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LOS ANGELES, December 18: As its strike action continues, the Writers Guild of America has denied waivers to two of Hollywood’s biggest events: the Golden Globes, set for January 13, and the Academy Awards, taking place February 24. The Writers …

NEW YORK, December 18: 4Kids Entertainment has appointed Barry Stagg as senior VP of corporate communications. In his new role, Stagg will implement a global communications strategy to expand the awareness of 4Kids’ current properties and operations, as well as …

LONDON/HAMILTON, December 18: MTV Networks International’s (MTVNI) Emerging Markets group has granted the multi-year rights to the Central European Media Enterprises (CME) subsidiary PRO TV to operate MTV’s localized channel in Romania. Under the multi-year licensing agreement, MTV Romania will …

LOS ANGELES/PALO ALTO, December 18: Velocity, the firm founded by new-media veterans Ross Levinsohn and Jonathan Miller, has merged with ComVentures for a new global digital media and communications investment firm, Velocity Interactive Group. Levinsohn is former president of Fox …

BURBANK, December 18: The MySpace-originated series quarterlife is set for a prime-time premiere on NBC on February 18 as an hour-long drama, with full-length episodes to be streamed on the network’s web portal following their linear broadcast. The show originally …

BEIJING, December 18: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has granted CCTV.com, the digital arm of the Chinese state broadcaster, the Internet and mobile platform exhibition rights within China for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The IOC selected CCTV.com based on …

SINGAPORE, December 18: Deals worth a total of $76.7 million were closed at the Asia Media Festival, a 63-percent increase on the previous year, with 5,293 participants from more than 50 countries in attendance. A further $60 million in deals …

NEW YORK, December 18: In a deal with Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Lifetime Television has secured the exclusive off-network rights to the ABC reality hit Wife Swap for launch in October 2008. In making the announcement, Susanne Daniels, the president of …

TEL AVIV, December 18: Dori Media Group’s Dori Media Central Studios (DMCS), formerly Central Park Productions, has reached a three-year agreement to rent one of its three Buenos Aires-based television studios to Argentinean producer Ideas Del Sur for $3.6 million. …

NEW YORK, December 18: Comedy Central will air Matt Groening’s Emmy Award-winning animated series Futurama, beginning Monday, January 2, 2008, at 8 p.m. The network will broadcast all 72 existing episodes, as well as four Futurama DVD movies: Bender’s Big …