World Screen

CANNES: Turner Broadcasting has acquired 135 hours of programming from FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) for its new TNT channel in the Benelux. The deal covers drama, comedy and entertainment content for the new channel, launching April 10. On the drama front there’s Exile, The Crimson Petal & The White, Laconia and Holy …

LONDON: The online movie service blinkbox has signed a deal with Disney U.K. and Ireland to allow its customers to buy or rent the latest titles instantly on multiple devices, many day-and-date with their DVD release. Under the agreement, certain movies, such as War Horse from DreamWorks Films, and Disney’s The …

LONDON: Chellomedia’s Bosnian free-to-air joint-venture channel OBN has scored the broadcast rights for the UEFA Champions League for the next three seasons. The deal, which begins with the 2012-13 season, allows OBN the exclusive first pick of the Wednesday night UEFA matches, as well as the highlights, semi-finals and final. …

MUNICH: SevenOne International has sold the dramedy Lilyhammer, which stars American musician and actor Steven Van Zandt, to AB Groupe in France. Lilyhammer features Van Zandt as a New York mobster who enters the Witness Protection Program and hides out in Norway. The series has already aired on Netflix in …

LONDON: Alex Connock has been appointed to the newly created role of director of new business at Shine Group’s U.K. operation, assisting its British producers in identifying and driving new opportunities. Connock will report to joint chairmen of Shine UK, Henrietta Conrad and Jane Featherstone. He will work with the …

MUNICH: Sky Deutschland is to launch the Sky Atlantic HD channel, which exclusively presents content from HBO, on May 23. Sky Atlantic HD will premiere the second season of the hit series Game of Thrones, airing for the first time in Germany and Austria. Additional programming highlights at the launch …

LONDON: Just Spee, who has been serving as chief financial officer at Endemol, is being elevated to CEO, following the departure of Marco Bassetti.  Bassetti joined Endemol in 1997, when the Italian production outfit Aran was acquired by the group. He became chief operating officer in October 2007, then becoming …

MODENA/LONDON: Panini Media has agreed to an exclusive two-year output deal with Turkey’s SinemaTV, covering pay- and free-TV rights for fiction series, including Metal Hurlant Chronicles and Signs.  The deal is for 2012 to 2013, and also covers new production of 2013. SinemaTV is a premium pay film channel group …

LONDON: Sky is making major new investments in feature-length British films, with family friendly titles for Sky Movies and docs for Sky Atlantic to begin rolling out in 2013. The multimillion pound film investment adds to the platform’s previous commitments to ramping up its original drama, comedy, entertainment and arts …

VIENNA: Following a successful outing at MIPTV, ORF-Enterprise has sold titles such as the long-running crime series Tatort and Four Women and a Funeral to new broadcasters.  Tatort was scooped up by Sony Pictures International for Eastern European territories, along with RTV in Slovenia. Italy is expect to follow. The …