World Screen

SANTA MONICA: Ovation has picked up a package of drama series, documentaries and movies from ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Under the agreement, Ovation has U.S. premiere rights for the drama series Bouquet of Barbed Wire and Martina Cole’s The Runaway, in addition to the documentary ABBA: The Mamma Mia Story, …

NEW YORK: A+E Networks is heading to MIPTV with more than 450 hours of new programming, including Mankind: The Story of All of Us. A+E Networks will highlight all-new series at MIPTV such as the 12-part, one-hour series Mankind: The Story of All of Us, an epic tale of the …

LOS ANGELES: Nickelodeon has ordered 20 episodes of the original scripted comedy Daddy’s Home (working title), starring Scott Baio, for its Nick at Nite programming block.   The multi-camera, half-hour show features Baio as David Hobbs, who after ten years of starring as America’s favorite TV dad becomes a stay-at-home …

LOS ANGELES: The film library of RKO Pictures, which includes the cinema classic Citizen Kane, has come under the representation of BoPaul Media Worldwide (BMW) for buyers in Asia. BMW will be showcasing the 720-title catalogue in Cannes. The films include the original King Kong, Bringing Up Baby, The Hunchback …

BURBANK/NEW YORK: The Disney/ABC Television Group’s ABC Research team is aligning with Nielsen in an effort to gain a better of understanding of how people use their iPads for video consumption and other activities. ABC Research commissioned Nielsen to build a proprietary, opt-in metered iPad panel to aggregate and measure …

BURBANK: ABC Family has begun production on the new comedy series Baby Daddy, which is set to premiere on June 20.  Baby Daddy stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Kyle XY), Chelsea Kane (Dancing with the Stars), Derek Theler (90210), Tahj Mowry (The Game), Melissa Peterman (Reba) and is executive produced by Dan …

NEW YORK: Michael Lynton has been appointed as the CEO of Sony Corporation America, while Nicole Seligman takes on the role of president. Lynton will be overseeing entertainment businesses such as Sony Music Entertainment, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Lynton will also remain the chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures …

NEW YORK: Christopher Barry has been appointed as the managing director of international strategy and digital media for A+E Networks, based at the company’s New York headquarters.  Barry is tasked with developing and executing strategic initiatives in partnership with execs around the world. He will work to cultivate new growth …

CANNES/SANTA MONICA: Miramax has been appointed to manage the global licensing for the library of films produced by Samuel Goldwyn, including classics such as Guys and Dolls. Miramax has scooped up the rights to license the content across a broad range of TV and digital platforms. The library includes classics …

CANNES: Josh Sapan, the president and CEO of AMC Networks, noted that iconic content that viewers are personally connected to is the “killer app” of TV’s digital age in a speech at MIPTV today, which was followed by a Q&A with World Screen’s Anna Carugati. Sapan’s Media Mastermind Keynote focused …