Top Stories

LONDON, May 3: Later this month, Turner Broadcasting in the U.K. will revamp its portfolio of kids’ channels, including turning the preschool block Cartoonito into a full preschool network. Beginning May 24, Toonami will become Cartoon Network Too, with distribution …

LONDON, May 3: Tiscali is working with Arts Alliance Media to launch Movies Now, an online video on demand download service delivering more than 500 films and entertainment programs without a subscription fee. The new online service is available to …

NEW YORK, May 3: Paul Rourke has been appointed as the senior VP and CFO of MTV Networks International (MTVNI), reporting to Colette Chestnut, the executive VP and CFO of MTV Networks, and Alex Ferrari, the COO at MTVNI. In …

LOS ANGELES, May 3: Diego Londono has been named the managing director of FOX Channels Italy, effective immediately, following current chief Emiliano Calemzuk’s appointment as the president of Fox Television Studios (FTVS) in the U.S. In addition to his new …

LONDON, May 3: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has launched a new London-based international drama development group, with Ann Harris—previously with Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI)—tapped as the head consultant to spearhead the initiative. FME launched the project in order to create …

LOS ANGELES, May 3: Blueprint Entertainment, the production outfit set up by former Alliance Atlantis executives John Morayniss and Noreen Halpern, has taken a “significant stake” in Canadian distributor Oasis International for an undisclosed sum. Blueprint recently received a multimillion-dollar …

NEW YORK/DUBAI, May 3: United Arab Emirates-based Al Ahli Group (AAG) has reached a long-term agreement with Nickelodeon to feature the kids’ brand and its hit properties in its new theme park in Dubai, which will open in 2011. Several …

LONDON, May 3: Sony Pictures Television International’s AXN brand has passed the 1-million subscriber mark in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. With a slate that includes series like The Shield, Homicide and Highlander; reality shows including Amazing Race and Survivor; …

PARIS, May 3: At a press conference in Paris, the 47th Monte-Carlo TV Festival and Eurodata TV Worldwide announced the nominees for the second annual International TV Audience Awards, with six of the nominated programs hailing from the U.S. The …

LONDON, May 3: BBC Worldwide’s Indie Unit has reached a long-term development and distribution deal with independent producer Dangerous Films. Under the terms of the agreement, BBC Worldwide will act as the international distributor and co-producer for Dangerous Films’ forthcoming …