MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has closed multiple deals with Viasat across Central and Eastern Europe, ahead of the television trade event MipTV 2012.

The broadcaster has signed a two season deal for Big Brother in Bulgaria to air on the Nova channel. Big Brother has proven to be ratings hit, with its 2010 kick-off show more than doubling Nova TV?s average share in the target demo; scoring a 38.4 per cent share and almost 500.000 viewers. This will be the sixth season to launch in Bulgaria.

The game show created by Endemol UK, ‘The Money Drop‘, has been picked up for 24 new episodes to run as two series in Bulgaria, also for the Nova channel. The format has been commissioned for a second series in Estonia with a 12 episode run to air on Viasat?s TV3.

Following ‘The Money Drop?s ongoing success across the CIS, Viasat has invested in a regional production hub located in Estonia. This will be the production home of local versions of the show to air in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and now Bulgaria.

‘The Money Drop‘ has now been sold to 15 CIS territories with 26 series airing in the region. In addition to the latest deals with Viasat, other recent commissions include returning series in Poland, Albania, Russia, Kazakstan.

Endemol has also closed a second series deal with Viasat for 16 new episodes of My Kitchen Rules in Lithuania on TV3. The show has been a success for the channel in 2011 with audience shares going up as high as 28.1 per cent in the key demo 15-49, which was 8 per cent higher than TV3?s
average.

Endemol CEO Central, Eastern European operations Marina Williams said, "These latest deals are further testament to the popularity of Endemol?s entertainment formats in the CIS. Furthermore, The Money Drop production hub will allow us to deliver the highest production value to Viasat?s viewers across the region. Closing these deals now is great timing as we prepare for MipTV 2012."

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has stitched its first ever co-production deal with TVP in Poland for new drama ?Spies of Warsaw?, a two part historical spy drama adapted by Dick Clement and Ian de Frenais from Alan Furst?s novels.

The new drama from Fresh Pictures for BBC Four will soon be appearing on Poland?s national broadcaster, Polish Television (TVP), later this year. TVP previously bought a range of finished programming from BBC Worldwide including ?Married Single Other?, ?Waking the Dead? and ?Survivors?.

TVP?s producer, editor Piotr Derewenda said, ?We are very pleased to enter into this new co-production partnership with such a prestigious company as BBC Worldwide. Furst?s thrilling story creates a unique opportunity for us to chart Poland?s fascinating history from a more European perspective and provides the perfect backdrop for the thrilling tale of great love, friendship and betrayal.

BBC Worldwide executive producer for international drama Ben Donald said, ?Fresh Pictures? first drama, ?Spies in Warsaw?, is a captivating adaptation of the best-selling spy novels. The story takes place in Poland, France and Italy which lends itself perfectly to international co-productions such as this latest deal with TVP.

The adaptation offers casting opportunities for talent from around the world as the story spans various countries across Europe. "I am also delighted that we are able to bring this production to Poland where there is not only an excellent infrastructure in place and production expertise but also a strong tradition of film-making,? averred Donald.

Spanning the decade from 1933 to 1943, Furst?s stories are portraits of subjugated peoples who try to resist the suffocating inevitability of Hitler?s regime. The characters roam the foggy nights and steal across the rainy, cobbled streets of Prague, Berlin, Warsaw, Rome, and Paris.

Furst?s protagonists join the ranks of the Resistance in one way or another. They include faded nobility, b-movie filmmakers, newspapermen, ship?s captains and compromised businessmen as well as waiters, shopkeepers, jaded intellectuals, tarnished grand dames, and boozy Britishs secret agents. Together they march in the underground army that seeks to fight back against the Nazi occupiers.

MUMBAI: Singapore pay TV platform StarHub has acquired the broadcast rights to the soccer tourney Uefa Euro 2012.

UEFA Euro 2012 will be jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine. It will kick off with an opening ceremony at National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland on 8 June 2012 (Singapore time). The final showdown will be played in the Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine on 2 July 2012.

StarHub VP of home solutions and content Iris Wee said, "We are thrilled to be the official broadcaster of Uefa Euro 2012 in Singapore. We are looking forward to bringing nonstop ?live? European Football Championship action closer to local fans, and making the Uefa Euro 2012 experience an exciting and immersive one for our customers."

The Uefa Euro 2012 Final Draw, taking place in Kyiv, Ukraine, will be telecast ?live? on StarHub TV?s Football Channel (Channel 222) at 1 am on 3 December 2011. The draw will divide the 16 finalists into four groups, determining which teams will play one another in Group Stage 1 of the tournament.

NEW DELHI: Sports members from Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union are to undergo training in Hanoi next March to perfect their techniques for coverage of sporting events.

The bi-annual Sports Group meeting being held as part of the 48th General Assembly of the ABU here was told that Host Broadcast Services (HBS), the production arm of FIFA, has developed a mobile football academy to address the need to build up football coverage, particularly in developing countries.

It comprises a team of experts who conduct training in various aspects of production such as directing, camera work, graphics, robotics and wire cams.

The training is in preparation for the 2012 European Football Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.

HBS Broadcast Academy head Lise Cosimi-Breant told the Sports Group about the use of the Live TV Simulator, a portable professional tool, which is used for on-site training. "It is being used to raise the standard of live TV direction," she said.

HBS conducted the first "Football College" in Mauritius in 2010 just before the World Cup in South Africa, and attained great success.

"How can you give value to your coverage, attract audiences and increase revenue?" Ms Cosimi-Breant asked the broadcasters. "It?s through operational training, raising your standards and challenging your vision of the coverage."

"HBS is an industry leader and ABU Sports Group members are benefitting from its considerable experience," said John Barton, ABU Director of Sport. "It is important for us to elevate our standards in order to meet viewers? expectations."