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  • ‘Organising a fashion event is a question of management – order, discipline, logistics, delivery’ : Simon Lock

    ‘Organising a fashion event is a question of management – order, discipline, logistics, delivery’ : Simon Lock

    IMG Fashion Asia Pacific MD Simon P Lock, the man who thrust Australian fashion onto the world stage, is in town for the Lakme Fashion Week, which kicks off tomorrow in Mumbai and runs till 1 April 2006.

    Lock, the founder and former CEO of Fashion Innovators (AFI), as too the region’s premier fashion event, Mercedes Australian Fashion Week, took over as head of IMG Fashion AsiaPac after his company was bought out by IMG in October 2005. The acquisition by IMG also included the management and production of the Mercedes-Benz Start Up program in Australia and New Zealand, the Mercedes-Benz Asia Fashion Award program that is currently held in six countries throughout Asia, the Singapore Fashion Festival and other fashion events around the Asia Pacific region in development, including events in India, China and Japan.

    Indiantelevision.com’s Ashwin Pinto caught up with Lock to find out more about IMG Fashion and its plans.
     

    How has IMG expanded its presence in the fashion world in the past five years?
    Quite significantly! Here in the Asia Pacific they acquired my company in Australia AFI which produces the Mercedes Fashion Week in Sydney. It also produces the Singapore Fashion Festival. So that has become a part of IMG Fashion family. In India we have the Lakme Fashion Week. New fashion weeks have started in many cities including Los Angeles and Miami. IMG Fashion is also involved closely with a number of Fashion Weeks in Europe.
     

    Anything else?
    IMG Fashion also has IMG Models. I am involved with developing that sphere as well and we are doing a lot of work in the Asia Pacific region. IMG Models represents some of the leading models in the world. They include Kate Moss, Heidi Klum and Giselle Bundchen. My role is to look for opportunities for those girls in Asian markets. My job is also to spot new talent who can become a part of the IMG fold globally.
     

    In what way has the business model evolved along with the industry?
    The business model of IMG Fashion is primarily based on the ownership and the development of fashion events. They can be trade events for the industry or events for the public who are fans of fashion. The revenue model revolves around contributions fro m designers to participate in these events and also sponsorship to drive the events.
     

    How difficult is it to find sponsorship?
    It is always a challenge. You are competing with other parts of the marketing spend. This is the advertising spend, public relations spend. IMG has vast opportunities because it has such good significant properties around the world.

    So if you are an international brand like Lakme or Olympus or Mercedes Benz and looking to create an association with the fashion industry and therefore reach consumers then IMG Fashion can be a valuable partner for you.
     

    How has the takeover of the takeover of IMG by investment company Forstmann Little & Co impacted the company?
    It has added value to both management and the operational structure. Forstmann has great vision which they have been able to transfer into the development of IMG Fashion. They are bringing in some new things like a focus on the internet and new media.
     
    ‘We are seeing designers images going up on the Internet straight away and retailers copying them. Many designers are considering pulling out of online galleries‘
     

    How is IMG Fashion looking to leverage the Internet and new media?
    New York is the best example of what we are looking to do. Recently we created a partnership with Microsoft and Sprint to deliver fashion show content online.

    This is the first time it has been done live anywhere in the world. It was successful. The site imgfashionworld.com started to rank alongside other great event sites around the world like Wimbledon, US Open. It is a win win value proposition and allows us another window to showcase our collection.
     

    Is the mobile also an opportunity?
    Definitely. We are in discussion with a lot of operators. With the advent of 3G and mobile, TV people are coming to grips with what the consumer wants. Do they want five minutes edited highlights of fashion shows? Do they want to be able to see what is happening backstage? Do they want critiques? Do I want to watch it while traveling on a bus or while I am at work?

    As consumers we do not know what we want out of this new media. But IMG Fashion is well positioned to deliver the content in whatever manner it suits the consumer. It is a question how we apply content to the medium.
     

    How important a market is India for IMG from the fashion side compared to other Asian countries?
    It is significant and we have been here for six years already. India has a vibrant fashion industry that we are partners with. India has a huge growing consumer population. They are getting more involved with fashion.
     

    Could you talk about some of the learnings from other countries that you have applied for the Indian market?
    Lots! I have been running fashion Weeks for 10-12 years. We bring 20 years of running them and it benefits India. There is a lot of detail, procedure, information.
     

    What are the ways in which IMG is leveraging the synergies between fashion and the worlds of music and entertainment?
    We did an innovation recently in Singapore. This was a collaboration with MTV. We produced a special MTV Fashionably Loud. This the epitomy of live music rock concert married to a fashion show and developed into a brilliant television programme which will air across Asia, including India, on 9 April 2006.

    It stars top designers like John Paul Gautier, Gucci, Prada. We have an indirect relationship with the film world. Many designers who participate in our fashion Weeks dress film celebrities.
     
    ‘The overall challenge is in fighting for the consumer dollar against different industries like cosmetics, entertainment, food etc‘
     

    What role do major events like the Oscar Awards play in increasing synergy between the world’s of entertainment and fashion?
    The first hour of a major film programme, whether it is the Oscar Awards, the Golden Globes, the Baftas, focus on what people are wearing. On the red carpet the interviewers are more interested in the outfits than on the films. This is a huge opportunity for designers to get noticed in a way that otherwise would not be possible.

    The downside is that some of the mystique is lost when viewers find out that the dress is being returned tomorrow along with the jewelry. This is something though that the industry has to learn to live with.

    When you have a celebrity for a fashion event the danger is that he/she might have their own aims. This need not be promoting their designers. When the relationship works well in terms of the celebrity talking about the designer and vice versa. It needs to be balanced though. A personal connection helps when a celebrity likes to wear a particular designers clothes, as it looks good on them. It does not always happen though.

     

    Could you talk about how IMG increases the brand equity of a fashion event through its expertise?
    We have a series of production partners who help us produce events. We have contractors around the world. IMG Fashion also has experienced executives who help manage sponsorships, marketing and bringing in international buyers and producing events. It helps create better outcomes for the participants. Designers will sell more clothes and the media coverage for Lakme Fashion Week will grow exponentially.

    So they know that the return on investment is strong. At the end of the day we bring measurable outcomes to participants. Without commercial outcomes we cannot commercially substantiate our involvement or their involvement.

    Our aim is never to create a homogenous Fashion Week circuit. In New York it has its own style and personality of showcasing sports wear. Los Angeles, Mumbai, Sydney are also distinctive. The inherent nature of the industry allows each event to be different. Indian designers have a certain, style, feel and way of doing business. We have no intention of taking this spirit away. We want to embrace and enhance that spirit. Lakme fashion Week has sense of community and that is the spirit.
     
    What is the main difference between organising a fashion event and a sports event?
    The basic principles are the same. You need organisational skills for both. However, a specific expertise a required to run fashion events. This means that you have to understand the industry. Organising a fashion event is a question of management – order, discipline, logistics, delivery.
     

    What are the ways in which IMG meets these challenges?
    It is about having a plan that will offer a successful outcome. You need to be very structured and focussed. You need great creativity and logistical execution. You need to balance both.

    There is no point in having a creative Fashion Week if the sets fall down. If it is not run on time or the media is not getting what is going on, then the event will be affected.
     

    Are you satisfied with how television channels cover the fashion industry or do you feel that there is a need for greater in-depth coverage? What I am trying to get at is that the genuine understanding of the fashion business is very low in India among journalists in particular and the media in general.
    It is a good point. Designers need to be more prepared to deal with the media. They need to be more educated. The media needs to understand the subject matter and then put it in an international context.

    If an Indian designer comes out tomorrow on the catwalk with a Gucci rip off then the journalist must be able to spot it. That is your responsibility to the consumer.

    To do that you have to take your journalism and research equity very seriously. We need to see more of that in India. What ultimately works is mutual respect between the two parties.
     
    On its part what efforts is IMG taking to make its fashion events more TV friendly?
    We have excellent lighting and sound. So the quality that we can get out of our events is good. We have great partnerships like with Zee here. We also did one with Microsoft in the US. IMG owns one of the largest television production companies in the world -TWI. So we have a lot of experience in this area.
     

    In India one problem that the fashion industry commonly faces is charges of copying of designs. What in your view is the solution and is this problem faced in other countries?
    This problem is faced everywhere. We are seeing it now with designers images going up on the Internet straight away and retailers copying them. Many designers are considering pulling out of online galleries. I am not sure of what the solution is to this problem.

    The overall challenge is in fighting for the consumer dollar against different industries like cosmetics, entertainment, food etc. Hopefully we will get our fair share and this can be done by providing people with the right products.
     
    Could you talk about IMG’s expansion plans globally on the fashion side?
    We have development plans for new events across the Asia Pacific region. We can talk about this when the time is right.
     

    What are the plans that IMG has for India going forward?
    The way forward is to grow and develop the Lakme Fashion Week. You grow it by getting more buyers and more media to attend. They write for more orders, the designers get bigger. Both parties come back. It is cyclic.

    The event has to be of a high quality so that designers want to participate. So content has to grow.

    Then again there is no good having great content if you do not tell people about it. Our job is to tell people globally what is going on here.
  • Vh1 ties up with Big Fish Games & Midway to provide online games

    Vh1 ties up with Big Fish Games & Midway to provide online games

    MUMBAI: Vh1 has announced the launch of Vh1 Games the online gaming destination for gamers, puzzle experts, and pop culture fans. For this initiative, Vh1 has teamed up with the game developer and distributor Big Fish Games and the interactive entertainment software publisher and developer Midway.

    Big Fish Games has been tapped for their expertise in the downloadable game market, game publishing, and merchandising. Through its licensing agreement with Vh1, Midway is providing authentic arcade classic games to the hub.

    “We have created a gaming site that extends the Vh1 brand by playing off of Vh1’s distinct programming,” said Vh1 VP digital media Tina Imm. “Our original games and ‘Vh1 Classic Arcade’ give our viewers and the enormous numbers of casual online gamers a great mix of old and new games, editorial content, and industry news.”

    In addition to a broad collection of word games, action games and puzzles, the Vh1 Games hub offers original games from Vh1, top downloadable games, and popular classic arcade games from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s that are part of Vh1’s on-air and broadband programming.

    Vh1 Games also provides gaming news and commentary through its dedicated blog, ‘Vh1 Game Break’. Vh1 Games introduces the ‘Vh1 Classic Arcade’– a collection of authentic online versions of old-school arcade classics like Spy Hunter, Joust, Defender, and Rampage.

    In the classic arcade section of the site, the games will be packaged together with editorial content relevant to the time when these games were originally released.

    Vh1 Games also offers original games based on Vh1’s hit TV shows and pop culture, as well as classic-inspired games including Vh1’s new mini-game compilation, The Arcade Strikes Back. Vh1’s original games include titles such as Escape the Paparazzi, Sudoku Fortunes and I Love Toys.

    Players can download one hour trials of the games or purchase the full versions for $19.99.

  • Zoom, Reliance in interactive deal for Glam Awards













    MUMBAI: Lifestyle and glamour channel Zooms goes interactive. In a unique tie-up with Reliance, Zoom‘s first Glam Awards can be viewed by subscribers of Reliance World.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on the initiative, Zoom‘s national head, marketing and sales, MK Anand said, “The Glam Awards is a signature event showcasing that glam in India has finally arrived. Interactive Marketing has always been high on Zoom‘s agenda, and the tie-up with Reliance is yet another achievment on that front.


    “In the first phase of this tie- up, we had partnered with Reliance for a contest prior to the Glam Awards where subscribers voted for the ‘Best Glam Music Video‘. They could download the full music videos selected in this category and vote for the best video. The winner in this contest was a special invitee to the Glam Awards, held recently in Mumbai. Details of the contest were aired on Zoom. Now, in the second phase, we are sharing content for the ‘Curtain Raiser‘ and the ‘Glam Awards‘ will be telecast on Zoom on 14 May at 9 00 pm.”

     

    Zoom is the first entertainment channel that will now be included in the Reliance Mobile TV bouquet. So far the only channels who have been in the bouquet have been news channels Aaj Tak, NDTV, CNBC and Times Now.


    Saying that for Reliance, this was a WAP tie up for its subscribers, Anand adds,”We are essentially targeting the upwardly mobile viewers, the imagery that can be downloaded is targeted to the youth from 15 to 34 years who also constitute our target audience. There is, therefore, a lot of synergy with Reliance.”


    “We are redefining the marketing activities by going beyond just print, online and ground initiatives for the Glam Awards. Glamour is also about high technology so this is a step in that direction. The time lag between the airing of the Awards on 14 May and being able to download the special clips it on the cell is just a few minutes,” says Anand.


    The first Glam Awards can be viewed by 5 million subscribers of Reliance World. Whether it is Kareena thanking her “best friend‘ on stage or John and Bipasha‘s very evident real life chemistry at the awards – it will now be accessible to the Reliance world customers. Snippets such as memorable moments, terrific performances and acceptance speeches will be content that Reliance users can avail.


    The first annual Zoom Glam Awards were held in Mumbai on 30 April.

  • ECB launches broadband TV channel













    MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board may be making noises about launching its own television channel but it is its British counterpart that has gone ahead and “walked the talk”. The England and Wales Cricket Board today launched its official broadband TV service, ECBtv, coinciding with the start of the first npower Test against Sri Lanka at Lord‘s.

     

    The ECB has signed a three-year deal with digital rights company, Premium TV, to produce the broadband channel – as an addition to ecb.co.uk, according to the board website.


    In addition to exclusive interviews, the ECBtv console will stream live video coverage of all home npower Test matches and NatWest one-day internationals to identified territories in Europe, South and Central America, Japan and Africa, which are not covered by current ECB television deals.

     

    ECBtv users can also access live audio commentary on all England‘s home internationals, with BBC Radio‘s Test Match Special being relayed through the channel.


    The ECBtv console is a key development for the ECB, which sees broadband as a crucial platform for cricket in England and Wales to build on the popularity enjoyed by the sport during the npower Ashes series in 2005.


    The ECB will also be encouraging England players to create their own content for the website.


    Also embedded in the ECBtv channel will be a searchable video archive (SVA) that allows fans to view extended highlights of England‘s classic moments on home soil, such as great matches, innings and wickets from as far back as 1970 – meaning classic moments such as Botham‘s Ashes in 1981 can also be included.


    Another feature of ECBtv will be the ‘Active Zone‘, where fans will be able watch tutorials on all key aspects of the game from England players past and present, and see video clips of key grassroots initiatives such as NatWest CricketForce 2006.


    It will also house ecb.co.uk‘s own multimedia archive of video and audio clips, bringing continuing coverage of all aspects of the game outside of the international arena.


    Premium TV will work alongside the ECB‘s broadcast partners to ensure that the online broadcasts are geo-blocked in areas where any conflict with TV broadcast deals exists.


    Oliver Slipper, CEO of Premium TV, said: “The ECB signing is yet another example of how PTV can help sports organisations exploit their digital rights by creating a unique service for a very popular platform.


    “It also demonstrates how digital rights deals complement rather than compromise TV deals.”

    Picture courtesy ecb.co.uk

  • Star India buys world satellite rights to three PNC films

    Star India buys world satellite rights to three PNC films

    MUMBAI: Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd has announced that the world satellite rights to its latest productions, Ankahee, Pyar Ke Side Effects and Bow Barracks Forever have been purchased by Star TV Network. The company didn’t divulge the financial details of the deals.

    Ankahee, directed by Vikram Bhatt, stars Aftab Shivdasani, Esha Deol and Ameesha Patel. Pyar Ke Side Effects, a romantic comedy, is directed by Saket Chowdhury. The movie features Mallika Sherawat and Rahul Bose in the title roles. Anjan Datta’s Bow Barracks Forever, which is also scheduled for release this summer stars the likes of Neha and Lilette Dubey, Victor Banerjee and Moon Moon Sen.

    The india distribution rights for Ankahee is shared between Raj Enterprises (Bombay), Sahyog Films (Nizam) and PVR Pictures (Delhi and Punjab). Inox Leisure has acquired four territories, Mysore, Rajasthan, West Bengal and CI. Venus Tapes & Records have acquired the overseas territory. T Series has already released the film’s music.

  • Worldspace Q12006 revenues up 35% to $3.5 million













    MUMBAI: For the first quarter of 2006, satellite radio player Worldspace reported revenues of approximately $3.5 million, representing a 35 per cent increase compared with revenues of approximately $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2005.


    Subscription revenue doubled to approximately $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2006 compared with subscription revenue of approximately $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2005, the company said in an official release.

     

    Worldspace recorded a net loss for the first quarter of 2006 of $29.2 million, or $0.79 per share, compared with a net loss of $9.2 million, or $0.40 per share for the first quarter of 2005. Sequentially, the net loss improved from the fourth quarter 2005 results of $33.2 million, or $0.90 per share. Worldspace had an EBITDA (earnings before interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) loss of $31.2 million for the first quarter of 2006, compared with EBITDA of $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2005, and an EBITDA loss of $44.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2005, the release adds.


    The company said it finished the first quarter of 2006 with 153,437 subscribers. The Company added 38,131 subscribers in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 109 per cent over the 18,233 subscribers added in same quarter of 2005. In India, the Company had 111,723 subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2006, up 50 per cent from 74,574 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2005 and a five-fold increase from 21,730 at the end of the first quarter of 2005, it said in a release.

     

    At the end of the first quarter of 2006, Worldspace had rolled out its satellite radio services in ten cities in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Kolkata. It also signed Indian music impresario AR Rahman as a brand ambassador in India.


    Globally, Worldspace introduced three new programming channels, including Fox Sports Radio, and Ranin and Min Zaman, the latter two targeted to listeners in the Middle East, bringing the total number of channels broadcast on Worldspace‘s global system to 223 by the end of the first quarter of 2006.

  • Worldspace satellite radio to launch in Italy













    BANGALORE: Worldspace satellite radio announced that WorldSpace Italia S.p.A. has received approval from the Italian ministry of communications to launch a subscription satellite radio service in Italy.


    With this authorization, the ministry has granted WorldSpace Italia the right to provide a subscription-based satellite radio and data service to consumers in Italy, and to use the frequency band 1479.5-1492 MHz for the operation of the corresponding hybrid satellite/terrestrial network.

     

    WorldSpace Italia anticipates launching the satellite digital radio and data service to portable and vehicular devices in 2007, using one satellite already in orbit, and a terrestrial gap-filler network to be rolled out in all major cities throughout Italy.


    WorldSpace Italia S.p.A. is a majority-owned subsidiary of Worldspace‘s European holding company, Viatis Satellite Radio. WorldSpace Italia‘s other partner is New Satellite Radio S.r.l., an Italian company whose primary shareholder is Class Editori S.p.A., an Italian financial, media and broadcast corporation based in Milan.


    According to an official release, New Satellite Radio, which holds a 35 per cent interest in WorldSpace Italia, has been instrumental in obtaining the Italian regulatory authorization and is expected to play an integral role in operational execution of the service in Italy, including distribution arrangements, such as OEM partnerships, content supply and acquisition and marketing.

     

    WorldSpace Italia intends to start rolling out this complementary network as soon as its installation plan, currently under finalization, is approved by the Ministry. At the service‘s maturity, subscribers in Italy will have access to approximately 50 channels of diversified sports, talk and commercial-free music programming, the release adds.


    “We are very pleased to receive these authorizations from the Italian Ministry of Communications for the launch of our service,” says WorldSpace, Inc. chairman & CEO Noah Samara. “We look forward to working closely with our partner, New Satellite Radio S.r.l., to implement our service and establish a new generation of WorldSpace subscribers across Italy. Italy is an attractive market for us. Our research shows it to be one of the two top markets for satellite radio in Europe.”


    According to Samara, the strategy has been to roll out a European service on a sequential, country-by-country basis. “Our goal was to obtain our first terrestrial authorization in one country in 2006. We have accomplished this in Italy, which we consider to be the best near-term market for a mobile satellite radio service. We will continue to seek similar approvals in the rest of Europe to achieve our goal of a pan-European satellite radio service.”


    “We welcome the opportunity to partner with WorldSpace at this exciting time for satellite radio in Italy,” says CEO and director of New Satellite Radio S.r.L. and board member of Class Editori S.p.A. Luca Panerai. “We are confident that coupling Class Editori‘s extensive Italian media experience and broadcast capabilities with WorldSpace‘s technology and unique platform offerings will provide a first-of-its kind listener experience in Italy. The authorization also paves the way for the Italian car manufacturing industry to be the first in Europe to provide digital satellite radio service.”


    Italy‘s population is more than 58 million and nearly two-thirds of these are within the target age demographic for satellite radio service.

  • News Corp. Q3 profit up 100%; India drives Star’s ad revenue growth

    News Corp. Q3 profit up 100%; India drives Star’s ad revenue growth

    MUMBAI: News Corporation recorded a clear 100 per cent increase in its profits for Q3 2006. The net income doubled to $820 million from $400 million a year ago.

    The company recorded a third quarter operating income of $1.0 billion, an increase of 14 per cent over the $889 million a year ago on revenues of $6.2 billion, up $155 million from the $6.0 billion reported in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.
    In an official release, News Corp., attributed the growth to good performance by its television, cable network programming and magazines and inserts segments, and have a $90 million improvement at SKY Italia.

    The television segment reported third quarter operating income of $286 million, an increase of $65 million, or 29 per cent, versus the same period a year ago, primarily reflecting higher contributions from the Fox Broadcasting Company (FBC) and Star.

    Star’s third quarter operating income increased 28 per cent as advertising revenue growth, mainly from India, drove total revenues up 14 per cent. Advertising gains were led by weekend programming initiatives at Star Plus and by the growth of Star One and Star Gold.

    Commenting on the results, chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said, “We are obviously pleased with the 14 per cent operating income growth and two-fold increase in net income we delivered this quarter. Our growth was as diverse as it was deep: continued subscriber expansion at SKY Italia; ratings success at our broadcast network; sustained momentum across our array of cable channels; and a dramatic increase in equity earnings from DIRECTV.

    “This quarter also saw accelerated progress in our new media evolution. MySpace expanded to over 70 million registered users, solidifying its prominence as one of the fastest growing sites on the Internet. We also launched Mobizzo, a comprehensive new destination for mobile content, putting us in the vanguard of this exploding new platform. And we reached agreement with our broadcast affiliates on repurposing network content, thus allowing us to aggressively develop new ways of distributing and monetizing our programming across the full range of new media platforms.

    At the same time, as we invest in these new opportunities, our strong balance sheet has enabled us to continue aggressively with our stock repurchase program. We have completed close to $2.5 billion of the original $3.0 billion buyback program we initiated last June, and today we announced that the Board of Directors has approved an increase in the stock buyback program to $6.0 billion. This $3.0 billion step up clearly reinforces our view that repurchases of News Corporation shares are among the best uses of our cash in today’s environment,” says Murdoch.

    At the FBC, third quarter operating results were profitable versus a loss a year ago as ratings momentum and higher pricing drove primetime advertising revenue growth, the company said. The higher primetime advertising revenues in the current year were partially offset by increased programming costs for several returning series including American Idol and 24, which, along with House, fueled ratings growth of 17 per cent among adults 18-49 for the quarter. Additionally, the third quarter a year ago included a loss associated with the broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIX.

    Fox Television Stations (FTS) third quarter operating income declined only 4 per cent despite the benefit a year ago from FBC’s broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIX. Primetime ratings strength and the continued success of local news drove advertising revenue growth which was partially offset by increased local sports rights and the further expansion of local newscasts, said an official statement.

    Sky Italia reported third quarter operating income of $69 million, an improvement of $90 million compared to a year ago on local currency revenue growth of 17%. This improvement primarily reflects the addition of 472,000 net new subscribers over the past 12 months, bringing Sky Italia’s subscriber base to 3.71 million at quarter-end.

    The Filmed Entertainment segment reported third quarter operating income of $225 million versus the $251 million reported in the same period a year ago. The year on year decline is primarily due to comparisons with record results a year ago led by the home entertainment performances of Alien vs. Predator, Napoleon Dynamite and I and Robot.

    According to News Corp., the third quarter film results were largely driven by the domestic home entertainment performances of Walk the Line and Transporter 2 and by the continued success of Fantastic Four in the international home entertainment market. Twentieth Century Fox Television (TCFTV) had increased contributions versus the third quarter a year ago, primarily reflecting continued momentum in home entertainment sales, most notably from Family Guy and 24.

    Cable Network Programming reported third quarter operating income of $211 million, an increase of $39 million over last year’s result. The 23 per cent growth primarily reflects advertising strength at the Fox News Channel and affiliate revenue growth at the Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), the release adds.

  • I&B ministry to bring Optical Disc Law to counter priacy

    I&B ministry to bring Optical Disc Law to counter priacy

    NEW DELHI: The government today said that copyright enforcement cells have been set up in most of the States and Union Territory administrations to check violation of copyrights of films.

    Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) that his ministry has made suggestions for restricting incidence of piracy in the film and music sector while considering the on going amendments to the Copyright Act.

    The ministry, he said, has also received a proposal to enact an Optical Disc Law to counter piracy in the entertainment sector.

    The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has been entrusted with the task of determining the need for a separate legislation for manufacture of optical discs.

    Apart from this, I&B ministry has taken measures like organizing training programmes for police personnel on copyright issues in the film sector.

    The National Film Development Corporation Ltd has been commissioned to produce an anti piracy campaign and a film against piracy has been made by Public Service Broadcast Trust on behalf on the government for telecast on Doordarshan, the minister said.

    The Copyright Act, 1957, which falls under the purview of the ministry of human resource development, contains, inter alia, legal provisions regarding copyright in cinematograph films and music.

    The responsibility for dealing with offences under the Copyright Act rests with the State Governments and Union Territory administrations.

    According to entertainment industry estimates, revenue loss from film piracy is about Rs 12 billion annually.

  • 14 more TV channels apply for downlink okay

    14 more TV channels apply for downlink okay

    NEW DELHI: Fourteen more TV channels have applied for downlinking permission in India taking the total number to 55 as the deadline shutters down on 11 May.

    According to information posted on the website of the information and broadcasting ministry as of 11 May 1.10 a.m., the likes of ESPN, Star Sports, Reality TV, BBC World, Fashion TV and God TV were amongst those seeking landing rights in India.

    The government had stated all TV channels wishing to be downlinked into India will have to apply for landing rights after fulfilling various norms by 11 May 2006.

    The government had also clarified that from 11 May, all TV channels uplinking from outside India and having applied for registration with the government by that date could be carried on cable networks for the next six months or till the time government decides on their applications.

    The TV channels that have applied, according to the I&B ministry website, till 10 May include TV5 Monde, ESPN, Star Sports, BBC World, Fashion TV (that has applied under the entertainment category), Voyages Television, Miracle Net TV (entertainment), God TV(entertainment), Reality TV (entertainment), ABC Asia Pacific, Zee Arabia, Goal TV-1, Goal TV-2, MGM.

    The channels that sought landing rights earlier include Star Utsav, Star Plus, Star World, Star Gold, Star One, Star Movies, Channel V, Deutsche Welle TV, Angel TV, Hallmark Channel, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Star Vijay, Sony TV, SET Max, Animax, SET Pix, SAB(Sony), AXN, National Geographic Channel, The History Channel, MTV, Nick,Vh 1, MTV2, Ten Sports, Channel News Asia, B4U Music, B4U Movies, Discovery, Discovery Travel & Living, Animal Planet, Zee Studio, Zee Café, Zee Trendz, CNN International, HBO, POGO, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

    The ministry has informed TV channels that those who have obtained uplinking permission from India before 2 December, 2005 are not required to file with the government for downlinking.

    These channels will also not be required to pay an initial fee of Rs. 500,000 on grant of permission agreement or the annual downlinking fee of Rs. 100,000 per channel.

    However, those TV channels obtaining uplink permission from the government after 2 December, 2005 are required to submit some additional information relating to downlink okay, but are exempt from any processing and annual fee.