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  • Walt Disney Studios to increase branded output strategy

    Walt Disney Studios to increase branded output strategy

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Studios will be making a strategic shift toward more Disney branded movies. The studio will produce and distribute approximately 10 Disney live-action and animated films a year and 2-3 Touchstone films a year. The announcement was made by The Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.

    Cook said, “Disney is the number one name in filmed entertainment around the world. It’s the name on the door, it’s what we do best, and when we do it right, not only do moviegoers of all ages benefit from the finest in quality entertainment, but it lifts the entire company as well. The depth and breath of great Disney movies range from Pirates of the Caribbean to Cars to The Chronicles of Narnia, and we look to expand our global reach even more.”

    To accomplish this objective, Cook has tapped Oren Aviv as president of production, Walt Disney Pictures. Aviv will oversee the live-action development and film production for the Studios.

    “Oren is an amazing talent and has been a key player in reshaping our Disney films with many successes. In fact, National Treasure was a winning, original idea which he conceived and realised on film. In his new role, we look forward to capitalising on his great taste as well as his creative vision,” continued Cook.

    “Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group president Nina Jacobson, will be leaving the company, and while she will certainly be missed, we greatly appreciate her many contributions,” said Cook.

    In another strategic move, The Walt Disney Studios has restructured several of its business units under two global organisations – Buena Vista Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment. Mark Zoradi has been appointed president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group and will oversee the distribution and marketing of all Disney and Touchstone Pictures films worldwide. Robert Chapek has been named president, Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment, and will oversee the worldwide distribution and marketing of all the Studio’s films on Home Entertainment platforms.

    “The consolidation of global marketing and distribution is extremely important as we continue to adapt to the vastly changing world. To lead this charge we have the best team in place with Mark and Bob. Mark is a consummate professional who along with his team has had unprecedented success in the international marketplace with 12 consecutive years surpassing the $1 billion dollar mark. No other distributor has crossed this performance threshold. Bob is an innovator in every sense of the word and has helped our studio achieve countless DVD successes, and that leadership will translate well into his new global responsibilities,” said Cook.

    Another executive appointment will include Jim Gallagher as president of marketing for Buena Vista Pictures Marketing.

    Cook added, “Jim is as smart as they come and has great taste and creative instincts, not to mention an incredible sense of humor. I’m thrilled he has taken on this very important role.”

    With this new global infrastructure in place the Studio is expected to reduce its work force by approximately 650 positions worldwide. “Cutbacks such as these are difficult on so many levels, and we will do everything in our power to make the transition as smooth as possible,” said Cook.

    Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar Studios, Miramax Films (led by Daniel Battsek), Buena Vista Music Group and Buena Vista Theatrical Productions will not be affected by this reorganisation.

  • Dish TV inks deal with BVITV for MoD service

    Dish TV inks deal with BVITV for MoD service

    MUMBAI: The direct-to-home Dish TV has added Walt Disney movies to its movie-on-demand (Mod) offering besides providing Bollywood movies.

    For this, DishTV has entered into an agreement with the international television distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company -Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) to air the latest blockbuster movies on its value added service.

    Subscribers of the Mod pay-per-view service will have access to a slate of box office hit features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax and Jerry Bruckheimer Films including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Disney’s highest grossing film to date, Casanova, Cinderella Man, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Dark Water, and Flight Plan, informs an official release.

    Speaking about the tie-up, Dish TV CEO Sunil Khanna said, “Strategic alliances of this magnitude and nature are very important for any operator in any market. We are happy to tie up with BVITV at a juncture when the Mod services for Hindi movies has already been launched and now Dish TV is all set to launch the same service for English movies as well. With this move, we will be able to offer this service to more than 1.2 million subscribers of Dish TV spread across the country”.

    The movie can be ordered through SMS, phone or by logging on to www.dishtvindia.in. The consumer can watch the movie for 24 hours at his/her own convenience at a cost of Rs. 50 per movie.

  • Walt Disney Studios to increase branded output strategy

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Studios will be making a strategic shift toward more Disney branded movies. The studio will produce and distribute approximately 10 Disney live-action and animated films a year and 2-3 Touchstone films a year. The announcement was made by The Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.


    Cook said, “Disney is the number one name in filmed entertainment around the world. It‘s the name on the door, it‘s what we do best, and when we do it right, not only do moviegoers of all ages benefit from the finest in quality entertainment, but it lifts the entire company as well. The depth and breath of great Disney movies range from Pirates of the Caribbean to Cars to The Chronicles of Narnia, and we look to expand our global reach even more.”


    To accomplish this objective, Cook has tapped Oren Aviv as president of production, Walt Disney Pictures. Aviv will oversee the live-action development and film production for the Studios.


    “Oren is an amazing talent and has been a key player in reshaping our Disney films with many successes. In fact, National Treasure was a winning, original idea which he conceived and realised on film. In his new role, we look forward to capitalising on his great taste as well as his creative vision,” continued Cook.


    “Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group president Nina Jacobson, will be leaving the company, and while she will certainly be missed, we greatly appreciate her many contributions,” said Cook.


    In another strategic move, The Walt Disney Studios has restructured several of its business units under two global organisations – Buena Vista Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, and Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment. Mark Zoradi has been appointed president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group and will oversee the distribution and marketing of all Disney and Touchstone Pictures films worldwide. Robert Chapek has been named president, Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment, and will oversee the worldwide distribution and marketing of all the Studio‘s films on Home Entertainment platforms.


    “The consolidation of global marketing and distribution is extremely important as we continue to adapt to the vastly changing world. To lead this charge we have the best team in place with Mark and Bob. Mark is a consummate professional who along with his team has had unprecedented success in the international marketplace with 12 consecutive years surpassing the $1 billion dollar mark. No other distributor has crossed this performance threshold. Bob is an innovator in every sense of the word and has helped our studio achieve countless DVD successes, and that leadership will translate well into his new global responsibilities,” said Cook.


    Another executive appointment will include Jim Gallagher as president of marketing for Buena Vista Pictures Marketing.


    Cook added, “Jim is as smart as they come and has great taste and creative instincts, not to mention an incredible sense of humor. I‘m thrilled he has taken on this very important role.”


    With this new global infrastructure in place the Studio is expected to reduce its work force by approximately 650 positions worldwide. “Cutbacks such as these are difficult on so many levels, and we will do everything in our power to make the transition as smooth as possible,” said Cook.


    Walt Disney Feature Animation, Pixar Studios, Miramax Films (led by Daniel Battsek), Buena Vista Music Group and Buena Vista Theatrical Productions will not be affected by this reorganisation.

  • Dish TV inks deal with BVITV for MoD service

    MUMBAI: The direct-to-home Dish TV has added Walt Disney movies to its movie-on-demand (Mod) offering besides providing Bollywood movies.


    For this, DishTV has entered into an agreement with the international television distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company -Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) to air the latest blockbuster movies on its value added service.



    Subscribers of the Mod pay-per-view service will have access to a slate of box office hit features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax and Jerry Bruckheimer Films including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Disney‘s highest grossing film to date, Casanova, Cinderella Man, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Dark Water, and Flight Plan, informs an official release.


    Speaking about the tie-up, Dish TV CEO Sunil Khanna said, “Strategic alliances of this magnitude and nature are very important for any operator in any market. We are happy to tie up with BVITV at a juncture when the Mod services for Hindi movies has already been launched and now Dish TV is all set to launch the same service for English movies as well. With this move, we will be able to offer this service to more than 1.2 million subscribers of Dish TV spread across the country”.


    The movie can be ordered through SMS, phone or by logging on to www.dishtvindia.in. The consumer can watch the movie for 24 hours at his/her own convenience at a cost of Rs. 50 per movie.

  • NBC signs drama series deal with filmmaker Spike Lee

    NBC signs drama series deal with filmmaker Spike Lee

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC has signed on filmmaker Spike Lee to develop a new drama series.

    NBC Entertainment senior VP, drama development Katie O’Connell says, “Spike Lee was one of the first people that I wanted to make a priority for the network. I wanted to be aggressive about bringing in a high-profile filmmaker who fits in so well with NBC’s traditional brand of challenging quality dramas.”

    Details of the untitled drama’s concept will be announced later.

    Lee’s first critical breakthrough came when he directed the comedy She’s Gotta Have It in 1986. Shortly after, he followed up with an explovie drama Do the Right Thing which explored inner-city racial themes

  • Orange, Alcatel testing new mobile broadcasting concept

    Orange, Alcatel testing new mobile broadcasting concept

    MUMBAI: French space agency Cnes, telecom firm Orange France, and communications solutions provider Alcatel have announced the selection of Toulouse and the Midi-Pyrenees Region in France for the first trial of a system that is central to Alcatel’s “Unlimited Mobile TV” solution.

    This trail was outside the laboratories of the main technical characteristics of the new mobile broadcasting solution over a hybrid satellite and terrestrial transmission system using S-band. It is preliminary to the research and development efforts for the terrestrial aspects of the project, made possible with support from the French Industrial Innovation Agency.

    The Cnes financed and oversaw the design and deployment of the demonstrator, set the trial schedule, and is leading the trial; Orange, the leader in mobile broadcasting, is providing terrestrial repeater sites and contributing its expertise for analyzing results; Alcatel is conducting all trial measurements and preparing the result analysis; in addition, Eutelsat and SES Astra are supplying the satellite resources needed for feeding terrestrial repeaters.

    The trial was initially scheduled to continue through September 2006. Based on initial results, it has been decided to extend the technical trial through the end of 2006. As part of this extended trial period, Eutelsat will partner with Cnes, Orange France, and Alcatel in order to pursue the validation of the technical choices of the hybrid satellite and terrestrial broadcasting system to provide S-band services.

    Mobile Television Forum president Janine Langlois-Glandier says, “The Mobile Television Forum recently declared its support for the adoption of standards which are widely approved in Europe and which guarantee interoperability, such as the DVB-H standard and its evolution in the S-band. We are pleased that a trial using the S-band solution will be conducted in Toulouse by Cnes with Orange France and Alcatel, because we believe that this solution will assure consistency that will be beneficial for France and Europe as a whole.”

    The trial is part of permanent ongoing projects being conducted by Cnes on space applications for the consumer market, and part of continuing preparatory work being conducted jointly by Cnes and Alcatel on architectural concepts and the feasibility of a variety of technical alternatives for a hybrid satellite and terrestrial system for mobile broadcasting.

    The purpose of this trial is to provide a technical assessment, to supplement ongoing laboratory work, of certain key parameters of hybrid satellite and terrestrial S-band broadcasting, such as the impact of wave form on transmission quality, link budget, antenna diversity, error-correcting codes, and frequency sharing for satellite and terrestrial elements of the solution.

    The demonstrator includes all elements of the proposed solution. The satellite is simulated using an S-band transmitter on board a helicopter at high altitude. The system is completed by terrestrial repeaters installed in ten or so locations belonging to Orange France, the mobile telecommunications operator, alongside its GSM and UMTS service transmitters. Lastly, a test terminal and instruments on board a vehicle are used to measure and record the signal in real time.

    The demonstrator covers southeastern Toulouse and the suburbs, from downtown to Castanet Tolosan and St Orens, including the Canal Technology Park and Rangueil. The tests will also be conducted outside of Toulouse and its suburbs, in order to evaluate reception conditions in population centers of variable size, simulating complete coverage within mainland France.

  • Fifa finals get a record audience in Europe

    Fifa finals get a record audience in Europe

    MUMBAI: Football’s governing body Fifa’s marketing agency Infront has announced that the viewing audiences in Europe for the key final matches of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany exceeded predictions and broke records.

    Infront says that the high in-home audience figures are even more impressive in comparison to past viewing, given today’s fragmented television market. There was also a lot of out-of-home viewing.

    Italy – The Italian team’s penalty shoot out triumph over France in the final attracted a new tournament – and recent history – record audience for Italian television. An average audience of 23.9 million in Italy watched the Azzurri win the golden trophy for the 4th time in history. The figure represented 84 per cent of Italians that were watching television at that time. Italy’s top rated match during the 1998 event was 23.5 million. During the 2002 event, it was 23.7 million.

    The record figure of 23.9 million does not include the large number of Italians who watched the games out of home at public viewing events, bars and restaurants. For example, at the capital city’s ancient Circus Maximus, a reported 200,000 fans watched the final on three giant screens. In Milan, a further 150,000 fans watched the victory on large screens in the Piazza del Duomo.

    France – In France, national broadcaster TF1, attracted 22.1 million French viewers to its coverage of the Final between Italy and France. This figure represented over 80% of the available TV audience at that
    time, the highest audience share of any French coverage of this year’s tournament.

    France’s defeat on a penalty shoot out was endured by 800,000 more French viewers compared to the 1998 final when France triumphed over Brazil.

    Germany – The German national side’s impressive progress through the event drew a consistently high television audience at home in the host nation and ended with a new record for the tournament – past and
    present – despite millions watching out-of-home at public sites.

    Germany’s 2-0 loss to Italy in the semi-finals was watched live by 29.7 million viewers at home in the host nation, scoring a market share of 84.1 per cent. Germany’s previous highest audience at this tournament was the 24.8 million who watched the side defeat Argentina in the quarterfinals.

    The figure also beats the German audience in the final in 2002, when 26.5 million witnessed Germany lose to against Brazil. It also surpasses the hitherto unbeaten record in German football viewing of 28.66 million registered for the Germany v Argentina final back in 1990. However that figure does not include the new German states in the east of the country.

    The 29.7 million audience also beats the highest German audience (24.4 million for USA v Germany) attained in 1998. As that eevnt was in France, was aired at comparable times to this year’s competition in Germany.

    Germany’s six matches this year have scored a combined TV audience on German public service broadcasters ZDF and ARD of 142.1 million, which gives an average of 23.7 million per match. This represents a 45 per cent increase in viewing over 2002.

    Neutral viewing – Data from Spain and France shows that the Germany vs Italy match was one of the most popular with ‘neutral’ viewers – those who watch a match that does not feature their own national side.

    In Spain, the match had a combined audience on Cuatro and La Sexta of 5.9 million and a market share of 41.7 per cent. This Spanish audience was also higher than both the “neutral” semi-finals in 2002 but not as high as the 2002 final.

    In France, the Germany vs Italy match was shown live on both C+ and TF1 and had a combined audience of 13.3 million and a market share of 57.2 per cent. This figure is higher than any audience during the 2002 edition when France made an early exit.

  • NGC launches a global music broadband channel

    MUMBAI: National Geographic in the US has created a music initiative that offers consumers the soundtrack to the world, from traditional roots music to unexpected hybrids from the furthest reaches of the globe.


    National Geographic World Music (worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com) showcases international artists and musical performances in an interactive and immersive online environment.


    In supporting National Geographic’s (NGC) core aim of inspiring people to care about the planet, the site uses the language of music as a medium to tell the stories of the world.


    From Morocco to Indonesia, New Zealand to Sweden, Cuba to the US and Senegal, National Geographic World Music offers fans the chance to discover music by different artists, regions and genres. The site also provides rich context for music through NGC‘s assets that include videos, maps, photos and features from its magazines, and other editorial platforms. Searches are enabled via artist, genre, country and region.


    Featured artists include:


    – Tinariwen: These Malian guitar-slingers are former Tuareg rebels who put down their guns, picked up guitars and changed the face of African rock ’n’ roll.


    – Sidestepper: This Anglo-Colombian collaboration is a mash-up of 21st-century salsa, cumbia, vallenato and drum ’n’ bass, direct from the developing world.


    – Seu Jorge: This Brazilian crooner made waves when he gave David Bowie classics a smooth, samba makeover.


    Musician David Beal has been working on the launch of National Geographic World Music for the past year. He says, “People come to National Geographic to read books and magazines, to watch films and television, to shop and to explore nationalgeographic.com, but they’ve never truly had a pure listening experience, until now.


    “By exposing these incredible artists to the National Geographic audience, they’ll hopefully begin to find a larger audience and receive the recognition they deserve.”


    National Geographic World Music is programmed by music experts under the supervision of Tom Pryor, former editor of Global Rhythm magazine. The Web site will feature the best artists, innovative music and emerging trends worldwide, allowing users a comprehensive experience. It will also feature guest DJs and their recommended play lists. With partner Calabash, National Geographic World Music makes thousands of tracks available for discovery as well as for purchase at 99 cents per MP3 download. Other strategic partners include LinkTV for video, and Afropop Worldwide and Global Rhythm for editorial and curatorial content.


    National Geographic digital media VP, content development and operations Betsy Scolnik says, “World music is a natural extension of nationalgeographic.com’s rich multimedia experience that entertains, informs and engages consumers who are as passionate about the world’s cultures and the environment as we are. World music fans around the world will be able to listen and learn in one digital experience.”

  • Orange, Alcatel testing new mobile broadcasting concept

    MUMBAI: French space agency Cnes, telecom firm Orange France, and communications solutions provider Alcatel have announced the selection of Toulouse and the Midi-Pyrenees Region in France for the first trial of a system that is central to Alcatel’s “Unlimited Mobile TV” solution.


    This trail was outside the laboratories of the main technical characteristics of the new mobile broadcasting solution over a hybrid satellite and terrestrial transmission system using S-band. It is preliminary to the research and development efforts for the terrestrial aspects of the project, made possible with support from the French Industrial Innovation Agency.


    The Cnes financed and oversaw the design and deployment of the demonstrator, set the trial schedule, and is leading the trial; Orange, the leader in mobile broadcasting, is providing terrestrial repeater sites and contributing its expertise for analyzing results; Alcatel is conducting all trial measurements and preparing the result analysis; in addition, Eutelsat and SES Astra are supplying the satellite resources needed for feeding terrestrial repeaters.


    The trial was initially scheduled to continue through September 2006. Based on initial results, it has been decided to extend the technical trial through the end of 2006. As part of this extended trial period, Eutelsat will partner with Cnes, Orange France, and Alcatel in order to pursue the validation of the technical choices of the hybrid satellite and terrestrial broadcasting system to provide S-band services.


    Mobile Television Forum president Janine Langlois-Glandier says, “The Mobile Television Forum recently declared its support for the adoption of standards which are widely approved in Europe and which guarantee interoperability, such as the DVB-H standard and its evolution in the S-band. We are pleased that a trial using the S-band solution will be conducted in Toulouse by Cnes with Orange France and Alcatel, because we believe that this solution will assure consistency that will be beneficial for France and Europe as a whole.”


    The trial is part of permanent ongoing projects being conducted by Cnes on space applications for the consumer market, and part of continuing preparatory work being conducted jointly by Cnes and Alcatel on architectural concepts and the feasibility of a variety of technical alternatives for a hybrid satellite and terrestrial system for mobile broadcasting.


    The purpose of this trial is to provide a technical assessment, to supplement ongoing laboratory work, of certain key parameters of hybrid satellite and terrestrial S-band broadcasting, such as the impact of wave form on transmission quality, link budget, antenna diversity, error-correcting codes, and frequency sharing for satellite and terrestrial elements of the solution.


    The demonstrator includes all elements of the proposed solution. The satellite is simulated using an S-band transmitter on board a helicopter at high altitude. The system is completed by terrestrial repeaters installed in ten or so locations belonging to Orange France, the mobile telecommunications operator, alongside its GSM and UMTS service transmitters. Lastly, a test terminal and instruments on board a vehicle are used to measure and record the signal in real time.


    The demonstrator covers southeastern Toulouse and the suburbs, from downtown to Castanet Tolosan and St Orens, including the Canal Technology Park and Rangueil. The tests will also be conducted outside of Toulouse and its suburbs, in order to evaluate reception conditions in population centers of variable size, simulating complete coverage within mainland France

  • Satya Sai Sylada joins HTMT as Head – Human Resources

    Hinduja TMT Limited (HTMT) appoints new HR Chief for India and Mauritius

    Satya Sai Sylada joins HTMT as Head – Human Resources (India and Mauritius)

    New Delhi, March 21, 2006: HTMT today announced the appointment of Satya Sai Sylada as Head – Human Resources (India and Mauritius). He will have overall responsibility for the Human Resources function spread across 9 delivery centres in India and Mauritius.

    Satya joins us from GE Consumer Finance Servicing where he has been working for the past 4.5 years. He is also one of the very few Certified Black Belts in HR in GE where he worked full time for close to 2 years as a Black Belt improving processes and systems in Human Resources. He has a wide range of experience in various facets of Human Resources like Talent Acquisition and Retention, Employee Engagement, Compensation & Benefits and Leadership Development.

    His predecessor, Mr. Prosenjit Ganguly, after a brief but impactful stint at HTMT is moving on to pursue career interests outside the group.

    Prior to GE, Satya was with Wipro for around 3 years in their Fluid Power Business. He started his career with Bellary Steels after his Masters Degree in Human Resources from Andhra University and a Program in Business Management from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.