Top Stories

MUNICH: A new screen adaptation of the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, is under way for ZDF, ORF and RAI, with a budget of about 11 million euros. The story of the Empress is being filmed …

WINNIPEG: Canwest Global Communications Corp. has secured another week to make a $30.4 million payment related to outstanding 8 percent senior subordinated notes. Canwest now has till April 21 to make the payment, after missing both its March 15 and April 14 …

LONDON: Virgin Media Television’s male-skewing entertainment channel Bravo has secured the rights to the FX series Sons of Anarchy from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, as part of the British network’s efforts to bolster its prime-time drama slate. Already renewed for a …

TORONTO: Breakthrough Entertainment has sold the broadcast and DVD rights to Shadow Island Mysteries to Free Dolphin for France, Italy and Spain. The 90-minute film, currently in development, follows a young woman who works as a property manager of the Shadow Island Resort. …

VANCOUVER: Nerd Corps Entertainment has filed suit against the Denmark-based venture Kidz Entertainment over non-payment of license fees for the animated hit Storm Hawks. The legal action, filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by Nerd Corps International Distribution, a …

LONDON: Turkish broadcaster ATV has launched its own version of The Golden Girls, following the producer Play Productions’ acquisition of the format rights from Disney-ABC-ESPN Television. The first of 13 episodes aired on Sunday, starring award-winning feature film actress Hülya Koçyiğit as …

NEW YORK: Bravo unveiled its biggest slate ever at its Upfront presentation, with a slew of returning hit shows, series pickups and development deals, increasing its original programming hours by double digits and making its first foray into scripted fare. …

SINGAPORE: The Indian travel and lifestyle channel NDTV Good Times has launched in Singapore on SingTel’s IPTV platform mio TV. Launched in September 2007, NDTV Good Times delivers aspirational lifestyle programming on health, fashion, food, travel, luxury and more, with a focus on the …

LOS ANGELES: Eduardo Lucio has joined Toei Animation to head up its Latin American sales efforts. Lucio previously worked for the Taiwanese company Flomo and Hong Kong-based company Tai Tung, handling their toy and stationary licensing and Latin American sales. He also …

LONDON: From its stable of 350 hours of Lifetime Television programming, Passion Distribution wrapped up a number of deals at the recent MIPTV with broadcasters such as MTV Finland, Sky Real Lives in the U.K. and XYZ Networks in Australia. …