Small Screen: Pluto TV Launches ‘Beyond The Gates’ Channel, Disney and Hulu Prepare for Merger
Liz tang - Fox Entertainment Global
Broadcast: Paramount’s Pluto TV announced the launch of a new channel dedicated to the popular soap opera Beyond the Gates on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. This channel will allow fans to watch both old and new episodes 24/7. It will also feature over 90 episodes from the series since its debut earlier this year, with new episodes added just eight days after they air on CBS. Beyond the Gates, created by Michele Val Jean, is the first soap opera featuring a predominantly Black cast since Generations in 1989. Since its premiere on February 24, 2025, the series has already garnered a significant following.
Gregory Alan Williams, known for his role in The Righteous Gemstones, has joined the cast of ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville as a recurring role. He will join previously announced cast members Hailey Kilgore and Juani Feliz. 9-1-1: Nashville is a procedural drama about first responders, their families, and power dynamics set in the vibrant city of Nashville. Williams will play Harold Foster, the chief of a fire station.
9-1-1: Nashville received a straight-to-series order from ABC in February 2025. It joins the original series 9-1-1 that premiered in 2018 and moved to ABC in 2023 following its cancellation at Fox. Ryan Murphy will produce the series alongside executive producers Angela Bassett, Tim Minear, and Rashad Raisani. Williams is represented by STW Talent Agency and Vault Entertainment.
Munya Chawawa (Race Around Britain) and Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton) have been cast in Schooled, a comedy from Channel 4 in the United Kingdom'. The series follows Clarke, who, despite the lack of a formal teaching degree and possessing little patience for the unruly student she oversees, is determined to turn her lack of credentials into a strength.
Chawawa will play T, joining lead actress Shiloh Coke (Cheaters), who will play Kayleigh Clarke, the new Headmaster of the Year 10 students. The cast also includes Judi Love (Taskmaster) as Anita, Michelle de Swarte (Spent) as Naomi, and Chandran as Lara. Additionally, Rebecca Humphries (The Crown), Alex Bhat (Gentleman Jack), and Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Black Mirror). Afolabi Kuti serves as the executive producer, and the writing team involves Yemi Oyefuwa, Tyrell Williams, and script editor Jeremy Dyson.
Chandran is represented by JAG in the UK and Gersh in the U.S., as well as Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.
Madison Avenue has begun to shift its advertising focus away from primetime television and toward streaming platforms. Broadcast primetime advertising dropped by 2.5% to about $9.1 billion, while cable advertising fell 4.3% to nearly $8.68 billion. Additionally, investments in streaming advertising have increased by 17.9%, reaching $13.2 billion.
Advertisers have also been wary as they prepare for the 2025 upfront market due to economic uncertainty. NBCUniversal reported its highest upfront earnings, attributed to sporting events like the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup. Fox also saw a spike in gains due to sports rights. Paramount Global and Disney’s sales have remained unchanged compared to last year, while Warner Bros. Discovery reported a decline. Some networks had to lower their ad rates, a process called a “rollback,” but these cuts were less severe than last year. Despite the uneven results, sports packages seem to have mitigated some losses.
Fox Entertainment Global has promoted Liz Tang to vice president of the United Kingdom division for content and acquisitions, a move that expands Fox’s operations in London. Tang will oversee content management for Fox’s UK production as well as sourcing third-party programming to enhance Family Entertainment Group’s global lineup across both scripted and unscripted formats. Tang previously worked with Fifth Season, a film and television company, where she led global acquisition and financing efforts for premium content. Her experience also includes buyer roles at Sky U.K., BBC Studios, Channel 5, and Discovery Networks International, along with early career positions at Viacom’s MTV Networks and Epix in both London and New York markets
Shoniqua Shandai - Momodu Mansaray / Stringer
Cable: Unlike NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount has decided not to sell its ad-supported cable businesses after being acquired by Skydance. Jeff Shell, the president of Paramount Skydance, emphasized that the company is focusing on its streaming strategy as cable television declines. Meanwhile, George Cheeks, chair of Paramount's TV Media Division, acknowledged the challenges facing the industry. He stressed the significance of channels such as MTV and BET as crucial components of the company's streaming strategy. In line with commitments made during the acquisition discussions, Ellison assured that BET, VH1, and BET+ will remain a part of the business.
Shoniqua Shandai (Harlem) has been cast in a recurring role for Season 2 of BET’s Diarra From Detroit (2024) as Raqueeba, Diarra's opinionated cousin. The series is created, written, and executive produced by Diarra Kilpatrick, with Kenya Barris and Miles Orion Feldsott also serving as executive producers. Shandai recently played Angie in Prime Video's Harlem, which concluded its third and final season in February 2025. Her previous work includes appearances in TNT’s miniseries I Am the Night (2019) and Paramount TV’s Nobodies (2017). She is represented by Innovative Artists and Zero Gravity Management.
HBO is developing a new series titled Blackout Room. Edson Oda, the filmmaker of Nine Days (2020), has written and executive-produced this mystery thriller drama, which he will also direct. Set in a future where every second of a person’s life is live-streamed to the world, the story follows a woman who becomes a global obsession after her son mysteriously disappears without a trace. From the sound of it, Blackout Room bears some resemblance to the sci-fi comedy The Truman Show (1998).
Oda previously wrote and directed Nine Days (2020), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, earning him the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
Daniel Dae Kim - Jamie Mccarthy
Streaming: Disney has officially approved the supernatural drama, Coven Academy. The series follows a group of teenage witches in training set in New Orleans. It was ordered to pilot in March and is expected to debut in 2026. The series is created and written by Tim Federle, known for High School Musical: The Musical (2019), with Kimberly McCullough and Bronwyn North-Reist serving as executive producers. The cast includes Malachi Barton as Jake and Jordan Leftwich as Sasha. Coven Academy is a teen drama filled with mystery, centering on witches who protect their city from ancient enigmas. Together, they will confront dark forces while striving to master their magical powers.
Daniel Dae Kim (Hawaii Five-0/KPop Demon Hunters) describes his new series, Butterfly, as more than just a typical spy show. He explains:
Many of these types of shows really lack character development and relationships that viewers can connect with. What I love about our show is that even if you removed much of the action, it would still stand strong as a relationship drama. It truly examines the dynamics of families.
The series is based on the graphic novel of the same name and stars Kim as David Jung, a former CIA agent who resurfaces from hiding after faking his death after a failed mission. After years in hiding, Jung reappears to rescue his daughter, Rebecca (Reina Hardesty), when he learns that she has taken the same dangerous path he once did.
Netflix's new animated comedy series, Strip Law, has cast Keith David (There's Something About Mary), Janelle James (Abbott Elementary), and Shannon Gisela (M.I.A). Cullen Crawford created and executive produced the series and also features Steven Fisher, Trevor Engelson, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Ben Kalina, and Antonio Canobbio as executive producers. Strip Law follows a high-strung lawyer who struggles to win his cases—until he teams up with a local magician from Las Vegas to bring some "flash and pizzazz" to their legal battles.
Merrin Dungey (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Audrey Hsieh (Found) have been cast as guest stars in Hulu's reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If the pilot aligns with the developers' plans, Dungey and Hsieh could return as recurring characters. Dungey will play Ms. LaDuca, the college counselor at New Sunnydale Academy, while Hsieh will play Keiko, a high school student and member of the academy's Christian group. They are Faly Rakotohavana and Sarah Bock, who were previously announced cast members.
Nora and Lilla Zuckerman are the writers and Chloé Zhao is the director of the pilot. Dungey, who recently appeared in The Lincoln Lawyer (2022) and Shining Vale (2022), is represented by Gersh, Quest Entertainment & Management, and Marcy Morris at Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Hsieh appears in the Netflix film Here Today (2021)1 with Tiffany Haddish and is represented by Buchwald, Nikki Mincks Talent Management, and Abramson Entertainment Law.
As Disney and Hulu prepare for their merger in 2026, Hulu's standalone app will be discontinued. In 2023, Asad Ayaz was appointed as the first chief brand officer for Walt Disney and has now been promoted to president of Disney Entertainment Marketing. As the president of Disney Entertainment, Ayaz will oversee all marketing departments and report to Disney's co-chairmen, Alan Bergman and Dana Walden. With Hulu's global expansion, Ayaz will be responsible for all of Disney's marketing efforts and will work to create a more unified strategy across streaming, film, and television. Ayaz formerly served as president of marketing for Walt Disney Studios.
Sarayu Blue (Good American Family) has joined the cast of Netflix’s upcoming series, Unaccustomed Earth. She will play Ruma, a confident and warm Bengali American attorney and mother who faces high standards and expectations. As she navigates the chaos of her home life while trying to meet these expectations, she begins to feel overwhelmed, with no one seeming to notice her struggle. Blue joins previously announced members Freida Pinto, Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig. The eight-episode drama series is directed by Ritesh Batra and executive produced by John Wells.
Lori Harvey is joining the Onyx Collective's drama Reasonable Doubt (2022) as a recurring guest star. She will play Chelsea, an unpredictable character with a troubled past that comes to challenge Jax in unexpected ways. This series marks Harvey's first television role after her appearance in the mini-series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (2024). Reasonable Doubt features a talented cast including McKinley Freeman, Tim Jo, Angela Grovey, and Morris Chestnut. Season 3 is set to premiere on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, with the first two episodes released, followed by new episodes streaming weekly on Thursdays. The series is created, written, and executive-produced by Raamla Mohamed, with Kerry Washington serving as an executive producer alongside Pilar Savone, Larry Wilmore, Anton Cropper, and Lena Cordina. Additional co-executive producers include Shawn Holley, Jon Leshay, Tamara Gregory, Erika Harrison, and Zahir McGhee.
There have been discussions of reviving the HBO series The Wire (2002), but after 25 years, Wendell Pierce, who played Bunk Moreland in the series, believes it no longer serves as a cautionary tale like it once did.
We are now living in dark times. I mean, as we stand here on wonderful, beautiful Hollywood Boulevard, they have American secret police who raided MacArthur Park today with guns drawn on citizens for no reason,” said Pierce. “That’s a dangerous situation, and that’s why The Wire is so poignant. It was a canary in the mine then, and it’s a canary in the mine now. What kind of society do we want to be a part of? - Windell Pierece
Pierce was part of the popular series ensemble, playing veteran homicide detective William “Bunk” Moreland throughout its five seasons, which aired from 2002 to 2008.
Amazon Prime Video is producing the biblical drama Joseph of Egypt, featuring Adam Hashmi in the lead role. This limited series will consist of eight episodes and is co-produced by Amazon, MGM Studios, and creator Dallas Jenkins. Joseph of Egypt will depict the Old Testament story of Joseph (Adam Hashmi), who, after being betrayed by his envious brothers, rises to power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. However, his success is threatened when his past catches up with him, leading to the ultimate test of his character.
The cast includes Alexander Siddig (Shantaram) as Jacob, Babak Tafti (Succession) as Simeon, Daniel Peera (The Cleaning Lady) as Reuben, and Iris Bahr (Curb Your Enthusiasm) as Leah. Recurring cast members feature Tannaz Shastiri (Ramy) as Eliuram, Ruben Vernier (This Is Us) as Gad, Amir Malaklou (The Old Man) as Judah, and Moran Atias (Animal Kingdom) as Bilhah. Craig Wright will write, executive produce, and showrun, with Dallas Jenkins will also be an executive producer.
Writers guild of America
Industry: California is rebuilding its entertainment economy. The state expanded its film and TV incentive from $330 million to $750 million in June, with credits now worth 35%-40% of production costs, up from 20%-25%. Eligibility has expanded, with the minimum episode length for non-relocating TV series from 40 to 20 minutes, allowing sitcoms and animated series to qualify, although applications for animation won't open until 2026. The commission will allocate $412.5 million yearly for TV shows, $262.5 million for studio films, and $75 million for independent films, prioritizing projects that maximize wages relative to subsidies. The expansion supports 4,400-5,500 jobs annually. In a significant change, the tax credits are now "refundable," allowing companies without state tax liability to receive cash back, making the program more competitive. Another application window for feature films is scheduled for August 25-27.
It has truly been a heavy three weeks as we report the passing of Danielle Spencer, who played Dee Thomas in the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! (1976) She died on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the age of 60. Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a double mastectomy, along with emergency surgeries. Born in 1965 in Trenton, New Jersey, Spencer began her acting career at the young age of 11 when she was cast as Dee Thomas in ABC’s What’s Happening!! In 2004, she was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which required surgery that left her paralyzed from the waist down for eight months. Spencer reignited interest in her career with the publication of her memoir titled Through the Fire: Journal of a Child Star in 2010. Following the release of her book, she made appearances on The Wendy Williams Show (2008) and reunited with her What’s Happening!! cast mates on Life After (2009) and Unsung Hollywood (2014). Danielle Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt and brother Jeremy Pelt.
Last week, we reported on filmmaker Park Chan-wook's recent expulsion from the Writers Guild of America (WGA). According to Park’s company, during the 2023 strike, they were in post-production for The Sympathizer, and that editing does not constitute writing. However, the WGA disagrees, stating that edits count as “writing services.” Moho Film, Park’s company, mentioned that a WGA trial committee had initially recommended only a warning for the two, citing a misunderstanding of their roles in post-production. However, the WGA Board expelled them without explanation in April 2025. Park chose not to appeal and instead focused on another project while maintaining his innocence. Under federal law, his expulsion does not prevent him from writing for WGA projects; he can still write, produce, and direct movies and TV series, and WGA-signatory companies can still hire him. However, he has lost his voting privileges and eligibility for guild awards.
Producer Tony Hernandez has partnered with former Media Research Center TV president, Elise Henderson, to launch Counterpart Studios. Hernandez, who previously led the production company Jax Media, has been collaborating with Henderson as CEO of Counterpart for the past year. The new company aims to leverage its production experience and industry connections to attract more business, and similar to Jax Media, Counterpart will offer a combination of production services for third-party projects while also pursuing its in-house development.
“We believe that high-quality, efficient production is the foundation of creative success, and we have built our company around that model. We focus our process on the artist/creator, remain agile, and provide buyers with premium content at competitive prices”
Over the past year, Counterpart has produced the drama series Dexter: Original Sin (2024) and Dexter: Resurrection (2025) for Paramount+ and Showtime. Additionally, Counterpart has three projects in the works: an international action crime thriller, an erotic thriller, both set for streaming platforms, and a workplace comedy. Hernandez sold Jax Media banner to Imagine Entertainment in 2018, and Imagine completed the buyout of the remaining interest in January 2023, the same month Hernandez left the company.
Canadian production company, Big Time Decent International, will debut at the upcoming industry event in October, with film producer René Brar taking on the role of Head of Development & Sales. Big Time Decent will be part of the Canadian Pavilion at MIPCOM, marking its official entry into the international market. Big Time Decent has produced series such as Rust Valley Restorers (2018), Backroad Truckers (2021), Yukon Rescue (2024), and Underdog Inc (2025), for Netflix, Hulu, and the Discovery Channel. These series will be part of their lineup, along with projects from Big Time Decent’s new scripted division, Bread & Better Films.
MIPCOM is scheduled from Monday, Oct.13, 2025, until Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Cannes. A few notable speakers include Carlotta Rossi Spencer from Banijay Entertainment, Adam Puchalsky from Blink49 Studios, Roberta Zamboni, Sam Glynne of Fremantle, and UTA’s Head of EMEA, Entertainment and Culture Marketing.
