Latest news with #NBCUniversalFormats
Broadcast Pro
16-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Reality show ‘Million Dollar Listing: UAE' set to return for season two
Image Nation Abu Dhabi and StarzPlay kick off production this month on the hit real estate reality series. Following the success of its debut season, Million Dollar Listing: UAE is making a return with a second season, promising more glitz, drama and multimillion-dollar deals. The reality series, co-produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and StarzPlay, has officially begun filming, with new episodes set to premiere later this year. This StarzPlay Original, exclusively licensed from NBCUniversal Formats, will expand to a 12-episode run, diving deeper into the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in the UAE. Set against the backdrops of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Season Two will once again spotlight the country's booming property market and the elite brokers who drive it. Veteran realtor and Executive Producer Ben Bandari returns to lead the cast alongside Riad Gohar and Rami Wahood. Joining them are newcomers Sarah Serhan and Mai Khaled, whose arrival is expected to stir up fresh rivalries and bold negotiations. The upcoming season also features partnerships with leading developers Aldar and DAMAC, reinforcing the show's close ties to the region's luxury real estate landscape. Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said: 'At Image Nation Abu Dhabi, we are committed to producing high-quality, locally relevant content that resonates with audiences across the region. The success of Million Dollar Listing: UAE demonstrates the growing appetite for premium, homegrown reality formats and we are proud to bring a second season to viewers. By showcasing the UAE's dynamic real estate market and diverse talent, this series continues to reinforce the country's position as a global media and entertainment hub.' Maaz Sheikh, CEO of StarzPlay, added: 'The success of the first season of Million Dollar Listing: UAE, highlights StarzPlay's commitment to delivering premium, locally relevant content. As the UAE's only homegrown entertainment platform of its kind, we're excited to bring our audience a second season with even higher stakes, bigger deals, and more compelling personalities. Million Dollar Listing: UAE, a StarzPlay Original, not only entertains but also showcases the dynamism and ambition of the UAE to viewers around the world.' Season one not only broke viewership records on StarzPlay but also gained international traction after being picked up by global streaming platforms Hayu and Roku. Its rise up the global streaming charts has heightened anticipation for Season Two. Produced by Navigation Films, the show also features Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning producer Marc Lorber as Executive Producer. With the cameras rolling and expectations high, fans can expect an even more immersive look into the UAE's elite property market, from jaw-dropping homes to behind-the-scenes power plays.
Arabian Business
14-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Million Dollar Listing: UAE season 2 confirmed, Dubai and Abu Dhabi real estate broker cast revealed
Co-produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and STARZPLAY, the TV series will take viewers behind the scenes of the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in the UAE. Filming has begun, and new episodes are set to premiere at the end of this year. Million Dollar Listing: UAE to return for series 2 The series, exclusively licensed from NBCUniversal Formats, will feature an extended 12-episode run, offering deeper insights into the lives of top real estate brokers navigating multimillion-dollar deals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Returning cast members include veteran realtor and Executive Producer Ben Bandari, along with Riad Gohar and Rami Wahood. This season also welcomes two dynamic new brokers, Sarah Serhan and Mai Khaled. Million Dollar Listing: UAE season 2, has partnered with Aldar and DAMAC, further reinforcing the series' strong ties to the region's premier luxury real estate developers. Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said: 'At Image Nation Abu Dhabi, we are committed to producing high-quality, locally relevant content that resonates with audiences across the region. The success of Million Dollar Listing: UAE demonstrates the growing appetite for premium, homegrown reality formats and we are proud to bring a second season to viewers. 'By showcasing the UAE's dynamic real estate market and diverse talent, this series continues to reinforce the country's position as a global media and entertainment hub'. Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY, said: 'The success of the first season of Million Dollar Listing: UAE, highlights STARZPLAY's commitment to delivering premium, locally relevant content. 'As the UAE's only homegrown entertainment platform of its kind, we're excited to bring our audience a second season with even higher stakes, bigger deals, and more compelling personalities. Million Dollar Listing: UAE, a STARZPLAY Original, not only entertains but also showcases the dynamism and ambition of the UAE to viewers around the world.' Season 1 of the series was a major success for STARZPLAY, breaking platform records and becoming one of its top-performing original series. The show's popularity soared even further when it was picked up international streaming platforms Hayu and Roku, climbing global streaming charts and attracting a growing international fanbase.
Zawya
14-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Record breaking reality series ‘Million Dollar Listing: UAE' returns for a highly anticipated second season
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Following the record-breaking success of its debut season, Million Dollar Listing: UAE is set to return for an unmissable second installment. Co-produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and STARZPLAY, this STARZPLAY Original will once again immerse viewers in the high-stakes world of luxury real estate in the UAE. Filming has begun, and new episodes are set to premiere at the end of this year. The series, exclusively licensed from NBCUniversal Formats, will feature an extended 12-episode run, offering deeper insights into the lives of top real estate brokers navigating multimillion-dollar deals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Returning cast members include veteran realtor and Executive Producer Ben Bandari, along with Riad Gohar and Rami Wahood. This season also welcomes two dynamic new brokers, Sarah Serhan and Mai Khaled, promising fresh rivalries, bold deals and more drama than ever before. Million Dollar Listing: UAE season 2, has partnered with Aldar and DAMAC, further reinforcing the series' strong ties to the region's premier luxury real estate developers. 'At Image Nation Abu Dhabi, we are committed to producing high-quality, locally relevant content that resonates with audiences across the region. The success of Million Dollar Listing: UAE demonstrates the growing appetite for premium, homegrown reality formats and we are proud to bring a second season to viewers. By showcasing the UAE's dynamic real estate market and diverse talent, this series continues to reinforce the country's position as a global media and entertainment hub', said Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi. "The success of the first season of Million Dollar Listing: UAE, highlights STARZPLAY's commitment to delivering premium, locally relevant content," said Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY. "As the UAE's only homegrown entertainment platform of its kind, we're excited to bring our audience a second season with even higher stakes, bigger deals, and more compelling personalities. Million Dollar Listing: UAE, a STARZPLAY Original, not only entertains but also showcases the dynamism and ambition of the UAE to viewers around the world." Season 1 of the series was a major success for STARZPLAY, breaking platform records and becoming one of its top-performing original series. The show's popularity soared even further when it was picked up international streaming platforms Hayu and Roku, climbing global streaming charts and attracting a growing international fanbase. With momentum building, anticipation for Season 2 is already at an all-time high. Stay tuned for more updates as Million Dollar Listing UAE gears up for its return, delivering an exclusive look into the luxury property market, high-stakes negotiations and the elite lifestyles that define the UAE's real estate scene. Million Dollar Listing: UAE is produced by Navigation Films and has Emmy-nominated and BAFTA award-winning producer Marc Lorber serving as Executive Producer. About Image Nation Abu Dhabi Image Nation Abu Dhabi is one of the Middle East's leading film studios with a mission to unlock the potential of the region's creative talent to bring its vibrant storytelling to the world. The company has built its reputation on breaking boundaries and unleashing imagination through content ranging from award-winning films and TV programs to documentaries and non-scripted series, produced in partnership with a global network of content creators, distributors, and channels. By catalyzing ideas, talent, and enterprise, the studio fosters dialogue and builds relationships that help bridge cultural gaps. Image Nation productions have been screened at film festivals across the globe and received the film and TV industry's highest honors, including Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Emmys. In delivering on its mission, Image Nation also plays an important role in realizing Abu Dhabi's vision to shape a competitive, sustainable, and globally open economy and positioning the emirate as a regional content creation hub. About STARZPLAY STARZPLAY ( is the leading subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, delivering a premium mix of Hollywood blockbusters, exclusive original productions, Arabic series, popular Turkish dramas, live sports, and family-friendly programming. With strategic partnerships including major global studios such as Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, AMC, BBC, Falcon Films, and Image Nation Studios—its primary production partner for STARZPLAY Originals—the platform offers an extensive library tailored specifically to regional tastes. STARZPLAY also provides top-tier Turkish content through collaborations with MADD TV, TRT, and ATV, and showcases elite live sports coverage including Italian Serie A, Dutch Eredivisie, UFC, cricket, rugby, boxing, golf, and basketball. With over 2.5 million subscribers and more than 18 million app downloads, STARZPLAY is continually reshaping the digital entertainment landscape. The platform delivers high-quality streaming in HD and 4K on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and IPTV services, complemented by user-friendly iOS and Android apps supporting offline viewing. Leveraging advanced AI-driven recommendations and interactive offerings—including Fantasy Sports gaming, STARZ ON (ad-supported free streaming), and STARZPLAY Store (premium content rentals and purchases)—STARZPLAY ensures a personalized entertainment experience for every viewer. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi with additional offices in the UAE and Pakistan, STARZPLAY is backed by renowned international and regional investors led by evision (part of e& Group), along with ADQ, Lionsgate, GE, and SEQ — further solidifying its market leadership across the MENA region and beyond. Instagram: @starzplayarabia | X: @STARZPlayArabia | LinkedIn: STARZPLAY About NBCUniversal Formats NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal International Studios, is the international sales division for all formats created within the production, broadcast and streaming divisions of NBCUniversal and Sky Studios, as well as select third parties. The division fosters an array of strategic alliances, co-production and co-development partnerships to bring new and existing content to the global market. NBCUniversal Formats represents a vast and diverse slate of non-scripted and scripted formats. Leading brands include international success series "Top Chef," hit game show "Hollywood Game Night," Emmy® Award-winning comedy showcase "Saturday Night Live," global franchise "The Real Housewives," entertainment formats "World of Dance" and "Songland," in addition to scripted formats "Suits," "House," "The Sinner," "The Good Place" and "Superstore," among others. About DAMAC Properties DAMAC Properties has been at the forefront of the Middle East's luxury real estate market since 2002, delivering award-winning residential, commercial and leisure properties across the region and internationally, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, the Maldives, Canada, the United States, as well as the United Kingdom. Since then, the company has delivered more than 48,000 homes with over 50,000 more in diverse planning and development phases. Joining forces with some of the world's most eminent fashion and lifestyle brands to create tremendous living experiences, such as with Versace, Roberto Cavalli, or de GRISOGONO. With a consistent vision and momentum, DAMAC is building the next generation of luxury living across the globe. Visit us at Follow DAMAC Properties on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube(@DAMACofficial). About Aldar Aldar is the leading real estate developer, manager, and investor in Abu Dhabi, with a growing presence across the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East North Africa, and Europe. The company has two core business segments, Aldar Development and Aldar Investment. Aldar Development is a master developer of a 62 million sqm strategic landbank, creating integrated and thriving communities across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah's most desirable destinations. The delivery of Aldar's developments is managed by Aldar Projects, which is also a key partner of the Abu Dhabi government in delivering housing and infrastructure projects across the UAE's capital. Internationally, Aldar Development wholly owns UK real estate developer London Square, as well as a majority stake in leading Egyptian real estate development company, SODIC. Aldar Investment houses a core asset management business comprising a portfolio of more than AED 42 billion worth of investment grade and income-generating real estate assets diversified across retail, residential, commercial, logistics, and hospitality segments. It manages four core platforms: Aldar Investment Properties, Aldar Hospitality, Aldar Education, and Aldar Estates. For more information on Aldar please visit
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
L.A. Wildfires: How The International Industry Responded & What Happened Next
Two years after relocating to Hollywood, BBC Studios exec Mark Linsey had a week he wouldn't forget. On January 5, 2025, the seasoned Brit beamed in the crowd at the Beverley Hilton Hotel as BBC Studios took home multiple gongs for hits including Baby Reindeer and Conclave at the Golden Globes. Richard Gadd mused on Reindeer's success as he accepted a Best Limited Series prize, saying people were 'kind of crying out for something that spoke to the painful inconsistencies of being human.' Awards season was in full swing. More from Deadline NBCUniversal Formats Takes Global On Audience Playalong Show 'Win Win!' Ahead Of London TV Screenings Deals Closed On Mark Gatiss' UKTV & PBS Series 'Bookish'; Beta Film Seals Presales & Unveils London TV Screenings Lineup 'Come Dine With Me': Why Enduring 20-Year-Old Format Is "The Quickest Way To Understand The Brits" & How Narrator Dave Lamb Prepares Two days on, and with Gadd and co heading home, Linsey's focus had shifted spectacularly. 'Elation at the beginning of the week and absolute devastation at the backend,' was his read. The 'devastation' is a reference to the seven fires that swept through Los Angeles from January 7, killing 29, forcing 200,000 to evacuate and destroying more than 18,000 homes. What felt at the time like a nightmare is now the cause of a great deal of introspection. It has led internationally-facing execs like Linsey to take stock over where the global TV industry sits when Hollywood is struck by disaster, and as American producers descend on the English capital for the London TV Screenings, has created space to mull the wider shifts that have tormented the sector over the past couple of years. 'As soon as I landed [in L.A. in early 2023] there was the writers' strike, then the actors' strike,' says Linsey. 'There was a slump in the market, which I describe as a crash really, and then just as you feel we're easing out of it, you get the wildfires. It has been an extraordinary time.' 'It looked like Dresden after the war' Linsey, a Brit, was of course not the only international exec impacted by the disaster. When harking back to that fateful week, ITV America boss David George recalls his time living in New York. 'I don't think I've ever seen that sort of destruction,' he says. 'I couldn't go home to my apartment for a few months after 9/11 and [the wildfires] reminded me of that.' Shark Tank EP Phil Gurin, who runs an international TV sales outfit, speaks to Deadline during a two-hour long commute that he says has more than doubled since the wildfires. The native New Yorker says he always anticipated earthquakes in L.A. but was totally unprepared for fires and the accompanying trauma, which set in immediately. 'It looked like Dresden after the war,' adds Gurin, who says he had gathered his belongings of most sentimental value in case of the need to evacuate during the fires. 'I have way too many friends who lost everything. A friend and his wife who live in the Palisades went to work one morning and then had nothing but what was in their briefcases.' Throughout these last few weeks, Gurin has been laser-focused on keeping the company lights on, but he says an event like the L.A. wildfires makes one consider the bigger picture. 'You find yourself feeling silly talking about TV with people who lost their homes,' he says. 'You see the small 'mom and pop' stores and neighbourhood shops that have been lost and think you're lucky that a lot of people in the entertainment biz have some means to weather the storm. Although, of course, not everyone.' Linsey, who had spent the past couple years being speedily inducted into the Angeleno way of life, says half his staff had to relocate or evacuate in the days following January 7, but he has been impressed by the 'remarkable resilience' of the community, which was 'fortunate to get back on its feet quickly.' At the same time, the response from the international community was 'so heartwarming,' with phones pinging constantly with messages from concerned well wishers. Sources note that industry meetings were understandably delayed in the first half of January, but much of the day-to-day work has remained remarkably BAU. One L.A. resident who works with global buyers says the competitive nature of Hollywood means that senior execs were keen to keep things ticking throughout. Ian Russell, who runs international for the UK's ITN Productions (ITNP) and spends much of his time in the States, says: 'It felt BAU with network execs, but presumably production is going to be devastated. Our relationship [with American contacts] has quickly returned to normal. We had a lot of emails saying 'I've been evacuated; I hope to get back in the next week or so' and by now people are communicating as before.' ITN produces the news for UK nets ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and Russell describes a strange scenario whereby what he was watching on rolling news networks and social media was the very thing that was impacting his colleagues, contacts and friends. 'It seemed somewhat surreal sitting here and watching it on our news feeds,' he adds. 'Most of our key exec relationships were impacted and in one case one of them lost their house.' ITNP resolved to do whatever it could in a way best suited to its strengths by making a doc for Channel 4 titled Inferno: LA on Fire. At just 72 hours turnaround time, ITNP exec Caroline Short says this was one of the toughest challenges she has faced. '[Channel 4 news boss] Louise Compton said we had to make it quick and we had to make it look like it hadn't been done at speed,' explains Short. Along with the lightning fast production time, Short's team had to be cognisant of how the fires were affecting the execs they were working with, which added a new dimension. 'We would be on a call with them and alarms are going off on their mobiles and we were like, 'Wow, do you need to go?'. We had to be really careful about their care, but knew they felt they were doing something positive.' Documenting these frantic few days was so much more than just 'telling a story about rich celebs losing everything,' Short stresses, and she believes this is a common misconception informed by the global media's view of L.A. 'This was about saying, 'We are all equal and look at what we are facing,'' she adds. L.A. exodus Looking to the near future, as execs begin heading to London for the TV Screenings, ITV's George wonders if natural disasters like the wildfires will discourage people from moving to L.A. or cause an exodus. He flags one industry buddy who has already relocated to Austin, Texas, while others are said to be considering upping sticks to alternative production hubs like Atlanta. George adds: 'If you think about the wildfires and what will happen from a real estate standpoint, there was already this housing crisis and now it will be harder to find housing and harder to find insurance. I think a lot of people will sit back and say, 'Do I want to be here or do I need to be here?'.' In future, Linsey wonders whether those who may have thought about relocating will 'no longer want to base their family in L.A.' owing to the potential for natural disasters, although he notes he is not feeling this at present. Even before the fires, Deadline's tax credit feature for the MIPCOM market pointed to a steep decline in filming in Hollywood as buyers seek cheaper alternatives in filming hubs such as Central Europe and the Middle East. This being said, there is a concerted effort to get TV cameras rolling again in Tinseltown, aided by the nascent Stay in L.A. campaign, which has so far amassed 20,000 signatures and is backed by high-profile stars including Jonathan Nolan and Paul Feig. This is crucial to helping those lower down the chain who are in desperate need of work and for whom the fires may have had an outsized impact. 'We need to ask to shoot our shows in L.A.,' Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs urged at the recent Critics Choice Awards. Gurin reveals he and a group of local producers are having tight-lipped discussions over what they can do to get production back to L.A. in a big way, with conversations taking place over the urgent need to improve local tax credits, for example. 'There has to be a way of keeping business here,' he says. 'If you've built up an industry over 100-plus years and the whole economics of L.A. are geared around this industry and it leaves then that is terrible,' he adds. 'Whether international shows begin returning to L.A. to roll cameras remains to be seen.' Industry economics Driven by strategic rethinks mainly from the American entertainment giants, the economics of the industry have certainly been shaken up over the past couple of years and the ripples have been felt across the world, which execs say was brought into clearer focus by the wildfires. 'It's just another thing we didn't need,' says Gurin. Chatter and trade reporting has been dominated so far this year by Americans' exit from the high-end co-pro market, which is having major knock-on effects on getting shows made. One of Linsey's initial tasks when he touched down in L.A. was to seek co-pro opportunities but he says this has shifted to a double-down on formatted IP such as CBS comedy Ghosts and NBC gameshow The Weakest Link — both BBC Studios properties. 'When I agreed to come out here, it was a time when demand for British content was high and there were lots of co-pros, but that has fallen away,' he adds. 'Producers are having to be more aware of the global market and more aware of the costs.' With financing in mind, ITV America's George says co-pros, which have become so commonplace in completing a high-end TV show's budget, are dipping because, ironically, they add to a show's costs. 'Any fat in a budget now has to get trimmed,' he adds. 'With co-pros there are multiple people you are trying to service and that drives costs up. Everyone is looking for the cleanest model.' But Sony Pictures Television's Wayne Garvie, who played a part in one of the splashiest co-pro deals of this decade, the BBC-Disney+ Doctor Who regeneration, strikes an optimistic tone as he brands the current state of play a 'short term blip,' — music to many ears. 'Although funding and appetite is not what it was, I suspect this is a recalibration and things will pick up later this year,' adds Garvie. Intriguingly, Garvie ponders whether another recent shift in America — the return of a certain Donald Trump to the White House — will start influencing how the American majors play in the TV market. 'How the industry comes to terms with the fact that Trump won the popular vote and how the entertainment industry responds will be quite fascinating,' he adds. 'You might see a change in the kind of content that gets picked up. But again that is part of the constantly changing flux, which is one of the reasons we are in this game.' Garvie rejects the notion that the current strife proves that the international TV industry has become overly reliant on the States and says there is money to be found from the likes of Australia and Western Europe. The execs we speak with are bound by the hope that the industry will find its way out of the current malaise and TV execs are nothing if not problem solvers. Linsey harks back to Jan 5, when Gadd, the creative genius behind Baby Reindeer, was bringing down the house at the Globes. 'What has happened with the wildfires has been reminiscent of Covid,' adds Linsey. 'People work out how they are going to carry on in a creative industry with certain restrictions around them. You have to believe in the quality of your ideas.' Best of Deadline 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Tonys, Guilds & More How To Watch Sunday's 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' Online & On TV Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More
