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LONDON: The BBC iPlayer will be available on a trial basis to a select group of Freesat users starting December 7, while the ITV Player will launch in beta in early 2010.  Freesat will be the first free-to-air service to …

SINGAPORE: ITV Studios Global Entertainment is to launch Granada TV, a general-entertainment channel, on December 1 on the StarHub pay-TV platform. Granada TV will now be available through both StarHub Cable TV and Singtel IPTV platforms. The channel will initially …

LONDON: Universal Networks International has acquired Stargate Universe (SGU) for SCI FI Channel in Poland, Romania, the Balkans, Latin America, Benelux and in German-speaking Europe via the Tele München Group. The deal with MGM Worldwide Television Distribution will see the series …

ALVISO: TiVo has entered into an agreement with Google to provide analytical data to advertisers about viewers who watch TV using the DVR service.   This deal will enable Google TV Ads to draw on anonymous, second-by-second DVR viewing data from …

LOS ANGELES: FX has acquired the ad-supported TV rights to the four Twilight movies in a package deal with Summit Entertainment.  FX will start airing the first film in the Twilight franchise in late 2011. The Twilight Saga: New Moon, …

BURBANK: ABC series are once again the most popularly recorded and played back, according to Nielsen’s Live + 7 Day information, which showed freshman sci-fi drama V jump by 2.4 million viewers.  ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy was TV’s most played back show, …

LOS ANGELES/MUNICH: CBS Films and Tele München Group (TMG) have signed an all-rights output deal that covers Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland for up to seven pictures per year. The deal in Switzerland only covers DVD and TV rights. In …

LONDON: Virgin1 has commissioned a second season of the observational docuseries Sun, Sea and A&E from October Films. The vacation destination of Spanish isle Mallorca is put in the spotlight once again. With unprecedented access to the Spanish hospitals, doctors …

TORONTO: Starz Animation Toronto will animate the Christmas story Yes, Virginia for a half-hour holiday special, presented by Macy’s, to air on CBS on December 11.  The CG animation studio is producing the animation for the TV feature in conjunction …

LOS ANGELES: Carolina Lightcap has been named president of Disney Channels Worldwide, replacing Rich Ross, who left in October to head up the company’s movie studio. Lightcap joined The Walt Disney Company in 2000 and most recently served in the dual …