Top Stories

TEL AVIV/NEW YORK, October 6: The Biography Channel (BIO) has been added to the lineup of cable operator HOT in Israel, where the channel has been airing since November 2005 on the YES satellite platform. BIO, which features real stories …

STOCKHOLM, October 6: Modern Times Group has launched several new localized premium sports channels in Sweden and Norway, and has renewed its rights to the Formula One and UEFA Champions League. Viasat Sport, Viasat Football and Viasat Motor channels have …

LONDON, October 6: The African pay-TV offering GTV has a wide shopping remit at MIPCOM, with a range of genres, including drama, movies, factual, kids and lifestyle, needed to stock its seven channels. GTV will be on the hunt for …

LOS ANGELES, October 6: HBO’s acclaimed comedy Entourage has received a pickup for a sixth season, which will be broadcast in 2009. Production on the sixth season of the show, created by Doug Ellin, begins early next year for a …

CANNES, October 6: Creativity is the theme for this year’s opening cocktail party at MIPCOM, and a selection of participants will become directors for the evening, capturing all the action in a set of films that will be shown on …

TOKYO, October 3: As it looks to build its business in the U.S. market, including pursuing more co-productions and ramping up its digital media efforts, Toei Animation has expanded its corporate management team. Kozo Morishita has become chairman and CEO …

MOSCOW, October 3: The Russian independent broadcasting group CTC Media has expanded into Moldova with the acquisition of a 51-percent stake in Teledixi and Muzic Ramil for $4.1 million in cash. Teledixi is expected to relaunch with CTC content, in …

BURBANK, October 3: Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) is continuing the expansion of its branded-services division by naming Greg Drebin to the newly created position of senior VP of programming and marketing. In his new role, Drebin will serve …

MUNICH, October 3: German pay-TV giant Premiere saw its share price halve today as it announced a downward revision in subscriber numbers, an expected EBITDA loss this year of between 40 million euros and 70 million euros, and the resignation …

LONDON, October 3: Two U.S. cable channels, A&E and WE: Women’s Entertainment, have commissioned projects from DCD Media-owned September Films USA. The Exterminators, due to air in early 2009 on A&E, is a docu-series that goes behind the scenes of …