World Screen

BURBANK, August 16: NBC’s popular soap Passions has become the first daytime drama available for download and purchase on the iTunes Music Store. Episodes will be available the day after airing for $1.99 per episode. On the iTunes lineup, it …

LOS ANGELES, August 16: The National Association of Television Program Executives is teaming with Achilles Media, organizers of the Banff World Television Festival, to produce the third annual NATPE Mobile++ conference, presented by InfoSpace. The 2007 Mobile ++ event kicks …

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, August 16: According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Residential Cable/Satellite Satisfaction Study, penetration of digital cable has increased from 30 percent last year to 41 percent this year, thanks in part to the rollout of triple …

NEW YORK, August 16: Juniper Partners Acquisition has signed a deal to acquire Firestone Communications, the Texas-based company that owns and operates ¡Sorpresa!, the Hispanic kids’ network, in an all-stock transaction. Once the deal closes in the fourth quarter of …

LONDON, August 16: The reality series The Race, The Big Idea and Cirque de Celebrité and a HD concert with Robbie Williams headline Sky One’s fall slate. Cirque de Celebrité will run over a ten-week period and will be hosted …

HAMILTON, August 16: Central European Media Enterprises (CME) will appeal a Ukrainian court ruling issued today that says that local businessman Igor Kolomoisky is entitled to a 70-percent stake in Studio 1+1, in which CME currently holds a 30-percent stake. …

STAMFORD, August 16: Global paid product placement spending in TV, film and other media is expected to climb 38.8 percent to $3.07 billion in 2006, according to a study released today by the Connecticut-based research firm PQ Media. Global paid …

NEW YORK, August 15: Sesame Workshop has promoted Celia Schneiderman to manager of international television distribution, with responsibility for program sales in Asia, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean and in-flight. Schneiderman reports to Renee Mascara, the VP of international television …

BURBANK, August 15: As part of a wide-ranging reorganization at Disney’s home entertainment operations, Buena Vista Home Entertainment and Buena Vista Home Entertainment International will be integrated into one global division, Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment (BVWHE), headed up by …

OTTAWA, August 15: HAGI, the current rights holder in Poland for Amberwood Entertainment’s The Secret World of Benjamin Bear, has licensed the television and DVD rights to the series for a number of other territories. The expanded deal will see …