ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • After Europe, India where Time Warner focus is: Parsons

    After Europe, India where Time Warner focus is: Parsons

    MUMBAI: So-called restrictive legislations or not, India is a market that no mass product company can ignore. World’s biggest media company Time Warner is no exception.

    This is evident from the fact that chairman and CEO of Time Warner,Richard Parson, sees India as a priority international market after Europe for his organisation.

    At a time when Asia’s biggest market China has stringent media regulations making it difficult for non-Chinese companies to operate there, liberal India is the next haven for Western business houses.

    “Time Warner in the US is such a large player. Where are we going to get growth from?” Parson was quoted by worldscreen.com as saying at an interaction with journalists at Mipcom in France on Wednesday.

    According to Parson, “The first place we are going to look at is Europe. They are developed economies, established platforms, and there’s an orientation towards Western content. We are focused on Europe and the emerging markets of India and China, in that order.”

    Though media has speculated on investments in India by Time Warner, but the company has preferred to keep a low profile.

    At present, Time Warner’s biggest exposure to India is through a 26:74 joint venture with Zee Telefilms, called Zee Turner Ltd, for distribution of TV channels in India.

    With over 30 channels in its bouquet, in certain markets within India Zee Turner has beaten Star and Discovery-Sony TV One Alliance in terms of subscription.

    Zee Turner is targeting a turnover of Rs 4 billion by March 2007, signifying a revenue growth of 30-35 per cent compared to last financial year.

    Through some of its group companies – Turner’s three satellite TV channels CNN, Cartoon Network and Pogo, Warner Bros. Movies based in Mumbai, Zee Turner and also a small outfit of AOL in Bangalore – Time Warner has an
    adequate presence in India.

    But it would be nowhere near as lucrative or penetrative as competitor Rupert Murdoch’s Star.

    In 2004 when Parson came on a flying visit to India, he did indicate at a party thrown for India’s business elites that Time Warner would like to set up a business process outsourcing unit (reason not known) here also.

    Presently, Time Warner is slightly worried over the fate of a court mandated ban on airing ‘A’ certified movies by movie channels in the Mumbai market.

    The ban affects Indian and foreign film channels, including HBO in which Time Warner has interest.

    Meanwhile, speaking at length about his company’s plans in Europe at Mipcom, Parson did not rule out a cable acquisition in Europe.

    “We all believe cable is the winner over time,” Parsons was quoted in media reports as saying.

    “We look at everything. It’s a big issue. Cable will win in the US but maybe not outside the US since the infrastructure is not there. We look, we evaluate on price, you never know,” he added.

  • Virgin America signs on Disney, Fox, Paramount & Warner Bros for in-flight content

    Virgin America signs on Disney, Fox, Paramount & Warner Bros for in-flight content

    MUMBAI: Virgin America, the new U.S. start-up airline has announced a collection of launch studio partners for its in-flight entertainment (IFE). The airline has reached individual agreements with Disney, Fox, Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers to provide theatrical content at every seat and on every flight.

    Although details of the deals are not being disclosed, the agreements will provide Virgin America’s guests with the best in motion picture and television entertainment. The airline’s industry onboard entertainment will offer its customers ‘pay-per-view’ movies, live TV via satellite, a wide array of audio music entertainment including the ability to compile individual audio playlists, a broad selection of popular electronic games, and even meals on-demand, informs an official release.

    “Our partnerships with Disney, Fox, Paramount, and Warner Brothers are helping us redefine the travelling experience as it exists for airline customers today,” said Virgin America director inflight entertainment and partnerships, Charles Ogilvie. “Our guests will be able to pick from the latest and greatest Hollywood has to offer and enjoy their entertainment selections on their own schedule from the comfort of their seat.”

    “Disney is happy to be part of the Virgin America team’s challenge to redefine the inflight entertainment experience,” said Disney Non-Theatrical Distribution senior vice president, Linda Palmer. “All arms of this studio are excited about Virgin America taking flight!”

    “Interactive entertainment is a space that Paramount is excited about. Being members of the Virgin America launch team is something that we are excited about and is an important milestone as the U.S. domestic industry progresses toward more interactive inflight entertainment,” said Paramount non-theatrical distribution senior vice president Joan Filippini.

    The airline previously announced entertainment partners including CoKinetic Systems Corporation, IMS, Inflight Canada, Pace Communications, Panasonic Avionics, Spafax, and Wunderman. A new addition to team is the New York-based Anomaly agency.

  • Big 92.7 FM signs up Mohinder Amarnath for ICC updates

    Big 92.7 FM signs up Mohinder Amarnath for ICC updates

    MUMBAI: The cricket bee has stung the newly launched private FM player Big 92.7 FM! The brand has signed up with ‘Jimmy’ Mohinder Amarnath, the 1983 World Cup match winner, to provide updates on the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

    The ICC World Cup Champions Trophy kicked off 7 October and will continue till 5 November. Spout chewing gum has been roped in to sponsor the updates on Big 92.7FM.

    According to an official statement, Amaranth will be offering regular cricket updates on Big 92.7 FM four to five times a day to provide a ringside update on the matches and players performance and even a few interesting tid-bits on the player’s and team’s performance. 

    The show will be broadcast in Hindi on New Delhi station and in English on Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore stations. The brand is likely to launch in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore in the coming weeks.

    Speaking on the occasion, Big 92.7 FM COO Tarun Katial said, “It is our endeavour to create an edge and provide our listeners with exclusive entertainment. Cricket is a sport which unites the nation and it is our way of offering Big entertainment on Big 92.7FM. The credibility of Mohinder Amarnath gels with the Station’s aim of providing credible and relevant information to our listeners.”

  • India specific search engine ‘Guruji.com’ launched

    India specific search engine ‘Guruji.com’ launched

    BANGALORE: Using crawl search technology, two Indian technology aspirants Anurag Dod and Gaurav Mishra have launched an India specific search engine Guruji.com. The duo claims that their 40 US located servers have a data base of around 30 million India specific pages which he informs will double over the next few months.

    During a press conference in Bangalore, Dod said, “What sets us apart is our focus on the Indian market and the Indian consumer. When an Indian consumer types in search a keyword like ‘newspaper’, the results would show him websites of the top Indian newspapers rather than site not relevant to him.” According to data available with Guruji.com, 90% of the internet queries are local in nature. Further, around 30% of the internet users on India spend 20 hours per week on the internet and after e-mail, search is the largest second use.

    Guruji.com plans to create awareness about their search engine by events at colleges and through public relations. A budget of Rs 10 million has been earmarked for spends in 20 major Indian cities over the next five to six months. 

    Guriji.com has received funding commitment to the extent of US$7million from Sequoia Capital India a VC which manages three funds totaling US$ 750 million focused on investments in India across sectors.

  • Flash Media and Shoppers Stop associate for digital media

    Flash Media and Shoppers Stop associate for digital media

    MUMBAI: Flash Media Limited has associated with the premium retail giant Shoppers Stop for installing and managing Imedia (Dynamic Digital Signage) in all its stores across the country.

    Flash Media’s IMedia is a network of digital signage components like LCD/Plasma panels playing audio visual commercials. According to the agreement, Flash Media has installed over 350 wireless LCD/Plasma screens in the 19 stores of Shoppers stop across the country with an average of 20 screens in each store. The screens have been installed behind cash counters and major focal points in the store to ensure maximum consumer attention, informs an official release.

    Commenting on the tie-up with Shoppers Stop, Flash Media Ltd co-founder & director Abhishek Kandoi said, “We are extremely pleased to be associated with Shoppers Stop, one of the most leading and trusted name in the retail space. We completed our installations during end of august and the In Stores TV at Shoppers Stop has been up and running from then, we already have some premium brands associated with us. Speaking about the large scale acceptance of this medium, he said “Dynamic Digital Signage has proved its mettle across the globe as the frequency building channel and mesmerizing audience through its ground breaking advancements. Media Experts predict that this global trend would pick up in India.”

    Shopper’s Stop Limited customer care executive & CEO Govind Shrikhande said,” Shoppers’ Stop houses more than 200 international and national brand, IMEDIA, thus is an excellent medium to communicate with the customer the ongoing promotions on brands and services available at the store. It is all about space value enhancement and connecting with the customer with regard to his choice of brand. It is a modern medium of advertising and brand promotion.”

  • US pubcaster PBS inks deal with iTunes

    US pubcaster PBS inks deal with iTunes

    MUMBAI: US pubcaster PBS has launched content on the iTunes Store.

    Users can purchase and download documentary specials and episodes from PBS primetime and children’s programming.

    Episodes are priced from $1.99 each and immediately available for shows including Antiques Roadshow; Nova; Now and Arthur. PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger said, “Working with our member stations and producers, PBS is excited to deliver a variety of PBS’ award-winning primetime and kids’ television programs through iTunes.

    ” The remarkable success of PBS podcasts on iTunes over the past year indicates that PBS members and viewers of all ages are enjoying the new, expanded access to the content they want, when and where they choose.”

    Apple VP iTunes Eddy Cue says, “The success of TV on iTunes continues and we now offer over 220 hit TV shows from more than 40 networks. We are thrilled to partner with PBS to bring such educational and entertaining programming to iTunes Store customers.”

    Additional content attached to episodes will underscore the unique role consumers can play to ensure the continued creation and multi-platform delivery of PBS content by becoming a member of their local PBS station. The iTunes Store sells over one million videos per week. The iTunes Store began selling TV shows with five shows from ABC/Disney less than a year ago, in October 2005, and rapidly expanded its library to over 220 television shows from over 40 networks today.

    The iTunes Store now features over 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, over 5,000 music videos, more than 75 feature films and 220 television shows.

  • Power Rangers Tour ‘Get Powerised’ kicks off on 27 Oct in US

    Power Rangers Tour ‘Get Powerised’ kicks off on 27 Oct in US

    MUMBAI: The Power Rangers ‘Get Powerised’ Tour will kick off on 27 October in Houston, US and will feature characters from the Power Rangers Mystic Force TV show.

    At select locations, Power Rangers fans will have the chance to meet their favourite heroes in person, get autographs and take photos with them. The “Power Rangers Zone” at every tour stop will feature fun and interactive themed activities, including cool toy demos, a green screen photo area where kids can reenact their favourite scene from the show and take home a souvenir photo of the action, as well as a drawing for a chance to win a limited edition golden Megazord that is not available in stores.

    After stopping in Houston, the tour will continue on to the following markets: Los Angeles (Nov. 3-5), and San Diego (Nov. 10-12), informs an official release.

    “Year after year, Power Rangers continues to be popular with young boys – whether they are watching the show, playing with our action figures, or role playing on the playground,” said Bandai America Inc. vice president marketing Michael Riley. “We created the ‘Get Powerised’ Tour to let fans across the country have the chance to meet the Power Rangers and experience the brand in an interactive and fun new way.”

  • Buena Vista to distribute Jet Li’s first Chinese film on TV

    Buena Vista to distribute Jet Li’s first Chinese film on TV

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has received the television distribution rights to
    Fearless, starring international action superstar Jet Li, produced by Bill Kong and directed by Ronny Yu.

    This is BVITV-AP’s first Chinese-language feature for television distribution. 

    Under this agreement, BVITV-AP has the rights to distribute Fearless in various markets across Asia including Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The martial arts epic is expected to make its television debut later this year on Star Chinese Movies in Singapore, the Philippines and Taiwan, where it has been licensed by BVITV-AP.

    Coming from the producer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers, Fearless is based on the tragic life of one
    of China’s most renowned martial arts masters Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910) who is played by Jet Li and supported by an international cast lead by Japanese actor Nakamura Shido. 

    BVITV-AP senior VP, MD Steve Macallister says, “We are thrilled to be extending our portfolio with this Asian box office hit and underlines our commitment to carefully enhancing our portfolio with quality local content. We look forward to the movie’s continued success as it launches later

    this year on Star Chinese Movies in various markets across Asia.”

    Star GM Chinese programming Jason Siu said, “We are delighted to work with BVITV-AP in adding yet another blockbuster to Star Chinese Movies, the world’s most powerful Chinese movie channel. We are confident that Fearless, with its huge box office success and the mass appeal of Jet Li, will give viewers another spectacular viewing experience.”

    The film was recently released in theatres in the US. It opened in various Asian markets earlier this year including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, and has
    grossed nearly $60 million to date at the worldwide box office.

     

  • MGM chairman predicts $1 trillion investment worldwide on new media platforms

    MGM chairman predicts $1 trillion investment worldwide on new media platforms

    MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) chairman and CEO Harry Sloan, in delivering a keynote address to
    delegates at the MIPCOM global television market at Cannes, predicted a $1 trillion investment worldwide in creating new media platforms.

    Half of that figure, US $500 billion, will be invested in platform development in the US, with the other half divided between key global markets.

    The advent of digital terrestrial, cable and satellite channels, as well as evolving broadband, wireless and telecom platforms is fuelling a growing global demand for content which, says Sloan, provides consumers with indefinable choice in what, when and how they will consume media content. In addition to driving demand for more content, the proliferation of new media exhibition platforms also increases the need for more exposure for new product while simultaneously requiring a stronger degree of influential marketing expertise, states an official release.

    According to Sloan, Hollywood’s MGM Studio is uniquely poised to meet both the growing demand for new product and support that product with its marketing expertise and its brand’s longstanding relationship with both retailers and consumers.

    Focusing on “regenerating and refreshing the MGM Library,” the largest modern film and TV library in the world, will reduce the risk of development, which Sloan claims accounts for between $150 and $200 million in write-offs for each major Hollywood studio every year.

    With stellar franchises like James Bond, the Pink Panther and Rocky, as well as the Terminator, the Hobbit and Thomas Crown in its arsenal of tentpole franchises, MGM’s film development will focus on extending proven brands.

    An increase in film development and production investments from Wall Street and financiers is resulting in a huge influx in independent production according to Sloan. And while independent producers excel in the creation of high quality filmed entertainment, Sloan says they often lack the marketing muscle and relationships with exhibitors to fully exploit their theatrical releases.

    “Distribution, booking the 3,000 theatres and allocating $25 million in marketing, is what major studios do best,” said Sloan. “We know how to get the attention of consumers and how to influence their entertainment decisions.” Two critical elements in the new digital media world where consumers are inundated with entertainment choices, according to Sloan.

    By partnering with independent producers, MGM can provide the studio’s marketing expertise and global distribution clout needed to generate both consumer interest and theatre bookings, resulting in stronger box-office and sustained consumer interest when the films are made available on-demand, on DVD or through broadband distribution.

    MGM is also forging partnerships with other media entities, reducing overhead and gleaning greater operating efficiencies. Recently announced arrangements include an agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment that provides a dedicated unit within Fox’s operation to manage MGM’s worldwide home entertainment rights in the global marketplace, the release adds.

    This unique structure provides for a concentrated sales and licensing effort focused on the MGM home entertainment brand, encompassing MGM’s increasing slate of new theatrical releases and direct-to-video projects as well as the more than 4,000 films and 10,000 episodes of television programming in its vast library. Fox also handles international distribution of MGM’s theatrical releases.

    MGM also announced a partnership with Apple’s iTunes that will see its signature television series Stargate SG-1, which just celebrated its 200th episode, available for download.

    Sloan said that while MGM’s previous management “missed every technology change of the past 35 years” that impacted the entertainment industry; he foresees even greater change and opportunities coming to fruition over the next five years than the past 35 combined. In concluding his address Sloan stated: “MGM will never miss another opportunity.”

  • Blinkx.tv unveils online video search

    Blinkx.tv unveils online video search

    MUMBAI: blinkx, the video search engine on the Web, today unveiled a new site that combines the ‘sit back and watch’ element of traditional television with the interactive experience of searching and watching video online.

    Blinkx offers rich media search on the web, and it now delivers results in an interface designed for sampling and showcasing video footage, states an official release. With the introduction of customisable video walls, automatically generated popular content channels, and a My Playlist feature, blinkx gives users a fun way to interact with online video, customize their own channels, and have more control in how they explore rich media on the web.

    “People are much better at understanding information visually, so we redesigned blinkx.tv to display video in a way that’s both efficient and compelling to the eye,” says blinkx CTO Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CTO. “We have always worked to get to the heart of rich media content at blinkx. Two years ago, we reinvented video search with advanced speech recognition and transcription technology, rather than standard metadata-based keyword solutions; now we’ve transformed the way we present the results to users. Video should be delivered visually, not as a text-based list of results.”