World Screen

PREMIUM: As Germany’s ZDF, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Thomas Bellut, the director-general, shares his views on what it means to be a public broadcaster in today’s multichannel and digital world. TV EUROPE: ZDF celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Over the years, in what unique …

PARIS: Consolidated revenue at the TF1 group was unchanged year-on-year at 2.6 billion euros ($3.5 billion), though channel advertising was 6.7-percent lower than in 2011, at 1.4 billion euros ($1.87 billion). Revenue from other activities was up 9.2 percent, contributing 1.2 billion euros. Current operating profit was 258 million euros …

PARIS: As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of MIPTV, the United Nations is taking part in a Global Education First Initiative at the market, with a session in the Grand Auditorium that will be moderated by former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown, who is also the …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has penned a multi-year deal with BSkyB to bring the Sky Sports News HD channel to the Viasat satellite platforms in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The group will include the channel in its Nordic offerings on an exclusive basis starting at the end of …

ISTANBUL: The costume melodrama Secrets of the Institute for Noble Maidens is the big launch for SOVTELEEXPORT, the distribution company of Russia Television and Radio. In the story, the year is 1880 and the Russian Empire is being shaken to its core by terrorism. Revolutionaries plant bombs everywhere, including the …

ISTANBUL: The main drama launch for Eccho Rights at DISCOP West Asia is Karadayi, produced by Ay Yapim. The ratings for the first season of 85 episodes have been “fantastic and very stable,” says Fredrik af Malmborg, the managing director at Eccho Rights. “We have already closed most deals in …

NEW YORK: Maria Kyriacou, the managing director of ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE), talks to World Screen about the staying power of beloved crime franchises, the appeal of hit factual formats, and new opportunities offered by digital platforms. WS: Many of ITV Studios’ shows not only satisfy the British …

LONDON: The BT Group is acquiring ESPN’s channels business in the U.K. and Ireland, including the ESPN and ESPN America networks and the live sports rights portfolio. After the deal closes, expected to be done by July 31, BT will operate at least one ESPN-branded channel, expected to form part of …

LUXEMBOURG: The RTL Group posted record revenue of 6 billion euros ($7.96 billion) for 2012, a 4-percent gain, while profit for the year was down 14 percent. The group attributed its revenue gain to higher contributions from the Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland operations and also to the strong performance at FremantleMedia. …

ISTANBUL: A large part of what has made DISCOP in Istanbul popular is Turkish content, and ATV has a wealth of this to offer for buyers attending the market. For broadcasters interested in Turkish content, the series Peace Street could be just what they’re looking for. “Peace Street lets us …