Top Stories

BRUSSELS: The European Commission has asked France and Spain to repeal the taxes on telecommunications companies, introduced to compensate for the loss in revenue from the removal of advertising on public broadcasters. The Commission maintains that the taxes are incompatible …

LOS ANGELES: Fox International Channels (FIC) has signed an exclusive volume deal with Shine International for more than 120 hours of U.S. entertainment programming for its services across 30 territories in the Asia Pacific.  Included under the deal are Masterchef, …

LONDON: BSkyB is launching a new entertainment channel in early 2011 that will air HBO series like Boardwalk Empire, as well as season five of Mad Men, the critically acclaimed AMC show that has been airing on the BBC. Sky Atlantic HD …

HONG KONG: Turner Broadcasting Asia Pacific has brought on industry veteran Layla Lewis to serve as associate director of programming, acquisitions and development for Turner Entertainment Networks Asia.  Lewis is tasked with the development and planning of Turner Entertainment’s acquisitions …

LONDON: CITV in the U.K. has announced its first commission in five years: the book-based Fleabag Monkeyface, for a September 2011 debut. Developed and produced for TV through a partnership between Sparky Animation, Impossible Kids and Walker Productions—the production arm of …

LAREN: The Voice of Holland recently launched to much success on RTL 4, and now Talpa Distribution is offering up the format to international buyers. The Voice of… features four famous singers who offer their know-how to unknown talents to …

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Networks International (DNI) continues the international rollout of TLC with new launches in Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovenia. The female-targeted channel now reaches 29 markets across Europe, Asia and Latin America. In the U.S., TLC reaches more than …

LONDON: The Studio Lambert format Three in a Bed has been re-commissioned by Channel 4, which has also ordered a stripped daytime version called Four in a Bed. Distributed by ALL3MEDIA International, the show has been sold into a number …

HYDERABAD/MAINZ: DQ Entertainment International and ZDF Enterprises have secured new licensing and merchandising deals on their co-production of The Jungle Book. Beginning in 2011, Universal Trends will roll out products based on the show in German-speaking territories, including figurines, puzzles, games …

ENGLEWOOD: Liberty Global has appointed Diederik Karsten to the newly created post of managing director for European broadband operations, effective January 1, 2011, succeeding Gene Musselman, who has announced his retirement. Musselman is retiring a the end of this year …