The film, starring Rui Pedro Silva and Victoria Guerra, is loosely based on the true story of the hijacking of a TAP flight in 1980.

Netflix announced the start of production on Operation TAP, Netflix’s first film in Portugal, directed by João Nuno Pinto (Mosquito, 18 Holes to Paradise).

The film, starring Rui Pedro Silva (Remains of the Wind, Maria Vitória), Afonso Pimentel (Memories of Prison, Turn of the Tide), and Victoria Guerra (Impossible Lovel, Gloria), is loosely based on the true story of the hijacking of a TAP flight in 1980, carried out by a 16-year-old boy with a head full of dreams.

An adventure with an ’80s vibe and a modern pace that combines tension and emotion to tell how a night of fear ultimately turned into something no one expected.

Operation TAP is produced by SPi, part of the SP Televisão Group and the production company behind Glória, Netflix’s first Portuguese series, and is written by Pedro Lopes, Miguel Rico, and Marina Preguiça Ribeiro.

Synopsis: 1980. An armed teenager hijacks a plane to Madrid and demands $10 million, turning the passengers and crew into hostages for a night of tension and uncertainty. But what begins as a threat of violence ultimately reveals an unexpected story of empathy and humanity between the young hijacker and those he holds hostage.

La entrada SPi Produces Operation TAP, Netflix’s First Film in Portugal se publicó primero en TTV News.

As part of this new leadership structure, Sofia Moura has been appointed Chief Operations & Business Officer.

Portuguese production company SPi, part of SP TV Group, one of Portugal’s leading television and content production groups, is restructuring its executive leadership team from July as it looks to strengthen its position as an international player in the global audiovisual market.

Over the past decade, SP TV Group has established itself as one of Portugal’s most internationally recognised production companies, earning three International Emmy Award nominations and winning one International Emmy Award. The group also produced Glória, Netflix’s first Portuguese original series, marking a milestone in the country’s audiovisual industry and reinforcing its track record in premium international content.

As part of this new leadership structure, Sofia Moura has been appointed Chief Operations & Business Officer, taking responsibility for the company’s operations, business development and international expansion strategy. In her new role, she will focus on driving operational efficiency, identifying new market opportunities and reinforcing SPi’s international footprint.

Pedro Lopes has been appointed Chief Creative & Strategy Officer, overseeing the company’s creative vision and strategic direction. He will lead the development of original projects while strengthening SPi’s creative identity and long-term positioning in the marketplace.

“This restructuring reflects SPi’s ambition to continue evolving and leading the transformation of the audiovisual industry,” said João Pedro Lopes, CEO of SP TV Group. “It creates the conditions for a more integrated response to today’s challenges while allowing us to anticipate the opportunities of tomorrow.”

The appointments underline SPi’s commitment to expanding its international presence and reinforcing its ability to develop, produce and bring distinctive stories to global audiences. As the company continues to scale its international activities, the new leadership structure is designed to strengthen SPi’s position as a strategic partner for broadcasters, streamers and international co-production partners.

La entrada SPi Unveils Executive Reshuffle to Accelerate Global Expansion se publicó primero en TTV News.

João Maia Abreu will promote and drive the opening of new horizons for national production, adding value to SPi’s purpose.

The SPTV Group announced the incorporation of João Maia Abreu, who will take over as SPi’s Head of Business and Co-Productions. This appointment will boost the co-development and co-production of content with great international potential and position SPi as a strategic partner at the international level.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I join the SP family, Portugal’s largest independent production company. I want to contribute to its success, help in its achievements, and prepare the future of SPi’s internationalization,” said the executive.

João Maia Abreu has a law degree and more than 25 years of experience in the media, in different roles, namely as a journalist, news director, and in the business area with creating and managing television channels. He has over a decade of experience in international business and partnerships, focusing on projects and launches in several global markets.

The SPTV Group expects that with his vast experience in international contexts, João Maia Abreu will promote and drive the opening of new horizons for national production, adding value to SPi’s purpose.

La entrada João Maia Abreu Is the New Head of Business and Co-Productions at SPi se publicó primero en TTV News.

This strategic partnership was signed with the objective of identifying, developing and co-producing audiovisual fiction for Portugal and Spain.

A collaboration agreement was signed between SPi and the Galician production company CTV, in order to agree on strategic alliances for the development of international fiction projects.

The agreement, that was celebrated in the Araguaney-Puente de Culturas hotel in Galicia, was signed by the Director of Group SP Televisão, Jorge Marecos, the Director and CFO of SPi, Pedro Rosa, SPi’s Head of Business and Co-productions, Manuel Claro, SPi’s Director of Content, Pedro Lopes, and the President and Director of CTV, Ghaleb Jaber Ibrahim and Xosé Arias, respectively.

The agreement establishes the common development and co-production of two audiovisual fiction projects for the territories of Portugal and Spain, considering the previous experience between both production companies, such as the series Back Home, broadcast by RTP and TVG, and Motel Valkirias, still to premiere.

Jaber Ibrahim underlined that this is a “positive alliance” and that its goal is to “go beyond the Iberian border and go out into the international market with productions of all kinds of genres,” said the president of CTV, adding that both production companies will take advantage of the synergies that arise, “because they always help us to give the best of ourselves through the talent and work of young professionals.” Jaber also made a point of pointing out that “SPi is one of the most important in the Portuguese audiovisual sector and has an experienced team that works for the main private channels in Portugal.”

“Together we will go down the path of internationalization, to build something better than what we do individually.” This is how Jorge Marecos began his speech, guaranteeing that this agreement marks the beginning of a new era in SPi’s business life, in order to ensure its international presence in the audiovisual world. “Together we will have the strength and talent to generate projects for international channels and distributors, making products with realistic budgets, that tell interesting stories, through a universal language, to reach the public”, assured the Director of Grupo SP Televisão.

Manuel Claro, in his turn, assumed that this agreement is a good starting point for the co-development of common productions of “organic stories”, between Portugal and Galicia, due to the powerful connection between the two nations, an element of great added value. “We will work to choose the best projects for the international markets, because together we will be stronger,” said SPi’s Head of Business and Co-productions.

Both parts commit to collaborate in the conception and development of the original idea of each work, as well as in the elaboration and execution of the projects, considering the realization that best fits the needs and circumstances of the market, at that moment, with the objective of achieving high quality productions.

In this regard, each co-production will be conducted by mixed teams, made up of professionals from both production companies. The optimization of resources will also be ensured to guarantee diversity and avoid duplication, in order to create synergies between both sides and achieve a final product of great quality.

La entrada SPI and the Galician producer CTV to Develop International Fiction Projects. se publicó primero en TTV News.

The executive will seek to establish strategic alliances with foreign producers, with the objective of identifying, co-developing and co-producing content with a large international potential.

SPi announced the integration of Manuel Claro in SPTV Group as Head of Business and Co-productions at SPi.

“It is with great joy, honor and sense of responsibility that I accept the challenge of joining the SPi team”, says Manuel, adding that he begins his roles “with total dedication, energy and motivation. My commitment is to honor and dignify the recent but very successful path that SPi has developed so far. The challenge is to contribute to maintain SPi’s evolution trajectory, confirming the excellence of the national audiovisual, in Europe and worldwide.”

Manuel Claro previously held the position of Film Commissioner at the Portugal Film Commission, and has been also Executive Coordinator at the Creative Europe Information Centre, as well responsible for the MEDIA Sub-programme and Executive Coordinator at MEDIA Desk Portugal Association.

His professional career also includes a position as adviser to the Cultural department of the Lisbon City Hall, adviser to the alderman of Culture of the Lisbon City Hall, as well as adviser to the Councilor for Culture and Human Resources of the Lisbon City Council.

Academically, Manuel Claro has a degree in Political Science and International Relations and a postgraduate degree in Cultural Practices for Municipalities by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

La entrada Manuel Claro, New Head of Business and Co-Production at SPi se publicó primero en TTV News.

The premium drama hub, which offers a selection of high-end Turkish series, is now available dubbed in Spanish as an add-on monthly subscriptions for Prime members in Spain.

SPI/FilmBox announced that Dizi, which offers a curated selection of high-budget and critically-acclaimed Turkish series, is available dubbed in Spanish, as subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) on Amazon Prime Video Channels in Spain as of September 2021.

Dizi will be offered as an add-on paid monthly subscription package available for Prime members at 2.99 € per month and subscribers can get a free trial for two weeks.

“The powerful stories told in Turkish series and the magnetic landscapes that provide a backdrop to these stories have been mesmerizing the whole world for the past ten years,” said Georgina Twiss, MD Western Europe and Africa at SPI International.

“Now with the Dizi offer at Amazon Prime, Spanish viewers will gain access to Dizi, The Home of Good Stories, where they can enjoy a curated slate of addictive Turkish series, all in one place with an ever-growing catalogue to come.”

Some of the Dizi highlights which will be available to Prime members in Spain include: Black Money Love, the International Emmy Award-nominated sensation starring Tuba Büyüküstün and Engin Akyürek; Brave and Beautiful, a critically-acclaimed family saga led by Tuba Büyüküstün and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ; Stiletto Vendetta, a suburban tale of glamour and revenge, and Insider, a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with shocking twists and turns.

La entrada SPI International’s Dizi Launches on Amazon Prime Video Channels in Spain se publicó primero en TTV News.

Canal+ will acquire a 70% majority stake in SPI International while keeping the current management team and operational structure in place.

SPI International, a global media company operating 42 TV channels and multiple digital products across six continents, is now joining forces with Canal+ Group.

Canal+ Group is a leading world pay TV operator and major player in free-to-air television in France. Canal+ has a wide international footprint with a presence in 40 countries in Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In Europe, Canal+ has a strong presence in mainland France and Poland and has also acquired the M7 Group platform in 2019. The Group totals 22 million subscribers worldwide and has experienced a continuous growth of its international business in recent years.

This acquisition will help Canal+ to expand its strategy of investing in content and reinforce its offers on its different markets, by relying on European leader Studiocanal, Kino Świat in Poland, and now SPI International.

In the context of this agreement, which will enable complementary know-how and skills to be combined, SPI’s current owners Loni Farhi & Berk Uziyel will continue to manage and develop SPI’s business with the support of their executive committee, while the parties will be able to generate reciprocal synergies to further strengthen the two groups’ presence in the international markets.

In a joint statement, Loni Farhi & Berk Uziyel, underlined: “It is very exciting news and the start of a new era for SPI International. Canal+ and SPI share a common vision for continuous growth and a strong international presence. We have been strategic partners for years, where we have built a great tradition of collaborations and achieving mutual goals. Now we will have the chance to join forces under one roof. SPI will further accelerate its growth with Canal+ while leveraging natural synergies. SPI International has an amazingly talented team that has produced incredible growth in the last decade. Now, with this great team and with much enthusiasm, we are delighted to become part of the Canal+ family. Our joined forces will strengthen the existing entertainment products and expand the distribution of our compelling content to far larger audiences.”

For Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+ Group: “The acquisition of SPI International is part of the strategy we have been implementing for several years. Canal+ currently has 22 million subscribers in over 40 countries, including 15 in Europe. We have set ourselves the goal of reaching a minimum of 30 million subscribers by 2025, and SPI International will certainly be a key asset in achieving this ambition.”

Jacques du Puy, CEO of Canal+ International said: “We are very pleased to welcome SPI to our group. This acquisition marks a new strategic step for the development of our European contents. It will be a great opportunity to develop new synergies and businesses for our activities, especially in the Polish market and in the Central and Eastern European countries where Canal+ operates through M7 brands.”

The completion of the transaction is, of course, subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities in the territories concerned (including in particular the authorities responsible for antitrust and merger control).

La entrada Canal+ to Acquire Majority Stake in SPI International se publicó primero en TTV News.