Television

In a landmark deal, ViacomCBS Networks Americas (VCNA) has inked a pact with social TV platform Twitch for the co-streaming in Latin America of Nickelodeon’s popular animated series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra”. From Oct. 26 to Oct. 29, Twitch users in the region will get a chance to interact with

Women and people of color are getting more screen time on television, but those who hold the power — and the purse strings — in the industry are “still overwhelmingly white and male,” says the latest UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, which analyzed the TV business across the 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 seasons. “There has been a

Richard Sharp, former investment head at financial services giant Goldman Sachs, has emerged as a candidate for the position of BBC chair, according to U.K. newspaper The Telegraph. During his 23-year tenure at Goldman Sachs, Sharp was the boss of Rishi Sunak, the current U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sharp has been an informal adviser

The completion of Czech billionaire Petr Kellner’s (pictured) buyout of broadcast network Central European Media Enterprises (CME) has raised hackles in Kellner’s native country, where a healthy suspicion of media moguls has been fueled by the prime minister’s own online and print holdings. Kellner’s company, PPF, which began the acquisition process of CME a year

Canadian singer-songwriter and actor Jann Arden is coming to Hulu. Hit comedy “Jann,” created by series star Arden with Leah Gauthier and Jennica Harper, and executive produced by Andrew Barnsley (“Schitt’s Creek”) will debut both its seasons on the streamer in early 2021. In “Jann,” Arden plays a fictionalized, self-deprecating version of herself: a singer-songwriter

British actor, awards compère and show host and Stephen Fry (“Wilde,” “QI”) will front “21st Century Firsts,” a one-off 90-minute documentary special for U.K. broadcaster ITV. In the show, produced by independent production outfit Spun Gold TV, Fry will take viewers through his top 21 ‘firsts’ of the 21st century, exploring an era before smart-phones,

Champion figure skater Adam Rippon is developing a comedy series about figure skating at NBC, Variety has learned. Rippon and Susan Kittenplan co-created the series and developed the story, with both serving as executive producers. Billy Finnegan is also a co-creator and is attached to write the script and executive produce. 20th Television will produce. Set

In today’s TV news roundup, Apple TV Plus released first look images of “Becoming You,” and CBS announced premiere dates for series including “FBI” and “SEAL Team.” DATES CBS announced November premiere dates for five scripted series: The second season of “The Unicorn” will premiere on Nov. 12 at 9:30 p.m., while the fifth season

David Kirsch and Geoff Suddleson have been tapped to become co-heads of UTA’s unscripted television department. Both are longtime UTA execs. Kirsch has been with the agency since 2008, while Suddleson joined in 2004. Together, they’ll manage the agency division formerly known as the alternative TV department and oversee a roster of U.S. and international

When CBS News launched a new version of its popular “60 Minutes” for Quibi earlier this year, it was seen as a much-needed way to extend a venerable TV brand into the media venues younger viewers covet. The six-minute “60 in 6” featured an array of new correspondents and tackled QAnon, race relations and more.

Disney, NBCUniversal, Viacom, Sony Pictures Entertainment, WarnerMedia, Lionsgate, MGM, ITV, Entertainment One — the list of Hollywood heavy hitters that poured money into Quibi is a veritable who’s who of entertainment industry giants. Now, with the closure of the mobile streaming startup led by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman, just six months after launching, so

After the success of Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne’s fantasy show “Carnival Row,” Amazon has set its sights on another high-concept series from Legendary Television. The streamer has issued a series order for “Lightyears,” an hourlong sci-fi-drama produced by Legendary, Variety has learned exclusively from sources. “Lightyears” hails from Holden Miller and “The Son” writer and

In order to be a truly great chess player — not just a good one, but one of the greats — you need to possess a canny combination of concentration, acuity, and nerve. What seems like a simple board of 64 squares quickly becomes a battlefield; the key to winning the ensuing fight is being

PETA has tried for years to convince late night and daytime talk shows to no longer feature wild animals on their shows. Now, the org believes it has found an “in” to further that cause: The COVID-19 pandemic. With talk shows still avoiding most in-person guests, even as they return to their regular studios, PETA

Game 1 of the World Series and “The Bachelorette” both dominated the Tuesday night ratings race, but in reality it wasn’t a great night for either. Fox’s coverage of the game, which saw the Los Angeles Dodgers comfortably beat the Tampa Bay Rays on an 8-3 scoreline, averaged a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49 and

Ziwe is coming to cable. The comedian, whose star has risen dramatically over the last few months due to her popular Instagram live show, is set to star in and executive produce a variety series at Showtime. Showtime has issued a straight-to-series order for the as-yet-untitled show, which will see Ziwe carry out more of

“Archer” has been renewed for Season 12 at FXX. The 12th season of the animated comedy series is slated to debut in 2021 on FXX and FX on Hulu. “’Archer’ is back in a big way this season, with viewership up as the Emmy Award-winning spy series returns to its roots and begins to plot

Robert and Michelle King are set to tackle the coronavirus in a new drama series that has been ordered at Spectrum Originals. Variety has confirmed that the “Good Fight” creators have set up the drama “The Second Wave” at Spectrum, which follows an unexpected and deadly second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in New York

The classic 1977 action comedy “Smokey and the Bandit” is getting the TV treatment. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door are teaming to develop a series based on the Burt Reynolds movie. The series is being written by “Pineapple Express” director David Gordon Green and regular collaborator Brian Sides.

In today’s Global Bulletin Vivendi’s 2020 finances are up 2.4%, the Young Artist Academy announces this year’s award recipients, All3Media picks up “A World of Calm,” West End Films sells “Rams” in key territories and Fremantle promotes Seb Shorr. FINANCE In a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic, Vivendi saw its consolidated revenues go up

ITV Studios has announced new international sales on “Romulus,” the TV series shot in Archaic Latin that takes its cue from the mythical tale of twins Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. The drama is world premiering Friday at the Rome Film Festival. The hotly anticipated skein, which is a Sky original in Italy, has

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched the October 20 episode of “The Bachelorette.” Clare Crawley knows what she wants, and she made it known during Week 2 of “The Bachelorette.” After the first eliminations, 23 men remained to fight for a chance at love with the Season 16 lead. The

In today’s TV news roundup, HBO Max released a trailer for “The Flight Attendant,” and Spotify released a one-time show with Matthew McConaughey. DATES Season 15 of CMT‘s “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team” will premiere on Nov. 24 and be simulcast on CMT and MTV at 10 p.m. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the

President Donald Trump has done two interviews for “60 Minutes” with its veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl. The third, as it turns out, could be the last. Trump cut short an interview with Stahl Tuesday at the White House that was being taped for presentation on the CBS News program this Sunday, according to a person

The finale of “Lovecraft Country” season 1 delivered plenty of drama and plenty of viewers for HBO. A total audience of 1.5 million tuned in on Sunday night across all platforms, marking a season high for the well-received drama. That number is up around 16% from the season premiere back in August. In terms of

Netflix, in its third quarter earnings report Tuesday, touted “The Old Guard” as its most popular title of the summer quarter. According to the streamer, 78 million subscriber households tuned in to watch the action thriller, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Charlize Theron, in its first four weeks on the platform. Other Netflix original

Noah Jupe is only 15 years old, but he’s already racked up an impressive list of acting credits, including “The Night Manager,” “Suburbicon,” “Ford V Ferrari” and the upcoming sequel to “A Quiet Place.” It was his work in last year’s “Honey Boy” that solidified his standing not as someone to watch, like so many

Kristen Bell is set to star in a limited series that has been picked up at Netflix. Titled “The Woman in the House,” the eight-episode series stars Bell as the heartbroken protagonist Anna. For her, every day is the same. She sits with her wine, staring out the window, watching life go by without her.

The enchanting world of “Willow,” created by George Lucas, is officially coming to the small screen. Disney Plus has confirmed a sequel series taking place years after the events of the original Ron Howard-directed pic is heading into production next year. Howard is returning to the project as executive producer alongside original star Warwick Davis,

HBO has greenlit a limited series adaptation of the Jo Nesbø novel “The Son” with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star and executive produce, Variety has learned. “The Son” is described as a tale of vengeance set amid Oslo’s brutal hierarchy of corruption. Gyllenhaal will executive produce under his Nine Stories Productions banner along with Riva Marker.