Top Stories

LONDON: The BBC Trust has given provisional approval for the BBC to participate in Project Canvas, the proposed joint venture that would bring Internet access to TVs via a set-top box. The joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 …

ENGLEWOOD: Liberty Media Corporation has announced that Chris Albrecht, the former chairman and CEO of HBO, will join Starz as its president and CEO.    Albrecht will oversee all of the Starz entities, including Starz Entertainment, Overture Films, Anchor Bay …

LOS ANGELES: The new reality series Undercover Boss is to premiere on CBS following coverage of Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, while The Amazing Race and Cold Case return February 14. Undercover Boss follows high-level executives who anonymously slip …

MOSCOW: CTC Media is launching an international version of its CTC channel in North America through DISH Network, which reaches 13.6 million subscribers. The channel will be a 24-hour family entertainment service with a programming grid primarily of CTC shows, …

BURBANK: Pair of Kings is a new live-action comedy series for Disney XD that features two fraternal twins living a typical teenage life in Chicago, but are unknowingly the successors to the throne of the island of Kinkou. The show …

BURBANK: The original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which premieres on Starz on January 22 at 10 p.m., has already been greenlit for a second season. Executive producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Joshua Donen and Steven S. DeKnight—who is also …

LOS ANGELES: Joan Rivers will join Khloé Kardashian Odom, Giuliana Rancic and Jay Manuel in providing commentary in all new Fashion Police specials on E!, covering the red-carpet style of the 2010 awards season.  Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, will serve …

LONDON: Capping off a year-long 10th anniversary celebration, SpongeBob SquarePants has secured new broadcast partners through MTV Networks International (MTVNI).  NRK of Norway and Switzerland’s RSI picked up new seasons of SpongeBob SquarePants. In Asia and Latin America, CCTV (China) closed a deal …

LONDON: Frederick Warne & Co., the owner and guardian of the Beatrix Potter property, and Chorion will work together to create new animation based on classic characters such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-duck, Benjamin Bunny and Mr. Jeremy Fisher. Together …

  BURBANK: Todd Dubester has been promoted to VP of global distribution strategy and business development at Disney Media Networks.   Dubester will have oversight of the department that will be a development and operational resource for the division, which …