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Tag: Da Vinci

  • Da Vinci Learning launches kids OTT app

    Da Vinci Learning launches kids OTT app

    MUMBAI: Lately more and more digital content aggregators are waking up to the potential of offering a kids only digital video platform. Being fast adopters of technology, kids are the first ones to become the digital consumers. In a country where more than one third of the population are kids and youngsters, advertisers too are looking for ways to tap this raw consumer base. Thus kids only OTT apps are on the rise; NexgTV Kids and Voot’s kids only section being the recent few examples.

    With an intent to give these a tough competition, German kids television content leader Da Vinci Learning has now entered this market with its very own OTT service.

    The platform will provide on the go access to the programming and content of the channel. The OTT service has been launched as a web based service accessible through www.davinci-learning.in and will be soon available via an app as well.

    Playing the ‘safe content’ card, Da Vinci Learning’s OTT play is banking on its reputation for curating kids friendly and educational IPs for its viewers.

    The platform allows the users to choose from a wide range of content including Maths, Science, Space, Wildlife, Food etc. After logging in, the kid can watch full episodes on all their favourite topics and can also keep a track of the show timings on-air. The portal has different sections like Your Favourites, What’s Hot, Da Vinci’s Superstars where kids can view their favourite shows as well as shows that are popular with other kids. They will also be able to rate, like and add shows to their wishlist. The thematic of the service is built with kids in mind and uses very intuitive and a kids friendly design.

    Commenting on the same, Da Vinci Learning marketing director Monomita Mukhopadhyay said, “Today the viewer’s consumption pattern is changing dynamically; kids no more stick to the flat screen and wait for programs, rather they access content anytime, anywhere and on multiple devices of their choice.” She further added, “OTT is expected to grow exponentially in coming years and India will be the second largest market in Asia Pacific according to the Media Partners Asia report. Being in the TV broadcast industry we are committed to keeping pace with the dynamically changing scenario of the industry.”

    As a part of their OTT portal launch offering, Da Vinci Learning is offering a limited period free subscription to the portal. Some of the show highlights available at OTT play are Little Einstein, Mind-blowing breakthroughs, Maths is all around us, Gastroblast, Chasing happiness etc.

  • Da Vinci Learning launches kids OTT app

    Da Vinci Learning launches kids OTT app

    MUMBAI: Lately more and more digital content aggregators are waking up to the potential of offering a kids only digital video platform. Being fast adopters of technology, kids are the first ones to become the digital consumers. In a country where more than one third of the population are kids and youngsters, advertisers too are looking for ways to tap this raw consumer base. Thus kids only OTT apps are on the rise; NexgTV Kids and Voot’s kids only section being the recent few examples.

    With an intent to give these a tough competition, German kids television content leader Da Vinci Learning has now entered this market with its very own OTT service.

    The platform will provide on the go access to the programming and content of the channel. The OTT service has been launched as a web based service accessible through www.davinci-learning.in and will be soon available via an app as well.

    Playing the ‘safe content’ card, Da Vinci Learning’s OTT play is banking on its reputation for curating kids friendly and educational IPs for its viewers.

    The platform allows the users to choose from a wide range of content including Maths, Science, Space, Wildlife, Food etc. After logging in, the kid can watch full episodes on all their favourite topics and can also keep a track of the show timings on-air. The portal has different sections like Your Favourites, What’s Hot, Da Vinci’s Superstars where kids can view their favourite shows as well as shows that are popular with other kids. They will also be able to rate, like and add shows to their wishlist. The thematic of the service is built with kids in mind and uses very intuitive and a kids friendly design.

    Commenting on the same, Da Vinci Learning marketing director Monomita Mukhopadhyay said, “Today the viewer’s consumption pattern is changing dynamically; kids no more stick to the flat screen and wait for programs, rather they access content anytime, anywhere and on multiple devices of their choice.” She further added, “OTT is expected to grow exponentially in coming years and India will be the second largest market in Asia Pacific according to the Media Partners Asia report. Being in the TV broadcast industry we are committed to keeping pace with the dynamically changing scenario of the industry.”

    As a part of their OTT portal launch offering, Da Vinci Learning is offering a limited period free subscription to the portal. Some of the show highlights available at OTT play are Little Einstein, Mind-blowing breakthroughs, Maths is all around us, Gastroblast, Chasing happiness etc.

  • Da Vinci Learning and The Quint launch India’s 1st Kids HD Educational Channel

    Da Vinci Learning and The Quint launch India’s 1st Kids HD Educational Channel

    MUMBAI: With a vision of building its global footprint and further extending across 100+ territories spanning three continents, HD Educational channel Da Vinci Learning announced its formal launch in India. Its HD Educational channel will offer award-winning knowledge programming and documentaries to Indian audiences, with a special focus on curious young minds.  The channel aims to offer safe and quality entertainment for the entire family.

     

    Da Vinci Learning is entering India through a 50:50 joint venture between Da Vinci Media GmbH and Quintillion Media Pvt. Ltd. (The Quint).

     

    Da Vinci Media founder and CEO Ferdinand Habsburg said, “It is an exciting phase in the journey of Da Vinci Learning. India has always been a key priority market for us and the time has now come to showcase our differentiated programming, aimed at triggering creative young minds bubbling with talent and curiosity to do more. Our association with The Quint will help the channel to effectively increase and strengthen our foothold in the country by offering meaningful and creative content to the Indian audiences.” 

     

    The Quint co-Founder and Chairman Raghav Bahl said, “While Da Vinci Media brings expertise in knowledge-based programming content, this joint venture helps us to further expand, drive synergies and diversify our digital content portfolio.”

     

    The Quint co-Founder & CEO Ritu Kapur asserted, “The Quint will help consumers access Da Vinci Learning content through our digital distribution capabilities. I am confident that the differentiated content of Da Vinci Learning will bring about a transformation in the knowledge and education based content space in India; and I look forward to seeing this transformation take shape.”

     

    Da Vinci Learning, India Managing Director Mohit Anand added, “Arousing the curiosity of our viewers is our mission and we take pride in offering completely safe, non-violent, soft skills-based knowledge programming for the whole family. This has been our USP and we believe that there is a huge demand for such content in India as well. Our commitment is to find the best knowledge programming and make it available to Indian viewers because we understand the rush of inspiration, the thrill of discovery and the pleasure to know.”

     

    The company says that its channel’s programming covers a wide array of topics, ranging from physics and chemistry to history and nature, and makes complex subjects understandable in an entertaining way. Da Vinci Learning turns TV watching from passive observation into a meaningful experience, helping children develop various skills early on, encouraging older viewers to keep asking questions and inviting families to take their learning journeys together.

     

    Da Vinci Learning is targeted at the 6-12 year olds and their families; the channel aims at offering programming and content that makes astounding scientific ideas understandable, arouse curiosity, spark conversation and motivate viewers to continue uncovering the mysteries of the universe.

  • ‘The Monuments Men’ team get an access to Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’

    ‘The Monuments Men’ team get an access to Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’

    MUMBAI: The team of The Monuments Men got an unprecedented access to photograph the cast of the movie in front of one of the world’s greatest art masterpieces – Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

     

    This art masterpiece was in danger of being lost during WWII and was rescued by the Monuments Men as depicted in the film, so there is a direct correlation to the film. These images have been shot exclusively for Fox by Italian photographer Gianmarco Chieregato.

     

    It became possible because of the cooperation among the Italian Ministry for Culture and Tourism, the Milan’s Monuments, Fine Arts and Landscape Department, and Twentieth Century Fox, the film distribution company.

     

    “The Magificent Seven” in the snapshot are: the director, screenwriter, producer and star of the film George Clooney and co-stars Matt Damon, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, and Dimitri Leonidas. 

     

    The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is the set of one of the opening scenes of the film that will release on 21 February, because the bombing that endangered Leonardo’s masterpiece strongly contributed to the decision to set up the Monuments Men, a group of art critics, museum curators, and archivists, who towards the end of the Second World War, saved thousands of artworks from bombings, pilfering, looting and Nazi barbarity.

  • Da Vinci Learning partners with Airtel Digital TV, Siticable and Digicable

    Da Vinci Learning partners with Airtel Digital TV, Siticable and Digicable

    MUMBAI: Da Vinci Learning, the fun edutainment TV channel for the whole family, today announced their partnership with three of the biggest operators in Indian television- Airtel Digital TV- one of India’s leading Direct to Home operators; Siticable and Digicable who are leading MSOs. The partnership is aimed at developing the channels foothold in the Indian television industry prior to its launchlater this year, and to give Indian viewers an opportunity to sample Da Vinci Learning’s rich content portfolio.Da Vinci Learning, which is targeted at 4-14 year olds and their parents, is known for turning TV watching from passive observation into a meaningful and fun experience, helping children develop various skills early-on, encouraging older viewers to keep asking questions and inviting families to take their learning journeys together.

    To showcase the channel’s extensive programming, which covers a wide array of topics ranging from physics and chemistry to history and nature, Da Vinci Learning has struck a Video on demand deal with Airtel Digital TV. As part of the deal, Da Vinci will provide 150 hours of content to Airtel Digital TV, which will be available in the kids section of their VODVOD service. With Siticable, the channel will receivea 6 month branded block while with DigiCable the channel will have a 12 month branded block. With Airtel Digital TV and Siti Cable, the channel will showcase programs like Kid Detectives and Lab Rats Challenge, while with Digicable the channel will present shows such as Logo Animation and Indent Kid amongst others.

    Speaking on the occasion, Mohit Anand, Managing Director-India, Da Vinci Learning said “We are very excited to work with this prestigious group of partners as each of them is committed towards using new technologies to improve communications to and between kids. For us, this is a great platform to showcase the interesting and interactive programming that we have to offer to the Indian audience. We are positive that these associations will enable the Indian viewers to be part of a meaningful and fun learning experience focused on educational shows and documentaries from around the world.”

    Saurabh Sinha, Chief Producer-Siti Cable said “As a channel partner getting a very good response from the branded block of Da Vinci Learning. The audience is conceiving it as ‘Education with entertainment’, programme like, Kid Detectives – (easily detailed about forensic science with entertainment), Little Einstein- (One can easily understand about Einstein theories) etc. Siti channel being channel partner with DaVinci’s has definitely helped us in garnering better audience base.”

    Mr. Narinderpal Singh – Senior Vice President – Broadcaster Relations believes“Digicable, which has been at the forefront of introducing many new innovations in Digital cable Television, is now pleased to inform that we are ready to offer our discerning subscribers the Best of International Edutainment thru its association with the DaVinci Channel.”

     

  • Zee Q, Discovery Kids to get competitor

    Zee Q, Discovery Kids to get competitor

    MUMBAI: One more edutainment channel – Da Vinci Learning – is prepping to hit Indian shores next year.

    Come late Q2 or Q3 next year, the children’s entertainment space will see a new player – Da Vinci Learning.

    Launched world-wide on 15 September, 2007 by its parent media company Da Vinci Media GmbH – the edutainment channel – is aired across 29 territories in 15 different languages.

    It takes time to reap results and we will do whatever it takes to reach out to a large number of people, says Mohit Anand

    So what brings it to Indian shores? “The Indian television industry is dynamic and growing, and our philosophy has been to spread knowledge,” replies Da Vinci Learning country manager Mohit Anand, adding that the channel believes today’s children are far more curious and plans to cash in on this quality.

    With at least two other ‘edutainment’ channels – Zee Q and Discovery Kids – launched just last year, won’t it be an up-hill task for Da Vinci Learning?  Anand shrugs off the implication saying: “We believe in learning in a fun way and not many channels do so in the kids’ genre. We are an edutainment channel and today, there aren’t any products which use the TV medium to enhance kids’ desire to learn. And this is what will distinguish us from the rest.”

    With its content a mix of animated and non-animated, not ruling out a documentary-style, everything will be done in a manner so as to attract kids. The channel will target not only children in the age group of 6-14 but also parents since it’s a family-based one.

    With most channels today having regional counterparts or feeds to reach out to the maximum number of viewers, will Da Vinci Learning follow suit?

    “When you study Newton’s Law, do you do it in a regional language or in English?” counters Anand and adds, “Information about the kind of subjects we are talking about, even in vernacular mediums, is primarily in English. Having said that, we are definitely evaluating the need to have regional languages – something we’ve found in the course of our research as well.”

    While Da Vinci Learning will premiere in English and Hindi next year, Anand is quick to point out: “We will not shy away from launching in a regional language if the need arises because we want to reach out to as many people as possible.”

     

    Otherwise an ad-free channel running on the Pay-TV model, in India however, the channel will incorporate ads.

    Reasons Anand: “The channels have to depend a lot on ad sales for revenue, but with digitisation, the subscription revenues are heading in the right way. Over the years, we will see less dependence on ad revenue. Also, the kids channels might be the third-largest viewed (almost 11 per cent) category but has a way smaller share in the whole ad pie. Hence, with kids becoming key influencers and the channel being uniquely different, there will be advertisers who will want to associate with us.”

    Though the subscription rate hasn’t been decided yet, Anand says: “It will be within the dynamics of the market,” quickly adding, “We still have to decide though whether we will start with a certain subscription charge or decide to go free for a certain period to let viewers know what the channel is all about.”

    To be available on digital platforms, the channel is already in talks with various DTH players.

    Meanwhile, a city-based media planner isn’t too hopeful that Da Vinci Learning will be able to get a lot of viewers if it comes with a subscription rate attached. “It will be able to gather interest in metros and tier II cities at best but overall, it will find it difficult to garner viewers. However, it is good that such a channel is entering the market,” he says.

    Marketing-wise, the channel plans to concentrate on activations as it believes it will be able to capture families in malls, museums and zoos. There will be on-air promotions, print and OOH as well. “Around 90 days prior to the launch, we will start with all the buzz and hype about the channel,” says Anand, adding they are still in talks with creative and media agencies.

    Asked about investment, Anand says apart from the minimum network requirement of Rs 5 crore, which is mandatory for a broadcast license, the channel will do whatever it takes to be successful as it is here to stay. “It takes time to reap results and we will do whatever it takes to reach out to a large number of people,” says Anand.

  • Discovery cracks the Da Vinci Code this month

    Discovery cracks the Da Vinci Code this month

    MUMBAI: With the highly anticipated movie The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks scheduled for release on 19 May across India, Discovery will air a special Da Vinci Declassified on 14 May at 8 pm.
    This special will present facts, information and a new look into the controversy that has captivated millions across the world. Dan Brown’s bestseller upon which the film is based explores the theory that Jesus had an affair with Mary Magdelene and had children by her.

    The special takes a fresh look at The Priory Of Sion. Is it real? If so, who’s behind it and what are its actual goals? Ultimately, whose destinies are they out to control? Discovery will take viewers on a journey through two thousand years of European history and art, going on location throughout Europe to unravel intricate clues about the Priory.

    Drawing on the expertise of historians, art specialists, scientists, mathematicians and actual representatives of the novel’s other famous secret society, Opus Dei, the special goes to great lengths to separate truth from fiction. From building an actual Cryptex (a device used in the book to hide and potentially destroy secret documents) to unraveling hidden messages allegedly encoded into famous works of art by Da Vinci and possibly even more controversial, Jean Cocteau.

  • Jason Wells is SPTI senior VP, mobile entertainment

    Jason Wells is SPTI senior VP, mobile entertainment

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has announced that Jason Wells has been appointed senior VP, mobile entertainment. Wells will relocate from Los Angeles to SPTI’s European headquarters in London and will lead the newly formed mobile entertainment group.

    He will report to both SPTI president Michael Grindon and SPTI Europe president, MD John McMahon.

    Grindon says, “Many new distribution venues are now available for Sony’s feature films and television content. Regarding the mobile marketplace, Jason Wells has a great deal of experience and expertise in the mobile entertainment market and we are very fortunate that he has agreed to manage our growing business in this sector.”

    McMahon says, “SPTI has established itself as a leader in the international television distribution, production and networks business over the past 10 years. The appointment of Jason Wells to head up our newly formed mobile entertainment group is indicative of our belief that the mobile business is poised for substantial growth in the coming years. He brings a wealth of experience in this sector and I look forward to working with him here in London.”

    In his new position, Wells, will lead an international group within SPTI dedicated to extending Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) theatrical and TV assets, as well as its range of custom-made mobile content, into mobile distribution outside the US. With products such as the Spider-Man II film, the Ratchet and Clank Going Mobile game adaptation from the popular Sony PlayStation franchise, and the Da Vinci Code mobile content, SPTI will be the international distribution and marketing arm for SPE’s portfolio of mobile content including mobile games, tones, images, video and text programs.

    As mobile TV adoption grows, SPTI’s mobile entertainment group will work alongside SPTI’s licensing, international networks and production business lines to roll out programming and new initiatives for mobile operators that draw upon the strengths of all of these businesses.

    Wells brings with him years of experience in business development, management consulting and business launch strategy. Most recently he was VP of business development for Handango, where he directed the content and distribution business units.