Top Stories

TORONTO, June 11: Americans will spend an average of 8 hours per day consuming multiplatform entertainment—including video games, web programming and DVDs—by 2013, according to a new report from Solutions Research Group, up from 6.1 hours this year. Of the …

NEW YORK, June 11: 4Kids Entertainment has been appointed as the licensing, marketing and promotional agent for the Russian animated series Smeshariki in the Americas, Asia and English-speaking territories by Munich-based rights holder FunGameMedia. Through its agreement with FunGameMedia, 4Kids …

LOS ANGELES, June 11: Infinity Entertainment Group has inked an exclusive deal with Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution, to distribute its programming on DVD in the U.S. The agreement kicks off with the …

LOS ANGELES, June 11: VH1 has reteamed with Dr. Drew Pinsky for a second season of eight one-hour episodes of the reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, premiering in October. The new cycle will follow the real-life experiences of …

NEW YORK, June 11: Nick Jr. has given a second-season order for 20 new half-hour episodes of the animated series Ni Hao, Kai-lan, which introduces preschoolers to Mandarin-language and Chinese culture. Production of the new season will begin in August …

NEW YORK, June 11: CBS Consumer Products has secured a host of new licensing partners to develop merchandise for the Star Trek franchise, including Mattel, Fortune Fashions and Pez. Mattel has licensed the worldwide rights to create a variety of …

NEW YORK, June 11: VOOM HD Networks has launched two VOD offerings to complement its 24/7 linear VOOM HD and RUSH HD channels, which are distributed internationally. The new VOD services will provide cable and satellite operators who carry VOOM …

LONDON, June 11: Parthenon Entertainment’s German arm has announced two new hires as it looks to ramp up its business in the run-up to DISCOP. Parthenon Germany, led by Christine von Preyss, acquires content for distribution and generates sales. Joining …

HILVERSUM, June 11: Endemol International has sold its obstacle-course program Wipeout into Australia, both as a format and as a ready-made series. An undisclosed network has commissioned an Australian version of the show, with eight one-hour episodes due to launch …

NEW YORK/LONDON, June 10: Entertainment Rights is gearing up for the 21st anniversary of Where’s Waldo? this fall by rolling out a new multimedia marketing campaign and consumer-products program for the property, aimed at fans in their 20s. An official …