Top Stories

LONDON: A new MGM HD movie channel is being launched in Russia and the former Soviet Republics, bringing with it such films as Rob Roy, Much Ado About Nothing and Crimes and Misdemeanors. The new channel, part of the MGM Networks bouquet, features more than 4,000 titles from the studio’s classic library, …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has completed its acquisition of Latvijas NeatkarÄ«gā TelevÄ«zija (LNT), which is the second largest free-TV operator in Latvia. The purchase has been completed following the approval from the Latvian Competition Council. MTG now assumes management control of the LNT business. LNT broadcasts the national channel LNT, the …

LONDON: ShortsHD has aligned with the British Film Institute (BFI) to offer a series of short vintage films and documentaries spotlighting Queen Elizabeth II and Britain during her era. Vintage Jubilee Shorts is a collection of memorable and influential shorts made in Britain between 1930 and 1970. These films showcase …

PREMIUM: As the head of acquisitions at TV 2 Norway, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, John Ranelagh has played a key role in making the channel the country’s leading commercial broadcaster. He acquires programming from the U.S. and from other countries for the entire TV 2 Group. It consists …

STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting is launching a new premium pay-TV channel today, Viasat Motor, which will deliver a wide range of international motor sports in SD and HD to viewers in the Baltic region. Viewers can tune in for Forumlua1, Moto GP and NASCAR. Subscribers can also follow GP2, the Speedway World Championship, …

PREMIUM: CEO Jan Andrusko talks to World Screen about the strategies that have made TV Nova such a successful broadcaster. When TV Nova launched in the Czech Republic in 1994 it was nothing short of revolutionary. Just a few years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end …

LONDON: Katie Keenan, the head of acquisitions for Channel 5 in the U.K., buys a good amount of product from the U.S. for the terrestrial Channel 5 and the digital channels 5*, 5USA and Demand 5. She recently attended the L.A. Screenings, where she found a variety of drama series …

LONDON/MOSCOW: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) and Russia’s National Cable Networks (NCN) are extending the distribution of the Russian-language Paramount Comedy channel to 4 million households across the country. Paramount Comedy, an extension of the Comedy Central brand, is a 24-hour fully localized and ad-supported premium channel. It broadcasts daily …

LONDON: Content Media Corporation has invested in a 50-percent share of Jigsaw Productions, founded by Alex Gibney. Content’s film, TV and digital divisions will serve as the international distributor for Jigsaw’s programming when appropriate. Jigsaw will add additional staff, expand its development and increase its production output. Jigsaw has produced documentary …

PREMIUM: Hans-Holger Albrecht, the president and CEO of Modern Times Group, tells World Screen how he has been successfully building up the company’s growth areas, steering the group through turbulent economic times in some territories, while always looking ahead to new technologies and opportunities.   With operations that span four …