C21Podcast

As news of Off the Fence going bankrupt sends tremors through the documentary sector and speculation over PBS's future continues, C21's Clive Whittingham speaks with Sunny Side of the Doc director Aurélie Reman [19:54], France Télévisions' Caroline Behar [29:55] and ITV Studios' Cecilie Olsen [39:45] in La Rochelle and contrasts the event with last week's Sheffield DocFest.

MCTV: From the Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, Scott Free Productions' David W Zucker [15:00] and exec producer Rola Bauer [31:30] discuss their latest series and perspectives on the present state of the industry; and actresses Famke Janssen [42:00] and Sarah Rafferty [53:00] reflect on their careers to date, how the decisions they made shaped these and their current projects.

C21's Jordan Pinto reports from the Banff World Media Festival on renewed optimism in the Canadian TV industry [01:36]; screenwriter Samantha Strauss on her Netflix dramas Apple Cider Vinegar and Grown Ups [20:12]; and Łukasz Kłuskiewicz, director of film and content acquisitions for Netflix in Central and Eastern Europe, details the streamer's content strategy across the region [39:20].

CONTENT WARSAW: As Content Warsaw 2025 wraps in the Polish capital, C21's Ed Waller and Neil Batey discuss the topics top of mind for execs at this year's event and give their perspective on the issues shaping the Central and Eastern European TV market right now [01:12]; while Warner Bros Discovery Poland's Dorota Eberhardt and Bogumił Lipski share their views on the return of the HBO Max brand an...

With Poker Face returning on Peacock, creator Rian Johnson discusses the case-of-the-week crime drama and collaborating with star Natasha Lyonne [01:39]; Spotter president Nic Paul on working with Dude Perfect and Mr Beast to help build the creator economy [18:32]; former ITV Studios exec Pascal Dalton shines a spotlight on new formats venture Shimmer Media [39:28].

LA SCREENINGS: C21's Jordan Pinto and Cveintiuno's Pina Mezzera deliver their verdict on this year's event [02:37], while former Channel 4 acquisitions and coproductions consultant Crispin Leyser offers his analysis [20:57], and Lisa Kramer details Paramount Global's slate and her take on shifting buyer-seller dynamics [41:24].

LA SCREENINGS: C21's Jordan Pinto [02:16] and Parrot Analytics' Alex Cameron [16:40] preview this year's event, discuss US programming trends, buzzworthy new titles, and shifting market dynamics; while buyers Sofie Schütt from TV4 Media [26:22], HBO Max's Ragnhild Thorbech [38:52], and UKTV's Melanie Rumani [48:48] share their expectations and the kind of shows they're looking out for.

LA Screenings: ITV Studios' exec VP of global content Julie Meldal-Johnsen [01:28], writers Matthew Barry [07:57] and Catherine Moulton [18:38], and Lingo Pictures exec producer AND founder Helen Bowden [27:05] discuss new shows The Guest, Code of Silence, Watching You and more, being presented to buyers for the first time at this week's LA Screenings. This episode is brought to you by ITV Studios...

C21 North American editor Jordan Pinto delves into Donald Trump's vow to impose 100% tariffs on films produced outside the US and 'special ambassador' John Voight's proposals to help 'make Hollywood great again' [02:38], while former X-Files showrunner and Big Light Productions CEO Frank Spotnitz offers his reaction [26:09], and ACF Investment Bank dealmaker-in-chief Thomas Dey gives his response...

C21 editor-in-chief and managing director David Jenkinson details the US$6bn in unrealised value that exists in the Indian entertainment business and reflects on last month's inaugural Content India Summit where Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India's Deepak Dhar, ITV Studios' Augustus Dulgaro, Lionsgate's Anugrah Joshi, All3Media International's Louise Pedersen and Warner Bros Discovery's Andrew Z...

With Earth Day having taken place this week and new landmark David Attenborough documentary Ocean out next month, we investigate how the TV industry is performing in terms of its commitment to addressing climate change, as part of C21's own Big Picture initiative, hearing from Climate Spring's Lucy Stone [17:44] and Picture Zero's Steve Smith [40:00].

BBC Studios' Andrew Cohen on the return of Walking With Dinosaurs 25 years after the original [01:58]; writer Mona Masri and director Ahmed Abdullahi discuss new drama A Life's Worth, about the first Swedish UN troops to reach Bosnia during the war [28:53]; Banijay Rights' Simon Cox on glimmers of hope in the present marketplace [39:27].

Ireland continues to punch above its weight as an animation powerhouse, but can it withstand the multiple threats of YouTube, 'AI slop' and the broader economic challenges being felt across the sector? Jam Media's John Rice, Piranha Bar's Nicky Gogan, Turnip AND Duck's Colm Tobin and Little Moon's Vanessa Robinson speak with C21Kids editor Karolina Kaminska.

SERIES MANIA: Actor Amanda Seyfried, showrunner Nikki Toscano and writer Liz Moore on new Peacock crime thriller Long Bright River [02:43]; Sheila Nortley, producer of Bafta-nominated Netflix drama Supacell on her concerns over Donald Trump's anti-diversity, equity and inclusion policies [12:31]; and Sky's Cécile Frot-Coutaz, Meghan Lyvers and Nils Hartmann on The Day of the Jackal and more [27:48...

James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky, co-founders of Rabbit Track Pictures, plus Lindsey Martin of CBS Studios, discuss new BBC historical drama King and Conqueror – among the shows to be spotlighted at Series Mania in Lille [32:00]. Banijay Entertainment's Johannes Jensen looks ahead to the event and what else the company has up its scripted sleeve [12:23].

Director Philip Barantini discusses the making of new Stephen Graham/Jack Thorne single-shot Netflix drama Adolescence, tackling the topic of teenage knife crime [11:30]; and C21 investigates concerns over an 'apocalyptic' outlook for those hoping to get new ideas away in the unscripted TV marketplace [01:35].

Fifth Season's Jennifer Ebell, the Royal Television Society's Theresa Wise and OUTtv's Lauren Whitelaw celebrate International Women's Day 2025 and discuss the challenges that still face the industry [15:24]; and C21's Nico Franks investigates how the UK's secondary TV rights landscape is changing as producers, broadcasters and streamers increasingly embrace YouTube [01:59].

LONDON TV SCREENINGS: Banijay Rights' Cathy Payne [01:25], Fremantle's Jens Richter [17:57], ITV Studios' Ruth Berry [36:09], BBC Studios Tom Fussell and Zai Bennett [49:44], and Keshet International's Kelly Wright [58:48] reflect on the 2025 event and issues top of mind for distributors and buyers who flocked to the UK capital this week.

With the 2025 London TV Screenings taking place across the UK capital next week and the industry facing multiple challenges, Parrot Analytics' Brandon Katz, Hat Trick International's Sarah Tong, DCD Rights' Nicky Davies Williams and APC's Emmanuelle Guilbart discuss the wavering popularity of British shows on the global stage, withdrawal of US streamers, public broadcaster shortfalls and potential...

C21's Mark Rowland investigates the trail from Survivor through The Apprentice to Donald Trump appointing Mark Burnett special UK envoy [01:27]; Drama Quarterly's Michael Pickard previews U AND Drama's reimagining of Bergerac [13:20]; and Lara Taylor details the work of the Andy Taylor Foundation [26:42].

C21 North American editor Jordan Pinto on the impact of US president Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada [01:57]; reaction from Pantheon Media Group's Jodi Flynn, Cineflix Productions' JC Mills, and Critical Content's Jenny Daly in Miami [24:05]; and Drama Quarterly editor Michael Pickard gives the lowdown on new Dan Fogelman Disney+ drama Paradise [13:18].

A government inquiry into UK high-end TV hears from BFI chair and Apple TV exec Jay Hunt and Sister's Jane Featherstone [01:06]; the DQReview picks PBS Masterpiece/BBC costume drama Miss Austin [13:32]; and Anonymous Content's David Levine, North Road's Caroline Hollick, Amplify Pictures' Rachel Eggebeen, Roma Khanna and Chapter 1's Adam Mosam consider TV in 2030 [24:24].

Hyphenate Media Group's Eva Longoria and Cris Abrego on nurturing next generation Latino creators and backing Gloria Calderón Kellett [29:52]; and, from Content Americas in Miami, Secuoya Studios' Brendan Fitzgerald [02:38], Omdia's Maria Rua Aguete [11:37] and Globo's Manuel Belmar [15:57] give their take on the present state of the Latin American market.

C21's Jordan Pinto assesses the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on the TV business [02:53]; BBC director of drama Lindsay Salt on maintaining risk in a challenging environment [35:44]; Cveinteuno's Gonzalo Larrea and Pina Mezzera look ahead to C21's Content Americas and the Rose d'Or Latinos [14:24]; Drama Quarterly's Michael Pickard on Steven Knight's SAS Rogue Heroes S2 and A Thousand Blows...

ITV America CEO David George on how he's sees the US television landscape in the year ahead, from the continued commissioning squeeze to major conglomerates' spin-off of their cable networks and the impact of the creator economy; plus behind the scenes of new Harlan Coben Netflix hit Missing You and Paramount+'s The Crow Girl; and what a change of administration will mean for CBC, as well as WWE's...