ITV

Tag: Disney

  • Marvel Studios signs 20-year deal with Stan Lee Universe

    Marvel Studios signs 20-year deal with Stan Lee Universe

    MUMBAI:Marvel Studios has signed a 20-year deal with Stan Lee Universe to license the name and likeness of Lee for use in future feature films and television productions, as well as Disney theme parks, various experiences and merchandising.

    Stan Lee Universe is a venture between Genius Brands International and POW! Entertainment. Lee is one of the most prolific and legendary comic creators of all time. As Marvel’s editor-in-chief, Lee helped build a universe of interlocking continuity, one where fans felt as if they could turn a street corner and run into a superhero from Spider-Man to the Fantastic Four, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and more. Lee went on to become Marvel’s editorial director and publisher in 1972, and was eventually named chairman emeritus.

    “We are proud to be the stewards of the incredibly valuable rights to Stan Lee’s name, likeness, merchandise, and intellectual property brand. And, there is no better place than Marvel and Disney where Stan should be for his movies and theme park experiences. As we enter the centennial year of Stan’s birthday, 28 December, 2022, we are thrilled to see his memory and legacy will continue to delight fans through this new long-term agreement with Marvel” said Genius Brands chairman CEO Andy Heyward.

    Under the terms of the deal, Marvel Studios has acquired rights to use Stan Lee’s name, voice, likeness and signature in movies and television projects, as well as use images, existing footage and existing audio recordings featuring Stan. Exclusive rights to use Stan Lee’s name, voice, likeness and signature in theme parks, water parks, cruise lines and in-park merchandise were included for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products as part of the deal.

    “As Stan’s longtime business partner and friend, I’m looking forward to commemorating his work in this new way. Building a connection with his fans is important to us and it’s a privilege to get to do that on his behalf” said Pow! Entertainment president Gill Champion.

    Le has also appeared in some of the most popular films of all time. His well-known cameos in Marvel films began in the 1989 telefilm “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk”. After the release of “X-Men” in 2000, he appeared in nearly every Marvel film and television project until his passing in 2018.

  • Global SVOD subscriptions to grow by 485 million: Research

    Global SVOD subscriptions to grow by 485 million: Research

    MUMBAI: Global Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) subscriptions will surge by 485 million between 2021 and 2027 to reach 1.69 billion. Six US-based platforms will have 988 million paying SVOD subscribers by 2027, up from 612 million in 2021, according to a report by Digital TV Research.

    Digital TV Research principal analyst Simon Murray said, “Our Netflix forecasts for 2027 are 29 million lower than our February update – at 253 million. Netflix needs to boost its content to counter its fresher and cheaper rivals.”

    Despite losing four million subscribers in North America, a total of 31 million subscribers Netflix will add between 2021 and 2027.

    It is estimated that Disney+ will overtake Netflix in 2025. Disney+ will add 144 million subscribers between 2021 and 2027 to take its total to 274 million Disney+ Hotstar will roll out to 13 Asian countries by 2027. These countries will supply 114 million (42 per cent) of the global Disney+ subscriber total, but only $1.58 billion (11 per cent) of Disney+’ revenues ($14.7 billion) by 2027.

    Netflix will remain the revenue winner, with $34 billion by 2027 – similar to Disney+, HBO Max and Paramount+ combined. However, the Netflix total is only $4 billion more than 2021 as subscriber growth decelerates and average revenue per user (arpu) is squeezed.

  • Disney+ Hotstar aims to produce 100 local original titles in India

    Disney+ Hotstar aims to produce 100 local original titles in India

    Mumbai: The Walt Disney Company has revealed that there are 500 local original titles in various stages of development and production for Disney+ and gave a breakdown of the number of titles slated for each region during its second-quarter earnings call for fiscal 2022. According to The Walt Disney Company senior EVP and chief financial officer Christine McCarthy, there are 140 local content titles slated for the Asia Pacific region including Southeast Asia, 150 titles for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), 100 titles in production in India and 200 titles in Latin America.

    “We are enthusiastic about our growth potential in international markets,” said The Walt Disney Company chief executive officer Bob Chapek. “We currently have over 500 local original titles in various stages of development and production. 180 of those titles are slated to premiere this fiscal year, increasing to over 300 international originals per year in a steady state. We believe these premium local originals, along with branded content with broad international appeal, will attract new subscribers and drive engagement.”

    The Walt Disney Company has said that it plans to spend $32 billion on content in 2022 out of which one-third will be in sports, and the balance will be dedicated to investments into general entertainment content including linear, theatrical, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms.

    The company recently announced plans to introduce an ad-supported subscription offering for Disney+ in the US by the end of the calendar year that will roll out internationally in 2023. The company saw a stellar quarter for its streaming services with more than 205 million subscriptions overall (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu) adding 9.2 million subscriptions in the quarter. The majority of the new subscriptions were driven by Disney+ which added 7.9 million subscribers which came to a total of 138 million global paid subscribers. A little over half of the net adds were from Disney+ Hotstar which benefited from the start of the new IPL season towards the end of the second quarter, noted McCarthy.

    Excluding Disney+ Hotstar, internationally the service added over two million paid subscribers with Latin America being the strongest contributor.

    As per the earnings report, Disney+ has 44.4 million subscribers in the US and Canada and 43.2 million international subscribers excluding Disney+ Hotstar. Disney+ Hotstar has 50.1 million subscribers, a massive jump of 42 per cent over the corresponding quarter in the previous year. The average revenue per paid subscriber in the US and Canada is $6.32 while for Disney+ Hotstar it is at $0.76.

    The average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for Disney+ Hotstar increased from $0.49 to $0.76 due to launches in new territories with higher average prices and higher per-subscriber advertising revenue, partially offset by a higher mix of wholesale subscribers.

    The company’s direct-to-consumer revenues for the quarter increased 23 per cent to $4.9 billion and operating loss increased to $0.9 billion. The increase in operating loss was due to higher losses at Disney+ and ESPN+ and lower operating income at Hulu.

    The lower results at Disney+ were due to higher programming, production, marketing and technology costs offset by increase in subscription revenue. The higher subscription revenue was due to subscriber growth and increases in retail pricing. The increases in costs and subscribers reflected growth in existing markets and expansion into new markets, to a lesser extent.

    “Direct-to-consumer programming and production costs in Q3 (third quarter) are expected to increase by more than $900 million year-over-year, reflecting higher original content expense at Disney+ and Hulu increased sports rights costs and higher programming fees at Hulu Live,” Christine McCarthy stated.  “At Disney+, while we still expect higher net adds in the second half of the year versus the first half, it’s worth mentioning that we did have a stronger-than-expected first half of the year.”

  • Disney taps Google’s Jeremy Doig to lead its streaming as CTO

    Disney taps Google’s Jeremy Doig to lead its streaming as CTO

    Mumbai: Media conglomerate Disney has roped in Google veteran Jeremy Doig as the new chief technology officer for Disney Streaming. In this role, Doig will report directly to Disney Streaming president Michael Paull.

    Doig brings 30 years of experience in online media to lead the technology organisation and global technology strategy for The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of direct-to-consumer streaming services. He will play a key role in driving the next phase of technical innovation and growth for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Star+.

    During his 18 year career at Google, Doig developed new standards for online media, spanning novel compression approaches for audio and video, streaming protocols for real-time and on-demand delivery, and spatial experiences.

    “Jeremy is a true visionary that has sat at the forefront of making online video streaming possible in his nearly 30-year career at the intersection of technology and media, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Disney Streaming leadership team, ” remarked Michael Paull. “We have an exceptional team of global technologists, and Jeremy’s experience leading transformational initiatives in complex and dynamic environments will make him an incredible asset to lead this world-class group.”

    “I am thrilled to be joining The Walt Disney Company at this crucial moment in the entertainment industry, ” said Doig in a statement.

  • Disney+ Hotstar strengthens regional offering with new Malayalam titles

    Disney+ Hotstar strengthens regional offering with new Malayalam titles

    Mumbai: As a part of its content expansion plans, Disney+ Hotstar is set to bring the magic of Malayalam cinema to viewers across the country. The OTT streaming platform has announced new Malayalam titles featuring popular stars such as Dulquer Salmaan, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and many others.

    According to a recent FICCI-EY report, regional cinema is growing rapidly. The report charted the growth of video OTT subscribing households to grow from 40 million in 2021 to 60 million by 2024 with regional films and shows becoming a big pull for OTT viewers.

    The report also revealed that Malayalam is rising as one of the top streaming languages across different OTT platforms.

    Here’s a look at some of the top Mollywood titles available on the platform:

    “Lalitham Sundaram“

    Surrounding the event of their mother’s funerals, three siblings lost in their fast-paced worlds reconnect and find their way back to family in this enduring family drama directed by Madhu Warrier. Starring Manju Warrier, Biju Menon, and Anu Mohan, Zarina Wahab, the film also features a melodious score sung by Bombay Jayasree.

    “Hridayam“

    Charting a young man’s rough childhood and the wrong turns he took, “Hridayam,” directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, is a coming-of-age film. Starring Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Darshana Rajendran, the film is set to get a Hindi remake by Bollywood director Karan Johar.

    “Bro Daddy“

    A family drama revolving around the lives of two Christian families in Kerala and their youngest secretly being in a live-in relationship makes the premise of this beloved film. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, it stars, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran with Lalu Alex, Meena, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Kaniha, Unni Mukundan, Jagadish, Mallika Sukumaran and Soubin Shahir in supporting roles.

    “Bangalore Days“

    An endearing tale of finding love, sustaining friendships and forming bonds that last forever, this Anjali Menon directorial is considered one of the finest of Malayalam films. Starring Nazriya Nazim, Nivin Pauly, Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Isha Talwar and Paris Laxmi, it has won several accolades following its release in 2014.

    “Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham“

    Can a pair of gold rings gifted out of love ever land you in trouble? “Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham,” a satire film written and directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduva explores just that. Starring Nivin Pauly, Grace Antony, Vinay Forrt, Sudheesh, Jaffar Idukki, Joy Mathew, Vincy Aloshious, Sivadasan Kannur, and Rajesh Madhavan, this film makes daylight of a chaotic mess.

    “Premam“

    Written, directed and edited by Alphonse Puthren, “Premam” is a coming-of-age romance that explores a young man’s journey across failed relationships, rekindled love, and finding purpose. A delightful watch, the film stars Nivin Pauly, Sai Pallavi, Madonna Sebastian, Anupama Parameswaran, Shabareesh Varma, Krishna Sankar, Ananth Nag, Siju Wilson, and others.

    “Ustad Hotel“

    Revolving around failed dreams, burning passion, and a love for food, “Ustad Hotel,” directed by Anwar Rasheed, is your typical warm-hearted Sunday watch that brings a big smile to your face. Starring Dulquer Salmaan, Thilakan, Nithya Menen, Siddique, Mamukkoya, and Lena in supporting roles, this film figures high on the Malayalam film watch list.

    “North 24 Kaatham“

    An adventure drama film written and directed by debutant Anil Radhakrishnan Menon, this film features prominent actors Fahadh Faasil, Nedumudi Venu, and Swathi Reddy and is known for its beautiful musical scores.

  • Ukraine crisis: Disney and Sony suspend operations in Russia

    Ukraine crisis: Disney and Sony suspend operations in Russia

    Mumbai: Media companies Disney and Sony Pictures Entertainment have decided to suspend all business operations in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Disney will cease all business including content and product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions, and linear channels, according to a report by Reuters.

    Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra shot an email to his staff that the boycott of Russia includes stopping its anime streaming service Crunchyroll as well as home entertainment releases and future TV distribution deals in the country, as per a report by ANI.

    Two weeks ago, Sony had also pulled its planned future films in Russia, including the high-profile Marvel film – “Morbius.” Disney has also halted the release of theatrical films in the country. 

    Other Hollywood studios such as Warner Bros has also stopped business operations following the actions of Russia.

  • Ranveer Singh’s ’83’ to air on Star Gold before its OTT premiere

    Ranveer Singh’s ’83’ to air on Star Gold before its OTT premiere

    Mumbai: Star Gold has announced that it will telecast the world television premiere of Ranveer Singh’s acclaimed sports drama “83” on 20 March. The film will premiere on TV before it streams on OTT platform, Disney+ Hotstar.

    One of the biggest films released in December 2021, “83” is a biopic based on the victory of the Indian cricket team in the 1983 Cricket World Cup led by Kapil Dev.

    The film is directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Deepika Padukone, Kabir Khan, Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Sajid Nadiadwala and Reliance Entertainment.

    Star Gold is offering brands a chance to replay their memorable and iconic TV ads of the 1980-90s era during the premiere of the film. “The era of 1980-90s is remembered for outstanding advertising and bringing these ads back on TV one more time will rekindle fond memories. This rare moment marketing opportunity for brands is sure to entertain and bring generations of TV viewers closer while also bonding viewers to the brands – then and now,” said the channel in a statement.  

  • Disney+ Hotstar crosses 45.9 million paid subscribers

    Disney+ Hotstar crosses 45.9 million paid subscribers

    Mumbai: The Walt Disney Company on Thursday reported its earnings for the quarter ended 1 January 2022. The media company’s direct-to-home revenues increased by 34 per cent to reach $4.6 billion. This increase was driven by higher subscriber growth and increases in retail pricing.

    Disney+ added 11.7 million subscribers during the quarter taking its total base from 118.1 million to 129.8 million. The company also revealed that it had 45.9 million Disney+ Hotstar subscribers. In comparison, Disney+ domestic subscribers (US+Canada) stood at 42.9 million and international subscribers excluding Hotstar stood at 41.1 million at the end of the quarter.

    The average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) for Disney+ stood at $4.41. The ARPUs for Disney+ Hotstar increased from $0.98 to $1.03 due to launches in new territories with higher average prices, partially offset by a higher mix of wholesale subscribers.

    However, the DTC business also saw a higher operating loss at $0.6 billion (27 per cent increase) driven by higher programming, production, marketing and technology costs at Disney+.

    Overall, Disney posted revenues of $21.8 billion registering a growth of 34 per cent year-on-year. The company’s media and entertainment distribution business brought in about $14.58 billion in revenues registering a growth of 15 per cent YoY. Its operating income was $808 million a decrease of 40 per cent over the same quarter in the previous year.

    Disney’s linear network business posted revenues of $7.7 billion and content sales and licensing revenues stood at $2.4 billion. Disney’s linear network business remained essentially flat over last year.

    International channel revenues for the quarter decreased by four per cent to $1.6 billion reflecting the closure of channels across its markets. The growth in channels that continued to operate in the current and prior year quarters was due to an increase in advertising revenue driven by higher rates.

    “We’ve had a very strong start to the fiscal year, with the launch of a new franchise with Encanto, and a significant increase in total subscriptions across our streaming portfolio to 196.4 million, including 11.8 million Disney+ subscribers added in the first quarter,” The Walt Disney Company chief executive officer Bob Chapek. “This marks the final year of The Walt Disney Company’s first century, and performance like this coupled with our unmatched collection of assets and platforms, creative capabilities, and unique place in the culture give me great confidence we will continue to define entertainment for the next 100 years.”

  • Discovery was greatest global commissioner of TV shows in 2021: Ampere

    Discovery was greatest global commissioner of TV shows in 2021: Ampere

    Mumbai: The greatest global commissioner of TV shows in 2021 was Discovery, with a record-breaking 556 first-run TV show titles commissioned in the year, according to market-leading data and analytics firm Ampere. This extends Discovery’s lead of 46, recorded in 2020, to 153 titles by year-end 2021.

    ViacomCBS pipped Netflix for second place with 406 titles compared to Netflix’s 403. Three other contenders – Disney, the BBC and Comcast – came close with 387, 373, and 353 first-run shows respectively, it said.

    This group of six pulled further ahead of their global rivals through 2021 with each supporting the expansion of their own subscription video on demand (SVoD) services. WarnerMedia also accelerated through the year but not enough to rank in the top six.

    However, for 2022 it is those shows commissioned but not yet released, the in-production slate, that will be key, noted Ampere study. Discovery’s typical commissions (largely documentaries) have a shorter production timescale and are lower cost and less high-profile than titles on Netflix’s still predominantly scripted slate. Netflix is set to release most of its 243 in-production TV titles in 2022 (with an additional 106 films) which will push the streamer’s overall slate of original releases to over 2,000 titles.

    It should be noted that the above figures for 2021 exclude the US majors’ growing SVoD film slate.  The US majors combined commissioned 74 film titles specifically for SVoD. However, adding Netflix’s 203 commissioned films in 2021 would push the global streamer into first place, albeit via a less direct comparison.

    Through their in-production TV show commissions for their VoD platforms, studios’ intentions are laid bare. Among all the TV shows currently being produced by Disney, 58 per cent are now originals for its streaming platform, Disney+. WarnerMedia follows closely behind with 85 titles for HBO Max, representing 48 per cent of shows it currently has in production. Titles destined for VoD make up 39 per cent of ViacomCBS’s current slate and 28 per cent of Comcast’s.

    The year 2022 will see further additions to these slates as the studio-backed VoD services continue to expand both their original catalogues and subscriber bases, both domestically and, increasingly, internationally.

  • Chad Matthews named president of ABC-owned television stations

    Chad Matthews named president of ABC-owned television stations

    Mumbai: WABC New York’s executive Chad Matthews is named as the president of ABC-owned TV stations, effective immediately. He succeeds Wendy McMahon, who left the company last year to become co-president of CBS News and Stations.

    Matthews steps into the role from his position as president and general manager of WABC-TV New York. 

    In his new role, Matthews will report to Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution president of networks Debra OConnell. He will have chief management responsibility for the eight ABC-owned television stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno.

    “Chad is an exceptional leader who has a track record of success, always championing innovative content and storytelling, super serving our viewers with programs that have a meaningful impact on the community overall, and achieving and maintaining the highest standards of operational excellence while driving enormous success across linear and digital platforms,” said OConnell in a statement, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. “His strategic vision, passion for local news, forward thinking roll-up your sleeves attitude and commitment to teamwork are among the many attributes that will ensure that under his leadership our Owned Television Stations will continue to thrive.”

    Matthews was associated with WABC since 2000. However, he also worked for NBC-owned WTVJ between 2012 and 2017, only to re-join WABC the same year. In this role, he oversaw the entire management for ABC7/WABC-TV and its subsidiary businesses.

    “I am truly honored to be given this opportunity to lead the best station group in the country! The great eight as I like to call it,” said Matthews on his new role. “The team members who make up the ABC Owned Stations are the best in the business. Their talents, innovation, perseverance and flexibility are sources of constant inspiration. I am very much looking forward to working with them to further grow the business while continuing to find new ways to super serve our viewers and communities in a way that raises the bar for local television.”