World Screen

NEW YORK: Blair Westlake, the corporate VP of Microsoft’s media and entertainment group, is to serve as treasurer for the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Westlake has been in the industry for more than 25 years. He serves …

LOS ANGELES: Lifetime has given the greenlight to the original movie Unanswered Prayers, based on the hit country music song of the same name by Garth Brooks. Slated for a November premiere, the movie will explore the themes of marriage, …

LONDON: The British hits Murdoch Mysteries and Britannia High have been sold by ITV Studios Global Entertainment to China’s state-owned broadcaster CCTV. The programs originally aired in the U.K. on ITV1. They will now be dubbed in Mandarin for a premiere …

TORONTO: Portfolio Entertainment has upped Julie Stall, the head of animation, to the post of VP of production, where she will oversee the growing slate of children’s, lifestyle and factual content. The newly created role will also include responsibility for …

LOS ANGELES/TORONTO: Entertainment One (eOne) has picked up distribution outside of the U.S. and Canada for the Spike TV comedic reality series Scrappers. The show looks at the ultra-competitive world of Brooklyn scrap-metal workers. Scrappers premiered this summer on Spike …

HYDERABAD: DQ Entertainment has entered into an exclusive home-video distribution deal for the 3D series Iron Man: Armored Adventures season one with TIGA Entertainment of Thailand. TIGA now holds the home-video rights for the first season of the animated series …

LONDON: Jay Hunt is joining Channel 4 in early 2011 as its chief creative officer (CCO) and executive member of the broadcaster’s board. This newly created role combines all programming functions with multiplatform commissioning and product development for the first …

SINGAPORE/LONDON: The Singaporean outfit August Media has expanded its business lines with the acquisition of the U.K.-based children’s producer Red Kite Animation. August has been actively seeking out inorganic growth opportunities through the acquisition of existing businesses to give the …

LOS ANGELES: Julia Rao has been named the chief financial officer for the new 3D joint venture from Sony Corporation, Discovery Communications and IMAX Corporation, while Mark Ringwald is to become the director of scheduling and acquisitions. Rao is responsible …

The U.S. cable network Veria is opening up its catalogue of healthy lifestyle and wellness programming for the international market. Dedicating to bringing natural wellness to the mainstream, Veria was created as an outlet for showcasing unique, fun and rewarding …