World Screen

NEW YORK: USA Network has ordered a 13-episode second season of the half-hour comedy Sirens from Fox Television Studios and executive producers Denis Leary (Rescue Me) and Bob Fisher (Wedding Crashers). The series follows a group of Chicago’s best EMTs who are rock stars professionally, but struggle to keep their …

NEW YORK: SnagFilms is gearing up to launch Thundershorts, a new comedy website featuring original short-form programming, on June 26. The new platform will launch with seven episodic short-form series. They include American Viral, about a family's attempts to recapture their YouTube fame; Teachers Lounge, featuring a slew of A-list …

TORONTO: Following its acquisition of Phase 4 Films, Entertainment One (eOne) has brought together a new leadership team for U.S. film and distribution under President Berry Meyerowitz. Sean Monson is tapped as the executive VP of finance and operations for U.S. film and distribution at eOne, while David Richardson serves …

NEW YORK: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts New York (BAFTA New York) has some new executives joining its board of directors, following a recent election. Luke Parker Bowles, the executive VP of production for Open Road Integrated Media, was voted vice chairman by the board of directors. …

PLANO: Despite the fact that an increasing number of U.S. TV providers are offering TV Everywhere services, tablet owners are significantly more likely to use OTT service apps such as Netflix than those offered by TV networks or operators, according to new research from The Diffusion Group (TDG). TDG finds …

PRAGUE: The large-scale documentary The World Wars, a highlight from A+E Networks for NATPE Europe, examines WWI and WWII on a contiguous timeline starting in 1914 and continuing to 1945. “The World Wars is a gem for buyers, as this year marks the 100th anniversary of WWI and the 70th …

NEW YORK: Twitter and Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) have unveiled the first results from their Social TV Lab initiative, which finds that the microblogging service is impacting the way consumers watch TV programming and advertising. Among the significant findings is that using Twitter along with a TV advertising campaign increases …

NEW YORK: Zoomin.TV, which is Europe's largest multichannel network (MCN), is entering the U.S. market as of today. Zoomin.TV has more than 8,000 existing channels, and some 500 joining each month. In addition to its presence on YouTube, the outfit has a production and distribution business. It curates 40 content …

LOS ANGELES: Zendaya (Shake It Up!, Dancing with the Stars) has been cast to portray the late R&B superstar Aaliyah in a new Lifetime original movie. Zendaya will record four of Aaliyah's songs for the TV movie as well. The film, Aaliyah: Princess of R&B (working title), is based on …

STOCKHOLM: Bollyvod, a VOD service from Voddler that features the latest movies and shows from leading Bollywood studios, is starting its U.S. rollout as of today. Voddler secured more than 100,000 hours of programming for the service, including content from Zee Entertainment, Reliance, Eros International, UTV Motion Pictures and Sony …