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PARIS: Novavision has brought on Allison Glasgow-Lafontaine to handle sales for such territories as Europe, North America and the Middle East. Glasgow-Lafontaine takes over for Nathalie Nenning. Starting in September, Nenning will be located in Singapore, with plans to launch her in project in the acquisitions and distribution of French …

LUXEMBOURG: RTL Group posted revenue of 2.81 billion euros ($3.5 billion) for the first half of the year, while net profit dipped 15 percent. The company attributed the gain to higher revenue from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia as well as effects from exchange rates. Profit for the period attributable …

LONDON: In a move that bolsters its scripted production efforts in the U.K., Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has purchased a majority stake in Left Bank Pictures. SPT will distribute future finished TV programs and formats from the Left Bank catalogue and also has a first-look distribution option on feature films …

LONDON: There have been a wealth of new commissions made across drama, comedy and factual genres at BBC Two, which is also planning a year-long celebration of British inventions. In the way of drama, the channel has ordered Wolf Hall, a six-part adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s novels Wolf Hall and …

LONDON: Among the shows that Channel 4 has lined up for its fall programming roster are the drama The Fear and the brand-new factual series 999: What’s Your Emergency? Other factual series for Channel 4 include Drugs Live: The Ecstasy Trial (working title); Guy Martin: Building Britain; The Aristocracy (working …

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 …