World Screen

LOS ANGELES: MGM’s restructuring plan has become effective, with two new heads in place for the studio and $500 million worth of financing. The studios’ lenders converted about $5 billion in debt for equity and were approved for a "pre-packaged" …

LONDON: The European Commission has cleared News Corporation’s proposed acquisition of BSkyB, deciding that the transaction would not “impede effective competition in the European Economic Area.” The EC was investigating concerns that the merged entity could either refuse advertising by …

SÃO PAULO: A Court of Appeal in São Paulo has sided with Endemol and TV Globo in their suit over an unlicensed Brazilian version of the long-running format Big Brother. The court ruled that the SBT series Casa dos Artistas was an …

LONDON: British media regulator Ofcom has said that effective February 28, 2011, product placement will be allowed in British television shows, subject to some conditions. The authority published rules for the practice today, including restrictions on the types of products …

NEW YORK: Matt Gould, who previously held posts at truTV and Discovery, has been hired by Zig Zag Productions to lead its U.S. business. As executive VP at Zig Zag USA, Gould will be based in New York, joining the …

TREVISO: Italian producer Gruppo Alcuni had a successful 2010 with projects such as the 3D animated film Pet Pals: Marco Polo’s Code, and is looking to follow this up with a host of new properties in 2011. Created in co-production …

NEW YORK: Mexican media giant Grupo Televisa has completed its investment in Univision, which was first announced in October, as well as expanded and extended its programming licensing agreement with the U.S. Hispanic broadcaster. As previously announced, Grupo Televisa has invested …

LONDON: Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance stage production is getting the 3D treatment from Nineteen Fifteen and ITN Productions. The 3D movie experience, Lord of the Dance 3D, is a collaboration between Nineteen Fifteen’s multi-camera specialist and director Marcus Viner …

BEVERLY HILLS: Televix Entertainment has picked up the broadcast and DVD rights in Latin America for the 3D animated feature HeathCliff: Bad Kitty from 41 Entertainment. Production on the feature will be completed in fall 2011. Televix will be offering …

WARSAW: Poland’s Platform ‘n’ is set to air The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala 2010 charity concert, presented exclusively on nShow 3D on December 24. Poland’s first regular 3D TV service, nShow 3D will air the concert starting at 7 p.m. …