Factual TBIvision.com April/May 2018 NARRATED BY LIAM NEESON A NEW SIX-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES GOING INSIDE THE VATICAN TO REVEAL HOW POPES HAVE USED THEIR POWER TO SHAPE THE COURSE OF WORLD HISTORY FactualpOFCTH_FMM_ThePope_TBIFactual_Coverv1.indd AprMay18.indd 1 1 23/03/201814/03/2018 14:3315:03 JULIUS CAESAR REVEALED WITH MARY BEARD VS THE ROBOT CAR EWAN AND COLIN MCGREGOR: factual that fascinates RAF CENTENARY from talent that resonates Islam, Women and Me MIPTV Stand No: P3.C10 @all3media_int all3mediainternational.com FactualpIFC All3Media AprMay18.indd 1 23/03/2018 12:46 J11013_TBI_INSIDE_FRONT_COVER_FP_FACTUAL_MONTAGE_AW.indd 1 23/03/2018 12:39 CONTENTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE This issue PA Images & Key Sports Management & Key Images PA 2 8 2 Sports documentaries With the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia drawing near, Andy Fry investigates how channels are reacting with specialist doc content, and why Netflix and Amazon are spending big in the space 8 Hot Picks MIPDoc will showcase programmes on marijuana legalisation, Harvey Weinstein and Concorde 14 Podcast deals The popularity of podcasting has led to a new development stream for producers and broadcasters. Kaltrina Bylykbashi speaks with those working to bring audio content to the small screen 16 Last Word Stephen McQuillan from Icon Films on how indie development producers can they’re not spreading themselves too thinly reacting to demand from broadcasters and SVOD services 14 Editor Jesse Whittock • [email protected] Television Business International (USPS 003-807) is published bi-monthly (Jan, Mar, Apr, Jun, Aug and Oct) by KNect365 TMT, Maple House,149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7AD, United Kingdom. The Deputy editor Kaltrina Bylykbashi • [email protected] • @bylykbashi 2006 US Institutional subscription price is$255. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by Agent named Air Sales manager Michael Callan • [email protected] Business, C/O Priority Airfreight NY Ltd, 147-29 182nd Street, Jamaica, NY11413. Periodical postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. 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Commercial director Patricia Arescy • [email protected] © 2018 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved Published by KNect365 TMT, Maple House, Reproduction without permission is prohibited 149 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7AD Tel: +44 (0)20 7017 5000 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.tbivision.com Printed in England by Wyndeham Grange Ltd, Southwick, West Sussex BN4 4EJ @TBImagazine For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM TBI Factual April/May 2018 1 Factualp01 Contents AprMay18jwKBjw.indd 3 23/03/2018 14:20 GENRE FOCUS SPORTS Factual goals The sports documentary series has returned to the big leagues, as SVOD services order shows that their algorithms demand, thematic pay channels commission content for the engaged audiences and the 2018 FIFA World Cup rolls around this summer in Russia. Andy Fry reports from the sidelines rom NFL Superbowl to the niche. However, there are key scenarios where transmissions or – in some cases – provide English Premier League via it comes into its own. sports content to networks that don’t have Formula One motor racing, One is the run up to major events like the access to live rights. live sport has always been a 2018 FIFA World Cup, where sports-themed In April, for example, HBO Latin America fundamental part of the free and content can either generate excitement and HBO Europe will air their first ever original Fpay TV ecosystem. By comparison, sports- in advance of the event, act as a kind of coproduction, Destino Rusia 2018, a ten-part based factual programming is a specialist programming glue between live match factual series that will provide “a unique, 2 TBI Factual April/May 2018 For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM Factualp02-04,06 Sports AprMay18jwKBjw.indd 2 23/03/2018 14:15 GENRE FOCUS SPORTS 22 Media International/Goalhanger Films International/Goalhanger 22 Media will comprise 40 hours of content, backed by various social media activations. A+E Networks International’s executive managing director, Patrick Vien, says the decision to throw so much weight behind this project “came from a recognition that, in 2018, everything in the world of content and TV needs to be event-driven and very immersive, so we went looking for an idea that could merit occupying a big amount of real estate, which is how we came to the World Cup”. “The World Cup is a moment in time when people all over the world get very passionate and hyper-connected about the same thing, so it’s a great opportunity for History as a storyteller reaching out to 200 territories,” he adds. Vien calls the project “the biggest international programming initiative History has undertaken” and says it will cover a “multiplicity of perspectives”. Anchoring the event will be global documentaries including History’s Greatest Moments in Football, Football’s Greatest: Head to Head and Football Godfathers, which comes from Zig Zag Productions, and will give insights into the minds and strategies of the world’s greatest club managers. There will also be localised programming in markets like the UK, Germany, Italy and Japan, where there will be an original special, The History of Japanese Football, while Latin America will air a biography of superstar player Lionel Messi. Among a slate of short form series will be The Referee, about an FA-qualified female ethnic Muslim official in the UK. Outside this kind of event-based activity, sports documentaries have typically been used as shoulder content on sports channels, the most celebrated example being ESPN’s 30 for 30, which has been running since 2009. A compelling showcase for sports-based storytelling, 30 for 30 has covered everything from Olympic scandals to mafia infiltration of college sports, via a history of the Harlem Globetrotters, the flamboyant world of professional wrestling and the infamous ice hockey show-down between the Russians and Keane & Viera: Best of Enemies Americans at the 1980 Winter Olympics. More recently, BT Sport in the UK has compelling and intimate look at football and Destino Brazil, which were aired prior to the followed a similar strategy, producing films the World Cup,” says Roberto Ríos, HBO Latin previous two World Cups. about the world of referees, the Bradford America’s corporate VP of original production. Something similar is happening over at City fire and the ‘Crazy Gang’ of Wimbledon. Spanning twelve countries, the 10x30mins A+E Networks International’s History channel, In early 2018, it aired a documentary about series will present close-up accounts of leading which is running a 14-day 24/7 ‘mega event’ the pressures and rewards of making it as players and their entourage. It follows previous called The History of Football prior to Russia a professional footballer, based on Michael HBO Lat Am projects Destino South Africa and 2018. Due to air in 160 countries, the event Calvin’s book No Hunger in Paradise. For the latest in TV programming news visit TBIVISION.COM TBI Factual April/May 2018 3 Factualp02-04,06 Sports AprMay18jwKBjw.indd 3 23/03/2018 14:15 GENRE FOCUS SPORTS Netflix Last Chance U Sunset & Vine Just as interesting is the battle between the two for prized access to elite sports clubs. Netflix, for example, recently announced plans for Juventus FC, a four-hour docuseries following the on-and off-field stories of the Italian club. Amazon has forged a similar arrangement with Manchester City in the UK, and has also greenlit Six Dreams, a docu-series that will follow six individuals (three players, two coaches and a club president) throughout their 2017-2018 season of Spain’s elite La Liga. Amazon has also enjoyed acclaim for All Or Nothing, which first focused on the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, and is now set to go behind the scenes at Man City; plus the ‘winningest Mobil 1 the Grid programme in college football’, the Michigan Wolverines; and the New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ Head of BT Sport Simon Green says: “No be viewed as a good future home for live sports rugby team. Hunger in Paradise explores the pathways for rights, the two SVOD giants have backed some Of course, it’s important to note that the young players to the top, hearing from those high quality productions. sports market doesn’t really operate like other involved at local community centres and youth On Netflix, a lot of attention has been paid genres, because ultimate decisions about access talent scouts, as well as taking a look at some of to productions like Last Chance U, which is like to content or talent typically resides with leagues, the most elite academies.” a modern day version of Steve James’ seminal clubs, agents and federations, many of which The big disruption in this area, perhaps not doc Hoop Dreams. Here, the focus is on a group are superbly efficient at extracting value from IP. surprisingly, has been an invasion of the sports of gifted but troubled young players trying The Amazon and Netflix projects make sense field by Amazon and Netflix. Partly driven by a to reach the NFL big time. A third season is as promotional exercises, and sometimes brands desire for event programming that will appeal coming, though the subject is shifting from the gain access to content as part of sponsorships to male subscribers and partly by the desire to college featured in seasons one and two.