Top Stories

LONDON: SCI FI Channel in the Benelux is to become Syfy Universal this month, debuting its new look alongside three territory premieres: Stargate Universe, Primeval and Sanctuary. The three U.S. series will make their exclusive debuts on March 5 at …

TORONTO: Breakthrough Films & Television’s live-action docutainment series TOONED! is slated to premiere on Canada’s TVtropolis on March 19 during the 11:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. time slots. TOONED! is a half-hour factual series that examines hit cartoon …

SYDNEY: Beyond Distribution has licensed the sixth season of Mythbusters to Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP), which has additionally agreed to take on all episodes of the series being produced. The 168×1-hour series investigates the bizarre claims of urban legends, putting …

ALVISO: A U.S. appeals court has sided with TiVo in the latest development in its long-running dispute against DISH Network and EchoStar over patent infringements of its DVR technology. In June 2009, a Texas judge ruled that DISH/EchoStar was continuing …

LONDON: The game-show format Cash at Your Door joins the slate of ALL3MEDIA International, which already has pre-launch options secured for the show. Developed by Israel’s Matar Productions, the series literally knocks at the door of potential contestants’ homes. If …

MUNICH: ProSiebenSat.1 Media has reported improved results for 2009, with a fourth-quarter profit of 113.4 million, as compared with a 170 million euros loss in the year-ago period, and a full-year profit of 144.5 million euros, versus the 129.1 million …

NEW YORK: Jeff Gomez and Nathan Mayfield will be hosting a session at the MIPTV Producers’ Forum—a two-day initiative organized in association with World Screen—about developing stories and concepts across multiple platforms. The first thing you need to know about …

LOS ANGELES: The Paley Center for Media has tapped Steve Mosko, Tony Vinciquerra and Dick Lippin to serve as co-chairs of a planning committee that will explore the creation of an awards show. Mosko, president of Sony Pictures Television; Vinciquerra, the chairman …

LONDON: Sony Pictures Television has struck a deal to launch Sony Entertainment Television (SET) on BT Vision’s digital on-demand TV service in the U.K. This is the first U.K. launch for SET, which offers top U.S. dramas such as Damages …

LOS ANGELES: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) and Rubicon Group have announced the launch of Pink Panther & Pals, the first new series in the iconic franchise in 17 years, on Cartoon Network on March 7 at 7:30 a.m. Pink Panther & …