ITV

Tag: Buena Vista

  • Sony Pictures TV Intl appoints Soojin Chung as executive director- licensing & head of Seoul operations

    Sony Pictures TV Intl appoints Soojin Chung as executive director- licensing & head of Seoul operations

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has announced that it is expanding its operations in Asia by opening a TV licensing office in Korea. Soojin Chung has been appointed as executive director of licensing and will head SPTI’s office in Seoul. She will report to SPTI’s senior vice president, distribution, Asia Ross Pollack.

    In her new position, Chung will be responsible for the licensing of SPTI’s series and features, along with the company’s lineup of international productions, to traditional and new media partners in Korea. In addition, she will provide support to SPTI’s Asian product acquisition efforts by assisting in the ongoing evaluation of, investment in and distribution of Korean content for SPTI in Asia and worldwide, informs an official release.

    “Opening a licensing office in Korea demonstrates our continued efforts to better serve our Korean clients and to offer more choices to our customers throughout Asia where SPTI already has numerous commitments,” said Pollack. “We are delighted to have Soojin join our team. Her experience and impressive track record as a TV executive is widely recognized in the Korean marketplace. She will be a great fit with the rest of our Asian team based in Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing.”

    Chung joins SPTI from Buena Vista International Television where she was head of sales for Korea since 2004. Prior to Buena Vista, she held a number of positions in Korea, including content acquisition manager at SBS Productions and acquisition manager at Hollyvision Saehan Media.

    SPTI currently has a Korean TV drama distribution deal with CJ Media in addition to distributing select movie titles from CJ and Korean anime from other partners.

  • Filmy inks 3-year movie deal with Buena Vista

    Filmy inks 3-year movie deal with Buena Vista

    MUMBAI: Sahara One Media and Entertainment’s movie channel Filmy has signed a three year agreement with Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP), the international television distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, to showcase 20 titles on the channel’s Hollywood movie block Firangi Filmy.

    As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Sahara was in talks with several international studios for acquiring titles. The channel continues to be scouting for other international studios including Sony Pictures, as well as other independent producers in the US to build a bank of offerings.

    The acquired titles will be dubbed in Hindi and aired during the Friday 8 pm slot on Firangi Filmy. The movies acquired by the channel as part of this deal include Signs, Shanghai Knights, Star Ship Troopers, The Three Musketeers and Metro. Besides action and thrillers, Filmy has also added children’s movies to its kitty.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Filmy business head Ashutosh said, “Besides the big movies, we have also selected movies that have not had a theatrical release or been viewed on television in India. The newness of the channel will thrust us towards buying more titles and therefore we will continue to acquire.

    “It is Filmy’s privilege to work with Buena Vista International Television. We plan to showcase the best of Hollywood for our masses in their own language. We have received unparalleled support from BVITV, and look forward to building our relationship with them even further.”

    The deal also coincides with The Walt Disney Company’s focus to expand its presence in India, a key strategic market for the company.

    “We are delighted to be the first US studio to be licensing Hollywood movies to Filmy,” commented BVITV-AP’s senior vice president and managing director Steve Macallister. “India is a key strategic market for our company and we are looking forward to working closely with Filmy to provide top quality content that will enthral their viewers.”

  • Buena Vista intl TV inks Vod, IPTV deal with Anytime

    Buena Vista intl TV inks Vod, IPTV deal with Anytime

    SINGAPORE: Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP), the international television distribution arm of US media conglomerate Disney has concluded a multi-year movie video-on-demand (VOD) IPTV agreement with Asia Pacific’s leading Video on-Demand Channel Anytime.

    This agreement will make available a range of current and library features on the Anytime channel in Australia through TransACT and Regional Internet Australia (RIA), Buddy Broadband in Thailand and TDMC in Taiwan. This agreement is in line with Disney’s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution to deliver anytime, anywhere.

    Through this agreement, IPTV customers in Australia, Taiwan and Thailand will be able to enjoy a films from Disney, Touchstone and Miramax. Titles include Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Cinderella Man, Eight Below and Flightplan. The selection also includes the thriller Face/Off and family comedies Herbie: Fully Loaded and Freaky Friday.

    The agreement also includes provisions for cooperation against piracy of BVITV’s content, while at the same time safeguarding the privacy of end users and remaining consistent with local law and industry practice.

    BVITV-AP senior VP, MD Steve Macallister says, “We are very pleased to have concluded this pan-regional VOD deal with Anytime to offer our top movie titles ‘on-demand’ to IPTV subscribers across the region. As flexibility and choice of viewing become increasingly important, our focus will continue to be on finding innovative and convenient ways for consumers to access our content.”

    Anytime president and CEO Craig Zimbulis said, “We are delighted to be able to add BVITV to existing Anytime deployments. The appeal of BVITV content is indisputable and its inclusion for us greatly enhances Anytime’s ability to present the very best in entertainment to all age groups. BVITV’s award-winning line-up of entertainment further establishes ANYTIME as the pre-eminent Video on-Demand channel in Asia Pacific.”

    Anytime provides video content owners, such as BVITV, with a streamlined process for getting product to market, giving fast access to new audiences and revenue streams. It provides carriers with a complete programming solution covering content and metadata, data encoding and encryption, interface development and marketing support.

  • Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, and BT Plc, have announced that they have concluded a multi-year broadband video-on-demand rental agreement in the UK.

    This will make available, on-demand, a selection of upcoming, current and library movies from BVITV’s portfolio via BT’s upcoming next-generation TV service, BT Vision. This agreement is in line with The Walt Disney Company’s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution, asserts an official release.
    Through this agreement, BT Vision’s customers will be able to purchase on-demand a selection of current and upcoming features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. Titles include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Shaggy Dog and Scary Movie 4. The agreement also includes a range of library features, adds the release.

    BVITV EMEA executive vice president and managing director Tom Toumazis said, “As flexibility and choice of content become increasingly important factors to the entertainment consumer, we’re pleased to be working with BT to offer this strong selection of our movie titles to BT Vision’s customers across the UK, in a convenient range of ways on this exciting new digital service.”

    BT Vision CEO Dan Marks said, “We are delighted to announce this agreement with The Walt Disney Company. BT Vision’s film service will be immensely strengthened by our ability to offer current movies from one of the strongest studios and a great selection of titles from Disney’s magnificent catalogue. We look forward to working with Disney to develop and use innovative technology to continue providing our customers with choice, convenience and control over their movie-watching.”

    At launch, BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy a vast range of film, music and television programming available on-demand as well as interactive services and all the Freeview channels, all available on the TV, with no compulsory subscription. This combination, delivered on a software platform powered by Microsoft and through a set-top box made by Philips, will allow customers choice, control and convenience.

    BT Vision has already announced content deals with a range of entertainment companies including Dreamworks, i-concerts, Eagle Rock, BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music Group, National Geographic Channel,Universal,SONY BMG, Viacom and Turner Broadcasting; as well as with independents including Lionsgate, Entertainment Rights plc, NBD Television and Wall to Wall Television. BT Vision has also announced near-live FA Premier League matches from the 2007-2008 season, adds the release.

    This agreement was concluded by BVITV vice president Digital Media Damian Newton and executive director Sales UK and Ireland Catherine Powell, working with BT Vision’s director business affairs Mark Cranwell and head of film Bobbie Fox.

  • Excel Home Video looks to grow the TV DVD segment

    Excel Home Video looks to grow the TV DVD segment

    MUMBAI: Earlier this year Excel Home Video entered the television segment. It released the first seasons of Desperate Housewives and Lost.

    Encouraged by the response the company is now looking to add more titles to that list.
    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com this afternoon, Excel Home Video MD MN Kapasi says, “Our focus is only on English shows as those in the SEC A and A+ segments watch them. They can thus afford to buy them. We will be releasing the second seasons of Lost and Desperate Housewives. These rights were got from Buena Vista.

    “We will now be releasing seasons 1-5 of 24 as well as Prison Break and The Simpsons. These rights we got from Fox. Other titles include Boston Legal and Grey’s Anatomy. The Hindi segment is not cost effective. If you want sell a DVD of a Hindi soap like a Saas Bahu then you would have to price it cheap.

    “By the end of the fiscal year March 2007 we will have eight English TV DVD titles. For the next fiscal we will add another seven to eight titles. We are looking at specialised content like aerobics and possibly adventure sports.” The television venture helps Excel build on the relationship it already has with Fox and Disney as far as films are concerned.

    Excel Home Video has 1,000 English film titles on DVD. One of its latest releases has been Ice Age 2. To push it kicked off an offer in association with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Each DVD has a hologram. If the hologram matches the hologram shown on the channel then the consumer gets Ice Age 2 merchandise which has been imported. This way Kapasi says consumers become more aware of legal products as pirated stuff do not have holograms.

    On the retail level when a consumer buys a DVD he can get an Excel VCD exchanged for a DVD and just pay the price difference. The Ice Age 2 DVD has a coupon. The consumer just has to mail the coupon. To push Ice Age 2 Excel also did wall executions in retail outlets like Planet M, Rhythm House. The dubbed version of Ice Age 2 in Hindi will be released later this month. New titles coming up are Cars, X-Men 3 and Pirates Of The Carribean 2. To push X Men 3 Excel will have ads on Pix and AXN. This too will be a hologram linked effort.

    Excel also did the innovation of re – releasing the first Pirates film on DVD to coincide with the release of the sequel. It also re released the first two X Men films to coincide with the theatrical release of X Men 3. “This strategy of synergy marketing has worked well for us” adds Kapasi.

    He says that 50 per cent of Excel’s above the line marketing activities are done through television. Print he adds has not really delivered. Excel not surprisingly also advertises in select multiplexes through slides as that is one place his TG frequents.

    Excel has also come out with the strategy of having Movies and More outlets. This is a place where one can buy DVDs and VCDs. Right now there are 11 mostly situated in multiplexes. The plan is to increase the number to 40 by the end of the fiscal. There will also be a presence in malls.

    Excel has around 30 Hindi films in its library including Dor and Lagaan. Kapasi rues the fact that there is no method in the price one pays to get the rights for a Hindi film. A producer according to him often quotes a price without looking at factors like the market size. He is hopeful that with new producers like Farhan Akhtar coming in the situation will improve.

    In terms of targets he says that the company expects a 40 per cent growth in turnover for this fiscal. Bottomline growth is expected to be in the range of 18-22 per cent. The efforts of Excel have not gone unnoticed. Fox is happy about the way Ice Age 2 has fared on DVD. Fox VP intl licensees Richard Crook says, “The success has sharpened our focus on India’s growing home entertainment market. Excel Home Videos our licensee in India, has delivered a fantastic job by successfully targetting the festive holidays”.

  • Buena Vista to distribute Jet Li’s first Chinese film on TV

    Buena Vista to distribute Jet Li’s first Chinese film on TV

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) has received the television distribution rights to
    Fearless, starring international action superstar Jet Li, produced by Bill Kong and directed by Ronny Yu.

    This is BVITV-AP’s first Chinese-language feature for television distribution. 

    Under this agreement, BVITV-AP has the rights to distribute Fearless in various markets across Asia including Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The martial arts epic is expected to make its television debut later this year on Star Chinese Movies in Singapore, the Philippines and Taiwan, where it has been licensed by BVITV-AP.

    Coming from the producer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers, Fearless is based on the tragic life of one
    of China’s most renowned martial arts masters Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910) who is played by Jet Li and supported by an international cast lead by Japanese actor Nakamura Shido. 

    BVITV-AP senior VP, MD Steve Macallister says, “We are thrilled to be extending our portfolio with this Asian box office hit and underlines our commitment to carefully enhancing our portfolio with quality local content. We look forward to the movie’s continued success as it launches later

    this year on Star Chinese Movies in various markets across Asia.”

    Star GM Chinese programming Jason Siu said, “We are delighted to work with BVITV-AP in adding yet another blockbuster to Star Chinese Movies, the world’s most powerful Chinese movie channel. We are confident that Fearless, with its huge box office success and the mass appeal of Jet Li, will give viewers another spectacular viewing experience.”

    The film was recently released in theatres in the US. It opened in various Asian markets earlier this year including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, and has
    grossed nearly $60 million to date at the worldwide box office.

     

  • Buena Vista partners with Fujisankei Commns Intl to produce reality game show for US

    Buena Vista partners with Fujisankei Commns Intl to produce reality game show for US

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista Productions (BVP) has partnered with Fujisankei Communications International to develop and produce the mega-hit Japanese reality game show Run for Money for US and international markets. Reality entertainment veteran Scott Messick has been roped in as executive producer for the show.

    “The current marketplace calls for shows that will be talked about, and ‘Run for Money’ makes a lot of noise,” said BVP executive vice president Gwynne Thomas. “It is a huge spectacle in a high-energy environment with lots at stake. We are always looking for long-living franchises, and believe ‘Run for Money’ will be just that.”

    Run for Money, was originally broadcast on Fujisankei Communications’ corporate parent Fuji Television. It is a high-tech game of hide-and-seek featuring celebrities on the run from a pack of menacing “hunters.” Broadcast in Japan in 2004 and 2006 as a series of late-night specials, the show became a ratings juggernaut in just three airings, informs an official release.

    The show will be licensed to international broadcasters as the original BVP-produced series and a format by Buena Vista International Television.

    Fujisankei Communications executive producer Akifumi Takuma said, “We are thrilled with this co-production deal with BVP for one of our top-rated formats. It will further strengthen and expand our long-standing relationship with the Disney Media Networks that ranges from ABC News to content deals with ESPN.”

    Four-time Emmy Award winner Scott Messick has been tapped as executive producer of Run for Money. Messick currently serves as president of Mess Media, with current productions including Pros vs. Joes for Spike TV, Nascar Drivers 360 for FX, Madden Nation for ESPN, and Fight Girls, a two-hour reality-film for Oxygen Network, adds the release.

    Messick has produced and directed a number of shows for broadcast and cable, including the 2002/2003 Fox series Boot Camp and Bachelorettes in Alaska. He also served as director and supervising producer of the inaugural season of the primetime hit Survivor.

    “Scott is a proven innovator in the reality genre. With a director’s eye and masterful storytelling skills, he is ideal for this high drama, big event format,” said Thomas.

  • Disney’s ‘Pirates’ creates new box office records

    Disney’s ‘Pirates’ creates new box office records

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest opened on 7 July to a record $132 million in its first three days at the North American box-office, shattering the record previously held by Sony’s Spider-Man, which opened to $114.8 million.

    The movie has set new benchmarks as it is the biggest opening weekend in Hollywood history and also the biggest opening day on Friday with collections of $55.5 million.

    In India, the film will hit the big screens on 21 July.

    It is also bigger than the four day opening weekend record holders – X-Men: The Last Stand, (grossed $122.9 million) and Spider-Man 2, (grossed $115.8 million in four days last summer).

    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is also the first film in history to cross the $100 million mark in just two days and is Disney’s biggest opening, surpassing The Incredibles, which had garnered $70.5 million in three days.

    The movie also led the way in the UK with a $25 million debut and grossed $9 million from South Korea and $8.2 million from Australia.

    Buena Vista (the theatrical distribution arm of Walt Disney) attributes the success of Dead Man’s Chest to the mass appeal it had with male and female audiences of all ages.

    Dead Man’s Chest reunites the cast and crew of the Curse of the Black Pearl including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, director Gore Verbinski, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

    Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl opened in 2003 to $46.6 million over the weekend and $70.6 million over five days, leading to a huge $305.4 million mark domestically (US and Canada) and $654 million worldwide.

  • Excel Home Videos releases movie ‘Goal’ on DVD

    Excel Home Videos releases movie ‘Goal’ on DVD

    MUMBAI: Goal! It’s all about football! Excel Home Videos, the Home Entertainment distribution and marketing arm of Excel Productions AudioVisuals, has released the movie on football — Goal on DVD.

    The DVD is priced at Rs 599. The Buena Vista Home Entertainment product Goal is directed by Danny Cannon.The story trails Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) as he overcomes challenges to play for New Castle United and attain glory in club football and rub shoulders with the likes of David Beckham, Allan Shearer, Raul Gonzales and Zinedine Zidane (playing themselves).

    Excel Home Entertainment holds exclusive licensee agreement with Hollywood studios like Twentieth Century Fox, Buena Vista International, Hit Entertainment, Britannica, Hearst Entertainment and Merchant Ivory Productions.

    Says Excel Home Videos MD M N Kapasi, “The DVD is definitely a collector’s item for connoisseurs of football and a true tribute to the world’s favourite game”

    In a statement issued, the DVD also offers loads of bonus features for soccer enthusiasts. The bonus features include the Golden Moments of Fifa World Cup, The Beauty of the Game (A documentary on the Spirit of Football), a special feature on the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, Audio Commentary, Making of the Movie, Trailer of Goal 2 among others.

    The movie is the first in the trilogy of movies dedicated to the greatest sport of the modern world. It is credited as the most realistic movie ever made on the game with real matches in real stadiums with real players, to unprecedented access to clubs like New Castle United, according to the statement.

    The second part (Trailer included in DVD) follows the protagonist’s journey as he joins Real Madrid to play along side football greats like Ronaldo, Beckham, Raul and others.

    Meanwhile,Goal II stands on the sidelines for its European debut.

  • Disney Asia Pacific holds its first new media showcase

    Disney Asia Pacific holds its first new media showcase

    MUMBAI: Disney’s distribution arm Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) along with Walt Disney Internet Group, Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN Star Sports, and its US television network ABC hosted its first New Media Showcase in the Asia Pacific region in Singapore.

    Broadcasters, mobile operators, content aggregators, ISPs, and triple-play providers from around the region attended the event at which executives from across the Company showcased how Disney is combining cutting-edge technology with great content to create unique entertainment experiences for audiences allowing them to enjoy content whenever and wherever they want it. 

    Buena Vista International Television (Asia Pacific) senior VP and MD Steve Macallister said, “This is an extremely exciting time to be in the media industry and it’s a particularly exciting time for The Walt Disney Company. We’re buoyed by the rapid developments and change facing the industry and are pleased to be the first US studio to undertake an event of this scale in the region.

    “Disney’s ‘road map to the future’ lay in combining the riches of our entertainment properties with new forms of distribution. Asian consumers have a voracious appetite for both technology and content, and across our businesses we are embracing this sea of change. There really is no other entertainment company better equipped to navigate the changes in our industry than The Walt Disney Company.

    “The New Media Showcase has been a marvellous opportunity for our current and potential clients to view for the first time in one place, the new media content offerings from our many businesses.”
     
    BVITV-AP showcased Desperate Housewives and Lost available for new media platforms such as for mobile, internet and video-on-demand. BVITV-AP says that it was the first studio to launch wireless content in South Korea in October 2005. In this mobile content deal with TU Media, the first-ever with a US studio, over 250 hours of programming including Desperate Housewives and Alias went to air via its linear channel “Blue”.

    In the US Disney-ABC signed a deal with Apple to offer Disney and ABC content on iTunes and ad-supported, full-length episodes of four ABC primetime series on abc.com. Disney is looking after sports fans too. The World Cup soccer tournament currently gripping sports fans everywhere has underscored the international opportunity available in the wireless space.

    ESPN Star Sports’ latest mobile service offering in Asia, includes video, data and WAP services in addition to java games, wallpapers and ringtones. Keeping fans up to date with the action on the pitch is ESPN Here We Go.

    This has the latest match insights, previews, predictions and analysis from the World Cup, and SportsCenter Mobile News, providing the latest in coverage of the top sports stories. Using SMS and Wap services, ESPN Football Live is keeping audiences abreast of the latest breaking news, injury reports, fixtures listings, and half-time and full-time scores.

    ESPN Insider sends fans first hand match development and predictions with expert commentary. ESS recently launched Mobile ESPN. This mobile service brings the best of video, SMS, WAP, games and downloads for sports fans. 

    Younger audiences also have new platforms on which to enjoy and interact with content. Disney Channel’s programming, digital media and marketing teams are working seamlessly to create an engaging experience empowering viewers to connect with the brand across multiple platforms, ultimately reinforcing and supporting the linear Disney Channel.

    Disney Channel’s strategy for creating compelling content for new media channels focuses on providing constant and personalised entertainment at the viewers’ convenience. In June, Disney’s shows That’s So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody will be available in six different languages, on the re-launched broadband site, DisneyChannel.com. The local language tracks include English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi. 

    The musical movie High School Musical is doing well among kids, tweens and families in the US. It recently premiered on Disney Channel Australia and New Zealand, followed by international roll-out across over 100 countries this year, and had 1.2 million unique visitors to DisneyChannel.com – the most ever for the site. Distributed by Walt Disney Records, the music album was number one on iTunes Music Store for three weeks and 1.3 million single tracks have been purchased digitally.