World Screen

NEW YORK, April 8: The Nielsen Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire IAG Research, which measures consumer engagement with television programs, national commercials and product placements, for $225 million. The acquisition will be effected through a merger of …

LUXEMBOURG/HAMBURG, April 8: RTL Group has announced it will begin investing again in key sports marketing rights, reestablishing its UFA Sports division. UFA Sports is headquartered in Hamburg and will mainly be active in the international marketing of media rights …

CANNES, April 8: As MIPTV opened in Cannes yesterday, Elisabeth Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of the Shine Group, delivered a keynote entitled “Creativity Without Borders.” “Creativity is at the heart of our business,” Murdoch stated. “Creativity is our very …

MUNICH, April 8: Turner Broadcasting System International has acquired 8.5 percent of the German pay-TV platform Premiere Star from Premiere AG. With its investment, Turner becomes the third-largest shareholder of Premiere Star, after Premiere AG and HVB Capital Partners. Premiere …

NEW YORK, April 8: A deal inked by The Weinstein Company (TWC) to move the hit reality series Project Runway from Bravo to Lifetime has raised the ire of Bravo’s parent company, NBC Universal, which is taking legal action to …

CANNES, April 7: David de Rothschild, adventurer and MIPTV keynote speaker, and Kit Hawkins of Everybody’s Entertainment, have launched their joint venture, Sculpt The Future Productions, at MIPTV. The production company is dedicated to socially conscious content across all media …

CANNES, April 7: Manga Entertainment has secured a deal to distribute a wide range of VIZ Media’s DVD titles to the U.K. and Ireland, starting with the release of Death Note Vol. 1 on April 28. In addition to Death …

CANNES, April 7: Canada’s Amberwood Productions has concluded a co-production agreement with Belgium’s Studio100 on a new animated series, Super Mega Hyper Pets. The series, targeted at 4- to 6-year-olds, follows the adventures of 8-year-old Timmy Jones and his three …

CANNES, April 7: Chorion has secured a deal with Five in the U.K. for its preschool series Olivia, based on the bestselling book property, and has also closed a number of new international presales. Olivia will broadcast as part of …

CANNES, April 7: DECODE Entertainment has inked an agreement with Singapore’s Scrawl Studios for a new animated series, tentatively titled RPG High. The 52×11-minute series, aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds, will use 2-D animation with 3-D sequences, in a style …