C21Podcast

Scorpion TV CEO and Diversify TV founding member David Cornwall, Woodcut Media creative director Derren Lawford and Three Tables Productions co-founder David Chikwe talk about their experiences of racial representation within the British TV industry and what more needs to be done to improve the situation.

Roughcut Television's Ash Atalla on how Covid-19 has affected comedy development and why Netflix and the BBC were right to remove Little Britain; Channel 5's Emma Westcott on the broadcaster's pandemic response and a new series ordered during lockdown; and Genius Brands International's Caroline Tyre on today's launch of Kartoon Channel.

Endemol Shine Group head of digital distribution and monetisation Kasia Jablonska on how the pandemic has propelled the company's D2C strategy; Cineflix Rights CEO Chris Bonney and head of scripted James Durie on the company's Covid-19 response; plus Emily AND Tom Dalton on launching Great Point Media-backed UK indie Factual Fiction under lockdown.

Part2 Pictures founder David Shadrack Smith talks about how he hopes his new Hulu show can contribute to the debate around diversity and the New York indie's response to the Covid-19 crisis; Pixcom president Nicola Merola and VP of international production Ginette Viens discuss the lifting of restrictions in Quebec; and 7A Media CEO Cesar Diaz reflects on the pandemic's impact on telenovelas.

Bavaria Fiction exec producer of international series Moritz Polter talks about returning to production in Germany and the Czech Republic; Keshet International senior VP of distribution and new business Kelly Wright discusses getting unscripted formats back in action; and Bento Box Entertainment co-founder and CEO Scott Greenberg explains how animation is enduring the pandemic.

Reelz senior VP of development and current programming Rob Swartz discusses how the US cablenet is working through the pandemic, Enders Analysis COO and director of TV Gill Hind assesses the impact of tanking advertising and return of live sports, and Josephine Bornebusch, creator of Swedish lockdown drama Orca, talks about putting the project together.

NENT Studios UK's Dave Clarke talks about the distributor’s Covid-19 contingency plans and relationship with Nordic streamer Viaplay; S4C's Elen Rhys and Boom Cymru's Catrin Honeybill discuss the making of Lockdown Wedding; and History's Eli Lehrer talks about the impact of production shutdowns and what he is looking for as restrictions ease.

NBCUniversal Telemundo exec VP of revenue strategy and innovation Peter Blacker details the US Hispanic outlet's coronavirus response and contribution to new streamer Peacock; former Gaumont exec Vanessa Shapiro talks about launching Nicely Entertainment amid a pandemic; and TNT Germany VP of originals Anke Greifeneder discusses a darkly comic drama commissioned under lockdown.

Banijay Rights head of scripted Caroline Torrance discusses how the distributor is fending off the pandemic with a slate of dramas from less-affected territories; Ampere Analysis research director Guy Bisson details the US$160bn hit the firm predicts to media and entertainment; and GRB Studios CEO Gary R Benz talks restarting production and an uptick in distribution renewals.

Lagardère Studios Distribution's Emmanuelle Bouilhaguet on how she's getting new titles in front of buyers during the pandemic; CPL Productions' Danielle Lux and Murray Boland on adapting A League of Their Own for the US; and 1+1's Olga Slysarenko and Volodymyr Zavаduik on how they managed to keep the Ukrainian version of The Voice on air amid lockdown.

Insight TV CEO Rian Bester discusses the 4K broadcaster's renewed focus on acquisitions amid the pandemic; Waddell Media MD Jannine Waddell explains how the firm finished a new wildlife series under lockdown; and Anne Roder Botbol from Never Ending Story details how the Belgian prodco kept one of the nation's longest running gameshows on air.

Alkemy X’s Andy Singer talks about how the New York prodco completed its latest TLC show as the pandemic hit and the broader impact on the US; Zinc Media’s Greg Sanderson discusses the group’s emergence from UK lockdown; and MultiStory Media’s Simone Haywood and Ana de Moraes on their new Netflix series, plus corona-proof programmes.

Tomorrow Studios CEO Marty Adelstein talks about his new drama Snowpiercer and how his company has been impacted by Covid-19; Goldfinch CEO Kirsty Bell discusses the financier’s fund for UK prodcos, and Arrow Media co-founder and creative director Tom Brisley details how the firm shifted strategy to cope with lockdown.

Five Films co-founder Craig Jenest discusses how he’s fighting back with a raft of new shows to replace live sports; Tinopolis USA COO and A Smith AND Co Dox president Frank Sinton shares his experience of working under lockdown to finish The Titan Games for NBC; and Sinking Ship Entertainment co-founder JJ Johnson explains how he’s keeping the firm afloat.

BBC Children’s content boss Cheryl Taylor and head of discovery Stu Rowson discuss their kids’ programming strategy during lockdown; Harbottle AND Lewis partner Sarah Lazarides talks about efforts to restart UK production; and Hit + Run founder Rob Shaftel explains how the US indie is doubling down on development.

ABC Australia director of entertainment Michael Carrington discusses the pubcaster's response to the coronavirus pandemic; Sagafilm Nordic CEO Kjartan Thor Thordarson explains how Iceland is resuming production; and Painless Productions president Jim Casey argues fast-turnaround lockdown content will be short-lived.

Federation Entertainment's Monica Levy talks about having to put international copros on hold, but staying upbeat as lockdown restrictions begin to lift; Harbottle AND Lewis's Colin Howes assesses production sector investor confidence; and Stellify Media's Kieran Doherty and Matthew Worthy discuss new Channel 4 format Snoop Dogs.

Katja Hofem, MD of Joyn, discusses what the German streamer is looking for to fill gaps in its line-up created by the production hiatus; VMTV Ireland content chief Bill Malone details its response to the Covid-19 crisis; and Atlantyca Films head of production and distribution Caterina Vacchi talks about how the Milan-based company is coping.

Cream Productions CEO David Brady offers a personal tale of contracting Covid-19; Glass Entertainment CEO Nancy Glass discusses the shows her firm has been working on during the pandemic; and Trioscope Studios co-founder Brandon Barr talks about pioneering animation technology that could come to the aid of live-action production under lockdown.

Former Yellow Bird CEO Anni Faurbye Fernandez discusses launching new Nordic drama outfit Nevis Productions amid the coronavirus crisis, while Ketnet head of acquisitions and coproduction Telidja Klaï talks about how the Belgian kids network is adapting.

S4C content chief Amanda Rees discusses how the Welsh pubcaster has responded to the coronavirus crisis with a series of fast-turnaround commissions; Vox Pictures co-founder Pip Broughton talks about making one of them; and STV Productions MD David Mortimer explains why the Scottish prodco is steering clear of such programming, plus the long-term impact of the pandemic for UK broadcasters.

Banijay Group head of format acquisitions Carlotta Rossi Spencer discusses how she's embracing escapism in her hunt for new content, and Media Ranch CEO Sophie Ferron talks about how the firm has carved out a new category of formats within its catalogue designed to help buyers emerge swiftly from the Covid-19 crisis.

Producer Jeff Pope discusses his new ITV lockdown drama Isolation Stories; while writer Peter Bowker and director Fergus O'Brien talk about working on the third season of BBC series The A Word, and the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on new seasons of World on Fire and Gentleman Jack.

Back Roads Entertainment founder Colby Gaines and Intuitive Content senior VP Patrick Weiland talk about how the two US unscripted production companies are getting back to work as states including Texas and Minnesota begin lifting coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Znak AND Co founder Natalka Znak discusses how the transatlantic entertainment and factual formats specialist is working to find solutions to shows that have been hit by social distancing restrictions; and Jupiter Entertainment president Patrick Reardon voices his hope the coronavirus pandemic could, nonetheless, trigger a rebound in unscripted television.