World Screen

SYDNEY, June 22: Koch Media Deutschland has picked up the German DVD distribution rights to Southern Star International’s hit Australian drama McLeod’s Daughters and the popular kids’ series The Tribe. McLeod’s Daughters is a one-hour drama series now in its …

BANGKOK, June 22: Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) has reached a carriage deal for Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney on True Digital Entertainment’s IPTV platform in Thailand. The two channels launch on True IPTV this month. The platform offers …

COPENHAGEN, June 22: Zodiak Television World has closed its first U.S. licensing deal, with Granada America producing a local version of the Sensing Murder format for Discovery Channel. The seven episode series is slated for a November launch on Discovery …

LONDON/NEW YORK, June 22: José María Aznar, the president of Spain from 1996 to 2004, has joined News Corporation’s board of directors. The addition of Aznar increases the number of directors to 14. News Corporation Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch …

LONDON, June 22: Channel 4 has picked up the rights to two of the most buzzed-about shows from the L.A. Screenings this year: Sony Pictures Television International’s Kidnapped and Runaway. Channel 4 and E4 will air both shows in 2007. …

LOS ANGELES, June 22: The highly touted bidding frenzy that was expected around the Univision sale has not materialized, according to reports, with Haim Saban’s consortium submitting an offer that was deemed too low and three equity firms dropping out …

LONDON, June 22: Private equity group Apax Partners, parent company of HIT Entertainment, is mulling a £1-billion bid for Telefónica’s 75-percent stake in Endemol, British press reports indicate. Apax may team up with venture capitalists to acquire the Netherlands-based format …

CULVER CITY, June 21: George Chien has been upped to executive director of international networks at Sony Pictures Television International, tasked with supporting the company’s Asian networks. Based in Culver City, Chien reports to Martha Eberts, the SVP of international …

LONDON/LOS ANGELES, June 21: FremantleMedia North America has upped Julie Uribe to senior VP of development, and has tapped James Sunderland from Granada in the U.K. to serve as executive producer. Uribe, previously development VP, will oversee all unscripted programming …

AMSTERDAM, June 20: Ahead of the Sunny Side of the Doc documentary market, Off the Fence has confirmed the sale of a number of nature documentaries. France 5 has acquired the rights to Appalachia—The Endless Forest and Death Valley, both …