World Screen

BURBANK: A third season of the hit original series Pretty Little Liars has been ordered by ABC Family, with 24 fresh episodes to be delivered for mid-2012. Season two of the show is to return on ABC Family with the rest of its episodes on January 2. The series launched …

LOS ANGELES: VH1 is rolling out a series of scripted biopics focused on musicians and pop-culture icons, starting with a TV movie about the ’90s R&B trio TLC. The two surviving members of TLC, Chilli and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, have signed on as consultants and executive producers for the movie. …

CULVER CITY: 3net’s December programming slate is to offer more than 50 hours of new 3D content, including the debut of five original programs. The winter schedule will include the 3D war documentary series Fields Of Valor: The Civil War, which chronicles the war from the perspective of both sides …

NEW YORK: A new report from Knowledge Networks reveals that social media has an impact in the building of media brands, including TV shows and networks, but does little to drive actions such as viewing. The report examines how effective social media has been in creating greater interest, viewership and loyalty …

SAN BRUNO: YouTube has done a major revamp to its website, which now emphasizes "channels" of content rather than single videos. Last month the service announced a slew of new partnerships with content providers to create 100 video channels with original programming. The redesign, the largest in YouTube’s history, highlights …

LOS ANGELES: FOX’s midseason schedule includes the launch of the new dramas Touch, The Finder and Alcatraz, as well as the freshman animated comedy Napoleon Dynamite. American Idol returns with season 11, beginning with a two-night premiere on January 18. Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and …

NEW YORK: A host of new series and specials, including the sketch comedy Key & Peele, as well as returning favorites such as The Colbert Report, Tosh.0 and South Park, are on the grid for Comedy Central’s midseason lineup. In January, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert …

PHILADELPHIA/BASKING RIDGE/NEW YORK/ORLANDO: Verizon Wireless plans to pay $3.6 billion for wireless airwaves from Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, collectively known as SpectrumCo. The deal, subject to FCC approval, is for 122 Advanced Wireless Services (AWS). The joint venture paid $2.4 billion for 137 AWS licenses in …

LOS ANGELES: Through an exclusive deal with Sony Pictures Television, Hulu will be the home of digital syndication for the NBC comedy Community. Hulu and Hulu Plus subscribers will have access to all episodes of the series, including the first two seasons. Hulu Plus subscribers will get next-day access to …

NEW YORK: Following the news that Brian Frons, the president of daytime at the Disney/ABC Television Group, will leave his role at the end of his contract in January 2012, the company has decided to merge its daytime and syndicated units into one division, Times Square Studios. The new integrated …