MUMBAI: Fox Television Studios has signed former ?The Walking Dead? showrunner, executive producer, and writer Glen Mazzara to an overall deal, studio president David Madden announced.

Mazzara will develop a variety of cable television projects for the studio under his new banner, 44 Strong Productions.

Madden said, " ?The Shield? was the show that really put FTVS on the map, and Glen was a huge part of that show?s success. Years later, Glen has become a lauded and expert showrunner, and after his extraordinary stint on ?The Walking Dead,? we are proud to bring Glen back home.

"Like all television studios, we?re writer-oriented, but since we?re leaner than most, the people we?re in business with need to possess a profound level of fierceness and obsession, and Glen eminently qualifies. Closing this deal is a testament to our admiration for Glen, who is already brewing a concoction of ideas and stories that we are eager to serve to the world."

Mazzara said, "I?ve had a long history with Fox Television Studios, and it feels good to set up shop at a studio that I respect and trust, especially with David leading the charge. FTVS is giving me the opportunity to develop my own projects and to shepherd other writers on their own shows. This is where I want to be, and I couldn?t ask for a better partner as I take the next step in my career."

Mazzara joined AMC?s series ?The Walking Dead? in season one as a freelance writer, rising quickly up the ranks to become series creator Frank Darabont?s number two. Upon Darabont?s departure, Mazzara was elevated to showrunner for the second and third seasons of The Walking Dead, which earned both record ratings and critical acclaim. Most recently, it was named one of The American Film Institute?s top TV shows of 2012. Mazzara was also nominated for a Writers Guild of America (WGA) Award for his work on the first season.

Prior to The Walking Dead, Mazzara served as creator and showrunner of Crash, the television adaptation of the Oscar-winning film of the same name. He also co-executive produced the series Life, which starred Emmy award-winning actor Damian Lewis (Homeland). Mazzara also spent six seasons on FX?s groundbreaking series The Shield- produced by Fox Television Studios - as a writer and producer.

MUMBAI: Fox International Channels (Fic), ?The Walking Dead? creator, executive producer Robert Kirkman, Kirkman?s Skybound imprint at Image Comics, and Circle of Confusion are developing a script based on Kirkman?s upcoming comic book series set in the world of exorcism.

This partnership emerged from a long-standing and successful relationship between Kirkman and Fic during the ongoing run of AMC?s series, ?The Walking Dead?, which is based on Kirkman?s comic book series, on which Fic is international partner.

Told through the Kirkman prism, the series follows a young man, Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by possession since he was a child. Now an adult, he embarks on a spiritual journey to find answers but what he uncovers could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it.

Kirkman said, "Sharon Tal Yguado and the entire team at Fox International Channels have been instrumental in making ?The Walking Dead? the worldwide success that it has become. I couldn?t resist the opportunity to continue working with this forward-thinking and extremely talented group."

Fic executive VP global scripted programming, original development Sharon Tal Yguado said, "Exorcism has captivated movie audiences all over the world but has never been explored on television. Robert Kirkman, who forever changed the scope of Cable TV with The Walking Dead, possesses an unparalleled talent of telling big concept stories in a smart and incredibly genuine way. We couldn?t be more excited to be working with him on this project, which we see as a reinvention of the genre."

MUMBAI: Fox International Channels (Fic), which distributes TV channels and digital services worldwide and is the sister company of 20th Century Fox Studios, has launched Fox as a free-to-air channel in Finland.

The move brings the Fox brand to Finnish television viewers for the first time along with some of the best entertainment, non-fiction and lifestyle content.

Fic says that the rebranding of the recently acquired Suomi TV shows its commitment to the Finnish and Nordic markets, and to establishing Fox as one of the leading entertainment brands in the region. Fox Finland will introduce a raft of new programming as it expands to 12 broadcast hours per day from the existing seven. Entertainment series will include the popular US Fox Network animated series Family Guy and ‘American Dad‘, as well as ‘The Walking Dead‘.

The channel will also feature films from Twentieth Century Fox, National Geographic Channel‘s factual series, and 24Kitchen‘s food and lifestyle programming. Fox Finland follows on the heels of the successful launch of Fox Crime in Norway last year and the ongoing consolidation of the Nordic distribution of Fic‘s factual channels the National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channel HD, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Wild HD.

FIC distributes a diverse bouquet of 28 entertainment and factual channels worldwide anchored by the Fox and National Geographic brands.

Fox International Channels Europe president Jes?s Perezagua said, "We are very pleased to bring FOX to the Finnish market. Fox has been tremendously successful globally as our flagship general entertainment channel and we‘re confident that it will similarly establish FIC in Finland. This is a key step for us in Finland and in the Nordic market. With the combination of global experience and local talent on the ground, we are excited by the possibilities for Fox Finland".

Fox International Channels MD for Nordic, Baltic regions Ase Ytreland said, "Fox is synonymous with great entertainment worldwide and we‘re thrilled to bring the brand and all it represents to Finnish viewers. It‘s an incredible legacy of quality and we‘re looking forward to continuing that in Finland. When we assumed control of the channel two months ago, we made a commitment to increase broadcasting hours and bring some of the best content available to Finnish viewers. The launch of Fox and the content we‘re featuring make good on that commitment."

Fox Finland‘s director of broadcast Mikko Silvennoinen said, "I‘m thrilled with the opportunity to programme Fox in Finland. The quality and variety of content, from fiction to factual to lifestyle, will provide Finnish viewers with fresh choices that they are certain to enjoy".

In addition to the content acquired from Twentieth Century Fox, Fox will offer National Geographic series including ‘Air Crash Investigation‘ and ‘Banged Up Abroad‘ series which have already driven dramatic increases in channel viewership. These series will be complemented by programming from FIC‘s lifestyle channel 24Kitchen - food and cooking programmes highlighting good, fresh food.

Fox will continue to broadcast news and horse racing and plans to produce local content in the near future.

MUMBAI: AMC/Sundance Channel Global is bolstering its programming slate at the on-going television trade event MipTV by acquiring the rights to a range of new productions, series and independent films, including ?Weeds?, ?Damages?, ?The Straits?, ?The Slap? and independent films from festivals including Sundance Film Festival, Cannes, Venice and more.

These announcements follow recent agreements with premier Pay TV platforms across multiple key markets in Europe and Asia for new launches of its international television networks and video-on-demand (VOD) services.

AMC/Sundance Channel Global president Bruce Tuchman said, "AMC/Sundance Channel Global has experienced expanded growth over a very short time and while our advanced rights offering and robust VOD services are embraced by operators, it is our outstanding programming that caters to a hungry audience and continues to drive the growth of our business. These acquisitions reinforce our commitment to offering high quality, independent-minded programming to international audiences across multiple platforms."

Weeds? has been acquired for Sundance Channel in France and French Benelux through a deal with Lionsgate. The agreement includes rights to the series through season four. ?Damages? has been acquired for Sundance Channel in Spain and Portugal through an agreement with Sony Pictures Television. The agreement includes rights to the series through season five. ?The Straits? is a darkly humorous crime drama series set in Australia. Premiere window rights have been acquired for Sundance Channel in Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, France, Benelux and select territories in Asia through an agreement with DCD Rights.

The Slap?, meanwhile, is a new drama mini-series based on the bestselling book by Christos Tsiolkas. Sundance Channel has acquired premiere window rights for the series to air in Dutch Benelux through an agreement with DCD Rights.

This agreement builds on the channel?s previously acquired rights for the programme in Eastern Europe, Spain,Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Asia. 2 Films have been acquired including ?Bellflower? and ?Myth of the American Sleepover?. The deal includes over 25 premiere window titles on Sundance Channel in Eastern Europe and Belgium. Currently, viewers in Europe and Asia can find shows such as ?Mad Men?, ?The Walking Dead?, ?Breaking Bad? and ?Hell on Wheels? on Sundance Channel. Last week, Sundance Channel?s sister channel AMC in the US debuted season five of "Mad Men" with a two-hour premiere, which resulted in record ratings making it the most watched episode ever from the series.

MUMBAI: US cable network AMC has announced that Emmy Award-winning make-up effects artist Greg Nicotero has been a named co-executive producer of ?The Walking Dead?.

Nicotero has also inked a first-look deal with the network, which gives him the opportunity to bring his own passion projects to AMC.

At the recently held Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Nicotero won Best Prosthetic Make-up for ?The Walking Dead?. Nicotero directs a series of webisodes this season and is also set to direct an episode.

AMC senior VP of original programming, production and digital content Joel Stillerman said, "Greg‘s talent extends well beyond the word of special fx makeup. He is also a truly talented director, and has an incredibly comprehensive understanding and appreciation for great storytelling. His knowledge and respect for the genre is unparalleled, and we are looking forward to expanding our relationship with him with an eye towards developing more great original series."
 
Nicotero, who co-owns KNB EFX GROUP, one of Hollywood‘s most successful Make-up Effects Studios, premiered his film The United Monster Talent Agency on AMC‘S Fearfest last Halloween.

His work on ?The Walking Dead? continues this season on amctv.com. Beginning on 3 October, fans are able to watch the six-episode web series.

Produced by Generate, and conceived and directed by Nicotero and written by John Esposito, the webisodes tell an ?origin? story of a woman‘s struggle to survive and to protect her family as the world begins to fall apart. Fans have the opportunity to explore the back story of one of the most celebrated ?walkers? last season. It focuses on "Bicycle Girl," the infamous zombie from season one, who was shot by Rick Grimes in the pilot episode. Fans learn about this woman‘s life before the apocalypse, and watch her story unfold into what becomes her ultimate demise into zombie-hood.

Nicotero said, "Working on ?The Walking Dead? with such a fantastic cast and crew has been an amazing opportunity, and to have our contribution to the show celebrated is a tremendous compliment. I have always felt like the show had a cinematic feel and everyone involved is dedicated to making this show something special. To be able to branch out and to develop not only the web series but also genre material is something I have always wanted to do; given the people I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 23 years."