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MUNICH/CANNES: Bavaria Media is highlighting the movie cycle Vares from Finland from its MIPCOM catalogue, among other titles. Based on the novels by Reijo Mäki, Vares is about a private investigator, ladies’ man and hard-drinking pub regular with difficult cases. …

LONDON: The U.K. parliamentary panel that is probing the News of the World phone hacking has recalled James Murdoch to give additional testimony, seeking explanation for conflicting evidence provided by him and two of his former executives. Murdoch, who serves …

LOS ANGELES: GRB International has expanded its distribution activity to include scripted programming, coming alongside the promotion of Marielle Zuccarelli to president of the international distribution division. Zuccarelli will expand her responsibilities to include feature-length films and scripted TV movies. Also …

MADRID: Unidad Editorial (UE) and Discovery Networks International are bringing a new free-to-air channel to Spain, launching in January 2012. The new service will be a factual-entertainment channel, complementary to Discovery’s portfolio of pay-TV offerings. The as-yet-unnamed service will offer …

RIYADH: Alarab is the name of the new international news channel from Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal that is scheduled to launch in 2012, with an agreement in place with Bloomberg to provide five hours of programming throughout the day. The …

CULVER CITY: The 3D special Skeleton, Inc., about a family who turns animal and human bodies into works of art, is making its world premiere September 18 on 3net. The special features Skulls Unlimited owner Jay Villemarette, his wife and …

LONDON: BBC Worldwide is bringing nine new formats across a range of genres, such as the scripted series Misfits and the comedy panel game show Epic Win, to MIPCOM. Available to buyers at MIPCOM, Misfits has already sold to more …

PARIS: Novavision is to offer buyers at MIPCOM three new comedy formats that extend across a range of media platforms. Available at market is the game show The Prize of Surprise, in which three contestants in three different countries play …

LONDON: Golden Bear Products has been made the exclusive master toy partner for Endemol Worldwide Distribution’s Bananas in Pyjamas in the U.K., Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Golden Bear’s Bananas in Pyjamas products consisting of plush …

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Networks International has commissioned the new series My Naked Secret, from the producers of Embarrassing Bodies, for a worldwide rollout on TLC International. The 12-episode half-hour series features individuals hiding something about their bodies. With the help …