ITV

Tag: HBO

  • GRB Entertainment is all set to ‘Rumble’

    GRB Entertainment is all set to ‘Rumble’

    MUMBAI: Continuing its move into the scripted world of dramatic series, GRB Entertainment has signed a deal with screenwriter John Milius for a new one-hour dramatic series entitled Rumble.

    Rumble is loosely based on the life and bestselling book of Chuck Zito, the former president of the New York City Hells Angels who rose to become one of the most famous Hells Angels in their history. Zito will serve as executive producer and story consultant for the series.

    GRB Entertainment plans to take the project out in the next 2-3 months and is offering the series at next week’s television event MIPTV in Cannes, France. It is looking to secure a co-production deal with a European partner.
    Milius says, “I have always been fascinated with motorcycle gangs having grown up around them and if I had not been a surfer, I would have been a biker. The biker image is shrouded with mystery, fear, and admiration and the outlaw biker gang is an authentic international counter culture that has lasted a long, long time. This series will tell all.²

    Set in the volatile streets of New York City, Rumble follows the life of Johnny Ringo, a tough, take-no prisoners, brute of a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Loosely based on a true story, this gritty series chronicles Ringo’s reign as he assumes the presidency of the largest and most ruthless biker gang in the world.

    Milius created and served as the executive producer on HBO’s series Rome.

  • MGM to launch new media division

    MGM to launch new media division

    MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) has launched a new media division. Douglas A. Lee will oversee the new unit as executive VP.

    Lee will oversee MGM’s digital distribution strategy. He will also spearhead the studio’s broadband and wireless efforts and shepherd new digital media growth.

    MGM chairman, CEO Harry E. Sloan said, “MGM will be making significant moves in terms of new platforms, ranging from TV and the Internet to wireless, mobile and more. Doug has a wealth of senior management experience culled from several major media companies including Fox, HBO and Universal. This and his proven track record in new media will be a great benefit and addition to MGM’s already outstanding team. I am thrilled to have him at the helm as we capitalise on the myriad opportunities in the digital space.”

    MGM COO Rick Sands says, “Doug is an expert at navigating the new media space and identifying key opportunities. He will also be working closely with our strategic partner, Sony Corporation of America, which is at the forefront of Blu-ray and major electronic and digital initiatives.”

    Lee says, “There are numerous opportunities to grow and extend the MGM brand in the new media age. We will look to mine the library for new opportunities and also create new productions and initiatives for the plethora of new media opportunities that currently exist, as well as plan for new and emerging possibilities.”

    With over 20 years experience as a senior executive in the global entertainment business, Lee’s career highlights include the launch of HD Cinema 10 for Voom, the creation of Noggin, the first educational children’s network and a joint venture between Sesame Workshop and Nickelodeon; a founder of Crime, a broadband platform that was sold to USA Cable; and he was instrumental in spearheading News Corp.’s acquisition of Star-TV.

  • Zee sets 1 May deadline for DTO

    Zee sets 1 May deadline for DTO

    Zee Telefilms is expected to launch its direct to operator (DTO) bouquet on 1 May. It was earlier slated to introduce the bouquet last year but could not meet its set deadline.

    The management has announced that it has achieved a good response from the marketplace for its new channels – Zee Movies and Zee English.

    It claims the sale of 1,100 decoders for Zee English and Zee Movies. Already 550 agreements have been signed. This figure excludes 140 decoders which have been distributed to 70 odd SitiCable MSOs. Zee sources claim to have signed on seven sub-operators of the rival cable network In CableNet in Mumbai for the two channels. More cable ops are being negotiated with and Zee claims to have achieved a penetration of 2.6 million cable homes. Zee English and Zee Movies have set a target of seven million cable TV homes and are confident of reaching the astronomical figure within three to six months.

    The advantage Zee possesses is the lower-priced Philips’ decoders. The sale price of Rs 12,500 stands just a couple of thousands above the deposit price of HBO’s decoders which stands at Rs 10,000. Zee is also offering decoders at a deposit of Rs 2,000. Zee has placed an order for 40,000 decoders for its seven channel bouquet. According to senior level sources the Philips boxes have been selected because they can be upgradeable easily for convergence.

  • HBO joins the English movie channel bandwagon

    HBO joins the English movie channel bandwagon

    Home Box Office (HBO) is all set to launch on 22 March, 2000. The channel which boasts to be the first one on cable television when it started in 1972 claims to be the leader in a lot of areas not only in programming but also technical, promises the viewer a variety of entertainment right from blockbuster hollywood movies to a wide array of entertainment including various shows mini-series and concerts. The channel will follow the self-censorship mode and won’t feature “after dark” films.

    On gathering eyeballs, Anshuman Misra, Managing Director, Turner International India, says “Content and programming will drive the viewers from our competing channels”.

    HBO which reaches over 47 million viewers in 45 countries is confident of creating a bang in India. The channel targets the urban and the semi-urban viewers which amounts to 15 million subscribers though the management is uncertain about the time frame to reach such a vast amount of viewers. The initial target is: five million homes in the next six to seven months. The encrypted channel beaming off PanAmSat-4, will remain advertisement free for around six months and thus is not perturbed about the TRPs its programming generates.

    The average per subscriber rate is Rs 6.00 but that will differ from one cable operator to another. The Sceintific Atlanta PowerVu decoders are being place with cable operators on payment of a deposit of Rs 10,000.

    HBO which lacks distribution network will face a tough task of reaching the desired penetration. A distribution team of 20, along with independent distributors, is working on taking the channel further into urban homes.

    Misra expects HBO to contribute two-thirds of Turner’s subscription revenues when in full steam. It might well get that, but the channel will have a tough battle on its hands what with Star Movies all the rage and Zee Movies being launched yesterday as a free service. The additional advantage that Zee TV has is that it owns the cable TV netowrk Siticable. The third major rival is the local cable channel – airing pirated English movies – operated by the cable operator for his subscribers.

    Misra is not worried however. “Our content will rule,” says Misra.

  • HBO series Six Feet Under to be aired on Bravo

    HBO series Six Feet Under to be aired on Bravo

    MUMBAI: The NBC Universal-owned cable network Bravo has acquired the exclusive rebroadcast rights to 63 one-hour episodes of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama series Six Feet Under for the next four years.

    To be telecast on Bravo in the fall of 2006, Six Feet Under is a darkly comedic series about the trials and tribulations of a family of undertakers, played out against the solemn backdrop of an independent funeral home in Los Angeles. The series ran on HBO for five years.

    Six Feet Under was created by Alan Ball, Oscar-winning writer of the film American Beauty. The acclaimed series ended its run on HBO last year. It received 32 Emmy nominations and won seven times, and was nominated for eight Golden Globes, winning three.

    Bravo’s president Lauren Zalaznick said, “Six Feet Under represents the artistic, creative and critically acclaimed series that defines Bravo’s programming. The phenomenon that hooked so many HBO viewers will be brought back to ‘life’ on our air, now available to more than 80 million households, with its signature dark situational humor and dramatic irony.”

    Earlier, Bravo had acquired the rights to and aired HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, as well as NBC’s The West Wing.

  • HBO series Six Feet Under to be aired on Bravo

    MUMBAI: The NBC Universal-owned cable network Bravo has acquired the exclusive rebroadcast rights to 63 one-hour episodes of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama series Six Feet Under for the next four years.

    To be telecast on Bravo in the fall of 2006, Six Feet Under is a darkly comedic series about the trials and tribulations of a family of undertakers, played out against the solemn backdrop of an independent funeral home in Los Angeles. The series ran on HBO for five years.

    Six Feet Under was created by Alan Ball, Oscar-winning writer of the film American Beauty. The acclaimed series ended its run on HBO last year. It received 32 Emmy nominations and won seven times, and was nominated for eight Golden Globes, winning three.

    Bravo’s president Lauren Zalaznick said, “Six Feet Under represents the artistic, creative and critically acclaimed series that defines Bravo’s programming. The phenomenon that hooked so many HBO viewers will be brought back to ‘life’ on our air, now available to more than 80 million households, with its signature dark situational humor and dramatic irony.”

    Earlier, Bravo had acquired the rights to and aired HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, as well as NBC’s The West Wing.