Island said it was slashing costs by another £15 million, on top of £30 million previously announced, with spend on content being trimmed. It reported a 44% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to £99 million for the six months to June 30, down sharply from £178 million a year ago. Operating profits were 44% lower at £76 million. But ITV said cost-cutting actions would help offset a tough advertising market. 'While the economic environment remains uncertain, we now expect a better outturn for the full year 2025, driven by these cost efficiencies,' it said. Shares lifted 9% in morning trading on Thursday Total advertising revenues fell 7% in the first half after a 12% plunge between April and June, although it said the half-year fall was better than feared. It expects ad revenues to be down 'marginally' in the third quarter, 'reflecting the tough comparative from the final knockout matches of the men's Euros in July 2024'. Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, said: 'ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market. 'We are on track to deliver our 2026 key financial targets, with sustained good growth in ITV Studios and ITVX coupled with strategic cost management as we reshape our cost base to reflect the dynamics of the industry in which we operate.' The group flagged using technology among efforts to drive the latest round of cost cutting. It said on unveiling full-year results in March that it had been able to strip out £60 million of costs in 2024, £10 million more than first forecast. At the time, the group said there would not be any impact on jobs this year from the cost savings after its overhaul saw it shed more than 220 roles in 2024, largely from its media and entertainment division.
