Top Stories

LOS ANGELES: Shine International has notched up format deals in a further six countries for MasterChef, which debuted in the U.S. last week as the highest rated new series premiere of the summer. Signing up for their own locally produced …

SINGAPORE: Following the conclusion of the fourth run of The Asian Pitch, four projects have been selected to receive full funding for their documentary production. The regional pitching event is put on by NHK and MediaCorp to support independent directors …

BURBANK: Disney XD is bringing back the hit comedy Zeke and Luther, following two best friends who are determined to become the world’s best skateboarders, for a third run. Production will begin this fall, and returning to the show are …

NEW YORK: Centered on the furry blue muppet character of Grover, the brand-new series Super Grover 2.0 is one of three new shows in development that Sesame Workshop will be presenting at MIPCOM. The 13×6-minute series follows Grover as he …

NEW YORK/LONDON: Babelgum is launching a competition for animation and anime projects aimed at online, mobile and linear platforms that will culminate in a special public screening program at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October. Entries for the Babelgum …

LOS ANGELES: TuTv, a joint venture between Univision Communications and Televisa, has secured additional carriage for its networks Bandamax and De Película Clásico with RCN. Bandamax, dedicated to the Latin music of regional Mexico, and De Película Clásico, a classic …

WARSAW: SPI International has firmed up an agreement with Romania’s Romtelecom for the carriage of select FilmBox channels. Romtelecom will initially launch the two movie channels FilmBox and FilmBox HD and fashion channel FashionBox HD. The channels will broadcast both …

LUXEMBOURG/PARIS: FootSchool TV, an international channel aimed at teaching viewers how to play football, is heading to Israel via an agreement with Talit Communications. This month, FootSchool TV content will be distributed in Israel and for the first time ever …

LONDON: Ian McDonough has been appointed to the role of senior VP and general manager for EMEA at BBC Worldwide Channels, replacing Dean Possenniskie with immediate effect. McDonough, formerly the VP of commercial development, will now oversee the day-to-day management …

PARIS: GlobeCast’s chairman and CEO, Christian Pinon, is exiting the company as of September 30 to join the television products division at Orange France. Replacing him will be Olivier Barberot, formerly the executive VP of human resources at France Telecom/Orange. …