BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH
BBC Two and iPlayer will air a night of Bruce Springsteen programming in May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Boss’s first U.K. concert. The centerpiece, “When Bruce Springsteen Came To Britain,” features a world-exclusive interview where Springsteen recounts his 1975 Hammersmith Odeon debut. “I had PTSD from the first Hammersmith show,” Springsteen reveals in the documentary, describing how he fled his own celebration party.
The one-hour film, produced by Wise Owl Films, includes interviews with E Street Band‘s Stevie Van Zandt, Sting, Peter Gabriel, and manager Jon Landau. Michael Palin, who documented the original concert in his diary, also appears.
The special night will include “Hammersmith Odeon ’75,” featuring the full concert with classics like “Born to Run,” and a new compilation of Springsteen’s BBC performances spanning six decades.
STUDIO SHOWCASE
NATPE Budapest has locked major studio screenings from A+E Global Media, Lionsgate, Paramount Global Content Distribution and Sony Pictures Television for its upcoming Central and Eastern Europe-focused TV market.
Set for June 23-26 at the InterContinental Budapest Hotel, with additional programming at the new Dorothea Hotel, the event has already confirmed over 65 exhibitors and 300+ buyers.
“NATPE Budapest has long been regarded as the most effective and efficient marketplace in CEE, and this year builds on that tradition,” said Claire Macdonald, executive director.
New initiatives include NATPE Honors Europe awards celebrating European media visionaries, the return of Pitch & Play LIVE! format competition, CEE Breakout Hits analysis, and a Formats Track.
The four-day market promises enhanced networking opportunities and the signature NATPE Boat Party with riverside views, cementing its position as the region’s premier content discovery and deal-making destination.
CULINARY CREATORS
Banijay Entertainment has announced the launch of “MasterChef Creators,” a new digital spin-off of the iconic cooking series, premiering May 6 on the MasterChef Brazil YouTube channel. Produced by Endemol Shine Brazil in collaboration with YouTube and supported by LATAM Airlines, the limited series features six top Brazilian food influencers competing in the MasterChef kitchen.
The three-episode competition will be hosted by digital influencers Fih and Edu from the popular Diva Depressão YouTube channel. Contestants will recreate iconic dishes for a chance to win 200,000 Brazilian reais ($35,000).
This marks a strategic push into branded digital content, leveraging MasterChef’s strong online following of over 25 million fans. According to Esly Paiva, Google’s head of content projects, the show’s format taps into the growing trend of creator-led content on connected TVs, deepening engagement across platforms.
CONTENT CONVERGENCE
Asia’s leading media and telecoms summit, APOS 2025, is set to return to Bali from June 24–26, with a high-powered first wave of speakers announced. The lineup features top executives from global streamers, tech giants, and regional content powerhouses.
Among the confirmed names are Gaurav Gandhi, VP for APAC & MENA at Prime Video; Kevin Mayer, founder and CEO of Candle Media and former Disney streaming head; Sanjay Gupta, president of APAC at Google; and Isaac Bess, TikTok’s global head of distribution. Also confirmed are James Gibbons, president of APAC at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Kuek Yu-Chuang, managing director for international business at iQIYI.
The lineup also includes Yang Siwan, CEO of Korea’s Tving; Angga Dwimas Sasongko, CEO of Indonesia’s Visinema; and Sinemaku Pictures’ co-founders Prilly Latuconsina and Umay Shahab, part of a new generation reshaping local storytelling.
Themed discussions will spotlight AI’s dual role as disruptor and enhancer, the future of sports and streaming, the evolution of short-form content, and the next act for TV and connected platforms.
A second round of speakers is slated for April 24, with the full agenda dropping May 9. The event, organized by Media Partners Asia, continues its focus on insights, partnerships, and the shifting content marketplace.
