Fiction
Endemol unveils reality formats for MipTV
MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has unveiled a lineup of reality and multiplatform formats set to make their international debut at next week’s television trade event MipTV 2011.
Headlining this year‘s line up is Club VIP, a series from Endemol France which pits reality TV celebrities against a group of unknown wannabes. The reality personalities are locked together with aspiring stars at Club VIP – a private resort where popularity is the name of the game. Every week, someone is voted off until the one final winner remains. Will it be the beloved and recognisable TV celebrity, or new talent who is ready to be the bright new star of the small screen?
Also among Endemol‘s highlights is Secret Story, an evolution of the Big Brother format which has aired in France, Portugal and the Netherlands. A group of contestants, each of them with their own dramatic secret, live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world. Hiding from detection is not easy as each and every contestant will be plotting to reveal the other‘s unknown truths.
Secret Story is already a major multiplatform hit in France, having aired four successful seasons on TF1. The show continues to be a breakout hit online with 90 million visitors and 1.1 billion pages visited and 200 million programmes viewed on the official website.
Returning formats include The Money Drop, the multiplatform hit created by Endemol UK which incorporates a hugely popular play along online game. The series has so far been sold to 14 territories with further deals in major markets due to be made prior to MIPTV.
Endemol chief commercial officer Tom Toumazis said, “Our portfolio of programmes for MIPTV is headlined by formats that have already pulled in fantastic ratings in major markets. These shows underline Endemol‘s reputation for innovative multiplatform entertainment and we‘re tremendously excited about showcasing them in Cannes next week.”
Fiction
Warner Bros Discovery sees Sachem Head double stake in Q4 filing
Activist fund ups bet as Paramount circles and Netflix deal looms
NEW YORK: Warner Bros Discovery has drawn fresh activist attention, with hedge fund Sachem Head Capital Management more than doubling its stake in the media giant during the fourth quarter, according to a regulatory filing.
The fund, one of 2025’s best performers, said it held nearly 8 million shares in Warner Bros Discovery by the end of December. The position ranks among its ten largest US equity bets, underlining growing investor interest in the company as takeover drama gathers pace.
The move comes at a pivotal moment for the studio and streaming group. Warner Bros Discovery has agreed to sell its streaming and studios business to Netflix, a deal that has stirred interest across the industry and sparked a rival approach from Paramount Skydance.
Paramount has already made a hostile bid that was rejected last month, but it is far from backing down. This week, the company stepped up pressure on Warner Bros Discovery, urging the board to at least consider whether its offer could be made more attractive than Netflix’s proposal.
Paramount has also hinted at a possible boardroom battle, suggesting it could attempt to replace directors. It even floated the idea of bringing in the head of Pentwater Capital Management, one of Warner Bros Discovery’s largest investors, as a potential board candidate.
With a market value of about 70 billion dollars, Warner Bros Discovery now sits at the centre of a high stakes contest between strategic buyers and activist investors. Sachem Head’s increased holding signals that the hedge fund sees opportunity in the turbulence.
The filing also revealed new bets by Sachem Head elsewhere. The fund bought 5.2 million shares in telecoms company EchoStar, and opened fresh positions in used car retailer Carvana and entertainment group Live Nation.
Such filings offer a snapshot of hedge fund portfolios at the end of the previous quarter. While they are backward looking, investors still track them closely for clues on which stocks are gaining favour or becoming targets for change.
