World Screen

MONACO: There are 81 programs that are competing for a Golden Nymph award as part of the 53rd edition of The Festival de Television de Monte-Carlo this year. In the television film category are Tom, Dick & Harriet, from Entertainment One; Occam’s Razor, from Czech Television; State Conspiracy, from France …

LONDON: David Mortimer has been tapped to fill the newly created role of senior VP of factual and entertainment at NBCUniversal International Television Production, based in London. Effective May 13, Mortimer will report to Michael Edelstein, the president of international television production, and Sarah Cooper, the recently installed COO. Mortimer …

MADRID: Imagina International Sales is consolidating its movies, TV, video and new-media content into a single business area. Barbora Susterova has been promoted to sales manager. Guillermina Ortega and María José Camacho will round out the sales team under sales director Géraldine Gonard’s leadership. Laura Miñarro, who has until now …

LONDON: The comedy duo of Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, best known from the panel show Shooting Stars, have a new sitcom for BBC Two, House of Fools (w.t.), which is slated for the channel in 2014. A BBC In-House Comedy production in association with Pett Productions, the new 6×30-minute …

LONDON: Later in the year Warner Bros. is set to kick off Warner Bros. Creative Talent, a new program of investment in skills and training for creative industries in the U.K. The initiative is scheduled to begin in September 2013. It is meant to provide young adults with industry experience spanning …

LONDON: Charlotte Moore, who is currently the BBC’s commissioning editor of documentaries, is taking on the role of acting controller of the flagship BBC One. Danny Cohen is taking up his new post as the BBC’s director of television on May 7. Moore will hold the controller role for BBC One …

PARIS: Marco Bassetti, formerly the president of the Endemol Group, has been named CEO of Banijay Group, while François de Brugada is promoted to COO. Bassetti founded Endemol Italy in 1997. He was the COO of Endemol Group in 2007 and became president in 2009. He took over CEO responsibilities during …

LONDON: BBC Three has commissioned a number of new comedies, alongside ordering a fourth and final season of Him & Her. Starring comedian and singer/songwriter Nick Helm, Uncle, produced by Baby Cow, follows an irresponsible unemployed musician who gets blackmailed into babysitting his 11-year-old nephew. There is also the tentatively …

COLOGNE: Bertelsmann has grossed 1.4 billion euros ($1.8 billion) after selling 25.5 million RTL shares, at a price of 55.50 euros ($72.50) per share. Following the sale, Bertelsmann reduced its holding in the broadcaster to 75.1 percent, from its previous 92.3 percent. Earlier this month, a share price was set …

ENGLEWOOD: Liberty Global has acquired 25.3 million shares in the Dutch cable operator Ziggo, giving it a total ownership of 12.65 percent. At a price of 25 euros per share, Liberty Global paid Barclays Capital Securities around 632.5 million euros for the new investment. This increases Liberty Global’s presence in …