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JOHANNESBURG, June 17: MTV Networks International has inked a multi-year distribution deal to launch Nickelodeon as a 24-hour English-language channel in Southern Africa, available through MultiChoice’s DStv platform beginning July 1. The channel will be available to subscribers in Botswana, …

LOS ANGELES, June 17: Idol Gives Back, the music celebration and fundraising event that aired on FOX from American Idol producers 19 Television and FremantleMedia North America, will be honored with the inaugural Reality Innovator Award at the NATPE LATV …

NEW YORK, June 17: Harry Vasavada has been appointed as the senior VP of finance for Lightworks Enterprises, charged with responsibility for all finance and accounting functions. Reporting to David Dreilinger, the company’s president and CEO, Vasavada will be based …

HONG KONG, June 17: Disney’s Anne Sweeney will deliver a keynote speech at this year’s Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) conference, with additional headlining speakers to include BBC Worldwide’s Darren Childs and NDS’s Abe Peled. Sweeney is …

LOS ANGELES, June 17: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) has named Dan Kolsrud to the newly created post of executive VP of worldwide theatrical physical production. Kolsrud joins Cale Boyter, the executive VP of development, and Becky Sloviter, the VP of production, …

LOS ANGELES, June 17: John de Mol’s Talpa Media Group has launched TalpaCreative.com, an online community offering members the opportunity to create and sell their original non-scripted television show ideas. Members of TalpaCreative.com can submit original format ideas, or respond …

BURBANK, June 17: ABC Entertainment has named Corie Henson as its VP of alternative series and specials, working on this summer’s I Survived a Japanese Game Show and the untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks project. In her new position, Henson will …

NEW YORK, June 17: Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings has completed its acquisition of Sundance Channel from NBC Universal, CBS Corporation’s Showtime Networks and founder Robert Redford. The completed acquisition follows on an agreement that was reached on May 6, which …

LOS ANGELES/HONG KONG, June 17: Summit Entertainment has reached a deal to distribute Imagi Studios’ upcoming CG-animated motion picture Astro Boy worldwide, excluding Japan, Hong Kong and China. Slated for worldwide theatrical release in 2009, Astro Boy will feature the …

NEW YORK, June 17: According to Nielsen Monitor-Plus, advertising spending in the U.S. remained flat in the first quarter of this year, rising 0.5 percent. In television, advertising within programming and on networks geared towards African-American and Hispanic viewers grew …