ITV

Tag: Doug Lee

  • Ownzones’ SVoD brings ‘Best Westerns Ever’ to Amazon, Roku, iOS & Android

    MUMBAI: The Western genre rides again thanks to a new SVOD channel being launched by Ownzones Media Network. The OTT EntTech company will bring Best Westerns Ever to Amazon video channels and via the Ownzones app currently on Roku, iOS and Android platforms beginning today, giving fans exclusive access to hundreds of iconic Western films and TV series at a nominal monthly subscription fee of $1.99.

    Today’s news comes on the heels of Ownzones’ successful rollout of Best TV Ever, a subscription content service for fans of vintage TV series that has seen exponential growth, revealing a great demand for niche programming. ‘Best Westerns Ever’, the next in Ownzones’ plans for a full stable of niche vertical channels, was created to satisfy this demand for underserved fans of the Western genre.

    ‘Best Westerns Ever’ will boast more than 400 film and TV titles featuring the genre’s biggest stars, including John Wayne, Dennis Hopper, Gene Autry, Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando, Bob Denver, Roy Rogers, Jane Russell, Fred Astaire, Burt Lancaster, and Maureen O’Hara, along with cult classics and rare treasures, such as “The Cisco Kid” and “Bonanza” and films like “Rawhide,” “Billy the Kid Wanted,” “Red River Valley” and “The Over the Hill Gang.”

    “In launching these niche channels, we are recognizing and responding to vastly underserved audience segments by developing exciting, affordable consumer offerings that appeal to their viewing passions,” said Ownzones head of programming Doug Lee.

    “’Best Westerns Ever’ is a robust channel offering sure to delight Western superfans, who will no longer have to pay high prices to gain access to the titles they love. We’re delivering the best of the genre in feature films and series with one-click convenience.”

    Lee adds that, as the end of the traditional TV bundle nears, viewers will be looking to subscribe and spend more in niche OTT services that are of interest to them.

    Ownzones’ launch of ‘Best Westerns Ever’ and success of Best TV Ever validate the company’s business model, which leverages the consumer’s purchase mindset with the organic search capabilities of its partners.

    These new content services will continue to expand to other distribution platforms to meet the growing consumer demand. Both products will also be available on Ownzones.com.

  • 420TV VoD to showcase ‘wonders of weed,’ Cannabis to be $44bn industry

    MUMBAI: Recognizing the increasing entrenchment of cannabis in the global zeitgeist, 420 Entertainment Group, comprising OWNZONES Media Network, the upstart global OTT technology/entertainment hybrid company, along with cannabis entrepreneurs Genesis Media and Alex Nahai Enterprises (ANE), will launch 420TV, a new video-on-demand channel, hailing the wonders of weed.

    420TV will feature original, multi-episodic series, as well as long- and short-form news, information and entertainment content focusing on all things cannabis. All content will be shot in 4K. The announcement has been made by OWNZONES CEO Dan Goman and ANE CEO Alex Nahai.

    Available this fall through the OWNZONES.com platform, 420TV is the first premium 4K video-on-demand network to tap into cannabis’ growing prominence in today’s mainstream lifestyle. Cannabis is projected to be a $44 billion industry in the next three years, according to Marijuana Daily News.

    420TV expects to attract viewers across generations, ranging from millennials to boomers who are either curious about or converted to the cannabis lifestyle. While the channel will launch on OWNZONES.com, and its mobile applications, it will quickly expand through OWNZONES’ worldwide multi-platform distribution network, utilizing the full spectrum of OWNZONES’ capabilities, including programming, technology and global distribution.

    “The nation’s evolving laws, growing interest and changing attitudes have created a multitude of opportunities to educate, entertain and expand public acceptance of cannabis, in all of its various applications,” said Goman. “As a hybrid technology and entertainment company, OWNZONES is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the explosive growth of the marijuana industry. We have found the ideal partner in Genesis with years of expertise and credibility in the cannabis business and will provide 420TV a real inside perspective in this burgeoning space.”

    “This is an industry with many benefits, and we are creating an effective and engaging means for promoting established companies and new brands to consumers. 420TV will provide that connection. The 4K video on-demand service is just the beginning – we intend to establish 420TV as a franchise brand for multiple lines of related businesses,” Nahai added.

    420TV’s news, information and entertainment programming currently in development includes:
    Pot Cast – Daily news programming chronicling the advent of the legal marijuana industry. With a team of 60 journalists nationwide, Pot Cast will present short-form news segments on the political, business, financial and cultural aspects surrounding the disruptive rise of this new industry. Signature segments include “Pot-Counter-Pot” and “This Week in Pot History.”

    Medical Marijuana Miracles – True stories of real people who have used medical marijuana for unique relief of symptoms and diseases.

    Marijuana Moguls – Fascinating series about the bold new entrepreneurs emerging in the cannabis industry.

    Cannabis 411 – An informative and educational series covering every step from how to grow weed to how to consume it.

    OWNZONES Programming Head Doug Lee will oversee the original programming line-up and manage the day-to-day business of 420TV. Lee is a seasoned media executive with over 25 years of experience in global entertainment, having held senior programming and channel positions at HBO, News Corp. and MGM Studios.

    420TV will deliver dozens of hours of original programming produced exclusively for the multi-platform channel, in addition to acquired long and short form entertainment. Other content categories in development include fashion, comedy, music and animation as well as acquired feature films, documentaries, music and live streaming events.

  • MGM adds three more shows to iTunes store

    MGM adds three more shows to iTunes store

    MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) has added more programming from MGM’s television library to iTunes Store. 

    The 22 half-hour episodes from the first season of the television classic The Addams Family are available on iTunes.

    Other popular MGM classics, including 32 one-hour episodes from the first season of the original science fiction series The Outer Limits and 32 half-hour episodes of the animated Pink Panther television series will also be available from the iTunes Store later this week.

    “We are excited to launch more of MGM’s premium and classic television programming through the iTunes Store,” said Doug Lee, MGM new media division executive vice president. “We have over 10,000 hours of television programming so making MGM hit series available to the iTunes community is a great way for us to continue our expansion in the new media world.”

    Earlier this year MGM made episodes of the hit science fiction/adventure series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis available for purchase and download through the iTunes Store. 

    Since forming its new media division in April of this year and recruiting Lee to supervise the unit, MGM continues to expand in the new media world, exercising the upside potential of the company’s massive programming library. Additional new media announcements are expected in the future.

  • MGM makes science fiction available on iTunes

    MGM makes science fiction available on iTunes

    MUMBAI: Film and TV company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc (MGM) has announced it has made current episodes of the hit science fiction/adventure series Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis available for purchase and download from the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).

    The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

    Effective today the first five episodes of Stargate SG1 season 10 and the first five episodes of Stargate Atlantis season 3 will be available for download and subsequent episodes for both series will be within 24 hours after airing on the Sci Fci Channel.

    “By making these popular series available through iTunes we’re able to extend the reach of the MGM brand and the Stargate franchise,” said MGM New Media Division executive VP Doug Lee. “We’re always delighted to enhance the consumer’s experience of our popular content and see this as a win all the way around.”

    The deal marks the first step in MGM’s strategy to expand its electronic distribution footprint globally with more announcements expected in the future. Since forming the New Media Division in April of this year and the recruitment of Lee to supervise it, MGM is now positioned to expand in the new media world, which will bring upside potential for the company’s library.