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LOS ANGELES: The tax credits for film and television producers shooting in California, in place since 2009, have generated more than $3.8 billion for the state’s economy and have supported more than 20,000 jobs, according to a new report. According to …

LOS ANGELES: Chris Ottinger, the executive VP of worldwide television at MGM, has been promoted to oversee the studio’s international TV distribution and acquisitions activities. As president of international television distribution and acquisitions, Ottinger will work closely with the teams …

NEW YORK: Among the programs headed to BBC America’s new comedy block, Ministry of Laughs, is the original British series Free Agents, which was recently picked up by NBC for a U.S. treatment. The 6×30-minute Free Agents stars Anthony Head …

LOS ANGELES: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has scooped up the worldwide distribution rights, excluding North America, to Lisa Kudrow’s 10×30-minute Showtime series Web Therapy. The show was reformatted from the short-form web series of the same name from Is or Isn’t …

FRANKLIN/SNELLS BEACH: Big Idea Entertainment and New Zealand’s Huhu Studios have firmed up a multi-million-dollar production deal that covers six new direct-to-video VeggieTales titles over the next two years. Huhu will produce the six new direct-to-video VeggieTales productions, leading the …

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Channels has commissioned a South African version of ITV Studios’ hit format Come Dine With Me for rollout on BBC Entertainment, available in the region on the DStv platform. Under the terms of the deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, …

SYDNEY: Fox Sports Australia is to again make use of Global Television’s outside broadcasting and studio facilities for its coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Global Television’s technicians will deliver up to 258 hours of live HD coverage of …

STOCKHOLM/MUNICH/CAPE TOWN: Fireball SEM from South Africa and south&browse of Germany are the latest members to join the Sparks Network group of companies. Fireball SEM is Sparks’ exclusive member for the sub-Saharan Africa territory. The indie TV and digital production …

ESPOO: David Maisel, the former chairman of Marvel Studios, has been tapped as a special advisor to Rovio, the company behind the megahit Angry Birds franchise, tasked with building the Finnish company’s entertainment strategy. Maisel, whose tenure at Marvel saw …

LOS ANGELES: Gary Marenzi has exited his post as co-president of worldwide television at MGM Studios, a role he has held since 2007. Marenzi’s departure comes ahead of the arrival of Roma Khanna as president of the studio’s television group …