DC Wade Joins Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment As Partner

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentFederation Entertainment, producer of banner Canal Plus’ series “The Bureau,” Netflix Italian hit “Baby” and Omri Givon’s Keshet success “The Grave,” has teamed with three high-profile Spanish executives to launch Federation Spain.As when Federation Entertainment, a production-distribution company, bought a majority share in Italy’s Fabula Pictures in 2018, Federation Entertainment will own 51% of Federation Spain, to be run by executives Juan

Corus Entertainment, a major buyer of American series from studio suppliers, has been hit with a round of pandemic-era layoffs at its Global News division. “The news industry has been challenged by a multitude of factors in recent years, including regulatory restraints, a lack of government support, advertising losses, and most recently, COVID-19.

Peter White Television EditorComedian Denis Leary has signed a development deal with Fox Entertainment.

Virtual entertainment company Wave revealed Monday that former Riot Games executive Jarred Kennedy has been appointed as COO, where he will oversee core operations and expand the scale of digital concert experiences. In the role, Kennedy will report to Wave CEO and co-founder Adam Arrigo.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterLaura Benanti has joined the ensemble cast of the Fox drama pilot “Big Leap,” Variety has learned exclusively.The one-hour project centers on a group of diverse underdogs from all different walks of life who compete to be part of a competition reality series that is putting on a modern, hip remake of “Swan Lake.” It is inspired by the UK docuseries “Big Ballet.”Benanti will play Paula Dirks, a tap dancer and white-collar former V.P.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorEXCLUSIVE: Former CAA agent and Imagine Artist Management partner-manager Raj Raghavan is joining Echo Lake Entertainment as a talent manager, where he’ll continue to rep a roster of accomplished actors, playwrights, comedians and novelists.Raghavan’s clients include Golden Globe Nominee Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl), four-time Filmfare Award winner and Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt (Gully Boy), British Independent Film Award winner Ashley

While fans await to see Song Hye-kyo on the screen again, the actress has been doing her share of activities to make an impact on society. The actress has reportedly joined a South Korean professor to donate books.

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorAngelica Rosas McDaniel, the former head of daytime programs at CBS, has joined Litton Entertainment, a leading producer of daytime educational and informational programming, as its new EVP, Strategy. In her new role, McDaniel will be involved in all aspects of the company’s operations, from original productions to syndication and digital strategy.

Former Riot Games executive Mike Seavers has joined startup AppOnBoard, a no-code game development platform for interactive mobile experiences. Taking the position of CEO, Seavers will work alongside AppOnBoard co-founder Jonathan Zweig to focus on global expansion and oversee day-to-day operations at the company.

NEW YORK -- Former Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith will join CNBC for a weeknight program, the network announced Wednesday. “The News with Shepard Smith” will feature “fact-based storytelling,” the network said, and put Smith back in the 7 p.m.

Metallica and longtime co-manager Cliff Burnstein are among the parties involved in an intellectual-property acquisition venture that is being headed up by former longtime Morgan Stanley investment banker Paul Donahue, two sources close to the situation confirm to Variety.The source emphasized that the venture, which is called Worldwired Music IP Fund and will have resources in the $300-$500 million range, is not being led by the group or Burnstein — even though Worldwired is the name of the

Sam Faiers, her sister Billie and Ferne McCann took some time away from their mum duties to throw a birthday party for a close friend, Sophie Carrier. Former The Only Way Is Essex stars Sam, 29, Billie, 30, and Ferne, 29, let their hair down as they threw the woodland bash in Essex.

JK Rowling, Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood are among prominent figures from the arts world who have signed a letter warning of an “intolerant climate” for free speech.

Global Pride, the 27-hour virtual Pride that took place on June 27, reached a worldwide audience of 57,050,978 viewers in at least 163 countries, organisers confirmed on Monday.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Recording Academy and Color of Change, the largest online racial justice organization in the U.S., have announced a partnership to “promote positive social change within the music industry.” The Academy announced to members last month that it has made a $1 million donation to Color of Change.According to the announcement, the organizations will “work together to identify key opportunities to drive and influence change in the music industry, and will be dedicated