Business of Media
Sharon Klein to oversee casting for nearly entire Disney TV portfolio
Sharon Klein continues her Disney dominance, reports The Hollywood Reporter‘s Lesley Goldberg.
The former Fox and 20th Television exec will now oversee casting for Disney’s entire television portfolio, adding to a purview that already included Disney TV Studios and FX.
In her new role as executive vp casting at Walt Disney Television, the Emmy-winner, who cast hits including Glee, Modern Family, This Is Us and Pose, will oversee casting teams at ABC Entertainment, 20th Television, ABC Signature, 20th TV Animation, Walt Disney TV Alternative, Hulu Originals and Freeform.
Netflix’s chief talent officer Jessica Neal to depart
Jessica Neal, Netflix’s chief talent officer, is leaving the company, reports The Hollywood Reporter‘s Bryn Sandberg.
She’s departing the streamer after a cumulative 12 years there, first as the vice president of talent and most recently as the chief talent officer.
Netflix confirmed the news but declined to comment on the reason behind her departure or whether a successor will be named to the role.
News Brands
Prince Andrew’s tribute to Prince Philip doesn’t go down well with BBC viewers
The BBC’s coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death has received the highest number of complaints in television history, with most stating that it was excessive, reports The Times.
At least 110,994 people have complained, with 400 viewers expressing disappointment that Prince Andrew had featured in tributes to his father, given his association with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his refusal to answer questions from the FBI.
Another 233 people complained about BBC presenters’ dress while presenting segments about the duke. Viewers complained that not all newsreaders were wearing black as a symbol of mourning. Journalist Peter Sissons faced similar criticism for wearing a burgundy tie while announcing the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.
The previous record for BBC complaints is thought to involve the broadcaster’s decision to show Jerry Springer: The Opera in 2005. There were 63,000 objections, including from Christian groups.
Reuters Names a New Editor in Chief
Reuters has named Alessandra Galloni, one of the news agency’s highest-ranking editors, as its new editor in chief, the company announced Monday, reports the New York Times‘s Katie Robertson and Edmund Lee.
Galloni, 47, will be the first woman to lead the Reuters newsroom in its 170-year history. As global managing editor since 2015, she already had a top position at one of the world’s biggest news organizations, with 2,500 journalists in 200 locations.
Galloni, a native of Rome who has been working in the company’s London office, will succeed Stephen J. Adler, who led Reuters for a decade before announcing his retirement this year. On his watch, the company won seven Pulitzer Prizes, including the award for breaking-news photography in 2019 and 2020. Galloni will remain in London after starting her new role next Monday.
Television
Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones celebrates his 80th birthday
Not one for fanfare, veteran broadcaster Alan Jones celebrated his 80th birthday with a bowl of soup and a full day of work, reports News Corp’s Jonathon Moran.
“I’ve never celebrated birthdays,” Jones told Confidential. “I don’t really like the fuss. My mother always said to treat everybody as if it was their birthday so we never ever had birthdays. I try to live by that, I probably don’t deliver as she would expect but I do my best.”
Born in Oakey, Queensland, in 1941, Jones was one of three children to schoolteacher Elizabeth and farmer and coal miner Charlie.
He spent the day preparing for his Sky News show and was snapped outside his Sydney city apartment complex as he made his way to the studio last night.