World Screen

The recent closure of Montreal-based distributor Distraction has certainly unsettled many executives in the format industry. Formed in 1997, Distraction was the first independent distributor focused solely on formats. The company had expanded in recent years, taking on ready-made content, …

COUNTRY: Turkey LAUNCH DATE: 1964 OWNERSHIP: TRT is a public-service broadcaster. DISTRIBUTION: Available across free TV, satellite (Turksat, Hotbird) and cable in Turkey. DESCRIPTION: With its nine channels—thematic, national, regional and international—TRT offers everything from comedy and drama to documentaries, …

The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) continues to foster the growth of TV production in Canada and has been expanding its remit to include new-media content. For 2008-09, financing from the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) brought about 475 productions and 325 …

April 2009 With almost all of its funding derived from a license fee, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK is counting on the support of its audiences as it faces the challenges ahead. For Shigeo Fukuchi, who assumed the post of …

April 2009 When Herbert Kloiber and his partner, Fritz Buttenstedt, acquired Tele München Grüppe (TMG) in 1977, the company’s main business was the production and distribution of classical music programs—with a strong emphasis on quality. This strategy immediately paid off. …

LONDON: Lisa Opie, formerly managing director of content at Five, has been appointed to lead the growth of Twofour’s online broadcasting platform, MediaFreedom, as a consultant. Lisa Opie will serve as an external consultant to work on the continued development of …

SILVER SPRING: TLC has tapped Steve Cheskin to fill the newly created role of executive VP of programming, where he will lead scheduling efforts and program development. Effective tomorrow, the role sees Cheskin reporting directly to Eileen O’Neill, TLC’s president …

LONDON: Andrew Jackson, currently the managing director of Tigress, has been tapped to succeed Neil Nightingale as the head of the BBC’s acclaimed Natural History Unit. Jackson takes over from Nightingale, who is stepping down from six years in the …

LOS ANGELES: Satellite TV giant DIRECTV has added Jewish Life Television (JLTV), billed as the first 24-hour Jewish-themed television channel in the U.S., to its lineup. “JLTV is proud of its new partnership with DIRECTV," said Phil Blazer, the president and CEO …

TORONTO/LONDON: Adastra Creative’s Grandpa In My Pocket, distributed by DECODE Enterprises, has clinched home-video and licensing deals in the U.K., where it airs on CBeebies. Warner Home Video UK has been appointed as DVD partner for the show’s first season, and …