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GENEVA: The EBU has issued an open letter welcoming the Greek Parliament’s adoption of a new law that lays the groundwork for a valid public service broadcaster to be created in the country. EBU leadership wrote an open letter to Greece’s Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and relevant unions offering …

LONDON: Channel 4 has become the first U.K. commercial broadcaster to offer free offline mobile catch-up content. The 4oD feature, available for free, allows viewers to download and catch up with a slew of Channel 4 shows via their smartphone or tablet. The programs are available for 30 days after …

LONDON: Full-year operating profit at BSkyB reached a record £1.3 billion ($2 billion), up 9 percent from a then-record of £1.2 billion ($1.86 billion) in the prior fiscal year. Revenue for the year ended June 30, 2013 rose 7 percent, to £7.2 billion ($11.08 billion). EBITDA was up 8 percent, …

LONDON: ITV has acquired Big Talk, the producer of films such as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz and such series as Rev, Friday Night Dinner and The Job Lot. ITV will make an initial payment and further capped payments contingent on the producer’s future performance. Big Talk has produced …

AMSTERDAM: FOX is to launch as a fully localized 24-hour network in the Netherlands on August 19. The network will be available to all digital TV subscribers of Ziggo. This is the latest FOX International Channels’ (FIC) launch in the market, which already has 24Kitchen, FOXlife and the suite of National …

ENGLEWOOD: Liberty Global has again raised its stake in the Dutch cable operator Ziggo, increasing it to 28.5 percent. Liberty Global bought an additional 17.5 million shares in the Netherlands-based company. It has been steadily increasing its shareholding in the company. In March, it increased its holding to 12.65 percent …

UNTERFÖHRING: Sky Deutschland and MGM Television are continuing their partnership with the extension of a long-term output agreement for the exclusive pay-TV and SVOD rights for all platforms. Sky has the exclusive pay-TV and SVOD rights for Sky Anytime and Sky Go for MGM’s latest films. This brings Sky audiences exclusive access to …

LONDON/MAINZ: Bonafide Films has inked a development deal with ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE), which has taken the international distribution rights for Talking to the Dead, Bonafide’s new two-part drama for Sky Living. Under the development agreement, ZDFE will offer financial investment, including global co-productions, acquisitions and licensing deals, for Bonafide’s new …

LONDON: For the first half of the year, ITV reported an improvement in its results, thanks to a strong performance from its ITV Studios production arm. ITV posted a 16-percent increase in adjusted pre-tax profit to £270 million ($414 million) for the half year ended June 30. EBITA increased 11 percent …

MOSCOW: CTC Media has named Yuliana Slashcheva as its new CEO, effective August 1, replacing Boris Podolsky, who has decided to leave the company in order to pursue other interests. Slashcheva was most recently the president and CEO of Mikhailov & Partners, which is Russia’s largest domestic strategic communications company. CTC Media …