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LOS ANGELES: Seasoned digital executive Rebecca Howard has joined Discovery Communications as senior VP of emerging platforms and partnerships.

LOS ANGELES: In partnership with FOX stations and affiliates, Roma Downey, Mark Burnett and MGM are rolling out Light TV, the first-ever 24/7 faith and family broadcast entertainment network.

ATLANTA: TBS has renewed the Emmy-nominated late-night series Full Frontal with Samantha Bee for a sophomore season that will launch in 2017.

SILVER SPRING: Atlanta-based outfit Swirl Films will exclusively produce original movies and scripted series for TV One as part of a new multiyear deal with the network.

LOS ANGELES: Sonar Entertainment has entered into a first-look deal with the production company founded by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey.

BURBANK: The exclusive short-form comedy series Party Girl, co-created by comedian and YouTube star Lisa Schwartz and writer Lacey Friedman (The Goldbergs), has gone live on the Freeform app, Freeform.com and Hulu.

LOS ANGELES: The lineup of new original programming for Fullscreen's SVOD platform includes The Deleted, written and directed by Bret Easton Ellis, the author of American Psycho.

STOCKHOLM/SAN FRANCISCO: Scott Rupp has been appointed as managing director for MTGx USA as MTG aims to expand its presence in the country.

Brands will spend $139.2 million to sponsor televised awards shows this year, according to research from IEG, a 4.3 percent increase on last year's tally. The increase exceeds the projected 4.2 percent increase in entertainment spending, but is behind the 4.5 percent increase in overall North American sponsorship spending, IEG notes.

NEW YORK: AMC Networks has taken a minority stake in Funny Or Die and is planning for its IFC network to step up its collaboration with the popular comedy brand.