Top Stories

HOUSTON, September 1: The Anime Network has passed the 40-million mark in the U.S. and Canada, marking a 233-percent increase in the last two years. “We are obviously pleased to have made such significant progress,” said Kevin McFeeley, Anime Network’s …

EL SEGUNDO, September 1: The DIRECTV original series CD USA, produced by Blaze Television, is slated to air in markets around the world, including across the Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. The show, featuring performances by Kelly …

LOS ANGELES/BOCA RATON, September 1: Cinamour Entertainment has entered into a joint venture with the Florida-based outfit Reality Racing for the new series Reality Racing—The Rookie Challenge, featuring amateur stock car racers. Cinamour Entertainment will handle the worldwide distribution of …

ENCINO, September 1: Solid Entertainment has secured the international distribution rights to Inside Sportfishing, marking the first time the series has been offered on the worldwide market. The award-winning show, of 52 23-minute episodes and 26 50-minute episodes, features top …

ENGLEWOOD, September 1: Starz has begun airing a series of animated shorts called The ‘Wood that the premium channel is billing as a “tongue-in-cheek homage” to Hollywood. The first shorts featuring the six “cele-bear-ties” are currently being rolled out on …

BARCELONA, September 1: Icon Animation has notched up deals on four of its third-party properties with Spanish broadcaster RTVE, which also extended its rights to Icon’s own Lola & Virginia. The deal also covers Corneil & Bernie; Vampires, Pirates and …

UNTERFOEHRING, September 1: Patrick Elmendorff is stepping down as managing director of EM.Entertainment and Junior.TV at the end of this year, with his responsibilities to be assumed by fellow MD Susanne Schosser. Elmendorff exits on December 31 after seven years …

MONTREAL/LONDON, September 1: Distraction has moved to a new office in London and has announced two new staff appointments in its European operations. Michel Rodrigue, Distraction’s president and CEO, said of the new location: “At last we have an office …

TORONTO, September 1: Bell Globemedia (BGM) has succeeded in taking control of about 99 percent of CHUM’s common voting stock and about 93 percent of non-voting shares, after announcing its $1.5 billion takeover offer for the company in early July. …

BERLIN, September 1: Warner Home Video will release more than 15 HD DVD titles in European markets, including France, Germany, Spain and the U.K., late this year. Warner Bros. titles will be released in conjunction with the expected European availability …