Kristin Brzoznowski

WASHINGTON, D.C./LONDON/DURBAN: Smithsonian Channel and Earth Touch have struck a deal to co-produce two films and a three-part series in the wildlife genre.

LONDON: The Rare TV-owned factual studio 360Production has been commissioned by Channel 4 to produce a documentary that tells the story of the final Battle of the Somme, the 100th anniversary of which is being commemorated this year.

TORONTO: Breakthrough Entertainment has secured the rights for two new original unscripted shows from the SVOD platform Feeln, including Breaking Bread with Brooke Burke.

LONDON: Sky Vision has been appointed as distributor for the 6x1-hour Savage Kingdom, which comes from Icon Films and Natural History Film Unit Botswana.

TORONTO: Blue Ant Media has brought in Jago Lee to serve as creative director for its newly launched U.K.-based production studio, Antenna Pictures.

SANTA MONICA/VANCOUVER: Gisela Asimus-Minnbergh has been named to the newly created role of VP of alternative programming sales for Lionsgate.

CANNES: The archive-based crime series Encounters with Evil, which TCB Media Rights is showcasing at MIPCOM, looks at what it’s like to come face to face with deranged criminals.

BURBANK: Ghen Maynard has been named to the newly created position of senior executive VP of alternative programming at CBS Television Studios.

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK: Sports Illustrated and Endemol Shine Beyond USA have partnered on a virtual-reality doc series that follows the journey of four climbers during their 2016 summit of Mt. Everest.

LONDON: Discovery Networks International has unveiled a major restructuring, with Marjorie Kaplan exiting the company and Susanna Dinnage taking on leadership for the international content division.