Netflix has ordered a ‘non-linear’ crime thriller series from Ridley Scott’s prodco Scott Free.

RTS: Chief executive of Ofcom Dame Melanie Dawes has shut down claims that the UK media regulator’s independence is in danger.

RTS: Chief content officer for HBO and HBO Max, Casey Bloys, refused to be drawn on whether streamers’ thirst for rights will put an end to coproductions in the future.

Canada’s Boat Rocker is continuing to expand its roster of partnerships with international talent, inking an overall deal with producer-director Scott Weintrob and his LA-based production outfit Large Eyes.

In the C21FM Weekly Review Show, which this week runs from 10am today to 10am on Monday September 20, we play highlights from a great week on the station. Tune in for a mix of music, news and interviews that put the global content business in perspective.

Vincent Bollore’s Vivendi, owner of French pay TV operator Canal+, has acquired another stake in local production firm Lagardère.

ViacomCBS-owned streamer Paramount+ in the US has ordered Skymed, a scripted medical adventure series following air ambulance pilots pulling off high-stakes rescue missions.

Lionsgate Play, the SVoD service from Lionsgate India and Lionsgate-owned Starz, has expanded its reach in Asia after partnering with Telekom Malaysia.

African SVoD service Showmax has commissioned the first Nigerian version of NBCUniversal’s format The Real Housewives.

Canadian public broadcaster the CBC has commissioned an 8x60’ docuseries examining the history of the Black experience in Canada.

MBC Group in the Middle East has acquired the rights to hit Russian children’s series Masha & the Bear for the MENA region.

A language learning app that uses TV shows and movies to help people learn a new language has acquired a range of programming from ZDF Enterprises in Germany.

RTS: The director general of the BBC Tim Davie has refuted claims the pubcaster offers poor value for viewers despite the loss of many home-grown stars to global VoD platforms, such as Phoebe Waller Bridge signing a deal with Amazon.

RTS: A privatised Channel 4 would mean programming such as Russell T Davies’ hit drama It’s a Sin would not be made, according to its CEO, Alex Mahon

UK prime minster Boris Johnson has appointed Nadine Dorries MP as the latest secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.

TF1 Group-owned Newen has taken a majority stake in Berlin-based prodco Flare Film, marking the French production group's first move into the German market.

RTS: Kevin Mayer, chairman of sports streaming service DAZN, has set out his aims for the "next generation" media company he has launched with former Disney exec Tom Staggs, following its purchase of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

Nordic Entertainment Group is merging its companies Brain Academy and Nice Drama and bringing them together with Viaplay Studios Animation and Paprika Studios in a new organisation called Viaplay Studios.

Cameron Roach, outgoing director of drama at European pay TV broadcaster Sky, has launched a new production company called Rope Ladder Fiction.

RTS: The CEO of UK pay TV broadcaster Sky has declined to say whether its parent company, Comcast, would consider buying pubcaster Channel 4, as the UK government continues to push for its privatisation.

ViacomCBS-owned broadcaster BET in the US is launching a studio division that it says will give black creators more equity ownership in the TV and film projects they create.