Top Stories

NEW YORK/SEATTLE, July 2: FremantleMedia and mobile entertainment developer Mobliss have announced that their comedy channel, Atomic Wedgie, currently only available on Sprint in the U.S., will launch on the mobile operator Helio this month. Atomic Wedgie offers hours of …

BURBANK, July 2: In a new multiyear deal brokered by Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), Mattel has been named the master toy licensee for the complete DC Comics property portfolio, which includes classic characters such as Superman and Batman. Under …

CULVER CITY, July 2: Sony Pictures Television has announced that the Emmy Award-winning HBO comedy The Larry Sanders Show will be available for purchase and download on the iTunes Store, starting today. The new offering on iTunes, Not Just the …

LONDON, July 2: The BBC has secured the broadcast rights to Entertainment Rights’ new Postman Pat series, which is due to air on the CBeebies channels and the CBeebies block on BBC Two in late 2008. Postman Pat has been …

LONDON, July 2: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has announced a raft of deals for its drama, comedy and factual catalogues that were concluded at DISCOP, totaling more than 260 hours of programming to more than 15 broadcasters across Eastern Europe. Broadcasters …

BARCELONA, July 2: Icon Animation, on behalf of Chorion, has reached a deal for Noddy to air on the Disney Channel in Spain. The Disney Channel has picked up all 100×10-minute episodes of Make Way for Noddy and the 100×2-minute …

DALLAS, July 2: James W. Keyes, a former president and CEO of 7-Eleven, has replaced John F. Antioco as Blockbuster’s chairman and CEO, effective immediately. Antioco will be assisting with the corporate transition as Keyes settles into his new role. …

MAINZ, July 2: Hans-Juergen Steimer, the senior VP of acquisitions and co-productions at ZDF Enterprises, has extended his contract for a further five years. Steimer has occupied this position since the company was founded 15 years ago. Alexander Coridass, the …

LONDON, July 2: ZenithOptimedia expects the 2008 Olympic Games to attract $3 billion in additional advertising expenditure next year, almost $1 billion of which will be in China. The U.S. Presidential election and the Euro 2008 football championship will contribute …

LONDON, July 2: Virgin Media has confirmed that it has received a buyout offer, with the private equity firm the Carlyle Group reportedly having made a $20-billion bid for the British quad-play operator. Virgin Media, formed from the mergers of …