ITV

Tag: Crown Media International

  • Crown Media talks with Modi Entertainment on Kermit; merges service with Hallmark in Asia

    Crown Media talks with Modi Entertainment on Kermit; merges service with Hallmark in Asia

    US-based Crown Media Holdings, parent of Crown Media International, is in talks with the Modi Entertainment Network (MEN) to set up an Indian joint venture for kid’s channel, Kermit. Crown is exploring whether a relationship of this kind will help increase its distribution and advertising revenue.

    Kermit has been distributed by MEN in India over the past year or so and more than 5,000 IRDs have been placed with cable operators to enable them to receive the encrypted service. The channel charges cable operators a carriage fee of around Re 1 per subscriber. Indian cable ops have also paid up advances for the IRDs.

    Elsewhere in Asia, Crown has taken the decision to relaunch Kermit as a day part service on Hallmark, which is also being recast and reintroduced with a snazzier look and better packaging. Kermit will cease to be telecast as a separate 24 hour feed over Asia from 1 November.

  • Barry Frey joins Hallmark as MD, global ad sales

    Barry Frey joins Hallmark as MD, global ad sales

    Barry Frey has been named senior vice-president, managing director, global advertising sales for Hallmark Channel, international edition of the Hallmark Channel, according to a company release.

     

    The announcement was made by Andy Brilliant, executive vice president, sales and marketing and deputy CEO for Crown Media International, Inc. and Hallmark Channel. The appointment was effective May 1 and Frey will be based in New York, reporting directly to Brilliant.

     

    “Barry is a results-oriented innovator whose knowledge and experience in the global television marketplace are invaluable,” Brilliant commented. “His management and leadership skills will especially aid us during our continued expansion into new territories.”

     

    Frey will be responsible for all international advertising efforts worldwide and managing the company’s advertising sales operation for Hallmark Channel. In addition to building the channel’s client base in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, Frey will also focus on the development of new national sales opportunities within those regions.

     

    Frey earlier served as senior vice-president global sales and marketing at SPACE.com. He has also had stints in senior positions with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he headed the division that managed and marketed the integrated media properties for the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball; USA Networks Inc. and MCA Broadcasting.