World Screen

BEIJING: The Chinese Internet TV company Youku has unveiled plans for an animated web series, Miss Puff, to launch this April, with 104 seven-minute episodes planned for over eight seasons. Miss Puff continues on the animated short Miss Puff’s Goldfish …

LONDON: The fantasy adventure series Xena: Warrior Princess has been acquired from NBCUniversal International Television Distribution by Chello Zone for its Horror Channel in the U.K. The series will begin airing weekdays starting April 25. Xena is a spin-off from …

LONDON: The 6×30-minute factual series Wildlife Patrol has been commissioned by ITV1 from Tern Television.  The series looks at the surge in wildlife crime in the British countryside and the illegal trade of endangered specials across the U.K.’s borders. Viewers will …

LONDON, April 1: Zodiak Rights has stuck up new agreements on the observational doc series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, a Channel 4 series. Produced by Firecrackers Films, the 5×1-hour series looks at the secretive world of gypsies and travelers in …

HONG KONG/SINGAPORE: Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific has secured first-look rights to new original productions from Singaporean outfit Scrawl Studios. The multi-year agreement was signed with Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) and the animation house. Scrawl output will potentially air on …

UNIVERSAL CITY: NBCUniversal’s drama series Downton Abbey has been sold into more than 100 territories outside of North America, with recent deals in Australia and the Middle East. Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912, Downton Abbey spotlights the …

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/LONDON: Vinessa Antoine, who has appeared on Being Erica and Soul Food, has signed on to a recurring role in season two of Haven, Entertainment One’s series for Syfy in the U.S., Showcase in Canada and Universal Networks International. Antoine …

BURBANK/MUNICH: NBC has placed an order for 12 half-hour episodes of the SevenOne hidden-camera format Benidorm Bastards, to air under the local total Off Their Rockers, with Betty White set to host. Kinetic Content, the new company backed by ProSiebenSat.1’s Red …

MILAN: As at the end of 2010, 42 percent of Western European homes subscribed to a multichannel pay-TV service, according to the e-Media Institute, with the sub base up 11 percent to 73 million since 2008. In the same period, …

STOCKHOLM/MONTREAL/ROME/KIEV: Canada’s Trio Orange, Italy’s Amygdala and Ukraine’s Film.UA are the latest additions to Sparks Network’s member companies. From Canada, Trio Orange specializes in content for TV, Internet, film and print. The company is a division of Urbacom, which is …