ITV

Tag: Dreamworks

  • Paramount Motion Pictures tops Golden Globe Awards with 15 nominations

    Paramount Motion Pictures tops Golden Globe Awards with 15 nominations

    MUMBAI: Paramount Motion Pictures Group has received 15 nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards beating all other studios. This also marks a record for Paramount.

    Babel, the first film to be green-lighted by Paramount Vantage, topped all films with seven nominations; Dreamgirls, produced by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, followed with five nominations; and the co-productions (with Warner Bros.) Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima received one and two nominations respectively, states an official release.

    Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a unit of Viacom, produces and distributes filmed entertainment through the Paramount Motion Picture Group which includes Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies.

    PPC operations also include Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Studios and Worldwide Television Distribution.

  • BT, Microsoft & Philips join hands to unveil BT Vision in UK

    BT, Microsoft & Philips join hands to unveil BT Vision in UK

     MUMBAI: BT has announced the commercial launch of BT Vision, its new television and entertainment service. BT Vision uses the Microsoft TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform and an advanced Philips set-top box to deliver a next-generation digital television service to BT Total Broadband customers across the UK.

    BT Vision combines more than 40 DTT (digital terrestrial television )-based freeview channels, digital recording capability and a library of video-on-demand content delivered over broadband. This gives viewers more choice without the need to commit to a compulsory monthly TV subscription.

    An official release stated that BT, Microsoft Corp and Philips worked closely together to bring the full experience of BT Vision to the home. The Philips-designed set-top box offers advanced technology, including 80 hours of hard disk recording capability, two tuners, smart card reader, high-definition TV and numerous extension capabilities. The set-top box enables viewers to “time shift” programmes at their convenience, pausing live shows or recording them to watch at a later date. In addition, a “catch-up TV” feature gives viewers the convenience of viewing TV programmes they may have missed from the previous week.

    “BT Vision is a ground-breaking television service, giving consumers choice and flexibility without requiring them to be tied to a monthly TV contract,” said BT Vision chief executive Dan Marks. “Microsoft TV has given BT the power to build a service that we feel addresses a real market opportunity, enabling our customers to switch on to better TV.”

    BT Vision offers a variety of content combined with advanced television services. Further highlights include the following:
    – Varied content from Disney, Sony BMG, Universal, DreamWorks, National Geographic, Viacom and the BBC as well as independent programmers.
    – “Near-live” on-demand Premiership football action, starting in summer 2007.
    — Interactive services such as games.
    — Access to the phone book via the television.

    “BT Vision is a revolution for TV services in the UK. BT’s pioneering approach and Microsoft’s next-generation IPTV technologies have enabled a unique TV service that lets consumers control their TV experience,” said Microsoft’s TV division corporate vice president Enrique Rodriguez. “BT’s trusted brand is well-placed to bring exciting connected and personal television experiences to a wide range of consumers in the UK.”

    The announcement is the latest in a wave of European IPTV deployments based on the Microsoft TV software platform and heralds a new era of more compelling personal and connected TV experiences available to consumers.

  • Dreamworks, Nick announce tie-up to bring big screen properties to TV

    Dreamworks, Nick announce tie-up to bring big screen properties to TV

    MUMBAI: US kids brand Nickelodeon, is working with DeamWorks Animation to make television shows based on the films Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda.

    Media reports state that the Madagascar show will chronicle the adventures of its penguin characters — Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private.

    Nick will handle the day-to-day development of the series, but plans to outsource the actual CG production. DreamWorks’s Jeffrey Katzenberg was quoted in Variety saying that these two projects are likely just the first of what will be future partnerships between Nickelodeon and Dreamworks, which have been in the works since DreamWorks was acquired by Paramount last December

  • Viacom’s 2Q revenue up 24 per cent

    Viacom’s 2Q revenue up 24 per cent

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended 30 June 2006. For the quarter, revenues and operating income increased to $2.85 billion and $663.2 million, respectively.

    Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone says, “Viacom’s solid second quarter results prove that the enduring strengths of our content and our segment leading brands continue to resonate with consumers and advertisers. We have a great foundation from which to take full advantage of the growth opportunities we see ahead by not only expanding on our traditional businesses, but also by profitably integrating new platforms with significant future growth potential.

    “Equally important, Tom Freston and the Viacom management team have an unmatched track record of repeatedly and successfully leveraging emerging technologies, which gives us great confidence that we can continue to outperform the competition in this rapidly changing environment.”

    The acquisition of DreamWorks and the commencement of distribution activities for DreamWorks Animation and DreamWorks live-action library filmscontributed $345.1 million or 63% of the reported growth versus last year. The cable networks segment revenues increased 8% to $1.75 billion, with domestic ad revenues was up 10 per cent to $969.1 million, and affiliate fees up 11% to $501.8 million. Entertainment revenues were up a reported $418.4 million in the quarter principally attributable to DreamWorks.

    The company reaffirms its full year guidance to deliver double digit revenue and operating income growth compared to 2005 revenues of $9.61 billion

    In the cable network segment, affiliate revenue growth was driven by rate and subscriber increases as well as new channel launches in international markets. Ancillary revenues were relatively flat as increases attributable to syndication were substantially offset by decreases of Comedy Central home video sales, which benefited in 2005 from the release of The Chappelle Show.

    Domestic revenues increased by nine per cent in the quarter with advertising revenues up 10 per cent (compared to a six per cent increase in the first quarter of 2006). International revenues were up four per cent in the quarter including $5.8 million in incremental revenues related to a UK acquisition. International advertising revenues declined 2% (compared to a 13% decline in the first quarter of 2006) or $2.1 million, driven principally by continued softness in Germany and the UK.

    Affiliate revenues were up 13% internationally driven by the UK acquisition and new channel launches. International ancillary revenues increased. The increase in operating expenses in the cable networks segment reflects an aggregate eight per cent increase in programming and production costs on shows such as The Colbert Report, The Daily Show at Comedy Central, and VH1 Rock Honours. This was partially offset by the non-renewal of the WWE package at Spike TV, The Chappelle Show, and the one time special VH1’s Save the Music.

    Television license fees increased $207.3 million including increases in DreamWorks related distribution revenues of $108.9 million. In addition total international revenues were higher due to the number and mix of available titles which included SpongeBob SquarePants, Without a Paddle and The Manchurian Candidate.

    Movie revenues increased $168.7 million in the second quarter principally as a result of revenues related to the distribution of DreamWorks Animation’s Over the Hedge. In addition, international theatrical revenues benefitted from the release of Mission: Impossible III and Failure to Launch in comparison to War of the Worlds and Sahara in theaters during 2005.

    The increase in ancillary revenues of $32.9 million was principally driven by studio rental income as well as increased music royalties earned by Famous Music. On a geographic basis, domestic revenues increased $190.5 million or 39 per cent substantially all of which is attributable to DreamWorks, offset by lower theatrical and home entertainment revenue for Paramount titles.

    International revenues increased $227.9 million, or 106 per cent driven principally by theatrical and television revenues. Higher international theatrical revenues, principally driven by Mission: Impossible III and Failure to Launch contributed an incremental $110.2 million of revenue as compared to titles in release in 2005 which included War of the Worlds and Sahara.

    International television revenues, which increased $121.5 million, benefited from additional mix of such titles as Manchurian Candidate and SpongeBob SquarePants as well as titles distributed for DreamWorks such as Shark Tale and Meet the Fockers. Home entertainment revenues declined by sevent per cent, or $8.4 million internationally due to weaker international performance of recently released titles as compared against SpongeBob SquarePants and Team America in the prior year.

  • Viacom completes sale of Paramount Pictures’ DreamWorks film library

    Viacom completes sale of Paramount Pictures’ DreamWorks film library

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of Paramount Pictures’ DreamWorks film library to Soros Strategic Partners LP and Dune Entertainment II LLC, an affiliate of Dune Capital Management LP.

    The companies announced they had entered into an agreement for the transaction on 17 March.

    Viacom’s Paramount Pictures announced in February this year that, it closed on its acquisition of DreamWorks SKG for $1.6 billion in cash and assumption of debt. Under the agreement, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen of DreamWorks will remain in their respective roles as producer/director and chairman.

  • FremantleMedia deploys Artesia DAM solution to hasten access to TV shows

    FremantleMedia deploys Artesia DAM solution to hasten access to TV shows

    MUMBAI:The international creators and producers of television programmes FremantleMedia has implemented Open Text’s Artesia Digital Asset Management solution (Artesia DAM) for a new Web-based system that will dramatically speed up access to programmes for broadcast customers in countries around the world.

    The international creator has deployed the Digital Asset Management to speed up access to television shows globally.

    The announcement was made at the National Association of Broadcasters conference, NAB 2006, the electronic media show at Las Vegas.

    The Open Text’s Artesia Digital Media Group has a major presence at the event as sponsor of the Digital Asset Management Pavilion and the DAM Theater.

    According to an official release, with this Web-based application, all of FremantleMedia’s regional offices have the ability to preview more than 1,000 hours of programming as well as new shows in more than 20 countries where FremantleMedia has production offices.

    The solution initially supports the worldwide drama department and will soon scale across other departments.

    “This is already one of our most important sales tools, letting broadcasters around the world tap into the breadth of our programming quickly and easily. We look forward to expanding the system across all of our departments,” said FremantleMedia Production executive VP production Worldwide Entertainment Rob Clark.

    An important aspect of FremantleMedia’s business is identifying and selling “formats” globally. For example, the company reviews programmes when they are aired and determines whether the programmes have potential for remarketing in other markets.

    A recent example is The Apprentice, which FremantleMedia brought to the UK and other international markets. A traditional format like The Price is Right, the world’s number one game show, took about 40 years to get to the point where it is now broadcast in 40 different countries.

    Today improved communications and digital broadcasting mean that a format like Pop Idol in the UK has reached 30 countries in three years. By using Artesia DAM, the company is compressing this time even further.

    “From the outset we were looking for a DAM solution that could meet our needs for at least the next five years. That meant it had to scale in two dimensions by volume and by the nature of the content used,” said FremantleMedia information systems & technology head Nigel Dixon.

    “Other critical factors that led to the selection of Artesia DAM were the ability to integrate into our existing systems and other products, and production deployment within a six-month timeframe. We worked closely with the Artesia team to deliver the solution on time and under budget, ” briefs Dixon.

    The initial implementation of Artesia DAM will give the company’s sales staff and broadcasters around the world immediate access to shows shortly after they are broadcast. At present, this is done by the distribution of DVDs which results in significant delays.

    The company is already seeing a significant time-to-market advantage using the new system. In addition, more than 1,000 hours of FremantleMedia’s extensive programming archive is available in Microsoft Windows Media format through the Web application.

    “FremantleMedia is leading the trend globally toward central management of program content and distribution using digital asset management along with Web-based user interfaces,” said Open Text’s Artesia Digital Media Group president Scott Bowen.

    “Across the board we’re seeing that Artesia DAM delivers significant business value, helping to lower operational costs and improve the bottom line.”

    Artesia DAM is a leading solution for managing large volumes of digital content, such as video, audio and graphics files, in global organizations. The solution helps customers manage this content more efficiently, and helps them to reduce costs, safeguard copyrights and derive new revenue streams by re- expressing and reusing existing content. It complements every phase of the video asset lifecycle including production, review and approval, distribution, and content preservation.

    The company has a cliente based which includes leading media and entertainment companies, such as Comcast, Discovery Communications, DreamWorks, HBO, and MLB.com, informs the release.

  • Viacom looking to co-produce films in India: Freston

    Viacom looking to co-produce films in India: Freston

    MUMBAI: The start of something new! That is what Viacom president and CEO Tom Freston is looking to achieve in India. The company is looking to co-produce films in India instead of merely exporting its films in to the country though its partner United International Pictures (UIP).

    Speaking this morning at the convention for the business of entertainment Frames Freston said, “It is no secret that Paramount has seen a struggle over the past few years. It is now going through a process of reinvention and while changes are not going to happen overnight we are excited about the future. We are expanding our global portfolio through acquisitions.Viacom was split into two entities last year. This has allowed us to be more focussed and not get distracted by areas like parks and distribution.”

    “The area of intellectual property is one that we are looking at. We want to co-produce films in India. We want our relationship to be a two way street. We strengthened our films business by acquiring Dreamworks. Steven Spielberg will make four to five films a year for us. Mission Impossible III will release in India in June.

    “Another area that we are looking at growing our business is in the home entertainment arena. Where there are many television sets there will also be a huge avenue for DVDs. We are also looking to take Indian and Asian culture to the US. We are doing this through a new New York based channel MTV Desi. This showcases Indian and Asian music and caters to the South Asian population in the US.”

    Freston pointed out that by operating MTV India, Viacom learnt a lot. “When we came in, we partnered with Star in the early 1990’s. Then we re-launched on our own and stumbled badly at first. The audience was simply not interested in Pearl Jam and Beastie Boys. We went back to the drawing board and came out with a channel that showcases Hindi pop. Our VJ’s speak in Hindi and English. This way we express local culture while at the same time exposing the audience to what is going on elsewhere.

    “This strategy was followed elsewhere. Hence, no MTV channel is like the other. In China, it reflects family values. In Indonesia, it is a call to religion. In Italy, it is stylish while in Brazil, it is sensuous. In India, it is colourful and street savvy. When I got a job in the early 1980’s as marketing director at MTV, I knew that it was the beginning of a trend of having a branded channel for specific audiences.”

    Not many readers may know that Freston came to India in the 1970’s and set up a clothes company. “It was a way for me to bring Indian culture to the world. India at the time was the one country outside the US that had a thriving local pop culture. The film stars were larger than life. Today, when I am in India I see my past and future.

    “India has had a huge influence on me personally and my perspective certainly changed those days. I hope that in five years time, Indians see Viacom as a good partner and a better friend. India has 700 million people below the age of 35. This is twice the population in America. This population is multi spiced and is used to accessing information from different platforms like the small screen – the mobile. It is the promised land for content creators and distributors.”