NEWS BRIEF: Commercially funded UK public broadcaster Channel 4 has commissioned a four-part comedy interview show in which comedian and cycling enthusiast David O’Doherty heads out with celebrity guests on bikes.

WarnerMedia-owned HBO Max has appointed Canal+ executive Vera Peltekian as VP and commissioning editor of original production in France.

ZDF Enterprises, the commercial arm of the German pubcaster, has acquired 49% of Studio Hamburg subsidiary Real Film.

ITV Studios, the production and sales arm of the UK commercial broadcaster, has added three new directors of production roles to oversee UK scripted, UK non-scripted and international production as director of production Sally Debonnaire prepares to retire.

Magazine and online publisher Future PLC has rebranded its factual television production company Barcroft Studios as Future Studios, and announced a pair of promotions in its executive team.

NEWS BRIEF: US tech giant Amazon has renewed its Jack Ryan drama series for a fourth season ahead of the third’s premiere on its Prime Video SVoD service.

NEWS BRIEF: Lionsgate-owned US cablenet Starz has renewed its original comedic drama Blindspotting, which picks up after the end of the feature film of the same name for a second season.

Talpa Network, John de Mol's Netherlands-based production and distribution business, has poached Maarten Meijs from ITV Studios to be its new CEO.

MIPCOM: DR in Denmark and SVT in Sweden are among the European broadcasters to have acquired the latest period drama from UK commercial broadcaster ITV and streamer BritBox.

NEWS BRIEF: Commercially funded UK pubcaster Channel 4 has acquired a documentary special celebrating the history of the Second World War Avro Lancaster aircraft, produced by UK indie Big Little Fish TV.