Top Stories

SINGAPORE, August 30: In a five-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to ECB matches across television (inclusive of mobile TV), Internet and radio. ESPN STAR Sports …

SAN FRANCISCO, August 30: blinkx.com, an online video search engine, has reached a deal to host and distribute Prom Queen: Summer Heat, the sequel to the Emmy-nominated broadband drama series from Vuguru, Michael Eisner’s new-media studio. Starting today, blinkx.com will …

NEW YORK, August 30: BBC Worldwide has licensed the format to What Not To Wear to Brazilian terrestrial broadcaster SBT for the show’s first Latin American adaptation. What Not To Wear centers around two extremely outspoken presenters giving style advice …

LONDON, August 30: Chellomedia-owned Zonemedia will launch Zone Romantica to some 8.5 million subscribers throughout the U.K. and Ireland on September 3 via the Sky satellite platform. Zone Romantica offers a mix of long-running series, popular soaps and feature films …

LONDON, August 30: Granada International has secured first look access to Quickfire Media’s upcoming drama projects as part of a development deal with the Bristol-based independent. Quickfire currently has two new dramas in development, Botany Bay and Burke and Hare. …

LOS ANGELES, August 30: Production has been completed on the one-hour documentary Global Warming: Our Searing Earth, from MarVista Entertainment and Bluth Enterprises, for a MIPCOM launch. The documentary features the latest scientific evidence, footage from around the world and …

STOCKHOLM, August 30: Several members of the global format exchange organization Sparks Network have secured new commissions and renewals throughout Europe and Asia, including Australia’s Ambience Entertainment, whose kids’ game show Go Go Stop is currently being produced in four …

HOUSTON, August 30: Geneon Entertainment (USA) has appointed ADV Films as the sole distributor of its anime catalogue in North America. Under the deal, ADV Films will handle all sales and distribution duties for the combined anime catalogue as well …

LONDON, August 30: Universal Pictures International Entertainment, the international home-entertainment division of NBC Universal, has announced a series of promotions for its London-based management team. Former VP of licensees and emerging markets, Melanie Nicholas, will serve as the senior VP …

VALBY, August 30: Janne Ingdal Parving, the former head of marketing at Zodiak Television World, has been named the head of international marketing and branding for Nordisk Film TV, effective September 1. Karoline Spodsberg, Nordisk Film TV’s international director, commented: …