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LONDON/AMSTERDAM, February 22: Reed Elsevier has announced its intention to sell off its B2B magazine publishing business, which includes some 400 titles, including Variety. Reed announced the move yesterday following its acquisition of ChoicePoint, a provider of consumer insurance information, …

NEW YORK, February 22: HBO Documentary Films has acquired the U.S. pay-TV rights for the Academy Award-nominated film Taxi to the Dark Side, which will debut on the premium network in September. Written, directed and produced by Alex Gibney, Taxi …

LOS ANGELES, February 22: Veteran media executive Dean Valentine has unveiled a new interactive comedy website that is promising to house the largest jokes database on the Internet, as well as a slate of original stand-up comedy performances. Valentine says …

SINGAPORE, February 22: Discovery Networks Asia has teamed up with publisher Reader’s Digest Asia for the launch of Discovery Channel Magazine, which is now available at newsstands across Asia. Published bi-monthly, the family-targeted Discovery Channel Magazine features concise articles and …

WASHINGTON, February 21: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has commissioned Pioneer Productions to produce Human Ape, a two-hour documentary on the genetic and behavioral similarities and differences between humans and great apes. The show will premiere on National Geographic Channel …

LONDON, February 21: Turner Broadcasting’s British preschool channel Cartoonito has commissioned Handle & Spout to make Go and Be a Grown Up, a spinoff for the preschool property Go and Get a Grown Up. Set to air later this year, …

SYDNEY, February 21: Southern Star International has acquired the international distribution rights to A Place of Execution, a three-part mini-series. The psychological thriller explores the borderline between reality and illusion through a novice detective’s investigation into a young girl’s brutal …

SYDNEY, February 21: Beyond Distribution has been named as the worldwide distributor of the reality/factual entertainment series Jetstream, which it will launch at MIPTV. Produced by Paperny Films in association with Discovery Channel Canada, Jetstream chronicles the adventures and trials …

LONDON, February 21: BSkyB has confirmed that it will mount a legal challenge against the findings of the Competition Commission's report on its investment in ITV and the subsequent ruling that it should lower its stake from 17.9 percent to …

LONDON, February 21: Leopard International has sold six of its programs through volume deals in the U.K. and a number of new territories around the world. In the U.K., Sky Real Lives has picked up seasons three and four of …