UK Government Publishes Long-Awaited Media Bill To Help Bring Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video Under Regulatory Framework

caused a stir in the U.K. when a reputed sixth episode was not shown.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Prime Video has bought the rights to BBC natural history series “Wild Isles,” narrated by David Attenborough in what many believe could be the 95-year-old’s final presenting gig. The streamer secured the deal with distributor Banijay Rights. All episodes will land on Prime Video outside the U.K. on April 21. (The Silverback Films-produced show has been airing on the BBC and is available on the broadcaster’s streaming service, iPlayer.) The Prime Video premiere, which will reach more than 240 countries and territories, is timed to Earth Day on April 22. The five-part natural history series centers on the diverse animal inhabitants of the British Isles, revealing behaviors never before seen on screen. The show features aerial photography, motion controlled time-lapse photography, low-light cameras and macro photography. It was captured over three years in 4K resolution.

EXCLUSIVE: Independent Talent, the talent agency that boasts Jodie Comer and Bill Nighy among its clients, has revealed that it made £7.3M ($9M) selling its stake in Killing Eve producer Sid Gentle Films.

A popular boxing and fitness concept from down under will has chosen Salford as the location for it's first club in the UK. UBX Boxing + Strength was co-founded by four time world champion boxer boxer Danny Green and fitness entrepreneur Tim West.

K.J. Yossman Streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video will be subject to more regulation in the U.K. following the release of the Government’s new draft Media Bill. New rules are set to be introduced bringing the platforms under the purview of the U.K.’s media regulator Ofcom, which currently oversees both public and private broadcasters. The new Ofcom “content code” is designed to “protect audiences from a wider range of harmful material – such as misleading health claims” according to a press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) shortly before the latest draft of the bill was shared. The changes come as viewing habits and technology rapidly change the needs and practices of the screen industries. According to Ofcom, since 2011 linear viewing has dropped by 68% in the 16-24 demographic.

Matthew Macfadyen has his first post-gig lined up.The actor will join the cast of ET can confirm, though details on who Macfadyen is playing are being kept under wraps.He is the latest addition to the upcoming threequel, which returns Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool. Hugh Jackman also reprises his role as Logan/Wolverine, with 's Emma Corrin also on board.Macfadyen won a supporting actor Emmy and BAFTA Award in 2022 for his role as Tom Wambsgans, Shiv Roy's husband, on the HBO family drama, which recently kicked off its fourth and final season.Deadline first reported the news.Following his Emmy win in September, the actor spoke to ET about being «shell-shocked» that he came out victorious.«You never expect it'll be you and it's nice.

BreAnna Bell “The Night Agent” overthrew “You” Season 4 for the No. 1 spot on the English TV List with 168.71 million hours viewed following its March 23 premiere date. The action-thriller is currently the streamer’s most viewed title this week. Created by Shawn Ryan and based on the novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk, the series ranks third overall for premiere week of viewing across all Season 1 TV and appeared in the Top 10 in 93 countries. Last week, “You” Season 4 took the top spot among the list of English TV titles with 64.06 million hours viewed after releasing the second half of the season’s episodes on March 9. The series currently ranks third on the list. Most recently, Netflix renewed “You” for a fifth and final season.

The Night Agent snuck its way to the top of Netflix’s English-language TV charts for the week of March 20.

A top energy expert is warning that “a few thousand” people over State Pension age only have until the end of this week to claim winter heating bill help, worth up to £600. Malcolm Grimston, Senior research fellow for Energy Policy and Technology at Imperial College London, said that millions of pensioners have already received the payment automatically, but two specific groups may not - and they need to make a claim before March 31, 2023.

Sian Brooke stars in new BBC police drama Blue Lights, but her off-screen life is miles away from the action-packed frontline story. Blue Lights begins on Monday evening and is set in Belfast following the journey of a group of rookie recruits working in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the day-to-day risks the job involves.The six-part series was created by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson with Sian the star of the show, playing the role of Grace Ellis.Taking to Instagram to share a preview of Blue Lights the actress wrote: "Here we go!! This was a gift to be part of from start to finish".

Former Coronation Street star Matthew Marsden has revealed he and wife Nadine had become parents for a seventh time. The actor, 50, took to his Instagram on Thursday to share the first snap of the tot who was wrapped up in a hospital blanket.  British born Matthew and his Maltese wife who he wed in 2005 have now set up home with their growing brood in Texas.

My guest this week is Sian Clifford.

Amazon Prime Video has confirmed its latest sports doc will follow Newcastle United, with Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story indie 72 Films producing with Lorton Entertainment.

Emma Willis has used just one word to described her husband Matt Willis after his reunion with his former bandmates was revealed. It was announced on Thursday (March 23) that Busted will be reuniting to bring out a new album and head out on another arena tour.

Gemma Collins has revealed the biggest incentive that drove her to sign up to Celebrity Bake Off this year - and it was down to a longstanding crush. The 42 year old former TOWIE star took part in the celebrity special of The Great British Bake Off alongside a host of famous faces including Friends star David Schwimmer and ex-Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson to raise money for Stand Up 2 Cancer. But it was a certain judge that had Gemma blushing, as she admitted that she fancies Paul Hollywood, who weighed up the baking creations alongside Prue Leith.

Susanna Reid thanked Piers Morgan for making her “more difficult” during their time presenting Good Morning Britain together. Susanna, who recently branded Hugh Grant “grumpy” as she recalled a previous interview, is celebrating 20 years on breakfast TV this week and is reflecting on some of the highs of her career. Sitting alongside co-presenter Ed Balls on the show on Wednesday morning, Susanna thanked Piers and her former BBC Breakfast colleague, the late Bill Turnbull, who she worked with from 2001 to 2014.

EXCLUSIVE: A backpacker’s battle to escape the locked boot of a car and regain her memory is to be the plot of Amazon Prime Video’s latest German movie.

BreAnna Bell Korean drama “The Glory” sits atop Netflix’s global top 10 list of titles for the second week with the release of part 2. During the March 13-19 viewing window, the show earned 123.59 million hours viewed. “The Glory” has also moved up the Most Popular List into the No. 7 spot with the release of Part 2, totaling 380.38 million hours viewed in the first 28 days of each episode’s premiere. The series follows a woman who sets out on an elaborate revenge plot to make her tormenters pay years after she survived horrific abuse in high school. “The Glory” first debuted with Season 1, Part 1 in December of last year. Part 2 was released on March 10.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Prime Video drama “The Devil’s Hour” has cast “Top Boy” star Saffron Hocking for Season 2. The British actor has joined the Hartswood Films-produced drama in the role of Sam Boyd, a detective sergeant who worked under DI Lucy Chambers (played by Jessica Raine) in a past life. “The Devil’s Hour” was created by Tom Moran, and is executive produced by “Sherlock” showrunner Steven Moffat. The six-part thriller premiered on Prime Video in October. The show follows Lucy, a social worker suffering from insomnia, who is inexplicably connected to a number of brutal murders in her neighbourhood, and is drawn into the search for a serial killer. The show also stars Peter Capaldi as Gideon Shepherd, a mysterious criminal with a unique relationship with time.

Oscar-winning UK producer David Parfitt shared insights from the highs and lows of his 35-year producing career at a masterclass for the Doha Film Institute’s Qumra talent incubator over the weekend.