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ROME: Italy’s antitrust authority is launching an investigation into Sky Italia for alleged abuse of its dominant market position in acquiring broadcast rights for the World Cup. The investigation is over the acquisition of exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2010 …

PARIS: French broadcasting group TF1 delivered Q3 revenues of 541 million euros, a 9-percent increase, with advertising revenues reaching 306 million euros. French broadcasting revenues totaled 425 million euros, a 13-percent gain, while audiovisual rights revenues fell 37 percent to …

TORONTO: OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network has picked up the lifestyle series Anna and Kristina’s Grocery Bag from Picture Box Distribution. Produced by Worldwide Bag Media in association with W Network in Canada, the series is hosted by Anna Wallner …

NEW YORK: Val Boreland has been promoted from VP of program and promotion scheduling to senior VP of programming, promotion and multiplatform strategy at Comedy Central. Boreland continues to oversee Comedy Central’s programming group, including program and promotion scheduling. Additionally, …

BOSTON: Karmaloop TV, a U.S. multiplatform network aimed at 18- to 34-year-olds, has signed its first licensing deal with Celestial Pictures, providing a range of kung fu and action classics from the Shaw Brothers library. Celestial owns, restores and licenses …

NEW YORK: Laura Smith and Palak Solanki have joined Sesame Workshop, in the respective roles of VP of formal learning and VP of business planning and analysis. Smith, as VP of formal learning, will help define and provide a transformative …

PITTSBURGH: The American Cable Association (ACA) says that consumers will pay at least $2.4 billion more for pay-TV services over the next nine years as a result of "unrestrained pricing power" following the merger of Comcast Corporation and NBC Universal. "It …

MIAMI: The Malaysian telenovela Bola Cinta, co-produced by Latin Media Corporation, has found success with buyers from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and a number of African territories, in addition to interest from a host of other broadcasters in Eastern …

TORONTO: Lone Eagle Entertainment is producing the new series You Gotta Eat Here!, which will broadcast on Food Network Canada starting in fall 2011. The series, of 13 half-hour episodes, is hosted by Canadian sketch comedian, singer and actor John …

LUXEMBOURG: Driven by a boost in TV advertising, RTL Group’s revenues in the third quarter were up 8.8 percent to 1.16 billion euros, with a reported EBITA of 133 million euros, a 47.8 percent gain. The EBITA increase was driven by …