Discovery acquires Betty

LONDON -- Discovery Communications has the first time acquired a U.K. shingle -- factual entertainment specialist Betty. No financial particulars were revealed, nevertheless the deal is thought to own cost the U.S. cable giant around $16 million. Discovery, that's keen to bolster its worldwide production activities, mentioned move would enable Betty to create "an international infrastructure" and increase its acquisition of shows of worldwide appeal. Inside the U.S., the invention-possessed TLC web has commissioned two runs of Betty's "Freaky People." The shingle will establish and convey new ideas and formats for Discovery's portfolio of factual and lifestyle channels, like the female-skewing TLC. Discovery may also get careful analysis get formats from Betty's library. Producer is constantly on the use individually in the London h.q., wonderful staff remaining aboard for your expected future. The U.S. cabler is pretty late to acquiring a U.K. shingle. NBC U bought Circus in August 2008, while a year ago Warners clicked on up "super indie" Shed Media. Betty is handled by founder Liz Warner, mind of production Sophy Master and artistic director Walter Iuzzolino. Its shows include "The Pleasure of teenybopper Sex," "Beauty as well as the Animal," "Food Hospital" and "Country House Save." A year ago Betty had revenue of seven.5 million ($12 million), and pre-tax profit of $1.2 million. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Best Movie Art Ever (This Week): 'Nightmare Before Christmas' Arts & Crafts

With the first week of November here, department stores can't get rid of their Halloween decorations fast enough to replace them with a 24/7 cornucopia of Christmas. This odd little moment of holiday commercialization actually had a profound effect on a young Tim Burton; watching the clash of Halloween and Christmas decorations inspired the director to create the world of 'Nightmare Before Christmas.' Burton's animated fairy-tale has become a modern classic for the holiday season. To understand how big of an impact the movie has had on a generation of viewers, all you need to do is check out the scores of innovative arts and crafts made by fans of the film. You'll find everything from tattoos to shoes, and if you're a Jack Skellington fan -- you'll even find a way to bring the Pumpkin King into your wedding. Best Movie Art Ever (This Week): November 5, 2011 Jack Skellington CosplayJack Skellington TattooHand-painted VansLock, Stock, and Barrel MuralOogie Boogie Bag'NBC' Pilsner GlassesAcryllic Fan ArtOogie Boogie Bobble HeadAcrylic and Colored Pencil Barrel ArtJack and Sally Wedding Cake ToppersSally's SongOogie Boogie FigureFan ArtZero Christmas OrnamentYard DisplayMy Little Sally See All Moviefone Galleries » Want More? Check These Out: Famous Monsters, Alien Supervillains & a Godzilla Make-Out Session Marvel-Disney Mash-ups Our sister site, ComicsAlliance, makes a habit of spotlighting particular artists and/or specific bodies of work, but there's just so much great work to see that they've initiated Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the virtually countless pieces of especially compelling artwork that they come across in their travels across the digital media landscape. Some of it's new, some of it's old, some of it's created by working professionals, some of it's created by talented fans, and some of it's endearingly stupid. And all of it's awesome. Check out ComicsAlliance's Best Art Ever (This Week). Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-319696{display:none;}.cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-319696, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-319696{width:475px;height:357px;display:block;}

CTV orders more 'Saving Hope'

Canuck broadcaster CTV purchased 12 one-hour instances of original hospital drama "Saving Hope" as parent Bell Media introduced an professional reshuffle of their production unit on Wednesday. Series is professional created by Thump Corporation. founder Ilana Frank ("Rookie Blue"), Lesley Harrison and veteran TV helmer David Wellington, who's also the series director. Co-produced and compiled by Malcolm MacRury and Morwyn Brebner, "Hope" was inspired with a three-part number of articles, released in 2005, by Globe and Mail scribe Ian Brown, who spent eight days in Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital. "Hope" stars Michael Shanks ("Stargate Atlantis") as Dr. Harris, chief surgeon of the imaginary Toronto hospital, who is based on coma and wanders the wards in spirit form. Erica Durance ("Smallville") stars as his girlfriend and fellow surgeon, and Joel Goran ("The Vampire Journals") may be the hot new surgeon.An airplane pilot was shot this summer time. Not sure yet on when lensing starts. Bell Media is re-aiming its production unit, headed by senior Vice president Corrie Coe, to mirror development and production by genre across all Bell qualities, a change in the funnel-focused model. Trish Williams has become the unit's director of drama (shows airing across CTV, Space, Muchmusic and Bravo) Sarah Fowlie is director of comedy (these along with the Comedy Network) and Susan Makela is director of Canadian programming management. Coe is constantly on the helm Bell's factual and reality series development and production. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

UPDATE: Discovery Tracks For Additional Digital Cash After Netflix Deal Helps It To Top 3Q Earnings Estimations

UPDATE, 2:30 PM: Discovery states that OWN is draining cash — the organization added $12M to the purchase of the partnership throughout 3Q. Still, Boss David Zaslav states he’soptimistic, although “this normally takes a while”: The task is “putting up great content that drives the The famous host oprah brand.” He’s preparing for a number of discussions with satellite and cable operators to attain obligations for that Discovery programming they would like to operate on their TV Everywhere digital services. Presently “no distributor has the authority to take our channels onto TV Everywhere.”Some talks will occur soon despite the fact that Discovery’s carriage deals go to the finish of 2012. “We’re very encouraging” of TV Everywhere, Zaslav states. “We simply need to find value.” One hurdle is to determine digital rankings. “Today it’s measured on computer systems, but this is not on iPads.” Headds that Discovery’s cope with Netflix is “a large internet positive for all of us” because it only requires the U.S., it’s not exclusive, and itinvolves implies that are in least 18 several weeks old. But he states that “nobody knows” whether online viewing cuts into TV rankings. “We couldn’t find any noticeable degradation,” he notes although “there isn’t enough data available.”Discovery shares were up 1.7% in after hrs buying and selling. PREVIOUS, 1:30 PM: Discovery states thatit saw strong growth in the U.S. and overseas. The companyhad internet earnings from ongoing procedures of of $238M, up 45.1% versus this past year’s 3Q, on revenues of $1.1B, up 18.3%. Earnings at 59 cents a share exceeded the 55 cents that experts expected. The organization states that revenues in internet marketing U.S. systems was up 19% to $$695M because of enhanced ad sales and revenues from pay TV marketers. That offset losing $4M because of the offer that in The month of january switched its wholly possessed Discovery Health in to the partnership with The famous host oprah Winfrey, OWN.The funnel were built with a rocky start, but Boss David Zaslav states that “Oprah is beginning to nurture the wedding guests.” Younger crowd states that the organization tips in 3Q from the recent program certification cope with Netflix and soaring rankings for ID: Analysis Discovery. The organization reviews that ad sales remain strong. It needs to finish the entire year with around $4.3B in revenue and $1.1B in net gain for stockholders.

Charter Creates Online Directory For Netflix, Amazon, And Hulu Content

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 1, 2011 — Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) is expanding choice and increasing convenience for its Internet customers by organizing online content from Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu into a single online directory on Charter.net. Leveraging its robust broadband network, Charter is in a unique position to provide additional value through a comprehensive search and discovery experience, including entitled cable content and over the top content, not available from any other multichannel video programming distributor. Charter’s Internet customers already have access to a variety of movies, shows and sports coverage on Charter.net, and the choices will continue to grow at a rapid pace over the course of the next year. Initially available online, the enhanced functionality will be available on tablets and mobile devices next year. Pointers to content offered by Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu will be integrated with links to content already available on Charter.net through a unified search and discovery experience. Customers will have the ability to search the full library of content available from a variety of distributors, and choose the source of the content with just a few quick clicks. “Consumers are watching streaming video from a variety of content providers on multiple devices at an increasing rate,” said Rich DiGeronimo, Charter’s Senior Vice President, Product and Strategy. “Charter is embracing this change in landscape, and making the search and discovery for all types of content easier and more convenient for consumers by integrating content from numerous sources into a single online directory. We’re starting by expanding our online functionality, but this is just the beginning of our aspiration to deliver the best customer experience with all video content on all devices, everywhere our customers go over the most robust network.” Charter is providing access for its customers to search the additional content for free. Customers must have appropriate rights to view the movies and shows by maintaining relationships directly with Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Instant Video in accordance with each services member agreements. Earlier this year, Charter launched online content from a number of popular premium and sports content providers. Integrating content from Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu is the next step in providing a robust library of content to enjoy online, from anywhere in the country, and over time, on tablets and mobile devices.

BBC top quality channels for Asia

LONDON -- BBC Worldwide is growing its Asian footprint by starting top quality channels. This news is going to be introduced by Jana Bennett, prexy of BBC Worldwide Systems and global BBC iPlayer, in the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Assn. of Asia gabfest in Hong Kong on Tuesday. BBC Worldwide will bow BBC Understanding, BBC Entertainment, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies in Thailand in The month of january. In Taiwan, BBC Worldwide Channels has pacted with Chung Hwa Telecom to produce BBC Understanding, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment on IPTV platform MOD. In Indonesia, BBC Lifestyle joins BBC Understanding and CBeebies on NexMedia. The Corp.'s commercial arm can also be bowing a Lonely Planet-top quality block of shows on BBC Understanding across Asia beginning Tuesday. Beefing in the agendas may be the U.K. version of series "Top Gear," that will air on BBC Understanding across Asia within two days of their British broadcast in 2012. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Stuntman Dies During The Filming Of The Expendables 2

UPDATED: A stuntman has died on the set of The Expendables 2, which is filming in Bulgaria. The accident happened a little after 7 PM local time on Thursday while the movie’s 2nd Unit Stunt Team was filming a scene on reservoir Ognyanovo 15 miles outside the capital Sofia. Two stuntmen participated in the stunt, which involved an explosion. One of them died, while the other was injured and is currently in a hospital in critical condition. The local police has launched an investigation into the incident which happened while the film’s main unit, led by director Simon West and star/producer Sylvester Stallone was filming in the picturesque mountain resort village Bansko 2.5 hours away. “It is with great regret that we confirm this unfortunate accident,” Nu Image/Millennium Films, the production company behind The Expendables 2, said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the families and those on the production affected by this tragedy. The filmmakers are working closely with the authorities in responding to and investigating this accident.” In consideration of the families of the victims, names and other details are not being released at this time, a spokesman for the production said. The Expendables 2, the sequel to Sylvester Stallone’s 2010 sleeper hit action-hero actioner, boasts a star-studded ensemble cast that includes Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Liam Hemsworth, Terry Crews, Jet Li, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme.