World Screen

LONDON: ITV has picked up the rights from World Snooker to air the snooker Shoot-Out event on ITV4 for the next three years. The one-frame knockout tournament, first staged in 2011, will broadcast on free-to-air TV for the first time. The 2016 event will run from February 12 to 14, …

LONDON: Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, who created the comedy The Inbetweeners, have formed a new film and TV production company, Fudge Park. The pair previously helmed the production company Bwark. They now serve as co-founders of Fudge Park, alongside Simon Wilson, Phil Gilbert, Mark Lesbirel and Leo Martin. The …

LONDON: Endemol Shine UK has acquired a controlling share in the animation company Simon’s Cat. The London-based outfit—founded by illustrator, animator and director Simon Tofield—is behind the digital comedy series Simon’s Cat. The worldwide hit has had more than 650 million views and 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube. The series …

LONDON: Duncan Gray, who most recently served as creative director at Princess Productions, has established a brand-new indie content outfit, Twenty Six 03. Gray previously served in such roles as VP of alternative series and specials at ABC in the U.S., during which time he launched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. …

STOCKHOLM: Jakob Abrahamsson and CG Anderson have purchased NonStop Entertainment from Turner Broadcasting. Abrahamsson was previously the director of distribution and acquisitions at NonStop Entertainment. He will now serve as CEO of the company. He commented of the acquisition: “We’ve had a great run under the Turner umbrella with some …

LONDON: Endemol Shine Group has appointed Wim Ponnet as the group director of strategy and commercial development, effective this fall. In his new role, Ponnet will be charged with defining and implementing Endemol Shine Group’s global strategy, working closely with the company’s local leaders and partners around the world. He …

WARSAW: Vodafone Portugal has launched SPI International's FightBox HD and Fast’nFunBox HD channels on the IPTV platform TV Net Voz. FightBox HD is a 24-hour combat sports channel featuring MMA, boxing, sumo and more. FightBox HD also offers live broadcasts of major MMA and kickboxing events from Central and Eastern Europe. Fast’nFunBox HD …

LONDON: ITV has commissioned Twofour to produce a 6×1-hour prime-time studio entertainment series hosted by Davina McCall. McCall will meet people from across the U.K. who pledge to change something about their lives over the course of 12 months. The pledges take many forms, from finding love to becoming a …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has unveiled a new restructuring program, under which some 300 positions will be eliminated within the company. The jobs are being cut in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the U.K. Net restructuring charges are expected to amount to approximately SEK 700 million ($85.5 million) and all …

LONDON: A+E Networks UK has named Adrian Pilkington as the company's senior VP of distribution and strategy, effective September 1. In his newly created position, Pilkington is charged with the strategic planning and execution of branded channel and digital distribution across the U.K., Nordics, Benelux and CEEMEA territories. He will …