World Screen

NEW YORK: The social platform Viggle has inked a deal with Scripps Networks Interactive that will create second-screen sponsorship and content opportunities for Scripps' advertisers. Viggle is a free mobile app that rewards users for consuming television and music. Under the new agreement, Scripps will be able to offer its …

LOS ANGELES: There were several surprises among the nominees for the 2014 Golden Globes, with past winners Homeland and Mad Men noticeably absent from the roster, and newcomers like Netflix scoring several nods. Netflix's House of Cards is nominated for best TV series drama, alongside Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, The …

LOS ANGELES: The Showtime comedy Episodes, which stars Matt LeBlanc, has been renewed for a fourth season. The Showtime-BBC co-production will have nine new episodes, heading back into production in 2014. The series is created and executive produced by award-winning writing partners David Crane (Friends) and Jeffrey Klarik (Mad About …

BURBANK: Tom Ascheim, who previously served as executive VP and general manager of Nickelodeon Television and CEO of Newsweek, has been tapped as the new president of ABC Family. Ascheim takes on the new role effective immediately. He joined Viacom in 1990 as VP of Nickelodeon business development and media …

NEW YORK: Pivot, Participant Media’s network focused on Millennials, has added two new members to its executive team. Jennie Morris has been hired as the senior VP of acquisitions and operations, and Jerry Blake has been tapped as the senior VP of business and legal affairs. The new execs will …

LONG ISLAND CITY: Aereo has said that it is ready for the Supreme Court to hear an appeal from broadcasters that are looking to shut down the Internet TV company, in hopes of settling its legal disputes once and for all. Aereo uses remote, miniature antennas to pull free over-the-air …

NEW YORK: CBS is going for two more editions of Survivor for the 2014-15 season, marking cycles 29 and 30. Jeff Probst, who has won five Emmys for his hosting duties, signed a new agreement to continue as host and executive producer. Probst has been with the show since its …

PHILADELPHIA: Alexander Evans is joining Comcast Corporation this month as executive VP of global corporate development and strategy. Evans has been with the private equity firm Providence Equity Partners for the last 17 years, most recently as a managing director and head of the New York office as well as …

NEW YORK: The new half-hour series Looking, about three gay male friends looking for fulfillment in love and life while living in San Francisco, is scheduled for an exclusive launch on HBO on January 19. The series stars Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, HBO’s upcoming The Normal Heart), along with Frankie …

NEW YORK: Total advertising expenditures in the third quarter declined 1.9 percent from last year, finishing the period at $34 billion, according to Kantar Media. The quarter faced a tough comparison, though, from the Olympics and election year spending in 2012. Without the benefit of an Olympics event, network TV …