ITV

Tag: Alison Homewood

  • Hit, Nick UK renew deal for ‘Bob The Builder’

    Hit, Nick UK renew deal for ‘Bob The Builder’

    MUMBAI: Kids programme brand Hit Entertainment has signed a re-licensing deal for the first five series of Bob the Builder with Nickelodeon UK.

    The deal was brokered by Marie Chappelow, head of international television and video sales at HIT. In India the show airs on Pogo.

    Hit Entertainment executive VP worldwide television distribution Alison Homewood says, “We are delighted to be strengthening our already excellent relationship with Nickelodeon with this renewal. Bob the Builder is world-class brand which continues to grow. Nickelodeon, as we have seen with The Wiggles, Angelina Ballerina and Kipper are a great partner for Hit.”

    The re-licensing makes for a total of nine series currently under licence. This will be the third time that Nickelodeon has licensed some of these series.

     

  • ETV, BVITV announce multi-genre, multi-year prog agreements

    ETV, BVITV announce multi-genre, multi-year prog agreements

    MUMBAI: A broad range of entertainment programming – features, kids animation, live action series and TV movies – will be brought to viewers of free TV broadcaster ETV in South Africa, through agreements announced by ETV and Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) today, by BVITV vice president sales EMEA Alison Homewood and ETV channel director Bronwyn Keene-Young.

    First run features will include the family comedy The Princess Diaries, the drama Behind the Sun and the Oscar Wilde adaptation The Importance of Being Earnest. Also included are Crazy/Beautiful starring Kirsten Dunst and Duets starring Gwyneth Paltrow. For younger viewers, first run titles include Recess: School’s Out, based on the popular Recess animated series and DuckTales: The Movie.

    Viewers in South Africa will be able to enjoy repeat features such as The Santa Clause, with Tim Allen as a father who suddenly has to step in as Santa, when the current Mr Claus falls of his roof. Also in this package is the comedy thriller Arachnophobia, starring Jeff Daniels and John Goodman, informed an official release.

    ETV will also broadcast a Disney branded show for the first time. Disney Hour, will run on Saturday from 8:30 am – 9:30 am from 6 November 2004, and will showcase a selection of Disney branded kids animation, such as Disney’s Dave the Barbarian, Disney’s Fillmore and Disney’s Teamo Supremo.

    In a separate agreement introduced by BVITV; ETV has licensed a range of kids entertainment from the Jetix portfolio of programming, of which BVITV services the distribution. Titles include the fun new animated action series Daigunder and RoboRoach, the humorous animated adventures of two genetically mutated roach brothers – one with superpowers, one with brainpower – who tackle crime while bugging each other! Also included is the animated comedy series Pig City, which tells the story of a teenage pig from the country who comes to live with his spoilt cousins in Pork City.

    For BVITV, the agreement was negotiated by Maria Bayman, executive director of sales, strategic markets and Kerry Henchy, sales executive, strategic markets.

    Homewood said, “Were sure that this agreement will add some successful new programming to ETV’s daytime and primetime schedules. We’re particularly looking forward to working with ETV on the launch of Disney Hour, and the ongoing development of the show.”

  • BVITV, HRT Croatia sign multi-year licensing agreement

    BVITV, HRT Croatia sign multi-year licensing agreement

    MUMBAI: Building on its long-term relationship with the Croatian public broadcaster HRT, Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has concluded a new multi-genre, Multi-year agreement with the broadcaster for the licensing of features, live action series, animated series and a new Disney branded timeslot. This has been announced by BVITV vice president, sales EMEA Alison Homewood at MIPCOM in Cannes.
     

    With this agreement, HRT will broadcast a Disney branded timeslot for the first time, which will run once a week from January 2005. The show will showcase a selection of Disney animation, such as Disney’s Aladdin: The Series and Disney’s Timon & Pumbaa.

     
    First-run features in the package will include the M Night Shyamalan thriller Signs, Bringing Down the House, with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah, the family comedy Snow Dogs, and the 2002 action-adventure The Count of Monte Cristo. Repeat feature titles include the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Armageddon, Con Air, and Enemy of the State.

    In addition, HRT has licensed season three of the international hit series Alias, Scrubs and According to Jim, plus year two of the comedy series 8 Simple Rules. HRT will also start broadcasting the hit comedy My Wife and Kids, starring Damon Wayans, for the first time.

    This agreement was negotiated for BVITV by Rory Buckley, senior sales executive, Central and Eastern Europe.

    Homewood said, ‘We are pleased to be working again with HRT, with whom we have a long term association, in developing their channel’s programming. With this agreement HRT will receive a great new driver of younger audiences in the form of the new Disney branded show, and also a broad selection of hit live action programming for older age groups.”

  • TF1 licenses new US networks series from BVITV

    TF1 licenses new US networks series from BVITV

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has licensed the eagerly-anticipated new US network drama series Lost and Grey’s Anatomy to commercial broadcaster TF1 in France. This was announced today by BVITV vice president, sales EMEA Alison Homewood and TF1 head of acquisitions Laurent Storch.

    The one hour action-thriller series Lost explores the darker side of human nature when a group of survivors of a plane crash are stranded together on a remote, hostile desert island. As the strangers work together to create order in their makeshift community, and to stay alive, there are darker, dangerous forces at work around them. The series has been written by J J Abrams (creator of TV’s Alias) and Damon Lindelof (Crossing Jordan). Lost features a large international cast, starring Matthew Fox and Dominic Monaghan.

    The one hour mid-season drama Grey’s Anatomy stars Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo in a series following young interns and their colleagues in a tough surgical training program at a Seattle hospital. As the interns cope with the challenges of their professional lives, and the complications of their personal lives, they only have each other to rely on to get through.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Lost will air on TF1. Lost is currently airing on the ABC Television Network and Grey’s Anatomy is to air mid-season on ABC.

    For BVITV, this agreement was negotiated by Florent Gaignault, vice president, sales, French-speaking Europe.

    Homewood commented, “We’re delighted that our new network dramas are creating such a buzz amongst international broadcasters. To be selling these two series at this early stage, in such key territories, bodes well for the wider international launch of the series here at MIPCOM.”

    Laurent Storch said, “The pilots of Lost and Grey’s Anatomy are very exciting and TF1 is eager to offer both series to the French viewers. We are very glad this deal once more shows the great relationship we entertain with our long time partner BVITV.”

  • SABC licenses new network series from BVITV

    SABC licenses new network series from BVITV

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has concluded a new agreement with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for the free television licensing of new and returning live action series, and hit features. This was announced today by BVITV vice president, sales EMEA Alison Homewood at MIPCOM.

    With this agreement, South African viewers of SABC1 will be able to see the brand new drama series Kevin Hill, which has recently begun airing on the television network UPN in the US.

    The show stars Taye Diggs (Ally McBeal) as a young lawyer enjoying a glamorous, self-centred life, until a tragedy in the family means he has to take guardianship of his infant cousin. Kevin has to quickly rethink his priorities in life as he learns to cope with, and enjoy, this new responsibility. The series is executive produced by Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey and Alex Taub. It is written by Jorge Reyes, and produced by Touchstone Television and Icon Productions.
     
     
    In addition, SABC has licensed another series (season five) of the multi award-winning family comedy series My Wife and Kids starring Damon Wayans, which has been a number one rated show in South Africa, and a huge hit internationally, and season three of the kids comedy series That’s So Raven, both for broadcast on SABC1.

    The channel SABC3 will continue to broadcast the two time Emmy-winning reality show The Amazing Race (licensing its sixth season), where 11 teams of two people battle each other in a gruelling race around the world. At each destination, the teams compete in a series of tasks, some mental and some physical, before learning their next destination.

    Features in the package will include the acclaimed titles 10 Things I Hate About You, with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, High Fidelity, based on the Nick Hornby novel and starring John Cusack, and the cult dark comedy Rushmore, with Bill Murray.

    SABC have also licensed the powerful drama The Joy Luck Club, adapted from the best-selling novel by Amy Tan, and the poignant comedy-drama The Straight Story, based on the actual journey of 73-year old Alvin Straight. Straight, upon learning that his estranged brother had suffered a stroke, decided to travel hundreds of miles to see him the only way he could – on an old John Deere lawnmower.

    For BVITV, this agreement was negotiated by Maria Bayman, executive director of sales, strategic markets and Kerry Henchy, sales executive, strategic markets.

    Homewood said, “This agreement will give SABC’s viewers a great choice of entertainment, from the newest network series like Kevin Hill, to classic Hollywood films. We’re particularly pleased to see returning shows such as My Wife and Kids and The Amazing Race continuing their success on SABC’s channels.”

  • Canal licenses two drama series on pay TV from BVITV

    Canal licenses two drama series on pay TV from BVITV

    MUMBAI: Canal, the French broadcaster has lincensed the new US network drama series Desperate Housewives and Kevin Hill on pay TV from Buena Vista International Television (BVITV).

    The announcement was made by BVITV, vice-president and sales of EMEA, Alison Homewood and Canal Group head of acquisitions Nathalie at MIPCOM.

    Homewood said: “New dramas like ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Kevin Hill’ have attracted international attention right from their launch at the LA Screenings this year, so we are delighted to be announcing their sale in France, where the quality of the writing, production and cast is sure to appeal to a wide range of viewers.”

    Desperate Housewives, drama starring Teri Hatcher is a one hour drama will be the dark, comedic Desperate Housewives, a witty, dark look at suburbia, the series follows the truth behind the apparent domestic bliss of a group of wives, narrated through the eyes of Mary Alice, a deceased former resident of their upmarket suburb. From her unique vantage point, Mary Alice can now uncover the real secrets behind the closed doors of her friends and family, states the official release.

    The creator and executive producer of Desperate Housewives is Marc Cherry and Michael Edelstein and Tom Spezialy are co-executive producers. Charles Pratt Jr. is consulting producer.

    Kevin Hill is a drama starring Taye Diggs stars as a young attorney who gives up his playboy lifestyle to raise his ten-month old niece after his cousin dies unexpectedly. Landing a new job at a small, female driven law firm, Kevin slowly adjusts to being an instant Dad. The series is a production of Touchstone Television in association with Icon Productions. Bruce Davey and Alex Taub are executive producers and Jorge A. Reyes is co-executive producer and writer.

    Both series have recently begun airing in the US, Desperate Housewives on the ABC Television Network and ‘Kevin Hill’ on UPN. For BVITV, this agreement was negotiated by vice president, sales, French-speaking Europe Florent Gaignault, informs the company release.

    Drouaire added: “In keeping with its policy of acquiring exclusive, innovative and creative series, Canal is extremely proud to announce two soon-to-be aired new series : the touching “Kevin Hill” and “Desperate Housewives” a drama which very original writing and terrific cast make for an inspired tale of suburbia “faux” bliss you are not about to forget!”