Banijay-owned UK unscripted prodco Workerbee has inked a multi-project deal with Oscar-winning Scottish director and producer Kevin Macdonald.

Kathleen Finch at Warner Bros Discovery’s US networks is aiming to get commissioning back on the road after extensive cutbacks that followed the group’s mega-merger in 2022.

LA-based Fifth Season (fka Endeavor Content) has made a number of appointments and promotions across its expanding EMEA Television Distribution team.

Edward Berger, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind All Quiet on the Western Front, has launched a new production company and agreed a first-look deal with European production group Fremantle.

Middle Eastern broadcaster MBC Group has appointed Christina Wayne as managing director of its Studios production arm, with experienced media exec Pete Smith moving on from the role to pursue other ventures.

European pay TV broadcaster Sky has unveiled a slate of 12 original commissions for its Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky Nature and Sky Arts channels in the UK, including a profile of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg.

The effects of consolidation, algorithms and economic struggles dominated conversation as the unscripted business pitched up in Austin, Texas this week, while programming itself was somewhat overlooked.

US broadcast network The CW is to dramatically increase the amount of unscripted content in its schedule, following its recent takeover by station group Nexstar.

Alex Gibney, the renowned documentary maker behind films such as Taxi to the Dark Side and scientology exposé Going Clear, says the influence of mergers and consolidation, streamer algorithms and celebrity exec producers risks eroding trust and standards in the doc business.

Kathleen Finch, chairman and chief content officer for Warner Bros Discovery’s US networks, today said a year of post-merger exec exits, content axing and commissioning freezes is over and this is “not how we do business” moving forwards.