ITV

Tag: hatch

  • Warner, Universal hatch home video deal for China, Russia

    MUMBAI: Warner Home Video (WHV) and Universal Pictures International (UPI) have agreed to distribute each other’s titles in China and in Russia respectively.
     
     

    The reciprocal agreement looks to capitalise on both companies’ distribution expertise and is intended to provide a legitimate alternative to pirated product in both markets. CAV Warner Home Entertainment, a joint entertainment distribution venture between Warner Home Video and China Audio Video, will use its continuing relationships with retailers throughout China to distribute Universal home entertainment titles, whilst UPI will distribute WHV titles in Russia through its existing operating company based in Moscow.

    The collaboration allows both studios to strengthen and build distribution processes in these new markets and offer consumers in both countries affordable, high quality product as an alternative to inferior illegitimate goods. In the next several months, UPI will release 20 new WHV titles in Russia and will continue to exploit hundreds of WHV catalogue titles already available in Russian.
     
     

    WHV president Jim Cardwell says, “China and Russia are two expanding economies and we hope by offering consumers high quality, affordable product we can take a bite out of piracy. We are honoured to work with Universal and to help expand legitimate home entertainment markets that will benefit Hollywood, local retailers and movie fans”.

    In November, CAV Warner will initially release about 15 Universal films and will continue to release between 20 to 30 new films every few months for the next two to three years. Currently, more than 200 WHV titles are already on shelves at over 1500 retail locations throughout China.

    Retail partners in both countries will soon offer their customers Universal titles like Ray, The Interpreter and The 40 Year Old Virgin as well as WHV titles including blockbuster new releases such as Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

  • Marvel, Microsoft hatch video games alliance

    MUMBAI: Software major Microsoft has struck a deal with Marvel Comics which owns the rights to characters like Spiderman. The deal will put Spidey, the Incredible Hulk and some 5,000 other superheroes, villains and ordinary mortals on to Microsoft’s next-generation games console, the Xbox 360.

    Although the games will not be released until 2008 media reports state that Marvel worldwide president of consumer media Tim Rothwell has indicated that it will be the only such MMO deal the company will make – ensuring that no Marvel MMO can appear on the PlayStation 3 or Revolution.

    This is Marvel’s first Multiplayer online game (MMOG) agreement with Microsoft’s first title due in 2008. Microsoft Xbox corporate VP worldwide marketing and publishing Peter moore said, “Online gaming is reaching a point of acceptance. We will use as many of the Marvel characters as we can.”

    Rothwell says, “The alliance with Microsoft catapults us into the games category in an unprecedented way. Microsoft is an acknowledged leader in the interactive game space, and backed by their technology, creative and marketing clout, Marvel will establish a strong presence in the burgeoning online gaming arena. We are very excited to be working with Microsoft to bring our fans what we expect will be a world-class online gaming experience. We also believe that online gaming will provide valuable, global exposure to our character brands.”