World Screen

SHANGHAI/LOS ANGELES: DreamWorks Animation has unveiled plans to build a production studio in Shanghai, with CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg telling CNBC he wants to create the "Disney of China." The studio, behind hits such as Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, agreed to form a joint venture with China Media Capital, Shanghai …

LONDON: Industry veteran Janeen Faithfull, who spent 15 years at Australia’s Seven Network, has been tapped to lead Southern Star as its CEO. Faithfull’s appointment follows news that Rory Callaghan will be stepping down. A start date will be announced in due course, but Faithfull will be reporting to Martha …

HONG KONG: AETN All Asia Networks, NBCUniversal and Turner Broadcasting System were among the participants showcasing their upcoming programming at CASBAA’s TV Upfronts: The Hong Kong Screenings. The screenings, which took place yesterday, also featured Bloomberg, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, FOX One Stop Media and SPE Networks-Asia. More than 60 media …

NEW YORK: YOU On Demand has firmed up an agreement with Disney Media Distribution for a range of films, including War Horse and The Muppets, to be available for both transactional video on demand (TVOD) and subscription video on demand (SVOD) throughout China. Also joining the YOU On Demand offerings …

TOKYO: Ad expenditures in Japan totaled 5,709.6 billion yen ($71.2 billion) in 2011, which was down 2.3 percent from the year prior, according to Dentsu’s annual report. After a three-year decline, Japan’s ad market recovered in 2004. Spending was up 2.9 percent in 2005, 1.7 percent in 2006 and 1.1 …

SYDNEY: An additional three years have been added on to the first-option agreement between BBC Worldwide Australia and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The deal grants ABC TV exclusive access to new content from the BBC Worldwide catalogue. Among the first programs to launch from the pact of the new drama are …

ISTANBUL: Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) and Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), in association with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Tourism Malaysia, are leading a ten-company delegation at the DISCOP Istanbul market, which kicks off today. This marks the first time that the Malaysian government is participating as …

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Australia has concluded a content deal with FetchTV, licensing more than 1,750 episodes to the subscriber-based on-demand service. FetchTV subscribers will have access to BBC Worldwide content across a variety of package deals, including the BBC Good Food package, which contains BBC Worldwide lifestyle content and FetchTV’s …

PREMIUM: Tim Worner, the CEO of Seven Network, the most-watched broadcast network in Australia, talks to World Screen Newsflash about the power of good programming and savvy promotion. Seven Network recently accomplished what most other networks around the world never have: it had the top ratings in every demographic in …

NEW YORK: IMG Media has launched the 24-hour premium action sport channel EDGEsport in the Asian market. The channel, aimed at the active and athletic urban young adult, will feature sports such as surfing, snowboarding, BMX, mountain biking, skateboarding, skiing, Supercross, freestyle motocross and wakeboarding. EDGEsport will also feature films, …