ITV

Tag: Ben Pyne

  • Ben Pyne to end 25-year journey at Disney Media Distribution

    MUMBAI: Asians and Indians are pretty familiar with Disney Media Distribution president Ben Pyne. The tall, well-spoken executive who endeared himself to many in India and Asia, has decided to hang up his boots after working 25 years with the company.

    The announcement was made on 3 March by Disney/ABC president business operations to whom he reports. Pyne will stay on in his role through the summer to aid in the transition.

    In making the announcement, Rosenblum stated, “Ben’s reputation in our industry is second-to-none. What he’s built here at Disney, and what he’s been able to accomplish over the past 25 years, is truly remarkable. While we’ll be sad to see him leave, we’re excited to see what his next chapter holds.”

    “I am honored to have had such an amazing career at The Walt Disney Company, which has been rich with unique experiences and incredible accomplishments, and prepared me well for my next opportunity,” said Pyne. “It has been a special privilege to help build and grow brands, networks and programming that touch and enrich the lives of viewers all around the world. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with fantastic people both at Disney, across the wider industry, as well as around the world, and I would like to thank them all for their passion, commitment and hard work.”

    Throughout his illustrious tenure at Disney, Pyne accomplished numerous substantial distribution achievements.

    Under his guidance, Disney Channel transitioned from a small pay cable channel to the successful global service it is today, growing its distribution from 6.5 million U.S. subscribers in 1992 when Pyne joined the company to nearly 100 million U.S. households, as well as an additional 500 million subscribers to over 107 international Disney channels that have been launched in the past 20+ years.

    Pyne has played a leading role in the negotiations of key deals with major U.S. and global distributors; was a chief architect in the ABC owned station retransmission consent strategy and the network’s “clearing house” initiative, which has further strengthened ABC’s relationship with its broadcast affiliates; and has been instrumental in securing unique video on demand VOD and subscription VOD deals, which included the popular subscription service Disney Channel On Demand and ABC’s fast forward-disabled VOD offering, a first for the U.S. television industry dating back to 2007.

    His team also oversaw affiliate-related aspects of the successful rebrand of Toon Disney to Disney XD, and has increased the distribution of Disney Media Network’s mobile video distribution business exponentially. He was integral to the 2013 launch of WATCH ABC, the U.S. television industry’s first live linear and on-demand authenticated local broadcast TV Everywhere service; the 2012 launches of the 24/7 linear channel for preschoolers, Disney Junior.

    Named president, global distribution, Disney Media Networks, in June 2007, Pyne worked with teams around the world and WDI to create an integrated distribution team known today as Disney Media Distribution. These efforts resulted in tremendous growth of sales revenue related to Disney|ABC series across more than 240 territories, and also saw the launch of a broad range of new distribution activities and branded services across broadcast, pay, digital and subscription video-on-demand platforms, including the growth of newer subscription video-on-demand services around the globe, including ABC Studios on Demand, Disney Movies on Demand and Hot from the U.S.

    In his current role, Pyne has the chief responsibility for the global distribution and sales of the far-reaching portfolio of entertainment and news content produced by The Walt Disney Company. This includes traditional television programming and short-form content – and their distribution to all platforms, including video-on-demand (VOD) and broadband platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and iTunes. Rounding out Pyne’s duties are responsibilities for The ABC Television Network’s Affiliate Relations department, including retransmission opportunities.

  • ZEEL’s Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka become the first Indians to receive Médaille d’Honneur

    ZEEL’s Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka become the first Indians to receive Médaille d’Honneur

    MUMBAI: MIPTV, the world's leading market event for the international TV industry, today announced that it will honour the top leaders of India’s most valuable listed entertainment entity, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited(ZEEL). ZEEL managing director and CEO Punit Goenka,  and  International Broadcast Business CEO Amit Goenka will be awarded MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur in a ceremony taking place in Cannes, France on Wednesday 6 April 2016.

    The prestigious MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur is awarded to senior executives who have made a significant contribution to the world of television and to the development of the international TV community.  Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka are the first Indians to receive the coveted Médailles d’Honneur. MIPTV 2016 will welcome 60 Indian TV delegates among over 11,000 leading television executives attending the event from around the world.

    Punit Goenka took charge as MD & CEO in 2008 and since then, he has been extremely successful in enhancing ZEEL’s performance and keeping the company at the forefront of the TV business in India. Punit’s younger brother Amit took over as the group’s CEO, International Broadcast Business late last year, and is responsible for spearheading ZEE’s foreign expansion. Today, ZEE is available in 169 countries and reaches over 959 million viewers worldwide.

    “For many years, Zee Entertainment has been at the heart of the Indian presence at MIPTV and MIPCOM, and the company’s leaders, Punit and Amit, are among the most respected chief executives in the global TV industry. As the group has developed across the international market, one understands and appreciates ZEE’s corporate philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World Is My Family’, said Reed MIDEM television Division director Laurine Garaude.

    Commenting on the award, Punit Goenka said, “Receiving such an honour from MIPTV is as much a personal recognition as it is a tribute to our highly creative and dedicated teams across the globe at ZEEL.”

    “It is a great honour and privilege for us to receive this prestigious award and to be named amongst such a stellar group of luminaries from the global Media and Entertainment industry;” Amit Goenka said.

    In addition to Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka, three other distinguished TV industry leaders will receive Médailles d’Honneur in Cannes are  Germany's Studiocanal TV MD Rola Bauer,  Disney Mesia Networks global distribution president Ben Pyne from USA, and Mexico's Comarex president Marcel Vinay. 

    Amongst the previous winners of this presitigous award figure:  (in 2014) 21st Century Fox Television International television president Marion Edwards, Channel One Russia CEO Konstantin Ernst, Tele München Group chairman and owner Herbert G Kloiber and Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner, (in 2013)  Beta Film CEO Jan Mojto, CBS Global Distribution group president and CEO Armando Nuñez , Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan TV networks, SVP Masao Takiyama,  French Groupe M6 chairman Nicolas de Tavernost, and BSkyB MD-content Sophie Turner Laing.

      Anil Wanvari is the Founder, CEO and editor in chief of the      Indiantelevision.com group. He is also the representative of Reed  Midem’s MipTV, MipCom, and Midem for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka  and Bangladesh, apart from representing the Singapore-based Asia  Television Forum for the same territories. We reached out to Anil to  get his  views, insights  on  what the bestowing of the Medailles d’  Honneur on Zee TV’s Punit and Amit Goenka means for the group    and also for the nation as a whole.

     Excerpts:

    Why are  Zee Entertainment Enterprises'  Punit  and Amit Goenka being recognised with the Médailles d’Honneur at MipTV this year?

    Zee TV has consistently been a pioneer in pushing Make In India globally even before Make In India was thought of. Their presence in so many countries is a testimony of the Zee TV group’s global vision. They have operations in Indonesia, West Asia, Russia, Singapore, UK and many more countries.  The Zee TV group is the largest Indian television content exporter in terms of program syndication as well. They are the most international Indian media company. 

    A couple of years ago, the Zee TV group had announced ambitious plans to drastically hike up the contribution of its international business to its top line.The group's vision is to have revenues from outside India to almost equal the business from the country. What this means it will have scale up its international operations and also increase its geographical spread. Last year, it  announced its  intention to  build beachheads in several mature television markets internationally as well. Punit and Dr Subhash Chandra brought in the talented Amit Goenka to head that international push. An announcement to launch a channel in Germany was made in mid-January this year. Other new market forays into are planned. 

    Puneet is the first Indian media CEO to speak during MIPCOM at the Cannes Palais des Festivals' Grand Auditorium –   a space normally reserved for executives from more mature markets like the US and Europe.

     ZeeTV is the biggest exhibitor at MIPCOM and MIPTV and has been consistently increasing its commitment and investment in building its international business. The Medailles d’ Honneur is just a recognition of Zee’s vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World Is My Family’.

    I am delighted that Reed Midem has decided to recognize Punit and Amit. I believe this is the first of many more such recognitions and rewards which will be bestowed on executives form the vibrant Indian entertainment economy. 

    Why is exporting Indian TV and film content so important?

    What the US has done effectively is build its soft power, lifestyle   and culture through Hollywood films and TV shows. Corporations have benefited immensely from this as they have sold burgers, jeans, colas, cars and what have you through the imagery that has been built through movies and TV shows making these products desirable for consumers globally. Both corporate America and Hollywood have built a symbiotic relationship which has benefited the US economy as a whole.

    India is on the cusp of change. We have a government which has the determination to deliver on the promise of the  country meeting its destiny as a global superpower. It could aid this vision by using the same soft power approach. It needs to push its products globally by integrating them in its films and TV shows globally and building brand India. I would like to see a vada pav become as desirable and part of people’s diets overseas as is the burger or the pizza.  

    Yes, our quality of production and of storytelling could scale up even further, but  Indian TV shows and films are already beginning to strike an even further chord with international audiences. This bodes well for the Indian content creation and syndication  industry. As well as the economy as a whole.

     

  • ZEEL’s Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka become the first Indians to receive Médaille d’Honneur

    ZEEL’s Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka become the first Indians to receive Médaille d’Honneur

    MUMBAI: MIPTV, the world's leading market event for the international TV industry, today announced that it will honour the top leaders of India’s most valuable listed entertainment entity, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited(ZEEL). ZEEL managing director and CEO Punit Goenka,  and  International Broadcast Business CEO Amit Goenka will be awarded MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur in a ceremony taking place in Cannes, France on Wednesday 6 April 2016.

    The prestigious MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur is awarded to senior executives who have made a significant contribution to the world of television and to the development of the international TV community.  Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka are the first Indians to receive the coveted Médailles d’Honneur. MIPTV 2016 will welcome 60 Indian TV delegates among over 11,000 leading television executives attending the event from around the world.

    Punit Goenka took charge as MD & CEO in 2008 and since then, he has been extremely successful in enhancing ZEEL’s performance and keeping the company at the forefront of the TV business in India. Punit’s younger brother Amit took over as the group’s CEO, International Broadcast Business late last year, and is responsible for spearheading ZEE’s foreign expansion. Today, ZEE is available in 169 countries and reaches over 959 million viewers worldwide.

    “For many years, Zee Entertainment has been at the heart of the Indian presence at MIPTV and MIPCOM, and the company’s leaders, Punit and Amit, are among the most respected chief executives in the global TV industry. As the group has developed across the international market, one understands and appreciates ZEE’s corporate philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World Is My Family’, said Reed MIDEM television Division director Laurine Garaude.

    Commenting on the award, Punit Goenka said, “Receiving such an honour from MIPTV is as much a personal recognition as it is a tribute to our highly creative and dedicated teams across the globe at ZEEL.”

    “It is a great honour and privilege for us to receive this prestigious award and to be named amongst such a stellar group of luminaries from the global Media and Entertainment industry;” Amit Goenka said.

    In addition to Punit Goenka and Amit Goenka, three other distinguished TV industry leaders will receive Médailles d’Honneur in Cannes are  Germany's Studiocanal TV MD Rola Bauer,  Disney Mesia Networks global distribution president Ben Pyne from USA, and Mexico's Comarex president Marcel Vinay. 

    Amongst the previous winners of this presitigous award figure:  (in 2014) 21st Century Fox Television International television president Marion Edwards, Channel One Russia CEO Konstantin Ernst, Tele München Group chairman and owner Herbert G Kloiber and Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner, (in 2013)  Beta Film CEO Jan Mojto, CBS Global Distribution group president and CEO Armando Nuñez , Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan TV networks, SVP Masao Takiyama,  French Groupe M6 chairman Nicolas de Tavernost, and BSkyB MD-content Sophie Turner Laing.

      Anil Wanvari is the Founder, CEO and editor in chief of the      Indiantelevision.com group. He is also the representative of Reed  Midem’s MipTV, MipCom, and Midem for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka  and Bangladesh, apart from representing the Singapore-based Asia  Television Forum for the same territories. We reached out to Anil to  get his  views, insights  on  what the bestowing of the Medailles d’  Honneur on Zee TV’s Punit and Amit Goenka means for the group    and also for the nation as a whole.

     Excerpts:

    Why are  Zee Entertainment Enterprises'  Punit  and Amit Goenka being recognised with the Médailles d’Honneur at MipTV this year?

    Zee TV has consistently been a pioneer in pushing Make In India globally even before Make In India was thought of. Their presence in so many countries is a testimony of the Zee TV group’s global vision. They have operations in Indonesia, West Asia, Russia, Singapore, UK and many more countries.  The Zee TV group is the largest Indian television content exporter in terms of program syndication as well. They are the most international Indian media company. 

    A couple of years ago, the Zee TV group had announced ambitious plans to drastically hike up the contribution of its international business to its top line.The group's vision is to have revenues from outside India to almost equal the business from the country. What this means it will have scale up its international operations and also increase its geographical spread. Last year, it  announced its  intention to  build beachheads in several mature television markets internationally as well. Punit and Dr Subhash Chandra brought in the talented Amit Goenka to head that international push. An announcement to launch a channel in Germany was made in mid-January this year. Other new market forays into are planned. 

    Puneet is the first Indian media CEO to speak during MIPCOM at the Cannes Palais des Festivals' Grand Auditorium –   a space normally reserved for executives from more mature markets like the US and Europe.

     ZeeTV is the biggest exhibitor at MIPCOM and MIPTV and has been consistently increasing its commitment and investment in building its international business. The Medailles d’ Honneur is just a recognition of Zee’s vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World Is My Family’.

    I am delighted that Reed Midem has decided to recognize Punit and Amit. I believe this is the first of many more such recognitions and rewards which will be bestowed on executives form the vibrant Indian entertainment economy. 

    Why is exporting Indian TV and film content so important?

    What the US has done effectively is build its soft power, lifestyle   and culture through Hollywood films and TV shows. Corporations have benefited immensely from this as they have sold burgers, jeans, colas, cars and what have you through the imagery that has been built through movies and TV shows making these products desirable for consumers globally. Both corporate America and Hollywood have built a symbiotic relationship which has benefited the US economy as a whole.

    India is on the cusp of change. We have a government which has the determination to deliver on the promise of the  country meeting its destiny as a global superpower. It could aid this vision by using the same soft power approach. It needs to push its products globally by integrating them in its films and TV shows globally and building brand India. I would like to see a vada pav become as desirable and part of people’s diets overseas as is the burger or the pizza.  

    Yes, our quality of production and of storytelling could scale up even further, but  Indian TV shows and films are already beginning to strike an even further chord with international audiences. This bodes well for the Indian content creation and syndication  industry. As well as the economy as a whole.

     

  • Desperate Housewives gets an African flavour

    Desperate Housewives gets an African flavour

    CANNES: Looks like Disney Media Network is on a roll with its president global distribution Ben Pyne, making a slew of announcements on day two of Mipcom.

    First up, a local production of Disney’s iconic series Desperate Housewives is on the cards. Christened Desperate Housewives Africa and filmed in Nigeria, the series, co-produced by EbonyLive TV and Disney Media Distribution EMEA, is slated to hit television screens in the summer of 2014.

    Disney Media Distribution general manager emerging markets Giovanni Mastrangelo said: “Co-producing the series with EbonyLife TV offers an opportunity to engage African audiences through locally relevant and entertaining storytelling. The local version of the series, starring pan-African cast, will bring to life the universal stories and characters created by ABC Studios.”

    Said an excited EbonyLife TV CEO and executive chairman Mo Abudu: “In Desparate Housewives, we find one of the most amazing formats for TV and are extremely excited to be co-producing it with Disney. On our part, and in line with our mission which is to bring original, home-grown and premium content with an African soul, we will work to ensure parity with the original storyline and production values that have characterised the global series, without compromising on the African essence.”

    The series will feature established and emerging African talents and is being shot 
    in Lagos, Nigeria, where a local ‘Wisteria Lane’ too has been found.

    Secondly, Pyne announced the launch of Disney Movies on Demand, a Disney-branded subscription-based video-on-demand service in Hungary.

    Scheduled to air on FUSO on 25 October, Disney Movies on Demand includes classic and live action titles such as Cars, Toy Story, Wall-E, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mary Poppins and Aladdin among others. The FUSO platform is available on Sony LG, Samsung and select Android tablets and iOS devices and will soon be made available on Xbox One and Sony PS4 as well. 

     
    Speaking of its very first branded subscription-based SVOD service for Disney in Hungary and Eastern Europe, Fuso Ecosystem president Csaba Lazar said: “Fuso’s subscribers will be delighted about the content, which will be available on Fuso premium service. We are excited to be the first eastern-European country to launch such a SVOD service.” Pyne informed that the deal was mediated and negotiated by Eastwest Entertainment, the Australian movie and television distribution company and Profour Film.

    The third and last announcement was about Disney Media Distribution licensing ABC Studios and Marvel Television’s new series Marvel’s Agents if S.H.I.E.L.D to broadcasters across the globe in 155 territories including Channel 4 in the UK, Kanal 5 in Sweden, Viasat 4 in Norway, Digiturk in Turkey, OSN in the Middle East and North Africa and Star World Premiere HD in India, among others.

    Which means episodes of the series will be available to distributors who show English language programming within 24 hours of its US debut on ABC, as well as in the dubbed in local language form 14 days after the airing. Pyne informed that a number of agreements with new media platforms have been concluded to complement the show’s linear transmission. As part of this, even viewers in China can access the series 24 hours post the US transmission on Sohu LeTV, iQiyi, Tencent and Tudou.