M&E Industry News Bulletin #2

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M&E Industry News Bulletin
M&E Industry News Bulletin

Latest and most significant developments shaping the media and entertainment landscape.
[31st July to 18th Aug]

Latest and most significant developments shaping the media and entertainment landscape.
[31st July - 18th Aug]

Channel Distribution Partnerships

wedotv expands distribution in Italy

The ad-supported streaming network wedotv is expanding its distribution partnership with the Italian free TV platform tivùsat, adding its wedotv BIG stories FAST Channel. [EMEA]

Curiosity Stream and DirecTV partnership

Curiosity Stream expanded its U.S. reach through a multi-tier partnership with DirecTV, making its SVOD service and free ad-supported channel available to millions of households. [Americas]

ESPN, Fox ONE launch streaming bundle

ESPN and FOX ONE have partnered to launch a combined streaming bundle starting October 2 for $39.99 per month, offering consumers access to content from both services. [Americas]

AirBooking partners with Turkish Airlines

AirBooking has partnered with Turkish Airlines to become a TKConnect distribution partner, offering NDC-native content to users and helping them avoid a GDS surcharge. [EMEA]

Sinclair expands broadcast networks

Sinclair is expanding the national coverage of its free broadcast multicast networks, including CHARGE, Comet, ROAR, and The Nest, through new affiliate agreements and distribution deals with platforms like YouTube TV and Mediacom. [Americas]

MyFree DIRECTV adds FAST channels

DIRECTV’s free streaming service, MyFree DIRECTV, has added FAST channels from NBCUniversal, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery to its content lineup for its US subscribers. [Americas]

FilmRise adds clips to Fire TV

FilmRise is distributing more than 2,000 short-form video clips from 14 creators on Fire TV Channels in the U.S. This expands its content offering on the Amazon platform. [Americas]

McDonald’s-DoorDash online ordering

McDonald’s and DoorDash are expanding their global partnership with a new online ordering experience in the US, allowing customers to order McDelivery without a separate app or account. [Americas]

NWA, WOW on The Roku Channel

The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and WOW – Women Of Wrestling have partnered with The Roku Channel to launch a new free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel. [Americas]

Market Expansion

King Teemhy expands AVA Nexus

King Teemhy’s AVA Nexus announced a series of strategic expansions, including a new cross-continental media deal, an audio studio with Milla Mix, and an education partnership with an academy in Johannesburg. [EMEA]

WeWatch expands service to Samsung Smart TVs

WeWatch, a premium OTT TV and video service, is now officially available on the Samsung Smart TV app store, expanding its reach and partnerships with global tech leaders. [APAC]

Fox ONE streaming service launch

Fox Corporation is launching its new streaming service, FOX ONE, on August 21, 2025, to provide live and on-demand content from all its brands in one platform. [Americas]

SEGG Media acquires GXR platform

SEGG Media has completed a $10 million acquisition of GXR Racer Holdings’ technology assets and user base to build the Sports.com Super App. Paul Roy, GXR founder, will join as a director. [Global]

Dashverse secures Series A funding

Dashverse, an AI entertainment startup, has secured a $13 million Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners to develop mobile-first content platforms using generative AI. [APAC]

Dhar Mann Studios Hollywood expansion

Dhar Mann Studios is expanding into new genres and formats by hiring industry veterans, launching a FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus, and exploring acquisitions of creator-led businesses. [Americas]

TS Talent Group launches

A new specialized agency, TS Talent Group, has launched to create celebrity-driven brand campaigns. The company focuses on connecting talent with strategic brand partnerships for marketing initiatives. [Americas]

Gal Greenspan partners with MOFA

Gal Greenspan’s production company is partnering with Australian company MOFA to create a new company under the MOFA banner. They will focus on commercial and long-form projects. [Global]

Content Partnerships

Urban Edge-Victory Sports Network Partnership

Urban Edge Network and Victory Sports Network have partnered to amplify the visibility and distribution of NAIA and HBCU sports content to a broader audience. [Americas]

Sky Deutschland secures NBCUniversal content

Sky Deutschland renewed and expanded its partnership with NBCUniversal, securing exclusive rights for films and series for customers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. [EMEA]

Sky Italia Renews Bundesliga Rights

Bundesliga International and Sky Italia extended their partnership, securing exclusive rights for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in Italy through the 2028-29 season, continuing a long-standing relationship. [EMEA]

Cumulus and Rumble strategic partnership

Cumulus Media and Rumble announced a multi-pronged partnership to expand content distribution and advertising opportunities in the evolving podcasting and video content space. [Americas]

Gravity Media and Nine NRLW Partnership

Gravity Media partnered with Nine to provide broadcast and technology services for the 2025 NRLW season, including the inaugural Magic Round. [APAC]

Renda Media-Townsquare Digital Partnership

Townsquare Media and Renda Media have formed a strategic digital advertising partnership to bring Townsquare’s solutions to Renda’s markets, expanding their digital business. [Americas]

SCCG partners with iGaming media

SCCG Management has announced a strategic media partnership with iGaming Express and US iGaming Hub to deliver high-impact content and thought leadership across the global gaming industry. [Global]

UFC, Paramount, Skydance media partnership

Paramount Global, a Skydance company, has secured a seven-year, $7.7 billion exclusive media rights deal for all UFC events in the US, starting in 2026. This ends the pay-per-view model. [Americas]

Swift TV and Willow TV cricket stream

Swift TV has partnered with Willow TV to offer free, unlimited cricket streaming to fans in the USA and Canada. The deal leverages the growing free ad-supported television (FAST) market. [Americas]

Sprout Social launches new integrations

Sprout Social has launched new integrations and features, including partnerships with Adobe, Canva, and Salesforce, to enhance brand engagement and customer insights on platforms like TikTok and Bluesky. [Global]

Tubi expands creator content

Tubi announced that it has expanded its creator content with new partnerships, adding more than 5,000 episodes from digital-first creators including MrBeast and Jomboy Media. [Global]

Nelvana, Roku partner for kids series

Nelvana has partnered with The Roku Channel to exclusively launch the animated preschool series “Builder Brothers: Dream Factory” in the U.S. on August 15. [Americas]

Monetization & Ad-Supported Streaming Initiatives

Swiss TV industry agrees on replay-TV ad model

The Swiss TV industry, including public broadcaster SRG and commercial broadcasters, agreed on a unified ad model for replay-TV. This initiative aims to address declining revenues and adapt to modern viewing habits. [EMEA]

Roku launches ad-free streaming service

Roku launched “Howdy,” a new ad-free streaming service for $2.99/month with nearly 10,000 hours of content, as an affordable alternative to premium platforms. [Americas]

beIN, SMC Group renew ad partnership

beIN Media Group has renewed its exclusive advertising partnership with SMC Group until 2027. The Riyadh-based company will handle ad sales for beIN across 23 markets in the MENA region. [MENA]

OSN, The Trade Desk ad partnership

OSN and The Trade Desk have partnered to enable programmatic video advertising on OSNtv’s inventory. The collaboration will give advertisers access to premium content from HBO and Warner Bros. [MENA]

Sky Media’s Premier League sponsorship

Sky Media has secured the largest-ever Premier League sponsorship, bringing in six partners, including Guinness and Coca-Cola, for “whistle-to-whistle” coverage across its broadcast, digital, and social platforms. [Global]

OTT Studio partners with Amagi

OTT Studio selected Amagi ADS PLUS as its exclusive monetization partner for CTV ad inventory. The partnership will help monetize OTT Studio’s FAST channels like Free Movies Plus and Christmas Plus. [APAC]

New FAST Channels

BollywoodMasala launches for UK

The new HD entertainment channel, BollywoodMasala, has launched on Freeview UK to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month by showcasing content about the Hindi film industry. [EMEA]

Shout! TV launches Hong Kong Fight Club

Shout! TV launched “Hong Kong Fight Club,” a new FAST channel dedicated to classic Hong Kong action cinema from the 1980s and 1990s, available on multiple streaming platforms. [Americas]

Vodafone launches FAST channels with Amagi

Vodafone Germany partners with Amagi to provide its new Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) project on GigaTV, aiming to broaden content choices and create new revenue streams. [EMEA]

C15 Studio launches MotoGP Channel

C15 Studio and MotoGP partnered to launch a new 24/7 FAST channel in the US, featuring live race weekends, classic races, and documentaries from the motorcycle racing series. [Americas]

Hisense launches streaming service

Hisense launched a new free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service called Hisense Channels for its smart TVs, powered by a partnership with Xumo Enterprise, a joint venture of Comcast and Charter. [Americas]

Telemundo launches sports FAST channel

Telemundo has launched “Deportes Ahora,” a new 24/7 Spanish-language sports FAST channel. The channel, available on Peacock and other platforms, offers live events, news, and original content. [Americas]

Pluto TV launches Beyond the Gates channel

Pluto TV has launched a new, dedicated FAST channel for the CBS daytime soap opera Beyond the Gates. The channel features over 90 episodes, with new ones added eight days after their broadcast premiere. [Americas]

Elevation Church launches FAST channel

Elevation Church Network has launched a new, free 24/7 FAST channel on FreeCast. The channel will feature sermons from Pastor Steven Furtick and worship from Elevation Worship. [Global]

Thmanyah launches new digital platform and channels

Thmanyah, a Saudi-based company, launched a new digital platform and satellite TV channel, which will exclusively broadcast top-tier Saudi sports tournaments. [MENA]

New FAST Channels

Scripps appoints new VP of Research

The E.W. Scripps Company has appointed Sandy Padula as VP of research and consumer insights to lead enterprise-wide research and create advanced advertising tools across its multiplatform portfolio. [Global]

OUTFRONT Media leadership restructure

OUTFRONT Media has restructured its sales leadership by appointing Jim Norton as CRO of Enterprise and Mark Bonanni as CRO of Commercial, with Brad Alperin as Head of Brand Solutions. [Americas]

Canela Media appoints new CFO

Canela Media has appointed Jose Molina as its new Chief Financial Officer. Molina will be based in Miami, and brings over 20 years of financial leadership experience in Hispanic media. [Americas]

UTA expands communications team

United Talent Agency (UTA) is expanding its communications team with the hiring of Gabe Tesoriero as VP of corporate communications for music and Kate Cafaro for film and television. [Americas]

Morgan Murphy Media promotes trio

Morgan Murphy Media promoted three executives: Chris Cornelius to COO, Colin Benedict to chief innovation officer, and Neal Oberg to chief digital officer to drive company growth and innovation. [Americas]

Naomi Stopa promoted at Bardel

Bardel Entertainment has appointed Naomi Stopa as its new Vice President of Production. She will also lead the company’s new visual effects (VFX) division. [Americas]

Black Bear hires David Spitz

Black Bear has hired former Lionsgate executive David Spitz to lead its new U.S. theatrical distribution business. He will manage the theatrical release of up to 12 films per year. [Americas]

Trojan Horse Media creative leadership

Trojan Horse Media has expanded its creative leadership team with the appointment of Joey Daoud as Head of AI and Margaret Katcher as Head of Audio to support its global expansion and focus on new technologies. [Global]

Jennifer Askin promoted at All3Media

Jennifer Askin has been promoted to EVP, Americas at All3Media International, succeeding Sally Habbershaw. Whitney Muroff also joins as VP, North America to bolster the communications team. [Americas]

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