World Screen

LOS ANGELES: HBO Latin America has picked up the fifth season of the teen drama M.I. High from BBC Worldwide, while also taking on the late-night music series Later with Jools Holland, among other titles. The hit BBC teen drama M.I. High …

NEW YORK: Current TV’s top brass, including co-founder Al Gore, have alleged that News Corporation’s Sky Italia dropped the service from its lineup because of a bias against anchor Keith Olbermann, who recently joined the network. According to published reports, Current …

MAINZ: Thomas Sewing, the co-CEO of ZDF.digital, passed away at the age of 38, after losing his battle with cancer. Sewing was the managing partner at ZDF Enterprises’ subsidiary firm ZDF Digital Medienproduktion as well as CEO of the holding …

NEW YORK: Discovery en Español has two original productions on its 2011-2012 schedule: one about the debate over immigration policy and one focused on what key Latin American cities will be like in 2111. Living Under the Radar will provide a look …

LONDON: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has secured a number of new international broadcasters for preschool shows from its Nickelodeon portfolio, including the math-based Team Umizoomi. In the Asia Pacific, the newly released second season of Team Umizoomi is headed …

NEW YORK: Christina Jennings, chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury Films, talks to World Screen about international drama co-pros, diversification and creating content for new media.   One of Canada’s most well-regarded production and distribution companies, Shaftesbury Films has carved a …

LONDON: Two new licensees have signed up for Driver Dan’s Story Train, with the deals inked by Aoh!K Commercial, the U.K. representative of brand owner twofour54. Ravensburger has picked up the U.K. rights to produce puzzles and non-electronic board games …

LONDON: James Burstall, CEO of Leopard, is looking to create a super-indie with the establishment of Argonon, encompassing Leopard Films, Leopardrama, Leopard Films USA, Remedy Productions and Remedy Productions Canada, with discussions underway to add more outfits to the group. …

NEW YORK: Syfy has come on board as the U.S. broadcast partner for seasons one and two of Prodigy Pictures’ supernatural drama Lost Girl, with Canada’s Showcase launching the second season this fall. Produced by Prodigy Pictures in association with …

CHICAGO: Janson Media has scored a distribution deal with the U.K.’s Crossing Borders Films to release the feature documentary Crossing Borders to worldwide TV, DVD, VOD and new-media markets. The film follows four Moroccan and four American university students as …