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SCOTTSDALE: In-Stat research indicates that 30 percent of U.S. homes with pay-TV subscriptions could cancel those services in the future and switch to free online TV platforms. The number of U.S. pay-TV subs gained 0.15 percent in 2010, In-Stat says, indicating that …

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK: A total of 12 U.S. cable companies and 10 studios are teaming to invest $10 million this year to drive usage of the Movies On Demand service. The consortium of entertainment companies first came together last year to promote …

TORONTO: The Banff World Media Festival will honor a host of fiction and nonfiction programs at this year’s Rockies, with Matte Babel and Mike Holmes hosting the respective award ceremonies. Babel serves as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada. He …

LONDON: Banijay International has hired Luci Burnley as an international sales executive, with responsibility for territories such as the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Burnley was previously the format acquisitions and sales manager at DRG, responsible for format sales in …

LONDON: Simon Cowell will be absent from the judging panel of the upcoming season of the U.K.’s The X Factor, though he will continue to be "an enormous presence backstage." Cowell will be part of the judges on the upcoming …

STOCKHOLM: On revenues that were up to SEK3.1 billion ($494.3 million), Modern Times Group’s net profit increased by 63 percent to SEK490 million ($77.5 million). “Our Q1 sales and operating profits are at record levels following 10-percent sales growth at …

PARIS: Catherine Alvaresse has been upped to deputy general manager in charge of business and development for Europe Images International, while Bertrand Lossignol has been appointed deputy sales manager. Together with Frank Soloveicik, the CEO of Europe Images, Alvaresse will …

SCOTTSDALE: The number of Internet-connected consumer-entertainment devices shipped worldwide will rise at a compound annual growth rate of 21 percent to reach more than 3 billion by 2016, according to ABI Research. TV sets and Blu-ray players will lead this growth, ABI …

TEL AVIV: FremantleMedia’s Dutch production arm, Blue Circle, will produce a local version of Armoza Formats’ factual-entertainment title Connected for NED3. Armoza inked the deal with NCRV, whose head of formats, William Hoes, says that casting is under way for …

LONDON/SANTA MONICA: Content Media Corporation has extended its co-ownership and distribution pact with reality production outfit Collins Avenue, which has just secured a commission from Animal Planet for the taxidermy docu-series Romance is Dead. Content first got into business with Jeff …