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STOCKHOLM: Net sales were up 3 percent in the third quarter at Modern Times Group (MTG), though pre-tax profits slipped 7 percent to SEK439 million ($66.6 million). Total net income for the third quarter was down 15 percent, from SEK359 …

NEW YORK: American Greetings Properties (AGP) and licensing agents Cookie Jar Entertainment and Medialink have signed two major deals for Strawberry Shortcake in China, expanding the brand into the apparel and publishing markets with new licensees. As the first publishing …

LOS ANGELES: The return of The Walking Dead broke records on AMC in the U.S., drawing 7.3 million total viewers, and kept the momentum going with Fox International Channels’ global rollout of the second season also shattering records in Spain. …

NEW YORK: Syfy has ordered six one-hour episodes of the new unscripted series School Spirits, with Mark Burnett signed on as an executive producer. The series features true ghost stories of hauntings that have happened at schools across the country …

BETHPAGE: Cablevision is offering a new iO en espanol programming package, which includes 45 Spanish-language channels and more content from Puerto Rico, Cuba and Peru. Among the channels offered through the service are Cuba Play, featuring 100-percent Cuban-produced programming; Discovery …

LONDON: Impossible Pictures’ 360Production has been commissioned by BBC Two to make Crusades, a three-part series that will trace the 200-year time period of the religious wars. Medieval history scholar Dr. Tom Asbridge will present the 3×1-hour project, which will be …

HONG KONG: The Apartment is a new reality series launching on AXN this month that features a DIY showdown between three teams who are competing for the chance to win a luxury condominium. The three teams—husbands-wife, friends, frenemies—must out-design, out-shop …

PARIS: Leon and Gees, short-form creations from Studio Hari, have secured new international broadcasters through deals signed by PGS Entertainment. Leon is airing in more than 200 territories, including France (France Télévisions and Canal J), the U.K. (CBBC and BBC Two), …

ROME: Among the properties Mondo TV is showcasing at Brand Licensing Europe are Gormiti, now in 3D CGI, and the preschool-focused Playtime Buddies. Gormiti is a co-production from Mondo TV and Giochi Preziosi. Set for launch in fall 2012, the …

LONDON: BBC Worldwide has named Character Options as the master toy licensee for Deadly 60, the CBBC wildlife show presented by Steve Backshall. A full licensing program is currently under way for the brand, with the first product set to …