Top Stories

STOCKHOLM, May 7: Zodiak Television kicked off 2008 with a record first quarter, posting a 51-percent rise in revenues to SEK 355.6 million ($58.8 million), with net profit more than doubling to SEK 24.7 million ($4.1 million) and operating profit …

LOS ANGELES, May 7: Shea Fontana has been named manager of children’s programming for PorchLight Entertainment, focusing on the development and sales of preschool and girl-skewing properties. Fontana joined the company in 2006 as an assistant, later serving as a …

LONDON, May 7: The BBC and ITV have rolled out their joint venture Freesat, a free digital satellite service reaching 98 percent of households in the U.K. Launched yesterday, Freesat has 80-plus free digital channels spanning television, radio and interactive—plus …

NEW YORK, May 7: Comedy Central has secured an agreement for the first broadcast-window premiere rights to a multi-picture package of comedies from The Weinstein Company. Comedy Central will have the first-window premiere rights to the full-length theatrical features Superhero …

STUDIO CITY, May 7: With revenues up 32 percent to $70.6 million in the first quarter, Crown Media Holdings, parent company of the Hallmark Channel in the U.S., has narrowed its net loss to $14.7 million, down from $40.2 million …

LONDON, May 7: Virgin1 has commissioned three one-off factual programs for its upcoming prime-time lineup, dubbed The Rude Season. Premiering this summer, the hour-long shock-doc tentatively titled My Free Boobs, from Amaze TV, explores the rising Internet trend of social-networking …

CHICAGO, May 6: Playboy Enterprises has recorded a Q1 loss of $3.1 million, versus the $1.5 million profit in the year-ago period, on revenues of $78.5 million. Playboy posted an 8-percent drop in revenues as a result of “structural and …

LONDON, May 6: ITV1’s broadcast of Power’s $30-million two-part disaster mini-series Flood on Sunday and Monday achieved strong viewing figures, ranking as the number one program for both nights. The first part of the mini-series, which aired on Sunday, May …

BUENOS AIRES, May 6: Dori Media Group (DMG) has entered into a five-year output deal with Grupo Televisa worth about $7.2 million, with contractual options expected to increase the value of the agreement to $9.5 million. The deal covers broadcasting …

LOS ANGELES, May 6: PorchLight Home Entertainment (PHE) has taken on the U.S. DVD distribution rights to Animalia, based on the illustrated children’s alphabet book by Graeme Base. Animalia is currently airing on Animania HD and PBS in the U.S., …