World Screen

NEW YORK: The online TV service Aereo, which is backed by Barry Diller, has been cleared to continue operating, after a federal judge denied a temporary injunction sought by broadcasters such as CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX. FOX, CBS, NBC and 14 other broadcasters previously filed copyright infringement suits against …

LOS ANGELES: Zodiak Media is bringing together its existing businesses in North, Central and South America under one unit, Zodiak Americas. The move is part of Zodiak’s long-term strategy to increase its focus on the American continents. Jonny Slow, formerly Zodiak Media’s COO, will head up the new division as …

ATLANTA: Three executives within the TNT and TBS original programming group are shifting to new roles, including Lillah McCarthy taking over responsibility for the networks’ in-house production company. McCarthy moves to the post of senior VP of TNT and TBS Original Productions. She most recently served as senior VP of …

NEW YORK: The number of Netflix subscribers streaming movies has dipped so far this year, while customers using the service for TV or TV-like programming is on the rise, according to Nielsen. Netflix recently announced that its members streamed more than 2 billion hours of videos in Q4 2011. A new Nielsen …

LOS ANGELES: Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion are among the names being bandied about as new additions to the American Idol judging panel, following news that both Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will not return for the new season in January. On Thursday of last week, FOX announced that Tyler would …

EL SEGUNDO/BURBANK: DIRECTV’s 20 million customers—who have been without the Viacom channels, including Nick Jr., since last week—now have access to Disney Junior, which launched on the platform over the weekend. The channel, aimed at kids aged 2-7 and their parents/caregivers, is now available as a basic channel on the satellite …

NEW YORK: NBC News has taken full ownership of the MSNBC Digital Network—encompassing MSNBC.com and several other web properties and apps—buying out Microsoft’s 50-percent stake of a joint venture that was created in 1996. While NBCU is the sole owner of the MSNBC cable network, MSNBC.com has been part of a JV with Microsoft. …

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK: DreamWorks Animation is said to have offered $150 million to acquire Classic Media, according to published reports. For DreamWorks Animation, the properties in the Classic Media stable—including Casper, Lassie, Where’s Waldo, and a number of other well-known brands—could provide a steady supply of IP for feature-film releases. According …

WASHINGTON: Billy Campbell, who most recently appeared in AMC’s The Killing, has been cast as Abraham Lincoln in National Geographic Channel’s upcoming two-hour film Killing Lincoln from Scott Free Productions. The TV movie, based on the book Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O’Reilly and Martin …

LOS ANGELES: In its first international co-production, Hulu is working with the BBC on the upcoming fourth season of Armando Iannucci’s acclaimed British comedy The Thick of It, while also securing the streaming rights to the first three seasons. Hulu and Hulu Plus will launch the first three seasons on July 29, …