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COPENHAGEN: Martin Abildgaard has been tapped to lead the development of TV formats aimed at the international market for Strix Denmark as its creative director. He previously served as the head of development/executive producer at Mastiff, TV2 and Strix Television. …

LOS ANGELES: Simon Cowell, Sony Music, FremantleMedia North America and FOX have lined up a record-breaking $5 million record deal for the winner of the highly anticipated singing competition The X Factor in the U.S. This marks the largest guaranteed …

VINCENNES: Gaumont-Alphanim is partnering with the Italian outfit Calidra and the Pagot family for a new series based on the popular Calimero character. The exclusive pact will see the little black chicken, half enclosed in its shell, being animated in CGI …

BOSTON: The international representation rights to The Artist’s Toolbox, an interview series featuring creative luminaries from the worlds of art, music, design and literature, have been scooped up by APT Worldwide. Produced by MogaJacobsen and hosted by screenwriter and director …

LOS ANGELES: The latest season in the Power Rangers franchise has secured slots on Nickelodeon and TELETOON in Canada ahead of its U.S. debut next week. MarVista Entertainment has licensed Power Rangers Samurai to Corus Entertainment and TELETOON Canada. The Saban Brands …

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The National Children’s Museum has aligned with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street and its characters throughout several interactive exhibits, educational video segments and books in the museum’s Early Learners gallery. In helping to extend Sesame Workshop’s educational …

OSLO: Fox International Channels (FIC) has promoted Theis Heitmann to country manager for Denmark, with oversight for daily operations and responsibility for further development of the Danish activities. Heitmann continues to be based in Copenhagen. He assumes new responsibilities as …

PARIS: AB Groupe has signed an eight-year deal to represent 175 movies from the Paramount Pictures library in French-speaking markets in Europe. The pact covers features such as Mission: Impossible, Forrest Gump, Beverly Hills Cop, The Godfather and Breakfast at …

MAINZ: A second season of the 3D HD animated series The Jungle Book is being co-produced by ZDF Enterprises and DQ Entertainment. ZDF Enterprises and ZDF are the chief co-production partner of the second season, which is budgeted at more …

LONDON: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) is set to open the event attraction Merlin: The Dragon Tower, based on the hit BBC One drama, at Warwick Castle in April. This marks the first-ever event inspired by the show. Warwick Castle is working closely …