ITV

Category: English Entertainment

  • 33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

    SES is a leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and 12 in medium earth orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government).

    In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7 per cent to 2,495 channels. Today, 33 per cent of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27 per cent of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60 per cent of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

    The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14 per cent to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

    SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50 per cent of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

    In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

    The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

    “With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment.”

  • 33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    33pc of SES channels are HD, 60pc MPEG-4, growing in Asia

    MUMBAI: SES S.A. continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

    SES is a leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and 12 in medium earth orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government).

    In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7 per cent to 2,495 channels. Today, 33 per cent of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27 per cent of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60 per cent of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

    The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14 per cent to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

    SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50 per cent of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

    In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

    The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

    “With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said SES chief commercial officer Ferdinand Kayser. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment.”

  • Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    MUMBAI: Turner International’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group has announced an equity investment in digital media sports company Bigballs Media (BBM), parent company of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital video platforms for football content, Copa90.

    The funding will be used to fuel BBM’s international expansion, content production and distribution and enhance its data capabilities as it continues its growth trajectory. The investment will fuel further international growth and fully establish Copa90 as the definitive football youth media brand.

    Turner’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group was recently formed to focus on opportunities for innovation, development and acquisition. The investment comes within the group’s first month of operations and signals the company’s commitment to increasing its presence in the digital sports space. Turner is the largest provider of funding for the Series B investment round and the main strategic investor.

    In parallel, Turner and BBM have signed a commercial agreement which embraces multiple opportunities for Turner and BBM to leverage their respective distribution and content production expertise. The partnership expands on an existing commercial relationship with leading digital sports brand Bleacher Report, a division of Turner.

    The cross-platform commercial agreement includes strategic co-branded content production, the development of third party branded content and sponsorship opportunities, and content creation for Turner’s own channels. It also facilitates BBM’s close collaboration across the wider Turner portfolio, including Esporte Interativo, Turner Sports and CNN. Additionally, Aksel van der Wal, head of Digital Ventures & Innovation, will take a seat on BBM’s board of directors, and Bleacher Report COO Alex Vargas, becomes a board observer.

    “Partnering with relevant brands is a core part of our strategy to compete and lead in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape,” said Turner International executive vice president – digital ventures & innovation Aksel van der Wal.

    “We see really exciting opportunities to work with BBM in developing creative ways to engage new audiences, in particular expanding our growing touchpoints with millennials while also offering innovative new platforms for advertisers. It is exactly the kind of forward-looking partnership we hope to establish more of.”

    BBM CEO Tom Thirlwall said: “Our ambition is to be the world’s most influential football media business by the time the 2018 World Cup kicks off and this investment and partnership with Turner is a decisive step towards making that a reality.

    “We had significant interest in our round but Turner was by far and away the most compelling because of their team, vision and the strategic opportunities for both our businesses. The investment will enable us to accelerate our growth in our core markets, build our data and distribution capabilities and expand our commercial teams in Europe and the US and of course continue to make the best fan culture football content.”

    “Bleacher Report and Copa90 share a passion for global football fan culture. We are very excited about the investment and taking a step forward in expanding our existing relationship. Our hugely popular “Saturdays Are Lit” Snapchat collaboration has set a great benchmark for the kind of exciting opportunities we expect to develop together,” said Vargas.

    The investment in BBM is the latest in a series of investments by Turner in the digital space and the first with a company headquartered outside of the US. It follows on from similar investments in 2016 in Refinery29 and Mashable. The company also acquired a majority stake in iStreamPlanet in 2015. Turner has also recently expanded Bleacher Report and injected new investment in CNN Digital. Internationally it has launched a suite of new digital-first destinations and apps across the broader digital ecosystem to extend its fan engagement around flagship properties such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, as part of the company’s accelerated focus on evolving its digital business interests and capabilities.

  • Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    Turner, Bigballs deal strengthens former’s digital sports & latter’s international foray

    MUMBAI: Turner International’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group has announced an equity investment in digital media sports company Bigballs Media (BBM), parent company of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital video platforms for football content, Copa90.

    The funding will be used to fuel BBM’s international expansion, content production and distribution and enhance its data capabilities as it continues its growth trajectory. The investment will fuel further international growth and fully establish Copa90 as the definitive football youth media brand.

    Turner’s Digital Ventures & Innovation Group was recently formed to focus on opportunities for innovation, development and acquisition. The investment comes within the group’s first month of operations and signals the company’s commitment to increasing its presence in the digital sports space. Turner is the largest provider of funding for the Series B investment round and the main strategic investor.

    In parallel, Turner and BBM have signed a commercial agreement which embraces multiple opportunities for Turner and BBM to leverage their respective distribution and content production expertise. The partnership expands on an existing commercial relationship with leading digital sports brand Bleacher Report, a division of Turner.

    The cross-platform commercial agreement includes strategic co-branded content production, the development of third party branded content and sponsorship opportunities, and content creation for Turner’s own channels. It also facilitates BBM’s close collaboration across the wider Turner portfolio, including Esporte Interativo, Turner Sports and CNN. Additionally, Aksel van der Wal, head of Digital Ventures & Innovation, will take a seat on BBM’s board of directors, and Bleacher Report COO Alex Vargas, becomes a board observer.

    “Partnering with relevant brands is a core part of our strategy to compete and lead in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape,” said Turner International executive vice president – digital ventures & innovation Aksel van der Wal.

    “We see really exciting opportunities to work with BBM in developing creative ways to engage new audiences, in particular expanding our growing touchpoints with millennials while also offering innovative new platforms for advertisers. It is exactly the kind of forward-looking partnership we hope to establish more of.”

    BBM CEO Tom Thirlwall said: “Our ambition is to be the world’s most influential football media business by the time the 2018 World Cup kicks off and this investment and partnership with Turner is a decisive step towards making that a reality.

    “We had significant interest in our round but Turner was by far and away the most compelling because of their team, vision and the strategic opportunities for both our businesses. The investment will enable us to accelerate our growth in our core markets, build our data and distribution capabilities and expand our commercial teams in Europe and the US and of course continue to make the best fan culture football content.”

    “Bleacher Report and Copa90 share a passion for global football fan culture. We are very excited about the investment and taking a step forward in expanding our existing relationship. Our hugely popular “Saturdays Are Lit” Snapchat collaboration has set a great benchmark for the kind of exciting opportunities we expect to develop together,” said Vargas.

    The investment in BBM is the latest in a series of investments by Turner in the digital space and the first with a company headquartered outside of the US. It follows on from similar investments in 2016 in Refinery29 and Mashable. The company also acquired a majority stake in iStreamPlanet in 2015. Turner has also recently expanded Bleacher Report and injected new investment in CNN Digital. Internationally it has launched a suite of new digital-first destinations and apps across the broader digital ecosystem to extend its fan engagement around flagship properties such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim, as part of the company’s accelerated focus on evolving its digital business interests and capabilities.

  • Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD to air Star Wars on 5 Feb

    Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD to air Star Wars on 5 Feb

    MUMBAI: The seventh episode in the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will premiere on Star Movies this Sunday, 5 February at 1 pm and 9 pm. The Force on Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD gets stronger with this J J Abram masterpiece that will bring a smile to every Star Wars fan.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens not only has a box office collection of over 2 billion USD but also has the distinction of being the third highest grossing Hollywood film ever. With a cast of legends and newcomers alike, the movie features stalwarts like Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher alongside newcomers like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver and many more. The movie has received rave reviews from critics and fans alike reaffirming the fact that even 38 years after the release of the first movie the fandom for the series is still strong.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens picks up 30 years after the close of the Episode VI, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. It tells the story of a Rey who joins hands with a Stormtrooper Finn and a droid BB-8 as they continue to unravel and survive the deadly strikes of Kylo Ren.

    Star Movies has always entertained its viewers with some of the biggest blockbusters and this time with the Star Wars saga followed by the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it has become the only destination for every Star Wars fan.

  • Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD to air Star Wars on 5 Feb

    Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD to air Star Wars on 5 Feb

    MUMBAI: The seventh episode in the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will premiere on Star Movies this Sunday, 5 February at 1 pm and 9 pm. The Force on Star Movies & Star Movies Select HD gets stronger with this J J Abram masterpiece that will bring a smile to every Star Wars fan.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens not only has a box office collection of over 2 billion USD but also has the distinction of being the third highest grossing Hollywood film ever. With a cast of legends and newcomers alike, the movie features stalwarts like Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher alongside newcomers like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver and many more. The movie has received rave reviews from critics and fans alike reaffirming the fact that even 38 years after the release of the first movie the fandom for the series is still strong.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens picks up 30 years after the close of the Episode VI, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. It tells the story of a Rey who joins hands with a Stormtrooper Finn and a droid BB-8 as they continue to unravel and survive the deadly strikes of Kylo Ren.

    Star Movies has always entertained its viewers with some of the biggest blockbusters and this time with the Star Wars saga followed by the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it has become the only destination for every Star Wars fan.

  • AXN to premiere Graham Yost’s ‘Justified’

    AXN to premiere Graham Yost’s ‘Justified’

    MUMBAI: “It is in the nature of human beings to seek justification for their actions” Some may agree but Raylan Givens doesn’t. AXN is all set to premiere Justified from 30 January, every Monday to Friday at 11 pm.

    Justified premieres in India following a successful six season run in the West. Touted as one of the most intriguing shows on television, Justified commands huge critical acclaim and social media fandom. It was nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards including two wins for Margo Martindale’s and Jeremy Davies’ performance.

    Creator of the show Graham Yost said, “India, which is the largest democracy on earth is finally watching the show, and I hope that it still feels as fresh to the Indian audience as it felt to the American audience. We always hoped that the show, Justified, will be watched for a long time. Those who couldn’t see it the first time around could catch up with it now.”

    Based on Elmore Leonard’s novella Fire in the Hole, Justified stars Timothy Olyphantin as the lead character of Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens, a lawman who finds himself drawn back to his home state of Kentucky which he had escaped for good in his youth.

  • AXN to premiere Graham Yost’s ‘Justified’

    AXN to premiere Graham Yost’s ‘Justified’

    MUMBAI: “It is in the nature of human beings to seek justification for their actions” Some may agree but Raylan Givens doesn’t. AXN is all set to premiere Justified from 30 January, every Monday to Friday at 11 pm.

    Justified premieres in India following a successful six season run in the West. Touted as one of the most intriguing shows on television, Justified commands huge critical acclaim and social media fandom. It was nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards including two wins for Margo Martindale’s and Jeremy Davies’ performance.

    Creator of the show Graham Yost said, “India, which is the largest democracy on earth is finally watching the show, and I hope that it still feels as fresh to the Indian audience as it felt to the American audience. We always hoped that the show, Justified, will be watched for a long time. Those who couldn’t see it the first time around could catch up with it now.”

    Based on Elmore Leonard’s novella Fire in the Hole, Justified stars Timothy Olyphantin as the lead character of Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens, a lawman who finds himself drawn back to his home state of Kentucky which he had escaped for good in his youth.

  • Zee Studio & HD to premiere ‘The BFG’ on ‘R-Day’

    Zee Studio & HD to premiere ‘The BFG’ on ‘R-Day’

    MUMBAI: This Republic Day, get ready to experience the magic, as Zee Studio invites you to the Platinum Premiere. Just six months of its theatrical release across globe, the channel will air ‘The BFG’ for the first time on Indian Television on 26 January at 1pm and 9pm.

    Directed by the Academy Award winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, The BFG stars Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall and Bill Hader. The fantasy adventure is based on the 1982 novel name by Roald Dahl. In the movie, a 10-year-old orphan girl Sophie befriends a benevolent giant, named the “Big Friendly Giant”, who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the human world.

    To grab maximum eyeballs for the premiere, the channel is to introduce a Watch & Win contest on 26 January for its fans. The viewers will have to answer few simple questions asked during the premiere at 1pm & 9pm by sending a tweet to @Zee Studio using #BFGonZStudio. Lucky ones will stand a chance to win Crossword vouchers and Zee Studio merchandise.

  • Zee Studio & HD to premiere ‘The BFG’ on ‘R-Day’

    Zee Studio & HD to premiere ‘The BFG’ on ‘R-Day’

    MUMBAI: This Republic Day, get ready to experience the magic, as Zee Studio invites you to the Platinum Premiere. Just six months of its theatrical release across globe, the channel will air ‘The BFG’ for the first time on Indian Television on 26 January at 1pm and 9pm.

    Directed by the Academy Award winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, The BFG stars Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall and Bill Hader. The fantasy adventure is based on the 1982 novel name by Roald Dahl. In the movie, a 10-year-old orphan girl Sophie befriends a benevolent giant, named the “Big Friendly Giant”, who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the human world.

    To grab maximum eyeballs for the premiere, the channel is to introduce a Watch & Win contest on 26 January for its fans. The viewers will have to answer few simple questions asked during the premiere at 1pm & 9pm by sending a tweet to @Zee Studio using #BFGonZStudio. Lucky ones will stand a chance to win Crossword vouchers and Zee Studio merchandise.