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CANNES/LONDON, April 9: Fox International Channels (FIC) has acquired the Australian drama Underbelly from British distributor Portman Film & Television, part of the Digital Rights Group (DRG), for broadcast on branded networks across more than 50 countries throughout the world. …

CANNES, April 9: At a press conference at MIPTV, Televisa Internacional announced an alliance with France’s JLA Group, with plans to work together on adapting each other’s properties and developing new content. The alliance follows their successful collaboration on the …

TORONTO, April 9: Sullivan Entertainment is set to premiere Magic Flute Diaries, a contemporary adaptation of Mozart’s classic fairytale, at the Palm Beach International Film Festival during the week of April 10 to 17. In addition to the festival, the …

CANNES, April 9: Animal Planet International has teamed up with France 5 to produce Pandamonium, a 5×1-hour HD series that provides an exclusive look at a panda breeding, research and conservation facility in Wolong, China. The series, produced by ITN …

BURBANK, April 9: Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group has promoted Mark Taylor to senior VP and general manager of Nickelodeon Animation Studio, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Burbank-based animation facility. Taylor will report to Brown Johnson, the …

TOKYO/SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, April 9: MTV Networks Japan has reached a deal to make a selection of its content, including the animated comedy Beavis and Butthead, available on niwango’s online video-sharing service, Nico Nico Douga. At launch, the MTV channel on …

CANNES, April 9: BBC Worldwide has concluded a number of international broadcast sales at MIPTV for the new factual series Outback Wildlife Rescue from Australian independent outfit Freehand. BBC Worldwide took a 25-percent stake in Freehand in 2007, as part …

CANNES, April 8: MarVista Entertainment has completed an agreement with Spain’s Drimtim Entertainment to executive produce and distribute two new movies: Reflections and Stevie. The films will be co-produced by Drimtim Entertainment, Gestmusic Endemol Spain and Antena 3 Films, and …

LONDON, April 8: BSkyB has made two new appointments for its board, with Andrew Griffith named chief financial officer and Danny Rimer as an independent non-executive director, effective immediately. Griffith was previously BSkyB’s director of group finance, M&A and investor …

CANNES, April 8: Rai Due, the youth-focused channel of Italy’s state broadcaster, has snapped up two British drama series, Life on Mars and Primeval, from BBC Worldwide. Rai Due took on the first two seasons of both dramas, which have …