C21Podcast

CONTENT EUROPE: From Lisbon, All3Media's Dug James – the man behind the global roll-out of The Traitors – discusses the format's incredible success and the tricks of adapting it for different markets [02:04]; BBC Studios' Sumi Connock, Fremantle's Vasha Wallace, Banijay's James Townley and Small World's Tim Crescenti on the latest challenges and opportunities shaping the formats business and where...

C21 managing director AND editor-in-chief David Jenkinson and executive director Mark Rowland preview Content Europe 2026, taking place in Lisbon for the first time next week [01:52]; COL Group's Timothy Oh on how the Chinese microdrama giant is branching out into new genres [14:18]; and SVT's Johanna Gardare on the Swedish public broadcaster's latest dramas and current commissioning strategy [38:...

Endemol Shine Germany's Fabian Tobias on new ProSieben/Joyn entertainment format Staying Alive, which uses AI to bring dead rock stars back to life [02:16]; NBCUniversal's Hannah Mabruk and Albertina Marfil on the latest international versions of Saturday Night Live and Top Chef [16:08]; and YLE's Suvi Mansnerus and producer Pilvi Waltzer on new Finnish thriller The Crashing [39:26].

The BBC's Fiona Campbell on how the UK pubcaster is working to reach 16-34 year-olds across its own services, as well as YouTube and Roblox [02:16]; Applause Entertainment's Sameer Nair on adapting to the fast-moving Indian TV landscape, dabbling in microdramas and more [23:04]; Vertigo Films' Allan Niblo on embracing AI and the company's latest international copro projects [44:10].

SERIES MANIA: From Lille, as HBO Max rolls out in the UK, we hear from head of original programming Sarah Aubrey about Paramount Skydance's commitment to the streamer and its upcoming Harry Potter TV series [18:40]; plus the teams behind new Swedish legal thriller Burden of Justice [38:59] and Belgian dystopian drama The Best Immigrant [48:09] give the inside line on these hot new shows.

From Content India in Mumbai, Warner Bros Discovery's Arjun Nohwar [02:44], Big Light Productions' Frank Spotnitz [06:18], All3Media's Sabrina Duguet [14:07], Prime Video's Shilangi Mukherji, Banijay's Deepak Dhar, Times TV's Ashish Sehgal and Reliance Jio's Anuj Gandhi [22:04] discuss the opportunities and challenges within the Indian TV business and its growing significance on the international...

Velvet Hammer Media's Jennifer O’Connell and Rebecca Quinn on new Netflix dating show Age of Attraction and Paramount Skydance's Warner Bros Discovery buy-out [02:16]; Bell Media's Justin Stockman on Heated Rivalry's success [22:22] and Boat Rocker Studios' Jon Rutherford on the halo effect for Canadian TV [28:52]; TGC Global Entertainment's Phil Gurin on the present state of international TV dist...

C21's Jordan Pinto reflects on the merger of Banijay and All3Media [02:10] and Paramount Skydance's surprise acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery after Netflix walked away [13:10]; and, to mark International Women's Day 2026, Wonder Women's Ria Hebden, Channel 5's Debbie Ramsay and Banijay's Carlotta Rossi Spencer discuss the issues facing women in the TV industry today [37:44].

LONDON TV SCREENINGS: Banijay Rights' Cathy Payne [02:42], All3Media International's Louise Pedersen [21:28], Fremantle's Jens Richter [48:54] and ITV Studios' Tom Clark [33:02] discuss the multitude of mergers hanging over this year's event – not least that of two of its co-founders – plus other changes sweeping the distribution business post-peak TV.

DCD Rights' Nicky Davies Williams, APC Studios' Emmanuelle Guilbart, BossaNova Media's Claire Runham and TVF International's Sam Joyce look ahead to this year's London TV Screenings and discuss how the latest wave of consolidation sweeping the industry is likely to change the landscape, not least the potential merger of event co-founders Banijay and All3Media.

Drama Quarterly editor Michael Pickard looks ahead to Berlinale Series Market 2026 [02:32]; Wood Water Films' Arto Sebastian on the present state of German TV drama and new series House of Yang [11:33]; Oleksandr Schchur and Maksym Isayev on going from comedy to Ukrainian 'Fauda meets Narcos' four years on from Russia's invasion of the country [27:20].

Intuitive Content's Patrick Weiland, Black Watch Entertainment's Meghan Duffy, Cineflix Productions' JC Mills and Hot Snakes Media's Eric Evangelista discuss the state of the US unscripted market and what the sale of Warner Bros Discovery will mean [02:44]; TelevisaUnivision's Rafael Urbina reveals how leading Spanish-language streamer ViX is moving from melodrama to microdrama [32:33].

From Content Americas in Miami, Cineverse's Erick Opeka on why the company is backing microdrama start-up MicroCo and strategies for reaching Gen Z audiences [02:28]; 3Pas Studios' Ben Odell, COL's Fiona Li, Telemundo Studios' Juan Ponce and Sonoro Global's Alex González on building programme brands and leveraging IP in the New Content Economy [25:43].

CONTENT AMERICAS: Wild Sheep Content's Erik Barmack, 3Pas Studios' Leo Zimbrón, Conspiraçao Filmes' Tereza Gonzalez, NBCUniversal Telemundo's Monica Albuquerque on coproducing with Ibero-America [02:30]; NBCUniversal's Hannah Mabruk, Banijay's Lucas Green, ITV Studios' Mike Beale and Dori Media Group's Nadav Palti on adapting to tightening budgets and attention spans [38:41].

CONTENT AMERICAS: C21 editor-in-chief AND managing director David Jenkinson, Cveintiuno co-editors Pina Mezzera and Gonzalo Larrea and North American editor Jordan Pinto look ahead to Content Americas 2026 and reflect on the latest developments with Warner Bros Discovery and Banijay and All3Media [02:26]; while Rose d'Or Latinos jury co-chair Pierluigi Gazzolo gives his perspective and previews th...

C21 North American editor Jordan Pinto on the latest developments in the sale of Warner Bros Discovery, plus Disney's mega deal with Open AI [02:00]; Drama Quarterly editor Michael Pickard shares his hot picks for 2026 [29:22]; and C21 editor-in-chief AND managing director David Jenkinson and Allied Global Marketing chief strategy officer Adam Cunningham give their perspectives on the year ahead [...

All3Media's Jane Turton, Fox Television Network's Michael Thorn, EbonyLife Group's Mo Abudu, Banijay UK's Patrick Holland and Hearst Networks' Heather Jones discuss the key trends, challenges and opportunities defining the global content business heading into 2026 [02:45]; and BBC Studios Productions CEO and chief creative officer Zai Bennett spells out his international strategy [41:39].

Former ABC and Showtime chief Jana Winograde details the launch of new venture MicroCo and its plans to take a slice of the burgeoning microdrama market [01:58]; Expectation's Peter Fincham and Hat Trick's Jimmy Mulville on the state of the UK's independent production sector [21:42]; and Zandland's Ben Zand on digital-first documentary-making and his predictions for 2026 [41:32].

CONTENT LONDON: RedBird IMI's Jeff Zucker on the present wave of industry consolidation and how he sees media and entertainment over the next few years [02:38]; HBO Max's Sarah Aubrey on the Warner Bros Discovery-owned streamer's programming needs and European roll-out [25:40]; Disney's Eric Schrier on the Mouse House's plans to ramp up its overseas content investment and partnerships [41:21].

C21 editor-in-chief AND managing director David Jenkinson and group programming director Ruth Palmer on what's in store next week at world-leading development market, conference and screenings event Content London [03:12]; Rose d'Or Awards chair Mark Rowland teases this year's prestigious ceremony [21:53]; and Eline Van der Velden, creator of Tilly Norwood, on what's next for the AI actress and fr...

BBC Studios' Jasmine Dawson on how the UK pubcaster's commercial arm is evolving its YouTube strategy as the TV industry and creator economy increasingly come together [03:12]; After Party Studios' Joshua Barnett on building digital-first formats with the likes of The Sidemen and Nella Rose [22:15]; and Banijay NXT's Naique Tanate on the company's recent investment in an influencer-led professiona...

C21's Mark Rowland, Jordan Pinto and Nico Franks on the resignation of BBC boss Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness over a deceptive edit of Donald Trump's January 6 Capitol rally speech, the implications for the international TV business and those now in the frame for the top BBC job [02:00]; and former Discovery Networks head of originals Ed Sayer on his new venture Legend Entertainment [...

Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady on new, steamy ice hockey romance Heated Rivalry for Canada's Crave [01:56]; Bell Media's Sean Cohan on his strategy two years into the job and the broader North American TV market [20:25]; Universal International Studios' Margaret Schatzel and Carnival Films' Nigel Marchant on new Sarah Snook drama All Her Fault for Peacock and Sky's Now TV [40:07].

With Nvidia becoming the first US$5tn company, Australia quashing AI copyright exemptions and Hollywood still reeling from Tilly Norwood, we hear from Protege's Dave Davis [04:21], Luma AI's Verena Puhm [15:04] and Gennie's Tejas Shah and Chelsea Durgin [30:30] about the latest developments in this fast-moving space, from swirling legal battles to the realities of industry uptake.

Sean Atkins on Dhar Mann Studios' plans to build on its lead in the scripted digital content space and how the creator economy and traditional TV are merging [02:09]; Electric Entertainment's Dean Devlin on the firm's recent US$20m raise and industry consoliation [26:21]; Infinite Studios' Adrienne Lahens and Mehmet Bal on working with Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary’s Revelations Entertainment a...