World Screen

LONDON: Michael Massey has joined Splash Media, founded by Jane Lush and Fenia Vardanis, to head up its factual division.  Massey previously worked with Splash Media as series editor on ITV1’s Piers Morgan On…Sandbanks and the follow-up series, Piers Morgan …

TORONTO: The animated preschool series Wibbly Pig leads off 9 Story Entertainment’s production slate, which also includes the live-action offering Survive This and new episodes of Best Ed.  The 52×10-minute Wibbly Pig, co-produced with Wish Films, features an inquisitive character …

NEW YORK: Scholastic Media has teamed up with University Games to produce a line of board and card games, as well as puzzles, for The 39 Clues.  The line is slated to hit shelves in conjunction with the publication of …

LONDON: The Jamie Oliver cooking series Oliver’s Twist, produced for Food Network in the U.S., is to receive its British TV premiere on UKTV Food today. UKTV Food picked up the Fresh One-produced 40×30-minute show from FremantleMedia Enterprises. It will air every weekday …

SYDNEY: Beyond Distribution has clinched new deals in the Americas, including licensing several titles to Discovery Networks Latin America. Discovery Networks Latin America, which previously picked up Beyond titles such as In Style Celebrity Weddings 2007, Milly Molly and Medical …

LONDON: BBC Worldwide is building on the success of the hit show Strictly Come Dancing with a range of consumer products due to hit stores this fall. The merchandise plan will be timed to coincide with the launch of the seventh …

NEW YORK/SINGAPORE: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has been appointed as the official licensing agent for CBS Consumer Products in Asia. The agreement will see FME handling the licensing and merchandising rollout for key CBS-owned brands such as the CSI franchise, Next Top Model, 90210 and Star …

TOKYO: Japanese public broadcaster NHK has relaunched its international channel, broadcasting in English 24 hours a day with the new tagline "Your Eye on Asia." The revamped NHK World TV started broadcasting today. It will feature news bulletins at the …

NAME: Numberjacks ORIGIN: The series is based on an original idea. DISTRIBUTOR: Beyond Distribution holds all worldwide rights, excluding the U.K. CREATOR: Open Mind Productions TV SHOW: Season one consists of 45 15-minute episodes. Season two is currently in production …

LONDON: Gateway Broadcast Services has ceased operations of its pan-African pay-TV platform GTV, going into liquidation as a result of the financial crisis. Gateway announced Friday that its board of directors had approved a liquidation plan for the company. A statement …