TV Formats Weekly surveys the types of formats that are most in demand across Central and Eastern Europe. Despite a protracted advertising recession that’s left countries across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) facing mixed fortunes, the format landscape in the region has been resilient. Distributors, in fact, are reporting progress ...

LONDON: Among the new documentaries commissioned for BBC Two and Four are projects from renowned directors and producers such as Jane Treays, Robb Leech, Sarah Hardy, Blue Ryan, John Battsek, Stephen Bennett, Colin Barr and Clare Johns. In The Mosque, filmmaker Robb Leech gains unprecedented access to Britain’s biggest Muslim ...

LONDON: Hulu in the U.S. has picked up the VOD rights for the first two seasons of Mr Bean: The Animated Series, an Endemol Shine International property. The 52×11-minute seasons follow the daily trials and tribulations of Mr Bean as he stumbles from one mishap to the next. The cartoon ...

LONDON: Ink ALC, a licensing agency combining Global New Age Media and Ink Group, has picked up the licensing rights for the upcoming adventure film Bilal, the first Middle Eastern-funded and produced animated movie. Bilal is based on the real-life African hero who overcame slavery and oppression to become a ...

TORONTO: CBC and Banijay International have aligned their efforts to boost the creation of original TV formats in Canada for international exploitation. Through the Format Incubator, CBC and Banijay International are seeking unique concepts that resonate with audiences and have the potential to spark a national dialogue about a topic ...

ATLANTA: Cartoon Network is set to begin rolling out a brand-new version of the hit animated franchise Ben 10 on its international channels in fall 2016, with a North American launch slated for the following year. The new Ben 10 is being produced by Cartoon Network Studios, with Man of ...

LONDON: The U.K.’s CBeebies has ordered two new children’s titles, the geography-based Go Jetters and the sketch show Spot Bots. The 52×11-minute animated comedy Go Jetters began as a web series last year before making the jump to TV. It follows four plucky heroes as they travel the world with ...

TORONTO: Former eOne film executive Patrice Théroux is working with Buck Productions to develop the series ReincarNATE, which is based on the popular comic books from writer Michael Moreci and illustrator Keith Burns. The project is currently in development at Buck Productions. Théroux joins Sean Buckley, owner and executive producer ...

NEW YORK: Scholastic Media’s educational show WordGirl is set to premiere 20 new episodes on PBS Kids and its digital platforms this summer. The series follows the titular superhero and her trusty sidekick, Captain Huggy Face, as they soar off to protect the innocent residents of Fair City. The vocabulary-based ...

LONDON: The Scotland-based video-on-demand platform Distrify Media has secured $1 million in funding, supporting a landmark deal to launch an international Chinese VOD portal and to distribute locally produced films internationally. Distrify secured series A investment led by international venture ...