C21Podcast

In part two of our Mipcom 2025 special from Cannes, we hear from Fox Entertainment's Rob Wade about investing in vertical entertainment specialist Holywater [01:01]; Mattel Studios' Robbie Brenner on building on Barbie's success [13:05]; Studio Lambert's Stephen Lambert on what's next after The Traitors and Squid Game - The Challenge [28:22]; ITV Studios' Ruth Berry on working with YouTube [44:18]...

MIPCOM: From Cannes, Boston Blue stars Donnie Wahlberg and Sonequa Martin-Green give the lowdown on their new CBS cop drama [02:22]; Ferrari legend Luca Montezemolo and director Manish Pandey discuss their new feature documentary Seeing Red about the Italian icon's life [20:12]; and Mackenzie Crook and Gill Isles talk teaming up again after Dectorists for new BBC comedy Small Prophets [43:03].

C21's Clive Whittingham, Jordan Pinto and Karolina Kaminska look ahead to Mipcom and MipJunior 2025 [01:44]; outgoing Frapa chair Phil Gurin reflects on receiving the International Format Awards Gold Award and more [26:10]; BBC Studios' Sumi Connock embraces AI [45:04]; and scribe Dennis Kelly on penning Waiting for the Out for Sister and the BBC [58:06].

As YouTube's influence on the TV industry grows, with its impact keenest on children's media and entertainment, the BBC's Patricia Hidalgo [02:32], Cake Distribution's Dominic Gardiner [12:54], JAM Media's John Rice [26:54] and 9 Story Media Group's Alix Wiseman [39:28] discuss the challenges and opportunities in dealing with the world's biggest video platform.

After ABC pulled the plug on Jimmy Kimmel Live but then enraged US president Donald Trump by reinstating him, C21's Jordan Pinto discusses the ramifications [02:26]; Hera Pictures' Liza Marshall and Charlotte Webber on new ITV drama I Fought the Law [19:50]; and MultiChoice's Nomsa Philiso on what Canal+'s takeover means for the African media giant [38:20].

As K-Pop Demon Hunters becomes Netflix's most popular movie of all time and YouTube increasingly steals younger audiences from TV, the UK government is exploring what can be done to help UK animation fight back. Aardman's Sean Clarke, Blue Zoo's Oli Hyatt, Wild Child Animation's Sueann Rochester, Jam Media's Richard Gordon and Locksmith Animation's Britt Gardiner discuss.

From C21's Content Canada, Fox Entertainment Global president Prentiss Fraser details her growth strategy and sense of the international TV business right now [02:25]; Blink49 Studios' Adam Steinman, ITV Studios' Mike Beale, Fremantle's Michela Di Mondo and Fifth Season's Ava Knight discuss the dynamics shaping the present content funding landscape [21:00].

From C21's Content Canada, Blue Ant Media's Michael MacMillan discusses the company's recent move to go public via a reverse takeover of Boat Rocker Studios and the state of the international TV business right now [02:27]; Amazon MGM Studios' Brent Haynes, Corus Entertainment's Rachel Nelson and Bell Media Carlyn Klebuc spell out their commissioning priorities and coproduction opportunities [24:04...

Former BBC One controller, ITV director of television and co-founder of independent producer Expectation, Peter Fincham [01:02], and Red Planet Pictures co-CEO Alex Jones and executive producer Tim Key [20:02] discuss The Chelsea Detective, Death in Paradise and the growing appeal of 'cosy crime' as C21 investigates the genre.

Sunder Aaron [01:46] from Locomotive Global – producer of Netflix India Ray Donovan remake Rana Naidu – and Kalpana Malviya [12:11] of Rarefied Studio, discuss the Indian marketplace and US$6bn content opportunity it presents; while Pernel Media's Samuel Kissous [24:51] details how recent 5/Canal+ drama The Au Pair was put together and explores current programme financing.

After CBS cancels The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as parent Paramount Global seeks approval for its US$8bn Skydance merger, C21's Jordan Pinto dissects the story [02:26]; and Mix Tape exec producer Marc Lorber reveals the intricacies of financing the Irish-Australian drama and broader funding opportunities in the present economic environment [18:40].

Ampere principal analyst Rahul Patel [01:24], Hallmark chief marketing officer Darren Abbott [07:58] and Happy Accidents senior VP of international sales Louise Oliver [24:57] prepare for the festive season as C21 investigates why Christmas begins in July for the TV industry, exploring the latest trends shaping holiday programming and feelgood TV movies.

Children's Media Conference editorial director Greg Childs reacts to news of a UK inquiry into kids' TV in the era of YouTube [01:52]; Plimsoll's Karen Plumb and Andrea Jackson talk ITV's Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters [14:42]; and SkyShowtime's Monty Sarhan and Edyta Pytlewska-Mele detail the streamer's content strategy [29:56].

Director and exec producer Jack Bender, creator and exec producer Benjamin Cavell and MGM+ chief Michael Wright discuss new Stephen King thriller The Institute [01:38]; and Uzo Oleh, writer and director of Beth, reflects on making Channel 4’s first digital original drama commissioned for YouTube and its own linear and streaming channels in the UK [29:10].

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].