Global Showbiz Briefs: News Corp Brussels Chief, V Network Diving Format

Niklas Lagergren Leaves MPA For News Corp's Brussels Office
News Corp. has named Niklas Lagergren as SVP government affairs for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Lagergren joins the company from the Motion Picture Association where he was most recently VP for EU affairs, working closely with the Hollywood majors at the European level. He will start the job on March 1, based at the company's new Brussel's office. Lagergren, who has been with the MPA for over 10 years, said, 'I have been both professionally and personally committed to representing the public affairs interests of media companies and I am now fortunate to be able to take my efforts to a new level by joining the leader in global media.' News Corp. also appointed Benjamin King director of government affairs for Europe, Middle East and Africa, reporting to Lagergren. He was formerly public affairs manager for News International.

Canada's V Network To Adapt 'Stars In Danger: High Diving'
Canadian French language network V has licensed Banijay International's diving format, Stars In Danger: High Diving. Created by Banijay's Brainpool, the local version will be produced by La Presse Télé to air in Winter/Spring 2013. Shooting is set to begin early next year. The format sees celebrities from different backgrounds given a crash course in diving before taking to the high diving board, taped in front of a live audience at an Olympic-size swimming pool. The V series will air with the local title Le Grand Saut or 'the big jump.' Stars In Danger: High Diving has aired annually in Germany as TV Total Turmspringen since 2004. Stars In Danger: High Diving has also sold to Fox in the U.S., Jiangsu Satellite Television in China, TV2 Norway and TV3 in Sweden. It's not to be confused with Celebrity Splash which ABC ordered straight-to-series in October. In fact, Banijay International earlier this year requested a court injunction against Eyeworks, producers of Celebrity Splash's original Dutch format, on the grounds of copyright infringement.

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