ITV Share Price Jumps As UK Network Mulls Options For Production Arm ITV Studios

ITV Studios has acquired a majority stake in Australian producer Lingo Pictures — marking its first acquisition in the country.

EXCLUSIVE: Shout! Studios has acquired all North American rights to the feature documentary Refuge from levelFILM, Katie Couric Media and Artemis Rising Foundation. The multi-platform entertainment distribution and production arm of Shout! Factory plans to release the film in theaters and across all major digital platforms early next year.

A new mountain bike trail network and skills area is being proposed for Balloch Park.

Mipcom — the first full-strength edition of the fall confab since 2019 — prepares to come to a close in Cannes on Thursday, Variety presents the top takeaways from a vibrant market. Mipcom Proves Itself Those of us who saw tumbleweeds rolling across the Croisette at a painfully quiet Mipcom 2021 and Miptv earlier this year will know that this Mipcom was the first since since pre-pandemic times that the international TV industry has congregated from all over the globe. Morale was sky high as sellers saw their Asian contacts for the first time in three years, and U.S. studios assured global buyers amid a strained period of domestic consolidation. While specialized markets such as Series Mania, MIA, Realscreen and Sunny Side of the Doc returned this year, delegates seemed to recognize the value of having the entire industry together in one place. Mip organizer RX has confirmed that MipTV is indeed going ahead in April — and will likely face the perennial struggle of getting exhibitor buy-in — but if there’s anything no one is questioning, it’s the fact that Mipcom is an essential meeting of minds for television.

A 14-year-old boy was left injured after a suspected stabbing near a park in south Manchester.

Photographer: Sheryl Nields; Editor: Serena French; Stylist: Anahita Moussavian; Fashion Assistants: Madeleine Shepherd, Gillian Hormel; Photo Editor: Jessica Hober; Hair: Christian Marc at Forward Artists; Makeup: Sarah Yuslan at The Visionaries Production: 3Star Productions

ITVX and Viaplay four-partner Litvinenko, which will see David Tennant playing the doomed Russian dissident, has sold into 80 territories ahead of its launch. AMC+ and Sundance Now have taken rights in the U.S., while Prime Video bagged Canada from distributor ITV Studios. 

Liza Foreman CANNES  —  The four-part drama “Litvinenko,” starring Scottish actor David Tennant, has sold to more than 80 international markets, ahead of its debut on the new ITV streaming service, ITVX in the U.K., and on Nent Group’s Viaplay streaming service in the Nordics, Netherlands, Poland and the Baltics. AMC Networks’ Sundance Now and AMC+ have acquired the exclusive U.S. rights to the drama, and Prime Video has taken the series in Canada.  In Europe, “Litvinenko” will air on M6 in France, ProSiebenSat.1 in Germany, and Sky Italia, amongst others.

K.J. Yossman Molly Parker (“Lost in Space”) and Brian J. Smith (“Treadstone”) have been cast in upcoming Canadian ITV Studios drama “Essex County.” Joining them as lead cast are Stephen McHattie (“October Faction”), Finlay Wojtak-Hissong (“Blood”) and Kevin Durand (“Pantheon”). Christina Piovesan, executive producer and CEO of First Generation Films unveiled the casting. The five-episode series is based on Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel of the same name, which explores themes of loss, betrayal, trauma and redemption via two families living in a rural community. Lemire is also writing and showrunning the series, which is directed by Andrew Cividino (“Schitt’s Creek”).

Katie Price is embroiled in a new council row after turning her Mucky Mansion house into a second-hand car lot despite driving ban.

EXCLUSIVE: ITV Studios is taking celeb drag contests international through British reality format Queens For the Night.

Motorists traveling to Great Smoky Mountains National Park through the Tennessee city of Gatlinburg have been asked to take caution after a fire Sunday damaged a building containing businesses in the downtown area. Gatlinburg officials said on Twitter that crews were working on hot spots Sunday afternoon from a fire reported at 6:39 a.m.

Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, 20th Century’s latest installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise, has begun production at Disney Studios Australia, formerly known as Fox Studios Australia, in Sydney, New South Wales.