Top Stories

LONDON: Outlining her vision for BBC Worldwide’s global channels business, Jana Bennett has announced plans to expand the BBC Earth branded block into a full channel, while also confirming the launch of a localized feed of BBC HD in Latin America within …

LONDON: Food Network UK has hired Sue Walton as the consultant head of commissioning and original content, while Kate Bradshaw has been tapped as consultant head of digital. Walton will be based in London, with responsibility for series development, identifying …

LAS VEGAS: Nickelodeon has tapped JAKKS Pacific to serve as the master toy licensee in multiple territories for the animated girl-skewing brand Winx Club. JAKKS will manufacture, distribute and market a line of toys and other products for Winx Club, …

LAS VEGAS: Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) has joined the cast of Nickeldoeon’s new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to voice Raphael, with Jason Biggs (American Pie) as Leonardo, Greg Cipes (Teen Titans) as Michelangelo and Rob Paulsen (Planet …

BANFF: The lineup of Canadian original productions headed to TELETOON’s schedule includes 9 Story Entertainment’s Fugget About It, set for TELETOON at Night, and Breakthrough Entertainment’s Rocket Monkeys, to launch in fall 2012. The 13×22-minute Fugget About It will launch …

SYDNEY: Beyond Distribution has sold a raft of titles, including Monster Bug Wars and How Beer Saved the World, to broadcasters across the Americas. Beyond Productions’ Monster Bug Wars, a Science Channel original, went to Canal D in Canada, which …

UNIVERSAL CITY: Peter Traugott has signed a three-year overall development deal with Universal Media Studios to produce scripted comedies and dramas. Most recently the president of television at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Traugott is behind the upcoming drama Ringer, as well …

LAS VEGAS: At the Licensing International Expo, FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and CBBC are set to launch the new comedy series Strange Hill High, a show for kids 6 to 11 that combines puppets, stop motion and CG. The 13×30-minute comedy …

NEW YORK: The McGraw-Hill Companies is looking to exit the broadcasting business, enlisting Morgan Stanley & Co. to find buyers for its portfolio of U.S. TV stations. The move is part of a strategic review at McGraw-Hill to "reevaluate its strategic …

NEW YORK: AMC has ordered a second season of the original drama The Killing, with season one’s finale to air this Sunday. The Killing is based on the Danish series Forbrydelsen, with the U.S. treatment produced by Fox Television Studios. Veena …