Top Stories

BURBANK: Lifestyle expert Sandra Lee has signed a multiplatform deal with Hyperion and Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) for a range of books and an original web series, respectively. Hyperion signed Lee to a five-book deal. The first two books …

TORONTO: Actress and comedian Caroline Rhea is set to host this year’s Rockies Gala at the Banff World Media Festival, which will honor James Burrows, Howie Mandel, Eugene Levy, Edward Asner and Linda Ellerbee, among others. Rhea started her career …

LOS ANGELES: Bunim/Murray Productions has entered into a first-look agreement with The Operating Room to identify unscripted Israeli formats for potential development and production in the U.S. Bunim/Murray, part of the Banijay group, will have a first look at The …

LONDON: Turner Broadcasting has snapped up the U.K. TV and licensing and merchandising rights to Chloe’s Closet from Moonscoop, and plans to air the show on Cartoonito this summer. The 52×11-minute preschool series is currently broadcast in France, the U.S., Italy, Russia …

LOS ANGELES: Disney Channel has ordered the live-action comedy Austin & Ally, which will begin production this summer and is slated to premiere in late 2011. The show stars newcomer Ross Lynch as Austin and Laura Marano of Without a Trace …

SHANGHAI: Star China Media (SCM) has appointed Tian Ming as CEO and Cao Zhigao as COO, effective immediately. Ming was previously group VP of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), where he was responsible for SMG’s flagship channel, Dragon TV, and the …

LOS ANGELES: VH1 has ordered new seasons for a trio of hit shows for fall, which will see the return of Pop Up Video to the channel’s lineup. After being off the air for ten years, Pop Up Video is …

LONDON: Outdoor Channel has debuted in Russia on the country’s two largest platforms, satellite-TV operator NTV-PLUS and OnLime, which is owned by Russia’s National Cable Networks (NCN). The channel offers a mix of programming surrounding outdoor pursuits, action and adventure, including fishing, …

LOS ANGELES: The FX comedy series Wilfred, starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann, has scored a slot in the U.K. on BBC Three for the fall. The live-action comedy debuts in the U.S. on FX on June 23. Wood stars as …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group has signed a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution to bring a range of hit movies and TV shows to Viasat’s Scandinavian free-TV channels as well as the Viaplay multi-screen online video streaming service. The …