BBC Studios powerhouse Natural History Unit (Nhu), which makes Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and Jon Favreau’s Prehistoric Planet, has nearly doubled employment in the Bristol creative industries over the past few years, according to a BBC report that says almost 50,000 jobs will be forged outside London by 2027. The news comes with the BBC under significant financial pressure, made worse by inflation, according to a speech by Nations Director Rhodri Talfan Davies earlier today.
The report, from accounting firm Pwc, said the Nhu boosted local creative industries employment by 74 between 2015 and 2020. Creative hubs in Salford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Birmingham have also seen a “considerable level of growth,” said the BBC.
The Nhu has been a global success story since BBC Studios was given the greenlight to make shows for third-party buyers five years ago. The outfit, which is run by Jonny Keeling, is making a similar number of David Attenborough...
The report, from accounting firm Pwc, said the Nhu boosted local creative industries employment by 74 between 2015 and 2020. Creative hubs in Salford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Birmingham have also seen a “considerable level of growth,” said the BBC.
The Nhu has been a global success story since BBC Studios was given the greenlight to make shows for third-party buyers five years ago. The outfit, which is run by Jonny Keeling, is making a similar number of David Attenborough...
- 11/22/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Sky Studios Strikes Podcast-To-Screen Deal With Tortoise Media
Sky Studios has struck an exclusive multi-year first look deal with Tortoise Media to turn the news outlet’s podcasts into TV shows. Tortoise is highly-respected for a string of award-winning podcasts including Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, which come from the outfit’s weekly The Slow Newscast investigative series. With access to all these podcasts, Sky Studios will collaborate with Tortoise through the development process and produce high-end TV and features across scripted and documentary. “At Tortoise, we hope that by taking the time to investigate stories and report them in full, we can get to the heart of things, and, together, we hope those stories will reach even more people,” said Tortoise Co-Founder James Harding, who used to run BBC News.
BBC Studios Natural History Unit Unveils 1.1M Global Talent Initiative
BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Nhu) has unveiled a £1M...
Sky Studios has struck an exclusive multi-year first look deal with Tortoise Media to turn the news outlet’s podcasts into TV shows. Tortoise is highly-respected for a string of award-winning podcasts including Sweet Bobby and Hoaxed, which come from the outfit’s weekly The Slow Newscast investigative series. With access to all these podcasts, Sky Studios will collaborate with Tortoise through the development process and produce high-end TV and features across scripted and documentary. “At Tortoise, we hope that by taking the time to investigate stories and report them in full, we can get to the heart of things, and, together, we hope those stories will reach even more people,” said Tortoise Co-Founder James Harding, who used to run BBC News.
BBC Studios Natural History Unit Unveils 1.1M Global Talent Initiative
BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Nhu) has unveiled a £1M...
- 10/12/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Nhu) will invest £1 million (1.08 million) over three years to develop and support aspiring natural history filmmakers in the U.K. and globally.
The Nhu produces popular natural history programs including “Blue Planet II,” “Planet Earth II,” “Seven Worlds,” “One Planet,” presented by David Attenborough, “Dynasties,” “Blue Planet Live” and “Springwatch”
In places where the Nhu is filming, the initiative will fund opportunities for locally based production talent to access in-country training, offer field experience working with Nhu teams on location, and invest in local talent to attend U.K.-based training courses.
Funds will also be allocated to ensure local-language versions of Nhu productions are made available for local viewings in communities who would otherwise have no means of accessing this content.
Some of the initiatives are already in progress, with locally based emerging talent working on “Kingdom,” an Nhu series for BBC One and BBC America,...
The Nhu produces popular natural history programs including “Blue Planet II,” “Planet Earth II,” “Seven Worlds,” “One Planet,” presented by David Attenborough, “Dynasties,” “Blue Planet Live” and “Springwatch”
In places where the Nhu is filming, the initiative will fund opportunities for locally based production talent to access in-country training, offer field experience working with Nhu teams on location, and invest in local talent to attend U.K.-based training courses.
Funds will also be allocated to ensure local-language versions of Nhu productions are made available for local viewings in communities who would otherwise have no means of accessing this content.
Some of the initiatives are already in progress, with locally based emerging talent working on “Kingdom,” an Nhu series for BBC One and BBC America,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: James Reed, director of Oscar-winning Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher, has struck a one-year development partnership with BBC Studios.
Under the terms of the deal, Reed and his company Underdog Films will work with the BBC’s commercial producer-distributor over the next 12 months, adding to its pipeline of natural history feature docs. Reed will be joined by his Underdog creative partner Matt Houghton.
The news has been unveiled as the UK’s Wildscreen Festival gets underway, the respected natural history TV festival, and Reed is due to speak on a panel later today.
James Reed
He achieved worldwide acclaim with Netflix 2020 doc My Octopus Teacher, about a South African filmmaker who forges an unexpected friendship with an octopus, which went on to win the Best Documentary Feature award at the Oscars. Reed’s past credits include Jago – A Life Underwater and Rise of the Warrior Apes and he founded...
Under the terms of the deal, Reed and his company Underdog Films will work with the BBC’s commercial producer-distributor over the next 12 months, adding to its pipeline of natural history feature docs. Reed will be joined by his Underdog creative partner Matt Houghton.
The news has been unveiled as the UK’s Wildscreen Festival gets underway, the respected natural history TV festival, and Reed is due to speak on a panel later today.
James Reed
He achieved worldwide acclaim with Netflix 2020 doc My Octopus Teacher, about a South African filmmaker who forges an unexpected friendship with an octopus, which went on to win the Best Documentary Feature award at the Oscars. Reed’s past credits include Jago – A Life Underwater and Rise of the Warrior Apes and he founded...
- 10/10/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
“Planet Earth” producer Jonny Keeling has been appointed the new head of the BBC’s Natural History Unit (Nhu), Variety can exclusively reveal. He takes up the new role in December.
Keeling, who is currently series producer on “Planet Earth III,” will be responsible for all of the Nhu’s creative and commercial activity, reporting to BBC Studios’ managing director of factual, Tom McDonald. He will also join McDonald’s leadership team.
The producer, whose credits include David Attenborough series “Planet Earth,” “Planet Earth II,” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet,” will take over as the unit’s head from Julian Hector, whose five-year stint saw him oversee shows such as “Blue Planet II,” “Dynasties” and “The Green Planet.”
Hector also oversaw the Nhu’s first original commissions for international broadcasters. Keeling’s remit will include developing the unit’s presence in North America via its satellite office in Los Angeles.
Keeling, who is currently series producer on “Planet Earth III,” will be responsible for all of the Nhu’s creative and commercial activity, reporting to BBC Studios’ managing director of factual, Tom McDonald. He will also join McDonald’s leadership team.
The producer, whose credits include David Attenborough series “Planet Earth,” “Planet Earth II,” and “Seven Worlds, One Planet,” will take over as the unit’s head from Julian Hector, whose five-year stint saw him oversee shows such as “Blue Planet II,” “Dynasties” and “The Green Planet.”
Hector also oversaw the Nhu’s first original commissions for international broadcasters. Keeling’s remit will include developing the unit’s presence in North America via its satellite office in Los Angeles.
- 9/6/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
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