Top Stories

TORONTO, June 22: CBC International Sales is offering for presale two investigative documentaries about September 11, 2001, for broadcasters looking for titles to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the attacks. Al Qaeda War: The Secret History of 9/11, by producer …

LONDON, June 22: Private equity group Apax Partners, parent company of HIT Entertainment, is mulling a £1-billion bid for Telefónica’s 75-percent stake in Endemol, British press reports indicate. Apax may team up with venture capitalists to acquire the Netherlands-based format …

NEW YORK, June 22: Lisa Marks & Associates has been appointed the North American licensing and merchandising agency for five properties, including Toot & Puddle and Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure from National Geographic. Toot & Puddle, the celebrated …

LOS ANGELES, June 22: The highly touted bidding frenzy that was expected around the Univision sale has not materialized, according to reports, with Haim Saban’s consortium submitting an offer that was deemed too low and three equity firms dropping out …

LONDON, June 22: LIVINGtv has promoted senior commissioning editor Clare Hollywood to head of commissioning, effective immediately. Hollywood reports to Claudia Rosencrantz, the channel’s director of programming. Rosencrantz said of Hollywood’s promotion: “Clare has proven that she has a fantastic …

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 …