World Screen

CANNES: As singing competitions continue to grab audiences around the world, Global Agency believes it has found “the next big thing” with Stand By Me. “With the duets and the celebrity jury also taking part as contestants, it is a very exciting new concept,” says Izzet Pinto, the founder and …

CANNES: The reality format The Secret Life of Students/Teens is a lead offering for ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE). It features a new technological innovation developed to track the digital lives of its contributors. The technology captures digital data, from voice calls and messages to Facebook posts, tweets and …

PARIS: Francois de Brugada, currently the COO of Banijay Group, is taking on the new role of CEO of Banijay Group France, responsible for all of the company's French operations. He will take on oversight for Air Productions, Banijay Productions France and H2O, a well as the Canal Sat channel …

CANNES: Netflix has licensed a range of programming from CBS Studios International (CBSSI), including Showtime's Penny Dreadful, for a number of European markets. The pact includes early seasons of current series Elementary, Under the Dome and Ray Donovan, alongside Dexter, Deadwood and Jericho. In addition to the Netherlands, territories included …

HAMBURG/HILVERSUM: John de Mol's Talpa Media has acquired a 49.9 percent stake of the production company Schwartzkopff TV, which is owned by Axel Springer, and plans to rename the outfit Talpa Germany. Schwartzkopff TV produces more than 180 hours of programming each year, with output for such channels as RTL, …

CANNES: Channel 4 in the U.K. has secured the exclusive first-window, free-to-air broadcast for the U.S. comedy Jane the Virgin, premiering on E4 in 2015. The series, sold by CBS Studios International, premieres tonight on The CW in the U.S. The hour-long comedy heads to E4 early next year. “Jane …

CANNES: The Spanish business group Onza Partners and Comarex have entered into a joint venture for the creation of Comarex España, targeting the Spanish market. The JV will merge Onza and Comarex's respective strengths to produce a range of Comarex formats and to develop original content for production in Spain. …

CANNES: RTL Netherlands has picked up the Belgian version of the comedy series Safety First from Red Arrow International. The show was created by Tim van Aelst, who is also behind such hits as What If? and Benidorm Bastards. The series was a ratings hit on VTM Belgium. Tim Gerhartz, …

CANNES: At a signing ceremony this morning between Reed MIDEM and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Turkey was named as the 2015 MIPCOM Country of Honour. "Turkey has been a longtime partner of MIPTV and MIPCOM," said Jerome Delhaye, director of the entertainment division at Reed MIDEM, at this morning's …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has entered a digital-business alliance with various other European media companies, including Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1, the U.K.’s Channel 4 and France’s TF1. The new partnerships were formed to identify investment opportunities in new digital businesses. The alliance also creates a pan-European footprint that enables its members …