World Screen

LUXEMBOURG: Sky News Arabia, a joint venture between BSkyB and the Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, has joined the European News Exchange (Enex), a leading provider of news footage across Europe. Sky News Arabia, which launched in May 2012, has been providing news material into the Enex since July 1, …

BOGOTÁ: The Colombian production Mariana and Scarlett has been sold by Caracol TV International to the Wananchi Programming Group to air in Africa. The show, which features the actresses Carolina Acevedo and Carolina Guerra, will air in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Eritrea, Malawi, Zambia and Sudan on the …

NEW YORK: iROKOtv, which is billed as the "Netflix of Africa," has notched up more than 500,000 registered users in less than six months since its launch. iROKOtv is Africa’s first legal online source for Nollywood films. The company has the backing of $8 million in funding from the U.S. …

SINGAPORE: An agreement between ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), the exclusive Asian rights holder for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) matches, and Al Jazeera Sport brings live coverage of the Friends Life Twenty20 2012 to the Middle East and North Africa for the first time. Al Jazeera gains live coverage for …

LOS ANGELES: Basic Lead is planning to subsidize the attendance of up to 100 international content buyers for this year’s edition of DISCOP Africa, set for October 31 to November 2 in Johannesburg. The organizers will target acquisitions executives who are interested in increasing their amount of programming created in …

JOHANNESBURG: M-Net has made a new set of titles available from the African Film Library (AFL), with a season of films dedicated to African humor. The catalogue includes the comedy Max and Mona, The President has Aids, Pousee-Pousee, Rickshaw Tricycle Man, Soweto Green and Kini and Adams. The movies are …

DUBAI: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has signed three new distribution deals in the Middle East, inking agreements with broadcasters in Egypt, Qatar and Dubai. Feature films from the Sony Pictures library, spanning a variety of genres, are headed to a trio of networks in the region, via a set of …

CANNES/ABU DHABI: twofour54 and its Abu Dhabi Film Commission have launched an incentive scheme that will start in September, in an effort to position Abu Dhabi as the go-to destination for international TV production. A rebate of up to 30 percent of qualifying spend in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi …

HONG KONG: News Corporation has purchased newly issued shares in Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Rotana Group for $35 million, upping its stake in the Middle Eastern media company to 18.97 percent from 14.53 percent. News Corp. first invested in Rotana in February 2010, taking a 9.09-percent interest and options to …

BEIRUT: Lebanese Media Holding (LMH) has alleged that the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) is refusing to pay amounts due under production-sharing arrangements between the two outfits, but the LBCI is now hitting back against the claims. LMH, which is majority owned by Saudi prince Waleed Bin Talal, previously shut …