Top Stories

LONDON: BSkyB is removing its Sky Sports News channel from the Freeview lineup, making it exclusively a pay-TV channel. The move, a bid to boost subscription revenues, takes place later this year. From that point, Sky Sports News will be available …

NEW YORK: Next New Networks’ Indy Mogul, an online network for independent filmmakers, has produced a six-part series of co-branded HD interstitial programming, FX Reboot, to run across the Epix channel, website and on Indy Mogul’s online network. With FX …

LONDON: Darren Poynton has been appointed to the dual roles of heading up finance in London for National Geographic Television International (NGTI) and serving as VP of international development for the recently announced National Geographic Ventures International (NGVI). At NGVI, …

NEW YORK: The newly created post of senior VP of development at Oxygen Media is being filled by Cori Abraham, who for the past six years has served as VP of development for Bravo. Abraham will oversee the network’s development …

LONDON: Endemol’s The Money Drop has been picked up for a broadcast pilot by FOX, following the company’s ABC deal on 101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow. Production starts this summer for Endemol USA’s The Money Drop pilot, based on Endemol …

HONG KONG: VTC Multimedia Corporation’s newly launched Vietnamese DTH platform is adding six channels from Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific to its lineup. VTC will distribute CNN International, Cartoon Network, HLN, Boomerang, TCM Turner Classic Movies and truTV, beginning July …

LOS ANGELES: The hit ABC reality series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, produced by Endemol USA, will be honored with NATPE’s third annual Innovator Award at the LATV Fest on July 13. Endemol USA’s Caroline Baumgard, the senior VP of development, …

SANTA MONICA: Debmar-Mercury and ITV Studios have teamed up for the new talk show The Chefs, with Debmar-Mercury acquiring the worldwide ownership rights to the series, while ITV Studios handles the international distribution. Debmar-Mercury will likely offer a multi-week on-air test …

TORONTO: Breakthrough Entertainment heads into DISCOP East with a number of deals already secured in Central and Eastern Europe. Battlefield Mysteries and Greatest Tank Battles were picked up by Czech TV. Greatest Tank Battles has also been licensed to CODI …

LOS ANGELES: New DTH platforms in Taiwan and Vietnam have added The MGM Channel to their lineups. The MGM Channel launches on the DishHD platform in Taiwan today, following on a launch of The MGM Channel on the K+ platform, operated …