Starz ups two to lead digital unit

WinokurKatzStarz has upped a pair of execs to lead its digital-media division.Mara Winokur will take the top job at the unit, serving as senior VP digital media, business development and strategy. Also promoted is David Katz, who goes from executive director to VP.The execs step in to fill the shoes of Marc DeBevoise, who exited in June to CBS Interactive, where he replaced Anthony Soohoo as senior VP and GM of the unit's entertainment division."Starz Digital Media is in very capable and creative hands with Mara and David and I congratulate them on their respective promotions," said Ed Huguez, executive VP affiliate sales and marketing, to whom Winokur reports.Winokur will lead digital initiatives across Starz's business units. Starz often deploys digital extension to its programming including a "Spartacus" Facebook game and "Pillars of the Earth" iPad app. Winokur's previous stints included digital-minded posts at EMI Music Entertainment and Sony BMG Entertainment. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

5 Things You Don't Know About Two and a Half Men's Angus T. Jones

Angus T. Jones Angus T. Jones puts the "half" in Two and a Half Men and, by our count, gets less than half the attention that his fellow teen stars - let alone his ex-costar Charlie Sheen - get. And yet he is one of the most successful, not to mention loaded, young actors in the biz. As the revamped Men gears up for Season 9, here are five things to know about the low-key Jones, who has been playing Jon Cryer's underachieving son, Jake, since he was 9.What's on your Watchlist? Create one and add your favorites, like Two and a Half Men 1. Jones, who turns 18 on Oct. 8, is the highest-paid child TV actor after signing a $300,000-per-episode contract last year, guaranteeing him $7.8 million over two seasons. Oh yeah, there's also that hefty $500,000 signing bonus. Under his previous contract, he earned $250,000 an episode. The next highest-paid minor on the list: iCarly's Miranda Cosgrove, who reels in $180,000 per episode.2. An Austin, Texas, native, Jones and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 4, but he never wanted to be an actor. Instead, his mom took him to auditions hoping he could make some money for his college savings. Jones started doing commercials and had a small part in the 1999 film Simpatico. He landed his first major film role, See Spot Run opposite David Arquette, when he was 6.3. Jones was the only child actor Chuck Lorre and Men producers saw for the part of Jake. Lorre asked Jones to audition after seeing his turn as Dennis Quaid's son in The Rookie and immediately offered him offered the job afterward. Jones learned he was cast as he was leaving the audition. Exclusive: Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones on the new Two and a Half Men4. Men is notorious for its racy jokes and sexual innuendoes, but Jones has never asked his castmates or producers to explain the adult humor to him - even if they wanted to. "At one point I asked him if he wanted to know and he said no," Cryer told The Los Angeles Times in 2009. "He doesn't bring it up with me. He's not like a lot of boys."5. Had Men ended after the Sheen debacle earlier this year, Jones would've been perfectly fine with it as he would've returned to school for a regular year. Education has always been a main focus of the actor and he plans to go to college. After that? Who knows? Jones has said he's not sure if he wants to continue acting.Two and a Half Men returns Monday, Sept. 19 at 9/8c on CBS.

Paperwork, characters boost French TV exports

BIARRITZ -- Driven by documentary and animation programs sales, French TV exports rose 5.1% this year to achieve e105.six million ($148.4 million), based on figures revealed Wednesday in the TVFI Biarritz Rendez-Vous. TVFI's Mathieu Bejot stated the marketplace rebound concerned buying and selling volume a lot more than revs. "New digital channels that are presently important purchasers of French programs but they're generally trading less in original programming compared to traditional terrestrial tv stations," based on the report put together through the CNC and TVFI. Animated programs' sales advanced 9.1% to $48.9 million pounds, while docus' rose 13.7% to $37.a million. Formats ongoing to develop, producing $24.a million, a 4.9% increase on 2009. Meanwhile, drama sales fell 11.6% to $26.8 million. Bejot stated the revenue drop was mainly because of decreasing production levels and also the wrap of these best-selling, lengthy-running series as "Navarro" and "Julie Lescaut." Bejot also stated specific good examples of fiction drama series which have obtained top rankings overseas, for example "Spiral, " that is offered by Newen Distribution. "Spiral"'s format continues to be optioned by BBC America, per Bejot. Worldwide co-production investment rose 7.2% to $88.two million and pre-sales fell 12.9% to $42.8 million. These figures were bolstered through the comicbook-based series "XIII," that was commissioned by Canal Plus and received large co-production and pre-sales investment in the U.S. and Canada, based on Caroline Jeanneau, mind of studies and statistics in the CNC. The European Union continued to be no. 1 consumer of Gallic programs, repping just below 60% of French exports' total sales revenues with $87.4 million put in 2010. Sales to The United States rose 28.3% to $17.3 million, while Latin America's rose 61.1% to $5.two million. Scandinavia demonstrated the greatest spike with additional 66.6% to $10.two million. Deals to Asia also rose 18.6% to achieve a proper $14.3 million, driven with a progression in sales from Southeastern Asian nations including Japan. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Disney's Mind of Consumer Items Resigns

Andrew Mooney stated Tuesday he'll resign as mind of Disney's small but fast-growing consumer items business to pursue a leadership role with another organization as well as on corporate boards.our editor suggests Disney Taps Kathryn Kranhold as SVP, Corporate Communications'Avengers,' 'John Carter,' 'Brave': The Five Best Presentations at Disney's D23 Expo STORY: Disney Faces Publish-Jobs Future Mooney became a member of Disney as leader of consumer items in 1999 soon after decades with Nike and grew to become the unit's chairman in 2003. He's credited with creating the Disney Princess and Disney Fairies franchises. PHOTOS: Disney Generation's new Rising Stars In the newest quarter Disney's consumer items segment published a practical profit of $155 million, up 32 percent in the year-ago quarter, on the 13 percent revenue gain to $685 million. STORY: Disney Announces Two New Pixar Projects "Together we now have significantly transformed the certification business," Mooney authored inside a letter to his employees. "The contributions that Andy makes to Disney happen to be enormous," stated Disney leader and Boss Robert Iger. "Not just has he consistently shipped business results every year, but his target the Disney logo and the roll-out of new franchises like Disney Princess will leave a legacy for many years.Inch Related Subjects Robert Iger The Wally Disney Company

Rizzoli & Isles: The Way Jane Experience Tommy Relationship Maura?

Sasha Alexander, Colin Egglesfield, Angie Harmon How can you think hardened Detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) will feel when her screw-from a brother, Tommy (Melrose Place's Colin Egglesfield), starts to the court her closest friend, Dr. Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander)? That question is going to be elevated when Egglesfield makes his go back to TNT's Rizzoli & Isles (10/9c, Monday). "He begins to possess a little factor with Maura Isles because he's residing in her house," Egglesfield informs TVGuide.com. "They begin playing some chess games together and, type of such as the Thomas Crown Affair, there is a little sexual chemistry that begins to build up between the pair of them.Inch Watch full instances of Rizzoli & Isles within our Movie Guide Clearly, Jane is going to be displeased that Tommy, who lately finished a prison term, is going to be attempting to corrupt Maura -- a minimum of that's how Jane sees it. "She's certainly someone who's unhappy with this particular because she knows Tommy and she or he knows how unpredictable he is able to be," he states. "So, not just is Jane apprehensive of letting Maura try Tommy for your reason, since it is her closest friend, but Tommy's the type of guy who loves to push individuals buttons and he's pushing Jane's." As the relaxation from the Rizzoli family knows such a misfit Tommy is, Maura offers him a new beginning. "When Tommy's together with her, she's a feeling of groundedness he lacks in the existence," he states. "Simultaneously, I believe Tommy is exciting for Maura because he's just a little harmful." TNT renews Rizzoli & Isles for Season 3 Still, Egglesfield is quick to protect Tommy, who he states is not always the theif the Rizzoli family makes him to be. "The more he's around, the greater you begin to determine that he's a great guy which you want to trust him, but simultaneously, he isn't someone you intuitively would trust due to his past record.Inch Err. Maybe he'll end up being an effective suitor for Maura. Who does not need to see a lot of Melrose Place alum around? Rizzoli & Isles airs Mondays at 10/9c on TNT.

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Dan Aykroyd Hopes Ghostbusters 3 Production Will Start 'In the Spring'

As it turns out, the best place to get Dan Aykroyd to discuss the possibility of Ghostbusters 3 is on the radio. Like the he did previously on Chicago’s WGN radio last November, Aykroyd decided to fan the Ghostbusters flames over the air, this time with Dennis Miller. So! Is the mythical third film happening? Is Bill Murray going to appear? Who will star as the young Ghostbusters? What happened to the original Ghostbusters? Said the erstwhile Ray Stantz to Miller: Yes, we will be doing the movie, and hopefully with Mr. Murray. That is our hope. We have an excellent script, and what we have to remember is that ‘Ghostbusters’ is bigger than any one component. Although Billy was absolutely the lead and contributive to it in a massive way, as was the director and Harold [Ramis], myself and all of us — Sigourney [Weaver]. The concept is much bigger than any individual role, and the promise of ‘Ghostbusters 3’ is that we get to hand the equipment and the franchise down to new blood, because my character, Ray, is now blind in one eye and can’t drive the cadillac; he’s got a bad knee and can’t pick up the pack. Harold is too big — Egon is too large to get into the harness. We need young blood, and that’s the promise. We’re gonna hand it to a new generation. […] We’ll be in production in the spring, I hope. As for what actors will make up that “new generation,” no one is cast just yet — no kidding — but Aykroyd made special mention of Criminal Minds star Matthew Gray Gubler; the Ghostbusters 3 casting additions will include three actors and one actress. None of this is official, of course — least of all, Murray’s participation. “Yeah, Ivan wants to make it and I… I owe him, ya know,” Murray told Howard Stern in February. “He’s puzzled that I haven’t gotten to this [script]. […] Well, I’ll get to it. I gotta get to it. I feel bad. I got a message and I think people — I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s not the foremost thing in my mind, so I don’t think about it. You know, the studio gets excited every 10 years or so.” This concludes your Ghostbusters 3 update for the day; see you in a few months! · ‘Ghostbusters 3’ is a Go for 2012’ [Dennis Miller Show via Coming Soon]

Ashton Kutcher: 2 . 5 Males Will Feel The Roof

With new 2 . 5 Males star like a guest, CBS’ latenight host David Letterman predicted the veteran sitcom is “going to undergo the rooftop” with him. Kutcher agreed. “I think its going to undergo the rooftop, I truly do,” he stated. “Ive been laughing very hard.” The very first indication was the tape of year premiere about the Warner Bros. lot. “The roof sprang off Warner Bros. on that day,” stated Kutcher, who used protective equipment for that interview in mention of the the current jihad threat against Letterman. Having a solid feature career, why did Kutcher decide to return to sitcoms where he began last year on That 󈨊s Show? Kutcher stated he appreciated how, as they was on That 󈨊s Show, he accustomed to imagine an element career constantly. Eventually Robin Williams, fresh off winning an Oscar, stopped through the set to determine the show’s Kurtwood Cruz and confessed to attempting to perform a sitcom again. “And I never didn't remember that after I had been on That 70s Show because I never didn't remember what we should had, and just how great and just how fun the task was and just how incredible it had been, and just how great it's start working every single day making people laugh,” stated Kutcher. This is actually the clip: