Manchester City’s CEO Ferran Soriano has shared exciting updates about the club’s groundbreaking TV projects in collaboration with Sony Pictures Television.
In a bid to expand its creative horizons, City Studios—the club’s in-house production arm—has already established itself with matchday programs and behind-the-scenes documentaries, such as the newly released Together: 4 in a Row. This latest documentary, rather than just recounting the season, highlights themes of leadership and resilience.
However, the partnership with Sony Pictures Television marks a bold new direction into fictional content. Announced in July, the collaboration includes scripted shows, kids’ programming, and football-themed productions aimed at a global audience.
At the documentary launch, Soriano revealed the ambitious plans underway, with projects already in development and set to be pitched to major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon. “We are so ambitious,” he said, emphasizing the creative potential of the partnership. He highlighted the contributions of Gavin Johnson (head of City Studios) and Ged Doherty (Executive Producer at Sony and City Football Group), praising their expertise in storytelling and production.
“We have a lot of ideas that we are developing. They are not in the air; we are working on several fictional TV shows. We are working on shows for kids, and we have a list of projects that we are excited about,” Soriano stated.
He acknowledged the unique edge City holds with their documentaries, thanks to exclusive behind-the-scenes access. However, venturing into fiction places them in direct competition with entertainment giants. Despite this, Soriano expressed confidence:
“We have the creativity, we have the insights in football to create some fictional stories. My hope is you see some of these on your screens in the next few years. The pipeline of projects is large, and the ideas are very exciting.”
With these projects, Manchester City is not only redefining its off-pitch identity but also paving the way for innovative storytelling in the world of football. Fans can expect a thrilling blend of sport and entertainment in the near future.
