NEW YORK/PARIS: More than 1,400 executives are expected to take part in MIPJunior this year, which will feature a library of some 1,000 shows available for screening, according to Reed MIDEM’s Laurine Garaude.

NEW YORK/PRAGUE: Industry veteran Debbie Back, who previously held roles at Sonar Entertainment and MTV Networks International, has been appointed by Big Media to the newly created role of head of sales and acquisitions for the company's movie division.

LONDON: ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has inked a deal that sees British food company Bernard Matthews join the licensee roster for the boys’ action series Thunderbirds Are Go.

LONDON: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has licensed three of MTV's hit shows for new local versions, including a Russian deal on the dating series Ex on the Beach.

BEVERLY HILLS: Netflix has bolstered its offering for kids with the addition of six new original animated series to its library, including Super Monsters, the latest collaboration between the streaming service, producer Avi Arad and 41 Entertainment.

CANNES: Now in its 26th year of operations, Artist View Entertainment has a wide variety of films to offer, among them the female-driven MMA action thriller Chokehold.

NEW YORK: Freeform will make the entire first season of its new series Beyond available for viewing on digital platforms at the same time as the premiere episode debuts on the channel on January 2.

EL SEGUNDO: Mattel Creations has expanded its team with the appointment of Cheryl Gresham as the VP of global media and marketing integration, and Justin Richardson as the VP of global content distribution and strategy.

POTSDAM: A two-part drama about Martin Luther, a seminal figure in the Reformation, is in the works from UFA Fiction for ZDF.

SYDNEY: Escapade Media is heading to MIPCOM with a portfolio of drama series that includes The Art of Killing.