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MONTREAL, December 5: Distraction, which was showcasing its titles at the Asia TV Forum last week, has tapped Singapore-based Theatre Red to represent its catalogue in several key markets in the region. The firm, headed up by Ian Hogg and …

BERLIN, December 5: German publishing giant Axel Springer has acquired a 25.1-percent stake in the Polish commercial broadcaster Telewizja Polsat for 250 million euros. The Polish broadcasting group operates the flagship channels Polsat and Polsat 2, as well as a …

HILVERSUM, December 5: Endemol International has announced a deal with the Spanish mobile phone operator Movistar for the latest edition of its interactive made-for-mobile reality TV format Get Close To… The British version, Get Close To…The Sugababes, earlier this year …

NEW YORK, December 5: CBS has announced that Criminal Minds will air in the much-coveted post-Super Bowl slot on Sunday, February 4. This year, the annual football event on ABC propelled Grey’s Anatomy, broadcast after a post-game wrap-up, to record …

OTTAWA, December 5: Brazil’s Mundial Filmes has licensed the DVD rights to three kids series from Amberwood Productions. The deal covers Hoze Houndz, a 78×30-minute show for Canada’s Family Channel; The Secret World of Benjamin Bear, the 39×30-minute preschool series …

LONDON, December 5: According to ZenithOptimedia, global television advertising will rise to $184.5 billion in 2009, from this year’s $160.4 billion, while its share of total ad spend will fall from this year’s 37.8 percent to 37.2 percent in 2009. …

EKATERINBURG, December 5: Russian distributor Studio 7 has licensed two titles from Off the Fence to Kultura. The deal covers Equator, an award-winning six-part co-production of NHNZ, NHK, France 5, ORF and ZDF, in association with Discovery HD Theater; and …

LONDON, December 5: ESPN is looking to expand its European presence with the acquisition of the North American Sports Network (NASN), which delivers coverage of American sporting events across Europe, from Setanta Sport Holdings and Benchmark Capital Europe. NASN reaches …

PARIS, December 5: TF1 has acquired a 33.5-percent stake in French channel operator and distribution outfit the AB Group for 230 million euros. Claude Berda who owns the remaining 66.5 percent interest, will remain chairman of the company, which owns …

NEW YORK, December 5: The creative and management teams of the preschool services Noggin and Nick Jr. are being combined under the Nickelodeon Preschool umbrella, it was announced today. The new preschool team will be led by Brown Johnson, who …