ITV

Tag: BSkyB

  • James Murdoch set to take over as Sky chairman again

    James Murdoch set to take over as Sky chairman again

    MUMBAI: Four years after he resigned as chairman of BSkyB, which is now known as Sky Plc, Fox CEO James Murdoch is all set to take over as chairman of the company yet again.

     

    European broadcaster Sky Plc, which is backed by Rupert Murdoch, has named James to the post after Nicholas Ferguson resigned as chairman of Sky.

     

    James had quit BSkyB after News Corp failed to push through a takeover of the broadcaster.

     

    Fox now owns 39 per cent of Sky, which was formerly held by News Corp.

     

    Ferguson decided to step down as chairman and as a director of the company at the end of April after 12 years on the Board. After joining the Board as a non-executive director in 2004, he was appointed as chairman in 2012 and has led the Board during a period of strong growth for the company, including the transaction to bring together the Sky businesses across Europe.

     

    On the other hand, James has been a director of the company since February 2003 and previously served as CEO from November 2003 to 2007 and as chairman from 2007 to 2012.

     

    Martin Gilbert has been appointed as deputy chairman, with Andrew Sukawaty taking over his former role as Sky’s senior independent director.

     

    Ferguson said, “It’s difficult to find the right time to step down from chairing a great company and working with an outstanding Board and management team. I joined the Board 12 years ago, in 2004, meaning that I have been with Sky for nearly half its life. When I became chairman in 2012, I wrote in the Annual Report that I would stay on long enough to ensure continuity. The then virtually new Board is now seasoned and bedded in. We have completed major international acquisitions in Germany and Italy; they are running to plan and we have first-class management in place. Sky continues to grow impressively, to innovate with wonderful products and to serve its customers to the highest standard. So now is the right time for me to step back. I am sure that the company will continue to prosper under the leadership of Jeremy supported by James and the Board.”

     

    Murdoch said, “I would like to thank Nick for his outstanding contribution to the Board over the last decade and more. I am proud to have been asked by the Board to serve as Chairman of Sky, one of the world’s leading pay TV companies. Jeremy and the team at Sky have done an outstanding job in building a dynamic and successful company. As Chairman, I look forward to working with the Board and management as they continue to deliver a great service for Sky’s customers and create value for all shareholders over the years to come.”

     

    Gilbert added, “I would like to give the warmest thanks to Nick for the major contribution he has made to Sky. He has provided valuable leadership as chairman and played a significant part in the company’s progress over many years. I am very pleased that James has agreed to succeed Nick. Having seen first-hand James’s contribution to and passion for Sky, the Board feels he is uniquely qualified to become chairman. I am also pleased that Andrew Sukawaty, with his meaningful experience in public companies and in our industry, has agreed to serve as Sky’s senior independent director.”

  • James Murdoch set to take over as Sky chairman again

    James Murdoch set to take over as Sky chairman again

    MUMBAI: Four years after he resigned as chairman of BSkyB, which is now known as Sky Plc, Fox CEO James Murdoch is all set to take over as chairman of the company yet again.

     

    European broadcaster Sky Plc, which is backed by Rupert Murdoch, has named James to the post after Nicholas Ferguson resigned as chairman of Sky.

     

    James had quit BSkyB after News Corp failed to push through a takeover of the broadcaster.

     

    Fox now owns 39 per cent of Sky, which was formerly held by News Corp.

     

    Ferguson decided to step down as chairman and as a director of the company at the end of April after 12 years on the Board. After joining the Board as a non-executive director in 2004, he was appointed as chairman in 2012 and has led the Board during a period of strong growth for the company, including the transaction to bring together the Sky businesses across Europe.

     

    On the other hand, James has been a director of the company since February 2003 and previously served as CEO from November 2003 to 2007 and as chairman from 2007 to 2012.

     

    Martin Gilbert has been appointed as deputy chairman, with Andrew Sukawaty taking over his former role as Sky’s senior independent director.

     

    Ferguson said, “It’s difficult to find the right time to step down from chairing a great company and working with an outstanding Board and management team. I joined the Board 12 years ago, in 2004, meaning that I have been with Sky for nearly half its life. When I became chairman in 2012, I wrote in the Annual Report that I would stay on long enough to ensure continuity. The then virtually new Board is now seasoned and bedded in. We have completed major international acquisitions in Germany and Italy; they are running to plan and we have first-class management in place. Sky continues to grow impressively, to innovate with wonderful products and to serve its customers to the highest standard. So now is the right time for me to step back. I am sure that the company will continue to prosper under the leadership of Jeremy supported by James and the Board.”

     

    Murdoch said, “I would like to thank Nick for his outstanding contribution to the Board over the last decade and more. I am proud to have been asked by the Board to serve as Chairman of Sky, one of the world’s leading pay TV companies. Jeremy and the team at Sky have done an outstanding job in building a dynamic and successful company. As Chairman, I look forward to working with the Board and management as they continue to deliver a great service for Sky’s customers and create value for all shareholders over the years to come.”

     

    Gilbert added, “I would like to give the warmest thanks to Nick for the major contribution he has made to Sky. He has provided valuable leadership as chairman and played a significant part in the company’s progress over many years. I am very pleased that James has agreed to succeed Nick. Having seen first-hand James’s contribution to and passion for Sky, the Board feels he is uniquely qualified to become chairman. I am also pleased that Andrew Sukawaty, with his meaningful experience in public companies and in our industry, has agreed to serve as Sky’s senior independent director.”

  • Yash Raj Films inks deal with BSkyB for movies on-demand

    Yash Raj Films inks deal with BSkyB for movies on-demand

    MUMBAI: In a move to cater to international audiences, Yash Raj Films (YRF) has partnered with BSkyB to provide its movies on the Sky Store for audiences in the UK & Ireland.

     

    About 30 YRF films have been made live on Sky Store and users can watch them digitally directly on demand. The charges appear on the monthly bill, making for an easy transactional process. FilmKaravan has enabled this distribution.

     

    The United Kingdom & Ireland have been one of the top five preferred territories worldwide for the banner with almost 1.5 million Bollywood fans constantly seeking to watch blockbuster titles.

     

    Yash Raj Films vice president – digital Anand Gurnani said, “Consumers today want to watch their favourite content at the time they want to watch it and on a platform they prefer the most. It is important to understand their choices and enable reach via reducing friction to access our content. Our movies are easily accessible now digitally via Sky, thus tapping into a hybrid platform accessible directly on TV. Making our films available through the Sky Store platform was a natural extension to our digital distribution efforts. It’s imperative that we be where our consumers are.”

     

    Sky Store director Nicola Bamford added, “Sky Store offers the complete service – straight to your TV, across your devices and you get the DVD in the post too. We are delighted with the early success our hybrid proposition has seen with Bollywood movies from Yash Raj Films. This partnership with Yash Raj Films enabled by FilmKaravan has further strengthened Sky’s presence amongst South Asian audiences in the UK and based on the fantastic initial response, we look forward to bringing in many more films from Bollywood studios.”

     

    FilmKaravan managing director Sanjay Bachani said, “Yash Raj Films understand the content game and strategy exceptionally well. The pioneers of Indian cinema are yet again at the forefront of engaging viewers in a preferred territory via the cable and satellite’s digital platform eco system. Sky Store is a great innovation by Sky and we are thrilled to facilitate this phenomenon of bridging the gap between fans and their favourite films.”

  • Brand New Australia Channel to launch in Asia

    Brand New Australia Channel to launch in Asia

    MUMBAI: Australian News Channel and Lightning International has announced the launch of Australia Channel, which will have Australian news, business and sport, backed by the resources of Sky News Australia, a joint venture of Australia’s free to air networks Seven and Nine, and BSkyB.

     

    Available from 1 November 2014, the channel will deliver 24/7 coverage of news, business and sport, directly from Australia’s state capitals and beyond, to audiences across Asia and around the globe.

     

    Speaking during the annual CASBAA Convention, Australian News Channel CEO Angelos Frangopoulos commented, “Our production centres across Australia are committed to produce high-quality news, business, weather and sports programming in real-time for our viewers to Australia Channel. We are excited to be working with James Ross and the team at Lightning International to deliver the channel to partner operators across Asia and beyond.”

     

    Former CNN anchor Stan Grant will get together with many other notable Australian news anchors to deliver coverage from Australia’s Parliament in Canberra, the commercial centres of Sydney and Melbourne, the Australian Stock Exchange, and the nation’s most famous sporting venues. 

     

    The new service will include comprehensive coverage and updates of Australia’s favourite sports including AFL and NRL, national and international cricket and horse-racing spectaculars such as the annual Melbourne Cup. 

     

    Lightning International CEO James Ross added, “Angelos and his experienced news and production teams have a vast experience of producing channels customised specifically for their audiences, as well as delivering timely content, in a fresh and exciting way. We are looking forward to a long relationship with this fantastic new channel, which has great opportunities ahead of it.” 

     

    The channel will be distributed by content distributor and consultancy Lightning International, based in Hong Kong. Depending on territory, Australia Channel will be available as either a premium channel, or formatted for a broader audience. 

     

    Australia Channel will be aimed at Australian Expats and a wider audience of those interested in Australia and may be located across North Asia, South East Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Indian sub-continent.

  • BSkyB acquires 70 per cent stake in Love Productions

    BSkyB acquires 70 per cent stake in Love Productions

    MUMBAI: Media baron Rupert Murdoch owned UK pay TV operator BSkyB has acquired a stake in one of UK’s leading production houses- Love Productions. The investment is a strategy to grow a broad, international content business spanning broadcasting, production and distribution. 

     

    Love Productions, launched in 2004 by Richard McKerrow and Anna Beattie has created shows such as Great British Bakeoff and Great British Sewing Bee as well as documentaries like Baby Borrowers, Famous Rich and Homeless, Benefits Street, Make Bradford British and My Last Summer. It has bases in London, Bristol, New York and Los Angeles.

     

    Under the new ownership of BSkyB, it will operate as a separate company while continuing its work of producing programs and formats. The owners will run the company along with the existing management team.

     

    BSkyB’s international distribution business, Sky Vision, will become Love Productions’ distribution partner, representing all new finished programmes and formats and leveraging its relationships with leading networks and producers across the world.   Meanwhile, existing agreements with broadcasters and distributors won’t be affected.

     

    Sky Vision deals extensively with independent producers, sourcing programming for distribution, largely from the UK and the US. It has development deals with a number of production companies including Ugly Brother Studios in the US and in the UK with back2back productions and Roughcut TV. The investment in Love Productions is part of this strategy to grow a broad, international content business.  

    Sky MD content Sophie Turner Laing said, “This is a significant step for our growing international content business. Love is one of the UK’s most innovative and creative independent producers with a track record of success across a range of genres, both in the UK and globally. Led by Richard and Anna, Love has a hugely talented team with exciting plans for the future. We are really looking forward to supporting them as they build on their relationships with different broadcasters throughout the industry and helping them to grow the business”.

     

    Love Productions joint chief creative officers Richard McKerrow and Anna Beattie said, “We are extremely excited by the prospect of a partnership with Sky. We feel it’s the perfect time to be working with a group who can help us realise our creative and commercial potential and fulfil all of our international ambitions for the Love brand. Love has always sought to be a pioneering company, launching new ideas and breaking new ground. Sky feels like a company of the future, full of dynamic and extremely creative leaders who will back our independent spirit and are keen to support all our future ambitions.”

  • Scripps Networks UK/EMEA acquires Travels with the Bondi Vet from Fred Media

    Scripps Networks UK/EMEA acquires Travels with the Bondi Vet from Fred Media

    MUMBAI: Chris Brown, one of TV’s best-known vets, is set to take viewers on a whole new adventure. The popular Aussie vet will be seen on Travel Channel, which has picked up his new series “Travels with the Bondi Vet” for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

     

    Chris originally appeared on the iconic “Bondi Vet” series in 2009. The show has been a long-running hit for Network TEN in Australia and for Animal Planet, Europe, where it is aired six nights a week. The show is now seen in 170 countries around the world including CBS in the United States.

     

    “Travels with the Bondi Vet” combines Dr. Chris’ passion for animals and travel. He shares hot springs with snow monkeys in Japan, goes to the edge of a volcano in Vanuatu, swims with whale sharks and survives a medieval battle.

     

    Fred Media’s newly appointed General Manager, Michael Aldrich says, “We are thrilled with the recent partnership with Travel Channel and excited about the future of this new series. “Bondi Vet” has been a great success for us internationally and we are confident that the host, Dr. Chris Brown will cross over into the travel-lifestyle space.”

     

    “We see this new partnership as an endorsement of this decision and are incredibly grateful for the support of such a respected broadcaster.” Scripps Networks UK/EMEA VP, Broadcasting, Steve Fright says, “Travels with the Bondi Vet” was a great match for Travel Channel culturally and shows potential as a renewable and popular series. It has been great to work with Fred and we think their new series will be a great addition to our schedule.”

     

    The program will be broadcast on multiple networks including BskyB, TV4 Sweden, TVB Hong Kong and A+E Networks Asia

  • BSB gets IPL broadcast rights for UK from 2015-2017

    BSB gets IPL broadcast rights for UK from 2015-2017

    MUMBAI: The audience in the United Kingdom will watch the Indian Premiere League on the British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) network as it has beaten the four-time broadcaster ITV to bag the rights of the series in the years 2015, 2016, 2017.

     

    The decision was taken when the IPL Governing Council met in Bengaluru recently and BSkyB was awarded the telecast, internet and mobile rights of the Pepsi Indian Premier League, for the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and the European territories for the three years.

     

    In the UK, ITV4 was the sole broadcaster of the IPL for the past four seasons.

     

    This would also be the first time that IPL will be shown on a subscription channel.

     

    Sky Sports MD Barney Francis said: “It’s the cricket competition that everyone is talking about and from next year, only on Sky Sports can viewers follow the IPL live.  Sky Sports’ cricket coverage has never been stronger, offering something for everyone including the major Test playing nations, the best players and now the world’s richest competition.  We can’t wait.”

  • Sky and HBO extend content partnership deal

    Sky and HBO extend content partnership deal

    MUMBAI: The Home of Box Office certainly wants to live up to its name. In a recent development Sky and HBO have extended their original drama commitment and output deal to at least 2020.

     

    Under the new agreement, BSkyB and HBO will work together to develop and produce new drama series for broadcast on their networks in the UK, Ireland and US. Their goal will be to identify projects with the potential to run for multiple seasons and to commission these shows, with production to be jointly funded by the two companies.

     

    The collaboration includes an extended content output deal to ensure that Sky Atlantic remains the exclusive home of first-run HBO programmes in Britain and Ireland through 2020.

     

    The co-production agreement builds on the partnership that Sky and HBO have enjoyed since 2010. With the extended output deal, new HBO programmes – including True Detective and Looking – will continue to premiere exclusively on Sky Atlantic along with the return of award-winning shows such as Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Girls.

     

    Sky Atlantic has become one of the strongest channel brands in British television in just three years since its launch and is currently rated among one of the top three must-have pay TV networks according to Sky customers.

  • BSkyB posts record financial results

    BSkyB posts record financial results

    MUMBAI: Full-year operating profit at BSkyB reached a record ?1.3 billion ($2 billion), up nine per cent from a then-record of ?1.2 billion ($1.86 billion) in the prior fiscal year.

     

    Revenue for the year ended 30 June, 2013 rose seven per cent to ?7.2 billion ($11.08 billion). EBITDA was up eight per cent, at ?1.7 billion ($2.6 billion).

     

    The British pay-TV giant added 34,000 TV subscribers in the latest quarter, compared with 20,000 TV sub additions in the year-ago period. Existing customers upgraded to new services at a rapid rate. There was 170-per cent growth in internet-connected Sky+HD boxes, to 2.7 million; a 19-per cent increase in Sky Go users, to 3.3 million; a fivefold increase in On Demand downloads; and 200-per cent growth in Sky Store video rentals. BSkyB’s new NOW TV sports day pass had more than 50,000 individual users purchase a pass in the first three months.

     

    Looking ahead, BSkyB said it wants to extend leadership in core areas such as original British drama and sky sports, but also to accelerate the take-up and usage of new services, which this year saw a strong response from customers.

     

    BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch commented, “We have had another very good year of growth, with revenues up seven per cent, operating profit up nine per cent and earnings per share up 18 per cent. The strength of our financial performance is a result of our successful transition to more broadly-based growth and sustained investment to create a better service and wider range of products for customers.”

     

    “On the back of this performance, we are increasing returns to shareholders with the ninth consecutive rise in the ordinary dividend and we intend to seek approval for a further ?500 million of share repurchases.”

     

    “Over the course of the year, we added more than three million new paid-for subscription products. We finished the year strongly with 11 per cent organic growth in product sales for the fourth quarter, reflecting good demand in all areas. It was a particularly significant quarter for home communications as good organic growth, combined with the consolidation of the consumer broadband and fixed-line telephony business acquired from O2, delivered well over a million product additions.”

     

    “In our television business, there has been an excellent response from customers to our new services. We’ve seen an explosion in on-demand and mobile viewing as more people connect their Sky boxes to broadband and watch TV on laptops and mobile devices with Sky Go. Sky Go Extra, our new subscription service, has already attracted more than 150,000 customers in just five months. Customers tell us they get huge value from these services. The benefits to our business are equally strong through take-up of higher-tier packages, expanded revenue opportunities and improved customer satisfaction. We see an exciting opportunity for future growth in this area and we intend to increase investment over the next year to accelerate growth and returns from these new services.”

     

    “We expect the consumer environment to remain challenging over the coming twelve months. Against that backdrop, we have a strong set of plans that will extend our leadership in core areas – on screen, in home communications and in front-line service delivery; accelerate growth in new services; and improve efficiency to build a bigger, more profitable business for shareholders.”

     

  • BSkyB suspends Facebook ads over offensive content

    BSkyB suspends Facebook ads over offensive content

    MUMBAI: British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSY), the UK‘s largest pay-TV broadcaster, has cancelled its advertising on the social networking site – Facebook, after one of its ads was displayed adjacent to offensive material.

    The suspension comes after Nissan Motor‘s UK division and lender Nationwide Building Society last month halted some Facebook ads that could have appeared next to offensive content.
    In a blog post last month, Menlo Park, California-based Facebook said it would increase the accountability of the creators of content, and it would work with legal experts, to ensure its employees are adequately trained to evaluate hateful or harmful content. Facebook (FB) had $1.25 billion in advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2013, about 85 per cent of its total sales.