Here Comes Pod: Recent Episodes
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Avi Armoza joined Here Comes Pod to talk about building Armoza Formats into one of the world's leading entertainment formats businesses, how big is beautiful when it comes to pitching a show to US buyers, and how development can be inspired by the venture capital model. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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Have you ever had a nightmare where you go for a job interview but you don't know any of the questions being asked of you, and the whole process is being broadcast to the nation on live TV? For Guy Goma this nightmare came true in one of the most infamous moments in TV history. Elliott Gotkine, the BBC news executive responsible for the mix-up, joined Here Comes Pod to talk about his new book, The Wrong Guy, that tells the story of the day's events and the repercussions that followed. Enjoy!
Here's a link to the interview:
https://youtu.be/e6Y2uQn_wvc?si=0oM6rxQHqC38DcIf
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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Marina Williams joined me on this week's episode of Here Comes Pod to share her experience of building businesses in TV, firstly within corporate giants like CNN, Fox Kids, Fox and Endemol Shine before co-founding Asacha Media Group. Along the way she worked with some of the most inspirational leaders in the TV industry, but which ones did she choose as her TV Power Rangers? Have a listen and find out!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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This week Midge Ure, the man behind Band Aid, Live Aid and some of the greatest music of the last 50 years, joined Here Comes Pod to talk about his fascinating career in the music business. From his first number one with boyband Slik, through turning down Malcolm McClaren's invitation to join the Sex Pistols, embracing the New Romantic era with Visage and transforming music and music video making with Ultravox, Midge has been in the forefront of so many epochs in pop history. Add in Do They Know It's Christmas and helping to organise two of the greatest concerts in pop history and there was a lot of ground to cover. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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The IPL is back, and as the league heads towards becoming the world's most valuable sports franchise, it's a great time to chat with Michael Grindon and Andy Kaplan about the establishment of the league. SET India was the first broadcast partner for the IPL and Michael and Andy shared their perspectives on the establishment of SET India, securing the funding for the initial bid that won the rights, the success of the first season and the challenges that followed in navigating that successful first season and beyond. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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Known for decades as Pro7's man in Hollywood, Ruediger Boess knows how to tell a story, so when I sent a message to Rudi asking him to be a guest on Here Comes Pod I was delighted when he agreed. Rudi and I talked about his amazing career buying the biggest movies and series in TV history; why honesty was the best policy when giving feeedback on shows to Hollywood executives; becoming a film producer; and how he made one studio's blacklist. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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The Buggles claimed that video killed the radio star, but this week's guest on Here Comes Pod, Steve Ackerman, joined the show to share his thoughts on how video is helping to build the podcast stars of today and tomorrow. We chatted about the evolution of podcasting into video as well as audio, his experience of the medium in the US, the power of building a community of interest to drive commercial value and what David Brent can teach us about how not to lead a team. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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The Men's T20 World Cup has begun in India and Sri Lanka, so what better time to chat with Lalit Modi, the man who revolutionised the world of Indian cricket and arguably world sport with the creation and launch of the T20 Indian Premier League. Even if you're not a fan of cricket it's a fascinating dive into Lalit's career: launching a JV with the Walt Disney Company and creating the Pay TV business in India with ESPN; negotiating sports rights with Rupert Murdoch and later with Sony Entertainment Television; re-thinking the cricket business to attract younger and female audiences and dominating Prime Time; and harnessing the power of celebrity to create a mass market property. For anyone interested in creating a paradigm shift in media value it's a must-listen. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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Chris Bird joined me this week on Here Comes Pod to chat about being lectured by Francis Ford Coppola, educated at Momentum Pictures, inspired at Lovefilm and given a platform for success at Amazon Prime Video where he ran the UK service. To paraphrase a famous quote about TV in the UK, we talk films, football and Clarkson farming. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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Oscar-winning producer, writer and actor Grant Heslov joined me on this week's episode of Here Comes Pod to talk about a career filled with good nights and good luck. We chatted about the importance of the script in all of Smokehouse Productions movies and TV series, why he remains a devotee of the big screen experience for movies, why his friend and business partner George Clooney is one of dying breed of movie stars and his appreciation of British acting, writing and directing talent. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
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Life's not Fair - It's Fabulous! That's the message of the hit stage show Burlesque, based on the 2010 movie of the same name. This week's guest on Here Comes Pod, Clint Culpepper, put the movie together during his phenomenally successful career at Sony Pictures' label Screen Gems, and has brought the movie to the West End and beyond. I asked Clint if he could turn back time and find a way to talk about the genesis of Burlesque, casting Christina Aguilera and Cher in the movie, and the runaway success of the stage version. Luckily he said yes, so please enjoy the ride and welcome to Burlesque!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Steve Mosko joined me on Here Comes Pod this week to talk about a career in TV that has included TV station management in Philadelphia, running Sony Pictures Television and heading up Village Roadshow Entertainment. From Breaking Bad to the Blacklist, Seinfeld to Shark Tank, Steve has been at the forefront of US entertainment for decades and he shared the Mosko rules for success in Hollywood. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
On this week's episode of Here Comes Pod, Hollywood royalty Kim Masters talked about her amazing career as a reporter, broadcaster, author and host of the industry flagship radio show and podcast, The Business. We chatted about her early career working for Ben Bradlee at the Washington Post, her big stories at The Hollywood Reporter, writing the definitive Hollywood studio book Hit And Run and her new start at Puck News. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
It's London Screenings week and the start of a new chapter as Mip comes to London, so who better to chat to this week than industry legend Dermot Horan, Director of Acquisitions and Co-productions at RTE. We talked about the importance of co-productions to the drama landscape, what makes a good buyer and salesperson, how best to navigate international events like the London Screenings and the three executives he would bring for company if he ended up Lost. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
On this week's episode of Here Comes Pod I was joined by Jon Farrar, SVP Group Editorial and Content at SVOD service Britbox. Jon's career trajectory has taken him from the mail room at ITV franchise Carlton Television to UKTV, MTV Networks, Universal Networks, BBC Studios and Sky Showtime before returning to the BBC fold at Britbox. Jon talks about the importance of putting the viewer first in every role he has had, why British programming continues to enjoy global success, and the exciting line-up of programming at Britbox as it seeks to conquer the US and other key markets. Enjoy this week's episode from our Englishman in New York and beyond!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
On this week's episode of Here Comes Pod I was joined by Peter Andrews, Head of Network Programming at SBS Australia. In a fiercely competitive market, SBS continues to brilliantly balance its public service and commercial remits as well as innovating in its phenomenally successful SBS On Demand service. Peter shares his insights into how this has been achieved and the lessons in leadership his career has given him. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Fernando Szew joined me on Here Comes Pod this week to share his experience of transforming MarVista Entertainment from a small family business to a global powerhouse for TV Movies, family entertainment and the Power Rangers franchise; the transition of MarVista into the world of Fox; and his new role overseeing Fox Entertainment Studios. As well as MarVista, we talked Messi, Maradona, mentors and Mipcom. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
My guest this week on Here Comes Pod, Peter Schlessel, is best described as a movie mogul. His career has included the acquisition, production, distribution and finance of feature films, with roles as President of Production at Sony Pictures, founder of indie label Film District and CEO of Focus Features. We talked about his start at RCA/Columbia, working with talented filmmakers, how to succeed as a film executive and the deal that brought Spider-Man to Sony Pictures. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Danna Stern joined Here Comes Pod this week to talk about her fascinating media career. We discussed her start as a journalist and radio producer, acquisitions and deal making with the Hollywood majors at Israeli satellite platform yes DBS, launching yes Studios which brought iconic series like Fauda and Your Honor to the international market, and her new company In Transit Productions from where she produced the haunting documentary Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre. Throw in the role of Netflix in unleashing the power of storytelling outside of the English language and it was a wide-ranging chat. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Football finance guru Kieran Maguire joined Here Comes Pod this week to share stories from a career as an accountant, lecturer and co-host of the wildly successful and simply brilliant podcast, The Price of Football. Kieran is the go-to guy for fans, journalists, investors and government ministers who want to know what is happening with the business of the beautiful game and Here Comes Pod was lucky enough to get some deep background on how the magic happens. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Insigniam founding partner Nathan Rosenberg is this week's guest on Here Comes Pod. Nathan has advised over 85,000 individuals and 12% of the world's biggest companies on organisational transformation, business breakthroughs and executive coaching. From a career as a military pilot to advising Hollywood studio senior management, Nathan has some fascinating insights into the human factor in business, the hit and miss nature of the film business and the day he realised Kevin Costner was doing his job. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Antony Root came on to Here Comes Pod this week to talk about a storied career at the BBC, ITV, Working Title, Sony Pictures and HBO. In the week that Dr Who hit global screens we talked about script development on this iconic show, the role the BBC plays in curating British writers, breaking into the US TV market and the evolution of HBO as it brings Max to the global market. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
In this episode of Here Comes Pod, Will Harrison shares insights from a stellar career that has included senior roles at media giants including Warner Brothers, Disney, HBO Europe and Britbox UK. All of these media companies have strong brands and there is no one better placed to discuss the importance of media brands and the power of franchises than Will, and so this was a big topic in this episode, We'll also find out if Berger, Bamford, Baxter, Blair is the name of the new law firm in the Suits reboot or a TV executive dream team. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Here Comes Pod has attempted to provide answers to some of the important questions in the media business, and this week's query is: who advertises TV to the advertisers? In the UK the answer is Thinkbox, and CEO Lindsey Clay joined me to explain how the the company, established by the UK's commercial broadcasters and recently joined by the streamers, advocates for TV as a key marketing communication channel for brands big and small. We covered a lot of ground, from Slough to Hong Kong, account management to the media department, and the big screen in the corner to the small ones in all our pockets. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
When Netflix launched Formula One: Drive To Survive it heralded the golden age of sports access documentaries. This week's guest on Here Comes Pod, Box To Box Films co-founder James Gay-Rees, is very much in pole position to talk about this golden age. Having started his film career at Miramax, James then segued into producing award-winning documentary features like Senna, Amy and Maradona. Pivoting to producing TV series, James co-founded Box To Box which has built on the success of Drive To Survive to go behind the scenes of the world's leading sports with shows like Break Point (tennis), Full Swing golf) and Six Nations: Full Contact (Rugby). James talks about the joys and challenges of producing these shows and shares his thoughts on the direction of travel for the genre. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod, Marc Lorber, has a truly global perspective on the TV business. In a career that has included stints at some of the world's leading studios - Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, Disney and WBD - Marc has produced both scripted and non-scripted TV series on every continent on the planet. Whether it was spotting the potential of original series like Motherland in the UK, producing formats like The Nanny and Ugly Betty in Russia, or kickstarting original production for HBO in Central and Eastern Europe, Marc has insights that very few TV execs can match and he kindly shared these on this week's episode. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
On this episode of Here Comes Pod I was joined by one of the titans of the global media industry, Hans-Holger Albrecht. We talked about his first TV job at CLT, forerunner of German TV powerhouse RTL; his role as President and CEO of Modern Times Group overseeing the Nordic satellite broadcaster Viasat and launching Viaplay; his experience transforming telco Millicom into a lifestyle operation; moving into pure-play digital distribution as CEO of music streaming service Deezer; and his current portfolio including being chairman of the board of streaming audiobook service Storytel. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
This week's episode of Here Comes Pod tells the Legend of Lisa Opie, (un)charting her TV career that started at BSB and Sky and went through the levels at Flextech, Channel 5, Two Four and BBC Studios. Now MD of two of Ubisoft's UK studios Leamington and Reflections, Lisa shares her thoughts on her working life in TV and how her move across to the video games industry was a call of duty to her gaming son. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Bobby Charlton was a legend on the pitch for Manchester United and England, a World Cup winner, European Cup Winner and England's leading goalscorer for decades. When his playing career ended he was a trusted advisor to the Manchester United board and a TV pundit. But one of his other lasting legacies was the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools, which provided coaching and holiday breaks to generations of players, from David Beckham to kids who only ever played for fun. When my dad, Ken Goldman, interviewed Charlton in the 1980s the Soccer Schools were the main topic of discussion, and Bobby's love of the game and passion for helping the next generation of players shone through. Enjoy the pod and RIP Bobby Charlton
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is a star of the big screen and the small screen. Billy Campbell's leading role in Cardinal reminded audiences of a talent seen in movies like The Rocketeer and Bram Stoker's Dracula as well as standout TV series like Dynasty, The 4400 and The Killing. His next role is in Canadian thriller Something Undone, once again portraying a character with a dark past. We talked about working with Coppola, lessons learned from Sir Anthony Hopkins and how he almost missed out on Cardinal. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
TV and football are passions for many, although few people have careers in both industries. But this week's guest on Here Comes Pod, Bernd Reichart, has been a senior executive in both TV and football. Bernd talks about his TV experience within the RTL Group, initially at Spain's Atresmedia Television before he returned to Germany to head up Vox and then become Group CEO of RTL Germany. Bernd now runs A22, a sports management group that hopes to bring changes to the way midweek club football operates and is governed in Europe. Bernd shares his thinking on the current state of European football and how A22 plans to re-shape the way the game is set up going forward. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod's media partner is C21, the go-to outlet for news an insights into the international TV industry. You can find them at c21media.net
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
With a CV that includes overseeing massive hits like Dancing With The Stars, The Voice, The Apprentice and America's Got Talent, Paul Telegdy can rightly be called the King of entertainment programming. Paul joined me on Here Comes Pod to talk about life at the BBC, dealing with extraordinary people including a future President in his time as Chairman of Entertainment at NBC, his new venture The Whole Spiel and how an Elvis show left the broadcasting building. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
The Premier League is back this weekend, and Tottenham Hotspur have been dominating the headlines in the run up to kick off. Whether it is the battle to keep their talismanic striker Harry Kane or the federal charges levelled at the "owner" Joe Lewis, the Spurs hierarchy, led by chairman Daniel Levy, have their hands full. So it's an interesting moment to look back at a previous era to see how leading a top flight football team has changed and to assess what has stayed the same.
In November 1984 my dad, Ken Goldman, sat down with newly installed Spurs chairman Irving Scholar to discuss his approach to running the club, the relationship between chairman and manager, transparency and communication, and his passion for Tottenham Hotspur. It's a fascinating insight into Scholar, Tottenham and English football in the pre-Premier League era. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Kevin MacLellan joined me on Here Comes Pod this week to talk about a career that spanned the titans of the television industry - MTV Networks, HBO, Sony Pictures, Comcast and NBC Universal, where he oversaw annual income of $5bn and 2,500 employees. That was a massive job and Kevin shares the inside track on how to steer a business of that size, the dynamics of Comcast's acquisition of Sky, the impact of digital disruption on global legacy media companies, and why boys will be boys. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
There is no better person to explain the current turmoil gripping Hollywood than Puck News co-founder and former Hollywood Reporter editorial director Matt Belloni. Matt's newsletter What I'm Hearing is the definitive insider's guide to the latest buzz in Tinseltown and his podcast The Town is a must-listen for anyone interested in the entertainment business. We discussed the place of reporters in the Hollywood ecosystem, the latest updates on the strikes that have paralysed the entertainment business and whether The Nanny represents the past or the AI-generated future for Hollywood. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is Sky entertainment supremo Zai Bennett. In a career that has spanned ITV, C5, the BBC and Sky, Zai has been involved in some of the most important moments in British broadcasting in the last quarter of a century. So we had a lot of ground to cover, from the birth of reality TV with TOWIE, navigating the creative and organisational juggernaut of the BBC, and marrying creativity, commerce and the customer at Sky with a slate of programming as diverse as Chernobyl, Gangs of London and A League Of Their Own that sit alongside the powerhouse shows of HBO. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Claire Enders joined me on this week's episode of Here Comes Pod to talk about her eponymously named company Enders Analysis. As you can imagine the interview turned into a whirlwind tour de force of anecdotes from Claire's unique career spent analysing the media industry, campaigning to protect democracy and the plurality of information options available to the public, as well as sharing her deep love of British political thought and culture. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
My guest this week is Sara Johnson, whose career in the TV business has encompassed script editing, drama producing and series commissioning. Whether it was honing material at Eastenders, heading up drama at Sky and Fox UK, or bringing the transformative BBC series The A Word to the screen at Keshet, Sara has always been associated with best in class material. She is now using that creative energy, taste and passion in her latest endeavor, having launched Bridge06, a business that advises all parts of the TV and entertainment business in how to recognise and benefit from the value of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent talent.
So please enjoy the podcast, but also reach out to Sara to see how Bridge06 can help everyone make the TV industry more inclusive and better at reflecting the world we live in. The Bridge06 website is here: https://bridge06.com/ and you can reach Sara at sara@bridge06.com
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Look out for the upcoming episode of Here Comes Pod with Dan Chambers - we talked Big Brother, why Joey was not the best of friends, and the best place to create a TV series. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
It was a privilege to be joined by Jeffrey Schlesinger for this week's episode of Here Comes Pod. In a 37 year career at Warner Brothers, 26 of which were spent as President of International TV Distribution, Jeffrey not only helped to define the image of Warner Brothers in the international market, but he also helped to establish the way that the international TV distribution industry operated. We talked about his start in the TV business, the highlights of his amazing career at Warner Brothers, the best deal he didn't do, and building a world class sales team. And in a first for Here Comes Pod, but not for Jeffrey, an elephant made an appearance in the proceedings. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Greg Brenman falls into that rare category of generational talent. With a CV that includes Billy Elliot, The Honourable Woman, Peaky Blinders, Fat Friends, Ripper Street and the recent hit BBC drama The English, Greg has produced some of the most iconic and lauded TV series of the last 25 years. We talked about his start in the TV business, establishing the Tiger Aspect drama operation, going independent with his production company Drama Republic, and how great material is at the heart of his work. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is Peter Taylor, one of the legends of the UK film business. We chatted about Peter's love of film as a young man, his start in the business on the set of Flash Gordon, and his long career at Sony Pictures, whether it was shepherding the studio's blockbuster releases like Spiderman, the talent-friendly culture created by studio heads Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton, and navigating the 2014 hack. We also touched on his connection with Warner Brothers as both a young sales executive and briefly as MD. But it was his work on the James Bond franchise that was the pinnacle of Peter's work at Sony and which we discussed at length. So please enjoy this week's podcast, from Here Comes Pod With Love!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Forget business school - this week's episode of Here Comes Pod is an education in how to run a massive organisation. Etienne de Villiers joined me to discuss a career spent at world famous media and sports operations like The Walt Disney Company, the ATP and the IPL, with some fascinating insights and stories from the front line.
Born in apartheid-era South Africa, Etienne's early career included working for the legendary Sol Kerzner at Satbel and negotiating with FW de Klerk to desegregate cinemas in South Africa. He then moved to Disney to manage the international TV operation, which grew from $15m to $1bn in annual turnover during his tenure. Senior roles at the BBC and ITV followed but we focussed on his experience in professional sports, including the challenges he faced as chairman of the ATP and his work with old business partner Lalit Modi in bringing the IPL to South Africa.
If you want to know the key to success at Disney as it built its international business in the 1990s, how and why the IPL is a unique phenomenon that is so hard to replicate, and how Paul Simon discovered diamonds in a South African recording studio as well as on the soles of his shoes, listen on and enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
For me Pelé will always be The King of the beautiful game of football. Soon after retiring Pelé chatted to my dad Ken Goldman about what he missed from his playing days, the state of Brazilian football, soccer in the US and the opponents he rated most highly. In this long lost interview Pelé's warmth and generosity of spirit exude from every word he speaks. RIP Pelé, always The King.
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His first three films - Con Air, The General's Daughter and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - all grossed over $100m at the US box office, so when it comes to directing blockbuster movies this week's guest, Simon West, is perfectly placed to explain how it's done. We talked about these films, the challenges of getting Blackhawk Down to the screen, working with the gods of action movies in Expendables 2, and his latest work on Amazon mini series Boundless. There is even time for some Rickrolling - enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
He played Geordie handyman Michael in I'm Alan Partridge and is the voice of everyone's favourite meerkat Alexander Orlov in the famous TV advertising campaign. Simon Greenall's career as a writer, performer and voice talent has taken in some of the most iconic moments in recent TV comedy history, so it was great to have him on the podcast this week's guest. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
My guest this week is comedy writer and broadcaster Paul Hawksbee, co-host of the Hawksbee and Jacobs daily show on Talksport. But before becoming a broadcaster, Paul had a stellar career as a comedy writer, working with some of the greats of British comedy including the Two Ronnies, Frankie Howerd, Al Murray and Harry Hill. Add in the co-creation of iconic football magazine 90 Minutes, his attempts to get Jurgen Klinsmann to tumble in the penalty box on Fantasy World Cup, and his time working at Chelsea despite being a Spurs fan, and we had lots to chat about. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
My guest this week has his name above the door of his movie studio STX Entertainment. Bob Simonds built his career in Hollywood working with stars like Adam Sandler and Steve Martin and his movies have made billions at the global box office. Bob then founded STX using the same principle of casting stars in signature roles and that strategy has led to more box office and critical success with movies like Bad Moms, The Upside, Hustlers and 21 Bridges. Bob talked about his start in the business, working with talent and re-shaping theatrical releasing. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Adam Kirby has been a force in the British advertising and marketing scene for a generation. Working as an Account Director at leading advertising agencies like AMV, Lowe Howard-Spink, Bates Dorland and Saatchi and Saatchi, Adam worked on some of the most iconic campaigns in British advertising history, before he made a move to the client side at Diageo and now operates as a marketing consultant. Not content with filling the advertising breaks with great creative, Adam is now on UK screens in hit C4 reality TV series Make Me Prime Minister, so we had a lot of ground to cover in the podcast. Enjoy!
You can find Here Comes Pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or most other podcast outlets. If you enjoyed this episode of Here Comes Pod please do leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Ali vs Frazier; Barca vs Real; the Red Sox vs the Yankees. When heavyweights in sport come up against each other, something magical happens. And on this week's episode of Here Comes Sports Pod is one of the sports rights industry's big hitters, David Kogan.
Currently a board member of C4, David has had a stellar career as a journalist, TV and radio producer and author, but he specialises in negotiating TV sports rights and acted as the primary media advisor to the English Premier League for 17 years, often stepping into the ring with Sky and my recent guest Mike Darcey. So whilst the setting may have been more back garden than Madison Square Garden, David and I were still able to cover some fascinating areas, including his early days in media, building a competitive market for the EPL's TV rights, the role of regulation in sport and the potential for the WSL. Think of this episode as the Chill in Muswell Hill - enjoy!
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is Lionsgate President of Worldwide TV and Digital Distribution Jim Packer. Jim and I chatted about his early days at Disney; learning new skills and gaining new experience at MGM, including navigating the transition of the company's sales into Sony Pictures and out again; rebuilding the sales team at MGM; and finding his entrepreneurial home at Lionsgate. What is clear is that Jim's thirst for knowledge and insight has been the driving force in his rise to head of a worldwide sales operation, but that sometimes the world is not enough. Enjoy!
The Premier League launched as The Premiership in 1992 and football in England was transformed. But as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the start of this global phenomenon, we shouldn't forget that football did exist PPL - Pre Premier League. In the decade prior to the formation of the league, the 1980s, football's fortunes ebbed and flowed, but it left an indelible mark on the players and supporters who fell in love with the game prior to its Premier League existence.
It was a world of one club men like Steve Perryman and Trevor Brooking who were icons of the English game. But the fans still revered the greats of the past like Pele, Cruyff and Charlton who had forged their reputations in previous eras. New managers like Alex Ferguson were trying to make their mark, and established managers like Keith Burkinshaw were winning trophies but fearing for the more commercial future as new leaders in the boardroom - men like Irving Scholar at Tottenham and David Dein at Arsenal - were re-shaping the structure of the game in response to tragedy and opportunity, supported by advisors like Alex Fynn. Foreign players like Ossie Ardiles were starting to make their mark, and managers like John Lyall were assessing the merits of bringing more into the English game. Agents like Jerome Anderson were scouring Europe for new players whilst starting to support their clients' desire to secure a better financial present and future, and coaches like West Ham's Tony Carr were trying to develop the skills in players that seemed to be disappearing in a league that became more muscular and direct in style. Media coverage was limited, but a new breed of journalists like Henry Winter were joining the ranks of the football press to bring a new insightful style of match reporting, and radio stations like LBC - led by Steve Tongue - provided the best access to the Saturday experience in the home.
LBC was also the place that my dad, Ken Goldman, began his football journalism career and his archive of interviews from this era provides an incredible insight into football in England in the 1980s. In this extended episode you'll hear from all of the people above, whether they were interviewed in the 80s or sharing their recent memories of this period. I fell in love with football in the 1980s, and it was a joyous and emotional journey of revelation and reflection for me to go back to the decade that provided the platform for the Premier League that is now celebrating another milestone. I hope you enjoy the journey too!
Finally many thanks to everyone who contributed as an interviewee and who helped me to connect with so many insightful and helpful people.
If you are interested in the evolution of Pay TV in the UK, the dynamics of high end sports rights negotiations, and the challenges of leading a large media organisation during a period of intense regulatory and legal scrutiny, then this week's episode of Here Comes Sports Pod will be perfect.
Mike Darcey spent 15 years at Sky overseeing strategy for the group and then moving into the COO chair, before Rupert Murdoch asked him to navigate News International through some incredibly choppy waters. He now has a number of advisory and board roles, not least of which is Chair of British Gymnastics. Mike shares some fascinating stories from his time in these roles, and we covered so much ground that this is a bumper extended episode. Enjoy!
My guest on this episode of Here Comes Pod is Joanna Reesby, founder of the leading creative industry executive search firm Mission Bay. Whilst Joanna is probably more used to discussing other people's careers, in this episode she talks about her start as a lawyer in New Zealand, moving into a commercial role at Hasbro, the joy of working with the two Simons, Fuller and Cowell, at 19 Entertainment and her move into executive search. We covered Mission Bay's recent integration into SRI and Joanna revealed the two people she would recruit to save the world! Enjoy.
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is one of the UK's most experienced TV executives, Dawn Airey. We covered a lot of ground - her start in the business at ITV, her move to C4, Greg Dyke's cunning plan to entice her over to C5 and the joy of launching the channel, life at Sky under Tony Ball and James Murdoch, and returning to C4 as a board member and interim chair. Enjoy!
Here Comes Sports Pod is back with another legend of English football from the 1980s. Keith Burkinshaw was a trailblazer when he signed Argentinian World Cup winners Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa to Tottenham Hotspur just weeks after the 1978 tournament. He took a relegated team to domestic and European cup success before leaving the club with a prescient warning about the growing influence of money in the game. Keith joined me to chat about his time at Tottenham and relive some very happy memories. Enjoy!
My guest this week on Here Comes Pod is Wall Street Journal writer Ben Fritz, author of the best selling book The Big Picture. Ben talks about his days coming through the entertainment journalism ranks at Variety and the LA Times, before he joined the Wall Street Journal where he is currently West Coast Bureau Chief for US News. But our main focus is The Big Picture, Ben's fascinating dissection of the movie business which charts the ever-increasing focus on franchises and brands, as seen through the lens of the revelations from the Sony Pictures hack. Enjoy!
Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick - all products of the West Ham youth development system. My guest this week, Tony Carr, spent 43 years at West Ham working with these and many other players to help turn them into the greats of the modern game. His autobiography is out now, and Tony sat down with me to talk about training and technique, running in Epping Forest and the West Ham way. Enjoy
This week's guest on Here Comes Sports Pod is a sporting icon from a previous generation. Steve Perryman won multiple domestic and European trophies during his 19 year career at Tottenham Hotspur and became the club's record appearance holder. He shares his experiences as a young apprentice professional coming into the game, the arrival of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa to English football, the secret of Liverpool's success in the 1980s with Graeme Souness at the heart of the team, and how he would cope with playing in the modern game.
Steve Perryman will always be Captain, my Captain. I hope you enjoying listening to him talking about his career, and for more current thoughts from Steve on the modern game please do check out his podcast The Steve Perryman Podcast
https://shows.acast.com/steve-perryman-podcast
Mip TV is back, and as a special treat Here Comes Pod is celebrating the market with a special guest - Armando Nunez. Armando talks about his early days in the business, the constant evolution of ViacomCBS during his 20 years running the international distribution there, the golden age of US TV series, and why a business built on relationships needs a market like Mip TV. Enjoy.
Here Comes Pod now has a sibling - Here Comes Sports Pod, with interviews from the world of sports in general and football in particular. And there is no better place to start than with a look back at the tumultuous events of April 2021, and the short lived European Super League, with football consultant Alex Fynn. Alex picks out the three games that changed European football, his role in the establishment of the Champions League which set the ESL in motion and the reasons why the ESL failed. Enjoy
My guest this week is Kelly Williams, Managing Director of Commercial at ITV. Kelly talks about his early days at Thames Television and UKTV, his move to Channel 5, and his current role at the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster. Along the way he shares thoughts on the difference between selling and negotiating, how Nick Milligan helped to re-shape the way advertising was traded in the UK, the key success factors in the bounce-back of advertising revenue in the UK during the pandemic, and how he and Jeff Ford were the last men standing when Channel 5 was bought by Northern and Shell. Enjoy!
Marion Edwards joined me on Here Comes Pod this week, and what an entertaining and fascinating chat it turned out to be. There was so much good stuff in there that this episode is a two-parter! So in part 1 Marion talks about her start in the international film and TV business at Universal Studios, her move to MGM, and then her long and prestigious career at Twentieth Century Fox, as well as a deeper dive into the opportunities and challenges that came with licensing The Simpsons around the world. A big thanks to David Smyth for connecting us. Enjoy!
Welcome back to the second part of Here Comes Pod with Marion Edwards. In this episode, Marion talks about the challenges she faced as a female executive in the male dominated studio system, the Disney takeover of Fox, and some of her favourite Fox TV shows. Enjoy!
Here Comes Pod is back, and this week's guest is former Sony Pictures Television President of International Television Michael Grindon. Michael talks about his early career at HBO and the excitement of establishing the TV distribution team at Legendary Entertainment, but it is his time at Sony Pictures that we discussed in most detail - building an international team, launching the international productions operation and recruiting Sir Howard Stringer to the cause of buying Indian cricket rights. Enjoy!
If you love movies and movie-making, this week's guest on Here Comes Pod is the man for you. Harald Kloser is both a composer and movie producer, and his long term collaboration with director Roland Emmerich has produced success after success, from The Day After Tomorrow to Midway. Harald talks about the role music plays in our appreciation of movies, the process of putting a score together, why the theatrical experience will not disappear, and how Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton convinced Roland and him to bring the movie 2012 to Sony Pictures. Enjoy the podcast, and festive greetings to all.
Here Comes Pod welcomes James Baker this week to talk about TV past, present and future. From his early days at TV-am to rolling out Nickelodeon, then heading up programming at Sky One, his 10 year stint at Red Arrow Studios and now exploring future TV business models with Silberhorn Media Capital, James has an unrivalled perspective on the evolution of TV. He also gives us the inside scoop on the infamous Chatty Rat. Enjoy!
Josephus, Amos Oz and Milk and Honey...Israeli cultural exports had been quite limited since the global breakout success of The Bible. But in recent years Israel has been a hotbed of creative influence in the international TV business. Broadcaster and producer Keshet has led the way, and in this week's episode of Here Comes Pod, Keshet International CEO Alon Shtruzman gives his thoughts on how this has been achieved, along with insights into his career to date. A-Ba-Ni-Bi!
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is Stephen Mowbray, currently Head of Programme Acquisitions at Swedish public broadcaster SVT, and soon to join NENT as head of series and kids for Viaplay. Stephen tells us about his early days at C4 in the UK, the move to Sweden, the changing landscape in Nordic media, and the importance of relationships in the acquisitions market. (Here's a hint - it's just not all about money, money, money). Njut!
My guest on this episode of Here Comes Pod is international TV distribution guru Gary Marenzi. With stints at Columbia Pictures, UIP, Paramount, MGM and Endeavour Content, Gary has overseen some of the world's biggest entertainment properties, and helped create a couple as well. Whether it was the Bond franchise, Stargate, Teen Wolf or more lately The Night Manager and Killing Eve, Gary has been there and he now uses that vast experience in his company Marenzi and Associates. Did we expect him to talk? Absolutely!
Don't forget to check out previous interviews with guests from the film, TV and advertising worlds at Here Comes Pod on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and wherever you get your podcasts. And if you like the podcast it would be great to give it a review on iTunes.
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is Andy Kaplan, former COO of Sony Pictures Television, President of Sony Pictures Television Worldwide Networks and now Chairman of KC Global Media Entertainment. Andy shares stories of his time working with legendary TV producer Norman Lear, building the international channels business at Sony Pictures TV, and how securing the first every IPL cricket rights in India was a game changer. Enjoy!
Mipcom 2021 is around the corner, so what better time to talk to Paul Heaney, CEO of UK distributor Bossa Nova and UK TV icon. Paul talks about his career to date, the challenges of the independent factual distribution business, and some interesting neighbours in the Palais. Enjoy!
On the next episode of Here Comes Pod, Bossa Nova founder Paul Heaney shares his career highlights and experiences in the TV distribution business. Coming soon!
Welcome back podlers. My guest this week is another legend of the UK acquisitions business: Jay Kandola. Jay has worked at every one of the UK main terrestrial broadcasters, ultimately heading up acquisitions at both Channel 5 and ITV. She is now an acquisitions consultant, working with Australian platform Foxtel amongst others. Jay shares her thoughts on her career to date, on working on the TV world's biggest franchises like Friends and Sex and the City, and dealing with some big elephants in the room...and on the studio lot. Enjoy!
My guest this week is Glen Marques, one of the most experienced, highly respected and liked executives in African and international TV. Glen draws on his decades of experience in South African Pay TV at DSTV, having worked across both of the sports (Supersport) and general entertainment (M-Net) operations, and explains the many challenges facing international streaming operations as they seek to expand into Africa. Enjoy!
The script was incredible, the shoot went perfectly, the show is ready to hit the airwaves or the digital pipe. But how do you get viewers to find this masterpiece? Through publicity and promotion, which is where journalists have such a crucial role in disseminating culture. So who better to offer us an insight into this world than writer Stephen Armstrong. Stephen writes on film, TV and culture for The Sunday Times, contributes to Wired and is in front of the camera himself in the Sky Arts documentary series Discovering Film. If you want to know what its like to interview Matthew Perry, navigate the enthusiasm of Tom Hardy or bond with Dustin Hoffman, its all in this week's pod. Enjoy.
This week's guest on Here Comes Pod is writer-director Gavin Hood. Growing up in South Africa, Gavin fell in love with the silver screen and followed his dream to Hollywood. In the podcast Gavin shares his experiences of an Oscar win, directing an X-Men franchise movie, and the skills required to get the best out of acting superstars like Harrison Ford and Sir Ben Kingsley. For anyone interested in movie making this is the podcast for you. Enjoy!
In the next episode of Here Comes Pod, writer-director Gavin Hood shares his experience of directing a diverse slate of movies including Oscar-winning Tsotsi, X-Men franchise movie Wolverine and political thrillers like Rendition and Official Secrets. Coming soon on all platforms!
When the great and the good of British television have a problem that needs solving, a business to run or a channel to launch, there is one executive that they keep turning to - Sophie Turner-Laing OBE. She tells the pod about her time at Henson, Flextech, the BBC, Sky and Endemol Shine and some of the deals, channel launches and initiatives that she has intimately been involved in and which have helped to define the industry. Enjoy.
In the next episode of Here Comes Pod, I'm joined by Sophie Tuner Laing. Here's a sneak peek.
He's the man who put the F in Five, who turned programme buying into an artform, and who is equally at home with billionaires and the customers in his local shop. Jeff Ford has been an icon of the international TV business for the last 40 years. Every UK terrestrial broadcaster has made use of his talents, and he shares his memories in this week's pod. Enjoy!
It's the pod that everyone has been asking about. Jeff Ford will be talking about his storied career and memories from the TV business. Here's a sneak peak of what's coming up.
Here Comes Pod is back, this time with a special edition that takes a deep dive into the movie business - specifically why so many movies are going direct to streaming, the impact of Covid and lockdowns, what is the future of cinema release windows and how will the content eco system shape up. I was lucky enough to interview some amazing guests and their contributions make for lively debate. Enjoy!
This week's guest is true multi-hyphenate. Ged Doherty started his career booking bands in Sheffield, moved into artist management with Paul Young and never looked back. Ultimately he ended up as Chairman of Sony Music UK, where he launched the careers of an amazing array of world famous artists including Dido and Calvin Harris into a Sony firmament which included Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen. As Simon Cowell's boss he worked with the Syco team to help to bring the X Factor to our screens and he is now chair of the BPI, the UK music industry's trade association that runs The Brits. Having conquered the music industry, Ged then partnered with his friend Colin Firth to launch film and TV production company Raindog Films and the three titles released to date - Eye In The Sky, Loving and Official Secrets - have been critical and commercial successes. Ged takes us through his journey to date in a fascinating and thoroughly entertaining episode of the pod. Enjoy!
This week's guest is a legendary executive in the international film and TV business, in more ways than one. John McMahon's career at Sony Pictures spanned TV production, channels and distribution before he segued into running the EMEA Home Entertainment business, eventually joining Legendary Entertainment to return to his distribution roots. He talks about contract negotiations with the head of the studio, the demise of one of Europe's largest media companies and the challenges of distribution in a streaming world. Enjoy
He's the executive who helped to pioneer the launch of DVD and went on to become COO of two studios, so Adrian Alperovich is the perfect guest to share thoughts and insights into Hollywood over the last three decades. He talks about the evolution of the Home Entertainment business, the challenges of releasing movies at an indie studio, what Mel Brooks thought when Sony renamed Columbia Pictures and navigating screening protocol when Jean Claude van Damme is the host. Enjoy!
My guest this week is the master of reinvention. David Smyth's career has taken him from scheduling at the BBC, heading series acquisitions at Sky, distribution at 20th Century Fox and he has now launched a new AVOD service called YouLook. He shares his experiences of jumping into a cold bath at Sky, selling spy drama The Americans to Russia, and his attempts to get arrested in Romania with The Simpsons. Enjoy!
It's lockdown 3.0, where we all stay inside and communicate with the outside world via video chat. Sounds a lot like Big Brother, one of the world's most successful TV formats, so it's a good time to chat to one our leading entertainment format producers, Danny Fenton, who is CEO of UK indie powerhouse Zig Zag Productions. Danny talks formats, sports programming, producing during Covid and why he is the George Graham of the TV industry. Enjoy!
My guest this week is documentary filmmaker Steven Leckart. After starting his career as a journalist, Steven made the move in to documentaries. He wrote the Emmy-winning HBO two-parter What's My Name: Muhammad Ali and his four part series, Challenger: The Final Flight, has been a breakout success on #Netflix. We talked documentary techniques, helping to bring the seminal The Long Tail into existence, working with the master of space, JJ Abrams, and finishing a project in a pandemic. Enjoy
Discovering Dragons Den, going on the road with the Fonz and Captain Kirk and checking on Burt Reynolds - such is the life of the international TV formats professional. In this week's episode, Tim Crescenti shares his experiences and insights and talks about the innovation we are seeing in response to the pandemic and lockdown.
Here Comes Pod...again! With lockdowns, travel bans and new restrictive tiers in place, it felt like the perfect time to bring back the podcast, and to look at the world of sports broadcasting. My guest this week is Caj Sohal, head of sport at UK broadcaster Channel 5 and a man with a fascinating history in sports broadcasting. I hope you enjoy the chat.
My guest this week is documentary filmmaker Steven Leckart. After starting his career as a journalist, Steven made the move in to documentaries. He wrote the Emmy-winning HBO two-parter What's My Name: Muhammad Ali and his four part series, Challenger: The Final Flight, has been a breakout success on Netflix. We talked documentary techniques, helping to bring the seminal The Long Tail into existence, working with the master of space, JJ Abrams, and finishing a project in a pandemic. Enjoy!
He's the TV executive who grew up without a TV in the house, but that only inspired A+E's Dan Korn to become a documentary director and producer, before becoming a senior programming executive. In this week's pod, Dan shares his experiences of building an indy programming portfolio, a slate of shows for broadcast, the challenges of lockdown and the value of channels in a fragmenting media landscape. Enjoy!
Who's Calling Christian? It's high profile media executive Rob Atkinson, although we were calling him for this week's pod. Rob shares his experiences from 30 years in the media industry, with highly successful stints at national newspapers, out of home media owners and radio in the UK and abroad; signing up Christian O'Connell for radio in Melbourne; and developing new audio distribution channels. We also get thoughts on the launch of Times Radio and how his current clients are responding to the lockdown.
Music: Si Oldhams