World Screen

LONDON: The BBC is reviving the classic British series Upstairs Downstairs, with two feature-length scripts on order for a 2010 broadcast on BBC One. The award-winning Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary, Ballet Shoes) is writing the two scripts, which will …

MONACO: Tomorrow at Sportel in Monaco, Fighting Spirit Distribution will host a lineup of exclusive combat sports demonstrations, spotlighting, among other properties, their new kickboxing reality show Enfusion: Test of the Champion. In the new reality series, professional fighters are …

NEW YORK: A comprehensive new content carriage agreement will allow Cablevision to continue carrying CBS programming and offering Showtime Networks’ programming to its 3 million subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  In addition, the deal covers continued carriage of …

PARIS: Banijay Entertainment is acquiring Nordisk Film’s TV production and distribution divisions for an undisclosed sum, it was announced this morning. Nordisk Film TV produces 1,500 hours of content a year, with a consolidated turnover of 50 million euros. Based in …

BUENOS AIRES: The Argentine Senate has approved new legislation that limits television and radio ownership for local media companies, in a move that could force Grupo Clarin to offload some of its assets. The bill, championed by President Cristina Fernandez …

NEW YORK: Tentatively titled The Michael Vick Project, a new original series from DuBose Entertainment and BET Networks will give viewers an unprecedented look into the life of the controversial professional football player. Produced by DuBose Entertainment, MV7 Productions and …

COPENHAGEN: Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been re-elected for a second term. Rogge has said his second-term agenda will include measures to strengthen and improve the Olympic movement as well as the implementation of …

STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting has secured a broad range of feature films and action series from Disney-ABC-ESPN Television for the free-TV channels TV3, TV6 and 3+ in Estonia and Latvia and TV3 and TV6 in Lithuania. TV3 in Estonia will receive …

LONDON: A new natural-history series about the attempts to save some of the world’s rarest animals, Nature’s Miracle Babies, has been commissioned for BBC One. BBC Director-General Mark Thompson announced the project, which spotlights the work of programs set up …

LONDON: John Cresswell, ITV plc’s COO, is taking on the position of interim chief executive at the British broadcasting group and will step down from the organization once a successor has been found. Cresswell becomes interim CEO once a successor …