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NEW YORK: Nickelodeon has named Nick Cannon, former Nickelodeon and MTV Networks star, Honorary Chairman and development consultant for TEENick. In this two-year deal, Cannon will create, star, produce and direct original programming for Nickelodeon’s TEENick Network, including original TV …

NEW YORK, With immediate effect, Bryan Hale takes on the role of VP of original programming and development for Oxygen Media, supervising the network’s development on both coasts.

LONDON: Matthieu Porte has been named head of format sales for Zodiak Entertainment, overseeing a sales team that handles titles such as Big Class Reunion, Twist and Shout and Stars on Stage. Porte was previously head of international sales and …

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has commissioned Darlow Smithson Productions to produce a second season of Engineering Connections, starring British presenter Richard Hammond. The six new episodes will explore the ideas and technologies within some of the world’s …

BURBANK: Thom Beers’ Original Productions has named Justin Killion as VP of development, tasked with leading the company into the scripted arena.  Killion spent the last three years as literary talent manager at Kaplan/Perrone. He will work along side president …

SANTA MONICA: Talks have halted between financier Carl Icahn and Lionsgate regarding his request to replace three board members, after Icahn refused to stop accumulating stock in the independent film and TV studio. The failure to reach an amicable agreement …

NEW YORK: VH1 has acquired the exclusive rights for the documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil, and will handle the TV and DVD release and distribute the film theatrically in association with Abramorama. Anvil! The Story of Anvil follows Steve …

LUXEMBOURG: The RTL Group released its financial results for 2008. Profits dropped to 194 million euros, compared to 563 million euros in 2007, due mainly to an impairment of goodwill of the U.K. broadcaster Five, amounting to 337 million euros. …

BOSTON: Digital television subscriptions broke through the 100 million household mark in 2008, according to new data from Strategy Analytics. The report, Western Europe Digital Television Forecast, 1H’09 estimates that Western Europe added 17 million net new digital households in …

LONDON: The U.K. government set out plans for the country’s media services and will maintain the current rules preventing product placement in programs made by and for British broadcasters. The government also called on the U.K. video-on-demand industry to help …