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MUMBAI: Universal Studios has announced that its consumer products group has created a dedicated division designed to capitalise on the rapidly growing world of mobile entertainment.
The new division, Universal Mobile Entertainment, will be run from a day to day perspective by Universal veteran Jeremy Laws who has been promoted to senior vice president. |
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Under the newly minted division, Laws will oversee all aspects of licensing and promotions in the wireless arena as well as actively pursue and manage licenses from creation to consumption. He will lead a team of sales executives based around the world including the major media markets like |
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Laws says, “My goal, and that of my team, will be to ensure that fans of Universal‘s films and television programmes will have easy access to a broad range of compelling, high quality
Universal Studios adds that it has been aggressive in the mobile content licensing market since 2000 and currently has more than 60 deals worldwide with premiere partners such as I-play, Gameloft, Buongiorno-Vitaminic, Ojom, Indiagames, Player X, (M)Forma and Starwave Mobile.
Universal expects to see continued, substantial revenue growth in this space during 2006 as it launches 30 games and a comprehensive range of graphics, video clips and voice ringers on all major carriers across the globe from Universal‘s current and library film and television assets.
Laws joined Universal Studios Consumer Products Group as executive director in 1999. He has since spearheaded all aspects of licensing in the areas of wireless, broadcast film clips, stills and advertising and has overseen all aspects of Universal‘s licensed location-based entertainment attractions worldwide. Laws pioneered an end-to-end online solution for film clip licensing and tripled the revenue of that business. |
Category: News Headline
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Universal Studios creates mobile division
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Radio Mirchi felicitates Mother’s Day on 14 May
MUMBAI: The FM radio brand Radio Mirchi will be celebrating a week long Mother’s Day from 8 May to 14 May.
Radio Mirchi has made plans to take all mothers to shop and party with the Mirchi jocks on the occasion.
How? Mere paas teri maa hain…tere paas kya bacha hain?… is an attempt to kidnap all Mumbai moms. Listeners or family members have to call up Radio Mirchi on 40983983 between 8 May and 13 May and respond to the question, Mere paas teri maa hain…tere paas kya bacha hain? The 10 wittiest responses will get their mothers enrolled with Mirchi, informs an official release.
On 14 May, the selected mothers will join the Mirchi team to celebrate Mother’s Day.
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BBC chairman Grade emphasises delivery of quality services at lowest price
MUMBAI: A few days ago a seminar on the subject of UK pubcaster The BBC’s licence fee took place. On the occasion BBC chairman Michael Grade pointed out that a proper balance needs to be struck between the public appetite for range and quality on the one hand, and on the other their efficient delivery at the lowest possible price.
“The new BBC Charter establishes new governance arrangements for the BBC, at the core of which lies a clear separation of the new Trust from the BBC executive. It places on the new Trust a clear responsibility to ensure that the licence fee is properly, effectively and efficiently used, and requires it to be fully accountable to those who pay it. We are already proceeding on that basis,” says Grade.
He adds that in its continuing focus on value for money, the BBC’s board of Governors continues to exert pressure on costs. “Any ways which are identified to decrease the cost of the licence fee or to improve what the BBC can offer, will be welcomed by the Board. The licence fee represents a deliberate intervention in the market. The value and benefits of that intervention are well understood, but the wider effects must always remain under scrutiny.”
He went on to state that what the BBC does affects other businesses. “All those with legitimate concerns about the market impact of the BBC should be reassured by the White Paper’s imposition of real and detailed duties on the new Trust. This is not the land of paper promises: the service licences, PVTs and other tools are there to do a job, and to do it transparently. I should also emphasise that our duty to represent the interests of the licence fee payers is not narrowly focussed on what the BBC provides. Our remit extends to safeguarding their interest in sustaining choice in the wider market.”
Grade says that the decision on the level of the licence fee is for the Government alone and it is a complex equation to consider, involving broadcasting aspirations, public appetites, public policy objectives, commercial impact and value for money.
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Zee Cafe to launch three comedy shows
MUMBAI: Zee’s English channel Zee Cafe has announced the arrival of three more shows in the comedy genre. The programmes to be launched are Comedy Inc., Will & Grace Season 7 and Caroline in the city Season 4.
Comedy Inc. will premiere on Tuesday 9 May at 9:30 pm. Will & Grace Season 7 premieres on 9 May at 10 pm.
As of 2005, Will & Grace has been nominated for 49 Emmys, 24 Golden Globes, fourteen SAG Awards and six People’s Choice Awards. Among its 12 Emmy wins, the show won as Outstanding Comedy Series in 2000. In 2002 and 2003, it had more Emmy nominations than any other comedy series. Additionally, it’s been nominated for an American Comedy Award, three Glaad Media Awards and a Founders Award from the Viewers for Quality Television.
Caroline in the city Season 4 will premiere on 9 May at 10:30 pm. A situational comedy centered on Caroline Duffy, a young cartoonist living in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. Each episode begins with a brief animated sequence reflecting the autobiographical nature of her syndicated newspaper cartoon strip Caroline in the City, explicitly compared with the real comic strip Cathy in several episodes.
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Kiefer Sutherland indicates plans to make ‘24’ into a movie
MUMBAI: The action packed show 24 which airs in India on AXN and in the US on Fox is going to make the transition to the big screen.
In an interview to the BBC, the star of the show Kiefer Sutherland said, “We’re working on the film. We are really excited about it.”
On BBC One’s film show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Sutherland spoke about his Golden Globe award-winning role as counter terrorist agent Jack Bauer in the show. Each season of the show takes place in a 24 hour period. Each episode represents an hour in Bauer’s life.
Filming will start next year. The shoot, he says, will take place in London and Prague.
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Patricia Field tells CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’ what the devil wears
Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
Saturday, May 6 at 0500am and 2030hrs
Sunday, May 7 at 0600am and 1830hrs
This weekend on CNN’s TALK ASIA, American designer Patricia Field shares with Lorraine Hahn on what it’s like to style for the trend-setting series “Sex and the City.” She also talks about her 40th anniversary in the fashion business, how fashion “doesn’t cost a dime” and offers simple tips for the everyday wear.
Loud but chic, Field’s early designs had wide appeal and her reputation for “fashion forward” made her popular among celebrities and fashionistas. Style is “a unique way of appearing to the rest of the world. It’s something to do with originality and synonymous with signature…that belongs to an individual person”, the designer explains.
The popularity of television series, “Sex and the City,” also projected Field onto the international stage. “We were like “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! This is unbelievable!” she recalls of the series’ success. The stylist adds, “Sex and the City empowered or helped women feel their power. I want all the women to be powerful and whatever I could do to push that. I’m happy.”
Tune into TALK ASIA for the latest update on Field, including her work on the upcoming film release of “The Devil Wears Prada” and other big screen projects. The designer also offers fashion tips for those rich and famous, as well as those on a shoe-string budget.
AIRTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
For more program information and details on upcoming guests on TALK ASIA visit
http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/talkasia/
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Mega block buster ‘Hum Tum’ to be aired on Max
Sunday, 07th May 2006 at 1: 00 pm, Only on MAX! Continuing with its promise of making Sundays bigger MAX is all set to treat its viewers by bringing them HUM TIUM to air on Sunday, 07th MAY 2006 at 1.00 pm.
Karan Kapoor (Saif Ali Khan) works with one of India’s leading newspapers as a cartoonist. Hum Tum are his cartoon characters. Hum Tum because that’s how he sees the world divided. No countries, no religions, just two divisions – boys and girls. Karan met Rhea (Rani Mukerjee) for the first time in Amsterdam. They disagreed on everything. So to put things right, Karan innocently kissed her… to confirm their friendship. But things went worse with the unstable Rhea and the meeting ended on a bad note.
It’s been 10 years since their first encounter and they meet again and become friends despite their differences. Rhea has gone through some personal tragedies in her life, lots of ups and downs but Karan has always been there for her. During this time, she has moved all over the place, from Mumbai to Paris to New York and back to Mumbai. But despite their mishaps, destiny has bigger plans for Karan and Rhea.
For further information please contact:
MAX
Bhharati Kabre
Email: bhartia@setindia.comGenesis Public Relations
Princy Sebastian/ Preeti Hingorani
Tel: 91-22-24911783/85
Fax: 91-22- 24911788
E-mail: psebastian@genesispr.com
phingorani@genesispr.com -
Disney completes Pixar acquisition
MUMBAI: Advancing its strategy of developing outstanding creative content, The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of animation company Pixar. In the all-stock transaction, 2.3 Disney shares will be issued for each Pixar share.
Former Pixar president Dr. Ed Catmull will serve as president of the new Pixar and Disney animation studios, reporting to Iger and The Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.
In addition, former Pixar executive vice president John Lasseter, will be chief creative officer of the animation studios, as well as principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he will provide his expertise in the design of new attractions for Disney theme parks around the world. Lasseter will report directly to Iger.
Former Pixar chairman and CEO Steve Jobs has joined Disney’s board of directors as a non-independent member. With the addition of Jobs, 11 of Disney’s 14 Directors are independent.
“For the last 15 years, Disney and Pixar have shared one of the most successful partnerships in entertainment history. From Toy Story through The Incredibles, the success of these animated films was due to the creativity, innovation and immense talent of the phenomenal Pixar team, led by Steve, Ed and John. We also fully recognize that Pixar’s extraordinary record of achievement is in large measure due to its vibrant creative culture, which is something we respect and admire and are committed to supporting and fostering in every way possible. As we begin the next chapter, all of us at Disney are pleased to welcome the incredibly talented Pixar team to our company to continue to create quality entertainment for audiences to enjoy around the world,” said Iger.
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AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband
MUMBAI: American Internet service provider AOL and Clearwire Corporation announced an agreement to offer American consumers in select markets “AOL High Speed – Powered by Clearwire.”
Consumers will now be able to access the AOL service with high-speed wireless broadband access for $25.90 per month.
AOL president access business Joe Redling says, “Clearwire’s wireless high-speed service brings a differentiated offering to AOL members moving to broadband. This innovative approach to broadband access offers consumers additional levels of freedom and flexibility in how and where they experience AOL’s content and services – and stands to be a promising feature for new consumer segments.”
Clearwire’s co-president and chief strategy officer Ben Wolff says, “This truly complementary relationship offers customers access to AOL’s premium safety and security features and content with a simple, fast wireless connection.
“Clearwire’s reliable wireless broadband service combined with AOL’s wide array of content and services, presents an appealing option for online users to leverage the power of the Internet.”
Key features of the AOL High Speed powered by Clearwire include:
– Wireless High Speed: In addition to high speed, wireless access offers mobility, freedom and flexibility.
– Fast and Easy Setup: Plug-and-play installation makes establishing a wireless Internet connection quick and easy.
– Customer Service: Help that’s available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.
– Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identity theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.
– Content: AOL-exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and music are all more enjoyable than ever.
– Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.
This service connects to the Internet using licensed spectrum and eliminates the confines of traditional cable or phone wiring. A small wireless modem makes connectivity easily portable and movable within the Clearwire coverage area, allowing customers to use the service throughout their home, office or favourite local coffee house.
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CNN to examine sleep and dreams
MUMBAI: News channel CNN delves deep into the realm of sleep and dreams this month. The documentary CNN Presents Sleep airs on 13 May at 11 30 am and 7 30 pm and on 14 May at 11 30 am. The programme will be hosted by CNN’s senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Sleep reveals what sleep deprivation can do and its links to accidents. Dr. Gupta then explores various sleep disorders including ‘Parasomnia’, a condition where the mind is asleep but the body continues to move.
Using the latest scientific techniques, Sleep sees researchers debate whether dreams are random or if they pose any significant influence on waking life. Dr. Gupta examines the meaning of dreams in past and present cultures.