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LONDON: This February BBC veteran Mirella Breda is set to become the creative director of Initial, an independent entertainment producer owned by Endemol UK. In her new role, Breda will report to Nick Samwell-Smith, the recently-elevated managing director of Initial. She will be charged with increasing the company's entertainment output. …

ROME: Sky and Telecom Italia have entered into a partnership that sees Sky's dedicated Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics channels being broadcast over TIM's broadband and ultra-broadband networks. The partnership also includes the prospect of other major Sky-branded sporting events of national interest to follow. Telecom Italia will be offering all …

LONDON: Channel 5 is making Demand 5 available via Xbox One, as is Channel 4 with its 4oD service. Demand 5 is a free catch-up service that features programs from Channel 5, 5USA and 5*. 4oD gives users the ability to catch up on their favorite Channel 4 programs from …

NEW YORK/MAINZ: A+E Networks and ZDF Enterprises have renewed their existing creative partnership for an additional three years. Their partnership dates back to 2005. It covers program acquisition and distribution representation arrangements. The agreement sees the continuation of the ZDF HISTORY programming block, which airs on Sunday nights. The block …

MUNICH: Stefan Kastenmüller has been hired for the newly created role of general manager for Germany, Switzerland and Austria at WWE, which has opened its first office in Germany. Kastenmüller will be charged with expanding the brand and business in the GSA markets. He will concentrate on increasing distribution through …

LONDON: BT Sport has been awarded the rights to become the new U.K. home of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football. BT won the exclusive live broadcast rights for all 350 matches from both tournaments, covering three seasons, starting from 2015-16. BT agreed to pay around £900 million …

PRAGUE/LOS ANGELES: SDI Media has established a new custom-built dubbing studio in Prague, Czech Republic, enhancing its capabilities in a market where it has been present since 2006. The new facility covers 7,000 sq. ft. Operating capabilities have been expanded through new theatrical recording rooms and 5.1 mix solutions. A …

LONDON: UKTV has scored its first licensing deal, which sees its popular entertainment network Dave getting dedicated merchandise and events that extend the brand off-screen. The move follows a previously announced partnership with Evolution Europe & Rizon Studios Creative, which will be reviewing the full stable of IP within UKTV …

LUXEMBOURG: For the first nine months of the year, RTL Group boosted profits by 41.2 percent to 535 million euros ($718.8 million) and EBITA by 6.4 percent to 714 million euros ($959.2 million) on revenues of 4.05 billion euros ($5.4 billion). The company's revenues in the period from January to …

PARIS: CANAL+ Group is launching a multichannel network on YouTube dedicated to the broadcasts of CANAL+, D8, D17 and i>Télé. Starting from December, there will be about 20 YouTube channels designed around flagship shows such as Le Grand Journal, Before and Petit Journal, as well as topical channels, notably for …