Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice and Topic will merge into one streaming service, the company announced.
The combined product will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home of hit German series “Babylon Berlin” starting in April. As of Feb. 29, the series is no longer available in the country on Netflix, which previously held the U.S. streaming rights.
Co-created, written and directed by Tom Twyker, Achim von Borries and Hendrik Handloegten, “Babylon Berlin” is based on the novels by Volker Kutscher and distributed by Beta Film. The fourth season of the drama, which has not been available for streaming in North America before, will land on the new service June 25.
Along with “Babylon Berlin,” MHz Choice and Topic’s combined lineup will include “The Killing,” “The Bridge,” “Detective Montalbano,” “The Sea Beyond,” “Pagan Peak,” “A French Village,” “Spiral,” “Beck” and “Murder In.”
Current MHz Choice and Topic subscribers will be...
The combined product will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home of hit German series “Babylon Berlin” starting in April. As of Feb. 29, the series is no longer available in the country on Netflix, which previously held the U.S. streaming rights.
Co-created, written and directed by Tom Twyker, Achim von Borries and Hendrik Handloegten, “Babylon Berlin” is based on the novels by Volker Kutscher and distributed by Beta Film. The fourth season of the drama, which has not been available for streaming in North America before, will land on the new service June 25.
Along with “Babylon Berlin,” MHz Choice and Topic’s combined lineup will include “The Killing,” “The Bridge,” “Detective Montalbano,” “The Sea Beyond,” “Pagan Peak,” “A French Village,” “Spiral,” “Beck” and “Murder In.”
Current MHz Choice and Topic subscribers will be...
- 2/29/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Kino Lorber’s streaming platform MHz Choice is merging with First Look Media’s Topic platform to create a single North American streamer, operating under the MHz Choice brand, specializing in international series and films for the domestic market.
Kino Lorber and First Look Media launched a joint venture in 2022 that bundled their streaming activities. The new agreement will fold both MHz Choice and Topic into a single platform.
Kino Lorber Chief Operating Officer Martha Benyam will oversee the new combined service, with Lisa Schwartz, Kino Lorber Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing distribution and partnerships, Executive Vice President, Content Strategy Lance Schwulst continuing to oversee programming and Monica Bloom, who joined Kino Lorber from Topic, continuing to serve as Chief Marketing Officer.
The new service has secured exclusive North American rights to award-winning German period series Babylon Berlin from sales group Beta Film and will stream all four seasons of the show.
Kino Lorber and First Look Media launched a joint venture in 2022 that bundled their streaming activities. The new agreement will fold both MHz Choice and Topic into a single platform.
Kino Lorber Chief Operating Officer Martha Benyam will oversee the new combined service, with Lisa Schwartz, Kino Lorber Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing distribution and partnerships, Executive Vice President, Content Strategy Lance Schwulst continuing to oversee programming and Monica Bloom, who joined Kino Lorber from Topic, continuing to serve as Chief Marketing Officer.
The new service has secured exclusive North American rights to award-winning German period series Babylon Berlin from sales group Beta Film and will stream all four seasons of the show.
- 2/29/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new Kino Lorber-led joint venture will manage both Topic and international content rival MHz.
US distributor and streamer Kino Lorber has formed a joint venture with First Look Media that will encompass the companies respective North American streaming services MHz Choice and Topic.
Kino Lorber will be the majority owner of the as yet unnamed joint venture and have management oversight of both MHz, which it acquired late last year, and Topic (Topic Studios is not part of the joint venture). Both services offer American audiences access to international television series such as the MHz’s Detective Montalbano and Topic’s The Killing.
US distributor and streamer Kino Lorber has formed a joint venture with First Look Media that will encompass the companies respective North American streaming services MHz Choice and Topic.
Kino Lorber will be the majority owner of the as yet unnamed joint venture and have management oversight of both MHz, which it acquired late last year, and Topic (Topic Studios is not part of the joint venture). Both services offer American audiences access to international television series such as the MHz’s Detective Montalbano and Topic’s The Killing.
- 5/22/2023
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Kino Lorber and First Look Media have formed a joint venture to operate their respective streaming services, MHz Choice and Topic.
The new entity will be run by Kino Lorber, which will also take a majority stake. Programming, marketing and technology will be handled by MHz Networks founder Frederick Thomas. Topic Gm Ryan Chanatry and Jennifer Liang, who oversaw acquisitions for the streaming service, will consult through the transition period. Kino Lorber’s streaming services are overseen by Chief Strategy Officer Ed Carroll, the former longtime AMC Networks exec who joined the company earlier this year.
Programming for both Topic streaming and MHz Choice will be overseen by Lance Schwulst, SVP of Content Strategy for MHz Networks. Monica Bloom, VP of Marketing for Topic, will join the Jv as Chief Marketing Officer for both services.
Topic, which launched as an effort to showcase high-caliber international series and eventually focused in on the crime genre,...
The new entity will be run by Kino Lorber, which will also take a majority stake. Programming, marketing and technology will be handled by MHz Networks founder Frederick Thomas. Topic Gm Ryan Chanatry and Jennifer Liang, who oversaw acquisitions for the streaming service, will consult through the transition period. Kino Lorber’s streaming services are overseen by Chief Strategy Officer Ed Carroll, the former longtime AMC Networks exec who joined the company earlier this year.
Programming for both Topic streaming and MHz Choice will be overseen by Lance Schwulst, SVP of Content Strategy for MHz Networks. Monica Bloom, VP of Marketing for Topic, will join the Jv as Chief Marketing Officer for both services.
Topic, which launched as an effort to showcase high-caliber international series and eventually focused in on the crime genre,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, Bravo announced a premiere date for “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” Season 11, and Disney Channel ordered a third season of “Big City Greens.”
Renewals
Disney Channel ordered a third season of its animated comedy series “Big City Greens.” Series creators and executive producers Chris and Shane Houghton have also expanded their roles, entering an overall deal at Disney Television Animation. Under this new agreement, the duo will also develop new animated series, shorts and movies for Disney Channel and Disney Plus. Currently in its second season, “Big City Greens” follows the story of 10-year-old Cricket Green, who navigates his move from the country to the big city with his out-of-place family.
Dates
Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will return for Season 11 on Feb. 17. In the upcoming season, Teresa Giudice will begin a new chapter of her life, following the end...
Renewals
Disney Channel ordered a third season of its animated comedy series “Big City Greens.” Series creators and executive producers Chris and Shane Houghton have also expanded their roles, entering an overall deal at Disney Television Animation. Under this new agreement, the duo will also develop new animated series, shorts and movies for Disney Channel and Disney Plus. Currently in its second season, “Big City Greens” follows the story of 10-year-old Cricket Green, who navigates his move from the country to the big city with his out-of-place family.
Dates
Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” will return for Season 11 on Feb. 17. In the upcoming season, Teresa Giudice will begin a new chapter of her life, following the end...
- 1/13/2021
- by Janet W. Lee
- Variety Film + TV
First Look Media has announced former PBS Distribution and AMC Networks’ executive Jen O’Connell Robertson as Senior VP of Marketing. Monica Bloom, from Tribeca Shortlist, was named VP, Marketing.
O’Connell-Robertson will oversee marketing across film and TV production, led by Topic Studios, new streaming service Topic, investigative journalism outlet The Intercept, documentary division Field of Vision, and the Press Freedom Defense Fund, which provides legal aid to journalists, news organizations and whistleblowers. She’ll report to First Look Media CEO Michael Bloom.
Monica Bloom (no relation) will support O’Connell-Robertson with a focus on direct-to-consumer growth for Topic and B2B brand campaigns.
First Look hired the duo in June and November, respectively, but waited to make the formal announcement.
O’Connell-Robertson joined First Look Media from PBS Distribution. There, as VP of marketing, she supported marketing, communications and creative services teams across multiple brands and businesses with...
O’Connell-Robertson will oversee marketing across film and TV production, led by Topic Studios, new streaming service Topic, investigative journalism outlet The Intercept, documentary division Field of Vision, and the Press Freedom Defense Fund, which provides legal aid to journalists, news organizations and whistleblowers. She’ll report to First Look Media CEO Michael Bloom.
Monica Bloom (no relation) will support O’Connell-Robertson with a focus on direct-to-consumer growth for Topic and B2B brand campaigns.
First Look hired the duo in June and November, respectively, but waited to make the formal announcement.
O’Connell-Robertson joined First Look Media from PBS Distribution. There, as VP of marketing, she supported marketing, communications and creative services teams across multiple brands and businesses with...
- 1/13/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
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