Warner Picks Magnolia Network Titles; Series Mania Sets Buyers Upfront; Nippon TV Names Global Content Chief; Spy’s Novel Primed For...

Warner Bros International TV Production To Rep Magnolia Network Shows

Warner Bros International Television Production (WBITVP) has struck a deal to rep formats from Magnolia Network, the joint venture between its parent, Warner Bros Discovery, and Chip and Joanna Grimes. This will see taking a trip of formats from Magnolia — Roller Jam, Human vs. Hamster and Second Chance Stage — to MIPCOM next month. All three shows will launch this fall on Max in the U.S. Roller Jam, produced by Nikki Boella and Brian Lando sees top roller-skating crews dance to win a major prize and donation to their local ice rink. Human vs. Hamster, from Ninja Warrior maker A. Smith & Co., sees remarkable pet hamsters go toe-to-toe with people in scaled-up challenges that test speed, strength, agility and eating prowess. Second Challenge Stage, from The Intellectual Property Corporation, is a talent comp in which contestants who have pushed dreams aside for years or even decades get a chance to perform in front of talent scouts, agents and producers to win a cash prize. WBITVP has full international rights to the trio, bar the U.S. Andrew Zein — WBITVP EVP, Creative, Format Development and Sales — said “primetime formats that families and friends can enjoy together are in huge demand at present, and these three titles, designed for both linear and streaming family audiences, are highly original and hugely entertaining.”

Series Mania Launches Buyers Upfront

Series Mania’s next edition will come with an added enticement for buyers. The European content event, next held in late March 2025, will include a Series Mania Buyers Upfront event, which is being pitched as a “prelude to the Forum designed to provide buyers with exclusive access to highly-anticipated series and facilitate networking opportunities” with distributors. The event will be held on March 24 at the Chamber of Commerce in Lille, France, a day before the industry-focused three-day Series Mania Forum begins. The vent kicks off with an invitation-only brunch followed by excerpts of twelve series that are in post or close to release. A jury of buyers from Mediaset Spain, Sky, Movistar Plus+, SVT and Arte will select a winner, which will be announced at the Forum’s welcome drinks the next night, followed by a red carpet screening. The Series Mania Festival is open to the public and claims to attract up to 70,000 spectators across its eight days.

Japan’s Nippon TV Names Global Content Chief

Satoru Hiramatsu will be the next Managing Director of Nippon TV’s Global Content Business division. Formerly at the Japanese network’s linear and streaming programing unit, he replaces Mikiko Nishiyama, who has been named Executive Advisor of Nippon’s Global Strategy Headquarters. Hiramatsu will now report directly to Yuzo Kuwahara, the Chief Operating Officer and President of Nippon TV Content Business. The promotion puts Hiramatsu in charge of Nippon’s global content sales and promotion team, which is known for the likes of Dragon’s Den/Shark Tank, Old Enough! and Mother. Hiramatsu said that Nippon “still holds a wealth of equally creative formats and ideas that have yet to be fully introduced to the world,” and his goal was to “promote this new IP in a timely and compelling manner.” He added that “the global content market is witnessing a rising wave of interest in Japanese-origin content, not only in anime but also in live-action formats. At Nippon TV, we aim to play a pivotal role in amplifying this wave by working closely with our global partners.”

‘Criminal Record‘ Producer Lands Ex-British Spy’s Novel

Tod Productions, the UK producer behind Apple TV+’s drama Criminal Record, has landed adaptation rights to former MI6 operative Charles Beaumont’s thriller novel A Spy Alone. Beaumont’s debut novel explores the possibility of a spy ring in Oxford and is billed as a “searing portrait of modern Britain in an age of cynical populism.” Set in 2022, its follows former spy-turned private sector worker Simon Sharman, who finds worrying information after being asked to delve into the financial dealings of a mysterious Russian oligarch. He begins to wonder if what he has found is a Russian spy ring nestled in the heart of the British establishment, or if he has become another paranoid ex-spook obsessed with redemption. Published by Canelo in 2023, the book has sold 55,000 copies across all formats, and a a sequel will follow earl next year. Tod, which Elaine Collins runs as an exclusive co-production partner to STV Studios, struck the deal with Michael Dean at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. “Charles’ novel is a brilliant combination of old-school spy craft and contemporary politics,” said Collins. “We were really drawn to the novel’s fresh approach to the spy genre – where our hero tussles with the new rules for intelligence in a post ideological world. Most of all, it’s a cracking thriller with a smart political message.”

Shibashish Sarkar Re-Elected At Producers Guild Of India

Shibashish Sarkar will assume a third consecutive term as President of the Producers Guild of India after being unanimously re-elected at the body’s AGM on Friday. Manish Goswami and Madhu Bhojwani were also re-elected Vice Presidents, while Ashim Samanta and Fazila Allana were re-elected as Treasurers. Aashish Singh, Dipti Kotak, and Ankur Garg were elected as new Vice Presidents. “I am honoured and humbled by the confidence my peers have reposed in me by re-electing me as President of the Guild for the third year,” said Sarkar. “I look forward to our members’ continued counsel and support, which lies at the heart of all that the Guild strives to achieve.”