World Screen

TORONTO: Breakthrough Entertainment has closed deals for more than 260 half-hours of programming, including the kids’ series Dino Dan and Think Big, throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific licensed the Breakthrough Entertainment children’s series Dino Dan and Think Big. Greatest Tank Battles secured new license deals with Discovery Japan …

NEW YORK: World Screen’s multimedia Preview for ATF includes features, interviews, a video report with three leading channel operators discussing their businesses in Asia and a link to Screening Rooms for distributors attending the market, as well as the digital editions of World Screen and TV Asia Pacific. The multimedia …

BEIJING: China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has ordered a national ban on airing commercials during dramas on television for all stations nationwide. Starting in January, advertisements will not be allowed in the middle of programs lasting more than 45 minutes. This means commercials can only air …

PREMIUM: Yan-Jong Wong at Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia is charged with finding high-quality shows for a diverse bouquet of pan-regional pay-TV channels, among them AXN and SET. Yan-Jong Wong, Vice President, Programming, English Content, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia   What kinds of things are you looking for to …

SYDNEY/TORONTO: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has taken on representation for the catalogue of Entertainment One’s (eOne) Hopscotch for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Starting February 1, 2012, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) will distribute Hopscotch/eOne’s lineup that includes the hit Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris and …

MUMBAI: B. Saikumar has been named as the group CEO of India’s Network18, taking over from Haresh Chawla, who resigned earlier this month. Saikumar had been serving as the group COO, and now takes over responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the Network18 Group. This covers news, web, …

NEW YORK: Ahead of the Asia TV Forum, World Screen caught up with Zee Group’s Subhash Chandra, FIC’s Ward Platt and BBC Worldwide’s Jana Bennett about how they are building on their businesses in Asia.   brightcove.createExperiences(); This special video report features interviews with Subhash Chandra, the chairman of Zee …

PREMIUM: The format market in Korea is “gradually growing,” says Seung Ae Sohn, the head of acquisitions at the broadcasting division of CJ E&M, who buys for a portfolio of 18 channels and recently snapped up Got Talent and Top Gear. What have been some of your most successful acquisitions …

BURBANK: Robert Gilby is taking on the newly created role of managing director for The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, in addition to his current responsibilities as the managing director of Disney Media Distribution Asia Pacific. With his new responsibilities, Gilby is tasked with driving the company’s strategy, coordinating and …

HONG KONG: CASBAA is staging its inaugural TV Upfront: The Singapore Screenings, a half-day networking and preview event, to take place on December 13 at the Goodwood Park Hotel in Singapore. Led by the Asia TV Advertising Coalition (ATAC), the invitation-only presentations will focus on pay TV as an effective promotional …