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SYDNEY/TORONTO/LOS ANGELES/LONDON: A group of multiplatform and transmedia creators have joined forces to create StoryLabs, an organization for the education and mentoring of storytellers. StoryLabs will consist of digital producers, games creators, TV and film writers and producers, social media …

HARRINGTON PARK: Janson Media has sold Vikings: Journey to New Worlds from its Giant Screen Films collection to Legend International Company (LIC) of China. The documentary takes viewers through the lands that the Vikings settled and explored, covering Iceland, Greenland …

LOS ANGELES: Lisette Schlippe has been hired by Shine International as a senior sales executive, with oversight for territories across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Schlippe will be based in London and will work to secure sales in territories …

CHICAGO: Towers Productions promoted Mike Schmiedeler, an 11-year company veteran, to VP of development and executive producer, responsible for program origination and editorial oversight. Schmiedeler most recently served as the managing director and previously as VP of production at Tower. …

LONDON: A new Deloitte study released at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (MGEITF) reports that television is still considered the most impactful ad medium. The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that 56 percent listed TV as the most effective …

LOS ANGELES: The soon-to-launch kids’ network The Hub has added to its slate of original programming with Hubworld, a weekly half-hour pop-culture magazine show. Hubworld, produced by Hasbro Studios in association with Natural 9 Entertainment, will combine what’s happening in …

BEIJING: National Geographic Channel, China International Television Corporation and China Radio, Film & Television Programs Exchanging Centre are collaborating in an effort to promote documentary production in China. The new partnership will push forward the China to the World documentary …

LOS ANGELES: The final 12 participants have been selected to take part in WESTDOC’s PitchFest 2010, where documentary and reality producers can present new works-in-progress directly to funders and network development executives. WESTDOC takes place September 13 to 15 in …

PARIS: MIP Junior has put out a final call for submissions of animated work to be considered for the Kids’ Jury Award. The Kids’ Jury Award, organized in partnership with Billy Web, is an annual event that lets kids judge …

NEW YORK: Hallmark Channels has responded to AT&T U-verse’s stance on the current carriage spat, asserting that cable provider is "bullying one of the nation’s last surviving independent cable networks by insisting on unreasonable rates." The dispute threatens Hallmark Channel and …