Top Stories

LONDON, June 22: Channel 4 has picked up the rights to two of the most buzzed-about shows from the L.A. Screenings this year: Sony Pictures Television International’s Kidnapped and Runaway. Channel 4 and E4 will air both shows in 2007. …

LONDON/NEW YORK, June 22: José María Aznar, the president of Spain from 1996 to 2004, has joined News Corporation’s board of directors. The addition of Aznar increases the number of directors to 14. News Corporation Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch …

COPENHAGEN, June 22: Zodiak Television World has closed its first U.S. licensing deal, with Granada America producing a local version of the Sensing Murder format for Discovery Channel. The seven episode series is slated for a November launch on Discovery …

BANGKOK, June 22: Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) has reached a carriage deal for Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney on True Digital Entertainment’s IPTV platform in Thailand. The two channels launch on True IPTV this month. The platform offers …

SYDNEY, June 22: Koch Media Deutschland has picked up the German DVD distribution rights to Southern Star International’s hit Australian drama McLeod’s Daughters and the popular kids’ series The Tribe. McLeod’s Daughters is a one-hour drama series now in its …

PARIS, June 22: TV France International will be hosting 36 French production and distribution companies at its stand at Sunny Side of the Doc, which begins June 27. Among those in attendance will be Europe Images International, France Télévisions Distribution, …

NEW YORK, June 22: TVHead, the games-on-demand network slated to launch in the fourth quarter, is working with HIT Entertainment on interactive games based on Barney, Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina. “Children the world over adore …

ATLANTA, June 22: CNN has made its first foray into the world of video podcasting, delivering six programs on CNN.com and on iTunes. “Podcasting draws a whole new audience than CNN’s television viewers and, perhaps, surprisingly, somewhat younger than even …

GENEVA/PARIS, June 22: French broadband ISP Free is working with i-concerts to offer its subscribers a high-definition channel and an IPTV VOD platform, both featuring performances from some of today’s top artists. The ADSL channel i-concerts HD launched yesterday. It …

LONDON/BUDAPEST, June 22: Leopard International, a division of the U.K.-based Leopard Films, is making its first appearance at DISCOP this week with a lineup of key documentary and drama titles. Topping the list of dramas is the 90-minute Mysterious Creatures. …