Discovery+ is broadcast free; Woodcut hire Meriel Beale; Netflix Doc Talent Fund Global Instructions

Discovery+ will be free on Sky

Discovery+ will be available for free on Sky in the UK and Ireland. The Warner Bros. Discovery streamer, which will initially cost £6.99 ($8.50) a month, will be integrated into one subscription – a move that cements Sky’s position as the UK’s leading aggregator of US streaming content. Sky TV customers with a Discovery+ Entertainment pass automatically receive a free upgrade to the entertainment and sports service, giving them access to Australia Open Tennis, the Tour de France and entertainment programs such as Peter Crouch: Save Our Beautiful Game and beauty and the nerd. Sky TV director Elizabeth Wynn said “value is incredibly important at the moment” as the UK slips into recession and people cut back on expensive TV subscriptions. In the UK, Sky now offers bundles with Netflix and Comcast streamer Peacock, as well as Discovery+. The newly combined HBO Max Discovery streamer will launch later this year, but Sky has a content deal with HBO that doesn’t expire until 2025.

World’s Most Evil Killers producer Woodcut hires Meriel Beale for Fact-Ent Push

The world’s most evil killers Producer Woodcut Media is significantly expanding its offering of factual entertainment by appointing British producer Meriel Beale as executive director. Beale becomes Senior Executive Producer at Factual Entertainment to focus on developing original formats and winning space commissions both domestically and internationally. Beale produced ITVs Through the Keyhole with Keith Lemon from pilot to series and other credits include travelogue series Camp with Merton and Webster. She also campaigns for inclusion, founded the anti-bullying project Unseen on Screen and is currently a mentor for Dermot O’Leary’s Learning the Ropes project. Woodcut chief executive Kate Beal said indie entertainment is “rising significantly” as it enters its “new phase of growth”. “Meriel’s long list of accomplishments and wealth of proven expertise will undoubtedly be invaluable as we continue to grow our team and make a name for ourselves in the global TV landscape,” she added. Beale described Woodcut as “an intelligent and exciting company”.

Netflix announces second documentary talent fund

Netflix has unveiled its second Documentary Talent Fund after a year of supporting a BAFTA-nominated short film love languages. The fund gives producers up to £30,000 ($36,600) to create a short documentary. This year’s theme is “Connection” and creators are asked to create an 8-12 minute document. According to Netflix, there were thousands of applicants from across the UK last year, including Jason Osborne and Precious Mahaga love languages, was nominated at the BAFTAs for British Short Film. In total, the 10 films selected last year were screened at more than 40 festival screenings. “This year, we’re taking the theme of connection one step further, and we’re encouraging filmmakers to explore and advance their unique mindset and vision, whatever that may be,” said Kate Townsend, VP Documentary Functions at Netflix.