Hearst Media unveils senior leadership team amid rebranding

The former Litton Entertainment has rebranded as Hearst Media Production Group, and appointed three senior executives to newly created positions.

Bryan Curb (pictured left) has been named executive vice president and general manager, educational/informational (E/I) programming, after previously serving as chief creative officer for Litton Entertainment. In his new position, he will oversee all aspects of E/I programming, including development, business standards and practices, sales, and marketing.

Angelica Rosas McDaniel (pictured center) has been named executive vice president and general manager, entertainment, having previously held the position of EVP of strategy and creative development for Litton Entertainment. She will now lead Hearst Media Production Group’s newly formed entertainment unit, with a focus on unscripted original program development and related marketing, syndication and distribution.

Finally, Chris Matthews (pictured right), formerly senior vice president and CFO for Litton Entertainment, has been named chief financial officer of Hearst. His responsibilities will expand to include financial oversight of all Hearst Media Production Group units, along with strategic planning and business growth.

Litton Entertainment was founded in 1989, with Hearst acquiring a majority interest in 2017 and the balance in 2021. The rebrand to Hearst Media Production Group is intended to cement a more cohesive presence in the marketplace, encompassing all of the unit’s new and existing content.

Corus Studios reveals Q1 sales

Toronto-based producer-distributor Corus Studios announced the sale of more than 250 hours of content to broadcasters in Germany, Poland, France and the UK, as well as additional deals secured for French Canada.

“We are starting the new year seeing a growing global appetite for Corus Studios lifestyle, factual and unscripted content,” said Lisa Godfrey, senior vice president of original content and Corus Studios, in a release. “As we expand our current productions and solidify our slate of new series to come later this year, we’re delivering on our commitment to offer even more compelling content to buyers.”

The raft of sales include Discovery in Germany acquiring season 3 of Island of Bryan (10 x 60 min.) and renewing Masters of Flip (season 1 – 12 x 60 min. and season 2 – 14 x 60 min.). The first season of bakery overhaul series Project Bakeover (10 x 60 min.) was sold to Germany’s SevenOne Entertainment Group.

In Poland, Canal+ picked up two additional seasons of Backyard Builds (season 3 – 11 x 30 min. and season 4 – 8 x 30 min.), while Telewizja WP ordered additional episodes of History Erased (season 2 – 4 x 60 min. and season 3 – 6 x 60 min.) and season 2 of Making It Home with Kortney and Kenny (10 x 60 min.).

6TER in France picked up all episodes of the renovation series $ave My Reno (seasons 1-4 – 56 x 30 min.) as well as season 4 of Backyard Builds (8 x 30 min.).

In the UK, Discovery acquired Island of Bryan (seasons 1-3 – 31 x 60 min.), while ITV picked up the second seasons of The Big Bake (18 x 60 min.) and Making It Home with Kortney and Kenny (10 x 60 min.).

Additionally, French-language rights expanded with Quebecor Content signing deals for seven Corus Studios series, including Fire Masters (season 2 – 20 x 60 min.), Junior Chef Showdown (season 2 – 8 x 60 min.), Rock Solid Builds (season 1 – 10 x 60 min.), Island of Bryan (season 3 – 10 x 60 min.) while also adding Family Home Overhaul (season 1 – 8 x 60 min.), Making It Home with Kortney and Dave (season 1 – 10 x 60 min.) and Home to Win (season 1 – 10 x 60 min.) to their SVOD lineup.

Also in French Canada, Bell Media has picked up $ave My Reno, (season 4 – 14 x 30 min.), and Scott’s Vacation House Rules (season 1 – 10 x 60 min. and season 2 – 12 x 60 min.).

Sales were brokered by Rita Carbone Fleury, worldwide sales lead for Corus Studios.

Armoza Formats’ Family Piggy Bank picked up in Portugal, Greece

Armoza Formats, part of ITV Studios, announced that the local rights for the CGI-based studio game-show format Family Piggy Bank have been acquired in Portugal by Fremantle Portugal and in Greece by Silverline Media Productions.

The show, produced by Armoza Formats and Gamechanger’s Nimrod Harel and Yaron Yashinsky, brings the unique dynamics of a family dinner to the studio. The game puts a family’s knowledge and trust in each other to the test as they work together to try to fill their family piggy bank by answering trivia questions. Using CGI technology, the format comes with a technological hub that creates a prime-time, shiny-floor studio, virtual game-play movements, and even a virtual audience.

“This innovative format is truly enjoyable for the whole family and uses unique technology to make this a must-have game show. We look forward to seeing it in both Greece and Portugal,” said Salome Peillon, head of sales at Armoza Formats, in a news release.