ITV

Category: ICC WORLD CUP

  • Vuze opens internet publishing platform to content creators

    CANNES: Vuze, a fast-growing online entertainment platform with an established audience of 10 million viewers, has opened its publishing platform to anyone who creates high-quality digital content, including global television networks, premier and mid-size production studios, and maverick content creators.

     

    The Vuze Open Entertainment Platform creates a new business model for online distribution, and presents opportunities for everyone interested in consuming and distributing online entertainment.

     

    Publishers can offer their video, audio, and gaming content to viewers for free with ad support, or at the price they choose.
    To date, Vuze has signed 90 content partners, including A&E, BBC, CBC, G4 TV, Geneon, The History Channel, Ministry of Sound TV, National Geographic, PBS, Showtime, Starz Media, The Poker Channel, TV Guide Channel, amongst others.

     

  • Bennett Media Worldwide inks new broadcast deals

    CANNES: Bennett Media Worldwide has closed a number of licensing deals with global buyers for their catalogue of HD programming.

    HDNET (USA) has acquired HDTV and HD DVD rights for Taylor Hicks: Whomp at the Warfield and six new episodes of Bikini Destinations.

    VTR (Chile) has secured pay TV rights for Bikini Destinations, Snowology, The Extremists, Destination X, Boost Mobile Snowboarding, and Billabong’s J-Bay.

    Imagen Satelital SA (Pan Latin America) has acquired basic cable TV and direct to home rights for Mysteries.

    ABS-CBN (Phillipines) has acquired pay TV rights for Flow, Bikini Life Adventures, Stag, Destination X, Bikini Destinations, and The Wild Side.

    Tanweer Enlightenment Corporation (Middle East) has secured first negotiation TV and VoD rights for Bennett Media‘s entire library of programming.

  • Mipcom announces Mobile TV Awards winners

    CANNES: It was so near yet so far for India at the Mipcom Mobile & Internet TV Awards 2007, which were announced here today.

    Tangerine Digital Entertainment‘s entry Dancing Queen couldn‘t make it beyond the final three, losing out in the end to Hungarian entry Colorful EU.

    The international trophies were awarded earlier this evening at a well attended event hosted by British comedian, actor, singer Brian Conley. The winning titles were chosen by an international grand jury from a total of 32 nominated projects.

    Organised in partnership with Any Screen Productions, Marché du Film de Cannes and Short Film Corner, The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, the Mipcom Mobile & Internet TV Awards 2007 received 280 entries from 38 countries, and a record number of 180 companies participated in the competition.

    Reed Midem director of digital media Ted Baracos comments: “The record participation in this year‘s awards demonstrates the growing importance of mobile and internet production to the global TV and film industries. By creating and hosting the Mobile & Internet TV Awards at Mipcom, we are actively promoting the creative and commercial development of new content formats over digital platforms.”

    The international grand jury presented a ‘Mobile & Internet TV Award‘ to the most compelling project in each category. The grand jury included the following members: President of Grand Jury, Neeraj Roy, Managing Director and CEO, Hungama Mobile (India), Miles Beckett, Co-Founder and CEO LG15 Studios (USA), Judy Gladstone, executive director, Bravo!FACT Foundation to assist Canadian TalentCTVglobemedia Inc. (Canada), Laurence Herszberg, General Manager Forum des Images and Founder Pocket Films Festival France, Mark Selby, Global Vice President Multimedia, Nokia (UK), Juha Tiihonen CEO and co-Founder, Starcut Oy (Finland), Karin Timpone, Head of Consumer & Customer Innovation, Yahoo! Inc. (USA).

    The 9 Winners of the Mipcom Mobile TV Awards 2007 are :

    1. Best short form audiovisual entertainment made for mobile and/or Internet comedy:
    Jeb‘s Jobs, Weakend Productions, UK.

    2.Best short form audiovisual entertainment made for mobile and/or Internet drama:
    Emmerdale Online Channel: Hoodlum, Australia.

    3. Best short form audiovisual entertainment made for mobile and/or Internet:lifestyle/music :
    History Rocks, A&E Television Networks, USA

    4. Best short form audiovisual entertainment made for mobile and/or Internet factual :
    The Finer things, Speedy Productions, South Africa

    5. Best mobile service for social community & UGC:
    Vringo, Vringo Inc, Israel.

    6. Best made-for-mobile or film channel:
    Toei Anime Comic, Toei Animation Co, Japan

    7. Best Cross platform & Interactive mobile TV format:
    Best Show Ever, MTV Networks International, USA

    8. Best short film originally created or repurposed for mobile:
    King Boxer-Mobisode Celestial Pictures Ltd, Hong Kong

    9. Best film shot on a mobile device:
    Colorful EU, Kodolanyi Janos University-Visual Workshop, Hungary.

    The third edition of the Mipcom Mobile & Internet TV Awards is sponsored by Mini Movie Channel, Thomson and Yahoo!.

     

  • Turner seals online deals

    CANNES: Turner Broadcasting has clinched online deals with YouTube, Joost and Dailymotion.

    The deal means that content from sister news network CNN International and Turner‘s adult-oriented television programming network Adult Swim will be available on Joost before the month is out. Turner Europe has also completed a deal that will allow users of sharing websites YouTube and DailyMotion access to clips from the two channels.

    Casey Harwood, senior vice president for digital media at Turner Broadcasting System Europe said: “Turner has a track record of actively embracing new ways of distributing our content in line with changing consumer habits. Joost is an indicator of how the next generation will access and view television in the digital space and we’re excited to be part of this innovation.”

  • Voom HD channel makes ‘Virgin’ launch into UK

    MIPCOM: Voom HD Networks has completed an agreement with Virgin Media to trial the global Voom HD channel starting in October 2007 as part Virgin Media‘s Broadband Pilot in the UK.

    The deal, brokered by international broadcaster and distributor of thematic channels Chello Zone (formerly Zonemedia), marks the initial delivery of a Voom HD channel in the UK.

    The announcement was made by Malcolm Wall, CEO of Content at Virgin Media; Greg Moyer, General Manager, Voom HD Networks; and Louise Cottrell, Chello Zone‘s vice-president, affiliate sales.

  • Consumers want control; content providers, platforms are listening

    CANNES: The biggest takeaway from this year‘s market has really been about the criticality of content to both media owners and delivery platforms.

    Somewhat ironically, it is the relentless march towards digitalisation that has brought this point front and centre in all the discussions.

    Symbiotically linked to that premise is also the centrality of the digitally enabled consumer, who more than ever controls how, when and where content is consumed.

    Throughout Wednesday, the ‘discussion baseline‘ was Multiplatform Entertainment – At Home, which examined the issue from all possible angles. Whether it was the morning keynote by Joost CEO Mike Volpi, or the Superpanel – Distribution Strategies For Major Media Owners; or the panel – Telco TV Hot Markets & Best Practices what came through was – the consumer is in control and content is critical.

    Interestingly, while the common argument in India is that in the digital regime it would be subscription that would dominate any revenue proposition, the experience for networks in mature markets like the US has been quite different.

    As MTV Networks international president global digital media Mika Salmi pointed out, of the $ 200 million in digital revenues his network made last year, most of it was advertising driven. There is Apple itunes of course, which Salmi admitted has been the best distribution deal MTV has enetered into.

    Some other points of note from the discussions:

    *Timing is key. Media owners have to work with ISPs to put as much legitimate content out there and as fast as possible.

    *Short form content is important and works better on VoD on net.

    *Intimacy with the consumer is what must be engendered in the future acorss the whole ecosystem

    *High levels of creativity to be able to interact with content

    *Innovations and new format creativity where web/TV/mobile interact

    At the end of it all though, whether it be short form or long form programming, great storytelling is what will sustain the ecosystem.

     

  • Showtime, Hydra to launch international business reality series

    CANNES: Hydra Properties, a leading Abu Dhabi-based international real estate company, has teamed up with Showtime Arabia and Infinity TV to launch a new reality-TV series, The Hydra Executives.

    This series invites 16 would-be entrepreneurs, 8 Americans and 8 Brits to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates to compete against each other whereby at the end of the 15 week competition one winner will be entitled to get his business venture funded to the tune of $1,000,000.

    “Its entertainment, but of a different kind,” said the show’s founder and host Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, CEO of Hydra Properties.

    “The show will further emphasize Hydra’s association with innovation and leadership in the UAE and the International real estate development arena. The show will aim to educate and entertain, while simultaneously tapping international entrepreneurial talent to start their real estate venture in the richest and fastest growing development market in the world, Abu Dhabi,” Dr Suleiman added.

    Selected contestants will fly to Abu Dhabi where they will spend their first two weeks in boot camp to learn the art of the real estate deal and how to identify various playing fields. Following this, they will be split into two mixed teams to compete in real estate business assignments for a three month period.

  • Nat Geo partners with Singapore’s MDA to produce documentaries

    Nat Geo partners with Singapore’s MDA to produce documentaries

    CANNES: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI), along with independent production and distribution company, Off the Fence (OTF) and the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) have announced a partnership initiative. They will commission 15 one-hour original documentary programmes in high-definition (HD) to encourage Singaporean filmmaking talents.

     

    The multi-million dollar partnership will enable the production of 15 titles over the next three years. National Geographic Channels International and Off the Fence will share their experience and skills with a range of Singapore producers to develop high-quality, globally-appealing documentaries designed to meet the growing requirement for HD programming worldwide.

     

    These programmes will premiere on NGCI to 190 million homes in 165 countries. Off the Fence will retain all rights in Germany, France and the US outright and will distribute the programming worldwide. The first three projects in the first year have been awarded to Singapore production companies Beach House Production Pictures, The Moving Visual Co. and Right Angle Media.

     

    NGCI executive VP content Sydney Suissa says, “National Geographic Channels International is pleased to partner with leading production companies like Off the Fence and the MDA. By providing resources and creating more opportunities for international exposure, we hope it will empower local filmmakers to create high-quality work for an international audience”.

     

    Off the Fence MD Ellen Windemuth says, “This is a significant step forward in our ongoing global production strategy, fulfilling our key aim of blending our experience in producing programming for an international audience with the unique skills and talents available in the local regions.

     

    ” With National Geographic Channels International and MDA onboard, who are both equally passionate in supporting local talent, we are confident in producing a range of titles that will offer huge appeal to buyers and audiences worldwide.”

     

    MDA CEO Dr Christopher Chia says, “Singapore companies have proven that they have what it takes to be a key contributor to the factual programming content market. This initiative will provide international audiences with more quality Made-by-Singapore HD content.”

  • BBC Worldwide opens local production office in India

    CANNES: UK pubcaster the BBC‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced the opening of its Indian production office.
    The office, headed up by Saul Nassé, will be responsible for bringing the production expertise of the BBC to the Indian market and working with local talent in India to produce and deliver world class television.

    The Indian office, which will trade as BBC Worldwide Productions India, is BBC Worldwide‘s third local production base. It will complement BBC Worldwide‘s hugely successful Los Angeles production studio – which currently works with all the major US networks and is responsible for producing the record-breaking Dancing with the Stars on ABC – and its production company in Australia, a joint venture with Freehand.

    Making the announcement at the ongoing television trade event Mipcom in Cannes, France BBC Worldwide MD content and production Wayne Garvie said, “India is one of the most important and successful territories for BBC Worldwide. This local production office underlines our commitment to Indian broadcasters and audiences and firmly positions BBC Worldwide as a leading global content network. Under Saul‘s leadership, I‘m confident that the office will quickly become a key player in India‘s growing television industry.”

    Nassé added, “I have spent the past year in India, setting up the office and meeting representatives from all the many broadcasters with whom BBC Worldwide works. Two indisputable facts: local productions are by far the most popular programming in India and BBC Worldwide has one of the world‘s richest catalogues of television content and formats. Taken together, therefore, the Indian production base offers genuine synergy. I‘m delighted that the office is now open for business.”

    BBC Worldwide has enjoyed a strong distribution business in India for many years as well as close relationships with all the networks. Standout local production successes include Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Dancing with the Stars, which has just started its second series on Sony. Other shows that have been done are The Weakest Link, Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.

    Nassé recently led the BBC‘s India & Pakistan ‘07 season, having previously been Editor of Tomorrow‘s World and Acting Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC. Working alongside Nassé will be Sonia Chowdhry, Creative Director, Development and Special Projects, BBC Worldwide Productions India. Chowdhry launched the award-winning Haath Se Haath Milaa (Let‘s Join Hands) programme for the BBC World Service HIV/Aids campaign in India and was Head of Programming for Nickelodeon in India. She will be driving the future business of the company, working with the development teams in London and pitching to local broadcasters.

  • NBC Universal in $925 million Oxygen Media buyout; bringing back Knight Rider franchise

    CANNES:Recently installed co-chairman of NBC Entertainment & NBC Universal Television Studio Ben Silverman announced on Tuesday that his network was buying women-focused television network Oxygen Media, adding it to its roster of cable television channels.

    The purchase price: $925 million.

    Silverman, who made these comments during his keynote speech at the Mipcom, also announced that the Peacock Network was bringing back 80s drama Knight Rider, the show that made David Hasselhoff a household name long before Baywatch came along.

    “I can announce today that we are bringing back Knight Rider after we looked at how well Bionic Woman did,” Silverman said.

    Silverman also announced that he would be soon getting into discussions with auto majors for Kit, the talking Knight Rider car.

    Just as Kit will be a new 21st Century supercar, expect a new actor to play the lead. Silverman would not give a direct answer when asked about it though, other than to say, “If the market wants it, he will be there.”

    Knight Rider ran between 1982 and 1986. In the series David Hasselhoff starred as Michael Knight, a kind of modern-day “knight” who drove an advanced smart car with artificial intelligence. Conceived and produced by Glen A. Larson, the show was an instant hit and inspired a sub-genre of high-tech crimefighter series. “I wanted to do The Lone Ranger with a car”, Larson said in The Last Great Ride. “Kind of a sci-fi thing, with the soul of a western.”