Top Stories

LONDON, June 10: BBC Worldwide Channels will launch a suite of branded thematic channels in Africa, available through MultiChoice’s DStv platform beginning September 1. The new thematic channels—BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies—will replace and build on the …

CULVER CITY, June 10: Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation are developing a live-action and animated theatrical feature for The Smurfs, after acquiring the motion-picture rights to the iconic characters from Lafig Belgium via producer Jordan Kerner. Kerner, the producer …

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, June 10: Disney.com is to begin streaming full-length feature films online following their television broadcast on ABC as part of the Wonderful World of Disney block, including Finding Nemo. The films will be available on Disney.com after they …

SILVER SPRING, June 10: Discovery Communications has named Julie Robertson as its VP of domestic licensing, while Jo Edwards has been upped to VP of international licensing. Robertson will report to Patrick Gates, the president and general manager of Discovery …

LONDON/MILAN, June 10: News Corporation has made several senior-level appointments for its European television businesses, including that of former STAR executive Gary Davey as COO. News Corp Stations Europe is a newly formed entity that includes SKY Italia and stakes …

LA PLAINE SAINT DENIS, June 10: AB International Distribution has signed new deals for the 8×52-minute mini-series The Avignon Prophecy in Italy, Belgium and Spain. The rights for the series have already been sold in Hungary (RTL Klub), Switzerland (TSR), …

NEW YORK, June 10: NBC Universal (NBCU) is teaming with NextMedium, a branded-entertainment ad network, to help improve the process for identifying, marketing and fulfilling product-placement opportunities across several of its properties, kicking off with NBC’s Life and USA Network’s …

TORONTO, June 10: The female-targeted W Network in Canada has partnered with Worldwide Bag Media to produce a new original series, Anna and Kristina’s Grocery Bag, for premiere in September. The series features Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic, the hosts …

NEW YORK, June 10: Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) has rolled out the first consumer products based on its live-action tween series iCarly at the Licensing Show, spanning music, apparel and electronics, among others. Headlining the list of products …

TORONTO, June 10: The Detour on TELETOON Pilot Project has greenlit Portfolio Entertainment’s first prime-time animated series, Chinatown Cops, for premiere in spring 2009 on the Canadian animation channel’s teen/adult programming block. Produced and distributed worldwide by Portfolio Entertainment, Chinatown …