Racism in Soccer World to be Probed in Federation-Backed Documentary ‘Patrick Vieira – Off the Bench’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Surprisingly, Prime Video has become a hub for mature genre work, especially when it comes to animation. Just recently, you have projects such as “The Boys: Diabolical” and “Invincible” both becoming major hits for the streamer and pulling no punches in terms of content.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent ITV in the U.K. has acquired “Bali 2002,” a new four-part drama exploring the everyday heroes directly impacted by the terrorist bombings on the Indonesian island’s tourist hotspots 20 years ago. Represented by Banijay Rights, the drama stars Rachel Griffiths (“Total Control”), Richard Roxburgh (“Rake”) and Claudia Jesse (“Bridgerton”). It will air on the new streaming service ITVX next year. “Bali 2002” was co-produced by Banijay labels, Endemol Shine Australia and Screentime, and marked the first original drama co-commissioned by the Australian streamer Stan and commercial TV group 9Network. The series premiered last month on Stan.

EXCLUSIVE: Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland is focusing on M&A and talent, and is rewarding high-performing labels with extra investment as he enters his first Mipcom Cannes in the new role.

EXCLUSIVE: Banijay has bought Chloe producer Mam Tor Productions, the French powerhouse’s first UK buy since 2020’s Endemol Shine Group (ESG) acquisition.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Netflix has come on board for the second year to support the Short Film Camp, a film industry training program for professionals from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The SFC is led by Purin Pictures, a film funding body backed by the Purin Foundation. The event, running for ten days (Dec. 2-12, 2022) in Bangkok, Thailand, will involve 12 teams of directors and producers. The 24 participants will receive mentoring that aims to hone their writing, producing and directing skills. The workshop culminates in a live pitch of their short film projects, where four winners will receive funding and post-production support to produce their short films.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Fremantle has acquired international distribution rights to “East Side,” the latest series from “Shtisel” producer Abot Hameiri, starring Yehuda Levi, a Series Mania 2022 best actor winner for “Fire Dance.” Taking 100% ownership of Abot Hameiri last year, Fremantle, which also co-financed the series, will bring “East Side” onto the  market at this next week’s Mipcom trade fair and conference in Cannes. To debut on Israel’s Kan 11 channel, “East Side” turns on Momi,  a former Israeli secret service agent hired to take over a Palestinian neighbourhood, one home at a time. He attempts one last sale in order to set up for life his 18-year-old daughter Maya who is on the autism spectrum. The challenge is to wrestle ownership of a grand hotel which dominates entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City. Whoever controls the entrance controls the City, Momi is told. But the owner, the new Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, says he is not for selling.  

Sigur Rós have announced a 20th anniversary reissue of their third studio album, ‘( )’.The new edition of the 2002 record was remastered by engineer Ted Jenson, and will contain B-sides and previously unreleased demos. It’s due to arrive on streaming platforms on October 28 ahead of a physical format release on November 25.To preview the forthcoming collection, Sigur Rós have shared a studio version of ‘Untitled #7’ (aka ‘Dauðalagið’ or ‘The Death Song’). You can listen below, and pre-order/pre-save ‘( )’ reissue here.‘( )’ was recorded in an empty swimming pool in Álafoss, Iceland, and came out of a period of “exploration and expectation” for the group.According a press release, Sigur Rós will drop a new full-length album at some point in 2023.

Following the announcement of huge cuts to the BBC World Service, with many staff being asked to relocate overseas, journalists have said plans to move the Vietnamese service to Thailand will pose dangers to press freedom. 

Naman Ramachandran The BBC has revealed wide-ranging savings proposals across its World Service that will result in the closure of 382 positions and the relocation of journalists from London to Asia and Africa. The move is part of a push towards digital and a wider savings plan. Under the proposals, some half of the BBC’s 41 language services will be digital only. The relocation proposals include the Thai service moving from London to Bangkok, the Korean service to Seoul, the Bangla service to Dhaka and the “Focus On Africa” TV bulletin to broadcast from Nairobi. “Changing audience needs around the world – with more people accessing news digitally – go alongside a challenging financial climate. High inflation, soaring costs, and a cash-flat licence fee settlement have led to tough choices across the BBC, and the BBC’s international services need to make a saving of £28.5 million [$30.7 million], as part of the wider £500 million of annual savings and reinvestment to make the BBC digital-led,” the BBC said in a statement.

Stray Kids have unveiled a new batch of dates for their ‘Maniac’ world tour in Asia, Australia and the USA – find the full list below.Today (September 29) the K-pop boyband revealed that they will play two stadium shows in Jakarta, Indonesia this November. In February, they will head to arenas in Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore and then Melbourne and Sydney in Australia.Stray Kids had to reschedule shows in Atlanta, Georgia and Forth Worth, Texas while touring the US in July as three of their eight members tested positive for COVID-19.

The BBC has unveiled a factual slate to take on the competition that includes more Louis Theroux Interviews, a Simon Schama personal exploration of post-1945 society, natural history series on a mass dinosaur graveyard and a third season of Race Across The World.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen were in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to meet with politicians to talk about their nonprofit Hilarity for Charity, and the need for more funding for brain research and home-based care. “We just want to really make sure that moving forward, there is some sort of plan to address the great need that this country has in terms of care,” Miller Rogen says. Rogen adds, “Washington is in a strange place right now, but it’s always encouraging to see that there are people working in the government that actually have this as a priority. As many as there aren’t, there are many who are so it’s somewhat encouraging.”

Jackson Wang has announced concerts in London, Paris, Singapore, Dubai and more as part of his ‘MAGIC MAN’ world tour.The tour was confirmed by concert promoter AEG Presents on social media on Wednesday (September 28). The tour currently consists of six dates: three this year, and three next year.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Foxtel Group and contact sports entertainment firm WWE have agreed a multi-year partnership that will see Foxtel’s portfolio of pay-TV and streaming brands become the exclusive home of WWE in Australia. The move also deepens a relationship between WWE and the Murdoch family-controlled News Corp. Foxtel, a 65:35 joint venture between News Corp and Telstra, has long been Australia’s dominant pay-TV group and in recent years has branched out into sports streaming through the launch of Binge and Kayo, allowing it to claim over 4.5 million subscriptions. The deal is an extension and expansion of a previous arrangement and includes several innovations.

A sticky situation. Shakira is caught in the middle of a heated battle with Spanish authorities over the allegation that she failed to pay nearly $14 million in taxes.

Gabby Windey has something to say about her performance kiss. The alum received a sweet on-stage smooch from her fiance, Erich Schwer, as she completed her Viennese walz to Elvis Presley's «Can't Help Falling in Love» on Monday night's show — but she tells ET backstage that the moment was filled with more nerves than passion. «I'd like to preface — my mouth was so dry,» she exclaims to ET's Matt Cohen when asked about the moment with Schwer. «Because of the nerves,» she continues, «but it was so sweet.» Val and Gabby danced to I can't help falling in love <3 #DWTSpic.twitter.com/EK0DU9pAwbMy heart ❤️