NBCUniversal Media Group Promotes Vet Exec David Pietrycha To Newly Created Chief Business Officer Post

EXCLUSIVE: HarbourView Equity Partners, the investment company that bought into Charles D. King’s Macro last year, is putting more money into the film and television business.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Qatar-based powerhouse BeIN Media Group, a co-owner of U.S. indie studio Miramax, has taken distribution rights across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to live-action pre-school series “Saïd & Anna,” which has been nominated for this year’s Banff World Media Festival‘s Rockie Awards.

EXCLUSIVE: MPI Media Group has acquired North American distribution rights for Saïd Belktibia’s French thriller Hood Witch starring Golshifteh Farahani and Denis Lavant.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Paramount Global and its parent company are moving closer to an agreement with Skydance Media for an exclusive window for acquisition negotiations as Shari Redstone and David Ellison inch toward a deal to bring their companies together in a three-way transaction. The New York Times on Tuesday reported on the rumors that have been swirling around Hollywood for the past few days.

EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based Superprod Group has acquired top Luxembourgish animation companies Studio 352 and Mélusine Productions in a move that consolidates its position as one of Europe’s leading animation production groups.

EXCLUSIVE: A week after veteran talent agent Jed Abrahams resigned as KMR Talent’s SVP and head of the agency’s New York office, he has joined Los Angeles-based management and production company The Rosenzweig Group (aka The Rose Group) as a talent manager. He will open and head an office in New York, making The Rosenzweig Group — founded in 2018 by Marni Rosenzweig — officially bicoastal.

Alex Ritman French TV giant Banijay is losing its second C-suite exec in just over a month. The company has confirmed to Variety that COO Peter Langenberg is departing, with his last day set to be March 31. Langenberg will remain with Banijay on a consultancy basis in the ESG (environment, social and governance) space.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran actor and comedian Eddie Griffin has signed with Independent Artist Group across the board, Deadline has learned.

Kurt Badenhausen Longtime sports team owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer have been actively investing in youth sports properties over the last two years. Now, the private equity titans are rolling up those assets into a new parent company, Unrivaled Sports.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer “Sesame Street” parent company Sesame Workshop has named Dannette “Danni” Hill its first-ever chief people officer. In this newly created role, Hill will oversee human resources, leading a division that supports “innovative best practices and organizational excellence” for Sesame Workshop, per the global impact nonprofit.

K.J. Yossman Fremantle has completed its acquisition of global production studio Asacha Media Group, the company confirmed today. Fremantle acquired the group from founding partners, managers and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management Fremantle’s group COO and CEO for continental Europe Andrea Scrosati spearheaded the acquisition.

Fremantle Completes Asacha Deal

Hyphenate Media Group co-founders Cris Abrego and Eva Longoria have set the company’s executive leadership team. Jada Miranda will serve as President of Television, Karla Pita Loor as Chief Strategy Officer and Alex Chang as Chief Operating Officer. All executives will report to Abrego and Longoria.

William Earl Hyphenate Media Group, the production venture and holding company launched in October by Eva Longoria and Cris Abrego with backing from Banijay, has set its leadership team with the appointments of three senior executives. Jada Miranda, formerly of STX Entertainment, has been named president of television for the Los Angeles-based company headed by actor/director/producer Longoria and the veteran producer and TV executive Abrego.

EXCLUSIVE: Artist International Group has signed Swedish actor, screenwriter and producer Alexander Karim for management.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Will Keenan has returned to the entertainment industry, joining Coy Creator, a startup touting a full-service “business-in-a-box” platform for digital creators, as chief revenue officer. Keenan had joined Endemol Shine North America in 2013, where he launched the company’s Endemol Beyond division.

Jack Dunn “Bottoms,” “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” “Ted Lasso,” and Reneé Rapp took home top prizes at the GLAAD Media Awards, which this year celebrates the 35th anniversary of the annual award show. Awards were handed out Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

The Los Angeles ceremony tonight for the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards, hosted by Wayne Brady, revealed 16 of the year’s 33 category winners spanning film, TV, music, theater, podcasts, video games, comic books and journalism. The winners list includes Ted Lasso, Yellowjackets, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Reneé Rapp.

EXCLUSIVE: Nowhere Special by director Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty, Still Life), and starring James Norton (Bob Marley: One Love, Little Women, Happy Valley), is set for theatrical release on April 26.

Scholastic Corp. is making a $186 million investment in children’s entertainment mainstay 9 Story Media Group.