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LONDON: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is expanding its business in the U.K. with the acquisition of CSC Media Group, which owns 16 channels, including Tiny Pop, Chart Show TV and True Movies. Under the terms of the deal with Veronis Suhler Stevenson, SPT takes 100-percent control of CSC and will operate …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has extended for six more seasons its exclusive rights on all platforms to the soccer league Danish Superliga. The new agreement has MTG holding the live-coverage rights to the first, third, fourth and sixth pick matches in all 33 rounds of the season, totaling 792 …

STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has completed its acquisition of a 75-percent interest in Trace, which operates a range of music channels. The company's management owns 25 percent, and the business will continue to be led by Olivier Laouchez as chairman and CEO. MTG will report Trace within its pay-TV …

LONDON: UKTV's Dave channel is set to launch in 2015 a semi-improvised comedy series starring David Hasselhoff, produced by the team behind An Idiot Abroad. Me & You Productions is making the 6×30-minute Hoff the Record, which will be shot in documentary style, chronicling the life of "The Hoff," a …

NEW YORK: A+E Networks has made two appointments to its EMEA team, naming Kiaran Saunders as its VP for the region and Jon Wildman to the newly created role of VP of ad sales. In his new position, which is effective September 1, Saunders will be charged with A+E Networks' …

BRUSSELS: A group of organizations representing the interests of broadcasters across Europe, including the Association of Commercial Television (ACT) and Thinkbox, have released preliminary research on audiences for the World Cup group stage, with viewing records being broken in multiple markets and a growing interest in second-screen applications. In Croatia, …

STOCKHOLM: Bonnier has bought out Telenor's 35-percent interest in C More, taking full control of the Nordic premium pay-TV channel operator. “By taking over as sole owner, we are now creating full freedom of action for our work of identifying the best possible structure and direction for C More going …

COLOGNE/BERLIN: Seasoned producer and TV exec Christiane Ruff has been lined up to become the next managing director of ITV Studios Germany, effective July 16. Ruff will head the ITV Studios Germany business, the portfolio of which includes such titles as I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Four …

LONDON: FremantleMedia has named Robin Chalmers, a former BBC Worldwide exec, as its new general counsel. Chalmers is replacing Sarah Tingay, who’s retiring in September after 27 years with FremantleMedia. Once on board, Chalmers will report to Sangeeta Desai, the company’s COO/CFO. He’ll provide, and be responsible for, legal and …

LONDON: The U.K.’s BBC has tapped Matthew Postgate, its current controller for R&D, to be its new chief technology officer. Postgate will report to Anne Bulford, the managing director of finance and operations. He’ll be responsible for delivering the corporation’s tech strategy, which will encompass the delivery and management of …