ITV

Category: Post Production

  • Prime Focus Technologies appoints Raghunath Mohanrao as COO; replaces Ganesh Sankaran

    Prime Focus Technologies appoints Raghunath Mohanrao as COO; replaces Ganesh Sankaran

    MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies has appointed IT veteran Raghunath Mohanrao as its new chief operating officer. Mohanrao will replace PFT co-founder and former COO Ganesh Sankaran.

    Mohanroa joins PFT with an eye toward furthering PFT’s growth within the global media and entertainment markets. Sankaran is taking a sabbatical for 15 months to pursue an MBA, while remaining on the PFT Board of Directors.

    “I’ve wanted to go back to school for my MBA for some time now, and with PFT in such a strong position, I know this is the right time. I’ve known Raghu for well over 18 years and am confident he is the right fit for PFT. I look forward to his leadership to take PFT to the next level of its growth journey,” said Sankiaran.

    “Ganesh is taking a well-deserved break from the hot pursuit of building PFT from its inception in a garage to where it is now. Raghu is an accomplished technology leader in the media and entertainment space and his background and skills offer the best fit for what PFT requires as it charters the next level of innovation, delivery excellence and growth,” added Prime Focus Technologies founder and CEO Ramki Sankaranarayanan.

    “PFT’s breadth of technology offerings and opportunity for transforming media and entertainment companies are two of the many reasons for my interest and excitement as I take over the position of COO. I look forward to bolstering the unwavering customer and people focus, delivery excellence and innovation at PFT,” added Mohanrao.

    Mohanrao will join Ramki and the PFT executive team at the annual NAB Show, a key event for both PFT and the media and entertainment industry as a whole. Initially, he has worked as the telecom, media and entertainment industry leader at IBM, managing IBM’s globally integrated capabilities.

    He also focused on worldwide growth strategy as vertical delivery head at Wipro Technologies, responsible for services delivery including profit and loss for telecommunications and worldwide media and entertainment businesses in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 

  • India wants Indo-Chinese pact on co-production and export of movies to China

    India wants Indo-Chinese pact on co-production and export of movies to China

    NEW DELHI: The Government today proposed that the National Film Development and its Chinese counterpart should explore the possibilities of a memorandum of understanding for joint production and distribution of films between the two countries.

    Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora stated this in a meeting with Fuzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries President Yang Yue and his delegation members.

    The meeting was held here to discuss cooperation between the two countries in areas pertaining to co-production of movies and import of more Indian films to China. Joint Secretary (Films) K Sanjay Murthy and Senior Officers from the Ministry were also present during the meeting.

    Yue agreed to examine the suggestion. He invited Indian representatives to visit Fuzhou for the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival.

    India had earlier participated as a focus country in the 2nd Silk Road International Film Festival in September last year and a delegation from the Ministry and the Directorate of Film Festivals attended the festival.

    India and China had earlier signed an Audio-Visual Co-production Agreement in September 2014.
    In the recent past, India had permitted filming of three Chinese films in the country namely: ‘Lost in India’, ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ and ‘Xuan Zang’. The film ‘Xuan Zang’ was a co-production between the Chinese Film Company Ltd. and Eros (India) International. The movie ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ is currently being filmed in India.

  • India wants Indo-Chinese pact on co-production and export of movies to China

    India wants Indo-Chinese pact on co-production and export of movies to China

    NEW DELHI: The Government today proposed that the National Film Development and its Chinese counterpart should explore the possibilities of a memorandum of understanding for joint production and distribution of films between the two countries.

    Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora stated this in a meeting with Fuzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries President Yang Yue and his delegation members.

    The meeting was held here to discuss cooperation between the two countries in areas pertaining to co-production of movies and import of more Indian films to China. Joint Secretary (Films) K Sanjay Murthy and Senior Officers from the Ministry were also present during the meeting.

    Yue agreed to examine the suggestion. He invited Indian representatives to visit Fuzhou for the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival.

    India had earlier participated as a focus country in the 2nd Silk Road International Film Festival in September last year and a delegation from the Ministry and the Directorate of Film Festivals attended the festival.

    India and China had earlier signed an Audio-Visual Co-production Agreement in September 2014.
    In the recent past, India had permitted filming of three Chinese films in the country namely: ‘Lost in India’, ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ and ‘Xuan Zang’. The film ‘Xuan Zang’ was a co-production between the Chinese Film Company Ltd. and Eros (India) International. The movie ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ is currently being filmed in India.

  • NBCU’s Fandango acquires Warner’s Flixster & Rotten Tomatoes

    NBCU’s Fandango acquires Warner’s Flixster & Rotten Tomatoes

    MUMBAI: Once known simply as an online movie ticketer, NBCUniversal’s Fandango has made impressive strides over the last several years to evolve its business into an experience brand that super-serves consumers throughout a movie’s lifecycle.

    Now going a step further, Fandango has signed an agreement to acquire digital movie brands Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, owned by Warner Bros Entertainment.

    The addition of Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, along with Fandango’s recent acquisition of on-demand video service M-GO, will expand the company’s theatrical ticketing business and create the industry’s premier digital network for all things movies.  

    With this acquisition, Fandango’s combined audience reach will grow to over 63 million unique visitors per month and more than 100 million mobile app downloads, and offer consumers the most comprehensive resource for movie information, theatrical ticketing, movie trailers and original video content for movie discovery, and home entertainment.  

    Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, including its world-famous Tomatometer rating tool (representing the percentage of positive professional reviews for a given film or television show) will continue as consumer-facing brands, as well as exciting new additions to Fandango’s digital network. As part of the deal, Warner Bros. Entertainment will take a minority ownership stake in Fandango and serve as an ongoing strategic partner. Fandango will remain a unit of NBCUniversal.

    “Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes are invaluable resources for movie fans, and we look forward to growing these successful properties, driving more theatrical ticketing and super-serving consumers with all their movie needs,” said Fandango president Paul Yanover. “Our new expanded network will also offer unparalleled capabilities for all of our exhibition, studio and promotional partners to reach a massive entertainment audience with innovative marketing and ticketing opportunities,” he added.

    In January, Fandango acquired M-GO, a leading digital distributor of new release and catalog movies to a wide variety of connected, over-the-top (OTT) and mobile devices including Android, iOS, Samsung, LG, Roku, and others. With M-GO (to be rebranded later this year), Fandango plans to work with exhibitors and studios to build streamlined solutions for “super tickets,” theatrical ticketing and home entertainment product bundles, gifts with purchase and other new promotional opportunities.

    Fandango’s vision for super-serving consumers throughout the movie lifecycle is also extending globally.  Just four months ago, Fandango made its first move internationally and acquired Brazil’s Ingresso.com, the top online ticketer in South America’s largest movie marketplace.
    The addition of Rotten Tomatoes will also strengthen Fandango’s presence overseas, as the Tomatometer is also used by international movie lovers.

    Fandango’s most recent acquisitions follow on the heels of the company’s record-breaking year in 2015, where it experienced 81 per cent growth in US ticketing, and for the first time in a single year, received more than one billion visits.

  • NBCU’s Fandango acquires Warner’s Flixster & Rotten Tomatoes

    NBCU’s Fandango acquires Warner’s Flixster & Rotten Tomatoes

    MUMBAI: Once known simply as an online movie ticketer, NBCUniversal’s Fandango has made impressive strides over the last several years to evolve its business into an experience brand that super-serves consumers throughout a movie’s lifecycle.

    Now going a step further, Fandango has signed an agreement to acquire digital movie brands Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, owned by Warner Bros Entertainment.

    The addition of Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, along with Fandango’s recent acquisition of on-demand video service M-GO, will expand the company’s theatrical ticketing business and create the industry’s premier digital network for all things movies.  

    With this acquisition, Fandango’s combined audience reach will grow to over 63 million unique visitors per month and more than 100 million mobile app downloads, and offer consumers the most comprehensive resource for movie information, theatrical ticketing, movie trailers and original video content for movie discovery, and home entertainment.  

    Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes, including its world-famous Tomatometer rating tool (representing the percentage of positive professional reviews for a given film or television show) will continue as consumer-facing brands, as well as exciting new additions to Fandango’s digital network. As part of the deal, Warner Bros. Entertainment will take a minority ownership stake in Fandango and serve as an ongoing strategic partner. Fandango will remain a unit of NBCUniversal.

    “Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes are invaluable resources for movie fans, and we look forward to growing these successful properties, driving more theatrical ticketing and super-serving consumers with all their movie needs,” said Fandango president Paul Yanover. “Our new expanded network will also offer unparalleled capabilities for all of our exhibition, studio and promotional partners to reach a massive entertainment audience with innovative marketing and ticketing opportunities,” he added.

    In January, Fandango acquired M-GO, a leading digital distributor of new release and catalog movies to a wide variety of connected, over-the-top (OTT) and mobile devices including Android, iOS, Samsung, LG, Roku, and others. With M-GO (to be rebranded later this year), Fandango plans to work with exhibitors and studios to build streamlined solutions for “super tickets,” theatrical ticketing and home entertainment product bundles, gifts with purchase and other new promotional opportunities.

    Fandango’s vision for super-serving consumers throughout the movie lifecycle is also extending globally.  Just four months ago, Fandango made its first move internationally and acquired Brazil’s Ingresso.com, the top online ticketer in South America’s largest movie marketplace.
    The addition of Rotten Tomatoes will also strengthen Fandango’s presence overseas, as the Tomatometer is also used by international movie lovers.

    Fandango’s most recent acquisitions follow on the heels of the company’s record-breaking year in 2015, where it experienced 81 per cent growth in US ticketing, and for the first time in a single year, received more than one billion visits.

  • NBCU Brand Development Group names Black White Orange as India licensing agent

    NBCU Brand Development Group names Black White Orange as India licensing agent

    MUMBAI: NBCUniversal Brand Development Group has appointed Black White Orange as its licensing and merchandising agent in India and South Asia.

    Under the agreement, Black White Orange will manage licensing for NBCUniversal’s expansive portfolio, including major franchises such as Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me, as well as Universal and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World and Universal’s Fast & Furious; upcoming films like Illumination and Universal’s The Secret Life of Pets; and classic films from the studio’s library, including Back to the Future and Jaws, amongst others. 

    As NBCUniversal enters into the Indian and South Asian markets for the first time, Black White Orange will unleash each film’s potential in the form of authentic licensed merchandise such as apparel, toys, stationery, gifts, novelty, back-to-school, home décor, innovative non-traditional categories and more. Black White Orange will establish, grow and expand NBCUniversal’s business in India, as well as in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and other South Asian markets.

    “Through franchise properties including Fast & Furious, Jurassic World and Minions, NBCUniversal has seen massive box-office success in India,” said Black White Orange CEO and founder Bhavik Vora. “NBCUniversal’s library also includes many all-time classics, and the company has a blockbuster upcoming lineup. We are extremely thrilled & proud to bring these phenomenal properties to such a huge fan base in India on the consumer products platform.”

    “The NBCUniversal portfolio boasts some of the biggest properties in movies and TV with fans that span across age groups, making it one of the most sought-after propositions in India,” added NBCUniversalBrand Development Group Consumer Products International SVP Marc Low. “We are truly excited to venture into the Indian and South Asia market, and we are delighted to have found a partner in Black White Orange. We are confident that its unique and promising strategic approach will build the Universal brand in India and South Asia and help us reach our fans in these key and growing territories.”

  • NBCU Brand Development Group names Black White Orange as India licensing agent

    NBCU Brand Development Group names Black White Orange as India licensing agent

    MUMBAI: NBCUniversal Brand Development Group has appointed Black White Orange as its licensing and merchandising agent in India and South Asia.

    Under the agreement, Black White Orange will manage licensing for NBCUniversal’s expansive portfolio, including major franchises such as Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures’ Despicable Me, as well as Universal and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World and Universal’s Fast & Furious; upcoming films like Illumination and Universal’s The Secret Life of Pets; and classic films from the studio’s library, including Back to the Future and Jaws, amongst others. 

    As NBCUniversal enters into the Indian and South Asian markets for the first time, Black White Orange will unleash each film’s potential in the form of authentic licensed merchandise such as apparel, toys, stationery, gifts, novelty, back-to-school, home décor, innovative non-traditional categories and more. Black White Orange will establish, grow and expand NBCUniversal’s business in India, as well as in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and other South Asian markets.

    “Through franchise properties including Fast & Furious, Jurassic World and Minions, NBCUniversal has seen massive box-office success in India,” said Black White Orange CEO and founder Bhavik Vora. “NBCUniversal’s library also includes many all-time classics, and the company has a blockbuster upcoming lineup. We are extremely thrilled & proud to bring these phenomenal properties to such a huge fan base in India on the consumer products platform.”

    “The NBCUniversal portfolio boasts some of the biggest properties in movies and TV with fans that span across age groups, making it one of the most sought-after propositions in India,” added NBCUniversalBrand Development Group Consumer Products International SVP Marc Low. “We are truly excited to venture into the Indian and South Asia market, and we are delighted to have found a partner in Black White Orange. We are confident that its unique and promising strategic approach will build the Universal brand in India and South Asia and help us reach our fans in these key and growing territories.”

  • Q2-2016: Prime Focus revenue up 47% ;EBIDTA doubles

    Q2-2016: Prime Focus revenue up 47% ;EBIDTA doubles

    BENGALURU: Prime Focus Limited (PFL) reported 47 per cent YoY revenue growth for the quarter ending 31 December, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) at Rs 468.52 crore from Rs 318.67 crore in Q2-2015 and 4.4 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 448.57 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The company reported more than double (2.02 times) YoY EBITA at Rs 75.56 crore (15.3 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 35.48 crore (11.1 per cent margin) and 37.4 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 52.07 crore (11.6 per cent margin).

    Notes: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million =1 crore
    (2) The company had filed results for a fifteen month period ended June 30, 2014, hence YoY comparison is being done between Q2-2016 and Q2-2015 and QoQ comparison is between Q2-2016 and Q1-2016 (quarter ended September, 2015).

    The company reported a lower net loss of Rs 11.40 crore in Q2-2016, a loss of Rs 36.17 crore in Q2-2015 and a loss of Rs 22.51 crore in Q1-2016. 

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by PFL

    Figures A and B below show PFL’s major expense heads. As is obvious, a major expense head for the company is employee benefit expense or EBE.

    PFL’s EBE in Q2-2016 at Rs 284.10 crore (62.4 per cent of TIO) was 43.8 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 197.54 crore and (62 per cent of TIO) and was almost flat (went up by 0.5 per cent) QoQ as compared to Rs 282.57 crore (61.6 per cent of TIO).

    Technician’s Fees in the current quarter increased 19.6 per cent YoY to Rs 7.88 crore (1.7 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 6.35 crore (2.1 per cent of TIO), but declined 19.3 per cent QoQ from Rs 9.77 crore (2.2 per cent of TIO).

    Fig B indicates that EBE also shows a linear upward trend in terms of percentage of TIO over the twelve quarters starting Q4-2013 until the current quarter Q2-2016. EBE has been the highest in Q2-2016 (62.4 per cent) in terms of absolute rupees, but in terms of percentage of TIO, it was highest in Q3-2015 at 64 per cent.

    Finance and Interest cost in Q12-2016 at Rs 25.11 crore (5.4 per cent of TIO) increased 45.3 per cent YoY from Rs 17.28 crore (5.4 per cent of TIO) and increased 41.4 per cent QoQ from Rs 17.75 crore (four per cent of TIO).

  • Q2-2016: Prime Focus revenue up 47% ;EBIDTA doubles

    Q2-2016: Prime Focus revenue up 47% ;EBIDTA doubles

    BENGALURU: Prime Focus Limited (PFL) reported 47 per cent YoY revenue growth for the quarter ending 31 December, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) at Rs 468.52 crore from Rs 318.67 crore in Q2-2015 and 4.4 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 448.57 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The company reported more than double (2.02 times) YoY EBITA at Rs 75.56 crore (15.3 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 35.48 crore (11.1 per cent margin) and 37.4 per cent higher QoQ as compared to Rs 52.07 crore (11.6 per cent margin).

    Notes: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million =1 crore
    (2) The company had filed results for a fifteen month period ended June 30, 2014, hence YoY comparison is being done between Q2-2016 and Q2-2015 and QoQ comparison is between Q2-2016 and Q1-2016 (quarter ended September, 2015).

    The company reported a lower net loss of Rs 11.40 crore in Q2-2016, a loss of Rs 36.17 crore in Q2-2015 and a loss of Rs 22.51 crore in Q1-2016. 

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by PFL

    Figures A and B below show PFL’s major expense heads. As is obvious, a major expense head for the company is employee benefit expense or EBE.

    PFL’s EBE in Q2-2016 at Rs 284.10 crore (62.4 per cent of TIO) was 43.8 per cent higher YoY as compared to Rs 197.54 crore and (62 per cent of TIO) and was almost flat (went up by 0.5 per cent) QoQ as compared to Rs 282.57 crore (61.6 per cent of TIO).

    Technician’s Fees in the current quarter increased 19.6 per cent YoY to Rs 7.88 crore (1.7 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 6.35 crore (2.1 per cent of TIO), but declined 19.3 per cent QoQ from Rs 9.77 crore (2.2 per cent of TIO).

    Fig B indicates that EBE also shows a linear upward trend in terms of percentage of TIO over the twelve quarters starting Q4-2013 until the current quarter Q2-2016. EBE has been the highest in Q2-2016 (62.4 per cent) in terms of absolute rupees, but in terms of percentage of TIO, it was highest in Q3-2015 at 64 per cent.

    Finance and Interest cost in Q12-2016 at Rs 25.11 crore (5.4 per cent of TIO) increased 45.3 per cent YoY from Rs 17.28 crore (5.4 per cent of TIO) and increased 41.4 per cent QoQ from Rs 17.75 crore (four per cent of TIO).

  • FremantleMedia & Telefe to co-develop entertainment formats for Latin America

    FremantleMedia & Telefe to co-develop entertainment formats for Latin America

    MUMBAI: In a bid to grow its business in emerging markets, including Latin America, FremantleMedia has inked a two year co-development partnership with Argentina’s television network, Telefe to create and develop entertainment/non-scripted formats for the Argentinian and wider-Latin American market.

     

    Based in Buenos Aires, the development team will comprise staff from both companies, with Telefe drawing on FremantleMedia’s creative strength to co-develop original entertainment IP. Telefe will have exclusive rights on all new shows to broadcast on its Argentinian network in Argentina and across Latin America, reaching millions of viewers. FremantleMedia has worldwide rights to the shows created through the deal, which will be sold through its international distribution network, FMI and its global network of production companies.

     

    FremantleMedia Latin America CEO Adrián Santucho said, “Today’s agreement is an important and exciting step forward in FremantleMedia’s plans to grow its business in Latin America as we develop and produce shows for the Argentinian market. As the country’s most popular television network, we couldn’t have asked for a better partner. We’re really looking forward to working with Tomás and his team over the next two years to create shows that will appeal to audiences in Argentina and around the world.”

     

    Telefe head of entertainment Tomás Yankelevich added, “FremantleMedia is a world-renowned producer of entertainment shows, loved by audiences all over the globe. We embark on this exciting challenge with great enthusiasm. Telefe has been producing entertainment shows with vast success for decades in Argentina. Now, with the expansion of our content development team, and working together with Fremantle, we know it is a big step forward to generate new formats, not only for our screen but also for the rest of the world.”

     

    The deal with Telefe is the latest of a number of creative partnerships undertaken by FremantleMedia recently in order to co-develop new formats. In April 2015, the company set up a joint venture with Shanghai Media Group’s BesTV and China Media Capital to create formats for China, and announced in September that it was teaming up with newly-formed Danish production company, Skylark, to develop entertainment formats via a creative hub, based in Copenhagen.