Are we talking to you? Yes we are. The C21Podcast features discussion about the global content business, from panel talkshows to interviews with people defining the future of international entertainment. Listen here or subscribe to C21Podcast wherever you get your feed.
Reading the feed…
RTL Netherlands creative lead Ralph de Beurs reflects on the present and future state of unscripted TV, as part of our C21Formats100 series [01:50]; Finite Films AND TV's Amy Gardner and Paddy Hughes on working with Channel 4 and North Sails and the branded entertainment renaissance [21:32]; and Pure Flix co-founder Michael Scott on his new faith-based media venture EKKL [42:39].
Former Amazon MGM Studios unscripted chief Barry Poznick reflects on how the TV formats landscape is changing as YouTube continues to grow and on his new venture Idea Maze Entertainment [01:49]; and The Sidemen's Shannon Royal discusses the YouTube collective's recent World Cup collaboration with the BBC and with Amazon Prime Video on culinary competition show SideMenu [28:44].
Pantheon Media Group and Velvet Hammer Media's Jennifer O'Connell on the present and future state of the TV formats market, featuring as part of our C21Formats100 profiles [01:26]; and National Geographic's Tom McDonald on new docudrama Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston, and his current commissioning priorities [24:33].
Signal.Stream's Wouter van der Pauw on how the Dutch digital-first formats house behind Let's Play Ball is developing IP on YouTube before bringing it to TV and opening its processes to third parties [01:33]; and 12 Years a Slave's John Ridley [23:13] and Lost's Carlton Cuse [37:30] on the present state of the scripted market in a post-strikes streaming era, with microdrama and sports sucking up attention.
Fox Entertainment Studios' Allison Wallach on working with BiggerStage in Ireland and why the Masked Singer maker is doubling down on its use of overseas production hubs [01:28]; and Red Pony Pictures' Beliban zu Stolberg [14:39] and AI filmmaker Esther Gronenborn [35:35] on why they believe the European microdrama scene will diverge from the burgeoning Chinese market.
Arrow Media's John Smithson and Northern Pictures' Karina Holden on their new ABC and Amazon Prime Video film Rolf Harris - Primetime Predator, and the complexities of funding documentaries right now [01:25]; and Allied Global Marketing's Adam Cunningham on the questions execs are asking about the future of the industry behind closed doors, but rarely raise when up on stage [23:33].
SUNNY SIDE: From La Rochelle, C21's Clive Whittingham assesses Sunny Side of the Doc 2026 [01:18]; organiser Aurélie Réman on how the event was saved but now faces new uncertainty [20:39]; Zandland's Ben Zand on the challenges traditional documentary makers face as YouTube takes over TV [32:05]; and Pernel Media's Céline Payot Lehmann on the growing use of AI and sailing down the Nile with David Suchet [43:03].
From the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco, Michael Hirst on his experiences of writing, including together with his son on new Amazon Prime Video drama Bloodaxe [01:50]; Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Mummy star John Hannah on his new 5 drama Benidorm is Murder [25:28]; and former YouTube EMEA originals chief Luke Hyams says the platform's successor may be just around the corner [45:08].
From Seriencamp in Cologne, actors Helena Zengel, Lucas Gregorowicz and Luise Heyer on the present state of German TV drama and their new series Westend Girl [01:50]; The Difference Machine's Elena Lyubarskaya on using AI to generate TV, vertical entertainment and immersive experiences [12:14]; media strategist Bo Zhang and writers Kerstin Höcker and Rahel Dietze on how microdramas are catching on in Europe [32:31].
Mr Nobody Against Putin producer Radovan Síbrt on the Oscar-winning documentary's impact and the battle over public broadcasting in his native Czech Republic [02:05]; Yellow Dot Studios' Staci Roberts-Steele on tapping into OnlyFans to tackle climate change [20:38]; Ample Entertainment's Ari Mark on why unscripted prodcos need to embrace self-funding, rights retention and direct audience engagement [41:52].
ESPN's José Morales and Ben Webber on the Disney-owned sports network's approach to documentary-making in a crowded marketplace [02:01]; Seed AND Spark's Emily Kelleher-Best on how indie producers are increasingly self-funding projects and why microdrama is not the answer [18:31]; director Mike Barker on transitioning from The Handmaid's Tale to The Testaments [42:10].
Former Channel 4 acquisitions and copro consultant Crispin Leyser gives the inside line on this year's LA Screenings from consolidaiton concerns to the hottest new shows and David Ellison's charm offensive to buyers at Nobu [01:50]; 3Vision's Jack Davison crunches the numbers on US studio programme sales [18:20]; and Ozark creator Bill Dubuque discusses his new Peacock revenge thriller M.I.A. [32:58].
C21 North American editor Jordan Pinto and Cveintiuno co-editor Pina Mezzera look ahead to this year's LA Screenings where the merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery is top of mind [01:50]; Talpa Studios' Jasper Hoogendoorn, NBCUniversal's Hannah Mabruk, All3Media's Nick Smith, Sony Pictures' Laura St Clair and ITV Studios' Mike Beale on what it takes to make a format succeed in today's marketplace [24:54].
SeriesFest's Randi Kleiner on the state of the US independent production sector with the event underway in Denver, as this year's Upfronts and LA Screenings near [01:40]; Story Kitchen's Dmitri M Johnson and Dallas Dickinson on why video game adaptations are so popular right now [20:19]; and House Productions' Theo Barrowclough and Fearless Minds' Jolyon Symonds on bringing Charlotte Regan's Mint to the BBC [35:06].
From Create London, The Sidemen's Victor Bengtsson, Banijay's Alexia Laroche-Joubert, literary influencer Jack Edwards and Electrify Video Partners' Claire Geddie discuss the creator-led business models transforming entertainment [01:53]; and from Content Europe in Lisbon, Shaw Rocket Fund's Agnes Augustin, content strategist Adina Pitt, Animation UK's Kate O'Connor and Boat Rocker Studios' Gia DeLaney on the parlous state of the international kids' TV sector [33:24].
CONTENT EUROPE: From Lisbon, All3Media's Dug James – the man behind the global roll-out of The Traitors – discusses the format's incredible success and the tricks of adapting it for different markets [02:04]; BBC Studios' Sumi Connock, Fremantle's Vasha Wallace, Banijay's James Townley and Small World's Tim Crescenti on the latest challenges and opportunities shaping the formats business and where it's headed next [29:37].
C21 managing director AND editor-in-chief David Jenkinson and executive director Mark Rowland preview Content Europe 2026, taking place in Lisbon for the first time next week [01:52]; COL Group's Timothy Oh on how the Chinese microdrama giant is branching out into new genres [14:18]; and SVT's Johanna Gardare on the Swedish public broadcaster's latest dramas and current commissioning strategy [38:15].
Endemol Shine Germany's Fabian Tobias on new ProSieben/Joyn entertainment format Staying Alive, which uses AI to bring dead rock stars back to life [02:16]; NBCUniversal's Hannah Mabruk and Albertina Marfil on the latest international versions of Saturday Night Live and Top Chef [16:08]; and YLE's Suvi Mansnerus and producer Pilvi Waltzer on new Finnish thriller The Crashing [39:26].
The BBC's Fiona Campbell on how the UK pubcaster is working to reach 16-34 year-olds across its own services, as well as YouTube and Roblox [02:16]; Applause Entertainment's Sameer Nair on adapting to the fast-moving Indian TV landscape, dabbling in microdramas and more [23:04]; Vertigo Films' Allan Niblo on embracing AI and the company's latest international copro projects [44:10].
SERIES MANIA: From Lille, as HBO Max rolls out in the UK, we hear from head of original programming Sarah Aubrey about Paramount Skydance's commitment to the streamer and its upcoming Harry Potter TV series [18:40]; plus the teams behind new Swedish legal thriller Burden of Justice [38:59] and Belgian dystopian drama The Best Immigrant [48:09] give the inside line on these hot new shows.
From Content India in Mumbai, Warner Bros Discovery's Arjun Nohwar [02:44], Big Light Productions' Frank Spotnitz [06:18], All3Media's Sabrina Duguet [14:07], Prime Video's Shilangi Mukherji, Banijay's Deepak Dhar, Times TV's Ashish Sehgal and Reliance Jio's Anuj Gandhi [22:04] discuss the opportunities and challenges within the Indian TV business and its growing significance on the international stage.
Velvet Hammer Media's Jennifer O’Connell and Rebecca Quinn on new Netflix dating show Age of Attraction and Paramount Skydance's Warner Bros Discovery buy-out [02:16]; Bell Media's Justin Stockman on Heated Rivalry's success [22:22] and Boat Rocker Studios' Jon Rutherford on the halo effect for Canadian TV [28:52]; TGC Global Entertainment's Phil Gurin on the present state of international TV distribution [43:58].
C21's Jordan Pinto reflects on the merger of Banijay and All3Media [02:10] and Paramount Skydance's surprise acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery after Netflix walked away [13:10]; and, to mark International Women's Day 2026, Wonder Women's Ria Hebden, Channel 5's Debbie Ramsay and Banijay's Carlotta Rossi Spencer discuss the issues facing women in the TV industry today [37:44].
LONDON TV SCREENINGS: Banijay Rights' Cathy Payne [02:42], All3Media International's Louise Pedersen [21:28], Fremantle's Jens Richter [48:54] and ITV Studios' Tom Clark [33:02] discuss the multitude of mergers hanging over this year's event – not least that of two of its co-founders – plus other changes sweeping the distribution business post-peak TV.
DCD Rights' Nicky Davies Williams, APC Studios' Emmanuelle Guilbart, BossaNova Media's Claire Runham and TVF International's Sam Joyce look ahead to this year's London TV Screenings and discuss how the latest wave of consolidation sweeping the industry is likely to change the landscape, not least the potential merger of event co-founders Banijay and All3Media.
