European production and distribution group Newen Studios is expanding its German footprint with the majority acquisition of Gryphon producer Dog Haus and the launch of Spark Studios to bundle its German activities.
Spark Studios will be headed by Martin Heisler and Eva Kemme as CEOs. Both founded Flare Film, which Newen acquired in 2021.
Launched in July 2021, Dog Haus is a fiction production company based in Berlin and Munich.
It is behind the big budget Amazon Prime series The Gryphon with W&B.
Its founders - producer André Zoch, scriptwriter Erol Yesilkaya, and director Sebastian Marka - have written and produced numerous crime dramas such as Tatort for the German public broadcaster ARD and the Exit for ARD.
They described Dog Haus as “a production label for creatives who aspire to tell exceptional stories. We aim to consistently produce television, multimedia, cinematic films and series with the highest artistic standards and thematic relevance. Dog Haus stands for ‘elevated genre’, consciously positioned between arthouse and suspenseful entertainment.”
Martin Heisler, CEO of Spark Studios “We are delighted that Sebastian, Erol, and André have decided to become part of the Newen/Spark family. We want to work with exceptional talents on exciting projects and, as part of a strong European Producers Network, help them to turn their visions for outstanding films and series into a reality.”
Newen Studios, a subsidiary of France’s TF1 Group, houses over 50 production companies and labels in Europe, America and Canada.
Shinfield Studios’ Nick Smith and Ian Johnson to retire
Shinfield Studios’ joint Managing Directors Nick Smith and Ian Johnson are to retire from their positions at the end of the year.
UK launches copyright consultation for creative industries and AI developers
The UK government has launched a consultation looking at how copyright-protected material can be used to train AI models.
BBC and ITV confirm rights deal for FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030
BBC Sport and ITV have agreed a deal for live coverage of the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030 across TV, audio and digital platforms.
US writers call on Hollywood studios to take action against AI firms
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has called on Hollywood studios to “come off the sidelines” and prevent tech companies from allegedly using its members’ works to train AI platforms.
Arte joins European Broadcasting Union
Arte, the Franco-German public service broadcaster, has become the newest member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).