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Tag: Fox

  • Fox-Samsung to licence metadata for HDR to content cos & STB makers

    Fox-Samsung to licence metadata for HDR to content cos & STB makers

    MUMBAI: 20th Century Fox, the parent company of Star India, Panasonic Corporation and Samsung Electronics have announced a new partnership to create an open, royalty-free dynamic metadata platform for High Dynamic Range (HDR) through an associated certification and logo program, tentatively called HDR10+.

    Together, the three companies will form a licensing entity that will begin licensing the HDR10+ platform in January 2018. The entity will license the metadata broadly to content companies, ultra-high definition TVs, Blu-ray disc players/recorders and set-top box manufacturers, as well as SoC vendors, royalty-free with only a nominal administrative fee.

    “As leaders in home entertainment content and hardware, the three companies are ideal partners for bringing HDR10+ into the homes of consumers everywhere,” said Jongsuk Chu, Senior Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are committed to making the latest technology available in our TVs and are confident that HDR10+ will deliver premium quality content and enhance the way you experience television programs and movies in the home.”

    HDR10+ is a cutting-edge technology, building upon the benefits of HDR televisions, which offers the best possible viewing experience for next generation displays. HDR10+ provides unprecedented picture quality on all displays with brightness, color, and contrast automatically optimized for each scene. In previous iterations, static tone mapping applied a fixed enhancement across an entire piece of content. With HDR10+ dynamic tone mapping, every scene is individually enhanced to bring to life vibrant visuals and achieve unprecedented picture quality. This new enhanced visual experience will allow consumers to see pictures that match the intention of filmmakers.

    “HDR10+ is a technological step forward that optimizes picture quality for next generation displays,” said Danny Kaye, Executive Vice President at 20th Century Fox and Managing Director of the Fox Innovation Lab. “HDR10+ provides dynamic metadata, which precisely describes every scene to deliver unprecedented picture quality. Working in partnership with Panasonic and Samsung through the Fox Innovation Lab, we are able to bring new platforms like HDR10+ to the market that more accurately realize the vision of our filmmakers beyond the theater.”

    There are several key benefits for partners who wish to adopt the platform for their HDR10+ compliant products. HDR10+ offers system flexibility, allowing a variety of partners, including content creators, content distributors, TV manufacturers and device makers, to incorporate this platform and improve the viewing experience for audiences. The HDR10+ platform was designed to allow for future development and innovation in order to deliver a more powerful technology in the years to come.

    “Panasonic has a long history of working with industry leaders to develop lasting technical formats. We are delighted to work together with 20th Century Fox and Samsung to develop a new HDR format, which will bring consumers so many benefits,” said Yuki Kusumi, Executive Officer at Panasonic. “By offering considerable HDR picture quality improvements across a wider range of TVs while accelerating the amount of premium HDR content available, we expect HDR10+ to quickly become the defacto HDR format.”

  • The arrival of the six-second TV spot, will India take to it?

    MUMBAI: For advertisers and brand managers, is this the shape of things to come?  Come 13 August 2017 and the US-based Fox Networks group is slated to launch a new concept in product promotion and TV commercial on live television: that of the six second spot, a first for the broadcast television industry.

    The spots are slated to be aired during the Teen Choice 2017 show between 8 to 10 pm (5:30 am to 7:30 am IST) on television as well as in on-demand streams. The first two brands to jump on to this new unit of advertising are Duracell and Mars.  Fox will simultaneously be running six second promos for its TV shows as well.

    While Mars will be running six second TVCs for  its Snickers and Twix brands during the Teen Choice Awards, Duracell will be pushing its batteries.

    The six second spot is another unit of pod of advertising that is being tested in television advertising but it owes its existence to Youtube which pioneered the format.

    Both  Mars and Duracell are excited because  youth today are preferring shorter ad lengths. The expectation is that channel zapping will go down during the ad breaks.

    The six-second spot will also offer them innovative ways of telling their stories and brand messages while helping them drive value in their media investments. Both are hoping that the new ad format could play a bigger role in their creative asset mix going forward.

    In India, the broadcasting, media and brand fraternity have been quite used to the three or five second tag-ons  for sponsor boards which come at the end of every programme segment  (or leading  into another segment) leading to a commercial break or coming into another segment. But, in most cases media agencies do not create special shorter format commercials specifically for the tag-on spots; they just clip the regular 10-30 second ad to three to five seconds and air it.

    Of course, the Indian advertising industry has experimented with long format commercials for a minute to three and a half minutes (remember Tata Sky’s Prison break commercial), but the regular unit has been between 10-40 seconds.

    Internationally, the longest ever commercial ran for  13 hours five minutes and 11 seconds  and promoted Arby’s Smokehouse Brisket sandwich. It was aired on a local TV network in Minnesota US from 24-25 May 2014. The commercial consisted largely of a single shot of a raw beef brisket being smoked over the course of 13 hours. At the conclusion of the smoking process, the cooked brisket was removed from the smoker, and a chef used the brisket to make a sandwich, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

    We have no idea how many watched the Arby’s ultra long spot, but its quite likely viewers did dip in and out over the 13 hours plus to see if their favourite TV shows were back on the telly. Arby’s claimed that almost 350,000 people tuned in with an average viewing time of 38 minutes.

    And another commercial by Cycle and Carriage after sales service,Singapore ran on Youtube for 24 hours.

    So, will Indian advertisers and agencies also experiment with the six second spot? They have already been dabbling in branded native content and advertiser funded programmes on TV as well as special videos of varying duration for social media platforms.

    A few brands may take the six second tip and go for it. As well as some broadcasters. Especially those that target the youth – most of whom suffer from an attention deficit disorder and zap channels with determination during ad breaks.

    The benefits are many: for broadcasters more brands could be accommodated during the commercial breaks, probably getting the them higher sales revenues, as they will be in a position to put two spots in the place of one 15 seconder.  Of course it’s quite possible that audiences will stick to the channel and not run away. Which again could be  win-win for media agencies, broadcasters and brands.

    It’s now over to  India’s  brand custodians and advertisers to take a step forward.

    Also Read:

    Synergy between quality content & branding workable in digital space, feel industry experts

    Global digital platforms adapting locally for BARC’s EKAM

    Brands hop on to pre-IIFA events, Rahman & Sushant join in

     

  • Fox, Viacom & WWE — entertainment stocks on investors’ radar

    MUMBAI: Stock-Callers.com has initiated research coverage on four Diversified Entertainment companies, namely: Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., Viacom Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. The Entertainment Industry is a constantly evolving group that mainly comprises television networks and station owners, which are typically involved in programming and production of content. Learn more about these stocks by downloading their comprehensive and free reports at:

    Twenty-First Century Fox

    New York headquartered Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.’s shares finished Friday’s session 2.03% lower at $27.94. A total volume of 29.19 million shares was traded, which was above their three months average volume of 8.53 million shares. The stock has gained 0.23% on an YTD basis. The Company’s shares are trading above their 200-day moving average by 0.19%. Moreover, shares of Twenty-First Century Fox, which together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified media and entertainment company in the US, the UK, Continental Europe, Asia, Latin America, and internationally, have a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 30.99.

    On May 08th, 2017, Twenty-First Century Fox announced the appointment of Melody Hildebrandt to the role of Global Chief Information Security Officer. In this role, Ms. Hildebrandt will oversee the protection and risk management for enterprise communications, technologies, and assets for 21CF. She joins the Company from Palantir Technologies, where she served as executive vice president and directed the cybersecurity practice. Her appointment is effective on June 01st, 2017.

    On May 11th, 2017, research firm Rosenblatt upgraded the Company’s stock rating from ‘Neutral’ to ‘Buy’. FOXA complete research report is just a click away and free at:

    Viacom

    Shares in New York headquartered Viacom Inc. ended the day 0.26% higher at $34.61 with a total trading volume of 4.39 million shares. The stock is trading 12.96% below its 200-day moving average. Shares of the Company, which operates as media brand worldwide, have an RSI of 16.05.

    On May 05th, 2017, research firm RBC Capital Markets reiterated its ‘Underperform’ rating on the Company’s stock with a decrease of the target price from $35 a share to $30 a share.

    On May 10th, 2017, Viacom’s emerging entertainment technology group, Viacom NEXT, premiered an original virtual reality music experience for the song “Withdrawal” by Atlantic Records recording artist Max Frost at the 2017 Microsoft Build Developer Conference. The video harnesses cutting-edge Microsoft Mixed Reality Capture technology, bringing fans face-to-face with photorealistic holographs of Frost, who sings and plays multiple instruments simultaneously in an immersive, underwater environment.

    Lions Gate Entertainment

    Santa Monica, California headquartered Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.’s stock rose 1.63%, closing the session at $23.72. A total volume of 528,394 shares was traded, which was above their three months average volume of 488,870 shares. The Company’s shares have gained 1.89% in the last one month. The stock is trading 0.25% below its 50-day moving average. Additionally, shares of Lions Gate Entertainment, which engages in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, branded channel platforms, interactive ventures and games, and location-based entertainment in Canada, the US, and internationally, have an RSI of 54.96.

    On May 05th, 2017, Lions Gate Entertainment announced that it will release its Q4 and full year financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31st, 2017 after market close on Thursday, May 25th, 2017. Senior management will hold its analyst and investor conference call to discuss the Company’s FY17 financial results at 5:00 p.m. ET on that same day. Sign up for your complimentary research report on LGF-B at:

    World Wrestling Entertainment

    On Friday, shares in Stamford, Connecticut headquartered World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. finished the session 0.94% lower at $19.94. A total volume of 257,981 shares was traded. The stock has gained 9.02% on an YTD basis. The Company’s shares are trading above their 200-day moving average by 0.06%. Furthermore, shares of World Wrestling Entertainment, which engages in the sports entertainment business in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America, have an RSI of 37.08.

    On May 04th, 2017, World Wrestling Entertainment announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31st, 2017. Revenue for the quarter increased 10% to $188.4 driven by the Company’s Live Events, Network, and Television segments. The Company also reported net income of $0.9 million, or $0.01 per share; operating income of $4.0 million; and adjusted OIBDA of $18.6 million for Q1 2017. Get free access to your research report on WWE

  • Tribune: Blackstone may join Fox in purchase race

    MUMBAI: Fox and a New York firm, possibly Blackstone, are planning to form a joint venture to buy Tribune which owns or operates 42 stations, with Fox contributing its 28 owned-and-operated stations and Blackstone providing cash.

    The potential multi-billion-dollar deal would make Fox US’s largest single broadcast station owner.

    Meanwhile, Fox News Channel on Monday said that co-president Bill Shine has left the company, the latest high-level departure at a network troubled with charges of discrimination that already claimed founding CEO Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly.

    Fox and Blackstone are together hoping to beat a rival offer from Sinclair Broadcasting, the largest owner of TV stations in the US. Baltimore-based Sinclair, which owns 173 stations, has stations in midsize and small markets.

    Sinclair was also in the running for Tribune, which could give the former significantly more leverage in talks with Fox.

    Under current rules, however, the national TV audience that any single owner can access with its stations is capped at 39 per cent. Since President Trump elevated Pai to lead FCC, the commission has changed rules and made public statements announcing that it intends to scale back limits placed on station ownership. If Sinclair or Fox purchased Tribune, they would go past the current FCC limits.

    Another current FCC regulation that could obstruct Sinclair or Fox purchase of Tribune is the local ownership rule which disallows any owner from running more than two stations in most markets.

  • Nielsen and Fox television stations renew local television ratings agreement

    New York, NY – March 22, 2017 – Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) has announced today that it has signed a long-term renewal agreement with FOX Television Stations (FTS) for audience measurement services. As part of the agreement, FTS licenses Nielsen’s Local Television ratings across all of the group’s 28 stations, in 17 designated market areas (DMA), including the Charlotte FOX O&O WJZY/WMYT, which was not in the previous agreement. FOX Station Sales, their national sales representative group, is also part of the renewal agreement.

    By extending its relationship with Nielsen, FOX’s owned-and-operated stations and national sales representative group can demonstrate their advertising and market value to marketers by leveraging currency measurement that provide breadth and depth into local audiences. The agreement includes Nielsen’s announced plans to enrich its Local TV panels with data from its Portable People MeterTM technology and set-top-boxes, delivering significantly larger sample sizes and driving increased ratings fidelity. Out-of-home audience will also be included for the first time in local measurement.

    The investments that Nielsen is making to Local TV are part of its overall strategy to deliver all-electronic measurement across all 210 DMA. This effort combines Nielsen’s gold-standard panels with the strength of big data sources to provide Local TV clients like FTS with stable and accurate data that help them better compete in the marketplace.

    “FOX continues to be at the forefront of delivering valuable local content to its viewers,” said Jeff Wender, Managing Director for Nielsen Local Media. “This strategic agreement builds on the long-term relationship and mutual respect that exist between FOX Television Stations Group and Nielsen. We are excited to deliver an enhanced local measurement portfolio for more strategic decision making and increased ROI to advertisers.”

    About Nielsen

    Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers watch and buy. Nielsen’s Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Nielsen Total Audience measurement services for all devices on which content—video, audio and text—is consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry’s only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen also provides its clients with analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.

    About Fox Television Stations

    FOX Television Stations is one of the nation’s largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 28 stations in 17 markets and covering over 37% of U.S. television homes. This includes seven duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix, Orlando and Charlotte.

  • Fox launches video streaming service in Asia

    MUMBAI: After Hooq, iflix, and Netflix, Fox Networks Group Asia has entered the digital space with the launch of its video streaming service Fox+.

    The streaming service app features TV series, first-run Hollywood blockbusters, hit Chinese series and movies, live sports and thrilling documentaries, all in one place, accessible from any device (on televisions, computers, tablet, smart phones) in high definition.

    The app was launched on 7 March at Makati City in the Phillipines by Fox Networks Group Asia president Zubin Gandevia. Its launch in seven more countries in the Asia Pacific is slated to follow suit within the year.

    The app showcase the latest TV series shown on the same day as the US, the latest movies shortly after theatrical release, both often one full year before other subscription services. It will have live sports via Fox Sports, amounting to more than 10,000 hours of content.

    Fox is not just a robust content creator with movies such as Deadpool, Logan, etc, but it also claims to be the biggest content-buyer in the region. Several studios like Walt Disney will also be making available their content on the service.

    The entry of Fox+ makes it the fourth streaming service in the country. A Fox+ subscription costs around approx Rs 512/month (P390) whereas its competitor Netflix starts at Rs 486/month (P370) for the basic tier while Hooq charges Rs 261(P199) and iflix Rs 169 (P129)

    Fox+ will be available for subscribers of Cignal and PLDT/SMART broadband subscribers for a discounted price as the company wants to preserve the loyalty of their fans.

  • Hotstar breaks norm, introduces CinePlay

    MUMBAI: Hotstar, India’s leading streaming platform today announced that it is expanding its Premium Service and offering a new storytelling format, CinePlay, under its Originals banner. Hotstar Originals’ CinePlay will showcase classics and contemporary stories from the theatre world presented in a cinematic fashion. Each CinePlay will bring together the work of leading playwrights, internationally renowned directors and the best of the actors from both the theatre and cinema worlds.

    Available exclusively in India for Hotstar’s premium subscribers, 20 CinePlay titles will release regularly on the platform, starting with 5 titles being released on 13 February.

    The announcement comes close on the heels of the partnership with Disney that Hotstar announced last month. With that announcement, Hotstar Premium had put together a portfolio of American TV shows and movies from three of the best studios in the world: Disney, Fox and HBO.

    The introduction of CinePlay to the Premium service represents another big jump for the platform, which has already established stellar leadership in the highly competitive and fast evolving space of on-demand content. According to third party measurement company App Annie, Hotstar was the largest premium streaming platform in the month of January in India with more than 60 million users. Its watch time for the month was more than 12 times that of Amazon Prime Video and more than 20 times that of Netflix.

    CinePlays will bring some of the most renowned stories from theatre from leading playwrights like Dr. Vijay Tendulkar, Badal Sircar, Mohan Rakesh, and Mahesh Dattani amongst others. The productions have been helmed by renowned directors such as Santosh Sivan and Nagesh Kukunoor. They will feature some of the most compelling actors of the theatre and film world including Nandita Das, Saurabh Shukla, Lillete Dubey, Swanand Kirkire, Namit Das, Darshan Jariwalla, Rajpal Yadav, Sonali Kulkarni and others.

    “We love breaking norms,” said Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan. “We have never believed in the artificial separation between television and digital audiences. Our aspiration for Hotstar Originals has always been to introduce new formats and stories that are not being explored by anyone, irrespective of the screen. CinePlay is a big leap forward for storytellers and their audiences in the country. We are excited to bring an entirely new way of storytelling to a generation that has not been exposed to either these stories or to the power of theatre.”

    “CinePlay is presenting a new visual language that blends the grammar of theatre and the power of cinema. We are excited to be exclusive partners with Hotstar in bringing these rich and relatable stories to every screen. With this collaboration, we hope to capture the imagination of the digital generation through an immersive cinematic experience of the theatre,” said CinePlay chairman and co-founder Subodh Maskara.

  • 21st Century Fox buys out Sky in USD 14.8-bn deal

    21st Century Fox buys out Sky in USD 14.8-bn deal

    MUMBAI: 21st Century Fox has stated that Sky had agreed to a takeover offer worth USD 14.8 billion as the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch attempts to create a global media giant stretch across the U.K., U.S, and Europe.

    21st Century Fox is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, with a broad portfolio of broadcast, cable, pay TV, film, and satellite assets across six continents.

    Fox group said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer to buy the rest of the European pay broadcaster, beyond the 39 per cent it already owns. The deal is worth USD 14.8 billion (Rs 1004 billion) in total for the cash purchase, the statement said. The terms of the formal offer, Sky News stated, would mean Fox paying 10.75 pounds per Sky share, for the remainder 61% of Sky.

    The new deal will create an improved balance between affiliate fee, subscription, advertising and content revenues.

    Fox’ cable and broadcasting properties include include STAR India, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FOX, National Geographic Channels, 28 television stations in the U.S and over 300 international channels.

  • 21st Century Fox buys out Sky in USD 14.8-bn deal

    21st Century Fox buys out Sky in USD 14.8-bn deal

    MUMBAI: 21st Century Fox has stated that Sky had agreed to a takeover offer worth USD 14.8 billion as the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch attempts to create a global media giant stretch across the U.K., U.S, and Europe.

    21st Century Fox is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, with a broad portfolio of broadcast, cable, pay TV, film, and satellite assets across six continents.

    Fox group said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with Sky plc on the terms of a recommended pre-conditional cash offer to buy the rest of the European pay broadcaster, beyond the 39 per cent it already owns. The deal is worth USD 14.8 billion (Rs 1004 billion) in total for the cash purchase, the statement said. The terms of the formal offer, Sky News stated, would mean Fox paying 10.75 pounds per Sky share, for the remainder 61% of Sky.

    The new deal will create an improved balance between affiliate fee, subscription, advertising and content revenues.

    Fox’ cable and broadcasting properties include include STAR India, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FOX, National Geographic Channels, 28 television stations in the U.S and over 300 international channels.

  • Emerging female visionaries: Fox, PepsiCo announce contest, award up to $200,000

    Emerging female visionaries: Fox, PepsiCo announce contest, award up to $200,000

    MUMBAI: PepsiCo and 21st Century Fox, in partnership with the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), has announced “The Search for Hidden Figures” – a new scholarship contest designed to help uncover the next generation of female leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

    The program is inspired by the highly-anticipated feature film “Hidden Figures”, in theaters nationwide on 6 January, 2017, produced by Pharrell Williams, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons. The film tells the ‘untold’ story of three African American female NASA mathematicians during the Space Race of the 1960s. This contest will support today’s emerging STEM visionaries by awarding over US$200,000 (Rs 1.35 crore) in scholarships and other prizes to over 20 winners.

    Taraji P. Henson plays Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson, American physicist, space scientist, and mathematician in “Hidden Figures.”

    “PepsiCo is incredibly proud to work with 21st Century Fox and the New York Academy of Sciences to shine a light on women and girls doing outstanding but unheralded work in science, technology, engineering and math,” said PepsiCo’s vice chairman and chief scientific officer – global research and development Mehmood Khan. “The ‘Hidden Figures’ story is being told at a time when advances in each of these fields are creating unprecedented opportunities to develop solutions for many of the world’s biggest challenges. PepsiCo is proud to actively support the discovery of STEM talent and the development of STEM skills in the workforce.”

    Beginning today through 10 December, 2016, online entries will be accepted directly at www.SearchforHiddenFigures.com. Semi-finalists will be selected in mid-December, and each will be asked to provide a video submission for continued consideration. Top video submissions will then be judged by a notable panel of judges that include: “Hidden Figures” Producer Pharrell Williams; “Hidden Figures” Producer Donna Gigliotti; Fox 2000 President Elizabeth Gabler; and President of the New York Academy of Sciences Ellis Rubinstein.

    On January 12, 2017, two grand prize winners will be announced. Winners will receive access to the NYAS STEM skills training materials and programs, up to $200,000 in scholarships, and a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida.

    “We are honored to have the opportunity to share the story of Katherine Johnson and her peers whose contributions have remained hidden for too long,” said 21st Century Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch . “At 21CF, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire the next generation of talent to dream bigger and unlock their full potential, and through The Search for Hidden Figures contest we are excited to give young women across the country the encouragement to pursue those dreams.”

    To help encourage participation, PepsiCo and 21st Century Fox will be supporting the campaign with a national TV and digital media campaign featuring the film’s lead actress, Taraji P. Henson, as well as messages of encouragement from the film’s actresses and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from “Hidden Figures” on the contest’s website. To further discussion around STEM, PepsiCo will also be launching a collection of STEM mobile and web games, quizzes and challenges for students and fans of the film to test their skills. The mobile and web games can be found at http://searchforhiddenfigures.com/stem-challenges/.

    At PepsiCo, deep scientific and technological expertise is critical to meeting the company’s Performance with Purpose goals. Unlocking new ways to create more nutritionally advantaged foods and beverages or delivering tangible plans to increase production while reducing the company’s environment footprint, all rely on STEM leadership. By investing in today’s emerging talent, PepsiCo is playing a role in inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders who will likely become the driving force behind the company’s future innovation and topline growth.

    PepsiCo recently announced a commitment to improve the lives of 12.5 million women and girls by 2025, as part of its Performance with Purpose goals. Given that women represent only 24 percent of the STEM workforce, PepsiCo is particularly committed to expanding and encouraging STEM opportunities among female students and professionals.

    Prior to the Search for Hidden Figures contest, PepsiCo was the founding chair of the STEM Innovation Taskforce, a coalition on of more than 35 industry, government, educator and NGO partners who work cross functionally to develop and implement programs to help solve the STEM shortfall. Additionally, PepsiCo holds a longstanding relationship with NYAS and continues to support “The Junior Academy of the New York Academy of Sciences” – a virtual program dedicated to engaging exceptional STEM students. For more information about The Junior Academy of NYAS, please visit www.thejunioracademy.org.

    “Hidden Figures,” directed by Theodore Melfi, is the incredible untold story of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big. The film was written by Allison Schroeder and Melfi and is based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The film opens wide on 6 January, 2017.