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PREMIUM: Depicting frazzled moms, hapless dads, wisecracking kids, devoted gay parents and a voluptuous Latina wife and mother in all their dysfunction and hilarity, Modern Family has marked a comeback of the comedy genre; creator Steven Levitan talks to World Screen.  WS: Jerry Seinfeld famously said of his show, "no …

NEW YORK: Syfy has acquired the rights to Sinbad, BBC Worldwide America’s successful adventure fantasy series, scheduled to begin airing this spring. The 12-part series, starring Elliot Knight and Naveen Andrews (Lost), follows Sinbad’s journey on the sea after he is obligated to leave home. Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), Timothy Spall (Harry …

SANTA MONICA: Ovation has inked its first co-production pact with BBC Worldwide Americas for the TV movie Doors Open, starring Stephen Fry and Douglas Henshall. Doors Open is produced by Fry’s Sprout Pictures for ITV1 in association with Ovation. The movie will make its U.S. debut in the second quarter of …

LOS ANGELES: Assorted Nuts Animation Studios has set up a new division in Los Angeles, Assorted Nuts Entertainment, with Lee Adams tapped to lead the venture. The new division will focus not only on its own animations but that of third parties as well. This includes distribution, executive producing and …

PREMIUM: Ben Silverman, the founder and chairman of Electus, talks to World Screen about attracting brands to the programming he produces.   WS: What do advertisers want from television? SILVERMAN: They just want to continue to have their brand messages heard by the consumer. They are concerned by how digital …

LOS GATOS: Netflix has made the first seasons of ABC’s Revenge, Once Upon a Time and Scandal available for streaming in the U.S. After the season two premiere of each series, Netflix will serve as the only subscription service that allows viewers to catch up on season one. The additions …

LOS ANGELES: Robert Broder is leaving ICM Partners to join Chuck Lorre Productions, under the company’s new deal with Warner Bros. Broder will be assisting with managing all operations of the company as Lorre continues to develop, write and produce comedy series such as Two and a Half Men, The …

NEW YORK: Total expenditures on advertising in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2012 increased by 0.9 percent from a year ago, finishing the period at $34.4 billion, according to Kantar Media. Total spending for the first half of the year grew 1.9 percent on the year-ago figures, to …

LOS ANGELES: Lawless Entertainment has been appointed as the worldwide representative for Cheer Channel, covering all publishing, licensing, merchandising and program sales. This includes Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader, a Cheer Channel original web series. Lawless will also develop, secure financing and assist in the production of future drama …

NEW YORK: The second edition of World Screen’s Top 100 U.S. Cable & Satellite Channels downloadable report is your must-have guide to doing business in the biggest television market in the world. This comprehensive directory is available for a short period at an introductory price of US$295, or $250 for …