Top Stories

SCOTTSDALE: As the global unit shipments of PVR products set a new record in 2009, and are expected to top that for 2010, In-Stat predicts that shipments will surpass 50 million by 2014. Driven by the consumer demand to time-shift …

NEW YORK: DIY Network is to unveil a new series, tentatively titled Hollywood Hi-Tech, dedicated to home electronics and high-end custom installation in celebrity homes, at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). On January 6, DIY Network will reveal …

MIAMI: The Telemundo Internacional telenovela Elena’s Ghost has debuted simultaneously in Croatia, Costa Rica and El Salvador. Written by Humerto "Kico" Olivieri, the telenovela launched on January 3 in Croatia on Nova TV, Costa Rica on Teletica and El Salvador …

LOS ANGELES: Following a record-setting performance of the Transformers Prime mini-series event, The Hub has slotted the original half-hour series to launch in its regular weekly time period starting February 11. Transformers Prime, done in full CGI animation, will feature …

BURBANK: Nickelodeon has ordered a ninth season of the hit animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, taking the show to reach its 200th episode. A total of 26 fresh episodes will roll out out in 2012. SpongeBob ranks as the top animated …

NEW YORK: Pepsi is to serve as an official sponsor of The X Factor, which Simon Cowell is bringing to the U.S. this fall, through a new agreement signed with Fox Broadcasting Company, Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. Pepsi …

NEW YORK: World Screen takes a look back at the highlights of the format industry in 2010. The format landscape experienced quite a bit of change throughout this past year, with rapid consolidation playing a large part in the shifting …

NEW YORK: Myung Kang-Huneke has been promoted to chief of staff at Sesame Workshop, overseeing legal and business affairs and public policy as well as supervising the company’s corporate partnerships and development groups. Kang-Huneke joins Gary Knell, the president and …

ENGLEWOOD: Starz Digital Media is launching its first social game, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, and iPad multimedia script app for the Spartacus original series. The social game is free to play via Facebook. The Beta version will be opened …

LOS ANGELES: Hasbro Studios and Italy’s Mediaset have signed an overall programming agreement for shows such as G.I. Joe Renegades and Pound Puppies, along with entering into a licensing deal for series-related merchandise. Mediaset is to broadcast Hasbro’s Transformers Prime, …