World Screen

NEW YORK: The new sketch comedy series Jon Benjamin Has a Van has been given a ten-episode order from Comedy Central, which has slated the show for summer 2011. Produced by Absolutely Productions, Jon Benjamin Has a Van features the …

BEIJING: MTV Networks China has launched SpongeBob SquarePants to mobile users in China through the CCTV Mobile Phone Channel, as part of an expanded multiplatform content agreement. The deal makes MTV Networks China the first international media company to provide access …

SÃO PAULO: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has formed a new joint venture production company in Brazil, Floresta, to be headed up by Elisabetta Zenatti.  Floresta will represent SPT’s portfolio of scripted and non-scripted entertainment formats in Brazil. The new operation …

SYDNEY: Beyond Distribution has a new season of the food series Chuck’s Day Off, with a number of deals already in place ahead of its MIPCOM launch. The second series has already been picked up by Living Channel of New …

LONDON: A number of new global broadcast agreements have been confirmed by MTV Networks International (MTVNI) for its music and movie awards programming. Malaysia’s 8TV and Singapore’s MediaCorp have both signed up for the MTV Movie Awards 2010, hosted by Aziz Ansari. …

LONDON: The Foundation, part of RDF Media Group, has been commissioned to produce a second season of the kids’ series Skillicious with Fruit Shoot H20, which will air on CITV this summer. The soft drink producer Britvic returns as partner …

PARIS: The international news channel France 24 is launching with a lineup of French-language programming in the U.S. through DISH Network, available to 15 million subscribers. The channel will be available 24/7 starting on July 14, Bastille Day. France 24 …

NEW YORK/LONDON/CALCUTTA: Babelgum has entered into a co-production deal with Native Voice Films that sees the web platform working alongside traditional media partners to support the release of the documentary feature The Bengali Detective. The new project is a co-production …

BEIJING: China has renewed Google’s license to operate its website in China, despite a rift over Gmail accounts being hacked and censorship of search results.  Google last week stopped automatically redirecting users in China to its uncensored Hong Kong site …

 PORT WASHINGTON: E1 Entertainment has firmed up a multi-year deal to serve as distributor on more than 200 titles from Blue Underground.  E1 will represent catalogue titles as well as new home-video releases in the U.S., physically, digitally and through …