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NEW YORK: Following cost-cutting initiatives and a rise in advertising revenues, Viacom reported a 38-percent increase in profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, rising from $177 million to $245 million. The company reported overall revenues of $2.8 billion, down …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has announced the launch of a new localized premium pay-TV sports channel in Bulgaria, Nova Sport. Launching April 30, Nova Sport will air daily from midday to 1 a.m. Content includes English Barclays Premier League and …

LONDON: BSkyB’s pre-tax profit rose from £63 million to £349 million in the third quarter, with the satellite platform’s results boosted by strong take-up of its HD service as well as the disposal of some of its shares in ITV. Sky …

NEW YORK: The eight-part drama The Kennedys, for AETN’s HISTORY channel in the U.S. and Canada’s History Television, will feature Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes in starring roles as the president and first lady. Set to premiere in 2011, the 8×1-hour …

LONDON: Sky News will launch in high definition on May 6 at 9 p.m., coinciding with the roll out of the election special Decision Time. The Sky News HD channel will simulcast alongside Sky News’ standard-definition service. From May 10, HD …

UNIVERSAL CITY: Ricky Gervais will return to host the Golden Globe Awards in 2011, with the event taking place January 16 and set to air on NBC. The 68th annual awards ceremony will air live coast-to-coast from 5 p.m. to 8 …

NEW YORK: America: The Story of Us broke ratings records for HISTORY this week. Executive producer Jane Root reveals in this video interview the background of the ambitious project and the plans to format the show in other territories.   An …

LOS ANGELES: A new agreement will see up to 20 Warner Bros. films released in IMAX format through 2013, including the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2. Other Warner Bros. movies that will be released …

MUNICH: Stronger ad revenues in Germany helped ProSiebenSat.1 Group raise its Q1 profits from last year’s 1.7 million euros to 21.2 million euros. The European broadcasting group reported an EBITDA of 128.6 million euros—a 37.1 percent jump. It attributed the improved …

ENGLEWOOD: Andrea Wong, the former president and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services, has joined the board of directors of Liberty Media. Prior to Lifetime, Wong served a 14-year tenure at ABC, where she held a variety of roles, including as …