Top Stories

BURBANK, February 20: The Walt Disney Company is integrating its Disney Channel, ESPN and Disney-ABC International Television (DAIT) businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) under a new group to be led by Tom Toumazis, the executive VP …

LONDON, February 20: The BBC has announced that more than 17 million programs—up to 500,000 a day—have been downloaded or streamed on demand via BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer is a newly-launched service that allows viewers in the U.K. to access …

LOS ANGELES, February 20: The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) has elected its 2008 board of directors, with Lionsgate’s Kevin Beggs voted in for his first term as co-chair and serving alongside NBC Universal’s Roma Khanna, who won …

LONDON, February 19: Following the slew of scandals involving British broadcasters and call-in quizzes last year, media regulator Ofcom has unveiled a new set of measures to protect consumers taking part in participation TV shows. Separately, PhonepayPlus, the agency that …

LOS ANGELES, February 19: Germany’s KI.KA and European Film Partners (EFP) of the Netherlands have come aboard as co-production partners for the new animated fantasy-discovery series Chloe’s Closet from Mike Young Productions (MYP). Additionally, EFP will serve as the distribution …

LONDON, February 19: BSkyB is expected to this week appeal last month’s ruling by the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulator Reform that it must lower its interest in ITV from 17.9 percent to under 7.5 percent. John …

NEW YORK, February 19: Classic Media and Bullwinkle Studios have announced a new line of apparel and accessories coming to Steve & Barry’s stores in the U.S. for three series: Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town, Underdog and Rocky & …

BURBANK/MUMBAI, February 19: The Walt Disney Company has lifted its stake in the Indian media company UTV Software Communications from 13.7 percent to 32.1 percent for about $200 million. Disney acquired the UTV stake initially in 2006 when it also …

LOS ANGELES, February 19: MGA Entertainment, the manufacturer of the popular Bratz dolls, has teamed up with CBS Consumer Products to produce a new line of fashion dolls based on The CW reality competition series America’s Next Top Model. The …

LONDON/BURBANK, February 19: Dexter, the critically acclaimed Showtime series that is being repurposed on CBS, has secured a terrestrial slot in the U.K. via ITV1. The series, distributed by CBS Paramount International Television, stars Michael C. Hall as a police …