Itv

British media company ITV has struck a deal to acquire a 65% stake in Thinkfactory Media, a producer of reality and scripted content, for $30 million with an option to buy the remaining 35% of the company. Best known for producing "Hatfields and McCoys," which won an Emmy and scored huge ratings for the History Channel last year, Thinkfactory was founded by Leslie Greif, a veteran television executive who will continue to oversee the company. "While retaining the independent spirit that keeps Thinkfactory Media creative, this relationship not only allows us to continue producing top-quality scripted and unscripted content, but enhances the potential for global distribution and our continued success in the marketplace,” Greif said in a statement.  PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments ThinkFactory first made its mark as a reality TV producer, and its credits include "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," which ran for several seasons on A&E. It has more recently pushed into drama fare and has new shows in development for cable channels History, Spike and A&E. For ITV, the purchase is part of a broader push to establish itself in the United States.

Don't count him out just yet - Piers Morgan says he'd love to keep an on-air perch at CNN. On Sunday, the ratings-challenged news network confirmed that it will soon ax "Piers Morgan Live," the nightly interview show hosted by the scrappy 48-year-old Briton. But Morgan said Monday that he may not be finished with American cable news.  "I'd love to stay with CNN and do big interviews, if we can do a deal that suits us both," Morgan wrote in a direct message on Twitter after Showtracker asked about his plans.

Apple iTV rumors are getting back into full swing following a report saying the company is checking out several designs for a high-resolution television set. The Cupertino-based tech company is sharing the designs with some of its suppliers, including Foxconn, which puts together the iPhone, and Sharp, the Wall Street Journal reported. "It isn't a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing," one of the report's unnamed sources said. PHOTOS: Top 10 tech products of 2012 According to the report, Apple has been testing television prototypes for a number of years, but has finally begun expanding its tests to include its supply chain partners.

The British invasion of NBC News continues. In her first major hire since taking over as president of NBC News in August, Deborah Turness has raided her old shop ITV News and tapped Julian March, ITV's director of online for a similar role at NBC News. March will serve as senior vice president of editorial and innovation at NBC News. In that role, he will have oversight over all of NBC News' digital business including NBCNews.com and integration of NBC's television and digital operations.

An investment firm analyst claims Apple is in full production with both the iTV and the iPad mini, two rumored devices that the tech company has yet to announce. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said Foxconn, an Apple supplier, saw its revenues increase 5% from June, which is typically a flat period for the company. Misek said he believes the difference is the iPad mini. Misek said the iPad mini will possibly be announced alongside the iPhone 5 at a Sept. 12 event that many people have said Apple will hold.

Apple Inc. is so secretive about its unreleased phones, tablets, computers and -- potentially -- TVs, that you could almost say that the phrase "notoriously secretive" has become an unofficial Apple slogan. But it's not quite true that Apple keeps everything in a lockbox. The flip side of the company's obsession with secrecy is that its leaders have learned how to use the fact vacuum to their advantage. While the company never discloses product details ahead of time, its executives do drop not-too-subtle hints about upcoming gadgets, sparking weeks of speculation until the next morsel is dropped.

There's more buzz being generated around the expected Apple "iTV" after the electronics giant was granted a new patent and one of its key suppliers in Asia struck a major investment deal. Apple has been awarded a patent for a technology called Fringe Field Switching, along with 18 other patents , according to the website Patently Apple. The new patent may be for an iteration of a technology that is currently behind the iMac computer screens but can accommodate larger displays such as those on home TVs. Patently Apple also said the patent includes the mention of a technology called Ultra-FFS TFT-LCD, which seems to indicate Apple may be considering the use of touch screens on their rumored HD TV sets.

After the coffee. Before the last-minute run to the mall! The skinny: If you're reading this it means you're like me and had to do some work today. Well, we will try to make this a quick read so you and I can sneak out early and enjoy the evening. Monday's headlines include a box office recap and a review of "Django Unchained. " Merry Christmas to all my readers (I know you're out there) and also to fellow aggregators, especially I Want Media and Media Gazer. Daily dose: The National Football League stuck it to Fox and granted NBC's request to move next Sunday's much-anticipated Cowboys-Redskins game to prime time for its Sunday Night Football franchise.

"The Prisoner": An article in Saturday's Calendar about actor Ian McKellen and his role in the remake of the television series "The Prisoner" said the original series aired on the BBC network in the United Kingdom. It aired on ITV.

General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal agreed to buy Carnival Film & Television Ltd., the producer of "Hotel Babylon" for British Broadcasting Corp. and "Midnight Man" for ITV. The acquisition includes the library rights to Carnival titles, NBC Universal said. A purchase price wasn't disclosed.

"I watched it for a little while," sang the late Lou Reed, of a satellite that went way up to Mars. "I love to watch things on TV. " TV watched him for a little while, too, once that whole video thing got going and his importance as a songwriter and performer was widely established. Reed, who died Sunday, began as the principal songwriter and vocalist of the Velvet Underground -- along with Elvis and the Beatles, one of the three most influential rock acts of the 20th century.

British media company ITV has struck a deal to acquire a 65% stake in Thinkfactory Media, a producer of reality and scripted content, for $30 million with an option to buy the remaining 35% of the company. Best known for producing "Hatfields and McCoys," which won an Emmy and scored huge ratings for the History Channel last year, Thinkfactory was founded by Leslie Greif, a veteran television executive who will continue to oversee the company. "While retaining the independent spirit that keeps Thinkfactory Media creative, this relationship not only allows us to continue producing top-quality scripted and unscripted content, but enhances the potential for global distribution and our continued success in the marketplace,” Greif said in a statement.  PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments ThinkFactory first made its mark as a reality TV producer, and its credits include "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," which ran for several seasons on A&E. It has more recently pushed into drama fare and has new shows in development for cable channels History, Spike and A&E. For ITV, the purchase is part of a broader push to establish itself in the United States.

LONDON -- A man who may be a suspect in an attack Wednesday near a military barracks in the Woolwich section of the city was shown on television holding knives in bloody hands and making statements that suggested he may have been motivated by Islamic militancy. The ITV television network said it had obtained video in which the man speaks into a camera, saying: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. " The man is suspected of being one of two involved in the midafternoon attack.

After the coffee. Before getting through two upfronts in one day. The Skinny: It's a beautiful day here in New York. Too bad I'll spend it indoors at the NBC and Fox upfronts, and then running in and out of Starbucks to steal their Wi-Fi to file blog posts. See what I go through for all of you? Monday's headlines include a recap of the weekend box office, news that a top television executive is expected to leave Warner Bros., and NBC's unveiling of its fall schedule.

NBC News is expected to name Deborah Turness, a prominent British TV journalist, to be its next president. Currently editor of Britain's ITV News, Turness will take the position that was previously held by Steve Capus, who resigned from NBC News in March. The Los Angeles Times last month was first to report that Turness was a leading candidate for the post. NBC News is declining comment on Turness and insiders there say no official announcement is expected Friday or Monday, which is when the network will unveil its new prime-time schedule to advertisers.

After the coffee. Before the last-minute run to the mall! The skinny: If you're reading this it means you're like me and had to do some work today. Well, we will try to make this a quick read so you and I can sneak out early and enjoy the evening. Monday's headlines include a box office recap and a review of "Django Unchained. " Merry Christmas to all my readers (I know you're out there) and also to fellow aggregators, especially I Want Media and Media Gazer. Daily dose: The National Football League stuck it to Fox and granted NBC's request to move next Sunday's much-anticipated Cowboys-Redskins game to prime time for its Sunday Night Football franchise.

Don't count him out just yet - Piers Morgan says he'd love to keep an on-air perch at CNN. On Sunday, the ratings-challenged news network confirmed that it will soon ax "Piers Morgan Live," the nightly interview show hosted by the scrappy 48-year-old Briton. But Morgan said Monday that he may not be finished with American cable news.  "I'd love to stay with CNN and do big interviews, if we can do a deal that suits us both," Morgan wrote in a direct message on Twitter after Showtracker asked about his plans.

LONDON -- A man who may be a suspect in an attack Wednesday near a military barracks in the Woolwich section of the city was shown on television holding knives in bloody hands and making statements that suggested he may have been motivated by Islamic militancy. The ITV television network said it had obtained video in which the man speaks into a camera, saying: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. " The man is suspected of being one of two involved in the midafternoon attack.

Apple iTV rumors are getting back into full swing following a report saying the company is checking out several designs for a high-resolution television set. The Cupertino-based tech company is sharing the designs with some of its suppliers, including Foxconn, which puts together the iPhone, and Sharp, the Wall Street Journal reported. "It isn't a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing," one of the report's unnamed sources said. PHOTOS: Top 10 tech products of 2012 According to the report, Apple has been testing television prototypes for a number of years, but has finally begun expanding its tests to include its supply chain partners.

An investment firm analyst claims Apple is in full production with both the iTV and the iPad mini, two rumored devices that the tech company has yet to announce. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said Foxconn, an Apple supplier, saw its revenues increase 5% from June, which is typically a flat period for the company. Misek said he believes the difference is the iPad mini. Misek said the iPad mini will possibly be announced alongside the iPhone 5 at a Sept. 12 event that many people have said Apple will hold.