BBC Studios Names CFO Tom Fussell As Acting CEO

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: Vice Studios has hired Alex Moore, the CEO of the two-time Oscar-winning company Grain Media, to the newly-created role of vice-president of non-fiction in the UK.Based in London, Moore will build Vice Studios’ slate across factual, factual entertainment, formats, documentaries, and features.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterWarnerMedia has named Jessica Holscott as the new head of finance of its studios and networks group, the recently formed unit led by Warner Bros. chief Ann Sarnoff.Holscott, who will report to WarnerMedia CFO Pascal Desroches, is tasked with overseeing the group’s financial activities, including financial reporting, budgeting and planning for future business growth.Most recently, she served as executive VP and CFO of WarnerMedia Entertainment.

Production powerhouse All3Media's digital content firm Little Dot Studios said Tuesday it has acquired streaming platform History Hit, co-founded by British historian and TV personality Dan Snow.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorViacomCBS International Studios, the global production arm of ViacomCBS Networks International, has named Cineflix Rights executive Kate Laffey as its vice president.Laffey will be based in London and will report to Pierluigi Gazzolo, president of studios and streaming at ViacomCBS Networks International.

Amazon Prime Video has greenlit a Sony Pictures Television series based on Penny Marshall’s 1992 sports comedy-drama “A League of Their Own”. The original film starred Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna.

Manori Ravindran International EditorInternational powerhouse BBC Studios is leaning heavily into new and expanding SVOD partnerships with the likes of Discovery and its global-facing BritBox service as it looks to weather the COVID-19 era.In an exclusive interview, Paul Dempsey, president of global distribution, tells Variety that BBC Studios’ landmark Discovery deal, through which the “Blue Planet II” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet” distributor is supplying around $393 million worth of natural

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Arturo Sampson as the new Head of Production at Isaac Lee’s Exile Content Studios, which focuses on acquiring and developing premium original content for audiences across the U.S.

Bolton is chosen to host the Ryder Cup, the Secretary of State has ruled. Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick has granted planning permission for the major development by Peel L&P on the condition it wins a bid to host the competition in 2030 or 2034.

BBC Studios, the production and sales arm of the BBC, has named CFO Tom Fussell as its interim CEO from September 1, when its current head Tim Davie moves into the BBC director general role. Fussell is set to lead BBC Studios on a temporary basis until the next CEO takes up their position.

Manori Ravindran International EditorBBC Studios has appointed CFO Tom Fussell as interim CEO from September. The executive takes over from Tim Davie, who recently landed the top director general job at the BBC.Fussell takes the reins as of Sept.

Naman Ramachandran ITV Studios has become the latest player to decide against participating in the physical Mipcom market in October, opting instead to launch its own sales event.Other distributors to have pulled out of physically attending the Cannes TV market include BBC Studios and Fremantle, who have also opted for a digital presence as fears of a second wave of coronavirus haunt the continent.“Although we will not have a physical presence at Mipcom this year, we look forward to showcasing

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: Fremantle has joined BBC Studios in abandoning its physical presence at the Mipcom TV market in Cannes later this year, as it seeks to protect staff amid the coronavirus pandemic.The production studio behind Got Talent and The Young Pope will not exhibit at the event, which organizer Reed Midem remains committed to staging on 12-15 October on the French Riviera.A Fremantle spokeswoman told Deadline: “Although we will not have a physical presence at

Peter White Television EditorEXCLUSIVE: Dancing With the Stars is looking to waltz into production in September as ABC and BBC Studios work through the health and safety protocols that will allow the competition format to light up the dance floor this year.The show, which is based on the BBC format Strictly Come Dancing, is entering its 29th season with former America’s Next Top Model host Tyra Banks now hosting and exec producing.In recent years, the series has traditionally aired around the

Justin Kroll Senior Film ReporterAfter Skydance sent the next Ryan Reynolds-Shawn Levy movie to Netflix, Paramount is finalizing a deal to move it’s adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse to Amazon Studios, We have confirmed.The film stars Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Smith-Turner and Jamie Bell with Stefano Sollima directing.

More to come…The actor, who would have turned 69 today, made his acting debut in a little-seen 1977 comedy "Can I Do It 'Till I Need Glasses?"Williams made his big screen debut in little-seen 1977 comedy "Can I Do It 'Till I Need Glasses?"Williams made several appearances doing sketches on 1977's "The Richard Pryor Show"The quirky comedy series "Mork and Mindy," a spinoff from "Happy Days" and an alien character he debuted on that hit, premiered in 1978 and put Williams on the map.Christopher

Jake Kanter, Tom Grater Jonathan Ross lands stand-up show Chat show host Jonathan Ross is to front an ITV stand-up format, which will showcase new comedy talent in front of an audience at an intimate Covid-friendly venue. Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club is made by The Masked Singer UK judge’s production outfit Hotsauce TV Production, with Tom Barrett executive producing.

Leo Barraclough Senior International Correspondent“This has been a hell of a year,” Gary Davey, CEO of Sky Studios, the production arm of Comcast-owned European pay-TV operator Sky, said Wednesday, contemplating the carnage caused by COVID.