Top Stories

MONTREAL: Sally Catto has been hired as the executive VP for Cineflix Studios, charged with building up the scripted division in Canada, as well as developing and overseeing Canadian drama and comedy programming. Catto will report to Glen Salzman, the …

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 …

LOS ANGELES: Beth Belew and Liz Levenson have joined the programming department at Rive Gauche Television. Belew was appointed VP of development and acquisitions. She will develop original programming for the U.S. market, formats for the global market and seek …

NEW YORK: John Taite, formerly the VP of programming strategy at BBC Worldwide America, has been upped to VP of branded entertainment and integrated ad sales solutions. Taite will work with ad sales, programming and marketing teams, and will report …

BEIJING: Chinese Internet content platform Youku has signed a deal to add between 400 and 450 Warner Bros. titles to its online premium VOD service. The three-year deal was signed with CAV Warner Home Entertainment Co., Ltd., Warner Bros. Home …

UNIVERSAL CITY: Two new detectives have been cast as series regulars for NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Kelli Giddish (Chase) and Danny Pino (Cold Case). Giddish starred in the NBC drama Chase as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost. She …

TEMECULA: Ten fresh shows are set to debut in the Outdoor Channel’s celebrity-packed summer lineup, along with 73 programs returning with new episodes. Many of the programs will feature celebrity hosts and all content on the channel will air in …

NEW YORK: Sunday’s live premiere of the BET Awards garnered 7.7 million total viewers, making the event the number one awards show on cable this year. The BET Awards ’11 rank as the number two telecast in network history, only …

MADRID: Antena 3 has signed a multi-year agreement with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution for the exclusive free-TV rights in Spain for films such as the recent hit Bridesmaids, as well as the upcoming The Man with Iron Fists. The deal …