Top Stories

TORONTO, December 5: As part of a long-term output deal signed in February, Peace Arch Entertainment has picked up the Canadian distribution rights to 32 films from Los Angeles-based independent producer First Look Studios. Peace Arch has announced plans to …

TORONTO, December 5: Breakthrough Animation has received the go-ahead to begin production on its new children’s series, Jimmy Two Shoes, which will be developed in collaboration with broadcasters TELETOON Canada and Jetix Europe. The first season of Jimmy Two Shoes …

TORONTO, December 5: Shaftesbury Films has acquired the rights to Elizabeth Hay’s award-winning novel Late Nights on Air, with plans to adapt it into a television series. The Giller Award-winning novel Late Nights on Air centers on a cast of …

LONDON, December 5: The Global Content division at ITV, led by Dawn Airey, has made its first acquisition, shelling out an initial £26 million in cash for independent producer 12 Yard. The deal with 12 Yard’s owners—Hat-Trick Productions and the …

PARIS, December 5: To celebrate its first anniversary, the French international news channel France 24 will launch new Internet and mobile content. France 24 is making its content available on demand on mobile platforms in three languages. The channel’s latest …

LOS ANGELES, December 5: News Corporation-owned Fox Entertainment Group (FEG) has acquired the faith and spirituality website Beliefnet. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Beliefnet will become part of Fox Digital Media, spearheaded by president Dan Fawcett. Fox …

NEW YORK, December 5: CBS is looking to its sister cable network Showtime for content to help fill its prime-time schedule as the writers strike continues in the U.S. Speaking at the UBS Annual Global Media & Communications conference yesterday, …

LONDON, December 5: Britain’s High Court has ruled that the BBC’s director-general, Mark Thompson, cannot be sued for blasphemy over the pubcaster’s controversial Jerry Springer—The Opera in 2005. Stephen Green of the Christian Voice group had been seeking to sue …

MUMBAI, December 5: UTV Software Communications has called off plans with Malaysia’s Astro for launch of a joint-venture channel in India targeted at young adults, according to local reports. UTV and Astro inked an alliance towards the end of last …

MEXICO CITY, December 4: The international content distribution arm of Mexico’s Grupo Televisa is changing its name, effective January 1, 2008, to Televisa Internacional. As of the beginning of next year, Televisa Estudios will be known again as Televisa Internacional. …