World Screen

NEW YORK: CBS Corporation has appointed Joseph Ianniello, who has been CFO since 2009, as COO, with a remit that includes maximizing the monetization of the company’s content. In addition to continuing to oversee all financial operations, Ianniello will oversee negotiations for digital streaming, retransmission consent fees and reverse compensation from …

NEW YORK: zeebox has further personalized its second-screen offering with the creation of fan-driven "TV Rooms," which take a new approach to curating the way viewers interact, engage, individualize and experience programming. The TV Rooms are designed as a user-driven community where fans can share experiences and thoughts with fellow fans …

NEW YORK: The Redbox Instant streaming service is going to be part of Roku’s offerings starting this summer. Redbox Instant by Verizon is a joint venture between Redbox, a subsidiary of Coinstar, and Verizon Communications. For $8 per month, the subscription package includes four credits to access the newest releases …

NEW YORK: NBCUniversal has recruited former Disney executive Russell Hampton for the newly created position of executive VP of franchise management and global consumer products for the media innovation and cross company initiatives group. In his new role, Hampton will be responsible for developing a strategy for the company’s licensing …

LOS ANGELES: Spike TV has made a number of promotions and executive hires within its original programming group, including Chris Rantamaki being elevated to senior VP of original series. Rantamaki continues to report to Sharon Levy, the executive VP of original series at Spike. Rantamaki joined the network in April 2011 as …

SILVER SPRING: TLC has elevated Amy Savitsky, formerly the network’s VP of development, to senior VP of program development. Based out of Silver Spring, Savitsky will work under Amy Winter, TLC’s general manager. She will continue to oversee East Coast development initiatives, while also supervising the production of certain programming.  …

SAN JOSE: TiVo has settled its pending patent litigation with Motorola, Cisco and Time Warner Cable, from which it will receive an upfront lump-sum payment of $490 million. Back in February 2011, Motorola (owned by Google and Arris) had accused TiVo of infringing on its patents for digital video recorders. …

HOLLYWOOD: VU Television Network, a new U.S. channel from IC Punch Media that will feature reality series, comedy, drama, local entertainment news and more, is to make its official launch on September 23. The network will debut in 15 major U.S. cities in September, offering original programming combined with local …

LOS ANGELES: FXX has ordered its first original series, Chozen, an animated comedy from the creative teams behind Eastbound & Down and Archer. The comedy is about a homosexual white rapper who is fresh out of prison. He has a new message and new skills that he will use in …

NEW YORK: Showtime has renewed the comedy Nurse Jackie, which stars Edie Falco as a brilliant but flawed ER nurse, for a sixth season, which will premiere in 2014. The series, a co-production of Showtime and Lionsgate, is currently airing in its fifth season on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. The …