Top Stories

SYDNEY, March 6: SPO Partners, the U.S. backers of Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer’s $2.8 billion-bid for Australia’s Consolidated Media Holdings (CMH), has pulled out of the deal. In January, Murdoch and Packer teamed for an A$3.3 billion offer to …

LONDON, March 6: Social-media network Bebo has partnered with sports lifestyle brand Oakley to produce Conquering Dreams, a snowboarding documentary. Raw footage from the doc premiered today exclusively on the social-media network. The documentary follows British champion snowboarders and Oakley …

ALVISO, March 6: TiVo cut its fourth-quarter loss from $19.5 million to $6.3 million, while full-year loss was down from $47.7 million to $31.4 million. "This was a strong quarter and year for TiVo as we significantly improved our financial …

LONDON, March 6: The streaming live news platform Livestation has appointed former CNN International president Chris Cramer as a strategic advisor to the company. Cramer brings to the company more than 40 years of experience in news broadcast, cable and …

TORONTO/LONDON, March 6: Three months after the two companies signed a letter of intent, the proposed deal for Peace Arch Entertainment Group to acquire ContentFilm, the parent company of Fireworks International, is off. A statement from Jeff Sagansky, the CEO …

LOS ANGELES/TORONTO, March 6: Producer-distributor Blueprint Entertainment has hired Michael Rosenberg and Rachel Fulford to its executive team, effective immediately. Based in the Los Angeles office, Rosenberg joins as senior VP of creative affairs and will oversee all series development …

LONDON, March 5: FremantleMedia Enterprises’s (FME) home-entertainment division has entered into an agreement with digital entertainment download store Coolroom to offer its catalogue to customers. Episodes from classic series such as Dangermouse, Baywatch and Bless This House, along with specials …

DUNEDIN, March 5: In an effort to expand its presence and filmmaking opportunities in Asia, New Zealand-based production outfit NHNZ has bought into the Singaporean production company Beach House Pictures. NHNZ and Beach House have worked together regularly throughout the …

DALLAS, March 5: On March 9, HDNet will premiere The All-For-Nots, an original comedy series following a fictional indie band, which is produced by Michael Eisner’s independent new-media studio, Vuguru. The series’ March 9 premiere will air as a lead-in …

STUDIO CITY, March 5: Crown Media Holdings has renewed a distribution agreement for its Hallmark Channel with DIRECTV for a multi-year term. DIRECTV currently distributes Hallmark Channel to nearly 15 million homes. Additionally, DIRECTV will have the right to distribute …