Russian 'Raymond' adds 60 episodes

LONDON -- The Russian romance with "Everyone Loves Raymond" is going to enter a brand new, more intense phase. The new sony Pictures Television has greenlit an entire season of 60 bespoke Russian instances of the U.S. laffer known in your area as "The Voronins." This marks the very first time a complete season from the format is going to be written and created outdoors the U.S., using the story stretching past the original series, based on SPT. SPT has modified all 210 instances of "Everyone Loves Raymond in Russia" for local web, CTC. The U.S. scripts went out toward the finish from the last season. Russian and Yank authors will collaborate in Moscow around the new shows, also destined for CTC. Team involves Jeremy Stevens, who done the U.S. version. Production is anticipated to bow within the first 1 / 2 of 2012, by having an anticipated fall broadcast. Other worldwide adaptations of "Everyone Loves Raymond" are created in the centre East, Belgium and Israel. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

The Lucky One Poster: Zac Efron Pouts for Love

The next Nicholas Sparks joint, The Lucky One, comes out April 20, but Zac Efron gives us everything we need to survive the five-month wait — namely, a killer pout. He stars in The Lucky One as an Iraq War vet who comes home to locate the unknown woman who served as his “good luck charm during the war.” In the film’s poster, he appears to have found her: Taylor Schilling, of the unfairly canceled NBC drama Mercy, stands in frame. Pretty damn Notebook-y all around. Awwwww, yeah. Give me more of that ultra-preened scruff, Efron. I bet he’d look good in Chris Daughtry’s parabolic sideburns too. Or better yet: no facial hair at all. Does this need to be explained? When you’re Mattel hot, embrace Mattel hot. Amen. But good for Schilling! She was likable and very funny on Mercy. I’m sensing some Bad Movie We Love potential in The Lucky One, and I don’t want to be let down. Or actually impressed. That would be the worst. ‘The Lucky One’ [MovieWeb]

To the characteristics

'We Have to Discuss Kevin''Senna''Shame''Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'There's a familiar feel for this year's British Independent Film Honours, using the nominations centered by past those who win by companies for example Warp, Working Title, See-Saw and Studiocanal which have a powerful history in the ceremony.All five candidates for the best film -- "We have to Discuss Kevin," "Senna," "Shame," "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Tyrannosaur" -- are directed by individuals who curently have a BIFA on the mantelpiece.Lynne Ramsay, Asif Kapadia and Steve McQueen won BIFAs for debut director, while Tomas Alfredson required the foreign film prize and Paddy Considine won for brief.Ben Wheatley, who replaces Kapadia alongside another four within this year's director list for his sophomore pic "Kill List," is another previous champion of BIFA's Raindance Award for his rookie effort "Lower Terrace."The nominees for debut director aren't exactly fresh-faced unknowns. Considine, Rob Fiennes for "Coriolanus," Richard Ayoade for "Submarine," Joe Cornish for "Attack the Block" and John Michael McDonagh for "The Guard" are established talents, either as entertainers, authors or both, who moved in to the feature director's chair the very first time this season.But lest the BIFAs be charged with losing their edge and just rounding up a cosy cabal of usual suspects, several eminent past those who win happen to be overlooked within the cold, without any room for Andrea Arnold's "Wuthering Levels," Terence Davies' "The Dark Blue Ocean," Ken Loach's "Route Irish" or Michael Winterbottom's "Trishna."Actually, it may be contended the familiarity of the year's nominees isn't a manifestation of conservatism, but simply that British indie filmmaking is ageing, using the best talent getting a greater consistency of support to construct their careers as well as their audience. Possibly the BIFAs have simply developed using the industry.There is an abundance of boldness and originality of these nominees -- yet their risktaking has additionally been compensated by having an encouraging and surprising amount of commercial success."Mess," "Senna," "Kevin" and "Guard" are some of the year's most critical breakthrough hits in the U.K. box office. "Shame" has not yet been launched, but responses in the London Film Festival claim that it's set for the same result."Attack the Block" fell lacking its high anticipation, while "Kill List" and "Tyrannosaur" both unsuccessful to locate a significant cinema audiences, but one of the other nominees, "Jane Eyre," "Submarine" and doc "TT3D: Nearer to the advantageInch all published healthy box office returns.However, there is no room in the BIFAs for that year's most amazing indie success story, "The Inbetweeners Movie," which made $74 million within the U.K. and met with critical acclaim. This is a striking omission, considering that it had been produced beginning with-time feature authors along with a debut director, precisely the type of talent the BIFAs were produced 14 years back to advertise. Possibly the committee -- composed of 70 industry pros -- felt that the TV spinoff didn't merit recognition like a work of cinema.That's only some of the curious decision among the 2010 nominations. There's questioning from the reasoning behind the omission of Kapadia in the director list, for instance, or even the "Mess Tailor" authors in the script nods. Such anomalies are compelling some BIFA associates to request if the buying process needs looking at, to make sure that it remains rigorous enough to aid the growing status from the honours.TOP IN NOMS "Shame"Seven noms: film, director (Steve McQueen), script (Abi Morgan, McQueen), actor (Michael Fassbender), supporting actress (Carey Mulligan), technical achievement (editor Joe Master, d.p. Sean Bobbitt).Logline: A watch-wateringly graphic tour-p-pressure by McQueen in regards to a Gotham sex addict."Mess Tailor Soldier Spy"Seven noms: film, director (Tomas Alfredson), actor (Gary Oldman), supporting actress (Kathy Burke), supporting actor (Tom Sturdy, Benedict Cumberbatch), technical achievement (production designer Maria Djurkovic).Logline: LeCarre redux, with Alfredson getting a Swedish eye for this classic Brit spy story."Tyrannosaur"Seven noms: film, director (Paddy Considine), debut director, actress (Olivia Colman), actor (Peter Mullan), supporting actor (Eddie Marsan), achievement in production.Logline: Considine finds humanity inside a guy who kicks his dog to dying."Kill List"Six noms: director (Ben Wheatley), script (Wheatley and Amy Jump), actress (MyAnna Buring), actor (Neil Maskell), supporting actor (Michael Smiley), achievement in production.Logline: Wheatley superbly blends social realism with horror within this hitman thriller. "We Have To Discuss Kevin"Six noms: film, director (Lynne Ramsay), script (Ramsay and Rory Kinnear), actress (Tilda Swinton), supporting actor (Ezra Burns), technical achievement (d.p. Seamus McGarvey).Logline: Ramsay presents an unwavering parental nightmare."Submarine""Submarine"Five noms: debut director (Richard Ayoade), script (Ayoade), supporting actress (Sally Hawkins), newcomer (Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige)Logline: Ayoade's cool coming-of-ager about boy attempting to repair his parents' marriage."Senna"Two noms: film, technical achievement (editors Chris King, Gregers Sall).Logline: Asif Kapadia works miracles with archive footage of Formula A person's ultimate tragic hero.British Independent Film Honours 2011Hey, haven't we met?The Range Award: Kenneth BranaghTitan of stage, screen, tube A trio with Brio Interested in Kenneth Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Giladi tapped as Icon U.K. CEO

LONDON -- Aviv Giladi has been tapped as CEO of Access Industries' Icon U.K. Group. The appointment, which is effective immediately, will see Giladi oversee Icon U.K.'s entire operations, including its Brit distribution arm, Icon Film Distribution, Icon Home Entertainment, international sales arm Icon Entertainment Intl. and London-based Majestic Films and Television. Giladi's appointment is expected to herald Icon's shift toward a more production focused business, which will aim to finance projects sitting around the $15 million to $20 million mark. Sources indicate that the group is currently in talks to back Paul Greengrass' upcoming project "Memphis," about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, which Universal Pictures dropped earlier this year. Giladi is currently chairman of Israeli media group R.G.E. Group, which specializes in a variety of content and production activities, and produces and operates TV channels in Israel. He controls 33% of the company, alongside Access Industries' Russian billionaire owner Len Blavatnik, who also has a 33% stake in R.G.E. Giladi also sits on the board of Ealing Studios, in which he serves as non-executive director. The appointment comes in the light of a series of changes expected to unfold over the upcoming months with Icon U.K's strained business. In October, Variety reported that Blighty's film biz had been abuzz with reports that Access, which bought Icon's U.K. operations two years ago, was shopping the company's U.K. library to potential buyers following the distrib's recent weak performance in the market (Weekly Variety, Oct. 29). It is believed that Giladi has been one of the key figures, along with Access' European Counsel Thomas Harding, behind managing the potential sale of Icon's U.K. library to buyers. As recently as a few weeks ago, this U.K. library was still being shopped to buyers with Access showing interest in selling this fraction of the biz if the price was right. While Giladi's appointment is positive in a sense that it seems there is movement and direction happening within the group, it is still unclear what will happen to the group's Brit distrib arm and equally unclear as to what will happen to the positions of joint managing directors Hugo Grumbar and Ian Dawson. Sources indicate that, so far, no one has yet ankled the company, but as is typical when gears shift within a company, there may be casualties. Further changes are expected to be announced within the company soon. Blavatnik's Access Industries purchased Icon U.K. Group in November 2009 and placed former PolyGram and UIP topper Stewart Till at the helm. Till's intention to set up Icon as an international distribution network was thwarted when he could not find suitable acquisitions in Italy, Spain, France and Germany at a realistic price. In November 2010, Till sidestepped to chairman of Icon, and Grumbar and Dawson stepped up to the plate managing the international sales division and U.K. operation respectively. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

NBC orders Sarah Silverman pilot

NBC has purchased an airplane pilot for any comedy script with Sarah Silverman mounted on star. The only-camera comedy originates from twentieth century Fox Television and Imagine Television. Script featured Siulverman inside a loosely autobiographical role in regards to a lady who's recently single after finding yourself in ten years-lengthy live-in relationship.Executive producers are Silverman, John Schroeder, Serta Sterling, Francie Calfo, John Grazer and Ron Howard. Silverman marks the 3rd comedy script NBC has acquired to pilot including "Isabel," an adaptation of Canadian series "Le Monde p Charlotte now" from Universal TV, Kapital Entertainment and Sphere Media and "Save Me," in regards to a lady that has any sort of accident and subsequently thinks that they has acquired a chance to funnel God, from The new sony Pictures Television and Original Film. News was initially reported by Deadline. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

'Jersey Shore' Air SallyAnn Salsano Brings 'Mama Drama' to VH1 (Exclusive)

VH1/ 495 Productions Jersey Shore'sexecutive producer, SallyAnn Salsano, gets another house full of colorful figures (see photo above) towards the Televisions. VH1 just acquired a completely new reality series from Salsano's 495 Productions titled Mama Drama. The series premieres Jan. 1 at 9 p.m.our editor recommendsKelly Clarkson's 5 Crazy Quotes Cut From Her 'Unplugged' SpecialCable Notes: VH1 Orders 'Mob Wives' Spinoff, TLC Adds Airline travel Reality Series'VH1 Divas Takes note of Soul' With Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, and Jill Scott PHOTOS: MTV's Jersey Shoreline Italia In Production "This show is psychologically and visually stimulating," Salsano notifies The Hollywood Reporter. "You can't stop watching. These figures are actually the and raw and don't apologize for anything." VH1 has bought 10 cases of exactly what it calls a "docu-style social experiment," featuring moms who wouldn't like to develop in addition to their youthful adult kids who they'd rather friend around with, than parent. "We view good good examples from the throughout today with moms living vicariously through their kids," VH1's Original Programming and Production EVP, Rob Olde, states. VIDEO: 6 Best Fights on 'Jersey Shoreline' "Factor relating to this talks to another cultural definition old with women inside their 40s and 50s forget about restricted by rules about how precisely they need to dress or act," he continues. "Sometimes, this allows those to forge strong bonds utilizing their kids and true associations. In some instances, they mix the street and finish up failing to remember their role motherhood together with a job model." The series places five moms in addition to their kids in the house together to find out how their Closest friend status can withstand time together and alongside other moms and youngsters focusing on a single associations. "Using this show, I'd the identical experience I'd in Jersey Shoreline [Season] 1," Salsano states. "Where I possibly could not leave the control room because I really could not believe the thing that was happening before my eyes. At any second chaos could erupt, and several days it did. When there's a fight because house, it was not an ordinary reality show squabble - it absolutely was personal. Whoever was saying something was going after someone's mother or daughter." COVER STORY: 'Jersey Shoreline' Italia: Promising, Sobbing, No Sleep, New Shockers Much like Jersey Shoreline, Salsano states she relates towards the show's cast, while not the over-the-top ways they're going to town. "I am super tight with my mother. My mother which i are close buddies. I have that that's much like these women," she states. "However, Let me tell you I have not visited a nightclub doing shots and hooking up tabs on males before my mother. I'm not knowing, because during the most effective of occasions there's ignore complicated relationship than the usual single from the mother and daughter. In my opinion that's something that needs to be looked into." Mama Drama is executive produced by Salsano for 495 Productions. Olde, Shelly Tatro, and Kaira Abramson function as Broadened polystyrene for VH1 with supervisory producer Sean Gottlieb. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro SallyAnn Salsano VH1

HFPA say film noms not star driven

Depp'The Iron Lady'JolieFor many years there has often been an interesting correlation between star wattage and those actors who continually receive Golden Gobe nominations.While the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. takes the firm position that its members are not starstruck and an actor's place in Hollywood hierarchy doesn't mean anything when it comes to who'll appear at the org's kudocast, the list of recent noms may prove otherwise.On the distaff side, Angelina Jolie has made the HFPA swoon recently. She's been nominated three times in the last four years: "The Tourist," "Changeling" and "A Mighty Heart." Interestingly, she has won three times and two were for TV projects: "George Wallace" and "Gia." Her third victory was for 1999's "Girl, Interrupted."Johnny Depp, her co-star on "The Tourist," has been a Golden Globe fave for decades. The actor has been nominated 10 times, but won only once for the 2007 pic "Sweeney Todd." He was first nominated in 1991 for "Edward Scissorhands" and in January was not only nominated for "The Tourist," but for "Alice in Wonderland" as well.Then there is the all-time nomination champ, Meryl Streep. Though she may not make the pages of the tabloids that are often filled with photos of Depp and Jolie, Streep is clearly Hollywood royalty. She was been nominated a staggering 25 times and, among those nods, has won seven times,The new HFPA president Aida Takla-O'Reilly, a correspondent for two publications in Dubai who served previously as HFPA prexy in the 1990s, says she has heard the criticism of the org being taken under by the spell of celebs but doesn't believe it is a valid assertion.Actors, she explains, are a reflection of their respective films. So if the movie succeeds, so have the thesps. Yet, on the other hand, if the pic is a failure, the actors shouldn't come away with noms."No matter how big the star is, if the movie doesn't do to you what it sets out to do to you, we pick up on that right away," Takla-O'Reilly."The Tourist," which received mixed reviews, was the poster boy last year for criticism that the HFPA was taken under Jolie and Depp's spell. Takla-O'Reilly, however, was an unabashed fan and doesn't make any excuses for both the film and star's nominations."If a movie sets out to do something and succeeds in what it sets out to do, it is a good movie," she says. "This movie did not set out to espouse a political issue or a social issue. This was good old-fashioned entertainment, and I loved it."GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEWRicky didn't lose their number | Peace for a time as org and prodco collaborate | No-limit rule a boon for global pic parade | HFPA denies being starstruck in noms process | Marketing strategies can shift at Globes time | No rest for the bleary-eyed | New kids on the block Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Critic's Self-help guide to Monday TV: Farewell to Regis, a Diane Sawyer "Get," plus much more!

Mark Kelly, Gabrielle Giffords, Diane Sawyer Now, it's all about Regis Philbin. The irrepressible broadcasting legend, who holds a Guinness World Record for a lot of several hours spent before a TV camera, may ultimately give a relaxation within the finish each week, while he steps from Live! With Regis and Kelly (check local records) after nearly two-and-a-half decades in national distribution and many years before that in many jobs, including as Joey Bishop's late-evening partner inside the late '60s.His time on Live! cemented his recognition and also the ubiquity, throughout which period more youthful crowd launched Who Want To Be described as a Uniform on ABC to massive ratings (just before the network burned it). As Live! counts lower to his Friday farewell show, the celebration includes visits by famous site visitors and pals, including David Letterman on Wednesday and also the former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford on Thursday. On current day selection: Jimmy Fallon and Don Rickles. You will also have surprise musical site visitors and designed retrospectives of his 28 years inside the Live! hot chair. However when you believe you've frequently seen all the this individual, you don't know Reege.Want more TV news? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!Shifting to prime time, the big event is certainly an ABC News prime-time exclusive: Diane Sawyer's sit-lower (10/9c) with Repetition. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Space Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly, to talk about Giffords' amazing ongoing recovery and rehab following a near-fatal shooting in Tucson last winter that left six others dead.Completing the guest-star book: Save Me's John Scurti, last seen covering his pals in ashes and having Tommy's new ghost companion inside the series finale, assessments in on Fox's House (9/8c) just like a patient convinced he's diabetes. ... To ensure that as Alan attempts to conquer last week's mental breakdown on CBS' two and a half Males (9/8c), Gary Busey comprises a unique appearance, we're assuming inside the mental ward. Run, Alan, run!Just what else is on? ... Have hankies ready when you watch Animal Planet's Saved (8/7c), a completely new six-part docu-series in regards to the therapeutic effect animals may have on people after they need a lift most likely probably the most. Inside the opener, a stray war puppy from Iraq brings solace for the fiancée and parents from the soldier destroyed inside the war. ... On CBS' The Way In Which I Met Your Mother (8/7c), Barney and Robin keep last week's impulsive hug utilizing their particular current squeezes. Why bother? Whether or not this can get the mirthless Kevin (Kal Penn) and Nora (Nazanin Boniadi) in the show faster, someone please spill. ... It's been a while since the CW's Gossip Girl (8/7c) remains what you're able call trendy, however the gang attends the ultra-stylish immersive theater experience "Sleep Forget AboutInch (an authentic NY phenom), and you never know what is going to happen when everyone dons masks.Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

This Guitar Rock Band Perry Wins Large in the CMA Honours With "Basically Die Youthful"

This Guitar Rock Band Perry Finally year's CMA Honours, this guitar rock band Perry were so fresh in this area they were not even allocated a complete-song performance slot. Oh, such a difference annually makes. When last night's glitzy blowout came to the conclusion in Nashville, the brother or sister vocal trio - Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry - walked away those who win in three groups: New Artist of the season, and Single of the season and Song of the season for his or her crossover hit "Basically Die Youthful." "We are so excited for 'If I Die Youthful,' both for which it's accomplished for us and our music career," states Kimberly of her elegiac composition. "But additionally since it is been this type of personal song for a lot of others.InchWith CMA season over, this guitar rock band Perry has become concentrating on the holidays. They have been drawn on to create and record the theme for ABC Family's "25 Times of Christmas" programming event in December. "It's the initial Christmas song we have ever written," Kimberly states, adding that they and her siblings lately shot a relevant video for that tune. "They managed to get snow in L.A. at 2 o'clock each morning,Inch she laughs. "It had been amazing."Although not as amazing to be crowned country's latest stars, a status they'll further once they mind out on the highway with CMA co-host Kaira Paisley the coming year. And what's going to the brothers and sisters watch during tour? "Criminal Minds and also the Office," states Reid. "You watch Criminal Minds first [to become scared] and you watch Work [to laugh]. It is a hurry!"Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Stars Give Generously for his or her Alma Maters

Matthew Maguire, theater program director at Fordham College, spoke in regards to the moment in 2003 when Denzel Washington returned to his alma mater to handle the department's students. As Maguire appreciated, Washington summoned Bob Stone, among his former teachers, up to the level and hang his arm around him. "Here's the man who assisted me who I am today," Washington mentioned.Eight years later, Washington has succumbed a sizable approach to the school that aided shape his career. Fordham introduced lately the actor had developed a $2 million donation for the school to create an endowed chair in theater. (Phylicia Rashad was recently named the initial person to help keep the chair, which will rotate among acting, pointing, and design professionals.) He led yet another $250,000 to find out an undergraduate scholarship for minority students. According to Maguire, the two gifts have formerly developed a big difference for your program."On earth of school politics, the big contributor as time passes are often graduates in the business school as well as the law school," Maguire mentioned. "And so the arts can frequently languish. The programs that take advantage support are the types that take advantage gifts within the alumni."Washington is one kind of many stars giving backboth utilizing their dollars using their timeto the places where they examined the craft. Several occasions throughout the final decade, Washington has visited Fordham's students to supply career advice. "He's been very generous," mentioned Maguire. More youthful crowd noted the contributions of one other distinguished alum, Patricia Clarkson, who every year visits and works together the program's seniors."She will come in and he or she predicts them," Maguire mentioned. "Things I am really happy about is what she states to themthat they need to be capable of resist typing. She's the consummate chameleon. And he or she amplifies our training, that's that it's all about stretching."The participation of past students for instance Washington and Clarkson gives prestige for the theater department, according to Maguire, not just within the college but furthermore inside the bigger artistic community. He mentioned Fordham now feels it might compete regardless of the type of Juilliard to get the best-tier students. Furthermore, it gives graduates in the program a sense of group identity, he mentioned: "This is actually the satisfaction from this, In my opinion, knowning that you are employed in the community where people support one another. This is actually the real price of it."Stars may also be giving back elsewhere, for instance at L.A.'s Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre, where alumnus Mark Ruffalo sits round the board of company company directors. Michael Hackett expressed similar sentiments. Hackett might be the chair in the Department of Theater at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and television. The school might be the current people receiving a $100,000 gift from alumna Mariska Hargitay."On the kind of inspiring level, it informs the students, lots of whom will also be ambitious to professional careers, that people within the profession, especially someone so engaged and active, do value and support education," Hackett mentioned. "In my opinion that's well suited for our department and inspiring other students depending on how they're with the educational process here and then on, how they will support youthful people who would like to be inside the theater."Hackett adds that "support need not be money," watching that, like Washington and Clarkson, Hargitay has given considerable time that you should her old-fashioned. Really, she dedicated to bestowing a scholarship while addressing the school's seniors at graduation taken, he mentioned. He added that in this particular economic environmentwith condition schools, specifically in California, dealing with budget tighteningthe scholarship could mean the primary distinction between prone to school rather than prone to school due to its recipient.In this particular climate, acting programs are particularly grateful for stars who is able to give backand it's a natural way of stars to share their unique gratitude, according to Hackett. "Exactly what it means is that they have a very feeling they received something worthwhile and they wish to not only acknowledge that, additionally they wish to be helpful for future decades," he mentioned. "So this is a thrilling factor for people.Inch

'Brooklyn Brothers' Filmmaker Books Two Acting Gigs (Exclusive)

Ryan O'Nan, who written and directed the Toronto Film Festival movie Brooklyn Brothers and sisters Beat the most effective, is putting on a parka together with a bulletproof vest for just two movie roles, The Frozen Ground as well as the Iceman. Frozen Ground notifies the actual story in the capture of serial killer Robert Hansen in Alaska and stars Nicolas Cage becoming an Alaska condition trooper monitoring Hansen, carried out by John Cusack. Randall Emmett andMark Ordesky are coming up with the indie, that's shooting in Alaska. O'Nan is playing an ailment trooper helping Cage. In Iceman, the actual story of suburban father throughout your day, hitman by evening Richard Kuklinski, O'Nan may have a young hustler taken up inside the web of murder and deceptiveness. The film stars Michael Shannon as Kuklinski in addition to counts Ray Liotta and Maggie Gyllenhaal within the cast. Ariel Vroman is pointing the film, that's due to begin shooting within the month of the month of january. On top in the filmmaking areas of Brooklyn Brothers and sisters, O'Nan also starred in, written and completed the music activity inside the rock-and-roll tale from the defeated songwriter who meets a self-hired music revolutionary. Approaching for your triple threat is Self-employed, a thriller through which he'll share the screen with Robert P Niro and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. O'Nan is represented by ICM and Principal Entertainment. Email: Borys.Package@thr.com Twitter: @Borys_Package Related Subjects Nicolas Cage The Brooklyn Brothers and sisters Beat the most effective

Disney Interactive Will Provide Content To YouTube Next Year

The companies announced this morning that Disney will bring “family-friendly video entertainment” to Google’s video site as well as Disney.com beginning early in 2012.”Programming will include video drawn from relevant family-friendly content currently available across YouTube, original video produced by Disney, as well as a blend of current Disney Interactive original series, select Disney Channel programming and Disney user created content,” the companies said this morning. First up in February will be an original video series based on Disneys hit mobile game Wheres My Water? and its main character Swampy.With online video consumption exploding and YouTube at the center of that trend, we see an opportunity for Disney Interactive and YouTube to bring Disneys legacy of storytelling to a new generation of families and Disney enthusiasts on the platforms they prefer, Disney Interactive Co-President Jimmy Pitaro says. YouTube’sGlobal Head of Content Partnerships Robert Kyncl says his operation has 800 million users worldwide.