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PARIS: In the wake of the Vivendi takeover, the CANAL+ free-to-air channels D8, D17 and iTélé are all being renamed. The announcement was made via an email to staff from Vincent Bolloré, the newly appointed chairman of the CANAL+ Group supervisory board. The D8, D17 and iTélé channels become C8, C17 and CNews, respectively, …

PARIS: Vivendi has made three new acquisitions, including the London-based distribution outfit Can't Stop Media, following on its recent investment in the online video website Dailymotion. Can't Stop Media was founded in 2011 by Matthieu Porte, a former senior VP of entertainment at Zodiak Rights. The company represents both scripted …

LONDON: The new U.K. connected TV service Freeview Play is set to launch in October, coming first to Panasonic televisions. From Digital UK and Freeview, Freeview Play combines catch-up TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, on-demand services and live television. The service is free from subscription …

DUBLIN: A new long-term partnership agreement has been signed between Sky and RTÉ involving carriage in Ireland. Sky has delivered the RTÉ One and RTÉ2 channels in households across the country for more than 12 years. The new agreement sees more RTÉ channels and services becoming available to Sky customers. …

EDINBURGH: The Scottish government has established a new £1.75 million ($2.7 million) Production Growth Fund to lure film and TV producers to base their productions in Scotland. The fund, announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, is designed to stimulate growth in film and TV production by providing an additional incentive …

PARIS/LONDON: In an effort to expand its international business, indie producer Nevision has acquired a majority stake in financing and distribution company About Premium Content (APC). The deal will give Nevision a stronger European presence as it takes advantage of APC’s Paris and London locations. It is also set to …

LONDON: BBC Director-General Tony Hall has set out new proposals on how the corporation plans to be "more open and more distinctive," with recommendations that include setting up a dedicated children's VOD service and allowing third-party programming on the BBC iPlayer. One of the proposals involves its commitment to original, …

LONDON: FremantleMedia has purchased a majority stake in Fontaram, a French production company specialized in scripted programming. FremantleMedia will have a 51-percent holding, with the opportunity to buy the remaining shareholding in the future. Fontaram was recently formed by producer/writer partners François Aramburu and Pascal Fontanille, who are best known …

LONDON: Antenna Group has picked up a controlling stake in B92, a leading broadcaster in Serbia. B92 is a free-to-air, news-oriented TV station. It also has a web asset, B92.net, and a presence on radio. The acquisition strengthens Antenna Group's presence in Southeastern Europe, where it now has operations in …

LONDON: David Liddiment, a seasoned media executive, has been appointed as non-executive chairman at FremantleMedia UK (FMUK). Liddiment will sit on FremantleMedia's Operating Board, advising on a number of matters in the U.K. and around the globe. He will support and advise Richard Holloway, FMUK's interim CEO, as well as …