Discovery Networks Asia Pacific has bought 12 hours of factual content – including two series co-produced with China’s LIC – from Germany’s Autentic, the one-time partner in would-be rival doc channel Spark.

The global ad market is on course for 4.6% growth this year, up from 3.9% growth last year, according to ZenithOptimedia’s new Advertising Expenditure Forecasts, published Monday (21 March).

History premieres mega-drama Roots in Asia in May, scheduling the epic four two-hour episodes across four nights from Tuesday, 31 May. The Asia release follows a red carpet world premiere screening at Mip TV in Cannes on 4 April.

Earlier this month, as buyers and sellers around the world put the finishing touches to their Mip TV plans, GMA Worldwide Inc (GWI) announced a local version of Philippines’ drama, Munting Heredera (Little Heiress), was being made in Mexico.

How will you mark the occasion?

India’s largest TV production company, the 22-year-old Balaji Telefilms, has made its biggest move ever – raising US$23 million to finance and build a direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform, ALT Balaji.