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LOS ANGELES, June 26: Bennett Media Worldwide has closed a slew of post-MIPTV deals for its high-definition reality programming, with cumulative sales now totaling 200 hours. Foxtel in Australia has acquired pay-TV rights for Bikini Destinations, Stag, Best of Hawaiian …

LONDON, June 26: The members of the BBC Direction Group, consisting of the pubcaster’s most senior executives, have waived their annual bonuses for the 2006/2007 period, totaling about £350,000 ($700,000). Director-General Mark Thompson said in a statement: "Overall this has …

LONDON, June 26: British media regulator Ofcom will conduct a public consultation on proposals from BSkyB to replace its free channels with pay-TV services on the Freeview DTT platform. In February, Sky announced plans to launch a subscription service on …

LOS ANGELES, June 26: Fox International Channels is ramping up its Spanish-language activities with the acquisitions of a 51-percent stake in Bogotá-based production outfit Telecolombia and 100 percent of the online ad network ClickDiario. Telecolombia will be renamed Fox Telecolombia …

STAMFORD, June 26: World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Benoit was found dead in his home in Fayette County, Georgia, yesterday, along with his wife and 7-year-old son, in what reports indicate was a murder-suicide. Authorities have not disclosed how the …

LONDON, June 26: BBC Two has revealed its programming lineup for the fall, headlined by the geological science series Earth—The Biography, hosted by Dr. Iain Stewart. Earth—The Biography will combine spectacular imagery, cutting-edge science and narration to highlight the major …

LONDON/PARIS, June 26: The U.K.-based on-demand Japanese animation network GONG has launched in 36 countries across Europe and North America. Targeted at teens and adults, the channel is the first international on-demand and online anime channel in Europe and North …

ATLANTA, June 26: Adult Swim, Cartoon Network’s late-night programming block for adults, will add a seventh night of programming each week, beginning Friday, July 6. Kicking off Adult Swim’s first Friday night will be a marathon of Twentieth Century Fox’s …

DUBAI/HOLLYWOOD, June 26: Ruwaad Holdings and Paramount Licensing have reached a new long-term licensing agreement in connection with the development of a Paramount Pictures-branded theme park in the United Arab Emirates that would be part of a new $2.5-billion entertainment …

ENGLEWOOD, June 26: Starz Entertainment has reached a co-marketing agreement with Toshiba Digital Products Division to offer a free 30-day trial to Vongo—its online movie and video download service—on select models of Toshiba’s notebook computers in the U.S. The agreement …