World Screen

UNTERFÖHRING: Sky Deutschland has signed agreements with a trio of German independents that add movies such as Intouchables, Ides of March and The Expendables 2 to its lineup. The new contracts, with Splendid, Telepool and Tobis, include the exclusive pay-TV rights to some 30 films until 2014. Further titles include …

NEW YORK: Laurine Garaude, the director of the television division at Reed MIDEM, offers up a look at some of the highlights of this year’s MIPTV, which runs from Sunday, April 1, to Wednesday, April 4. MIPTV kicks off with a "Super Sunday" lineup of panels and keynotes addressing digital …

COLOGNE: RTL Nitro, a free-TV channel from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland set to launch in Germany on April 1, will feature a number of U.S. hits, including Modern Family, alongside crime shows, classic sitcoms, movies and more. RTL Nitro will give Modern Family its German free-TV premiere. Also on the roster …

MUNICH/SANTA MONICA: Tele München Group (TMG) has secured the rights for the upcoming sitcom Anger Management, starring Charlie Sheen, for Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland from Lionsgate’s international television division. The sitcom is based on Revolution Studio’s 2003 feature film Anger Management, which starred Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson and Marisa …

LONDON: Sky 1 HD has placed a full series order for the new comedy series Chickens, written by and starring Inbetweeners Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and up-and-comer Jonny Sweet. Chickens will go into production in December 2012 for broadcast in the summer of 2013. The sitcom features three young men …

PARIS: More than 100 titles from the Disney library, including movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, are headed to the Canal+ subscription-based VOD service Canalplay Infinity. The new SVOD service is available on DSL nets provided by key French operators such as SFR, …

LONDON: There are a number of changes being implemented across Sky Arts channels, bolstered by an increased investment in home-grown TV and arts projects. Sky previously committed to increase its annual investment in home-grown programming to £600 million by 2014; Sky Arts will see its programming budget increase three-fold. Building …

LONDON: The BBC has appointed Anna Mallett to the role of CEO of BBC Studios and Post Production. As of September, Mallett will report to John Tate, the chairman of BBC Studios and Post Production and the BBC’s group director of policy and strategy. Mallett has served on the senior …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) is increasing the number of regional broadcasts for its free-TV channel TV3 in Sweden, from 6 to 19. The launch in the 19 broadcasting regions follows the merger of MTG’s TV, radio and online advertising sales forces into one unit. The move enables MTG’s Swedish …

LONDON: Connect TV has made its official debut in the U.K. with an initial lineup of 45 Internet-delivered channels, which viewers can access from the Freeview menu on existing set-top boxes and smart TVs. Viewers can access the 45 channels directly from the Freeview menu or electronic programme guide (EPG). The …