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The recent rebrand of Newen Studios to Studio TF1 reflects the “strength and agility” of the TF1 Group, according to Pierre Branco.

The Studio TF1 CEO outlined the vision for the TF1 Group-owned production and sales operation during an audience here at Series Mania in Lille, saying, “This new brand reflects our ambitious development strategy both in France and internationally. The group brings together numerous creative talents who know how to produce all genres, for all players in the audiovisual and film industries, with unique expertise and an ability to adapt.”

Newen was rebranded under its new guise in January, several months after former Warner Bros Discovery Europe exec Branco joined as CEO. At the time he noted the moves was aligned with a desire to become more internationally focused.

Studio TF1 currently has 12 production labels across 50 countries, and is currently making 4,000 hours annually in TV and cinema. The sales...

In a reorganization following Comcast’s purchase of Sky, Lee Raftery is taking on the newly created role of managing director of NBCUniversal’s international channels business in the Emea region, outside of the territories where Sky operates and where the pay-tv giant will run the combined Sky and NBCU channels operation.

As part of the restructuring, NBCU’s Southern Europe channels chief, Leonor Grandsire, will leave the company by the end of the year. There will be further job losses on the NBCU side, with an unspecified number of staffers at risk of redundancy, a spokesman confirmed to Variety.

The changes come after Comcast beat Disney-owned 21st Century Fox in the race for Sky, which Comcast bought in a bumper $39 billion deal. While there is less crossover between Comcast-owned NBCU and Sky than would have been the case with Fox-Disney, they overlap in program sales and channels.

Raftery...

NBCUniversal International has consolidated its European channels business following Comcast’s takeover of Sky, a move that has led to the departure of Southern Europe chief Leonor Grandsire.

The Hollywood studio has brought together its three regional European groups, consisting of 17 channel feeds across seven brands, outside of the Sky-controlled markets of UK, Italy and Germany.

Grandsire, who was Managing Director, Networks, Southern Europe, will exit the business, while Lee Raftery, who was formerly MD, UK & Emerging Markets becomes Managing Director, Europe Middle East and Africa Networks. Based in London, he reports to Kevin MacLellan, Chairman, Global Distribution & International, NBCUniversal and starts the new position in July.

This comes after it brought together its NBCUniversal pay-tv channels in the UK and Germany to operate under the Sky portfolio.

Rafferty, who has been with the company for 11 years and was appointed to his previous role in 2017, will remain as Chief Marketing Officer for NBCU International.