World Screen

LOS ANGELES: Within days of scoring record ratings for the return of Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara, Showtime has renewed both shows for third seasons, with production to begin later in the year. The acclaimed comedies have been re-upped for …

LOS ANGELES: Lionsgate’s acclaimed Showtime series Weeds is to make its basic-cable debut on TV Guide Network this September. TV Guide Network has acquired the rights to air all episodes in the first five seasons of the series, as well as the …

SÃO PAULO: Octávio Florisbal, the general director of TV Globo, this week unveiled the Brazilian broadcaster’s programming slate for the year, which features a mix of returning fare and new series, including the telenovela Escrito nas Estrelas. The broadcaster, which turns …

SANTA MONICA: Lionsgate is said to have dropped out of the bidding for MGM, opting not to up its reported $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion bid. MGM has rejected the independent studio’s offer as too low—the company is seeking a $2 …

PARIS/LOS ANGELES: Bunim-Murray Productions (BMP), the U.S. independent behind MTV’s long-running hit The Real World, is to become part of the Banijay Entertainment portfolio of companies. Jonathan Murray, the company’s chairman, will stay on at the company, overseeing creative development, and …

NEW YORK: 4Kids Productions, a subsidiary of 4Kids Entertainment, has upped two of its veteran executives: Michael Haigney and Kristen Gray. Haigney has been promoted to creative director for 4Kids Productions. He will report to Alfred Kahn, the chairman and …

CANNES: 9 Story Entertainment has slated the new live-action movie Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars to make its international debut at MIPTV. In the U.S., the movie debuts tomorrow on Disney Channel and is set to roll out on all …

BELFAST/NEW YORK: A new muppet is to make its debut on the second season of Sesame Tree, Northern Ireland’s version of the long-running Sesame Workshop series Sesame Street. Archie, a squirrel with a love of learning, joins friends Hilda and …

NEW YORK: Michael Eisner, the founder of The Tornante Company, talks in this interview about the potential of the Internet. Eisner has overseen some of the most popular movies and TV series ever made, first during the early part of …

LONDON: AETN UK is launching the Military History channel on Virgin Media today, available in the XL TV package. The network, which launched in July 2008 in the U.K., features programming from ancient battles to modern-day warfare, and has a …