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NEW YORK, October 3: Target Entertainment Group has sold more than 50 hours of factual entertainment, documentaries and formats, including the dating series Next, to broadcasters in Canada. MTV Canada picked up seasons five and six of Next, while CanWest …

TORONTO, October 3: Shaftesbury Films has signed up VRT in Belgium for the first three seasons of its hit kids’ comedy Life with Derek, which has also scored a number of renewals in territories such as France, Israel and Japan. …

OSLO/STOCKHOLM, October 3: NordicWorld has established an investment fund in an effort to bring more documentary programs and drama series to the international market. The fund will be used to secure the creation of programs as well as distribution rights. …

NEW YORK, October 3: British comedian Russell Brand, who recently hosted the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, has inked a deal for a one-hour stand-up special with Comedy Central. The special is set to tape in New York in November …

SILVER SPRING, October 3: Living with the Wolfman, which follows the ups and downs of a couple who are integrating their lives with a pack of wolves, is set to debut on Animal Planet on October 21. The series is …

LONDON, October 3: HIT Entertainment has signed a deal with France 5 for the first two CGI seasons of its hit Thomas & Friends franchise. HIT has also named France Télévisions Distribution (FTD) as the licensing agent for Thomas & …

LOS ANGELES, October 3: The Cell, a short-form drama from Endemol, will be rolled out across Fox International Channels’ (FIC) global network of websites, TV, mobile and IPTV channels. The 20×2-minute series centers on a man who finds himself locked …

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 …