World Screen

LONDON: Syfy has picked up the exclusive British broadcasting rights for the futuristic thriller Continuum, which debuted on Showcase in Canada. Sold by GK-tv, Continuum stars Rachel Nichols (Criminal Minds, Alias) as a cop from the future who finds herself trapped in present day. She is desperate to get back …

LONDON: The BBC has hired Shane Allen, who has been serving as the head of comedy at Channel 4, for the post of controller of comedy commissioning. At Channel 4, Allen’s commissions have included Black Mirror, Derek, Facejacker, Friday Night Dinner, Comic Strip Presents: The Hunt for Tony Blair and others. …

PARIS: Starting January 1, 2013, the production and distribution company Novavision is taking on the new name NOVOVISION. While the change goes into effect as of January 1, 2013, at the upcoming MIPCOM market the company will be displaying its logo with the second "a" crossed out and an "O" …

EDINBURGH: In her speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival yesterday, Elisabeth Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of Shine, warned that “profit without purpose is a recipe for disaster,” negating what her brother James Murdoch had declared in his MacTaggart Lecture three years ago. James Murdoch has ended his 2009 …

GENEVA: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées (FILA) have extended their pact for the FILA World and European Wrestling Championships to cover 2013 to 2016. The new contract includes media rights in Europe for seven championships, four European and three world. The EBU is …

LONDON: NBCUniversal International Television has appointed Chris Shaw to serve in the newly created post of senior VP of global ad sales for its channels division. Shaw is based in London. He reports directly to Duccio Donati, the executive VP of Universal Networks International. In the position, Shaw will work with …

MONTREAL: Cineflix Studios has tapped Peter Smith, formerly the president of NBCUniversal International, to serve as its CEO. Smith, who is based in London, takes on the new role as of September 3. He reports to Glen Salzman, co-CEO of Cineflix Media. Smith will be focused on continuing to build the …

HILVERSUM/ROTTERDAM: Talpa Holding has acquired an interest in the games company Identity Games, as it looks to build out extensions for its formats such as The Voice and I Love My Country. Identity Games will be working alongside Talpa’s content and digital departments. The company will be evaluating Talpa shows …

PREMIUM: Adam Crozier, the chief executive of ITV plc, tells World Screen about the success of the Transformation Plan, ITV Studios’ role in the British broadcaster’s turnaround and the outlook for the advertising market in the year ahead. WS: Shortly after you became chief executive you presented your Transformation Plan …

LONDON: The indie production outfit So Television, behind hit comedy programming such as The Graham Norton Show, has been acquired by ITV. ITV will pay £10 million with a further cash payment contingent on So Television’s profit performance to July 31, 2016. The max. consideration is £17 million. Graham Norton …