Top Stories

NEW YORK: Michael Smith has been named as the general manager of the Cooking Channel, Scripps Networks’ new service that takes the place of FLN in the third quarter of next year.  Smith is a Food Network veteran, having led the …

MONTREAL: The Alliance for Children and Television (ACT) will be announcing the preliminary results of the largest study to date on Canadian children’s and youth programming at the upcoming Children, Youth & Media Conference, taking place November 19.  Led by the …

FOSTER CITY/LOS GATOS: Netflix and Sony Computer Entertainment America have signed a deal that enables access to thousands of movies and TV shows via PlayStation 3. Netflix expects to begin streaming to TVs via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost …

PARIS: Toei Animation Europe has firmed up a deal with Orange in France to bring the animated properties Captain Harlock and Ken the Great Bear Fist to VOD and mobile VOD platforms throughout French-speaking territories. The VOD offer is available on PC and IPTV …

MUNICH/LONDON: TV-Loonland has confirmed the resignation of its CEO, Simon Flamank, who as of next month is joining Handmade as COO and CFO to kick-start its kids’ production and distribution efforts. On Friday, Handmade announced the launch of HandMade Kids, …

SUNNYVALE: ZillionTV, which bills itself as a "personalized television service," has struck a content agreement Lionsgate covering current and library feature films and TV series such as Mad Men and Weeds. Mad Men, Weeds, Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, The Haunting …

NEW YORK: HBO’s critically acclaimed drama In Treatment has been renewed for a third season, due for broadcast next year, with Gabriel Byrne returning as Dr. Paul Weston. Production on season three commences in early 2010, the premium cable network …

LONDON: Andy Palmer has been named U.K. sales and marketing manager for home entertainment at FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME). Palmer is tasked with building the FME home-entertainment offerings through acquisitions, title exploitation and close working relationships with FME’s home-entertainment partner labels, which include …

SINGAPORE: Universal Networks International has launched its SCI FI, Universal Channel and Hallmark Channel brands on three pay-TV operators in Taiwan. TFN Media (Taiwan Fixed Network) launched the three channels back in June, followed by CNS (China Network Systems) in …

UNIVERSAL CITY: NBC has picked up the comedies Community and Parks and Recreation, as well as the drama Mercy, for an additional nine episodes each.  The freshman drama Mercy has averaged a 2.1 rating, 5 share in adults 18 to 49 …