MUMBAI: Mike Kelley who created the show ?Revenge? for US broadcaster ABC is leaving. In India the show airs on Star World.

He said, "In a difficult mutual decision between me and ABC Studios, the end of my current contract will mark my final season as showrunner for ?Revenge. Helming this series has been the ride of a lifetime, and my producing partner, Melissa Loy, and I will look back on our ?Revenge? time with deep gratitude and respect for Emily and Madeleine and the rest of the incredible cast, our heroic crew, the dedicated and imaginative producing and writing team, and the tireless post production department.

"I would also like to thank Paul Lee, his marketing team, and the creative executives at ABC and ABC studios for their profound support throughout this journey. I?m excited about finishing post production on the season two finale, which I hope will stand among the best episodes of the series thus far; continued success to all."

ABC Studios executive VP Barry Jossen said, "Mike Kelley created a distinctive series for our studio and network with tremendous passion and dedication".

MUMBAI: RTL Deutschland and Disney in Germany have signed an extensive multi-year free-to-air TV agreement.

Among other things, their licensing deal covers the German free-TV premieres of Walt Disney Pictures, Disney/Pixar and Marvel blockbusters from 2012 on, as well as DreamWorks?s live-action highlights.

The agreement also includes high-quality series from ABC Studios, Disney Channel Original Movies, and attractive titles from the archives. It gives Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland access to historical Disney classics and the first-window free-to-air TV rights for Disney?s cinematic co-productions in Germany.

Upcoming highlights that will make their German free-to-air TV debut on one of RTL?s channels include the sci-fi adventure ?John Carter?, which opens in German theatres in March; the Disney/Pixar production ?Brave?; and other films like the epic superhero film Marvel?s ?The Avengers? and the German co-production ?Frisch Gepresst?. Viewers can also look forward to series like Once Upon A Time.

MUMBAI: Lionsgate and Hispanic media company Televisa have agreed on terms for a long term programming and development venture to create English language television content for US broadcast and cable networks, it was announced by Lionsgate co-chairman, CEO Jon Feltheimer and Televisa president, CExO Emilio Azcarraga.

The alliance represents another expansion of Lionsgate and Televisa?s longstanding partnership and complements the two companies? film joint venture, Pantelion Films, launched in 2010 to acquire and distribute feature films for the Hispanic market in the US.

The new television partnership will include the development of scripted and unscripted English language original programming as well as format adaptations from Televisa?s vast library of thousands of titles, including telenovelas to be produced in English. It includes a development fund designed to attract quality talent to approximately six to eight projects a year.

Several projects are already in the pipeline, including: ?From Prada To Nada?, Pantelion?s debut film which is being developed as a comedy TV series; ?Badlands?, a scripted drama at ABC in partnership with ABC Studios based on Televisa?s Soy Tu Duena, a successful telenovela; ?Terminales? for ABC Family; and ?Teresa?, based on Televisa telenovela.

Feltheimer said, "Televisa is one of the greatest programming forces in the world, and they have consistently shown the ability not only to serve Latino audiences but to reach viewers around the world with exciting, entertaining and compelling content. I?ve known Emilio Azcarraga and Pepe Baston for many years, and I?m delighted to extend our Pantelion Films relationship into the U.S. television market as well."

The new venture would focus on programming with a Latin feel and US appeal.

Lionsgate and Televisa have also joined forces to identify original and exciting creative voices that will resonate with the hip young audience in the US and will support the companies? film and TV partnerships. They have created the Lionsgate and Televisa Fund For Student Support at the USC School of Cinematic Arts to "support, encourage and educate new voices" by providing assistance to underrepresented minority students studying screenwriting and TV and film production at USC. The fund will provide tuition assistance and an internship opportunity at Pantelion Films to two USC graduate students a year for the next three years.

MUMBAI: Reed Midem has announced that ABC Studios? TV series Missing will debut at the television trade event Mipcom 2011?s World Premiere Television Screenings on 3 October in Cannes, France.

International buyers and media will have their first chance to screen episode one of this thriller series in the Palais des Festivals? Grand Auditorium. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the stars and production team of the show, who will later grace the red carpet at Mipcom?s opening night party.

Missing begins when Becca Winstone, played by Judd, learns that her son Michael disappeared while studying abroad in Rome. Becca decides to take matters into her own hands and travels to Europe to track him down, revealing in a surprising turn of events to be a former ruthless CIA Agent with her own set of resources and skills, while Michael?s
kidnappers realise they?ve picked a fight with the wrong woman.

ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee said, "We?re very proud of this edge of your seat thriller and the great storytelling that spans continents. We hope that ?Missing? is the first of what will be many truly global productions to come out of ABC Studios. We?re pleased that the Mipcom audience will be the first to see what we think is spectacular event television."

Reed Midem Television Division director Laurine Garaude said, "The Mipcom World Premiere TV Screenings offer the ideal platform to preview, launch and raise awareness for the shows that audiences will be watching in the year to come. We are delighted that ABC Entertainment Group has chosen Mipcom to screen ?Missing? for the very first time. We?re honoured and excited to present this ambitious new TV series in the presence of such prestigious and talented cast
members.?