ITV

Tag: Doug Miller

  • Iran, US, Russia get negative ratings in BBC World Service poll

    Iran, US, Russia get negative ratings in BBC World Service poll

    MUMBAI: Concern about Iran’s plans for developing nuclear power appears to have contributed to it being voted as having the ‘most negative’ influence on the world in a poll of 33 countries including India for BBC World Service. The US had the second highest ‘mainly negative’ rating with Russia in third place.

    Researchers from GlobeScan and the Programme on International Policy Attitudes (Pipa) questioned 39,435 people between October 2005 and January 2006.

    On average across the 33 countries polled, 47 per cent of people believed Iran is having a ‘negative influence’ – with support for this view highest in Germany (84 per cent), the US (81 per cent) and Italy (77 per cent). British critics stood at 72 per cent.

    PIPA director Steven Kull said, “It appears that world public opinion does not look kindly on governments engaging in suspicious nuclear activities as in the case of Iran. Or becoming more authoritarian in the case of China and Russia or occupying another country without international approval as with the United States. On the other hand, countries and regions that engage the world primarily through soft forms of power (such as diplomacy) including Japan and Europe tend to get good marks.”

    GlobeScan president, Doug Miller said, “In the court of public opinion, Iran is judged a mainly negative player in the world. Russia and the US continue to languish at the lower end of the league table. Europe continues to be seen as a mainly positive player. It will be interesting to see what impact the next year of drama over the Iranian nuclear programme has on these ratings.”

    The highest ‘mainly positive’ rating went to Europe (as a whole) followed by Japan, France and Britain. Japan received a ‘positive’ vote from 31 of the countries polled, the dissenting voices were China and South Korea. France was described as having a positive influence by 28 of the counties polled.

  • Disney, Star ink deal; to launch two channels 17 December

    Disney, Star ink deal; to launch two channels 17 December

    MUMBAI: The Little Big Mouse is finally ready to make its entry into Indian television space. And expectedly, it is on the biggest network platform that Disney will be launching two of its channels.

    Walt Disney Television International Asia Pacific (WDTVI-AP) announced today that it has signed a multi-year deal with the Star Group to distribute The Disney Channel and Toon Disney Channel in India. The announcement was made jointly by Doug Miller, executive vice president WDTVI-AP and Walt Disney International and Star group CEO Michelle Guthrie. Both channels will be launched on Friday, 17 December 2004.

    “The Disney brand is incredibly strong in India and has a natural resonance with Indian kids and families. This strong brand affinity makes India a natural market for us to launch a Disney Channel and also introduce the region’s first ever Toon Disney Channel,” said Miller. “We believe that Star India, with their unrivalled experience and successful track record in delivering compelling content make them the ideal partner to realize this potential.”

    Michelle Guthrie commented, “Disney is the undoubted leader in providing unique entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together and we believe that adding Disney Channel and Toon Disney to the Star bouquet of channels will make us the natural home for kids and family viewing in India. The strength of the Disney brand will also give us incredible strength in marketing the channels and attracting more viewers to our services.”

    “With a 30 million cable & satellite TV audience under the age of 14 in urban India alone, India is one of the world’s largest kids audiences and the launch of Disney Channel and Toon Disney will not only have a major impact on the way the Disney brand is enjoyed in India but also in the development of the Indian pay television business,” said Rajat Jain, managing director, Walt Disney Television International (India) and The Walt Disney Company (India) Pvt Ltd.

  • Disney promotes Raymund Miranda

    Disney promotes Raymund Miranda

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney has elevated Raymund Miranda to managing director of Walt Disney International, South-East Asia. This will be in addition to his current responsibilities as MD South-East Asia and Korea Walt Disney Television International.

    Miranda’s new responsibilities will include coordinating and overseeing the company’s growth opportunities and leading operations, including business development in the region.

    In his new role, Miranda will be reporting directly to Doug Miller, Walt Disney International (Asia Pacific) executive vice-president and MD and senior vice-president and managing director of branded television, Walt Disney Television International.

    Miranda started his broadcasting career during his college years as a radio jockey in 1980. Then in 1987, he joined the Philippines-headquartered GMA Network Inc. where he was promoted as creative services VP in 1992. Miranda joined Disney in 1998 as the Disney Television Philippines head.

  • Nick UK MD Parkinson joins Disney Asia as senior VP, MD

    Nick UK MD Parkinson joins Disney Asia as senior VP, MD

    MUMBAI: Even as Disney India is hiring professionals at all levels to help get its channels off the ground, Disney Asia has announced a top notch appointment – that of a number two to boss Doug Miller for its television unit. Former Nickelodeon UK managing director Nicky Parkinson is the lady who has signed up with the mouse house. She joins Walt Disney Television International (Asia-Pacific) as senior VP and managing director for branded television.

    At Disney, Parkinson will oversee the management and development of Disney-branded channels and blocks across the region, outside of Japan. At present, the network operates 10 Disney Channels in Asia, six Playhouse Disney networks and 23 Disney-branded slots.

    Parkinson will be based in Hong Kong and as mentioned earlier will report to Walt Disney International (Asia-Pacific) and Walt Disney Television International (Asia-Pacific) executive VP and managing director Doug Miller.

    Parkinson was appointed Nickelodeon UK MD in February 2001 where she oversaw its creative, commercial and technical and people strategies across existing and new lines of business. Prior to joining Nickelodeon, she was Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd vice president marketing for five years where she was responsible for trade and consumer marketing for Cartoon Network, TNT and TCM in Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as directing off-channel Development for Cartoon Network Originals in the areas of syndication, video, events, theme parks and licensing and merchandising.

    Previously, Parkinson was the board account director at Grey Advertising and Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners and has also worked in Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising as an account manager.

  • MAX’s Rajat Jain to head Disney India

    MAX’s Rajat Jain to head Disney India

    MUMBAI: Media speculation may have thrown up varied names, but the man who will be heading The Walt Disney Company’s diversified operations in India is Rajat Jain, at present head of Sony Entertainment’s events and movies channel MAX.

    Rajat Jain will join the Disney group as vice-president and managing director of The Walt Disney Company (India) Private Limited and Walt Disney Television International (India) from 1 August.

    When indiantelevision.com had broken the story in the morning, Jain had refused to confirm or deny the development. Much later in the evening came the official statement from The Walt Disney Company (Asia-Pacific) ltd.

    As Disney’s India head, Jain’s area of responsibility will, however, be far bigger than just managing the three channels that Disney is expected to launch in the first half of 2005 — The Disney Channel, Playhouse (for pre- schoolers) and a localised version of ABC. Under Jain’s purview will also be film distribution, merchandising and (this is the real kicker) the theme parks and resorts business.

    Industry sources have told indiantelevision.com that Disney has already identified 900 acres of land in Gurgaon, located on the outskirts of Delhi in the state of Haryana, on which will be located the third Disney theme park to come to Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong. Disneyland is expected to open to the public in 2010.

    To give some idea of the sheer size of the theme parks business in Disney’s scheme of things: Tokyo Disneyland is the best-attended theme park in the world and also includes the Tokyo DisneySea theme park and Disney hotels; Disney’s Hong Kong park is due to open in 2005 and will cost around $3 billion and Disney expects that the Hong Kong park will attract 5.6 million visitors in its first year of operation alone.

    But before all that happens in India, it is the channels that will take up all Jain’s time and efforts. Disney’s size and reputation notwithstanding, it is going to be a tough haul for The Little Big Mouse in India to overhaul a well entrenched Cartoon Network, what with Nickelodeon trying to get its act together and UTV’s kiddy channel, Hungama, set to launch on the Star platform.

    A tougher call will be to get the entertainment channel up and running against the likes of Star Plus, Sony and Zee TV (and who knows how many more new players?).

    THE OFFICIAL LINE FROM DISNEY

    Many in the industry would be eating their hearts out, but the Disney statement makes it all official with effect from 1 August, the date when Jain will take over his new assignment.

    The official statement quoted Walt Disney International president Andy Bird as saying, “The Indian marketplace is developing quickly and represents strong growth opportunities for all of our businesses as Indian consumers have a strong affinity for the Disney brand. In an increasingly competitive and diversified marketplace, Jain’s outstanding abilities, which he has successfully demonstrated over the years in the Indian industry, will be a significant asset.”

    According to Walt Disney Television International (Asia-Pacific) executive vice-president and MD Doug Miller, “Rajat is an outstanding and innovative executive who constantly finds new ways to grow successful businesses by providing great services and value to consumers. We believe, he is the right person to oversee Disney’s continued growth in India as we strive to become one of India’s leading providers of high quality family entertainment.”

    Jain will report to Miller in both roles.

    Prior to SET India, Jain has also worked at organizations like Telstra International in the telecom sector, as well as Benckiser India and Hindustan Lever in FMCG sector through his total of 17 years of working experience.

    Jain received a Bachelor of Technology degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi and a post-graduate degree in business management from the premier Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.

  • Doug Miller is executive VP, MD Disney Intl Asia-Pacific

    Doug Miller is executive VP, MD Disney Intl Asia-Pacific

    MUMBAI: Doug Miller has been appointed executive VP and MD of Walt Disney International Asia-Pacific and Walt Disney Television International Asia Pacific. He will oversee all of Disney’s television activities in the region

    Working in conjunction with all Disney business unit leaders in the region Miller will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing growth opportunities for Disney throughout the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan). As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com Disney is expected to launch three channels in India in October.

    The distribution partner is expected to be finalised in July. Right now the main competing parties are said to be Star and Sony. Star has the advantage in that ESPN belongs to Disney. ESPN has a 50:50 JV with Star Sports.

    Coming back to Miller his brief also involves targetting new business opportunities while at the same time expanding and increasing the penetration of existing businesses. He will lead the development of business and operations in emerging markets.Miller will report to Disney president Andy Bird and Walt Disney Television International president David Hulbert. Previously, Miller was senior VP and MD Walt Disney International Television (Asia-Pacific) since August 2002.

    Bird who was a keynote speaker at the Ficci Frames convention in March added, ”From a strategic perspective, the Asia-Pacific region is a key area of long-term growth for the entire Disney organisation. This is why it is crucial to have an executive of Doug’s caliber in place, whose extensive international business experience will lead our efforts in further developing Disney’s businesses throughout Asia.

    “In an increasingly competitive and diversified international marketplace, Doug’s outstanding abilities, which he has successfully demonstrated in growing our television business throughout Asia, will be a significant asset.’

  • Double dose of Disney magic to hit Hong Kong

    Double dose of Disney magic to hit Hong Kong

    MUMBAI: The launch of its channels in India may be delayed but in the rest of the Asia Pacific region, the mouse is not wasting time in spreading its reach.

    Disney has announced that Hong Kong has become the second Asia Pacific market in four months to launch its television channels. Walt Disney Television International – Asia Pacific (WDTVI-AP) and PCCW have announced that on 2 April Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney Channel will launch on pay-TV network now Broadband TV.

    The launch of the Playhouse Disney Channel in Hong Kong marks the entry into Asia of the first dedicated pre-school channel in the region. For the flagship channel Hong Kong is the 10th market in the Asia Pacific to enjoy its programming.

    WBTVI-AP senior VP, MD Doug Miller was quoted in an official release saying, “The recent opening up of the pay-TV market in Hong Kong created a strategic opportunity to expand our presence in the Greater China market. This market offers great potential and Disney’s entry into pay-TV in Hong Kong is a milestone in the rapid growth and expansion of Walt Disney TV International across the region”.

    WDTVI-AP will offer local language options to subscribers of Disney Channel in Hong Kong who will be able to choose from three language tracks — English, Mandarin or Cantonese — by the end of the year. Selected shows will also be subtitled in Chinese. Subscribers to Playhouse Disney Channel will also be offered the same language configuration over time. Disney Channel is already subtitled and dubbed in other Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia and Korea.

  • ‘Frames 2004’ develops unique themes for each day

    ‘Frames 2004’ develops unique themes for each day

    MUMBAI: Frames 2004 , the global convention on the business of entertainment will kick off in two weeks’ time in Powai. The three-day event takes place from 15-17 March and the organisers have come up with a unique theme for each day.

    They are India Unbound, Making It Possible and Vision 20/20 Future Perfect? As the last name suggests, the last day of Frames takes a broad perspective on the state of the industry. With CAS officially put on the backburner the question now is what do we do now on the crucial issue of addressability? Speakers attempting to answer this question will include Walt Disney Asia Pacific MD Doug Miller who will deliver the session’s keynote address. Prasar Bharati CEO K S Sarma will put forth the point of view of the pubcaster. Representing the technology side are NDS Asia Pacific’s VP, GM Sue Taylor and Motorola’s A K Sekhar.

    Casbaa will host a session, which will focus on what India can learn from other countries regarding pay television. The speakers include Star CEO Michelle Guthrie, Celestial Pictures CEO William Pfeiffer, and CNBC Asia Pacific president and CEO Alexander Brown.

    The second day will see two brainstorming sessions on how programmers and advertisers can improve their return on investment on the television. Turner International Asia – Pacific president and MD Steve Marcopoto will deliver the keynote address at one of the sessions. He will dwell on the strategies overseas broadcasters have adopted. Other speakers include Star India COO Sameer Nair, Tam CEO L V Krishnan and Sony’s executive VP Sunil Lulla.

    On the opening day a key session will focus on radio. RadioActive: Unravelling the Mystery of Effective Radio Communication will be chaired by Banyan Tree Communications MD Anish Trivedi. Advertisers are confronting the challenge of how to maximise the return on investment. Lowe India executive creative director R Balakrishnan (Balki) will dwell on the ten golden rules of maximising advertising effectiveness on radio. Radio Mirchi CEO A P Parigi will dwell on the key issue of creating listener loyalty.

    As had been reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, Reliance Industries chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani will deliver the final address at the event.

  • Disney, Modis announce parting of ways

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company tried to make a break for it nearly two years ago, but in the end had to wait till the contract expired before it could set forth on its own in India. At least that is what the announcement says.
    Disney and Modi Enterprises Ltd announced this evening that that they were dissolving their joint venture partnership Walt Disney India Pvt. Ltd. The dissolution follows the recent expiry of the 10-year license agreement the two companies had entered into in India, a statement issued jointly by the two sides says.
    The statements that the two parties made papered over the bitter wrangling that had led up to the final parting of ways. “India continues to be a major priority for Disney and we remain fully committed to our customers and clients here. We have had a productive business partnership with Modi Enterprises in India, and we would like to thank them for their support and assistance”, Doug Miller, senior vice-president and managing director of Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific), was quoted as saying.
    “The partnership that we enjoyed with Disney for a decade was immensely rewarding and fruitful,” said Lalit Modi, chairman, Modi Enterprises Limited. “While it was a novel and enriching experience for us, we take as much pride in saying that we, as local partners, were able to make significant and lasting contributions towards raising the salience of the Disney brand, and in popularizing Disney characters and television programming, in India.”
    Disney and the Modis are currently working together to formalise transition plans to ensure a smooth continuity of Disney’s business operations in India, the statement says.
    It was in October 2001 that Disney moved the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) seeking permission to set up a wholly owned subsidiary company for the purposes of launching The Disney Channel in India. Though an initial go-ahead was received from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in January 2002, the Modis protested saying that clearance for the proposal could be given only after MEL gave a no objection certificate (NOC), which it was not inclined to do.
    The FIPB, under the DIPP, was finally informed in September 2002 by the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B), the administrative ministry in this case, that it could not support Disney’s proposal to launch The Disney Channel.
    MEL had opposed Disney’s proposal on the grounds that the businesses of the existing joint venture company and the proposed wholly-owned subsidiary were similar. Disney, however, refuted this. One of the arguments that Disney put forth was that apart from the existing joint venture, its earlier agreement with Modi Entertainment Network, another Modi group company, was for a free to air Disney channel. Now that Disney proposed to bring the kids’ channel as a pay-per-view channel, the whole business plan had undergone a change and, hence, the Modis should have no objection to issuing an NOC.
    The argument however, failed to find favour with the I&B ministry and there the matter remained till now. The Modis took the position that if Disney wanted to bring its channel bypassing the existing agreement, then it would have to either buy out the stake of the Indian partners or else air non-Disney software on any channel it might bring into the country.
    The WD India Pvt. Ltd JV was established in 1993. Managing the sale of Disney software in India was Buena Vista Television India (BVTI), a division of WD India. BVTI was responsible for selling serials, animation series, educational software and films from Disney and Disney-associated studios like Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone and Caravan.