World Screen

ATLANTA: Following two popular previous specials, Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken has slated a new Star Wars-themed installment, to be directed by Chris McKay. Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III is slated to debut on December 12 at 11:30 p.m. It will …

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channel has given World Screen Newsflash a first look at the new structure for its U.S. and international programming teams, with global commissions to be overseen by Steve Burns. The changes were first announced to NGC …

OXFORD: Novel Entertainment, behind such hits as Horrid Henry, Fimbles and Ping & Pong, has appointed Kelly Henwood as children’s brand manager. Henwood will lead the future development of Novel’s children’s TV properties. She is responsible for coordinating a range …

EMERYVILLE: MobiTV has upped Joanne Waage, a five-year veteran of the company, to VP of strategic media partnerships and programming. In her time with MobiTV, a company founded in 1999 to drive the technology in bringing live TV to mobile …

LOS ANGELES: Comcast and NBC Universal, in the midst of a regulatory review of their proposed merger, have struck a deal with the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) to create additional opportunities for independent producers. The accord is intended to …

MILAN: Atlantyca Entertainment and Moonscoop have signed new deals for the 3D animated property Dive Olly Dive! for publishing and home video in Malaysia and Singapore. The publishing deal includes the translation rights to Pelican Publishing for six titles created …

VINCENNES/ROME: Gaumont-Alphanim is joining Italy’s Cartoon One as co-producer for the second season of the animated series Teen Days. The 26×30-minute series is directed by Maurizio Nichetti. The first season was produced by Cartoon One in co-production with Rai Fiction. …

CHICAGO: Hugh Hefner, backed by a private-equity firm, has made a bid to take the company he founded, Playboy Enterprises, private, but could be facing a rival bid from the company that owns Penthouse.   The Playboy Enterprises (PEI) board …

NEW YORK: V-me is putting the spotlight on the World Cup host nation of South Africa with an eight-hour marathon on July 18, featuring footage captured by journalists Jorge Gestoso and Marian de la Fuente. In Sudafrica 2010: Mas alla …

TORONTO: Skywriter Media & Entertainment Group has entered a deal to acquire the worldwide distribution rights for the program catalogue of Summerhill Entertainment, home to a slate of documentaries, light entertainment, kids’ fare and movies. Summerhill will co-distribute future content …