World Screen

BURBANK: Disney Channel has ordered a fourth season of Wizards of Waverly Place, and has also announced the development of the sequel to Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie. Production on the fourth season will get under way in August, …

MUNICH: ProSiebenSat.1 Group has firmed up a transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) deal with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment that sees movies such as the box-office hit Avatar heading to maxdome. The long-term license agreement grants ProSiebenSat.1 Group the non-exclusive VOD rights …

WASHINGTON: More than half of U.S. adults have watched video online, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center, with comedy clips having replaced news as the most popular Internet videos. Pew’s Internet & American Life Project found …

LOS ANGELES: Rüdiger Böss, the head of acquisitions at the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, found that at this year’s Screenings, there were more good shows than last year, but not many outstanding, completely new ideas. “While [shows about] doctors and nurses take …

LONDON: After having predicted in December that British ad spending would be flat in 2010, GroupM has increased its forecast, expecting a gain of 4 percent this year and a further 3 percent for 2011. A year ago GroupM predicted …

LONDON: Virgin Media has agreed to sell Virgin Media Television (VMtv) to BSkyB for £160 million ($234 million), which includes the acquisition of LIVING, Bravo and Virgin1. Also included in the deal are LIVINGit, Challenge, Challenge Jackpot and Bravo 2. …

LONDON: The format Cowboy Builders is headed for a six-episode run in prime time on TF1 in France, through a deal signed by Outright Distribution. The Ricochet format will begin airing on TF1 in September. The channel also picked up …

LONDON/MOSCOW: MTV Networks International (MTVNI) and ProfMedia Holding have secured a multi-year agreement for Energia TV to continue broadcasting a localized MTV service in Russia. In addition to TV rights, MTVNI grants Energia TV ancillary rights to the MTV brand in …

LONDON: Millionmedia and Ricochet, a Shed Media Group company, have been commissioned to produce an 8×1-hour series for BBC Two, tentatively titled At Your Service. The series follows restaurateur Michel Roux Jr.’s mission to create a new generation of restaurant superstars. …

NEW YORK: Marvel Entertainment has upped Joe Quesada to the role of chief creative officer, working alongside Alan Fine, executive VP to the office of the president and chairman of Marvel Studios’ creative committee. Quesada will work to ensure that …