Top Stories

BEIJING: Michael Zombro has joined Metan Development Group as producer of original series for China, based in the company’s Beijing headquarters. Zombro will lead production on Metan’s Chinese language-focused programming, as well as Metan’s planned pop-culture-related magazine shows. An industry …

LOS ANGELES: The New York Times reported today that AT&T may have influenced the outcome of this year’s American Idol vote by providing phones for free text messaging and tutorials on "power texts" at parties held by fans of Kris Allen. …

COLOGNE: German cable platform Unitymedia is adding Discovery Channel and Animal Planet to its digital TV lineup, effective July 1, as part of a new PLUS package. "Our agreement with Discovery Networks Deutschland is another important milestone for Unitymedia," said Parm Sandhu, …

HYDERABAD: DQ Entertainment has licensed the Marvel Animation and Method Animation co-production Iron Man to Turner Entertainment Networks Asia (TENA) for broadcast on Cartoon Network across South Asia and Southeast Asia, beginning 2010. The show delivers a new animated spin for the …

NEW YORK/TORONTO: U & Me Marketing has released a canned beverage in retailers across Canada based on 4Kids Entertainment’s animated series and trading-card game brand Chaotic. The drink is available in four flavors, inspired by creatures and game play from the …

LONDON: Taiwan and Vietnam are the latest Asian territories to launch the children’s channel KidsCo, which features shows such as The Wiggles, Franklin and Rolie Polie Olie. KidsCo has secured agreements with Portico Media to act as its distributor in …

VINCENNES: Alphanim’s flagship series Galactik Football will have its British free-to-air debut on June 15 on GMTV’s Action Stations!  block broadcast on CITV Channel and ITV4.  Created and produced by Alphanim and France Télévisions in association with Jetix Europe, Galactik Football mixes 2-D …

LORETO: Ahead of the Licensing International Expo, Rainbow has unveiled plans for a new girl-skewing brand for the 13-to-17 set, called Maya Fox: Tag Your Life. Created by Iginio Straffi, the CEO of Rainbow SpA and creator of Winx Club, …

MAURITIUS/DUBAI: STAR’s market-leading Hindi-language Indian entertainment channel STAR Plus has launched on DTH operator Parabole Reunion in Mauritius, Reunion, Malagasy, Madagascar and Mayotte. This is the first Indian Ocean distribution deal for the channel, which is the first and only Hindi channel on Parabole …

LONDON: FremantleMedia Enterprises and the BBC have announced that the family drama Merlin, produced by Shine Television, will return for a second season this fall. The show scored more than 6.2 million viewers in its initial run on BBC One. The Adventures of …