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LONDON: Kudos has struck up a first-look deal with Imaginary Friends Productions, which is run by Broadchurch writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall. The two outfits recently collaborated on Broadchurch, which is ITV’s highest rated drama so far this year. Under the newly signed pact, Kudos will have an exclusive …

GENEVA: Offering up its input on the U.S.-EU free-trade agreement negotiations, the European Union Parliament today passed a resolution seeking the exclusion of audiovisual services from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The MEPs overwhelming backed the start of negotiations for the proposed free-trade agreement, but asked that cultural and …

WARSAW: SPI International’s FilmBox Live platform is now available on Netia Player in Poland, adding another 40,000 homes to its reach. FilmBox Live provides access to a wealth of movies and a number of live-streaming TV channels, including Kino Polska, Kino Polska Muzyka, FilmBox, FilmBox Extra, FightBox, DocuBox and FashionBox. Netia …

LOS ANGELES: CBS Studios International took the wraps off a first-ever volume deal in Russia during the L.A. Screenings, inking Thursday a multi-year, multiplatform pact for Amedia to broadcast current and upcoming series produced by the Hollywood studio. The deal includes rights to existing hits like Elementary and Beauty and …

LOS ANGELES: CBS Studios International unveiled a new multi-year volume deal with MTV3’s bouquet of channels in Finland that includes the new series Reign and Reckless as the L.A. Screenings wound down Thursday. MTV3 will broadcast recently announced series pick-ups, including the drama Reckless, the sitcom The Millers and the period …

LONDON: While time spent watching TV, reading books and browsing social media has fallen in the U.K., British consumers are increasingly willing to spend money on content, according to KPMG’s latest Media & Entertainment Barometer. The survey indicates that British media consumption in many areas has plateaued or slightly decreased, …

MAINZ/HAMBURG: On June 1 Christian Rönsch will become the new general manager of Studio Hamburg Enterprises, a collaboration between Studio Hamburg Distribution & Marketing and ZDF Enterprises. For the past decade and a half, Rönsch has served in several executive positions at a number of firms. Over the last five years, he …

MUNICH: Broadcasters in Russia, CIS and the Baltics have purchased the rights for the Italian romantic series Crazy About Love from Global Screen. Russia’s Mars Media Entertainment will produce a local adaptation of the show and has commenced preproduction of 26 episodes. Filming is due to begin in the spring …

LONDON: Katarzyna Jablonska has been hired by A+E Networks UK as its director of distribution, a newly created position that is effective immediately. In her new post, Jablonska will be in charge of linear and non-linear network development in the U.K., CEE, South Africa, Benelux and the Nordic region. She …

GENEVA: More than 170 million viewers from 36 countries tuned in for the 58th Eurovision Song Contest, which was won by a female singer from Denmark. In 24 of the 36 countries, more than one-third of the population watched the two semi-finals and the final of the contest. In eight …