Top Stories

LONDON, February 12: Fireworks International has upped Jonathan Ford to senior VP of digital acquisitions and distribution, and Diana Zakis to VP of sales for Latin America and Asia. In his new role, Ford is responsible for the worldwide licensing …

LOS ANGELES, February 12: National Lampoon has acquired the assets of Comedy Express, a comedy media company that features content from well-known and emerging comic talent across broadband, wireless and television. Under the terms of the agreement, Comedy Express will …

LOS ANGELES, February 12: Taffy Entertainment has announced four promotions within its consumer products and marketing group, including the appointment of David DiLorenzo as a VP of the division. As VP of consumer products and marketing, DiLorenzo is responsible for …

WASHINGTON, February 12: Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution, has concluded two new carriage agreements with Charter Communications and Verizon FiOS TV for the Smithsonian Channel, increasing the network’s distribution to 22 million households …

AMSTERDAM/LONDON, February 12: Jetix Europe is working on the new animated comedy series Kid vs. Kat with DHX Media-owned Studio B Productions and YTV in Canada. Kid vs. Kat will debut on Jetix Europe’s channels beginning in early 2009. Jetix …

NEW YORK, February 12: According to market research firm Centris, there are significant gaps in digital TV signal coverage across the U.S., with more than 40 million homes receiving over-the-air analogue signals, just one year ahead of the DTV transition …

LONDON/SYDNEY, February 12: ABC Network in Australia has acquired BBC Worldwide’s BAFTA-winning children’s series In the Night Garden, which has now been licensed into 20 territories around the world. Produced by Ragdoll Productions, the team behind the preschool hit Teletubbies, …

LOS ANGELES, February 12: The J.R.R. Tolkien estate has filed a $150-million suit against Time Warner’s New Line Cinema over unpaid royalties from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. According to reports, the complaint was filed yesterday in Los Angeles …

LONDON, February 12: ALL3MEDIA International has closed a number of sales and pre-sales for The Palace, an 8×1-hour drama based on a fictional version of life within the British Royal Family. The series has been pre-sold to Australia’s Seven Network, …

SANTA MONICA/VANCOUVER, February 12: Third quarter profit at Lionsgate fell to $2 million from the $20.5 million recorded in the same period last year, on revenues that were 14 percent higher, at $290.9 million, reflecting its best revenue performance ever …