NBCUniversal International has consolidated its European channels business following Comcast's takeover of Sky, a move that has led to the departure of Southern Europe chief Leonor Grandsire. The Hollywood studio has brought together its three regional European groups, consisting of 17 channel feeds across seven…

NBCUniversal International has made some shifts in the top ranks of Carnival Films, elevating Gareth Neame to the role of Executive Chairman. A respected veteran, and the exec producer of Downton Abbey, Neame will continue to lead Carnival’s production pipeline and creative vision. At the same time, David O’Donoghue…

NBCUniversal International has promoted Lee Raftery to head up the company's channel brands in the UK and emerging markets. Based in London, Raftery's expanded role will see him become Managing Director, UK and Emerging Markets as well as Chief Marketing and Content Officer. He'll be responsible for overseeing growth…

The wheels are moving on the Downton Abbey movie as NBCUniversal International Studios confirmed on Wednesday that production for a big screen adaptation of the hit series is set to begin next year. NBCU Int’l Studios President Michael Edelstein told the Associated Press that the company hopes to assemble 20 cast…

A+E Networks has taken full ownership of A+E Networks Germany, following a 12-year joint venture with NBCUniversal International. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Financial details were not disclosed. A+E Networks Germany operates History and A&E in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Alto…

Canada's Creative BC, the independent society that supports British Columbia's creative sector, has appointed Sandi Richter Cooper as its next BC Film Commissioner and Director of Production Services. She'll report to CEO Prem Gill and will lead Creative BC's production services team in the delivery of provincial film…

EXCLUSIVE: David Farr, the writer behind the hit BBC/AMC show The Night Manager, is developing a TV version of offbeat assassin pic Hanna with NBCUniversal International Studios. It's familiar territory for Farr, who co-wrote the 2011 Saoirse Ronan starrer with Seth Lochhead for Universal’s Focus Features. The film…

Australia's Foxtel has greenlit a drama series based on the classic novel by Joan Lindsay, Picnic At Hanging Rock. FremantleMedia Australia will produce it as a re-imagining of the book which Peter Weir turned into a 1975 Bafta-winning feature. Eyed as a six-part event series, with investment from Screen Australia, it…

EXCLUSIVE: David Heyman is forming Heyday Television, a joint venture with NBCUniversal International Studios that will be dedicated to creating premium long-form scripted content. This marks the first major foray into TV content for Heyman, already one of the world’s most successful film producers thanks to the Harry…

NBCUniversal International has inked a multi-year licensing agreement with Jack Ma’s e-retail giant Alibaba Group that covers Universal Pictures’ new releases as well as library slate. The titles will be available to view in China on Alibaba’s TMall Box Office platform. Some of the titles in the agreement include Fast…

Tom Hardy and partner Dean Baker have been ramping up production efforts of late via their shingle Hardy Son & Baker, most recently teaming with Steven Knight and Ridley Scott for BBC period series Taboo. The pair has now entered a two-year first-look deal with NBCUniversal International Television Production to…

Matthew Lewis Joins ‘Bluestone 42’; ‘Peaky Blinders’ Renewed Matthew Lewis, best known for playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies, has joined the cast of Bluestone 42, the BBC Three comedy/drama about a fictional bomb-disposal detachment in Afghanistan. Lewis will play an ammunition technician from…