LONDON: BBC Worldwide Channels has tapped former UKTV executive Tracy Forsyth to serve in the new role of VP of commissioning, in an effort to increase the production of original content. Forsyth, who takes on the role in January 2012, will act as BBC Worldwide’s executive producer on all commissions as ...

Read More »

LONDON: Zodiak Rights has landed sales with broadcasters in Australia and New Zealand for more than 50 hours of programming. Network Ten in Australia picked up the new series Food Hospital, an eight-episode hour-long series produced for Channel 4 in the U.K. by betty. It examines the science behind using ...

Read More »

MILAN: MP & Silva has acquired the international media rights for the Italian Serie A through the 2014-15 season. The rights cover all territories outside of Italy. The new agreement covers the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Riccardo Silva, the president of MP & Silva, said: “Since 2004 Italian Serie ...

Read More »

LONDON: Sky Sports F1 HD, a new service launching in March 2012, is dedicated to providing in-depth Formula 1 coverage, including live events from the Grand Prix season. The dedicated channel will be provided at no extra cost to Sky TV customers who already have Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports ...

Read More »

LONDON: UKTV and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) have struck up an exclusive deal for the new J.J. Abrams series Alcatraz to air on Watch and Hart of Dixie, starring Rachel Bilson, to join the lineup of Really. The 13×1-hour Alcatraz is the latest from Abrams (Fringe, Lost). The ...

Read More »

MUNICH: Red Arrow Entertainment Group’s Scandinavian production arm, Snowman Productions, has purchased a majority interest in the Swedish digital production house Hard Hat. Snowman was launched by Red Arrow in October 2010 in Sweden, later rolling out to Denmark at the start of 2011. The move to take on a ...

Read More »

GENEVA: The European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) entertainment format The Magic Circus Show is set to broadcast across seven European pubcasters during the Christmas season. The 90-minute show features more than 70 European children performing circus acts in Geneva. Children from Switzerland, France, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Belgium perform ...

Read More »

LONDON: The British production house talkbackTHAMES is ditching its name as part of a restructure that splits the brand into four separate departments under the new division FremantleMedia UK. Effective January 1, 2012, the restructure divides the indie producer into separate costumer-focused label brands focused on comedy, comedy entertainment, entertainment ...

Read More »

PARIS: Hyoe Narita has been promoted to the role of president of VIZ Media Europe (VME). Narita, the former executive VP at VIZ Media in San Francisco, will replace John Easum, who will be stepping down at the end of the month to pursue new initiatives. Narita will be responsible ...

Read More »

LONDON: Season three of the BBC One sitcom Mrs. Brown’s Boys has been commissioned prior to the second season’s run. Mrs. Brown’s Boys is created, written by and starring Brendan O’Carroll as Agnes Brown. The series features the cast of the stage production that the TV show is based on. ...

Read More »