World Screen

LONDON: Media Entertainment Group’s (MEG) newly launched format division has picked up Miss Lingerie Model from New Zealand’s Comedia Productions, and has already scored an option for the show by Canadian indie Trio Orange for French-speaking Canada. The acquisition represents …

LONDON: Ben Bradshaw, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, has announced that restrictions on product placement will be lifted, following a public consultation that concluded in January. Bradshaw said that television product placement will be allowed "in …

MILAN/PARIS: Moonscoop and Atlantyca Entertainment have signed new deals to extend the global reach of the Geronimo Stilton property, with a number of additional international broadcasters signing on for the show.  New deals have been firmed up with TVN Style of Poland, LTV …

NEW YORK: HIT Entertainment has given the go-ahead for the development of two new projects, along with appointing a newly created Global Advisory Committee. For the Birds is an animated comedy for kids 8 to 11 that follows the adventures …

PARIS/LOS ANGELES: DISCOP and NATPE have announced that their new event, DISCOP Middle East, will take place in Istanbul in March of 2011. DISCOP Middle East expands the organizations’ portfolio of events dedicated to emerging markets, which currently includes DISCOP …

LONDON: Jeremy Darroch, BSkyB’s chief executive, has been lined up to deliver a keynote address at MIPTV, in which he will discuss the growth of the leading British pay-TV platform. Taking place April 14, Darroch’s keynote will touch on his …

TORONTO: Portfolio Entertainment’s inaugural In Toon with Tweens animation contest invites animators and creators to submit their original projects for a chance at C$10,000 in cash as part of option and development agreements. Project entries—television or multiplatform—must be received by …

NEW YORK: Super Bowl XLIV on CBS on Sunday night scored 106.5 million viewers in the U.S., becoming the most-watched program of all time and delivering a major ratings boost to Undercover Boss, the new show from ALL3MEDIA’s Studio Lambert. Nielsen …

SYDNEY: SBS has sold its landmark series First Australians, produced by Rachel Perkins and Darren Dale, to French pubcaster Arte France. Filmed in HD, First Australians has sold into New Zealand, Finland, Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Asia. The …

NEW YORK: Merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. entertainment and media (E&M) industry could potentially rebound this year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, following a 49-percent decline in 2009. The PwC Transaction Services 2010 US Entertainment & Media M&A Insights report indicates …