ITV

Tag: 21st Century Fox

  • Emerging female visionaries: Fox, PepsiCo announce contest, award up to $200,000

    Emerging female visionaries: Fox, PepsiCo announce contest, award up to $200,000

    MUMBAI: PepsiCo and 21st Century Fox, in partnership with the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), has announced “The Search for Hidden Figures” – a new scholarship contest designed to help uncover the next generation of female leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

    The program is inspired by the highly-anticipated feature film “Hidden Figures”, in theaters nationwide on 6 January, 2017, produced by Pharrell Williams, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons. The film tells the ‘untold’ story of three African American female NASA mathematicians during the Space Race of the 1960s. This contest will support today’s emerging STEM visionaries by awarding over US$200,000 (Rs 1.35 crore) in scholarships and other prizes to over 20 winners.

    Taraji P. Henson plays Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson, American physicist, space scientist, and mathematician in “Hidden Figures.”

    “PepsiCo is incredibly proud to work with 21st Century Fox and the New York Academy of Sciences to shine a light on women and girls doing outstanding but unheralded work in science, technology, engineering and math,” said PepsiCo’s vice chairman and chief scientific officer – global research and development Mehmood Khan. “The ‘Hidden Figures’ story is being told at a time when advances in each of these fields are creating unprecedented opportunities to develop solutions for many of the world’s biggest challenges. PepsiCo is proud to actively support the discovery of STEM talent and the development of STEM skills in the workforce.”

    Beginning today through 10 December, 2016, online entries will be accepted directly at www.SearchforHiddenFigures.com. Semi-finalists will be selected in mid-December, and each will be asked to provide a video submission for continued consideration. Top video submissions will then be judged by a notable panel of judges that include: “Hidden Figures” Producer Pharrell Williams; “Hidden Figures” Producer Donna Gigliotti; Fox 2000 President Elizabeth Gabler; and President of the New York Academy of Sciences Ellis Rubinstein.

    On January 12, 2017, two grand prize winners will be announced. Winners will receive access to the NYAS STEM skills training materials and programs, up to $200,000 in scholarships, and a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida.

    “We are honored to have the opportunity to share the story of Katherine Johnson and her peers whose contributions have remained hidden for too long,” said 21st Century Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch . “At 21CF, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire the next generation of talent to dream bigger and unlock their full potential, and through The Search for Hidden Figures contest we are excited to give young women across the country the encouragement to pursue those dreams.”

    To help encourage participation, PepsiCo and 21st Century Fox will be supporting the campaign with a national TV and digital media campaign featuring the film’s lead actress, Taraji P. Henson, as well as messages of encouragement from the film’s actresses and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from “Hidden Figures” on the contest’s website. To further discussion around STEM, PepsiCo will also be launching a collection of STEM mobile and web games, quizzes and challenges for students and fans of the film to test their skills. The mobile and web games can be found at http://searchforhiddenfigures.com/stem-challenges/.

    At PepsiCo, deep scientific and technological expertise is critical to meeting the company’s Performance with Purpose goals. Unlocking new ways to create more nutritionally advantaged foods and beverages or delivering tangible plans to increase production while reducing the company’s environment footprint, all rely on STEM leadership. By investing in today’s emerging talent, PepsiCo is playing a role in inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders who will likely become the driving force behind the company’s future innovation and topline growth.

    PepsiCo recently announced a commitment to improve the lives of 12.5 million women and girls by 2025, as part of its Performance with Purpose goals. Given that women represent only 24 percent of the STEM workforce, PepsiCo is particularly committed to expanding and encouraging STEM opportunities among female students and professionals.

    Prior to the Search for Hidden Figures contest, PepsiCo was the founding chair of the STEM Innovation Taskforce, a coalition on of more than 35 industry, government, educator and NGO partners who work cross functionally to develop and implement programs to help solve the STEM shortfall. Additionally, PepsiCo holds a longstanding relationship with NYAS and continues to support “The Junior Academy of the New York Academy of Sciences” – a virtual program dedicated to engaging exceptional STEM students. For more information about The Junior Academy of NYAS, please visit www.thejunioracademy.org.

    “Hidden Figures,” directed by Theodore Melfi, is the incredible untold story of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. The film was written by Allison Schroeder and Melfi and is based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The film opens wide on 6 January, 2017.

  • National Geographic’s global rebranding date coincides with ‘Mars’

    National Geographic’s global rebranding date coincides with ‘Mars’

    MUMBAI: National Geographic channel has finally decided to put a stop at all the speculation about its rebranding in the media and entertainment industry. It has dropped the word “channel” from its brand name and has embraced a global tagline, Further. To reinforce the notion of one National Geographic, as part of this new branding effort, the network will drop the word channel both on air and off all around the world beginning 14 November.

    This evolution further builds on last year’s expanded joint venture with 21st Century Fox and cements National Geographic’s position as a leader in premium content with an unparalleled global reach.

    Its new tagline embodies the ethos and spirit that have defined the brand (channel) for over 128 years. Embracing the company’s purpose to be the leading premium content destination for science, exploration and adventure, it captures the aspirations of the National Geographic audience and serves as a rallying cry for its employees, explorers, photographers, producers and other constituencies as well as a promise to advertisers, affiliates, educators and other external partners.

    “This is a proud moment for us at National Geographic and FNG as we set forth on a journey that will redefine the way in which the genre will be seen, experienced and consumed. Our new proposition of ‘Further’ underlines the vision of a brand that has always championed the cause of a better and deeper understanding of the world around us. It also comes at a point where the need to scratch beyond the surface and explore territories we never thought possible, is more pressing than ever before,” said National Geographic India Fox Networks group business head Swati Mohan.

    The rebrand will touch every aspect of National Geographic, including the visual presentation of the global channels in 171 countries, the iconic magazine, nationalgeographic.com, all of the company’s social and digital platforms.

    This news also coincides with premier of the global event series Mars, an epic story of mankind’s thrilling quest to inhabit Mars, executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

    The epic and path-breaking, six-part series is a joint product by National Geographic (NG), Academy Award and Emmy-winning producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg of Imagine Entertainment; and Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer Justin Wilkes and Dave O’Connor of Radical Media.

    She further added, “Mars is a perfect example of our ambition on ‘Further’, as it tells the story of the inevitability of inter planetary existence of mankind. The show also launches a first-of-its-kind format that combines scripted with stunning visual effects and high-class documentary sequences. And yet, this is just the beginning of a whole new world of National Geographic, which we are confident will stun and amaze its audiences like never before.”

    Globally premiering on 14 November at 9 pm on the channel across 171 countries and 45 languages, Mars, is set both in the future and in the present day. It will air every Monday at 9 pm. This series aims to redefine television storytelling by combining feature-film-quality scripted drama and visual effects with best-in-class documentary sequences to drive forward a cohesive, edge-of-your seat story of mankind’s thrilling quest to inhabit Mars.

  • National Geographic’s global rebranding date coincides with ‘Mars’

    National Geographic’s global rebranding date coincides with ‘Mars’

    MUMBAI: National Geographic channel has finally decided to put a stop at all the speculation about its rebranding in the media and entertainment industry. It has dropped the word “channel” from its brand name and has embraced a global tagline, Further. To reinforce the notion of one National Geographic, as part of this new branding effort, the network will drop the word channel both on air and off all around the world beginning 14 November.

    This evolution further builds on last year’s expanded joint venture with 21st Century Fox and cements National Geographic’s position as a leader in premium content with an unparalleled global reach.

    Its new tagline embodies the ethos and spirit that have defined the brand (channel) for over 128 years. Embracing the company’s purpose to be the leading premium content destination for science, exploration and adventure, it captures the aspirations of the National Geographic audience and serves as a rallying cry for its employees, explorers, photographers, producers and other constituencies as well as a promise to advertisers, affiliates, educators and other external partners.

    “This is a proud moment for us at National Geographic and FNG as we set forth on a journey that will redefine the way in which the genre will be seen, experienced and consumed. Our new proposition of ‘Further’ underlines the vision of a brand that has always championed the cause of a better and deeper understanding of the world around us. It also comes at a point where the need to scratch beyond the surface and explore territories we never thought possible, is more pressing than ever before,” said National Geographic India Fox Networks group business head Swati Mohan.

    The rebrand will touch every aspect of National Geographic, including the visual presentation of the global channels in 171 countries, the iconic magazine, nationalgeographic.com, all of the company’s social and digital platforms.

    This news also coincides with premier of the global event series Mars, an epic story of mankind’s thrilling quest to inhabit Mars, executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

    The epic and path-breaking, six-part series is a joint product by National Geographic (NG), Academy Award and Emmy-winning producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Michael Rosenberg of Imagine Entertainment; and Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer Justin Wilkes and Dave O’Connor of Radical Media.

    She further added, “Mars is a perfect example of our ambition on ‘Further’, as it tells the story of the inevitability of inter planetary existence of mankind. The show also launches a first-of-its-kind format that combines scripted with stunning visual effects and high-class documentary sequences. And yet, this is just the beginning of a whole new world of National Geographic, which we are confident will stun and amaze its audiences like never before.”

    Globally premiering on 14 November at 9 pm on the channel across 171 countries and 45 languages, Mars, is set both in the future and in the present day. It will air every Monday at 9 pm. This series aims to redefine television storytelling by combining feature-film-quality scripted drama and visual effects with best-in-class documentary sequences to drive forward a cohesive, edge-of-your seat story of mankind’s thrilling quest to inhabit Mars.

  • Star India impacts 21st Century Fox Q1-17 numbers

    Star India impacts 21st Century Fox Q1-17 numbers

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. (21st Century Fox) reported 7.1 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in adjusted total revenue (revenue) for its first quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter). Twenty-First Century Fox reported consolidated revenue of $6,506 million in the current quarter as compared to $6,077 million in the corresponding year-ago quarter.

    This revenue growth reflects increase in affiliate fee revenue which was primarily attributable to higher average rates per subscriber across most channels, and the increase in content revenue was led by higher subscription video-on demand (SVOD) revenue from television productions says the company.

    The company’s Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) increased 16.7 percent in Q1-17 to $1,791 million from $1,535 million in Q1-16.

    Twenty-First Century has three segments – Cable Network Programming, Television and Filmed Entertainment.

    Cable Network Programming

    Cable Network Programming revenue in the current quarter increased 10 percent y-o-y in the current quarter to $3,810 million from $3,464 million. The segment’s Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA)increased six per cent y-o-y to $1,384 million from $1,306 million.

    Cable Network Programming has three sub-segments – Affiliate Fees; Advertising; ‘Content and Other’.

    Star India’s contribution

    Twenty-First Century Fox says that International affiliate fee revenue from its segment Cable Network Programming increased as a result of 16 per cent local currency growth, led by additional subscribers, higher rates and new channels in Latin America and Europe at Fox Networks Group International (FNGI) and increases at Star India, partially offset by the adverse impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against local currencies. For Q1-17, international advertising revenue increased as a result of 11 per cent local currency growth, led by the broadcast of the Rio Olympics in fiscal 2017 at FNGI and Star India and higher volume and pricing at Star India’s general entertainment and sports channels, partially offset by the adverse impact of the strengthening of the US dollar against local currencies.

    “Star India’s advertising revenues returned to double digit year-over-year growth on a constant currency basis and we continue to see exceptional growth of our mobile video platform Hotstar,” said James Murdoch during a earnings call on the latest earnings. “Between June and October, average watch time doubled on the platform and minutes viewed is currently more than double, all the mainstream competitors combined and more than 10X the watch time of Netflix, which launched in India earlier this year.”

    The increase in international content and other revenues Q1-17, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, was primarily due to higher network and syndication sales in Latin America and Europe at FNGI.

    International channels OIBDA decreased seven per cent, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, primarily due to the local currency revenue increases noted above being more than offset by higher expenses an the adverse impact of the strengthening of the US dollar against local currencies. Operating expenses increased by approximately $110 million, for Q1-17, as compared Q1-16, primarily due to the broadcast of the Rio Olympics in fiscal 2017 and increased sports programming rights amortization, including soccer rights at FNGI and cricket rights at Star India.

    James Murdoch responded to a question during the investor call about the IPL rights and other sports properties that the Star Network is developing in India by saying: “..on the IPL, I think it is well known that there’s a – it’s well known that it’s very unclear when those rights will come to market. There has been a delay in that process. But I would say, look with respect to the Indian business we obviously look at different rights packages as they come up, we have really grown the breadth of that business in terms of sports with BCCI domestic cricket contract as well as the growth in Kabbadi and the Indian Super League, so it is really a broad business there and new rights come up where we always will have a look at. There is nothing at this point I can see in the outcome of those things that would deter it from the medium term target that we have laid out for profit growth at Star which were pacing towards pretty well, so we feel confident about that.”

    Domestic (US) Channels

    For Q1-17, Cable Network Programming’s domestic affiliate fee revenue increased primarily due to higher average rates per subscriber led by the

    Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), FX Networks and Fox News Channel (Fox News) partially offset by lower average subscribers.

    For Q1-7, domestic advertising revenue increased primarily due to higher pricing and ratings at Fox News. The increase in domestic content and other revenues for the Q1-17, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal
    2016, was primarily due to the effect of the acquisition of the NGS Media Business.

    Domestic channels OIBDA increased nine per cent, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above partially offset by higher expenses which were due to primarily due to the acquisition of the NGS Media Business and higher programming costs, including increased Major League Baseball(MLB) rights amortization at the RSNs and higher entertainment programming amortization at FX Networks.

    Television

    For Q1-17, revenues at the Television segment remained relatively constant, as compared Q1-16 (down one per cent y-o-y in Q1-17 at $1,038 million from $1,049 million), primarily due to higher affiliate fee and content revenues offset by lower advertising revenue. Affiliate fee revenue increased 18 per cent in Q1-17, as compared
    Q1-16, as a result of higher retransmission consent rates. Content and other revenues increased 55 per cent for Q1-17 as compared to Q1-16, primarily as a result of higher SVOD revenue at FOX.

    Television Advertising revenue decreased 11 per cent in Q1-7, as compared to Q1-16, primarily due to lower local advertising resulting from the broadcast of the Rio Olympics on a competitor network, the absence of the Emmy Awards and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup events and lower general entertainment ratings at FOX. Partially offsetting these decreases was higher political advertising revenue primarily related to the 2016 presidential election in the US.

    Television segment OIBDA in Q1-7 decreased 2.7 per cent y-o-y to $191 million from $196 million.

    Filmed Entertainment

    Filmed Entertainment revenues increased 6.8 per cent in Q1-17 as compared to Q2-16 to $1,907 million from $1,785 million primarily due to higher SVOD revenue from television productions, led by the licensing of Homeland to Hulu, and higher worldwide theatrical revenue partially offset by lower home entertainment revenue from motion picture productions. For Q1-17, revenues included the worldwide theatrical performance of Ice Age: Collision Course and Independence Day: Resurgence, *as compared to Q1-16, which included the worldwide theatrical releases of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and Fantastic Four and the home entertainment release of *Home*.

    In Q1-15, segment OIBDA at the Filmed Entertainment segment more than double (increased $162 million by 2.09 times) to $311 million from $149 million due to the revenue increases noted above and lower expenses of $40 million, or two per cent, as compared to Q1-16. Operating expenses decreased by approximately $20 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, primarily due to lower marketing costs due to the mix of theatrical and home entertainment releases in the current quarter compared to the prior year partially offset by higher production amortization and participation costs related to television productions.

    Company speak

    Commenting on the results, Century Fox executive chairmen Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch said, “We delivered a strong quarter, growing our earnings by double digits on solid revenue gains. Whether it was Fox News rating # in basic cable, the 27 primetime Emmy Awards between FX Networks and FOX Broadcasting, producing three of the top five
    scripted shows on television, or our robust international growth, we demonstrated strong operational momentum across our global businesses.”

  • Star India impacts 21st Century Fox Q1-17 numbers

    Star India impacts 21st Century Fox Q1-17 numbers

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. (21st Century Fox) reported 7.1 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in adjusted total revenue (revenue) for its first quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter). Twenty-First Century Fox reported consolidated revenue of $6,506 million in the current quarter as compared to $6,077 million in the corresponding year-ago quarter.

    This revenue growth reflects increase in affiliate fee revenue which was primarily attributable to higher average rates per subscriber across most channels, and the increase in content revenue was led by higher subscription video-on demand (SVOD) revenue from television productions says the company.

    The company’s Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) increased 16.7 percent in Q1-17 to $1,791 million from $1,535 million in Q1-16.

    Twenty-First Century has three segments – Cable Network Programming, Television and Filmed Entertainment.

    Cable Network Programming

    Cable Network Programming revenue in the current quarter increased 10 percent y-o-y in the current quarter to $3,810 million from $3,464 million. The segment’s Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA)increased six per cent y-o-y to $1,384 million from $1,306 million.

    Cable Network Programming has three sub-segments – Affiliate Fees; Advertising; ‘Content and Other’.

    Star India’s contribution

    Twenty-First Century Fox says that International affiliate fee revenue from its segment Cable Network Programming increased as a result of 16 per cent local currency growth, led by additional subscribers, higher rates and new channels in Latin America and Europe at Fox Networks Group International (FNGI) and increases at Star India, partially offset by the adverse impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against local currencies. For Q1-17, international advertising revenue increased as a result of 11 per cent local currency growth, led by the broadcast of the Rio Olympics in fiscal 2017 at FNGI and Star India and higher volume and pricing at Star India’s general entertainment and sports channels, partially offset by the adverse impact of the strengthening of the US dollar against local currencies.

    “Star India’s advertising revenues returned to double digit year-over-year growth on a constant currency basis and we continue to see exceptional growth of our mobile video platform Hotstar,” said James Murdoch during a earnings call on the latest earnings. “Between June and October, average watch time doubled on the platform and minutes viewed is currently more than double, all the mainstream competitors combined and more than 10X the watch time of Netflix, which launched in India earlier this year.”

    The increase in international content and other revenues Q1-17, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, was primarily due to higher network and syndication sales in Latin America and Europe at FNGI.

    International channels OIBDA decreased seven per cent, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, primarily due to the local currency revenue increases noted above being more than offset by higher expenses an the adverse impact of the strengthening of the US dollar against local currencies. Operating expenses increased by approximately $110 million, for Q1-17, as compared Q1-16, primarily due to the broadcast of the Rio Olympics in fiscal 2017 and increased sports programming rights amortization, including soccer rights at FNGI and cricket rights at Star India.

    James Murdoch responded to a question during the investor call about the IPL rights and other sports properties that the Star Network is developing in India by saying: “..on the IPL, I think it is well known that there’s a – it’s well known that it’s very unclear when those rights will come to market. There has been a delay in that process. But I would say, look with respect to the Indian business we obviously look at different rights packages as they come up, we have really grown the breadth of that business in terms of sports with BCCI domestic cricket contract as well as the growth in Kabbadi and the Indian Super League, so it is really a broad business there and new rights come up where we always will have a look at. There is nothing at this point I can see in the outcome of those things that would deter it from the medium term target that we have laid out for profit growth at Star which were pacing towards pretty well, so we feel confident about that.”

    Domestic (US) Channels

    For Q1-17, Cable Network Programming’s domestic affiliate fee revenue increased primarily due to higher average rates per subscriber led by the

    Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), FX Networks and Fox News Channel (Fox News) partially offset by lower average subscribers.

    For Q1-7, domestic advertising revenue increased primarily due to higher pricing and ratings at Fox News. The increase in domestic content and other revenues for the Q1-17, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal
    2016, was primarily due to the effect of the acquisition of the NGS Media Business.

    Domestic channels OIBDA increased nine per cent, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above partially offset by higher expenses which were due to primarily due to the acquisition of the NGS Media Business and higher programming costs, including increased Major League Baseball(MLB) rights amortization at the RSNs and higher entertainment programming amortization at FX Networks.

    Television

    For Q1-17, revenues at the Television segment remained relatively constant, as compared Q1-16 (down one per cent y-o-y in Q1-17 at $1,038 million from $1,049 million), primarily due to higher affiliate fee and content revenues offset by lower advertising revenue. Affiliate fee revenue increased 18 per cent in Q1-17, as compared
    Q1-16, as a result of higher retransmission consent rates. Content and other revenues increased 55 per cent for Q1-17 as compared to Q1-16, primarily as a result of higher SVOD revenue at FOX.

    Television Advertising revenue decreased 11 per cent in Q1-7, as compared to Q1-16, primarily due to lower local advertising resulting from the broadcast of the Rio Olympics on a competitor network, the absence of the Emmy Awards and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup events and lower general entertainment ratings at FOX. Partially offsetting these decreases was higher political advertising revenue primarily related to the 2016 presidential election in the US.

    Television segment OIBDA in Q1-7 decreased 2.7 per cent y-o-y to $191 million from $196 million.

    Filmed Entertainment

    Filmed Entertainment revenues increased 6.8 per cent in Q1-17 as compared to Q2-16 to $1,907 million from $1,785 million primarily due to higher SVOD revenue from television productions, led by the licensing of Homeland to Hulu, and higher worldwide theatrical revenue partially offset by lower home entertainment revenue from motion picture productions. For Q1-17, revenues included the worldwide theatrical performance of Ice Age: Collision Course and Independence Day: Resurgence, *as compared to Q1-16, which included the worldwide theatrical releases of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and Fantastic Four and the home entertainment release of *Home*.

    In Q1-15, segment OIBDA at the Filmed Entertainment segment more than double (increased $162 million by 2.09 times) to $311 million from $149 million due to the revenue increases noted above and lower expenses of $40 million, or two per cent, as compared to Q1-16. Operating expenses decreased by approximately $20 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2016, primarily due to lower marketing costs due to the mix of theatrical and home entertainment releases in the current quarter compared to the prior year partially offset by higher production amortization and participation costs related to television productions.

    Company speak

    Commenting on the results, Century Fox executive chairmen Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch said, “We delivered a strong quarter, growing our earnings by double digits on solid revenue gains. Whether it was Fox News rating # in basic cable, the 27 primetime Emmy Awards between FX Networks and FOX Broadcasting, producing three of the top five
    scripted shows on television, or our robust international growth, we demonstrated strong operational momentum across our global businesses.”

  • Hulu signs deal with Walt Disney & Fox

    Hulu signs deal with Walt Disney & Fox

    MUMBAI: Hulu has announced pacts with The Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox. This deal means that Hulu will offer content from Fox, ABC, FX, FXX, Freeform, Disney Channel, Fox News, Fox Sports 1 and ESPN, making more than 35 networks available to stream live and watch on-demand through its new streaming service, set to debut in early 2017.

    It has already signed a deal with Time Warner, which will bring TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network and CNN to the service as well.

    Though the date of the launch is not yet announced, Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins has stated that there are additional partners to come.

    Hopkins and the team plans to build a service that can offer subscribers good quality programming on TV. With these two new deals in place, Hulu plans to provide TV fans of all ages live and on-demand access to their favourite programs in a whole new, more flexible, highly personalized way.

    Only time can say whether this service proves to become a threat to the cable companies.

  • Hulu signs deal with Walt Disney & Fox

    Hulu signs deal with Walt Disney & Fox

    MUMBAI: Hulu has announced pacts with The Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox. This deal means that Hulu will offer content from Fox, ABC, FX, FXX, Freeform, Disney Channel, Fox News, Fox Sports 1 and ESPN, making more than 35 networks available to stream live and watch on-demand through its new streaming service, set to debut in early 2017.

    It has already signed a deal with Time Warner, which will bring TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network and CNN to the service as well.

    Though the date of the launch is not yet announced, Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins has stated that there are additional partners to come.

    Hopkins and the team plans to build a service that can offer subscribers good quality programming on TV. With these two new deals in place, Hulu plans to provide TV fans of all ages live and on-demand access to their favourite programs in a whole new, more flexible, highly personalized way.

    Only time can say whether this service proves to become a threat to the cable companies.

  • Cheesbrough new Twenty First Century Fox CTO

    Cheesbrough new Twenty First Century Fox CTO

    MUMBAI: Twenty First Century Fox yesterday announced the appointment of Paul Cheesbrough to the role of the chief technology officer. In this new role, he will lead company-wide information technology strategy and play a leadership role in driving its investments in technology, platforms and systems on a global basis. He joins Twenty First Century Fox from News Corp, where he also has served as the CTO.

    Cheesbrough will report to the executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch and the CEO James Murdoch, who commented: “Paul is an outstanding executive and strategist whose great operational chops and track record in technology we know very well. Our business demands continuous innovation across everything we do. We can’t think of anyone more qualified than Paul to ensure it extends equally to how we harness technology to empower our people and businesses.”

    Reporting to Cheesbrough in his new role will be the enterprise technology leaders from Fox Networks Group, Twentieth Century Fox Film and Fox News Channel.

    Since 2012, he served as the News Corp. CTO. In this role, he led the company’s technology teams and drove digital transformation across its businesses, focusing on new platforms, digital investments and acquisitions. Prior to that he held executive technology leadership positions at News Corp’s UK Business News UK, Telegraph Media Group, the BBC and IBM. He also currently serves as the Chairman of Unruly Media.

    21st Century Fox is a premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents. Reaching more than 1.8 billion subscribers in approximately 50 local languages every day, the company is home to properties including Fox, FX, FXX, FXM, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, Star India, 28 local TV stations in the U.S. and more than 300 international channels; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and TV production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and a 50% ownership interest in Endemol Shine Group.

  • Cheesbrough new Twenty First Century Fox CTO

    Cheesbrough new Twenty First Century Fox CTO

    MUMBAI: Twenty First Century Fox yesterday announced the appointment of Paul Cheesbrough to the role of the chief technology officer. In this new role, he will lead company-wide information technology strategy and play a leadership role in driving its investments in technology, platforms and systems on a global basis. He joins Twenty First Century Fox from News Corp, where he also has served as the CTO.

    Cheesbrough will report to the executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch and the CEO James Murdoch, who commented: “Paul is an outstanding executive and strategist whose great operational chops and track record in technology we know very well. Our business demands continuous innovation across everything we do. We can’t think of anyone more qualified than Paul to ensure it extends equally to how we harness technology to empower our people and businesses.”

    Reporting to Cheesbrough in his new role will be the enterprise technology leaders from Fox Networks Group, Twentieth Century Fox Film and Fox News Channel.

    Since 2012, he served as the News Corp. CTO. In this role, he led the company’s technology teams and drove digital transformation across its businesses, focusing on new platforms, digital investments and acquisitions. Prior to that he held executive technology leadership positions at News Corp’s UK Business News UK, Telegraph Media Group, the BBC and IBM. He also currently serves as the Chairman of Unruly Media.

    21st Century Fox is a premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents. Reaching more than 1.8 billion subscribers in approximately 50 local languages every day, the company is home to properties including Fox, FX, FXX, FXM, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, Star India, 28 local TV stations in the U.S. and more than 300 international channels; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and TV production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and a 50% ownership interest in Endemol Shine Group.

  • Star India seals ‘script deal’ with Eccho Rights

    Star India seals ‘script deal’ with Eccho Rights

    MUMBAI: An attempt is being made to push three fiction drama shows from the Star India stable to global content creators. Eccho Rights, a global rights management company with offices in Stockholm, Istanbul, Madrid, Hong Kong, and Manila, has entered into an agreement with Star India, taking on an initial representation for three scripts – Tangled Sisters (Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behena – 515 x 30 min), Vera (Ek Veer Ki Ardaas…Veera – 282 x 30 min), and Unexpected Love (Diya Aur Baati Hum – 1118 x 30 min).

    Eccho Rights will now represent the script rights worldwide exclusively outside of India.

    “It is with great excitement that we are starting this cooperation with Star India. The globalization of drama is developing at a very interesting speed and one focus of Eccho Rights is to expand our partnership with leading producers to manage their script assets in new markets,” says Nixon Yau Lim, head of Asia Pacific at Eccho Rights.

    The three titles represent some of the most successful Indian drama series ever.

    Stockholm headquartered Eccho Rights has in the last two years taken no less than 12 scripts into local versions including three versions of the Turkish series The End into Europe as well as Nurses from Finland into Sweden and The Clinic from Belgium into Spain. Just last month, it sold the remake rights of Ukraine’s top rated show – a political comedy on Kvartal 93 – titled Servant of the People to Fox Studios in the US. The same month saw it conclude a major deal for 450 hours of top notch Turkish dramas with Netflix. Among these figure Ezel, Karadayi, Kurt Seyit & Sura, The End, Can’t Run From Love, Kacak, Gonul, Mahmut & Meryem , Black Heart, and Winter Sun. In fact, it has been one of the prime drivers of the rapid uptake that Turkish shows have got worldwide.

    Indian TV networks led by Zee TV, Star India, and Viacom18 and smaller players such as Grey Matter Entertainment and GoQuest have been slowly but steadily making efforts to make inroads into the format licensing business.

    Eccho Rights works with independent producers to empower creativity worldwide. The distributor believes that producers deserve a better distribution service. Its experience of selling finished series, scripted and entertainment formats, plus its hands-on approach and global reach, makes it an ideal partner for Star India. Eccho ensures creators retain their rights, protect their brand and maintain quality whilst optimising the value of their products, it is stated on the Eccho company web site.

    A media observer agrees that Star India’s alliance with Eccho Rights is a step in the right direction. “With the kind of reach and track record Eccho has one can expect a few deals to be struck,” says she.