Tagged With: Television

Daniel Taylor has been appointed president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., following completion of the sale of MGM to the consortium now acquiring the film/TV studio and its library. The investor group consists of Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group, DLJ Merchant Banking, Sony Corp. of America and Comcast Corp.

Disney/Pixars THE INCREDIBLES soared to victory for Best Animated Feature as well as taking the nine other categories it was nominated in, including three personal achievements trophies to Brad Bird for Writing, Directing and Voice Acting for the 2004 Annie Awards, held Jan. 30, 2005, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. The Nickelodeon series, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, won the top TV category, Best Animated Television Production at ASIFA-Hollywoods formal fete.

Corus Entertainment is shuffling around its television division, as Peter Moss, evp of programming takes on the role of creative consultant; Joanna Webb becomes vp, programming, W Network; and Phil Piazza joins Corus as vp, programming, childrens television.

Moss will now help guide Corus original productions and advise the senior programming team on scheduling and buying strategies, while he spends more time on directing and producing.

David Hulbert, former president, Walt Disney Television International, will be leaving the company in the wake of the Disney-ABC Television Group reorganization its television businesses in the European, Middle Eastern and African territories, promoting of two key executives to oversee this new organizational structure.

John Hardie, former svp/md, branded television, EMEA moves up to evp/md, Branded Television, EMEA while Tom Toumazis, former svp/md, Buena Vista International Television, EMEA advance to evp/md, Buena Vista International Television, EMEA.

American Film Institute's annual AFI Awards has named THE INCREDIBLES and SPIDER-MAN 2 amongst its top 10 films of the year and SOUTH PARK one of its top 10 TV shows. Other films in the top 10 included: THE AVIATOR, COLLATERAL, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, KINSEY, MARIA FULL OF GRACE, MILLION DOLLAR BABY and SIDEWAYS, which will be honored during a ceremony in Beverly Hills on Jan. 14, 2005.

The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) unveiled the agenda for its 2005 Conference & Exhibition, scheduled to take place Jan, 25-27, 2004, in its new location at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

Janet Eng joins Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) as sales director, Asia. Based at SPTI's offices in Singapore, Eng will provide a number of markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, with a closer, more systematic presence. She will also pursue the sourcing of local content, and will maximize the licensing of formats and support the development of production arrangements in those markets.

The Disney-ABC Television Group has instituted a new communications structure by promoting two key execs Sue Binford, who will now oversee all corporate communications and Kevin Brockman, who will now oversee all entertainment communications.

David L. Simon has been named executive consultant at BFC Berliner Film Companie. Simon will act as the companys U.S. liaison, facilitating the development of new projects and overseeing the expansion of the core business between BFC and the production community, studios and broadcasters. He will also be responsible for creating new relationships for BFC with the business and creative communities worldwide.