ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • GSN’s doc series ‘Anything To Win’ features the competitive world of daytime soaps

    GSN’s doc series ‘Anything To Win’ features the competitive world of daytime soaps

    MUMBAI: On Easter Sunday, 16 April, US broadcaster GSN, which deals with games will air the special Anything To Win: Soap Operas Wars.

    The channel notes that soap operas are legendary for going to extremes and creating the most outlandish storylines with their characters, doing anything from afflicting them with amnesia to bringing them back from the dead. This is never more evident than during “Sweeps” when, in an effort to boost ratings, soap producers pull out all the stops.

    GSN’s special gives viewers a glimpse into this competitive world, focussing specifically on a ground breaking stunt orchestrated by the producers and writers of Days of Our Lives where they unleashed a serial killer on to the town of Salem and, when it was all over, half of the beloved cast was dead.

    Soap Opera Digest editor Stephanie Sloane said, “Soap operas are misunderstood and underappreciated. As any actor who has joined a soap after doing prime time or films will tell you, there isn’t a more demanding job in the business. Daytime is filled with talented performers whose fans are fiercely loyal, and storylines that are complicated and compelling. It’s no wonder so many prime time shows draw talent and plots from the genre”.

  • Kannada film industry doyen Dr. Rajkumar is no more

    Kannada film industry doyen Dr. Rajkumar is no more

    BANGALORE: A sad day indeed in the annals of the film industry, especially for the Kannada Film industry. The biggest and one of the first superstars of the Kannada Film industry has bid adieu. He was 77.

    Dr Rajkumar, who complained of breathlessness about a month ago, had been admitted to M S Ramaiah Hospital. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest today as per the initial reports that have come in. The thespian, a winner of the Padma Bhushan along with a host of other awards and citations has encouraged the use of Kannada language in the state.

    Though very well known in South India, he came to national light when he was kidnapped and kept in custody for 109 days by notorious sandal wood smuggler the late Veerappan in 2000.

    The city of Bangalore has literally come to a standstill, following the demise. Crowds have been thronging to his residence along with a number of top Bangalore based politicians.

  • Online video services to see explosive growth in US: IDC

    Online video services to see explosive growth in US: IDC

    MUMBAI: Internet video services are on the brink of becoming a mainstream phenomenon in the United States.

    According to a new forecast from IDC, internet video services will generate over $1.7 billion in revenues by 2010, an increase of more than $1.5 billion from 2005 totals. Much of this growth will be fueled by a surge in the amount of premium content made available online. However, IDC cautioned that the market’s potential could be dampened by key technical and legal hurdles.

    The market for internet video services began its dramatic acceleration in 2005 as content owners, once unwilling to offer their products online, started to experiment with digital distribution as a way to complement and enhance their existing business models and to stem illegal P2P file sharing and piracy. In particular, the television networks’ decision to offer episodes from new shows as well as old sparked significant interest in internet video. Television content, which is available in ample amounts and is ideally suited for the PC, is expected to be an integral component to revenue growth throughout the forecast period.

    IDC’s Consumer Markets associate research analyst Josh Martin says, “The internet video market has a huge upside. With that upside, however, comes the risk to content owners of cannibalizing existing revenue streams. In order to properly take advantage of this emerging market, content owners to aggregators to consumer electronics manufacturers must understand the challenges the market faces and how to overcome them.”

    The key drivers for the adoption of internet video include the expansion of premium content offerings online and the emergence of home networking solutions that allow consumers to more easily view Internet content on their televisions. As services become increasingly common, content owners will leverage internet video to complement their existing revenue streams and to generate additional revenue from archived content and new content created specifically for the service.

    IDC expects that content owners will migrate toward three basic service types. Advertising-based services will remain the dominant type of internet video service, although its share of total market revenue will decline as a la carte services, buoyed by consumer familiarity with iTunes, grow dramatically over the next 2-3 years. Subscription-based services will experience steady growth throughout the forecast period, enhanced somewhat by the emergence of home networking solutions that make subscriptions more appealing to consumers.

    In order to sustain the momentum gathered in 2005 and maximise opportunities for success, content owners and service providers will need to overcome several important problems, including licensing issues, inadequate video search, competitive challenges, and the issue of how to move content beyond the PC. IDC believes that companies involved from the creation to distribution of content will have to partner with others across the value chain to create appealing, flexible services that will evolve into viable businesses.

  • Alan Perris is US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences COO

    Alan Perris is US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences COO

    MUMBAI: The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Atas) in the US has named television executive Alan Perris as its COO.

    Perris will be based at the Academy’s North Hollywood headquarters. He will oversee day-to-day staff activities as well as serve as the staff liaison to the Academy and its Foundation, headed by Foundation Chairman Steve Mosko.

    Atas chairman and CEO Dick Askin says, “Alan was selected after a comprehensive search and review process. Our paths have crossed frequently over the past 15 years and I believe that Alan’s wealth of experience should be of great value to our Academy in advancing the many exciting initiatives we have for the future.”

    Perris said, “The Academy, which awards the highest honours for excellence in television, is one of the most prestigious organisations in the entertainment business. It is an honour to be able to work with the top professionals in the television industry.”

    Perris has more than 30 years of experience in the television industry. Most recently, he served as executive VP of business development at Entertainment Media Works, which operates StarStyle.com. Previously, he was senior VP of first run programming at both Sony and Warner Bros.’ Telepictures division and President at two station group production companies, Scripps-Howard and Post-Newsweek

  • FremantleMedia appoints Wong as licensing manager, Americas

    FremantleMedia appoints Wong as licensing manager, Americas

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas (FLW, Americas) has appointed Nora Wong as licensing manager, Americas.

    In this newly created position, Wong will manage the licensing of key FremantleMedia brands such as American Idol, The Price Is Right and Family Feud for the apparel, health and beauty and publishing categories. She will be based in FremantleMedia’s Santa Monica office and will report directly to FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas vice president licensing David Luner.

    “This has been a very active year for FremantleMedia as many of our properties like American Idol, The Price Is Right and Family Feud continue to gain in popularity and perform beyond our expectations. This success has provided us with a great opportunity to build our licensing division in order to meet consumer demand for products based on our brands. Nora will be an excellent addition to our team. Based on her experience with emerging youth trends, consumer publications, fashion and style trends and interactive home DVD gaming, we could not have chosen a better person to round out the licensing team,” said Luner.

    Wong brings a wealth of related experience into her new role at FremantleMedia. Most recently, Wong served as graphic novel editor for Tokyo Pop. Wong also served as a contributing writer to Magic and Women’s Wear Daily Magic where she covered the women’s contemporary wear, street wear, urban wear and accessories beat.

    Her position just prior to joining FremantleMedia was as Imagination Enterprises director marketing where she oversaw licensed DVD games based on Family Feud, Sponge Bob Squarepants, Pirates of the Caribbean and Name That Tune.

  • Tandberg Television unveils on-demand interactive ad system at NCTA ’06

    Tandberg Television unveils on-demand interactive ad system at NCTA ’06

    MUMBAI: Tandberg Television will unveil for the first time an on-demand interactive advertising system at the NCTA National Show 2006. The company’s new dynamic ad placement solution integrates advanced video-on-demand (VOD) capabilities with advanced interactive television functionality.

    It enables operators and programmers to engage subscribers with compelling integrated advertising experiences tightly embedded in broadcast and VOD programming.

    “In an era of ad-skipping and fragmented viewership, our next generation technology will play a critical role for advertisers striving to engage their customers. Tandberg Television’s new solution offers advertisers the ability to blend the emotion of television with the precision and measurability of the internet,” said Tandberg Television Inc senior vice president marketing and business development Braxton Jarratt.

    A recent joint survey released by the Association of National Advertisers and Forrester Research found nearly 70 per cent of advertisers are concerned that VOD and digital video recorders (DVR) are rendering traditional TV ads less effective, and confirmed that advertisers will spend less on TV ads in favour of emerging forms of advertising. The new interactive advertising system from Tandberg Television helps cable deliver more effective forms of advertising that complement the evolving and complicated viewing patterns of today’s consumers.

    With the new ad solutions from Tandberg Television, operators can deliver dynamic ad placements, playlists, interactive advertisements, branded portal and t-commerce capabilities to create rich, immersive subscriber interactions. Since the system is platform agnostic, it can be extended to any delivery device where content is consumed, complete with embedded interactive experiences launched with every subscriber inquiry or response.

    The complete solution from Tandberg Television includes:

    On-demand advertising: Global management system for advanced video advertising technologies, including VOD ad placement, long-form VOD delivery and highly targeted ad systems. The AdPoint solution addresses the diverse needs of advertisers and marketers by providing innovative tools for the production, management and placement of advertising and marketing messages across platforms and methods.

    Interactive advertisements: Two-way interactive television (iTV) communication that actively engages viewers, draws them deeper into the programming and creates a unique relationship between the advertiser, the content and the operator.

    Branded entertainment on-demand: By linking from linear video to on-demand content, advertisers can tie branded content areas directly to advertisements. While viewing an ad, users can click for more information to launch on-demand sessions that provide deeper brand interactions.

    T-commerce: Secure transactions from set-top boxes allow viewers to make purchases while watching television. T-commerce is a powerful product placement and direct marketing solution for advertisers, enabling viewers to request additional information or initiate purchases directly from their television screen.

    Mobile messaging solutions: With its end-to-end mobile messaging system, Tandberg Television supports mobile marketing campaigns, including registration management, content creation and scheduling, reporting and analysis, and delivery to subscribers of all major carriers.

    The interactive advertising system delivered by Tandberg Television is based on open interfaces, enabling cable operators to easily deploy on-demand services using existing, preferred and next-generation backend components — such as video servers, access networks, billing systems and client applications — as well as future iTV applications, including gaming and merchandising.

    By enabling multiple video server vendors and complexes to co-exist in the same installation, Tandberg Television allows operators to direct content to specific servers and load balance resources across vendors

  • Endemol extends Barnicoat & Bazalgette’s contracts until April 2011

    Endemol extends Barnicoat & Bazalgette’s contracts until April 2011

    MUMBAI: Endemol has taken some significant steps in terms of retaining its key talent. The company has announced that the contracts of senior management of operating companies in Italy, the UK, the US, the Netherlands and Germany and of Endemol COO Tom Barnicoat and CCO Peter Bazalgette has been extended until April 2011.

    Furthermore, senior management in Spain and other senior management in Italy have extended their contracts until December 2008, with a renewal option year on year after that and until April 2011.

    Additionally, Endemol has introduced a number of incentive schemes to enhance talent retention, foster creativity and deliver financial commitments. For example, there are variable compensation incentives, which are paid based on business performance (mostly for delivering top and bottom line growth). In addition, there is a range of bonuses for Endemol’s creative talent, depending on the market success of formats created.

    Also, at the time of Endemol’s recent IPO, a Long Term Incentive Plan was issued. For the management boards, senior management and the other Top 100 employees, performance shares and/or option plans were granted based on delivering a certain total shareholder’s return. For the rest of the employees a cash-based incentive plan was issued as well (of which 45 per cent was paid in 2005).

    Furthermore, Endemol also promoted senior vice president finance Jan Peter Kerstens as the company’s new chief financial officer.

  • Walt Disney Internet Group signs distribution agreement with Boonty

    Walt Disney Internet Group signs distribution agreement with Boonty

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has inked a distribution agreement with Boonty, a global expert in the digital distribution of video games, to make some of WDIG’s most popular downloadable games available to consumers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.

    The agreement further raises WDIG’s profile in the downloadable games category and expands its ability to deliver digital content across multiple platforms.

    Disney fans across Western Europe can now access exciting games in local language featuring favourite Disney characters, including The Lion King Grubalicious, the Little Mermaid Bubble Blast, Pirates of the Caribbean Pinball and Aladdin Magic Carpet Racing, by going to Boonty’s network of major portals and online retailers such as T-OnLine, Alice, AOL, TF1 and Eurosport.

    “The Walt Disney Internet Group intends to make Disney games content readily available to a broadening audience of consumers around Europe by expanding our distribution channels with leading aggregators. Boonty has the expertise, reach and robust infrastructure required for effective digital distribution, and we are pleased to add them to our network of partners,” said Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe managing director Attila Gazdag.

    According to media research consultancy Screen Digest, the European casual gaming market is expected to reach close to $400 million by 2009. Much of this growth is coming from the non-traditional gaming audience – up to 65 per cent of casual game players are female and 48 per cent are aged 35-54 – who are particularly attracted by the Disney-branded games experience.

    “We are seeing the gaming industry embrace digital distribution globally with increasingly sophisticated services. The intuitive interface and design simplicity of the Disney games are very appealing to our users and we are delighted to be able to add this content to our portfolio,” said Boonty founder and CEO Mathieu Nouzareth

  • Jaya TV obtains clearance for news channel

    Jaya TV obtains clearance for news channel

    MUMBAI: This is a piece of news that would bring some cheer in the Jayalalitha camp, after the assembly election debacle. Mavis Satcom Ltd, which operates Jaya TV, has been awarded the Wireless Protocol Clearance (WPC) to launch its news channel Jaya Plus.

    “We have now obtained all the necessary permission to launch Jaya Plus. We have the infrastructure in place and a recruitment drive will be launched soon. The channel will be launched at the earliest, after the Tamil Nadu assembly election results,” Jaya TV vice president of administration and legal S Ranganathan told indiantelevision.com.

    That puts an end to a clueless wait and a series of court battles for Mavis Satcom. The broadcaster had obtained the required permission from the information and broadcasting ministry way back in 2004, and since then it had been fighting for the WPC certificate.

    To speed up the proceedings, Mavis Satcom approached the Madras High Court early this year. In February, the Centre had assured the court that it would take a final decision on an application by VSNL to permit it to receive and uplink Jaya Plus on or before 9 March. The broadcaster didn’t press on the matter further as assembly elections were approaching.

    “At this crucial time, we can’t afford to indulge in court battles. We don’t want our attention to get diverted. We are making our best efforts possible covering the elections,” Jaya TV VP News Sunil K P had told indiantelevision.com at the time.

    Jaya Plus will primarily be a news and current affairs channel but have small doses of talk shows and quiz programmes. The channel will have seven to eight news bulletins. Reportedly, Jaya Plus will be politically aligned towards Jayalalitha.

    The entry of Jaya Plus as a news channel will end Sun TV’s solo run in the television news space in Tamil Nadu. Presently, Sun TV and its news channel sibling Sun News literally control the space since competitors Jaya TV, Raj TV and Star Vijay don’t have the necessary permission to telecast news and live programmes.

  • Global adoption of mobile TV to disappoint this year: Deloitte report

    Global adoption of mobile TV to disappoint this year: Deloitte report

    MUMBAI: Deloitte’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) industry group predicts that, in 2006, search will displace email as the most used digital application, girls will hit the video games, and subscription radio will soar.

    At the same time, mobile television will disappoint, 3G adoption will be slower than expected, and the digital divide will grow.

    Deloitte China’s TMT Group leader Charles Yen says, “While the technology, telecom and media/entertainment industries are certainly converging we have identified the key trends in each sector that we expect for 2006. There will be some big winners and some big losers — and some, like always, that gain acceptance at a slower rate than their initial hype forecast.”

    Key trends identified in the reports include:

    Technology

    — Search displaces email as the most-used application — due to rising functionality, higher speed connectivity, and the 20 exabytes of new digital data expected to be created in 2006. At the same time, there are unlikely to be major advances in search engine user interfaces, implying even more potential value to be captured in the future.
    — Connectivity transforms devices into services — devices from cameras to cars will be able to be remotely upgraded and updated. Updates
    will extend from personal computers and mobile phones to GPS receivers, in-car computers, and set-top boxes, creating an opportunity for manufacturers to improve their understanding of
    customer needs, provide higher quality service and identify new revenue opportunities.
    — The “digital divide” deepens, rather than improves — historically, the digital divide has been most noticeable between developed and developing countries. This is likely to continue in 2006. Efforts to bridge the digital divide fail to address the underlying problems, including economic, political and social issues. Those on the “losing” end of the divide will be increasingly disadvantaged by their lack of access to the media, to the internet, to electronic communications, and to information.

    Media & Entertainment

    — Mobile television disappoints — while it will be promoted as the next big thing, and tens of millions of promotional dollars will be spent, consumer acceptance will lag.
    — Video games seek new audiences — in the wake of the success of new video game platforms, the industry will strive to sustain its growth by creating a considerably larger audience. It will reach out to new demographics, most notably young girls.
    — Subscription radio 2.0 — radio will follow television as its business model evolves from being advertising-dominated to subscription-dominated, providing added flexibility for customers and new opportunities for providers. New delivery mechanisms, such as internet-based services, will be launched. There are currently over 12 million US satellite radio subscribers; this market is expected to grow 35 per cent through the end of the decade.

    Telecom

    — 2006 will be a frustrating year for 3G — customers’ needs are being met by existing standards; they don’t understand the benefits of 3G and why they should pay for them. 3G will add tens of millions of subscribers, but nowhere near enough to pay back the tens of billions of dollars invested. 2G will continue to represent most of the growth, revenue and margin for the mobile sector.
    — Connectivity inside everything — the telecom industry will capitalise on maturing machine-generated communications to build connectivity inside machines and devices, resulting in remote process monitoring, asset tracking, traffic flow monitoring and more.