World Screen

PARIS: TF1 and Discovery Communications have confirmed that they are in the process of finalizing exclusive negotiations to form a strategic alliance, part of which would see Discovery taking a 20-percent interest in the Eurosport group. There are three key areas that the alliance would focus on, one of which …

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Communications is acquiring the SBS Nordic operations of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, including 12 television networks, in a $1.7 billion transaction. The deal includes four networks in Norway, two in Sweden, four in Denmark and two in Finland. With the purchase, Discovery also gains SBS Nordic’s 19 radio …

LONDON: Channel 4 has agreed to give the BBC the broadcast rights for the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships. Channel 4 acquired the exclusive media rights for the IAAF World Athletic Series for 2011 to 2013 back in September 2010. The BBC previously took the broadcast rights …

PREMIUM: Friday evening belonged to light entertainment as game shows and formats fared well in the four largest markets of continental Western Europe on December 14. The biggest audience for a program in any of the four markets was in France for TF1’s Koh-Lanta, the local version of the Survivor format, …

LONDON: Chellomedia has appointed Simon Freer as chief commercial officer, Ron Huisman as chief financial officer and Mike Moriarty as managing director for Chello Benelux and Chellomedia Investments. Freer previously served as the global head of TMT at 3i Group. In his new role he will supervise the revenue growth …

STOCKHOLM: SF Norge has purchased a 51-percent share in the Norwegian production outfit Motion Blur, striking up a partnership with its co-owners as well. Motion Blur is co-owned by Harald Zwart, Veslemøy Ruud Zwart, Espen Sandberg, Joachim Rønning and Espen Horn. The company has been producing films in the Norwegian …

STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have entered into a multi-year pay-TV partnership that delivers season-long coverage of the league’s events in Russia, the CIS and Georgia on the Viasat Sport East channel. Viasat Sport East will air up to five regular season games per week as …

PREMIUM: The top of the audience charts was a mixed bag on Saturday, December 15, with light entertainment, contests and feature films faring well. Audience levels were not high relative to other nights of the week. TF1 pulled the biggest audience in France with long-running light entertainment show Les enfants …

LONDON: In the wake of a major reorganization at BBC Worldwide, Steve Macallister, the president and managing director of sales and distribution, has decided to leave the company in the spring. Macallister joined the company in 2007 and has led the sales and distribution department to record growth. He will continue …

ENGLEWOOD: Liberty Global is sticking with its previous bid of 35 euros ($46.10) per share for the stake it does not already own of Telenet Group Holding, totaling $2.5 billion, despite the Belgian telecom company having a higher assessment of its current value. Liberty Global is currently a majority shareholder …