World Screen

LOS ANGELES: Phil Kent, the chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System, has been lined up to deliver the opening morning keynote at NATPE. Kent oversees such networks and businesses as CNN, CNN International, CNN.com and HLN; TBS, TNT, Turner Classic …

BURBANK: ABC has been granted the digital distribution rights for any series produced by Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, for online viewing on ABC.com and Hulu platforms. As part of the agreement, content will …

NEW YORK: Bruce Tuchman, the former president of MGM Worldwide Networks, has been named the president of AMC/Sundance Channel Global. In his new role, Tuchman will be based in New York City, leading the strategic expansion of the company’s global …

BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company has acquired Babble Media, an online parenting platform featuring more than 200 mom bloggers. Through the acquisition of Babble, which launched in 2006, Disney Interactive’s Moms and Family business gains a blogging platform that focuses …

NEW YORK: Nickelodeon has launched a website for moms, NickMom.com, initially rolling out as a blog before it expands into a full website with video content, social media applications and editorial content next year. Nickelodeon’s new multiplatform destination for moms …

LONDON: Canal+ Poland has commissioned an eight-episode local adaptation of the crime thriller Penoza from Endemol Poland. Endemol recently began internationally distributing Penoza as a scripted format. The deal marks the first time Canal+ Poland and Endemol have partnered together …

LOS ANGELES: Eight episodes have been ordered of the new series Irish Dancing Tweens (working title), set to begin production this week and make its U.S. debut on TLC in the summer of 2012. The series features the world of …

SINGAPORE: The Syfy channel in Asia is launching a short-film competition, Syfy Shorts, looking to discover talented young filmmakers within the region. Syfy Shorts applicants must submit an original five-minute film in the science fiction, paranormal, adventure or fantasy genres, …

EMERYVILLE: Ten TV broadcast groups, which own a combined 201 stations across the U.S., have struck a long-term partnership with ConnecTV, a real-time social network built for TV viewers, in an effort to provide an enhanced "second screen" experience. ConnecTV allows …

MUNICH: The expansion of Your Family Entertainment’s (YFE) pay-TV channel, yourfamily, "has been, and will continue to be, a focal point" of business development, the company said in its interim report. Further carriage deals for the service have been firmed …