MUMBAI: Twelevision format creator and distributor FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has further expanded its drama development portfolio with the announcement of a new first-look deal with Hollywood film and TV producer Barry Josephson?s production company, Josephson Entertainment.

As part of the deal, Josephson Entertainment has hired a new VP for Television, Tia Maggini, who will work alongside FME senior VP of global content Jeff Tahler and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) senior VP of scripted programming Tony Optican to develop new drama projects for the US cable and global TV market. A number of projects are already underway, including thriller ?The Dover Agenda?, for which a pilot script is currently being developed for Syfy in the US.

Josephson is a film and television producer, who has established mainstream success through numerous motion pictures, television series and specials across a variety of genres. Josephson?s film credits include ?Enchanted?, ?Life As We Know It? and ?Hide and Seek?. He is also at the helm of the television drama ?Bones?, which is entering its eighth season on Fox. In addition Josephson currently has projects in development at TNT and AMC.

Fremantleedia Enterprises Global CEO David Ellender said, ?US cable drama is now the most consistently compelling content anywhere on television. Having identified the opportunities that exist on these networks, FME is partnering with the industry?s most prominent talent in order to help create high quality dramas that not only work for US audiences but which also have worldwide appeal. With several exciting projects already in the pipeline, our deal with Josephson is off to a flying start.?

Josephson said, ?I am very excited to work with Tony Optican, Jeff Tahler and their entire team at FremantleMedia. They have been very aggressive about securing rights for new material and strengthening our network relationships.?

Maggini joins from Disney Channel Original Movies where she was responsible for acquiring new projects for the channel, working directly with writers to develop original ideas. Prior to this she held the role of Senior Executive at Marc Platt Productions for five years.

Since the launch of the company?s global drama initiative three years? ago, FME has signed first look deals with producers. These have resulted in a number of series commissions from broadcasters across the world, with recent examples including ?Wedding Band?, produced by FMNA for TBS in the US, and ?Hit And Miss? for Sky Atlantic in the UK, created by Paul Abbott?s production and development company AbbottVision.

MUMBAI: Alice in Wonderland, the winner of the 83rd Academy Award for Best Art Direction and Costume Design, will be aired on Disney Channel on 19 May at 11 am.

Alice in Wonderland is a story about a young girl who grows bored listening to her older sister reading aloud from a history book about William I of England. While dozing off, she dreams about falling down a rabbit hole that is populated by a peculiar series of misadventures.

The always-sensible Alice whirls through a world of contradictions, imagination, and surprises where she encounters amazing creatures?including a pocket-watch-toting White Rabbit, the imperious Queen of Hearts and her army of playing cards, a Cheshire Cat with a lingering smile in an unforgettable fantasy, and the off-kilter Madhatter?and tests her sensibility and courage.

MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Disney Channel has ordered ?Dog With A Blog?, a live action comedy series from Emmy-winning producer Michael B. Kaplan.

A family sitcom from the pet?s point of view, it centres around step-siblings whose parents buy them a dog to encourage them to get along. That happens - to some extent - as brother and sister discover a big secret about their family?s latest addition... that the dog can talk and blog.

The series will introduce a cast, among them, Disney Channel?s next big star: a four year-old, mixed breed named Kuma in the role of Stan, the talking dog with a blog. The announcement was made by Disney Channel senior VP, original programming Adam Bonnett.

Production on the multi-camera series will begin this June in Hollywood for premiere later this year on Disney Channel U.S. and soon thereafter on Disney Channels around the world.

The stars include G. Hannelius, Blake Michael, Beth Littleford and Stephen Full as the voice of Stan the dog. Kuma is a Husky/Golden Retriever/Border Collie mix who was rescued from a shelter. He is trained by Guin Dill and Steve Solomon of Good Dog Animals, an animal company with over 40 years combined experience in the motion picture and TV industry.

In "Dog With A Blog," Tyler and Avery are new step-siblings. Tyler is popular, charismatic and seems to get by solely on his looks, and Avery is smart, socially responsible and despises guys like Tyler. However, the biggest adjustment for the newly blended family comes with their new dog Stan - who talks and blogs. He?s smart, a bit of a trouble maker and loves his new family, who must keep his marvelous ability a secret. Stan?s canine point of view, whether in the home, in the yard or on his blog, helps the kids navigate both their new sibling situation and ultimately, becomes the tie that binds the family of six (Tyler, Avery, little sister Chloe, Mom, Dad and Stan). Even though he talks and likes a lot of "human" things, Stan is still pure dog. He chases his tail, barks at mailmen, ardently approaches poodles and is not so wild about cats.

MUMBAI: This summer, Disney Channel India will launch a new family comedy - The Suite Life of Karan and Kabir - starting 8 April.

The show follows the shenanigans of 11 year old twins - Karan and Kabir whose lives change when their mom Priti Jaiswal gets a job as the sole manager at the city?s swankiest hotel and, as part of her contract, an upper floor suite in which they all now live.

As the twin pranksters get used to their new life, they try to turn the hotel into their playground, and along the way make friends and foe with the disparate staff, guests and residents.

Disney will also launch a contest where fans and their families can win the opportunity to live the five-star life for a month. Three viewers and their families stand the chance to win an all expense paid stay in a Suite at their city?s best five star hotel by tuning into Disney Channel and answering a simple question that will be aired starting this week.

Walt Disney Television International India business head Vijay Subramaniam said, "The show will bring all-round family entertainment including many laughs and heartwarming moments coupled with adventures and pranks that make for a delightful watch. Both, the show and contest reiterate our commitment to offer the best family viewing and engaging experiences through our wonderful stories and lovable characters."

The show stars Namit Shah as Karan, Siddharth as Kabir, Shruti Seth as the twin?s mother Priti Jaiswal, Shivshakti Sachdev as the spoilt brat Rani Uberoi and Tara Sutaria as Vinnie (short for Vinita Mishra), the bubbly gift shop clerk. Damandeep Singh Bagggan stars as Mann Singh and Shaynam Ladakhi as the bellman Jung Bahadur. The show is directed by Vasant Valsan and produced by ?The Company?.

MUMBAI: Disney Channel, the flagship kids channel from Walt Disney India, is strengthening its morning band by launching its globally popular adventure show Peter Pan and bringing back Jungle Cubs, the animated series based on 1967 feature film, The Jungle Book.

Peter Pan, which is set to go on-air on 25 February at 11 am, is a classic tale of adventures that await Wendy and her brothers when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land.

The series is based on 1953 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn?t Grow Up by JM Barrie.

The Jungle Cubs, which is set in the youth of the popular animal characters, will make its debut on 27 February at 10.30 am on Disney Channel.

The animated series follows the adventures of six familiar-and-feisty-characters of The Jungle Book - Baloo, Bagheera, Sher Khan, Kaa, and Hathi.

Jungle Cubs will also feature the popular original songs from the movie and reprises ?The Bare Necessities?, the Academy Award-nominated song from the 1967 motion picture, as the theme of the show.