World Screen

NEW YORK, October 17: Spike TV has ordered to series two projects—Surviving Disaster and Deadliest Warrior—billed as its most ambitious shows to date, and has renewed the successful DEA, all for 2009. Announcing the orders, Sharon Levy, the senior VP …

SINGAPORE, October 17: SingTel’s mio TV is launching a new Chinese-language outlet, Mei Ah Drama Channel, which is dedicated to drama series from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Mei Ah Drama is the first 24-hour drama channel …

HONG KONG, October 17: Comcast International Media Group (CIMG) has sold more than 700 hours of content across the Asia Pacific, including a branded The Style Network block in Australia on FOXTEL. Announcing the deals, Christine Fellowes, the managing director …

NEW YORK, October 17: HIT Entertainment is working with AEG ThemeSTAR and I.P. Live to bring touring stage shows based on Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder to the U.S. starting in January 2009. “Family shows deliver a whole …

LONDON, October 17: Optomen has sold UKTV Food’s Market Kitchen to BBC Two, with a 20-episode run kicking off on October 20. Market Kitchen will air on BBC Two seven days after premiering on UKTV Food. Now in its second …

SINGAPORE, October 17: VOOM HD Holdings has struck a deal with Singapore’s Infinite Frameworks (IFW) to co-produce and distribute up to $20 million worth of HD content over the next five years. Both partners will invest $10 million in production …

LONDON, October 17: UKTV has appointed Julie Swanston to the role of deputy channel head for its dedicated comedy channel G.O.L.D. and new entertainment network Watch, effective immediately. Reporting to Paul Morton, the channel head of G.O.L.D. and Watch, Swanston …

LONDON/NEW YORK, October 17: Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) has appointed Gavin Metcalfe to the newly created position of VP for international home entertainment, based in London. Metcalfe reports to Jean-Philippe Randisi, the senior VP and managing director for …

NEW YORK, October 16: As the February 2009 digital transition in the U.S. rapidly approaches, The Nielsen Company has revealed that some 9.6 million homes are not ready for the switch. Those 9-plus million homes would be unable to receive …

STOCKHOLM, October 16: Modern Times Group has wrapped up its acquisition of Bulgarian broadcast group Nova Televizia after receiving clearance from local regulatory authorities. MTG will now assume full operational control of the business, and will consolidate the results in …