World Screen

LONDON: Cineflix International has acquired the 13×1-hour series Border Security USA, which aired in prime time on ABC in the U.S. as Homeland Security. The original format, Border Security: Australia’s Front Line, is from Australia’s Seven Network. Other newly acquired programming …

NEW YORK: On July 7, SCI FI Channel will become Syfy as it looks to broaden its programming slate to include a wider change of "imagination-based entertainment," such as fantasy, the paranormal, reality, mystery, action and adventure. As Syfy, the on-air and …

LONDON: Jonathan Ford has been promoted to executive VP of digital acquisitions and distribution for Fireworks International. Ford oversees the licensing of Fireworks International and ContentFilm International’s new and library programming and development content to digital media outlets worldwide. He …

HILVERSUM/BUENOS AIRES: Thirteen territories have signed up for the romantic comedy The Successful Mr. and Mrs. Pells, a co-production from Endemol Argentina, Telefe Contenidos and telenovela production house Underground. Cuatro in Spain, RCN in Colombia, TVN in Chile and Ecuavisa in …

BURBANK: ABC’s online video player was home to nine out of the top ten series viewed on U.S. broadcasters’ websites in February 2009, according to Nielsen VideoCensus data, led by Lost with 2.5 million unique viewers in the month, up 41-percent on …

LONDON: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has unveiled its MIPTV slate, which features a host of new series, such as Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches, alongside returning programs, like Merlin. Already sold into 114 territories just six month after its launch, Merlin returns with …

LONDON: The Digital Rights Group (DRG) has named Ben Hall to the newly created role of chief creative officer of entertainment. Hall was previously the creative director at BBC Worldwide, and also co-founded the format outfit The Chatterbox Partnership. For …

LONDON: Recently released figures from the Quarterly Survey of Advertising Expenditure, compiled by the World Advertising Research Center (WARC) for the Advertising Association, show that British ad spend fell 3.9 percent last year, with a 9.6-percent fall in the fourth quarter alone. …

LOS ANGELES: News Corporation is restructuring its Fox businesses, with film and television combined into a single unit, television networks grouped into one division, and Peter Liguori replaced by Peter Rice as chairman of entertainment at FOX Broadcasting. Effective immediately, …

SINGAPORE: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific is launching a Discovery Kids weekend programming block on Discovery Channel in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand in April. The block will feature a special lineup of programming aimed at encouraging kids to explore …