World Screen

With a slate of hit original programming, Lifetime Television is continuing to notch up new ratings milestones. World Screen Weekly catches up with JoAnn Alfano, the executive VP of entertainment at Lifetime Networks, about the female-targeted channel’s programming ethos. After …

LOS ANGELES: The series King of the Crown, which will premiere on September 30 on TLC, goes behind the scenes into the world of competitive beauty pageants. The show revolves around veteran pageant expert Cy Frakes, who has been coaching …

PALISADES PARK: In the wake of the passing of pop icon Michael Jackson, Alfred Haber Distribution, Inc. (AHDI) has closed a number of new international sales on the 2001-2002 CBS special Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years. The …

SAN FRANCISCO/PARIS: Kaze and Anime Visual, two European-based distributors of anime, are to be merged with Paris-based VIZ Media Europe, following their acquisition by VIZ Media’s parent companies, Shogakukan and Shueisha. Kaze, led by Cedric Littardi as president, mainly operates in French-speaking …

WASHINGTON D.C.: A new six-part series is being produced by NHNZ for National Geographic Channel that will feature world-renowned palaeontologist Dr. Phil Manning and a team of scientists who travel to dinosaur hot spots. The series will be called The …

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has struck down a FCC rule that limited a cable company’s market share to no more than 30 percent, a move that could spark a round of mergers and acquisitions …

EDINBURGH: UKTV has commissioned Cactus TV to produce another series for Good Food that features Rachel Allen, as part of its ongoing talent deal with the Irish chef. Allen is currently a presenter on Good Food’s daily seasonal-food show Market …

MUNICH: The improv comedy format Schiller Street has been sold by SevenOne International to Russia’s Channel One, which will air the show on Sundays at 10:30 p.m. under the title Southern Butowo starting September 13. The cast includes popular Russian …

BURBANK: Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie drew in 11.4 million total viewers on Disney Channel, ranking as TV’s number one entertainment telecast of 2009 in kids 6 to 11 and tweens 9 to 14. The movie brought in 4.5 …

BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company this morning announced a $4 billion deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment, and its stable of more than 5,000 characters, in a stock and cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Marvel shareholders will receive $30 …