World Screen

BRISTOL, May 30: Aardman Animations will launch its own branded channel on the new Internet TV platform Joost. The Aardman channel on Joost will offer animated programming such as the family-targeted Creature Comforts and Morph and surreal comedies like Rex …

TORONTO/LONDON, May 30: Japanese broadcaster NHK has acquired DECODE Entertainment’s Naughty Naughty Pets, a series of 26×3-minute shorts commissioned by the CBC, for its Saturday morning schedule. Naughty Naughty Pets is currently airing on Cartoon Network in the U.S. throughout …

HONG KONG, May 30: STAR has reached a deal to launch its music network Channel [V] Taiwan on the now TV IPTV platform in Hong Kong. now TV is the exclusive Hong Kong distribution platform for STAR channels. Channel [V] …

NEW YORK, May 30: Comedy Central has unveiled its talent and development slate for 2007-2008, and has already greenlit a number of shows for pilot production, including Night Writer, a short-form comedy from former Saturday Night Live head writer T. …

SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR, May 30: AETN All Asia Networks (AAAN), a joint venture between A&E Television Networks and Astro All Asia Networks, will launch The History Channel and Crime & Investigation Network in Southeast Asia on June 15, with territories at …

LOS ANGELES, May 30: Kerry McCluggage, the chairman of Allumination FilmWorks, has been tapped to deliver the keynote speech at the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s (IFTA) annual Production Conference, which will take place on June 15 at the Beverly …

ENGLEWOOD/LOS ANGELES, May 30: EchoStar Communications Corporation’s DISH Network satellite TV platform has reached a deal to carry current and library features from MGM on its VOD service, DISH On Demand, as well as through its pay-per-view offerings. Titles available …

TORONTO, May 30: U.S. network acquisitions like NBC’s Chuck and The CW’s Reaper headline CHUM Television’s 2007-2008 schedule alongside Canadian highlights like The Bridge. Also premiering on CHUM stations this fall are the ABC Family sci-fi thriller Kyle XY, Russell …

NEW YORK, May 30: CBS Corporation has acquired Last.fm, a music-based online social networking platform with more than 15 million active users in 200-plus countries, for $280 million in cash. Founded in 2002, Last.fm creates communities by bringing together listeners, …

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES, May 30: The new video joint venture from NBC Universal and News Corporation has lined up a slate of new content partners, including Oxygen and Sundance Channel. Also joining the soon-to-be-launched service are FUEL TV, SPEED and …