Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe has promoted Finn Arnesen to the joint roles of svp of Original Animation and Acquisitions for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as international head of Program Production with responsibility for all areas outside the U.S.

Telefilm Canada will sponsor the International Tête-à-Tête at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), a series of one-on-one meetings designed to foster co-production activity and international sales. In association with the festival’s Trade Forum, this initiative offers the occasion for Canadian industry players to discuss projects face to face with international producers, distributors and sales agents during private half-hour meetings.

Fred Basset, star of the famous comic strip by Alex Graham syndicated in 20 countries will star in his very own television series to be produced and distributed worldwide by VGI Entertainment Ltd.

VGI, an independent U.K. producer, distributor and licensor of children’s programming, said it is delighted to be involved in such a landmark project and will be working in close consultation with Arran, Graham’s daughter who continues to be very much involved with the daily comic strip.

The family of THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT composer Solomon "Mbube" Linda has filed a suit against The Walt Disney Co. for the use of the song in the film, THE LION KING, reports VARIETY. The copyright infringement suit, filed in South Africa's Pretoria High Court, is for $1.6 million. Disney has until Aug. 12, 2004 to respond to the claims or be ruled against by default.

Entertainment Rights (ER) is one of the fastest growing independent global media groups specializing in children's and family entertainment, recently recruited three new territory managers to bolster its strong international sales team. These include Gillian Calvert for Scandinavia and Benelux, Karen Vermeulen for Germany and U.K. and Leila Ouledcheikhfor Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Montreal-based Toon Boom Animation Inc. has opened an office in London to provide support and training services to European customers, as well as it customers based in the Middle East and Africa. Piers Godden is the main contact and may be reached at +44 7843 679095.

Sesame Workshop has made it much easier for kids around the world to have a playdate with Elmo and Big Bird’s cousin’s from around the world via the new International section of its Website (www.seaameworkshop.org) featuring a multi-lingual game and information on co-productions of the award winning SESAME STREET.

Richard Kilgarriff has been promoted from consultant to svp/gm for all of Turner Broadcasting's U.K. Entertainment channels – Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Toonami and TCM – with the managers of each channel now reporting directly to him. He will also continue as a consultant to Turner's news network, CNN International.

Well it’s not like talking on visaphones as they did in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon THE JETSONS, Cartoon Network, the broadcaster of many HB favorites has gone futuristic, launching the CN channel on three-inch UTMS videophones in Italy.

Turner Broadcasting System Inc. signed its first mobile TV agreement with mobile operator "3" Italy to distribute Cartoon Network to the operator's videophone subscribers, enabling users to watch a daily block of CN programming on their videophones.

Nickelodeon Europe has commissioned Prism Entertainment to produce local versions of its unique NICKELODEON FAMILY animation.

Jules Borkent, senior director, programming, acquisitions & development, Nickelodeon Europe, asked Prism to produce three localized versions of the NICKELODEON FAMILY for broadcast on its channels in Spain, Benelux and Scandinavia to air at the end of the year.