World Screen

GRUENWALD, December 9: Through an extension of an existing agreement with German brand-management and media company m4e, Panini will continue to be the licensee of the German Football Association (DFB) until the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil. The new …

SYDNEY, December 9: The third season of Southern Star's Blue Water High has landed the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Children's Television Drama. Blue Water High is a Southern Star Entertainment production in association with the Australian Broadcasting …

WEESP, December 9: Rainbow S.p.A. and Big Bocca Productions have signed up Upper Deck International as the worldwide master toy licensee for Huntik: Secrets and Seekers, with a line expected to launch in fall 2009. The line will include 6- …

LONDON, December 8: As the current financial downturn continues to take its toll across the industry, ZenithOptimedia has reduced its forecast for adspend in 2009 from a 4-percent growth to a 0.2-percent decline. Ad expenditure is expected to decline 5.7 …

CHICAGO, December 8: Christie Hefner is stepping down as the chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, but will stay on as CEO until January 31, and will remain as a member of the board until a new CEO is in …

BURBANK, December 8: The Walt Disney Company has entered into agreements to acquire outstanding shares of Jetix Europe, bringing its ownership of the pan-European kids outfit to approximately 96 percent. Disney plans to buy outstanding shares for 11 euros ($14) …

PARIS, December 8: Ynon Kreiz, the CEO of the Endemol group, is set to deliver a keynote speech at this year's MIPTV, which will take place from March 30 to April 3. Kreiz has been at the helm of Endemol …

LONDON, December 8: Entertainment Rights has named Deborah Dugan as its CEO, effective immediately, replacing departed chief executive Nick Philips. Dugan has served as the president and CEO of the company's U.S. arm since April 2007. Prior to this, she …

NEW YORK, December 8: NBC Universal is said to be replacing top executives in charge of both scripted and reality series for the NBC network as well as the head of the company's television studio. According to The New York …

LONDON, December 8: Channel 4 +1, the digital time-shift service of British broadcaster Channel 4, will account for nearly 10 percent of the total audience share for the main network this year. New figures show that for the 11 months …