In a further step towards increased integration as a content provider and supplier, CanWest Global Communications subsidiary CanWest Entertainment (formerly Fireworks Entertainment) has launched a London, Eng.-based international distribution arm, CanWest Entertainment International.

Greg Phillips, with 25 years experience as a sales executive with such companies as cbs, mtm and Southern Star, has been named president of the division.

‘We want to establish relationships with the creative and the talent, to originate programming as well as take advantage of outlets for production and knowledge of the marketplace,’ says Phillips. ‘We plan to develop projects with the end user in mind.’

Output deals at both the creative and outlet end will be explored, he says.

Phillips anticipates CanWest Entertainment International will feed CanWest Global broadcast networks around the world (Global Television Network, TV3 and TV4 in New Zealand, Australia’s TEN Television, Ireland’s TV3 and Ulster Television).

‘Obviously we won’t attempt to force their hand,’ says Phillips, ‘the programs have to stand before the broadcasters on their own merit.’

Phillips says the distribution entity will focus on acquiring from Canadian and international sources the range of primetime drama series, tv movies and kids’ and young adult programming. He is also not ruling out the acquisition of non-fiction programming.

At this point, Phillips says the number of hours to be picked up this year has not been determined nor has the weighting of acquisitions versus proprietary product, although he anticipates striking a balance.

CanWest Entertainment’s proprietary product relies heavily on international coproductions and Phillips says projects in which the company can take a partnership role as well as distribute will be highly favorable.

Over the past year, CanWest Entertainment has been shoring up international rights on its new projects. The CanWest Entertainment International slate includes 22 episodes of Relic Hunter, a $1.5-million per hour Canada/France coproduction with Gaumont Television, presold to more than 85% of the u.s. market, Citytv in Canada, M6 in France and ProSieben in Germany. The series goes into production next month and stars Tia Carrere as a history professor who is called upon to reclaim ancient artifacts.

Beginning principal photography is 26 half-hours (budgeted at $616,000 per episode) of the family drama Stray Dog, in which a young city girl is taken in by a distant cousin in the Rocky Mountains and befriends a runaway search-and-rescue dog. Presales have been inked with Nickelodeon in the u.s. and ytv in Canada.

Also on tap is a second full season of Real Kids, Real Adventures, about the heroic acts of ordinary kids, licensed by Discovery usa and the Global Television Network.

tv movies in development at CanWest Entertainment include Twas the Night, a Christmas drama for cbs starring Roma Downey, and Poison, a Canada/Germany coproduction in development with Davis/Panzer.

CanWest Global Communications acquired Fireworks in May 1997.