US president Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind the planned merger of US station groups Nexstar Media and Tegna, saying it would help in his fight against "the Fake News National TV Networks."

A broad coalition of free-to-air and streaming platforms across the Middle East and North Africa have signed on to carry S Productions' upcoming 30-part Egyptian psychological drama Ala Ad El Hob (aka Bound by Love) when it premieres on the first day of Ramadan 2026.

US cable broadcaster Great American Media has signed an exclusive multi-picture agreement with romantic comedy actress Merritt Patterson, with the first film set to go into production in the spring.

CONTENT AMERICAS: Atresmedia Internacional’s new chief Orestes Aja outlines the role the Spanish broadcaster’s digital platform Atresplayer plays in its global distribution strategy and how its relationship with YouTube is changing.

Channel 4 has appointed Bafta-winning executive producer Sarah Dillistone to lead a newly created in-house production arm, a move that marks a significant and controversial shift for the broadcaster as it seeks to own more intellectual property and diversify its revenues.

CONTENT AMERICAS: Six drama projects have been shortlisted to be pitched live at Content Americas, with a US$20,000 prize up for grabs for the winner. 

CONTENT AMERICAS: Brendan Fitzgerald, CEO of Spain’s Secuoya Studios, outlines his strategy of creating a network of first-look partnerships around the world to build a global version of the traditional Hollywood studio model.

We Will Dance Again production company Sipur Studios of Israel has come onboard as partner on two scripted projects that are being pitched at C21’s conference and market Content Americas later this month.

Middle Eastern production veteran Ziad Kebbi has launched a new production venture, RefleKT Media, which aims to put AI and Arabic intellectual property at its core.

Rounding out this series of C21 articles looking ahead to 2026, industry execs give us their takes on where Al is heading, the impact of consolidation and how YouTube will continue stealing a march on viewers' attention.