ITV

Category: Production House

  • Discovery Studios signs top executive producer Mary Pelloni to overall deal

    Discovery Studios signs top executive producer Mary Pelloni to overall deal

    MUMBAI: Discovery Studios today announced an overall term deal with executive producer and television veteran Mary Pelloni. Pelloni will develop and produce series and specials under the Discovery Studios banner.

    “Discovery Studios continues to attract the industry’s top creative talent and building an innovative operation for the production of globally successful television. Mary is an industry leader who shares Discovery’s values and brand sensibilities. The addition of her expertise to our already strong roster will ensure Discovery Studios continues to develop and produce programs that engage viewers with compelling stories, fascinating characters and high-quality production values,” said Lee Bartlett, President, Discovery Studios. 

    “I have partnered with Discovery on various projects over the years and have always been impressed by the strength of brands and their commitment to developing genre-defining, lifestyle programming,” said Pelloni.  “I look forward to working with the team at Discovery Studios, bringing my ideas to life and creating original and captivating TV for Discovery’s global networks. Together, we’ll create the kind of pioneering programming that can be found nowhere else.” 

     

    Pelloni has been producing unscripted series and talk shows for broadcast and top cable networks for over a decade and began her career in development at national talk shows including Sally Jessy Raphael, Roseanne Barr and Gordon Elliott. She was instrumental in developing and executive producing long-running series includingDC Cupcakes for TLC, Bridezillas and Girl Meets Gown for WE TV and How Do I Look? for the Style Network.

  • FremantleMedia’s ‘Ella the Eelephant’ now available across Disney Junior channel Latin America

    FremantleMedia’s ‘Ella the Eelephant’ now available across Disney Junior channel Latin America

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment today announced that the preschool show, Ella the Elephant, has been sold to Disney Junior Channel Latin America.  Having already sold to 23 children’s TV platforms in more than 50 territories,Disney Junior Channel Latin America is the latest network to fall for the adorable elephant with a charmingpersonality.

    Ella the Elephant is an animated preschool series about an adventurous elephant and her magic hat.  The series is based on the popular books by Carmela and Steve D’Amico and follows the adventures of Ella, the little elephant with a giant heart.  Ella loves to play and explore Elephant Islands with her friends Tiki, Frankie and Belinda, but sometimes their adventures create challenges along the way.  Luckily through a combination of imagination and “hat magic,” Ella is able to transform her hat into numerous objects that can come to her aid.  

    “With its upbeat tone and expression of positive values, Ella the Elephant is sure to be a great addition to children’s programming across Latin America,” said Sheila Aguirre, Senior Vice President, Sales and Development Latin America, Caribbean and Hispanic USA, FremantleMedia International.  “While we have had success with shows such as Merlin and My Babysitter’s A Vampire on Disney XD Latin America, we’re excited to have a show like Ella that’s filled with great messages for preschoolers find a home on Disney Junior Channel Latin America.”

    In addition to the upcoming premiere in Latin America, Ella the Elephant will launch on Disney Junior in the U.S. this spring.  The show also premiered on TVO, Knowledge Networkand Tele-Quebec in Canada and Tiji in Franceandis also currently airing in Poland where it performs well amongst girls aged 4-9, with an average share of 16.4%.  Additional territories expected to begin airing Ella the Elephant during the first half of 2014 include Finland (MTV3 Juniori), Norway (TV2), Australia (ABC), Spain (Clan) and Singapore (Okto), with additional territories to follow later in the year.  

    Ella the Elephant is an animated series produced in CGI against 2D backgrounds by DHX Media in association with TVO Kids and FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment.  DHX Media has international distribution rights in Canada, USA, Middle East and India, with FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment handling the rest of the world.  DHX Media and FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment are also currently exploring multiple opportunities for consumer products programs including toys and apparel.

    Visit FremantleMedia at NATPE 2014 at Fontainebleau Resort in Miami, Tresor Tower, Suite 2-3003 from January 27 – 29.

     

  • FremantleMedia International And Young Hollywood Strike Exclusive First Look Deal

    FremantleMedia International And Young Hollywood Strike Exclusive First Look Deal

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) has today announced an exclusive first look content deal with digital entertainment pioneer Young Hollywood. The deal, which extends FMI’s portfolio of multi-platform properties, covers all of Young Hollywood’s half hour and hour long programming, including Young Hollywood’s Greatest… (26 x 30) and Young Hollywood Presents Evolution Of… (26 x 30) which are already part of FMI’s extensive content catalogue.

     

    “Young Hollywood is one of the world’s largest independent producers of exclusive premium celebrity video programming with an unparalleled track record for discovering the next generation of Hollywood stars and we’re delighted to have secured this first look deal with them,” said Hayley Dickson, Vice President of Acquisitions & Development at FremantleMedia. “It signifies FremantleMedia International’s on-going commitment to working with the very best content producers on both traditional and non-traditional platforms and enriches our existing catalogue with a unique approach to celebrity that looks beyond gossip to reveal an authentic individual.”

     

    RJ Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Young Hollywood added: “It’s great to be extending our existing relationship with FremantleMedia International. They are a fantastic partner for the Young Hollywood brand, and their extensive international network will be invaluable in helping to introduce global audiences to our past and future catalogue of exclusive celebrity content.”

     

    FMI currently has distribution rights to two of Young Hollywood’s long-form shows, which have shown strong international appeal since they were launched at MIPCOM in October 2013, having sold to over 30 territories to date. Young Hollywood’s Greatest… gets up close and personal with all the biggest stars in Hollywood by presenting a Top 7 Countdown featuring the best-of moments and experiences with celebrities on Young Hollywood.  Celebrities are showcased in categories such as The Greatest… Action Stars, Heartthrobs, or Next Gen Superstars, and each entry includes clips of impromptu, candid interviews with Hollywood’s glitterati and exclusive moments you can’t find anywhere else. Young Hollywood Presents Evolution Of… features a range of A-Listers that Young Hollywood has been following since the very beginning of their careers.  From past to present, see how your favorite celebrities have developed from wide-eyed hopefuls into bona fide superstars.  Featuring early photo shoots, exclusive interviews and set visits, Young Hollywood shows how these stars have evolved throughout the years. 

  • Fremantlemedia international heads into natpe throughout latin america

    Fremantlemedia international heads into natpe throughout latin america

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International today announced that the company is continuing to bring world class entertainment to the Latin American market with a line-up of prominent programming sales throughout the region.  

    “FremantleMedia International continues to have a strong presence across Latin America as we head into this year’s NATPE market,” said Sheila Aguirre, Senior Vice President, Sales and Development Latin America, Caribbean and Hispanic USA, FremantleMedia International.  “We continue to offer diverse content and formats that meet the needs of a wide range of broadcasters, and remain dedicated to building our business within the region.”

    Welcoming every type of performer, the leadingFremantleMedia and Syco Television co-owned format,Got Talentcontinues to celebrate artistic spirits throughout the region.  SonyPictures Television Networks in Latin America, as well as CNC-3 Trinidad, will continue taking America’s Got Talentwith Season9 premiering in 2014. In addition, the Got Talentformat has been re-commissioned for a localized versionwith TalentoChileno on Chilevision entering into its fifth season.  

    In additional format sales, the original music show phenomenon, Idols, co-owned by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, will be adapted for the Colombian market for the first time.  Idol Colombia is set to premiere on RCN in spring 2014 and will become the 47th local version of Idols to be produced worldwide.

    Reality television will continue to be a focus with the sale of Seasons 1 and 2 of Tattoo Nightmares(34 x 30’). Highlighting real people with really bad tattoos, the show will be premiering onTruTVin 2014.  In addition, hidden collectibles will be uncovered asthe modern-day treasure hunt,Storage WarsCanada (36 x 30’)heads to A&E Networks throughout the Latin American region.  Also havingjust launched is Fractured Families – The Long Ride Home on Chilevision.  Estranged parents and children are followed as they undertake a tough adventure to re-build their damaged relationships in this locally produced version.

    Exploring the factual categorywith a sale to Discovery Networks Latin America, Dark Matters: Twisted But True(6 x 1 hour) presents unbelievable tales from the strange side of science.  

    In lifestyle programming, Martha Stewart’s Cooking School(26 x 30’) stars the famed business woman and explores her classic techniques for making everything in the home perfect.  Seasons 1 and 2 of the show will be premiering on Chello Latin America.  And the hilarious game show formatsThe Noiseand Face Itfrom Fuji TV, are being produced byTelefeand recently premiered in Argentina.  The Noiseproves that silence really is golden as teams battle it out to perform tasks without a sound, while contestants useonly their faces to complete tasks in Face It.

    Visit FremantleMedia at NATPE 2014 at Fontainebleau Resort in Miami, Tresor Tower, Suite 2-3003 from January 27 – 29.

     

  • Balaji Telefilms television segment reports PAT for Q3-2014

    Balaji Telefilms television segment reports PAT for Q3-2014

    BENGALURU: The blue eyed entity of the Indian media and entertainment industry Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji) Television content production segment reported a standalone PAT of Rs 1.66 crore for Q3-2014, more than double the Rs 0.80 crore for the immediate preceding quarter (Q2-2014), but a little less a third (33.5 per cent) of the Rs 4.94 crore which included a negative tax figure that added to the profit by Rs 1.18 crore during Q3-2013. 

     

    Television entertainment has been the foundation stone for Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL). This segment saw a growth of 41.7 per cent in commissioned programming to 173 hours during Q3-2014 as compared to the 123 hours during the immediate trailing quarter and 18.5 per cent as compared to the 146 hours during Q3-2013. Revenue realised per hour dipped to Rs 21.18 lakh (100 lakh = 1 crore) for Q3-2014 from Rs 23.10 lakh during Q2-2014 and was 2.8 per cent lower than the Rs 21.79 lakh realised during Q3-2013. 

     

    With no movies released during the quarter, overall, the company reported a consolidated loss of Rs (-5.75) crore for Q3-2014, the sole contributor to the loss being its Motion Picture business ­ Balaji Motion Pictures Limited (BMPL), with a loss of Rs (- 7.56 crore). Four movies, from the movies under production, are likely to be released between February and April 2014 – Shaadi Ke Side Effects, Raagini MMS 2, Main Tera Hero and Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi. This segment had contributed Rs 11.81 crore to the Rs 12.32 crore PAT reported by Balaji during Q2-2014. 

     

    Balaji’s third revenue segment – BOLT Media Limited (BOLT) returned a PAT of Rs 0.14 crore during Q3-2014 as compared to a loss of Rs (-0.32) crore for Q2-2014. 

     

    Let us look at the other results declared by Balaji Telefilms

     

    The company reported consolidated income from operations of Rs 43.22 crore for Q3-2014 as compared to the Rs 194.62 crore during the immediate trailing quarter and the Rs 46.6 crore reported for Q3-2013.  

     

    Increase in stock in trade by Rs 13.74 crore during Q3-2014 has seen total consolidated expenditure figures (on paper) dip to Rs 49.83 crore. During Q2-2014, decrease in stock in trade of Rs 93.77 crore had increased the total expenditure to Rs 185.09 crore during Q2-2014, while an increase in stock in trade of Rs 15.23 crore had reduced the total expenditure to Rs 40.88 crore during Q3-2013.

     

    Production cost for movies and serials during Q3-2014 at Rs 51.49 crore was six per cent less than the Rs 54.82 crore during Q2-2014, but 14.5 per cent higher than the Rs 44.96 crore during Q3-2013. Marketing  and distribution expense for Q3-2014 at Rs 1.09 crore was just a small fraction of the Rs 23.81 crore spent during Q2-2014 and two and a half times the Rs 0.5 crore spent during Q3-2013.

     

    Revenue from operations from Balaji’s Television content production segment was up 50 per cent at Rs 37.80 crore for Q3-2014 as compared to the Rs 25.25 crore during Q2-2014 and 16.4 per cent more than the Rs 32.48 crore during Q3-2014. Total Operating revenue from this segment was Rs 38.75 crore for Q3-2014, Rs 30.33 crore for Q2-2014 and Rs 33.32 crore for Q3-2013. 

     

    Cost of production for the television segment during Q3-2014 was up 23.6 per cent at Rs 31.19 crore as compared to the Rs 25.25 crore during Q2-2014 and 25.2 per cent higher than the Rs 24.92 crore during Q3-2013. 

     

    BMPL reported operating revenue of Rs 1.13 crore for Q3-2013 as compared to the Rs 165.05 crore for Q2-2014 and Rs 13.25 crore during Q3-2013. BMPL’s expenditure for Q3-2014 was Rs 8.72 crore for Q3-2014, Rs 172.4 crore during Q2-2014 and Rs 29.73 crore during Q3-2013. As mentioned above this segment has reported a loss of Rs (-7.56 crore) during Q3-2014. 

     

    Balaji says that Production cost for this segment comprises of old films inventory amortisation, marketing and distribution expenses of future releases. Balaji’s two releases during the second quarter of 2014 – Lootera and Once upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara were declared ‘Average’ and ‘Flop’ respectively at the Box Office. 

     

    BOLT reported revenue of Rs 3.37 crore and a total expenditure of Rs 3.33 crore during Q3-2014.

     

    Click below for:-

    Balaji Telefilms Financials

    Balaji Telefilms Investor Presentation

  • FremantleMedia International promotes Haley Dickson to VP acquisitions

    FremantleMedia International promotes Haley Dickson to VP acquisitions

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI), an independent distributor of content with a current catalogue containing over 20,000 hours of programming, has promoted Hayley Dickson to the newly created position of vice president, television acquisitions and development, global content. 

     

    Working closely with the FMI distribution team, as well as FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) scripted development, Dickson will lead the North American division of FMI’s global content group and is charged with identifying and securing prestigious properties for both domestic and international marketplaces, with a focus on entertainment, factual, lifestyle, drama and comedy.  She also heads up new business development, while maintaining relationships with FMI’s extensive network of best in class content creators and distributors.  

     

    “Hayley has a talent for recognising emerging trends and the opportunities they represent. She has an intuitive grasp of the ongoing evolution of content and distribution channels and this makes her the perfect candidate for this important role,” said FremantleMedia director of global entertainment development Rob Clark.

     

    “I am excited about building the bridge between content creators and global audiences, and grateful to all my friends and colleagues at FremantleMedia for the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the most vibrant and fast-paced business in the world,” said Dickson.

     

    Prior to taking on this new role, Dickson was with FremantleMedia serving as director, television acquisitions and development, with a focus on sourcing, evaluating and acquiring rights to TV and digital content.  She recently identified and initiated a series of strategic relationships with digital content originators including Hulu, Vuguru and Young Hollywood, which bolstered FremantleMedia International’s catalogue with such titles as Behind The Mask, Fetching, Hollywood Help and Young Hollywood’s Greatest. Before joining FremantleMedia, Dickson served as the manager of acquisitions for Shine International. 

  • ‘India’s hunt for its Trendspotter’ has begun!

    ‘India’s hunt for its Trendspotter’ has begun!

    MUMBAI: India’s first online digital channel, Trendspotters.tv, has announced ‘India’s hunt for its Trendspotter’ – A Contest now live on Facebook & Twitter. Under this contest, you simply have to capture some unique trend setting phenomenon from your city and upload the image or video on the Trendspotters.tv fan page. This Pan India Contest entitles the trendspotter with maximum votes to win a grand prize of Rs. 1 Lakh. The last date to upload the happening trends is February 15, 2014.

     

    Kunal Kishore Sinha, Founder, www.trendspotters.tv said, “‘India’s hunt for its Trendspotter’ Contest is our latest endeavour to creatively engage our viewers and further extend our Trendspotting team. There is something always trending around you and this is the perfect opportunity to update the trend lovers about it. Spotting the most exquisite trend from the world of fashion, entertainment, music and so on could entitle you to a Grand Prize.”

     

    Participants have to simply register themselves, enter the details on the nature of one’s video/image and upload through Facebook or YouTube. Participants can upload more than one entry which will then appear in the Gallery. They can invite friends to vote for their entry and based on the votes received, their ranking will appear on the Leaderboard. They can keep a tab on the entries they have posted on My Profile.

     

    The top ranking participant will not only win a cash Prize of Rs.1 lakh but also get a chance to become the Trendspotter for India’s first online digital channel for a year! Answering a question about an existing video of Trendspotters.tv in the Watch and Win segment can enable participants to win some exciting prizes daily!

     

    Trendspotters.tv is giving eager enthusiasts with a streak for observing the quirky, the stylish, the extraordinary and the offbeat, the perfect platform to showcase their ability to spot a cool trend in their locality. Now everyone can become a Trendspotter!

     

    This campaign has been activated in association with Digital Brand Partner BrandAppz.

  • BBC Worldwide appoints Akhauri Sinha as the COO of Content and Production

    BBC Worldwide appoints Akhauri Sinha as the COO of Content and Production

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide India has appointed Akhauri Sinha as the COO of Content and Production. Based in Mumbai, Akhauri will report to Myleeta Aga, SVP and General Manager India and Content Head for Asia, and will oversee BBC Worldwide’s production business in the country.

     

    Akhauri will head the production of BBC Worldwide formats and local originally developed concepts in both fiction and non-fiction genres, for the Indian market. He is also tasked to formulate and implement local development strategies to maximise commissioning opportunities within the territory.

     

    Akhauri joins BBC Worldwide from Moving Picture Company (MPC) in Bangalore where he headed the India studio for the global visual effects giant. Prior to that, Akhauri worked with Nimbus and UTV, managing the film entertainment division and business development, respectively.

     

    “I am very pleased to have Akhauri join the BBC Worldwide family,” said Myleeta Aga. “Akhauri has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the media industry and has managed major production and other media businesses. With him working closely with our team on the ground, I am confident that BBC Worldwide in India will continue to produce quality formats and local productions that will appeal to our growing audience.”

     

    Last month, BBC Worldwide India was recognised at the 2013 Asian Television Awards when Disney Q Family Mastermind (India) was awarded with the Best Game/Quiz Programme. The format was adapted from the classic BBC format, Mastermind, which was revised to include families as participants. It airs on Disney Channel India.

     

    The sixth and latest season of the Hindi version of Dancing with the Stars, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which aired on Colors, achieved its best audience figures to date – the grand finale, on 14th September 2013, pushed the show to the top of weekend programming nearly doubling the ratings from 2012.  There is also a regional Bengali version of the show.

     

    Source: BBC Worldwide India

  • DQ Entertainment’s Method Animation gets much needed nudge

    DQ Entertainment’s Method Animation gets much needed nudge

    MUMBAI: DQ Entertainment (DQE), a leading animation, gaming, live action, entertainment production and distribution group, has announced the reorganisation of its French sister company Method Animation, in which it holds a 20 per cent equity stake. Method Animation has collaborated with Onyx Films and Chapter 2 to create ‘On Entertainment Group’ which will be the holding company for the three French subsidiary companies.

     

    With the combined portfolio that includes a huge library of titles and group revenues, the enlarged French group automatically climbs the pedestal to become one of the leading animation and film production companies in Europe. The new On Entertainment group has revenue of €34 million and an operating profit of €5.2 million. DQ Entertainment pictures will continue to hold a 20 per cent stake in Method Animation.

     

    On Entertainment is aiming to grow rapidly over the next five years for which it has even raised its investment. It will provide increased liquidity to the group and fund future productions through a fundraising of €10 million from Ohana Capital, a Canadian corporate investment fund, Gallic entrepreneur Laurent Dassault’s holding company LDRP, and AB Group, one of France’s biggest rights-brokers and the owner of 14 pay-TV channels. AB will provide minimum guarantees in future shows/TV Series, while Ohana Capital has expertise in licensing and merchandising.

     

    “The group intends to create two films per year with significant budgets that are intended for worldwide distribution,” said Chapter 2 CEO Dimitri Rassam. Method Animation CEO Aton Soumache said, “We are working on creating a catalogue of characters that can be monetised in various markets.”

     

    DQ Entertainment CEO Tapaas Charkravarti, commented: “We look forward to partnering with On entertainment on new  productions, combining the unique strengths and resources that the two groups represent.”

     

    On Entertainment’s projects for 2014 and 2015 include the feature film Paradise Lost based on the life of Pablo Escobar with Benicia DelToro and Josh Hutcherson starring in the €20 million budget film; Le Petit Prince, an animated feature film at a budget of €57 million euros has already been closed. It is directed by Mark Osborne and slated for a Global release in second half of 2015.

     

    DQ Entertainment and Method Animation have together undertaken several productions such as Le Petit Prince, Peter Pan, Prodigies, Charlie Chaplin, Le Petit Nicolas, Iron Man (a flagship series of Marvel characters) and several others at a combined production budget of about €90 million. At the same time, Robin Hood Season-1, Second season of The New Adventures of Peter Pan, English-language live­ action/animation hybrid TV Series of The Seven Dwarfs and Me, and several other famous brands are in the development.

  • Lukup Media and Warner Bros partner to create India’s first on demand TV channel

    Lukup Media and Warner Bros partner to create India’s first on demand TV channel

    NEW DELHI: Lukup Media has teamed up with Warner Bros Digital Distribution to offer its newly released movies such as Gravity and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and a selection of many new releases, catalogue titles and popular TV series, will be offered to viewers via an on-demand TV channel powered by a new product called the Lukup Player.

     

    The Lukup Player delivers a combination of live and on-demand content on television and other devices people use to consume content.

     

    The deal will see titles made available through the on-demand service from February 2014, as well as future new releases. Users will have access to more than 200 films and TV series from the Warner Bros. library.

     

    Lukuo Media CEO Kallol Borah said: “We are very happy to partner Warner Bros. and bring a wide selection of popular and new movies and TV shows which will be available through India’s first on-demand TV channel. The channel will allow people to choose titles from their TV program guide, pay for them and view them at a time of their choice.”

     

    Chris Dyde, Senior Vice President, International Licensee Markets, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group said: “Providing consumers with more choices and improving the movie experience at home is at the heart of Warner Bros.’ Digital strategy and we’re delighted to be working with Lukup Media, which will see a fantastic selection of both new and library movies offered to viewers in India”.

     

    Lukup Media plans to launch the Lukup Player in February 2014 and it will carry multiple on-demand channels that it will deliver on TV in addition to the live TV channels carried by satellite and cable platforms.