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Tag: Disney

  • Discovery Kids aims 35% reach with English audio feed

    Discovery Kids aims 35% reach with English audio feed

    MUMBAI: The kids channels have finally woken up to the importance of animation in regional languages.  

    Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam are the existing languages that are working quite well in the overall industry as well as in the kids segment. Keeping in mind the parents’ concerns for their kids to learn and grow, the broadcasters thought of launching English feeds as well. Recently, Sony Yay made its footprint in the English space and now, Discovery Kids has also added this feed in its bouquet.

    Discovery Kids was launched in 2012 and has already Tamil, Telugu and Hindi audio feeds that helped the channel to leap-frog to fourth rank in the existing cluttered market from ninth rank in the beginning of the year riding on 426 per cent growth in TV ratings. Discovery Kids head Uttam Pal Singh said, “Our channel’s reach has doubled from 9 million in week 1 to 18 million in this week (33) as per the BARC data.    

    He said that since the regional languages are important in the industry, Discovery launched those before entering the English segment. “For Discovery Kids it’s almost like a clean slate when we started it out with the launch of Bandhbuk aur Budbak and Little Singham. So first was definitely getting Tamil on board and as and when we added these regional languages, we got good response,” he said.

    The next step is to get maximum reach in the SAARC countries. “The addition of Telugu feed in April earlier this year helped increase our reach by over 50 per cent in the state of Andhra Pradesh/Telangana. We expect that the English feed will help us penetrate deeper in select pockets in India as well as SAARC countries,” he added.

    The mobile game of Little Singham hit the No. 1 spot in the Arcade section by garnering 3 million downloads within the first two weeks of its launch.

    The network claims to have a daily time spent of 82 minutes on the channel and has observed a significant hike in the ratings due to its programming on the occasions of Friendship Day and 15 August. “We released special content on Desh ka Sipahi Little Singham and focused on Bandhbuk and Budbak on Friendship Day. We gained 9 GRPs in the last week and now as far as the channel’s reach is concerned, we want to reach about 30-35 per cent.”

    As per the BARC data’s week 33, Nickelodeon stands at the first position with 135622 impressions (000s) sum. Disney Channel, Hungama, Discovery Kids and Pogo TV stood at second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively with 125920 impressions (000s) sum, 110826 impressions (000s) sum, 81728 impressions (000s) sum and 78145 impressions (000s) sum.  

  • Comcast drops bid for 21st Century Fox assets, cedes prize to Disney

    Comcast drops bid for 21st Century Fox assets, cedes prize to Disney

    MUMBAI: The fierce bidding war between Comcast and Disney has finally ended with the former dropping out of the race to gobble up the prized 21st Century Fox assets. Comcast will now shift its focus towards sealing the Sky deal.

    “Comcast does not intend to pursue further the acquisition of the Twenty-First Century Fox assets and, instead, will focus on our recommended offer for Sky,” the company said in a statement.

    “I’d like to congratulate Bob Iger and the team at Disney and commend the Murdoch family and Fox for creating such a desirable and respected company,” Comcast Corporation chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts said.

    Last month, the US cable giant made a $65.0 billion offer for the Fox assets, trumping Disney’s original $52.4 billion bid. However, Disney went on to make a counter-offer of $71.3 billion in cash and stock.

    Disney has already sought clearance from US department of justice to go ahead of the deal that includes the Twentieth Century Fox film and TV studio, a controlling stake in Hulu, and international properties including Star India.

    The Comcast-Disney tussle will go down as one of the most keenly contested battles in the media and entertainment.

    With traditional power players facing challenges from new streaming services and FAANG companies, Fox’s entertainment assets are bound to help Disney prop up its upcoming streaming service as more and more consumers cut chords every day, especially in US.

    Recently, following the $32.5 billion offer from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, Comcast also increased its offer valuing Sky at $34 billion. The European Pay TV group is a lucrative option for Comcast to stay relevant outside US.

  • Comcast’s new offer trumps Fox’s $32.5bn to acquire Sky

    Comcast’s new offer trumps Fox’s $32.5bn to acquire Sky

    MUMBAI: The conflicting parties in bidding war to acquire Sky are leaving no stones unturned. Following the $32.5 billion offer from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, US cable giant Comcast also increased its offer valuing Sky at $34 billion. European pay TV group Sky with 20 million subscribers is a lucrative option for both the firms to extend their business in a Netflix-Amazon era.

    On Wednesday, Fox increased its offer price to buy 61 per cent of Sky putting pressure on Comcast Corporation. It raised the offer to £24.5 billion ($32.5 billion) topping an earlier offer from Comcast.

    Financial Times reported, Sky’s independent committee said Fox’s new bid “represents a substantial increase in value relative to the Comcast offer.” Along with that, it would “unanimously recommend” the offer to Sky shareholders.

    The regulatory approval for Fox’s deal may come this week while Comcast already received approval from the British government. Fox has been waiting long for the approval to buy the 61 per cent of Sky it does not own already. To resolve the concerns that Fox may create a monopoly in the market, Fox agreed to sell the Sky News operation to Disney once the deal is complete. However, now even if the approval comes Fox needs to raise its offer.

    However, the deal is part of a wider battle between Comcast and Disney for control of prized entertainment assets owned by Fox. The tug-of-war includes movie studios, cable channels, National Geographic and a 30 pee cent stake in video website Hulu, as well as Star India.

  • Comcast deal riskier than Disney, says Fox

    Comcast deal riskier than Disney, says Fox

    MUMBAI: Everyone is keeping an eye out to know when Fox will pick a partner in the tug of war between Disney and Comcast.

    Now, the American multinational mass-media corporation, 21st Century Fox is telling its shareholders that the deal with Comcast carries higher risk than the deal with Walt Disney. Fox said that risk of the deal being delayed or denied lies due to antitrust regulators. 

    In a SEC filing, Fox outlined eight concerns about the potential Comcast deal. The filing read: “While a potential Disney transaction was likely to receive required regulatory approvals and ultimately be consummated, a strategic transaction with Comcast “a strategic transaction with Comcast would be subject to a greater degree of regulatory uncertainty, including the possibility of an outright prohibition and a higher risk of divestitures and delay to closing, as compared to a strategic transaction with Disney.”

    The board for Rupert Murdoch led company, had stated that a strategic transaction with Comcast continued to carry higher regulatory risk leading to the possibility of significant delay in the receipt of merger consideration as well as the risk of an inability to consummate the transactions.

    Fox has been consistently trying to avoid selling its business to Comcast as Fox officials are of the opinion that a merger with the largest US cable company, Comcast, may not be approved by the federal government.

    According to the  SEC filing, Disney’s bid would have a smoother route to closing as the entertainment company has a mix of businesses.

    Disney’s deal with Fox will include the 20th Century Fox film and TV studios, along with the FX cable channels, Fox’s stakes in Hulu, Sky, National Geographic Partners and more. 

    Fox plans to spin off all its news assets into “News Fox” which will include all Fox broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Networks and others. 

    The good news for Disney comes after the Fox board agreed to Disney’s higher offer of $71.3 billion last week. This was after Comcast made an all cash bid of $65 billion for Fox’s assets. 

    Comcast first approached 21st Century Fox about buying the network’s properties in November 2017, which was just a month before Fox had already struck its first deal with Disney. 

    Also Read:

    What next with Fox-Disney-Comcast ?

    Hulu signs deal for Viacom series

    Endemol Shine hires banks for a possible sale 

    Lachlan Murdoch to lead New Fox after Disney sale, James is out

  • Hulu signs deal for Viacom series

    Hulu signs deal for Viacom series

    MUMBAI: Hulu has obtained exclusive rights to stream full series from Viacom, including Daria, Nathan for You, My Super Sweet 16 and The New Edition Story. The company will gain the rights to 20 films, including School of Rock.

    According to the reports, the agreement includes content from Nickelodeon as well, like Nick Cannon’s musical show Make It Pop, animated programs Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and Penguins of Madagascar.

    Hulu, co-owned by Comcast, Disney, Fox and Time Warner, said earlier that it is parting ways with chief content officer Joel Stillerman, as well as senior VP of experience, Ben Smith and a senior VP in partnerships and distribution Tim Connolly.

    A combined technology and product group that will report to new CTO Dan Phillips, formerly COO at TiVo is being created by the company. That organisation will span engineering, data centre operations, network and broadcast operations centres, information technology and program management, as well as product management, user experience and product development.

  • What next with Fox-Disney-Comcast ?

    What next with Fox-Disney-Comcast ?

    MUMBAI: Part poker, part chess. That’s exactly how the Disney-Comcast bidding war for Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment conglomerate – 21 Century Fox – is being played out. The intense, see-saw battle for the media empire, which includes Hollywood studios, cable networks and streaming businesses, isn’t nearing its end just yet. Nine days out of 10, $70 billion will get you whatever your want in life. But when you’re up against Comcast, the tenth day is the one that matters and even $70 billion might not be enough.

    According to analysts and industry insiders, Comcast is set to return to the negotiating table with a new and improved offer in the  low-to-mid $40s a share range. This could effectively take the bidding to $80 billion, 10 more than Disney’s cash and stock offer.

    Disney’s new bid on Tuesday, was 35 per cent higher than its earlier offer and close to $6 billion more than Comcast’s. But as things stand, they could end up paying more than they’d anticipated.

    Why? Because Comcast isn’t likely to budge given the pressure on its pay-TV business. Hence in its attempt to diversify and attain scale, the Fox bid is an important play for the company’s strategy going forward.

    However, the Disney executives know that the six-month head start they enjoy over Comcast in terms of regulatory review, could end up swinging this deal in their favour. Irrespective of what the winning bid is, a Disney-Fox deal, will get past the regulators far quicker than a Comcast-Fox deal is big boss Bob Iger’s belief. 

    And Murdoch understands this. He also understands how eager Bob Iger and Brian Roberts are to shake his hand in order to land some of the world’s hottest properties – 20th Century Fox film studio, the FX and National Geographic cable channels, almost two dozen regional sports networks, a stake in Sky and Star India.

    A handful of investment analysts are watching with their faces grimacing in pain. They worry that the debt both the mouse house and Comcast will take on in their hunger to swallow up Fox could topple them over. But both Iger and Roberts are not perturbed by the carping. 

    We now await the next instalment of this blockbuster. Disney’s made its move, Comcast is on the verge of making one. Call it the chess board or the poker table, Murdoch owns them both.

  • Sky News gets 15-year commitment from Disney in takeover battle

    Sky News gets 15-year commitment from Disney in takeover battle

    MUMBAI: Disney has refrained from selling Sky News without the U.K government’s permission and offered British authorities a commitment to operate Sky News for 15 years. For its part, 21st Century Fox has offered new commitments in an attempt to get its $15 billion bid for Sky over the finish line, including a promise to fund Sky News for 15 years, five more than it had previously offered.

    British culture secretary Matt Hancock said, “In my view, these revised undertakings [commitments] meet the criteria that I set out to the House [of Commons] on 5 June and will help to ensure that Sky News remains financially viable over the long term; is able to operate as a major U.K.-based news provider; and is able to take its editorial decisions independently, free from any potential outside influence”,in a statement.

    Under the proposed plans, Sky News would receive guaranteed funding of £100 million ($132 million) a year.

    The British government set out its agreement on Tuesday with Disney and 21st Century Fox over Sky, if Fox’s bid to take over Sky succeeds. The agreement focuses on how Sky plans to divest Sky News, and the assurances necessary for the news channel’s long-term viability and editorial independence.

    Fox, which is already Sky’s biggest shareholder with a 39.1 per cent stake, first tabled a proposal in December 2016 to buy the remainder of the broadcaster for £11.7bn in a deal valuing the whole of Sky at £18.5bn.

    Fox had already agreed to meet the British competition watchdog’s proposed remedies by the time Hancock spoke to Parliament earlier this month and made offloading Sky News a condition to the Fox bid gaining approval.

    Hancock has now opened a consultation. That ends on July 4 and at that point he is expected to make a final decision.

    Opposition to the Fox bid remains fierce in the U.K. Lobby group Avaaz has been a vocal opponent and was in the High Court in London on Tuesday seeking to persuade a judge that media regulator Ofcom’s June 2017 decision that Fox and the Murdoch family would be fit and proper owners of all of Sky was flawed.

  • Disney makes $70.3 billion counterbid for Twenty-First Century Fox

    Disney makes $70.3 billion counterbid for Twenty-First Century Fox

    MUMBAI: 21st Century Fox has announced that it has entered into an amended and restated merger agreement with The Walt Disney Company pursuant to which Disney has agreed to acquire for a price of $38 per 21CF share the same businesses. Disney agreed to acquire under the previously announced merger agreement between 21CF and Disney. 

    This price represents a significant increase over the purchase price of approximately $28 per share included in the Disney Merger Agreement when it was announced in December 2017.  The amended and restated Disney Merger Agreement offers a package of consideration, flexibility and deal certainty enhancements that is superior to the proposal made by the Comcast Corporation on June 13, 2018.

    Under the amended and restated Disney Merger Agreement, Disney would acquire those businesses on substantially the same terms, except that, among other things, Disney’s offer allows 21CF stockholders to elect to receive their consideration, on a value equalized basis, in the form of cash or stock, subject to 50/50 proration. The collar on the stock consideration will ensure that 21st Century Fox shareholders will receive a number of Disney shares equal to $38 in value if the average Disney stock price at closing is between $93.53 and $114.32. 

    “We are extremely proud of the businesses we have built at 21st Century Fox, and firmly believe that this combination with Disney will unlock even more value for shareholders as the new Disney continues to set the pace at a dynamic time for our industry,” said Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox. “We remain convinced that the combination of 21CF’s iconic assets, brands and franchises with Disney’s will create one of the greatest, most innovative companies in the world.”

    In light of the revised terms contained in the amended and restated Disney Merger Agreement, 21CF’s board, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors, has not concluded that the unsolicited proposal it received on June 13, 2018 from Comcast could reasonably be expected to result in a “Company Superior Proposal” under the Disney Merger Agreement. 

    However, the amended and restated Disney Merger Agreement contains no changes to the provisions relating to the Company’s directors’ ability to evaluate a competing proposal.

    As announced on May 30, 2018, 21CF has established a record date of May 29, 2018 and a meeting date of July 10, 2018, for a special meeting of its stockholders to, among other things, consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Disney Merger Agreement.  21CF has determined to postpone its special meeting of stockholders to a future date in order to provide stockholders the opportunity to evaluate the terms of Disney’s revised proposal and other developments to date. Once 21CF determines the new date for 21CF’s special meeting of stockholders, the date will be communicated to 21CF stockholders.

  • Disney appoints new creative officers for animation division

    Disney appoints new creative officers for animation division

    MUMBAI: Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter have been named as new chief creative officers (CCOs) for Disney’s animation division. While Docter will handle the Pixar Animation Studios, Lee will head the Walt Disney Animation Studios. 

    The appointments come after John Lasseter stepped down from his role last month as the CCO of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios. He resigned after admitting in 2017 that he had committed unspecified missteps that had left some employees feeling disrespectful and uncomfortable. However, he will continue to have a consulting role with the company until December 31.

    Announcing his resignation, Lasseter issued a statement, saying, “The last six months have provided an opportunity to reflect on my life, career and personal priorities. While I remain dedicated to the art of animation and inspired by the creative talent at Pixar and Disney, I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges. I am extremely proud of what two of the most important and prolific animation studios have achieved under my leadership and I’m grateful for all the opportunities to follow my creative passion at Disney.”

    Disney announced on Tuesday that Docter and Lee will have creative oversight of all films and associated projects of their respective studios reporting directly to Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn.

    In announcing their appointments, Horn said, “Jennifer Lee and Pete Docter are two of the most gifted filmmakers and storytellers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. Pete, the genius creative force behind Up, Inside Out and Monsters, Inc., has been an integral part of Pixar almost since the beginning and is a huge part of its industry-leading success. Jenn, in bringing her bold vision to the boundary-breaking Frozen, has helped infuse Disney Animation with a new and exciting perspective. Each of them embodies the unique spirit, culture and values of these renowned animation studios, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have them to lead us into the future.”

    While Lee and Docter will look into the creative affairs, Pixar Animation Studios president Jim Morris and Walt Disney Animation Studios president Andrew Millstein will continue in their roles. They will be responsible for the business side and report toDisney and Pixar Animation Studios president Ed Catmul.

  • Endemol Shine hires banks for a possible sale

    Endemol Shine hires banks for a possible sale

    MUMBAI: Netherlands-based TV production company, Endemol Shine Group, has hired Deutsche Bank and Liontree to explore a potential sale that could be valued between $2- $4 billion including debt.  

    Endemol Shine Group is known for its popular programs like Black Mirror, Big brother and MasterChef. 

    Endemol is co-owned by 21st Century Fox and Apollo Global Management in a 50:50 partnership. Both parties agreed to sell their stake if a suitable buyer is found.

    In a  multi-billion dollar media deal ($52 billion) last year, Fox sold 50 per cent stake in Endemol to Disney. That deal is now being challenged by Comcast. 

    Although Fox is supportive of the business, it does not want to acquire Endemol given its deal with Disney. 

    The cash from this sale is likely to go to Comcast or Disney, depending on who ends up with Fox’s assets, according to a report by CNBC. 

    It was earlier reported that United Kingdom based media company, ITV, wanted to consider buying the Endemol Group, should a formal process for sale begin. Whether the company will buy it or give it a pass will be something worth looking into.