Top Stories

FRANKLIN: Big Idea Entertainment has secured a multi-production deal with Entrenched to collaborate on new VeggieTales content, including DVDs. The animation will be completed by Entrenched’s sister-company Hawaii Animation Studios (HAS), which was co-developed by Dan Krech, Jeff Bell, Joe …

SANTA MONICA: Independent studio Lionsgate increased its third-quarter revenues by 15 percent to $371.8 million, narrowing its loss in the period from last year’s $97.8 million to $65.3 million. The revenue increase was primarily attributed to improved TV production revenues …

NEW YORK: CR Entertainment has sold the second season of the hit RTÉ series Aisling’s Diary to Swedish broadcaster SVT. The second season, titled Aisling’s Summer Diary, was commissioned by RTÉ following a strong run from season one in 2008. …

TORONTO: Corus Entertainment is expanding its portfolio of specialty services with the March 1 rollout of W Movies, a movie channel targeted to women. Targeting females 25 to 54, W Movies will feature a mix of Hollywood hits and Canadian …

HARRINGTON PARK: The doc series Warriors of the Night has been sold by Janson Media to Canal+ Cyfrowy for its Planete Poland channel. Produced by Robert Linnell’s Nightfighters Productions, Warriors of the Night looks at the tactical air battles fought …

TORONTO: Ricky Gervais, a comedian best known for creating the comedy hits The Office and Extras, has been selected to receive this year’s Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award at BANFF/nextMEDIA. The Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award each year is presented …

MIAMI: In the newly appointed role of executive VP of Telemundo Network News, Ramon Escobar will develop strategic plans for all news properties while supervising the news programming at the network. In addition, Escobar will oversee the network’s domestic and international …

NEW YORK: Syfy’s new supernatural drama series Haven, based on the novella The Colorado Kid from Steven King, will feature Emily Rose in the lead role. Rose (Jericho, Brothers and Sisters, ER) will play Audrey Parker, an FBI agent with a …

NEW YORK: At MIPTV, World Screen will launch TV Middle East & Africa, expanding its slate of targeted, regional publications. This new resource—World Screen’s 12th targeted publication—will be devoted to the rapidly developing media markets in these emerging territories. The magazine …

LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded broadcast rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games to América Televisión in Peru. América Televisión has been granted the free-to-air TV and radio broadcast rights for the Vancouver Winter Games and …