World Screen

NEW YORK: As it gears up for the official opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games tomorrow, NBCUniversal says it has sold $1 billion in national TV and digital advertising for its coverage, about $150 million more than for the 2008 games in Beijing. The conglomerate will cover the games across …

LOS ANGELES: With a view to expanding its scripted programming slate, FremantleMedia has tied up with fellow Bertelsmann-owned Random House to develop book-based projects for the international market. The partnership will see FremantleMedia and Random House U.S. developing scripted television based on the fiction and nonfiction books published by Random House’s …

LOS ANGELES: Next summer, FOX is slated to premiere a new hour-long series in which each episode will feature four short-form sitcoms created by established stars as well as up-and-coming talent. "We are basically ripping open the traditional scripted comedy development process," said Kevin Reilly, the president of entertainment, of The Short-Com Comedy …

LOS ANGELES: Style has picked up the off-network rights to Gossip Girl for launch this August, and has announced new additions to its slate of original programming. The series, acquired from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, will begin airing on August 15. "Knowing our viewers insatiable need for all things style, …

BEVERLY HILLS: HBO’s Game of Thrones was named program of the year at the 28th annual Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards, while Showtime’s Homeland won outstanding new program. The FX sitcom Louie won for outstanding achievement in comedy, and its star, Louis C.K., won for individual achievement in comedy. AMC’s …

BEVERLY HILLS: FX has signed up for The Bridge, an American version of the Scandinavian drama Bron, as well as additional installments of BrandX with Russell Brand. The Bridge—about two detectives and their search for a serial killer—is based on the Scandinavian series Bron. It was adapted by Elwood Reid …

UNIVERSAL CITY: Universal Television has signed singer Ricky Martin to a talent holding deal, under which he will star in his first network TV series. Martin will develop and star in his first show on network TV, along with working on specials. Martin is a multi-platinum recording artist, having won a …

LOS ANGELES: Lifetime has signed up for the pilot of the tentatively-titled scripted series HR, slated to air next year. The drama, written by Glenn Porter (I Melt with You), follows the career of a director of human resources after she suffers a head injury that causes her to feel …

NEW YORK: Time Warner saw its net income fall 33 percent in the second quarter, with growth at the networks segment offset by declines at the film and TV entertainment and publishing units. Net income was down from Q2 2011’s $638 million to $430 million for the second quarter of …

PHILADELPHIA: Comcast Corporation reported revenue of $15.2 billion for its second quarter, up 6.1 percent from a year ago, and net income rose to $1.35 billion, up 32 percent. Revenue for NBCUniversal was down slightly, 0.8 percent, to $5.5 billion. Revenue at the cable networks segment grew 3.6 percent to …