Top Stories

BEVERLY HILLS: Starz has made a pair of promotions within its programming operations group, elevating Judy Batenburg to senior VP of IT services and Vince Hostak to senior VP of post-production. In her new position, Batenburg will oversee IT services, which comprises the web infrastructure and computing services, including internal …

SAN BRUNO: Susanne Daniels, who yesterday announced her departure from MTV, is joining YouTube as VP of originals. Daniels had been serving as president of programming at MTV, after having held previous posts at Lifetime and The WB (now The CW). In her new post at YouTube, she will report …

SANTA MONICA: Mina Lefevre has been promoted to executive VP and head of scripted development at MTV, following the departure of programming president Susanne Daniels. Lefevre will now be overseeing all scripted development and programming for the network. Since joining MTV in 2013 as senior VP of scripted programming, Lefevre …

LOS ANGELES: Philippe Maigret, the former CEO of Endemol Studios, is taking on the role of president of scripted programming at ITV Studios America. The newly created post will see Maigret taking on oversight for ITV Studios America’s scripted portfolio, leading its on-going expansion in U.S. scripted television. Maigret will …

LOS ANGELES: AXS TV Fights has reached a new multiyear pact with TV Asahi for the continued broadcast of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). As part of the agreement, AXS TV adds 17 more episodes to its current season, bringing the total number aired in 2015 to 42. NJPW episodes …

NEW YORK: Brenda Hurley has been appointed COO for both True Entertainment and Original Media, while Nikki Borrelli, Todd Hurvitz and Lisa Bloch are joining Original Media as senior VP of production and operations, senior VP of current programming and VP of current programming, respectively. Hurley, who previously served as …

WASHINGTON, D.C.: National Geographic Studios has promoted Erin Krozek to director of development from her role as a producer. In her new position, Krozek will offer daily creative leadership and project management for the program development process for both scripted and non-scripted series produced by National Geographic Studios. Krozek will …

PHILADELPHIA/SILVER SPRING: Comcast Corporation and Discovery Communications have agreed to a new distribution deal that sees Discovery’s 12 U.S. networks continuing to be available to Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers. The renewal also includes TV Everywhere rights, meaning that Xfinity TV customers have access to their favorite Discovery brands and programs …

SILVER SPRING: Animal Planet has elevated Andy Weissberg to senior VP of programming, while Erin Wanner moves up to VP of production. Weissberg will manage Animal Planet's programming group, supervising the channel's long-range program planning and the daily content schedule while working across several departments to increase the channel's presence …

NEW YORK: David Lyle, the president of PactUS, discusses the plans for the recently established American organization dedicated to supporting the local production community. After operating successfully in the U.K. for more than a decade, Pact has decided to head Stateside. PactUS launched this summer, providing an association for U.S. …