ITV

Category: English Entertainment

  • Viacom buys Telefe for US$ 345 million

    Viacom buys Telefe for US$ 345 million

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc, the owner of Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central, in an attempt to expand its Latin America footprint, has signed a deal to buy Argentina’s largest broadcast network Telefe from the telecom carrier Telefonica SA for US$ 345 million (Rs 2336 crore) in cash.Through a network of channels, Telefe reaches 95 per cent of Argentina’s households.

    The deal to purchase the Spanish-language content producer, that commands 33% Argentina’s TV audience share, is part of Viacom’s plan to upgrade its market in Argentina and Latin America.

    It is the first major announcement after Viacom’s new acting president and CEO Bob Bakish joined and it comes on Day 1 of his being elevated from his international distribution position. Viacom owns Cartoon Network and MTV among other channels.

    The buy, funded with cash from international operations, not adding to Viacom debt load, will be accretive to Viacom’s 2017 earnings.

    Operating eight regional channels throughout Argentina and streaming services , Telefe International, a pay TV service that is functional in 17 countries, also owns 12 production studios. Its content is distributed in 35 languages in 100 nations. It has close to 33,000 hours of content in its library, while churning out around 3,000 hours annually.

    Bakish said that Telefe was an outstanding broadcast and production business, and the acquisition would give a fillip to their growth strategy in Argentina. The buy brings Viacom significant resources that spread beyond the core broadcast network and beyond Argentina’s borders.

    In around 50 years, Viacom would become the first American company to operate a FTA (free-to-air) channel in Argentina.

    Sources indicate that some of the shows from its Spanish language could find traction on Viacom18’s English language Colors Infinity and as fiction and non-fiction formats on the local language channels it runs jointly with Reliance Industries in India.

  • Viacom buys Telefe for US$ 345 million

    Viacom buys Telefe for US$ 345 million

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc, the owner of Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central, in an attempt to expand its Latin America footprint, has signed a deal to buy Argentina’s largest broadcast network Telefe from the telecom carrier Telefonica SA for US$ 345 million (Rs 2336 crore) in cash.Through a network of channels, Telefe reaches 95 per cent of Argentina’s households.

    The deal to purchase the Spanish-language content producer, that commands 33% Argentina’s TV audience share, is part of Viacom’s plan to upgrade its market in Argentina and Latin America.

    It is the first major announcement after Viacom’s new acting president and CEO Bob Bakish joined and it comes on Day 1 of his being elevated from his international distribution position. Viacom owns Cartoon Network and MTV among other channels.

    The buy, funded with cash from international operations, not adding to Viacom debt load, will be accretive to Viacom’s 2017 earnings.

    Operating eight regional channels throughout Argentina and streaming services , Telefe International, a pay TV service that is functional in 17 countries, also owns 12 production studios. Its content is distributed in 35 languages in 100 nations. It has close to 33,000 hours of content in its library, while churning out around 3,000 hours annually.

    Bakish said that Telefe was an outstanding broadcast and production business, and the acquisition would give a fillip to their growth strategy in Argentina. The buy brings Viacom significant resources that spread beyond the core broadcast network and beyond Argentina’s borders.

    In around 50 years, Viacom would become the first American company to operate a FTA (free-to-air) channel in Argentina.

    Sources indicate that some of the shows from its Spanish language could find traction on Viacom18’s English language Colors Infinity and as fiction and non-fiction formats on the local language channels it runs jointly with Reliance Industries in India.

  • 21st Century Fox America announces new debt issue pricing

    21st Century Fox America announces new debt issue pricing

    MUMBAI: It’s raising debt though the issue of senior notes. Twenty-First Century Fox (21st Century Fox) — the parent of leading Indian TV network Star India – subsidiary, 21st Century Fox America (21CFA ), today announced the pricing of its debt issue.

    The American entertainment major stated that it was issuing $850 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes, which will be conducted in two tranches consisting of $450 million senior notes carrying a ticket interest of 3.375 per cent which will become due in 2026.

    The second tranche of senior notes of $400 million will carry a sticker price of 4.750 per cent and will mature in 20146. The senior notes will be guaranteed by the company.

    The closing of the offering is expected to occur on 18 November, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    21CFA will receive gross proceeds of $848,687,500 from this offering and expects to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, the company said in a press release.

  • 21st Century Fox America announces new debt issue pricing

    21st Century Fox America announces new debt issue pricing

    MUMBAI: It’s raising debt though the issue of senior notes. Twenty-First Century Fox (21st Century Fox) — the parent of leading Indian TV network Star India – subsidiary, 21st Century Fox America (21CFA ), today announced the pricing of its debt issue.

    The American entertainment major stated that it was issuing $850 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes, which will be conducted in two tranches consisting of $450 million senior notes carrying a ticket interest of 3.375 per cent which will become due in 2026.

    The second tranche of senior notes of $400 million will carry a sticker price of 4.750 per cent and will mature in 20146. The senior notes will be guaranteed by the company.

    The closing of the offering is expected to occur on 18 November, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    21CFA will receive gross proceeds of $848,687,500 from this offering and expects to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, the company said in a press release.

  • Yours Truly on Romedy NOW with Alia & Gauri gets under way

    Yours Truly on Romedy NOW with Alia & Gauri gets under way

    MUMBAI: Latest Bollywood sensation, Alia Bhatt and English Vinglish fame director, Gauri Shinde get up close and personal with Romedy NOW on its’ first-of-its-kind property ‘Yours Truly’. Viewers of Romedy NOW, a premium English entertainment channel, will now get a chance to get a sneak peek into the deep held feelings of these stars on love, life, happiness, friendships, relationships, destiny and imperfections of life.

    These exclusive videos of conversations between Alia Bhatt and Gauri Shinde are set to go on air from Monday, 14 November, and will be aired throughout the day in intervals for the entire month of November. ‘Yours Truly’ will be a part of a larger property on Romedy NOW called, ‘Life Happens’, a movie festival that will feature movies that connect to the theme of Dear Zindagi.

    Director Gauri Shinde said, “Life in general is complicated, it’s never simple and hence it should be about enjoying these little things. There couldn’t have been a better platform for us which is so similar to the theme of our movie and we look forward to engaging with maximum audience through ‘Yours Truly’.”

    Dear Zindagi has the unusual but crackling pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt on screen with director Gauri Shinde of English Vinglish joining hands with Gauri Khan and Karan Johar under the banners of Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions, and Hope Productions. The film has all the ingredients of a blockbuster.

    The line-up in Life Happens includes movies that are romantic comedies and are both popular and critically acclaimed. Begin Again, which is a one of the line-ups, is a film about a beautiful collaboration of two budding talents in music, with an IMDB rating of over seven and will air on Saturday, 19 November at 9pm.

  • Yours Truly on Romedy NOW with Alia & Gauri gets under way

    Yours Truly on Romedy NOW with Alia & Gauri gets under way

    MUMBAI: Latest Bollywood sensation, Alia Bhatt and English Vinglish fame director, Gauri Shinde get up close and personal with Romedy NOW on its’ first-of-its-kind property ‘Yours Truly’. Viewers of Romedy NOW, a premium English entertainment channel, will now get a chance to get a sneak peek into the deep held feelings of these stars on love, life, happiness, friendships, relationships, destiny and imperfections of life.

    These exclusive videos of conversations between Alia Bhatt and Gauri Shinde are set to go on air from Monday, 14 November, and will be aired throughout the day in intervals for the entire month of November. ‘Yours Truly’ will be a part of a larger property on Romedy NOW called, ‘Life Happens’, a movie festival that will feature movies that connect to the theme of Dear Zindagi.

    Director Gauri Shinde said, “Life in general is complicated, it’s never simple and hence it should be about enjoying these little things. There couldn’t have been a better platform for us which is so similar to the theme of our movie and we look forward to engaging with maximum audience through ‘Yours Truly’.”

    Dear Zindagi has the unusual but crackling pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt on screen with director Gauri Shinde of English Vinglish joining hands with Gauri Khan and Karan Johar under the banners of Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions, and Hope Productions. The film has all the ingredients of a blockbuster.

    The line-up in Life Happens includes movies that are romantic comedies and are both popular and critically acclaimed. Begin Again, which is a one of the line-ups, is a film about a beautiful collaboration of two budding talents in music, with an IMDB rating of over seven and will air on Saturday, 19 November at 9pm.

  • Experiential & gaming zones, animated & online events mark Comics Convention

    Experiential & gaming zones, animated & online events mark Comics Convention

    MUMBAI: Alto Bengaluru Comic Con saw a huge turnout of fans cosplaying along with Special Guest appearances, amazing fans experiences and awesome sessions! Comic Con India hosted city’s biggest pop culture event over the weekend at KTPO Convention Centre. The show hosted a spectacular lineup of events including special international guest appearances, exclusive experiential & gaming zones, artist alley, fans sessions, cosplay, book launches and much more.

    “It was yet another exciting year in Bangalore, the fans were amazing!, shared Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma. Famous international personalities like Todd Nauck, Artist, Amazing Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go, Dr. Who, Nightcrawler; Joe Harris, Author, X-Files Comics & Jim Demonakos, Founder Seattle’s annual Emerald City Comicon, author of The Silence of Our Friends attended and took special sessions at BCC 2016.

    Maruti Suzuki was not only the presenting sponsor for the show, but also set up the biggest Art & Gaming zone ever at a Comic Con show.

    Cosplay (Costume Contest), another major attraction at Comic Con India, continued to give prizes to people in great costumes. Comic Con India had created 5 categories to increase one’s chances of winning gifts. Each day, one winner was chosen from each of the five categories:-1. Comic book/graphic novel 2. Animated Series/Movie 3. Manga/Anime 4. Sci-Fi/Fantasy and 5. Gaming. 5 Cool Cosplayers got a voucher of Rs 2500 (each) for their Spirit of Cosplay.

    Also, both days, One lucky winner out of the chosen 5 won INR 50,000 (Cash Prize)! And a chance to enter ‘Indian Championships of Cosplay’. The Winner of ‘Indian Championships of Cosplay’ will compete and represent the country at the Annual Crown Championships of Cosplay at Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo!

    Comic Con India’s partners set up Exclusive Experiential and Gaming Zones at the event. It featured two awesome gaming Zones. Nodwin ESL Gaming Zone & Amazon Battlefield One & FIFA 17 Zone. Amazon Battlefield One & FIFA 17 Zone hosted a slew of gaming activities.

    Nodwin ESL Gaming Zone hosted ESL India Premiership, which was a mix of online and offline tournaments, monumental prize pool, daily content, celebrity showdowns, cosplay competition and many more. Fans were part of the second leg of the offline tournaments of the ESL India Premiership, where the champions of last three Starter Cups competed on a bigger stage, for more prize money and larger audience. These champions will battle it out in the Masters which is the season finale event to take place in December at Alto Delhi Comic Con 2016.

    One of the other main attractions of the event were the Baahubali Zone & first of its kind Wand Master Training Booth (By Warner Bros). At the Bahubali Zone, the team from the super hit Franchise showcased their “Transgenic Content” for fans at the show. At the Wand Master Training Booth, people learnt to use wands to create official spells and got the video of their experience too.

    Not just that, other exclusive Experiential Zone at the event included AXN Zone. It had lots of fun engagements. Fans got to witness some of their favorite characters like Sam & Dean, Sherlock, Heisenberg, Dexter etc come alive.

    An “Artist Alley” exclusively featuring artists from all over India and Bengaluru was set up at BCC 2016. Here fans got an opportunity to interact with awesome artists, illustrators, designers working for comics and related fields. The alley featured artists like Saumin Suresh Patel, Reshmi Chandrashekhar, Prasad Bhatt, Rajeev Tamhankar, Nikita Das Gupta, Leena Swamy, Ayan Nag, Varsha Kodgi, Milanpreet, Madhuvanthi Mohan and many more.

    Well known creators like Akshay Dhar from Meta Desi Comics, Vivek Goel from Holy Cow Entertainment and Shamik Dasgupta from Yali Dreams were there too! For the sheer love for Comics, 13 new Comic Book titles got launched at the convention.

    The launches were, Doc M by Kalapani Comics, Durga: Legends by Vimanika Comics, Space Junkies by S K Comics, Rumi Volume 2 by Sufi Comics, Karma & 13 Days by TBS Planet, Mallory by Red Streak Publications, The Age of Immortals by Holy Cow Entertainment, Mighty Girl by Graphic India, LoSs4A2 by Kuma, Jataka Manga by ICBM Comics, Sirji Comics – Volume 2 by Sirji
    Comics & Rakshak by Yali Dream Creations.

    At the convention, fans got to buy merchandise from the best and most exclusive International merchandisers. Also, there were exclusive Indian merchandisers including Planet Superheroes, The Souled Store, Frog, PosterBoy, Greenrock, Macmerise, Bombay Merch, MC Sid Razz, Anime Pop Mall, Wacom, Comic Con India Store, G2A.com and many more.

    The main participants at the event were — Harpercollins Publishers India, Campfire Graphic Novel, Viz Media By Simon & Schuster, Graphic India, Vimanika Comics, DC, Darkhorse & Vertigo Comics By Random House India, Dorling Kindersley India, Red Streak Publications, TBS Planet, Sirji Comics, ICBM Comics, Holycow Entertainment, Yali Dream Creations and many more.

  • Experiential & gaming zones, animated & online events mark Comics Convention

    Experiential & gaming zones, animated & online events mark Comics Convention

    MUMBAI: Alto Bengaluru Comic Con saw a huge turnout of fans cosplaying along with Special Guest appearances, amazing fans experiences and awesome sessions! Comic Con India hosted city’s biggest pop culture event over the weekend at KTPO Convention Centre. The show hosted a spectacular lineup of events including special international guest appearances, exclusive experiential & gaming zones, artist alley, fans sessions, cosplay, book launches and much more.

    “It was yet another exciting year in Bangalore, the fans were amazing!, shared Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma. Famous international personalities like Todd Nauck, Artist, Amazing Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go, Dr. Who, Nightcrawler; Joe Harris, Author, X-Files Comics & Jim Demonakos, Founder Seattle’s annual Emerald City Comicon, author of The Silence of Our Friends attended and took special sessions at BCC 2016.

    Maruti Suzuki was not only the presenting sponsor for the show, but also set up the biggest Art & Gaming zone ever at a Comic Con show.

    Cosplay (Costume Contest), another major attraction at Comic Con India, continued to give prizes to people in great costumes. Comic Con India had created 5 categories to increase one’s chances of winning gifts. Each day, one winner was chosen from each of the five categories:-1. Comic book/graphic novel 2. Animated Series/Movie 3. Manga/Anime 4. Sci-Fi/Fantasy and 5. Gaming. 5 Cool Cosplayers got a voucher of Rs 2500 (each) for their Spirit of Cosplay.

    Also, both days, One lucky winner out of the chosen 5 won INR 50,000 (Cash Prize)! And a chance to enter ‘Indian Championships of Cosplay’. The Winner of ‘Indian Championships of Cosplay’ will compete and represent the country at the Annual Crown Championships of Cosplay at Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo!

    Comic Con India’s partners set up Exclusive Experiential and Gaming Zones at the event. It featured two awesome gaming Zones. Nodwin ESL Gaming Zone & Amazon Battlefield One & FIFA 17 Zone. Amazon Battlefield One & FIFA 17 Zone hosted a slew of gaming activities.

    Nodwin ESL Gaming Zone hosted ESL India Premiership, which was a mix of online and offline tournaments, monumental prize pool, daily content, celebrity showdowns, cosplay competition and many more. Fans were part of the second leg of the offline tournaments of the ESL India Premiership, where the champions of last three Starter Cups competed on a bigger stage, for more prize money and larger audience. These champions will battle it out in the Masters which is the season finale event to take place in December at Alto Delhi Comic Con 2016.

    One of the other main attractions of the event were the Baahubali Zone & first of its kind Wand Master Training Booth (By Warner Bros). At the Bahubali Zone, the team from the super hit Franchise showcased their “Transgenic Content” for fans at the show. At the Wand Master Training Booth, people learnt to use wands to create official spells and got the video of their experience too.

    Not just that, other exclusive Experiential Zone at the event included AXN Zone. It had lots of fun engagements. Fans got to witness some of their favorite characters like Sam & Dean, Sherlock, Heisenberg, Dexter etc come alive.

    An “Artist Alley” exclusively featuring artists from all over India and Bengaluru was set up at BCC 2016. Here fans got an opportunity to interact with awesome artists, illustrators, designers working for comics and related fields. The alley featured artists like Saumin Suresh Patel, Reshmi Chandrashekhar, Prasad Bhatt, Rajeev Tamhankar, Nikita Das Gupta, Leena Swamy, Ayan Nag, Varsha Kodgi, Milanpreet, Madhuvanthi Mohan and many more.

    Well known creators like Akshay Dhar from Meta Desi Comics, Vivek Goel from Holy Cow Entertainment and Shamik Dasgupta from Yali Dreams were there too! For the sheer love for Comics, 13 new Comic Book titles got launched at the convention.

    The launches were, Doc M by Kalapani Comics, Durga: Legends by Vimanika Comics, Space Junkies by S K Comics, Rumi Volume 2 by Sufi Comics, Karma & 13 Days by TBS Planet, Mallory by Red Streak Publications, The Age of Immortals by Holy Cow Entertainment, Mighty Girl by Graphic India, LoSs4A2 by Kuma, Jataka Manga by ICBM Comics, Sirji Comics – Volume 2 by Sirji
    Comics & Rakshak by Yali Dream Creations.

    At the convention, fans got to buy merchandise from the best and most exclusive International merchandisers. Also, there were exclusive Indian merchandisers including Planet Superheroes, The Souled Store, Frog, PosterBoy, Greenrock, Macmerise, Bombay Merch, MC Sid Razz, Anime Pop Mall, Wacom, Comic Con India Store, G2A.com and many more.

    The main participants at the event were — Harpercollins Publishers India, Campfire Graphic Novel, Viz Media By Simon & Schuster, Graphic India, Vimanika Comics, DC, Darkhorse & Vertigo Comics By Random House India, Dorling Kindersley India, Red Streak Publications, TBS Planet, Sirji Comics, ICBM Comics, Holycow Entertainment, Yali Dream Creations and many more.

  • Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    MUMBAI: The Competition Appellate Tribunal, for the second time in a year, has rejected the Competition Commission’s decision to dismiss a complaint of alleged unfair business ways made against Walt Disney, Warner Bros, Fox Star Studios and four other entities.

    The COMPAT, in a strongly-worded order, said that the CCI had committed serious error by declining to order an investigation.

    The complaint filed by K Sera Sera against the seven entities was rejected by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after concluding that there was no prima-facie violation of competition norms, PTI reported. The watchdog dismissed the allegations twice, in April 2015 and June this year.

    The seven entities are — US-based Digital Cinemas Initiatives LLC, a joint venture, and its six stakeholder partners — The Walt Disney Company India, Fox Star Studios, NBC Universal Media Distribution Services, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Paramount Films India (respondents).

    “Rationally speaking, it would have saved time and efforts of all those involved in this matter if the Commission had ordered an investigation by the director general instead of once again more or less reiterating its earlier views,” the Tribunal said in the order.

    COMPAT said the “impugned order is set aside and the director-general is ordained to conduct investigation into the allegations contained in the information filed by the appellant (K Sera Sera)”. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2009, the Tribunal noted.

    It was alleged that these entities indulged in anti-competitive practices in the digital cinema exhibition market, the PTI report added. It was alleged that Digital Cinemas LLC was formed with the aim of dominating and monopolising the market of digital cinema exhibition in India and elsewhere.

    In April 2015, CCI had rejected the allegations, and K Sera Sera approached the Tribunal, which asked the regulator to reconsider the matter.

    COMPAT stated: “on one hand, the respondents claim that their technology is voluntary, on the other, they create potential entry barriers by releasing their films only to those who opt for digital technology,” noting that it was “prima-facie anti-competitive.”

  • Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    Unfair biz plaint against Warner Bros., Walt Disney, Fox Star; probe denial an error: Tribunal

    MUMBAI: The Competition Appellate Tribunal, for the second time in a year, has rejected the Competition Commission’s decision to dismiss a complaint of alleged unfair business ways made against Walt Disney, Warner Bros, Fox Star Studios and four other entities.

    The COMPAT, in a strongly-worded order, said that the CCI had committed serious error by declining to order an investigation.

    The complaint filed by K Sera Sera against the seven entities was rejected by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) after concluding that there was no prima-facie violation of competition norms, PTI reported. The watchdog dismissed the allegations twice, in April 2015 and June this year.

    The seven entities are — US-based Digital Cinemas Initiatives LLC, a joint venture, and its six stakeholder partners — The Walt Disney Company India, Fox Star Studios, NBC Universal Media Distribution Services, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Paramount Films India (respondents).

    “Rationally speaking, it would have saved time and efforts of all those involved in this matter if the Commission had ordered an investigation by the director general instead of once again more or less reiterating its earlier views,” the Tribunal said in the order.

    COMPAT said the “impugned order is set aside and the director-general is ordained to conduct investigation into the allegations contained in the information filed by the appellant (K Sera Sera)”. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions contained in the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2009, the Tribunal noted.

    It was alleged that these entities indulged in anti-competitive practices in the digital cinema exhibition market, the PTI report added. It was alleged that Digital Cinemas LLC was formed with the aim of dominating and monopolising the market of digital cinema exhibition in India and elsewhere.

    In April 2015, CCI had rejected the allegations, and K Sera Sera approached the Tribunal, which asked the regulator to reconsider the matter.

    COMPAT stated: “on one hand, the respondents claim that their technology is voluntary, on the other, they create potential entry barriers by releasing their films only to those who opt for digital technology,” noting that it was “prima-facie anti-competitive.”