News


ITV Studios poaches Shaftel from Pawn Stars producer Leftfield

ITV Studios America has recruited Rob Shaftel as senior VP, development. He joins from Leftfield Pictures (Pawn Stars) and will develop show for cable and broadcast nets from ITV’s New York offices. Shaftel will report to Bruce Robertson, head of development for ITV Studios America. He said: “His expertise will help ITV Studios America continue […]

Entertainment One hires Hevert from MTV

Producer and distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has hired Jeff Hevert. He joins from MTV and will be based in eOne’s LA offices. At MTV Hevert developed reality shows and worked on shows including upcoming docu-series BuckWild. In a previous position he worked on Nickelodeon series BrainSurge. At eOne he will be VP of current programming […]

Duchess of Cambridge pregnancy boosts Royal doc sales

The Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy has spurred sales of one-off documentary Wills & Kate: Baby Fever, according to its distributor Electric Sky. The sales house has shopped the 1x45mins doc, which was made for Channel 5 in the UK, to MTV Media Finland, VMMA in Belgium, CBC News Network in Canada, Sky Network Television in […]

Cineflix strikes Asian deals ahead of ATF

International distributor Cineflix Rights has closed a raft of programming deals ahead of Asia Television Forum. The company has sold series including Head Games, House Hazards, Animal Science and Mayday: Air Crash Investigation to Asian broadcasters including China’s CCTV and Japan’s Nippon Television. CCTV has acquires season seven of Mayday: Air Crash Investigation and LMNO […]

Alibi renews Rizzoli & Isles with Warner Bros

UKTV-owned broadcaster Alibi has closed a deal with Warner Bros to acquire future seasons of crime drama Rizzoli & Isles. The crime channel, which airs US series including Castle and Body of Proof as well as British dramas including Miss Marple and Inspector Lynley, will launch the third season of the series in January 2013 […]

China’s SMG prepares to launch kids channel throughout South East Asia

Chinese media giant Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is preparing to launch a Mandarin-language kids channel throughout South East Asia. The as-yet-unnamed network will roll out in 2013 and feature content from SMG’s animation subsidiary Toonmax. The new service will have over 1,000 hours of new programming a year, according to the partners involved in the […]

A+E takes control of Asian channels JV

A+E Networks will have full control of its Asian channels operation AETN All Asia Networks after reworking a joint venture agreement with pay TV operator Astro. The pair created the JV in 2007 but the new structure will see Astro exit the partnership. The change to the joint venture come as A+E prepares to launch […]

Wallen leaves Wallander creator Yellow Bird

Mikael Wallen has left Yellow Bird, the Zodiak Media-owned production company that makes Wallander and the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He will be replaced by Anni Faurbye Fernandez. Fernandez is moving up from an executive producer role at the Swedish company and step into the CEO role at start-2013. “It is with […]

Asian networks to remake Electus’ Fashion Star

A number of broadcasters across Asia are to produce local versions of Electus International’s fashion format Fashion Star, which was originally hosted and exec produced by Elle Macpherson. Korean broadcaster SBS E! and Vietnam’s VTV3 are remaking the format after striking deals with the international arm of Ben Silverman’s production company. Endemol India has also […]

Leopard Films USA poaches Food Network’s Jordan Harman

Leopard Films USA, the Argonon-owned production company has poached Food Network executive Jordan Harman to become vice president of development. Subsequently, Lauren Deen, producer of series including Lifetime’s Cook Yourself Thin, has been promoted to vice president of development and original programming following her appointment earlier this year. Harman will be responsible for managing the […]