ITV

Tag: Hellboy

  • Columbia Tristar spins media blitz around ‘Hellboy’

    MUMBAI: The lack of familiarity among Indian viewers with Hellboy is not stopping Columbia Tristar India from using the different media vehicles to create awareness about their latest product, which is based on a comic. The movie hits theatres on 14 May.
     

     

    Going all out to unleash Hell…err ‘HellBoy’
    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, at the sidelines of an exhibitor convention for the western region last evening, the company’s marketing manager Harshavardhan Gangurdhe said that around 2000 spots were being used on television.

    “This is the best way for us to reach our target audience. We kicked off the campaign on 18 April on etc. The other channels we have used include Star Plus, Max, MTV, AXN, Raj, ESPN Star Sports. The film has been dubbed in three languages: Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The promos will run onto 22 May,” he offered.

    The company has also tied with retail outlets across the country including Cafe Coffee Day, the Lifestyle Store and Shoppers Stop. Customers can read flyers and also answer questions that allows them the chance to win tickets and product merchandise like T-shirts. In addition, prominent hoardings will be used in the metros. Gangurdhe, however, said that for this, film buses and trains would not be used.

    In a few days, mini road shows will kick off with vans visiting different locations in the metros. The company has also tied up with Airtel for an SMS based quiz contest. The cellular provider is creating awareness about the same through their newsletter. As far as radio is concerned, the company has tied up with Radio City, Radio Mirchi and Go. Online, the company has tied up with Indiatimes for a contest. Print ads have already started appearing in major publications. Around 70 prints of the film will be released.

    ‘Spiderman2’ to spread the morning sunshine
    It goes without saying that the scale of activity will hit the roof when Spiderman 2 hits cinemas on 23 July. Partners that have already tied up include Pepsi and Kelloggs. The latter will come out with special boxes with Spiderman on the cover. This will give the film visibility at non theatrical outlets.

    The cornflakes manufacturer will also give out merchandise. Sony Ericcson will be conducting a huge promotion. Spiderman mobiles with games and ringtones will swing into town closer to the films opening date. Ganghurde claimed that the film had an 88 per cent awareness rate despite the fact that there were still a couple of months to go before the big event.

    Sandler’s a catch
    “We would be expecting a 100 per cent awareness rate a week before the film opens. As far as our other products are concerned 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore opens on 7 May. It is already playing to packed houses in Delhi and Bangalore. The familiarity factor is there which is not the case with Hellboy. People know who Adam Sandler is because of films like Big Daddy and Anger Management. So our marketing activity on this has been
    comparatively less. The same goes with Johnny Depp who stars in the upcoming Secret Window. His brand name has grown because of last year’s Pirates of The Caribbean.”

    Ditto for Johnny Depp
    Another film that Columbia Tristar is banking on to pull the audience is Anacondas, which opens on 27 August. The trailer for the film reminds one of the first movie, which did big business in the country a few years ago despite being panned by the critics.

    Ganghurdhe was also satisfied with the response that Peter Pan had received. “That was something that we timed keeping in mind the holidays when the children have loads of time on their hands.”

  • SPE crosses $1 billion mark for the third successive year

    SPE crosses $1 billion mark for the third successive year

    MUMBAI: Led bySpiderman 2 Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has crossed the $1 billion mark overseas for the third year in a row.

    The company had earlier surpassed a billion dollars in the US box office last month for the fourth time in company history. So far this year, the company has generated more than $2.043 billion in worldwide ticket sales.

    Only two other studios — Disney and Warner Bros — have ever recorded three consecutive billion dollar years both domestically and overseas.

    Since January 2002, Sony Pictures claims to have delivered 22 number one films in the US. The closest competitor Warner Bros. released 14 number one movies during that time frame.

     
    The earlier mentioned Spider-Man 2 grossed $775 million worldwide to date, more than $400 million of that overseas.

    The other hits included 50 First Dates , Secret Window, Hellboy, 13 Going on 30, White Chicks and The Forgotten . 

    It is banking on the upcoming Mike Nichols film Closer with Julia Roberts and another Adam Sandler release Spanglish to further pull in the moolah.

  • Sony Corp’s Q1 net income up over 1000 %

    Sony Corp’s Q1 net income up over 1000 %

    MUMBAI: Japan’s Sony Corporation has posted a first quarter net ncome of Y23.3 billion. This marks an increase of 1,975 per cent from last year’s first quarter Y1.1 billion.

    The company partly attributed the results to gains at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, which contributed Y 5.8 billion to net income, versus a similar loss last year.

     
    Its sales and revenue increased marginally to Y1,603.8 from Y1,612.1 in the same quarter last year. However its operating income was down 41.4 per cent to Y9.8 from Y16.7.

    In the Electronics segment, although sales to outside customers increased, overall sales decreased by 0.2 per cent due to a significant decline in intersegment sales to the Game segment. This was due to the outsourcing of PlayStation 2 production to third parties in China.

    Sales of flat panel and LCD rear projection televisions and digital still cameras increased, while sales of portable audio and CRT televisions decreased. Sales declined in the Game segment due to lower sales of hardware. Sales increased in the music segment due to a string of successful releases. In the pictures segment, although sales on a US dollar basis increased, sales decreased due to the appreciation of the yen.

    In the Electronics segment, operating income declined mainly due to the appreciation of the yen and an increase in restructuring charges. In the Game segment, an operating loss was recorded mainly due to lower sales of software published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

    In the Pictures segment, operating income was recorded compared with an operating loss in the same quarter of the previous year due to the successful performance of home entertainment and theatrical releases. This included titles like 50 First Dates and Big Fish .Spider-Man 2, Hellboy and 13 Going on 30. all performed well in cinemas.

    Sony chairman and CEO Nobuyuki Idei said,” The consolidated results when viewed on a local currency basis demonstrated both increased revenue and increased profits. However, due to the appreciation of the yen, operating income declined and only a slight increase in sales could be realised for the first quarter ended 30 June 2004.

    “Net income increased significantly mainly due to the contribution of equity in net income including that from Sony Ericsson. In addition, the worldwide theatrical release of Spider-Man 2 beginning at the end of June is proving to be a huge success.”

    Looking to the future he added, “For the Sony Group, the fiscal year ending 31 March 2005 has been earmarked as an important year for strengthening the foundation necessary for achieving mid- to long-term growth. We will continue to enhance the competitiveness of our products in key categories such as digital AV products, and will release enticing new products such as the new PlayStation Portable handheld video game system. In addition, by investing proactively in key components such as semiconductors and LCD panels, we are striving to increase the proportion of components developed internally in order to incorporate added-value into the Sony Group.

    “In the Music segment, the establishment of a joint venture with Bertelsmann AG is aimed at improving profitability by enhancing management efficiencies and generating benefits from increased business size.”