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Tag: 21st Century Fox

  • 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.

  • Time Warner invests into Hulu as equity owner

    Time Warner invests into Hulu as equity owner

    BENGALURU: Time Warner Inc. and Hulu LLC announced today that Time Warner will become a 10 percent owner of Hulu, the premium streaming TV service that offers the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series. Time Warner joins The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox, and Comcast in the joint venture.

    Turner’s powerful entertainment, sports, news and kids networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, truTV, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies will be available live and on-demand on Hulu’s new live-streaming service, which is slated to launch early next year. Hulu will continue its current offering of ad-supported and ad-free subscription video on demand products to complement both traditional pay TV packages as well as the new streaming service.

    Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said, “Our investment in Hulu underscores Time Warner’s commitment to supporting and developing new platforms for the delivery of high-quality content and great consumer experiences to audiences around the globe.”

    Bewkes continued: “We’re also excited to join Hulu’s other owners in launching a new consumer-friendly package featuring leading networks that will deliver more value to audiences and complement Hulu’s core SVOD offerings. The inclusion of Turner’s networks in Hulu’s new streaming service furthers our efforts to allow consumers to engage with and enjoy our brands across a wide range of platforms and services.”

    Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins said, “This investment from Time Warner marks a major step for Hulu as we continue to redefine television for both consumers and advertisers. Our two companies have long enjoyed a productive relationship – which includes the availability of past seasons of popular Turner shows on our current SVOD offerings – and we are very proud that Turner’s networks will be included in our planned live streaming service.”

  • Time Warner invests into Hulu as equity owner

    Time Warner invests into Hulu as equity owner

    BENGALURU: Time Warner Inc. and Hulu LLC announced today that Time Warner will become a 10 percent owner of Hulu, the premium streaming TV service that offers the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series. Time Warner joins The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox, and Comcast in the joint venture.

    Turner’s powerful entertainment, sports, news and kids networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, truTV, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies will be available live and on-demand on Hulu’s new live-streaming service, which is slated to launch early next year. Hulu will continue its current offering of ad-supported and ad-free subscription video on demand products to complement both traditional pay TV packages as well as the new streaming service.

    Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said, “Our investment in Hulu underscores Time Warner’s commitment to supporting and developing new platforms for the delivery of high-quality content and great consumer experiences to audiences around the globe.”

    Bewkes continued: “We’re also excited to join Hulu’s other owners in launching a new consumer-friendly package featuring leading networks that will deliver more value to audiences and complement Hulu’s core SVOD offerings. The inclusion of Turner’s networks in Hulu’s new streaming service furthers our efforts to allow consumers to engage with and enjoy our brands across a wide range of platforms and services.”

    Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins said, “This investment from Time Warner marks a major step for Hulu as we continue to redefine television for both consumers and advertisers. Our two companies have long enjoyed a productive relationship – which includes the availability of past seasons of popular Turner shows on our current SVOD offerings – and we are very proud that Turner’s networks will be included in our planned live streaming service.”

  • Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News chairman & CEO

    Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News chairman & CEO

    MUMBAI: The Murdoch family-promoted 21st Century Fox has announced Roger Ailes has stepped down as chairman and CEO of Fox News and resigned from Fox Business Network and Fox Television Stations, effective immediately.

    Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox, will assume the role of Chairman and acting CEO of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.

    It’s a stunning fall for Ailes, a long time political operative and Murdoch ally, who is credited with building Fox News and leading the cable channel to ratings dominance.

    In a statement released to the media last week, Rupert Murdoch said: “I am personally committed to ensuring that Fox News remains a distinctive, powerful voice. Our nation (the US) needs a robust Fox News to resonate from every corner of the country.”

    Murdoch will be assisted in running the Fox businesses by existing management team under Bill Shine, Jay Wallace and Mark Kranz.
    Ailes, 76, was in the eye of the storm having been accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson.

    Though Ailes has vigorously denied Carlson’s claims, Fox News launched an internal investigation. The developments, critics and media observers claim, was a result of public and political pressure and perception.

    “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years,” the company statement quoted Murdoch as saying.

    In a letter to Murdoch, released by a publicist, Ailes said, “I am proud of our accomplishments and look forward to continuing to work with you as an adviser in building 21st Century Fox.”

    “We join our father in recognizing Roger’s remarkable contributions to our company,” a joint statement from Murdoch’s two sons, Lachlan and James, said. The sons are in charge in charge of Fox News.
    Ailes began his television career in the early 1960s as a producer at The Mike Douglas Show in Cleveland, and went onto serve as media consultant for several Republican presidents, including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

    “I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions,” Ailes wrote in the letter to Murdoch, adding that many of these talented journalists have deservedly become household names known for their intelligence and strength whether reporting the news, fair and balanced, and offering exciting opinions on opinion programmes.

    In his defence, Ailes further stated in the letter that Fox News has become No. 1 in all of cable because he “identified and promoted the most talented men and women in television, and they performed at the highest levels.”

    In 1996, Murdoch, seeing a market for a conservative cable news outlet, hired Ailes to create Fox News. And Ailes moulded the network to run like a political campaign operation with primetime shows that were unabashedly conservative and hosts who openly espoused Republican talking points.

    The network eventually unseated CNN as the highest rated cable news network and became one of the most popular cable networks of all genres, reaching more than 90 million households.

    “It is always difficult to create a channel or a publication from the ground up and against seemingly entrenched monopolies,” Murdoch Sr. said, adding, “To lead a flourishing news channel, and to build Fox Business, Roger has defied the odds.”

  • Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News chairman & CEO

    Roger Ailes steps down as Fox News chairman & CEO

    MUMBAI: The Murdoch family-promoted 21st Century Fox has announced Roger Ailes has stepped down as chairman and CEO of Fox News and resigned from Fox Business Network and Fox Television Stations, effective immediately.

    Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox, will assume the role of Chairman and acting CEO of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.

    It’s a stunning fall for Ailes, a long time political operative and Murdoch ally, who is credited with building Fox News and leading the cable channel to ratings dominance.

    In a statement released to the media last week, Rupert Murdoch said: “I am personally committed to ensuring that Fox News remains a distinctive, powerful voice. Our nation (the US) needs a robust Fox News to resonate from every corner of the country.”

    Murdoch will be assisted in running the Fox businesses by existing management team under Bill Shine, Jay Wallace and Mark Kranz.
    Ailes, 76, was in the eye of the storm having been accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson.

    Though Ailes has vigorously denied Carlson’s claims, Fox News launched an internal investigation. The developments, critics and media observers claim, was a result of public and political pressure and perception.

    “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years,” the company statement quoted Murdoch as saying.

    In a letter to Murdoch, released by a publicist, Ailes said, “I am proud of our accomplishments and look forward to continuing to work with you as an adviser in building 21st Century Fox.”

    “We join our father in recognizing Roger’s remarkable contributions to our company,” a joint statement from Murdoch’s two sons, Lachlan and James, said. The sons are in charge in charge of Fox News.
    Ailes began his television career in the early 1960s as a producer at The Mike Douglas Show in Cleveland, and went onto serve as media consultant for several Republican presidents, including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

    “I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions,” Ailes wrote in the letter to Murdoch, adding that many of these talented journalists have deservedly become household names known for their intelligence and strength whether reporting the news, fair and balanced, and offering exciting opinions on opinion programmes.

    In his defence, Ailes further stated in the letter that Fox News has become No. 1 in all of cable because he “identified and promoted the most talented men and women in television, and they performed at the highest levels.”

    In 1996, Murdoch, seeing a market for a conservative cable news outlet, hired Ailes to create Fox News. And Ailes moulded the network to run like a political campaign operation with primetime shows that were unabashedly conservative and hosts who openly espoused Republican talking points.

    The network eventually unseated CNN as the highest rated cable news network and became one of the most popular cable networks of all genres, reaching more than 90 million households.

    “It is always difficult to create a channel or a publication from the ground up and against seemingly entrenched monopolies,” Murdoch Sr. said, adding, “To lead a flourishing news channel, and to build Fox Business, Roger has defied the odds.”

  • The rationale behind Star India’s reorganization

    The rationale behind Star India’s reorganization

    MUMBAI: The buzz had been gathering pace since Ficci Frames in Mumbai at the beginning of this month. Change is  afoot at India’s leading media and entertainment major the 21st Century Fox owned Star India. But nobody was willing to say what. The company’s executives murmured that its businesses had developed octopus like and CEO Uday Shankar along with 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch was planning a managerial rejig.

    Management firm The Boston Consulting Group had been given the mandate of coming up with an organizational structure that would empower Star India’s senior executive team, unleash their expertise to execute and monetise the business strategy that Uday has put in place for the group to the fullest.

    The reorganization would allow Uday, who has been leading Star India at a frenetic pace over  the past few years to have some breathing space to further evolve the business plans that the Murdochs have for their Asian jewel and also get a helicopter view of the goings-on.

    And today’s announcement at a town hall within Star India seems to be a master stroke of sorts, according to several Star observers. A former Star India executive went as far as to say that it is a stroke of genius.  According to him, the entire burden of steering the company into the behemoth that it has become had fallen on Uday.

    When he was handpicked out of nowhere by the then News Corp COO Peter Chernin and Star group boss Paul Aiello to run Star India as its COO – a terrain he was not really familiar with – it was a market leader which had lost its way and was a much smaller operation: focused on simple general entertainment with a small interest in regional languages and sport. There was very little strength in senior management. Uday first went about tweaking the programming and took the network gradually to the No 1 spot. He simultaneously brought in senior professionals from the best companies to strengthen his core team. Over the years, he offloaded  investments Star India had made in other ventures, pumped in money into acquiring other regional networks,  made big bets on  sports and sports television, steered the media and entertainment major into the digital VOD ecosystem. And he roped in even more professionals to incubate these forays.

    The Star India of today is a very different beast from the one it was when he first stepped into its offices.

    Observers say that by elevating  himself  as chairman and CEO he has taken the load off his shoulders and is sharing the burden with his fellow professionals.  “He’s done the hard work with the various executive teams putting together all these verticals,” says a management consultant. “Now he’s empowering them allowing them to function like intrapreneurs. Which is the best thing he could do.”

    Thus Sanjay Gupta, the current COO has been elevated to managing director-Star India and K. Madhavan to managing director-South. Both Gupta and Madhavan will continue to report to Uday Shankar. Madhavan will have Kevin Vaz reporting to him as his CEO and looking after all of Star India’s southern interests.

    Sanjay on his part has a clutch of CEOs reporting into him responsible for key silos:

    empowered business units each with its own CEO reporting to Sanjay Gupta:

    · Amit Chopra, CEO of Entertainment, which spans drama and movie channels across national and regional channels in Hindi, English, Bengali and Marathi

    · Nitin Kukreja, CEO of Sports, which includes a leading portfolio of channels under the Star Sports banner

    · Ajit Mohan, CEO of Digital, which oversees Hotstar.  

    · Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox STAR Studios, which produces and distributes Bollywood and regional films

    * A Pan Indian content studio headed by Gaurav Banerjee to produce cutting edge innovation in programming.

    “This is a world class team that has powered Star  to the No. 1 position in the Media and Entertainment industry in India,” said Uday in a press release issued today on the reorganization. “We have set ourselves a bold growth agenda and these changes will deepen the leadership bench, unlock entrepreneurial energy and position Star better to deliver on its ambitions.”

    Top of that ambition heap is the target to attain an operating profit of $1 billion plus by  from 21st Century Fox’s Indian offshoot by 2020. With that rock solid team in place, Uday and James  will have more energetic legs to race to the finishing post.

  • The rationale behind Star India’s reorganization

    The rationale behind Star India’s reorganization

    MUMBAI: The buzz had been gathering pace since Ficci Frames in Mumbai at the beginning of this month. Change is  afoot at India’s leading media and entertainment major the 21st Century Fox owned Star India. But nobody was willing to say what. The company’s executives murmured that its businesses had developed octopus like and CEO Uday Shankar along with 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch was planning a managerial rejig.

    Management firm The Boston Consulting Group had been given the mandate of coming up with an organizational structure that would empower Star India’s senior executive team, unleash their expertise to execute and monetise the business strategy that Uday has put in place for the group to the fullest.

    The reorganization would allow Uday, who has been leading Star India at a frenetic pace over  the past few years to have some breathing space to further evolve the business plans that the Murdochs have for their Asian jewel and also get a helicopter view of the goings-on.

    And today’s announcement at a town hall within Star India seems to be a master stroke of sorts, according to several Star observers. A former Star India executive went as far as to say that it is a stroke of genius.  According to him, the entire burden of steering the company into the behemoth that it has become had fallen on Uday.

    When he was handpicked out of nowhere by the then News Corp COO Peter Chernin and Star group boss Paul Aiello to run Star India as its COO – a terrain he was not really familiar with – it was a market leader which had lost its way and was a much smaller operation: focused on simple general entertainment with a small interest in regional languages and sport. There was very little strength in senior management. Uday first went about tweaking the programming and took the network gradually to the No 1 spot. He simultaneously brought in senior professionals from the best companies to strengthen his core team. Over the years, he offloaded  investments Star India had made in other ventures, pumped in money into acquiring other regional networks,  made big bets on  sports and sports television, steered the media and entertainment major into the digital VOD ecosystem. And he roped in even more professionals to incubate these forays.

    The Star India of today is a very different beast from the one it was when he first stepped into its offices.

    Observers say that by elevating  himself  as chairman and CEO he has taken the load off his shoulders and is sharing the burden with his fellow professionals.  “He’s done the hard work with the various executive teams putting together all these verticals,” says a management consultant. “Now he’s empowering them allowing them to function like intrapreneurs. Which is the best thing he could do.”

    Thus Sanjay Gupta, the current COO has been elevated to managing director-Star India and K. Madhavan to managing director-South. Both Gupta and Madhavan will continue to report to Uday Shankar. Madhavan will have Kevin Vaz reporting to him as his CEO and looking after all of Star India’s southern interests.

    Sanjay on his part has a clutch of CEOs reporting into him responsible for key silos:

    empowered business units each with its own CEO reporting to Sanjay Gupta:

    · Amit Chopra, CEO of Entertainment, which spans drama and movie channels across national and regional channels in Hindi, English, Bengali and Marathi

    · Nitin Kukreja, CEO of Sports, which includes a leading portfolio of channels under the Star Sports banner

    · Ajit Mohan, CEO of Digital, which oversees Hotstar.  

    · Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox STAR Studios, which produces and distributes Bollywood and regional films

    * A Pan Indian content studio headed by Gaurav Banerjee to produce cutting edge innovation in programming.

    “This is a world class team that has powered Star  to the No. 1 position in the Media and Entertainment industry in India,” said Uday in a press release issued today on the reorganization. “We have set ourselves a bold growth agenda and these changes will deepen the leadership bench, unlock entrepreneurial energy and position Star better to deliver on its ambitions.”

    Top of that ambition heap is the target to attain an operating profit of $1 billion plus by  from 21st Century Fox’s Indian offshoot by 2020. With that rock solid team in place, Uday and James  will have more energetic legs to race to the finishing post.

  • Major restructuring in Star India; Uday Shankar, chairman & CEO, Sanjay Gupta, MD

    Major restructuring in Star India; Uday Shankar, chairman & CEO, Sanjay Gupta, MD

    MUMBAI: Star India announced a series of leadership changes as part of an organizational shift to strategic business units where Uday Shankar will be chairman and CEO.The current COO Sanjay Gupta has been elevated to Star India’s managing director and K. Madhavan will be managing director-South.

    Both Gupta and Madhavan will continue to report to Shankar. These changes position the organization to meet its future growth ambitions on the back of a decade of rapid growth.

    “Star India consistently sets the standard for innovation and growth in one of the world’s most exciting markets,” said 21st Century Fox chief executive officer James Murdoch. “Uday, Sanjay, Madhavan and the entire Star India team have built a world-class business that has grown at double the industry rate. We are proud of its success and look forward to the next chapter of growth under Uday’s transformational leadership.”

    Star has established empowered business units each with its own CEO reporting to Sanjay Gupta. Amit Chopra appointed as CEO of entertainment, which spans drama and movie channels across national and regional channels in Hindi, English, Bengali and Marathi. While, Sports CEO Nitin Kukreja, which includes a leading portfolio of channels under the Star Sports banner.

    Ajit Mohan is now CEO digital, which oversees Hotstar, Star’s revolutionary digital platform which recently surpassed 50 million downloads and Vijay Singh has also been upped as the CEO of Fox Star Studios, which produces and distributes Bollywood and Regional films.

    Kevin Vaz has been appointed as South CEO and will be reporting to K. Madhavan. The South business unit incorporates all of Star’s business interests in the Southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

    In another first, a pan-India content studio will be set up to drive cutting edge innovation in programming under Gaurav Banerjee who will report into Sanjay Gupta. The corporate centre will continue largely unchanged.

    “I congratulate Sanjay, Madhavan and the CEOs on their elevation. This is a world class team that has powered Star to the No. 1 position in the media and entertainment industry in India. Now, I personally and the entire team are even more dedicated to the cause of using Star’s reach in India to inspire the imaginations of a billion Indians. To do this, we need to continuously innovate and disrupt. We have set ourselves a bold growth agenda and these changes will deepen the leadership bench, unlock entrepreneurial energy and position Star better to deliver on its ambitions,” said Star India chairman & CEO Uday Shankar.

  • Major restructuring in Star India; Uday Shankar, chairman & CEO, Sanjay Gupta, MD

    Major restructuring in Star India; Uday Shankar, chairman & CEO, Sanjay Gupta, MD

    MUMBAI: Star India announced a series of leadership changes as part of an organizational shift to strategic business units where Uday Shankar will be chairman and CEO.The current COO Sanjay Gupta has been elevated to Star India’s managing director and K. Madhavan will be managing director-South.

    Both Gupta and Madhavan will continue to report to Shankar. These changes position the organization to meet its future growth ambitions on the back of a decade of rapid growth.

    “Star India consistently sets the standard for innovation and growth in one of the world’s most exciting markets,” said 21st Century Fox chief executive officer James Murdoch. “Uday, Sanjay, Madhavan and the entire Star India team have built a world-class business that has grown at double the industry rate. We are proud of its success and look forward to the next chapter of growth under Uday’s transformational leadership.”

    Star has established empowered business units each with its own CEO reporting to Sanjay Gupta. Amit Chopra appointed as CEO of entertainment, which spans drama and movie channels across national and regional channels in Hindi, English, Bengali and Marathi. While, Sports CEO Nitin Kukreja, which includes a leading portfolio of channels under the Star Sports banner.

    Ajit Mohan is now CEO digital, which oversees Hotstar, Star’s revolutionary digital platform which recently surpassed 50 million downloads and Vijay Singh has also been upped as the CEO of Fox Star Studios, which produces and distributes Bollywood and Regional films.

    Kevin Vaz has been appointed as South CEO and will be reporting to K. Madhavan. The South business unit incorporates all of Star’s business interests in the Southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

    In another first, a pan-India content studio will be set up to drive cutting edge innovation in programming under Gaurav Banerjee who will report into Sanjay Gupta. The corporate centre will continue largely unchanged.

    “I congratulate Sanjay, Madhavan and the CEOs on their elevation. This is a world class team that has powered Star to the No. 1 position in the media and entertainment industry in India. Now, I personally and the entire team are even more dedicated to the cause of using Star’s reach in India to inspire the imaginations of a billion Indians. To do this, we need to continuously innovate and disrupt. We have set ourselves a bold growth agenda and these changes will deepen the leadership bench, unlock entrepreneurial energy and position Star better to deliver on its ambitions,” said Star India chairman & CEO Uday Shankar.

  • Q2-2016: 21st Century Fox reports flat revenue, operating income up 2.1%

    Q2-2016: 21st Century Fox reports flat revenue, operating income up 2.1%

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox Inc (Fox) reported almost flat YoY (down 0.7 per cent) adjusted revenue of $7,375 million in the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q2-2016, current quarter) as compared to the $7,424 million in the corresponding prior year quarter.

    Adjusted Operating Income (OIBDA) in the current quarter increased 2.1 per cent YoY at $1,730 million as compared to $1,695 million. The company says that the decline compared to last year’s adjusted revenues reflects higher affiliate and advertising revenues at the Cable Network Programming and Television segments that were more than offset by lower revenues generated at the Filmed Entertainment segment due to lower home entertainment revenues and the absence of revenues from Shine in the current quarter. The adverse impact of foreign exchange rates in the current quarter impacted adjusted revenue growth by $207 million, or three per cent in total.

    According to Fox, the YoY increase in adjusted OIBDA compared to last year’s adjusted OIBDA primarily reflects eight per cent growth at the company’s Cable Network Programming segment partially offset by reduced contributions from the Filmed Entertainment segment. The adverse impact of foreign exchange rates impacted adjusted OIBDA growth by $109 million, or six per cent.

    Commenting on the results, Fox executive chairmen Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch said, “During the quarter, our cable business continued to drive our growth, delivering sustained increases in domestic affiliate fees and gains in advertising revenue, underscoring the power of our global brands and distinctive programming. In addition, we are encouraged by progress at the Fox Broadcast Network, which delivered significant advertising gains from both our sports and entertainment programming. At our television production business, we deliberately invested in a higher number of new original series this quarter in support of the network’s new primetime schedule and in creating valuable long-term assets for the company. We continued with our top priority of delivering standout storytelling and are proud of our industry-leading Academy Award nominations as well as Golden Globe wins across both our film and television businesses.”

    Cable Network Programming

    Cable Network Programming quarterly segment OIBDA increased eight per cent to $1.25 billion, driven by a nine per cent revenue increase on strong affiliate revenue growth and higher advertising revenues partially offset by a 10 per cent increase in expenses. The increase in expenses was primarily due to the impact from the consolidation of newly acquired National Geographic Partners businesses as well as higher planned sports programming costs led by soccer, Major League Baseball and college football rights. Foreign exchange fluctuations, primarily in Latin America and Europe, adversely impacted segment OIBDA growth by five per cent.

    Domestic affiliate revenue increased 10 per cent reflecting continued strong growth at FS1 and Fox News and sustained growth across all of the other domestic cable networks. Domestic advertising revenue grew three per cent over the prior year period reflecting solid growth at Fox News and the Regional Sports Networks, led by higher ratings for National Basketball Association games, partially offset by lower advertising revenues at FX Networks from lower ratings. Domestic OIBDA contributions increased seven per cent over the prior year led by higher contributions from Fox News and the domestic sports channels.

    International affiliate revenue decreased one per cent as 11 per cent local currency growth at Star and the Fox International Channels (FIC) was more than offset by a 12 per cent adverse impact from the strengthened US dollar. Despite an 11 per cent adverse impact from the strengthened US dollar, international advertising revenue increased 15 per cent as the Star and FIC channels generated strong local currency growth. Quarterly OIBDA at the international cable channels increased eight per cent reflecting strong local currency growth partially offset by the adverse impact of the strengthened US dollar.

    Television

    Television generated quarterly segment OIBDA of $279 million, an $11 million decrease over the $290 million reported in the prior year quarter. Quarterly segment revenues were six per cent higher than the corresponding period in the prior year due to strong retransmission consent revenue growth and a four per cent increase in advertising revenues, primarily reflecting low double digit
    advertising growth at the Fox Broadcast Network, which benefited from higher national pricing and increased audiences for both the National Football League and the new primetime schedule led by Empire, partially offset by lower cyclical political advertising revenues at the TV stations. The decrease in segment OIBDA was driven by higher contractual sports programming costs at the Fox Broadcast Network that more than offset the higher revenues.

    Filmed Entertainment

    Filmed Entertainment generated quarterly segment OIBDA of $302 million, a $34 million decrease from the $336 million reported in the same period a year-ago. Quarterly segment revenues decreased $392 million to $2.36 billion, primarily due to lower worldwide home entertainment revenues reflecting difficult comparisons to last year’s strong performance of X-Men: Days of Future Past and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes with this year’s home entertainment performance of Spy, the absence of revenue contributions from Shine and the adverse impact of the strengthened US dollar partially offset by higher television production network revenues. The OIBDA decline over the prior year primarily reflects lower contributions from the television production business due to higher deficits related to more new series delivered during the quarter and the absence of contributions from successful series that concluded in the prior year, including Sons of Anarchy, partially offset by higher film studio contributions driven by the worldwide theatrical performance of The Martian, which has grossed over $600 million in worldwide box office to date. Segment OIBDA comparisons were also adversely impacted by a 14 per cent negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.