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Tag: Hollywood

  • Sony Liv adds Hollywood blockbusters for subscribers

    Sony Liv adds Hollywood blockbusters for subscribers

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) VOD service Sony LIV has announced the launch of a cinematic extravaganza for all movie fans with its Hollywood library. Besides a wide range of TV shows, sports properties, Bollywood flicks, songs and original web content, cinema aficionados can now enjoy instant access to internationally celebrated movies anytime and anywhere.

    Sony Liv is going the extra mile to enhance the entertainment experiences for its viewers wherein the biggest upcoming Hollywood blockbusters will premiere on the platform before their television airing.

    Sony Liv EVP and head for digital business Uday Sodhi said, “At Sony Liv, we are committed to continuously enhance the entertainment experience of our viewers. After receiving an overwhelming response for our Bollywood library, we are now extending our catalogue to allow English movie buffs to catch up with their Hollywood dose of entertainment- right from award-winning favourites to unseen gems. Our endeavour is to make an entire bouquet of eclectic yet engaging cinematic properties accessible at ease since Sony Liv is a complete digital entertainment destination that consumers can turn to for riveting content of every kind.”  

    The library gives viewers a chance to access a wide selection of hugely popular American movies on their own preferred digital devices. The platform claims to offer comprehensive and attractive for its discerning digital audience through its Hollywood library.

    Liv already offers an extensive Bollywood library with over 1,000 films from across genres. It already has a portfolio of critically acclaimed films like The Pursuit of Happyness, Django Unchained, The Da Vinci Code, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Angels and Demons and the Spiderman series, etc.

    The platform also rolled out a web-series for the online platform called #LoveBytes. It has also rolled out a digital film entitled Chhoti Khushito support a social media campaign, #LIVThisDiwali.

  • Sony Pix to air Notty Pixy

    Sony Pix to air Notty Pixy

    MUMBAI: Are you up-to-date on Hollywood’s breaking news? From behind the scenes of latest Hollywood movies to who will be the next superhero, get to know all the breaking news from the tinsel town of Hollywood with Notty Pixy on Sony Pix starting from 10 March 2016.

    On receiving a phenomenal response from fanson social media, Sony PIX takes this property to a next level by launching Notty Pixy for the very first time on Indian television. To enthrall viewers across the country,Notty Pixy will break the latest Hollywood news first in India. Catch her latest promo on Sony Pix which will be straight out of H-Town. 

    Through Notty Pixy, viewers will get a chance to know what’s hot in Hollywood sitting on their couch watching their favorite movies on Sony PIX. In order to amaze the fans and viewers of Sony PIX, Notty Pixy will dish up the juiciest celebrity news on all your favorite stars. 
     
    Sony PIX has always gone that extra mile to bring the Hollywood connect to India for their fans and viewers. Be it through customized video bytes given by Hollywood stars like Emma Stone, Will Smith or in-movie memorabilia straight from Hollywood movies like Captain Phillips, Equalizerand White House Down. Now with Notty Pixy on-air, Sony PIX will bring Hollywood magic to India right when it happens in LA.

  • Sony Pix to air Notty Pixy

    Sony Pix to air Notty Pixy

    MUMBAI: Are you up-to-date on Hollywood’s breaking news? From behind the scenes of latest Hollywood movies to who will be the next superhero, get to know all the breaking news from the tinsel town of Hollywood with Notty Pixy on Sony Pix starting from 10 March 2016.

    On receiving a phenomenal response from fanson social media, Sony PIX takes this property to a next level by launching Notty Pixy for the very first time on Indian television. To enthrall viewers across the country,Notty Pixy will break the latest Hollywood news first in India. Catch her latest promo on Sony Pix which will be straight out of H-Town. 

    Through Notty Pixy, viewers will get a chance to know what’s hot in Hollywood sitting on their couch watching their favorite movies on Sony PIX. In order to amaze the fans and viewers of Sony PIX, Notty Pixy will dish up the juiciest celebrity news on all your favorite stars. 
     
    Sony PIX has always gone that extra mile to bring the Hollywood connect to India for their fans and viewers. Be it through customized video bytes given by Hollywood stars like Emma Stone, Will Smith or in-movie memorabilia straight from Hollywood movies like Captain Phillips, Equalizerand White House Down. Now with Notty Pixy on-air, Sony PIX will bring Hollywood magic to India right when it happens in LA.

  • Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    MUMBAI: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has received a significant investment from global merchant bank The Raine Group.

    Over the past three decades, Hollywood production company Imagine has created culture-defining stories in film and television. With Raine’s investment, Imagine will further expand its creative footprint, working with content creators across the entertainment spectrum and exploring new ways to integrate storytelling and technology.

    “The ways in which content is created and consumed are transforming faster than ever before, expanding in directions that hadn’t been conceived even a few years ago. The opportunity to extend Imagine’s reach across this expanding landscape is a driving force for us. Through this partnership, we are incredibly excited to roll out a slate of new projects that capture the imagination and visions we share on a global scale,” said Grazer.

    Raine’s investment will provide Imagine with the backing to continue its strong growth trajectory under the leadership of Grazer and Howard, enabling the company to invest in content directly with other artists.  In addition to television and film production, Imagine will continue to expand into new areas such as branded content, location based entertainment and digital formats, taking advantage of new technologies and forms of distribution. The company expects to explore both organic growth opportunities as well as potential acquisitions.

    Howard added, “We are proud of the legacy we have built with Imagine and are more excited than ever to build on it by tapping into our creative, experimental and entrepreneurial DNA to ignite new passion projects. This investment and partnership unlocks new doors for us as creators and for the company and its expansionary endeavours. It allows us to build upon our creative relationships to broaden our reach into all narrative formats and platforms. We appreciate Raine’s support and welcome them to the Imagine family.”

    Previously Raine has invested in companies like Vice Media, Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Important Studios, action sports company Nitro Circus and fantasy sports operator Draft Kings. Additional strategic co-investors brought in by Raine include China Media Capital, the Antenna Group and WPP. 

    “We have long admired Ron, Brian and their team as master storytellers. We are excited to invest in and partner with Imagine as they expand their many successful franchises across new mediums,” said Raine entertainment practice head Erik Hodge.

    “We have built our business on the principle that content and creators are the most valuable elements in today’s media ecosystem. Imagine’s well-established reputation as a talent-friendly creative partner was incredibly important to us, and we look forward to helping them grow their business and continue to tell amazing stories and astonish and delight global audiences as they continue in this tradition,” added Raine co-founder Joe Ravitch.

    In connection with the transaction, both Hodge and Ravitch will join Imagine’s board.

  • Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    Imagine Entertainment secures investment from Raine Group

    MUMBAI: Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment has received a significant investment from global merchant bank The Raine Group.

    Over the past three decades, Hollywood production company Imagine has created culture-defining stories in film and television. With Raine’s investment, Imagine will further expand its creative footprint, working with content creators across the entertainment spectrum and exploring new ways to integrate storytelling and technology.

    “The ways in which content is created and consumed are transforming faster than ever before, expanding in directions that hadn’t been conceived even a few years ago. The opportunity to extend Imagine’s reach across this expanding landscape is a driving force for us. Through this partnership, we are incredibly excited to roll out a slate of new projects that capture the imagination and visions we share on a global scale,” said Grazer.

    Raine’s investment will provide Imagine with the backing to continue its strong growth trajectory under the leadership of Grazer and Howard, enabling the company to invest in content directly with other artists.  In addition to television and film production, Imagine will continue to expand into new areas such as branded content, location based entertainment and digital formats, taking advantage of new technologies and forms of distribution. The company expects to explore both organic growth opportunities as well as potential acquisitions.

    Howard added, “We are proud of the legacy we have built with Imagine and are more excited than ever to build on it by tapping into our creative, experimental and entrepreneurial DNA to ignite new passion projects. This investment and partnership unlocks new doors for us as creators and for the company and its expansionary endeavours. It allows us to build upon our creative relationships to broaden our reach into all narrative formats and platforms. We appreciate Raine’s support and welcome them to the Imagine family.”

    Previously Raine has invested in companies like Vice Media, Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Important Studios, action sports company Nitro Circus and fantasy sports operator Draft Kings. Additional strategic co-investors brought in by Raine include China Media Capital, the Antenna Group and WPP. 

    “We have long admired Ron, Brian and their team as master storytellers. We are excited to invest in and partner with Imagine as they expand their many successful franchises across new mediums,” said Raine entertainment practice head Erik Hodge.

    “We have built our business on the principle that content and creators are the most valuable elements in today’s media ecosystem. Imagine’s well-established reputation as a talent-friendly creative partner was incredibly important to us, and we look forward to helping them grow their business and continue to tell amazing stories and astonish and delight global audiences as they continue in this tradition,” added Raine co-founder Joe Ravitch.

    In connection with the transaction, both Hodge and Ravitch will join Imagine’s board.

  • MipCom 2015: Combating nature’s fury, and winning

    MipCom 2015: Combating nature’s fury, and winning

    MUMBAI: The world’s largest TV content market Mipcom was hit by a freak storm and floods. It all started on Saturday 5 October when late in the evening what was predicted to be an evening of gentle rain, turned out to be three hours of a raging thunderstorm. Something that had not happened in 50 years. Seven inches of rain fell in one fell swoop. Some 20 people died, and cars were swept out to sea. 

    The Hotel Martinez where MipJunior (the kids content screening and conference) was being held was the most affected. It lost power because of the flooding, internet went off and its ballrooms were water logged. As were most of Cannes and its surrounding towns.

    Reed Midem, the organiser of MipCom and MipJunior acted fast. Overnight the MipJunior screenings and conferences were shifted to the higher levels of the Palais des Festivals.

    The Palais itself was hit by the storm. The basement area (P-1), which constitutes a large part of the exhibition area and where most of the Indian exhibitors are located, had patches, which were damaged courtesy the flooding. The management of the Palais des Festivals and Reed Midem’s operations executives worked through late Saurday night and Sunday to mop up the excess water, used drying machines, changed carpeting, to get the exhibition area spic and span.

    Came Monday morning and to the astonishment of exhibitors and participants, MipCom started on time. Almost as if the resort town had not faced a natural catastrophe. There were queues at the registration desk, and queues waiting to get into the exhibition area. The rest of Cannes, was however, struggling with some areas being without power, most without internet and telephone lines. And most bank ATMs and credit machines were not working.

    In fact, the mayor of Cannes, has made an appeal to the world of film, television and the rich to contribute to get Cannes back on its feet. The town and its businesses have suffered a loss of Euro 45 million courtesy the freak rain.

    During Mipcom business deals, and alliances were struck and TV premieres held. .Hollywood and British celebrities such as Dennis Quaid, Chris Carter, Lily James, Tuppence Middleton and Stephen Rea mingled with attendees after the screenings in the Grand Auditorium. The opening party was shifted to the Carlton Hotel from the Martinez and the red carpet, however, was canceled. Sponsored by Turkey, which was the country of honour or focus, it was one of Mipcom’s finest organised parties in recent times. The food and wine flowed till past midnight.

    Overall, 13,700 executives from 112 countries did make it to Mipcom, a record of sorts. More than 150 broadcasting, production, animation, digital, content distribution, and buyers and sellers from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka jetted their way to Cannes – a record number for the region this year. Each probably has his or her own story on what he/she did during the deluge. We present a first person account of what one such group went through during the storm and thereafter. Read on:

    The lightning shards continuously cut through the dark incessant rain as the 500 or so guests at MipJunior’s opening night inside the tent on The Martinez Beach in Cannes partied.

    They sipped away at their glasses of wine and munched away at the entrees, exchanging business cards on programming pitches – blissfully unaware that the French Riviera village was going through its worst thunderstorm in almost 50 years.

    As the clock ticked away, the gusts of wind grew stronger, and one such blast shattered a few wine glasses, the chandeliers overhead swayed. A couple of the lights went out. Then the water from the sea outside started seeping under the tent as the angry storm pushed the waves higher.

    Jackie – the event and operations in charge of Reed Midem was worried – as she – like Laurine and Jerome and most of us attending the world’s largest content market – had heard the metro department’s report that there would be rain – but the prediction was that it would be a passing shower. Not a continuous cloud burst on account of which the village and other surrounding ones would be inflicted with the equivalent of more than a month and a half of rain in just three hours.

    The situation was getting alarming as the rain, loud thunder, lighting and wind continued. Would the tent hold? The DJ had already been told to pack his console, the wine and food put away by the stewards. And the guests, who had thinned down to 200 odd by then,  had to be kept safe. Thus a decision was taken to evacuate.

    A warning shout went up: “The entire Croisette is flooded. I tried to cross but there’s too much water.”

    But evacuate we had to. So some of us took off our shoes and jackets, packed them in the Mask of Zorro bags, which the concierge provided us, rolled up our trousers, walked out of the tent. And indeed where earlier in the evening there was beach sand, all we could see was water. Carefully, we walked through it and up the stairs to the Croisette.

    What greeted us was a sea of water all through the main street of Cannes. We stepped into it and it reached up to our knees. And it was cold, bitingly cold. But gritting our teeth and with sheer disbelief in our hearts we trudged through it across the street to the famed Hotel Martinez – which has been home to the world’s biggest celebrities. Were we in Cannes the famed beach town of France to which the world flocks every summer? Or were we in some south east Asian country or in India where such flooding is rather common?

    As we reached the Martinez Hotel we heard there were no shuttles to ferry us across to our apartments or hotel rooms. And that we were on our own. We picked up a couple of hotel umbrellas and decided to make our journey home.

    Every street, by lane and tony street was flooded. To make matters worse, the village’s sewer and drainage system had spewed and vomited out all the waste – including feaces – which its denizens had earlier through the day dumped down commodes or waste disposal systems.

    Most of the by lanes leading to the Croisette were angry torrents of fast paced water through which it was very difficult to swim, forget about walking. And yet everywhere we looked there were executives – both men and women – plodding through the knee-deep water. It was a struggle, no doubt, but move everyone had to know because the water was chilling.

    Thankfully, there were no open manholes or sewers, but we were cautious nonetheless courtesy Mumbai’s dangerous streets during the monsoons every year.

    What was even more shocking was that expensive stores, hawking the most premium brands, which line the main street opposite the Croisette were hit by the water flowing down the streets towards the sea. Many of the stores were forced to garbage some of the goods, costing thousands of euros, which were damaged by the flowing waters.

    We waded through the water, taking care not to get clothes wet. Close to our apartment building, a SUV came racing, through the flooded street and the wave hit us as well as the restaurant, which was already knee deep in water. And all my efforts to keep my trousers dry came to naught.

    Even the apartment’s stairwell was flooded. But we made our way up and thankfully our flat had power, unlike others which went without any electricity throughout the night. We took quick hot showers and sipped hot cups of coffee and it was around 1 am that we managed to get some shuteye.

     

    Posted by Larysa Wanvari on Sunday, October 4, 2015

     

     

  • India’s ‘Court’ to compete with films from 80 countries at Oscars

    India’s ‘Court’ to compete with films from 80 countries at Oscars

    MUMBAI: India’s official entry to the Oscars – Court – will be competing with films from 80 countries in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Academy Awards.

     

    The Oscars have this year received film entries from 81 countries in this category including Paraguay, which is a first-time entrant.

     

    The Marathi language film Court is directed by Chaitanya Tamhane. Giving Court tough competition will also be renowned director Majid Majidi’s Iranian film Muhammad: The Messenger of God, which is Iran’s official entry to the Oscars this year.

     

    On the other hand, Paraguay’s maiden film entry for the Oscars is titled Cloudy Times, directed by Arami Ullón.

     

    The 2015 submissions for the Foreign Language Film category are:

     

    Afghanistan: Utopia directed by Hassan Nazer

    Albania: Bota directed by Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci

    Algeria: Twilight of Shadows directed by Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina

    Argentina: The Clan directed by Pablo Trapero

    Australia: Arrows of the Thunder Dragon directed by Greg Sneddon

    Austria: Goodnight Mommy directed by Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala

    Bangladesh: Jalal’s Story directed by Abu Shahed Emon

    Belgium: The Brand New Testament directed by Jaco Van Dormael

    Bosnia and Herzegovina: Our Everyday Story directed by Ines Tanovic

    Brazil: The Second Mother directed by Anna Muylaert

    Bulgaria: The Judgment directed by Stephan Komandarev

    Cambodia: The Last Reel directed by Sotho Kulikar

    Canada: Félix and Meira directed by Maxime Giroux

    Chile: The Club directed by Pablo Larraín

    China: Go Away Mr. Tumor directed by Han Yan

    Colombia: Embrace of the Serpent directed by Ciro Guerra

    Costa Rica: Imprisoned directed by Esteban Ramírez

    Croatia: The High Sun directed by Dalibor Matanic

    Czech Republic: Home Care directed by Slavek Horak

    Denmark: A War directed by Tobias Lindholm

    Dominican Republic: Sand Dollars directed by Laura Amelia Guzman, Israel Cardenas

    Estonia: 1944 directed by Elmo Nüganen

    Ethiopia: Lamb directed by Yared Zeleke

    Finland: The Fencer directed by Klaus Haro

    France: Mustang directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven

    Georgia: Moira directed by Levan Tutberidze

    Germany: Labyrinth of Lies directed by Giulio Ricciarelli

    Greece: Xenia directed by Panos H. Koutras

    Guatemala: Ixcanul directed by Jayro Bustamante

    Hong Kong: To the Fore directed by Dante Lam

    Hungary: Son of Saul directed by Laszlo Nemes

    Iceland: Rams directed by Grímur Hákonarson

    India: Court directed by Chaitanya Tamhane

    Iran: Muhammad: The Messenger of God directed by Majid Majidi

    Iraq: Memories on Stone directed by Shawkat Amin Korki

    Ireland: Viva directed by Paddy Breathnach

    Israel: Baba Joon directed by Yuval Delshad

    Italy: Don’t Be Bad directed by Claudio Caligari

    Ivory Coast: Run directed by Philippe Lacote

    Japan: 100 Yen Love directed by Masaharu Take

    Jordan: Theeb directed by Naji Abu Nowar

    Kazakhstan: Stranger directed by Yermek Tursunov

    Kosovo: Babai directed by Visar Morina

    Kyrgyzstan: Heavenly Nomadic directed by Mirlan Abdykalykov

    Latvia: Modris directed by Juris Kursietis

    Lebanon: Void directed by Naji Bechara, Jad Beyrouthy, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle

    Ighniades: Maria Abdel Karim directed by Salim Haber

    Lithuania: The Summer of Sangaile directed by Alante Kavaite

    Luxembourg: Baby (A)lone directed by Donato Rotunno

    Macedonia: Honey Night directed by Ivo Trajkov

    Malaysia: Men Who Save the World directed by Liew Seng Tat

    Mexico: 600 Miles directed by Gabriel Ripstein

    Montenegro: You Carry Me directed by Ivona Juka

    Morocco: Aida directed by Driss Mrini

    Nepal: Talakjung vs Tulke directed by Basnet Nischal

    Netherlands: The Paradise Suite directed by Joost van Ginkel

    Norway: The Wave directed by Roar Uthaug

    Pakistan: Moor directed by Jami

    Palestine: The Wanted 18 directed by Amer Shomali, Paul Cowan

    Paraguay: Cloudy Times directed by Arami Ullón

    Peru: NN directed by Hector Galvez

    Philippines: Heneral Luna directed by Jerrold Tarog

    Poland: 11 Minutes directed by Jerzy Skolimowski

    Portugal: Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One directed by Miguel Gomes

    Romania: Aferim! directed by Radu Jude

    Russia: Sunstroke directed by Nikita Mikhalkov

    Serbia: Enclave directed by Goran Radovanovic

    Singapore: 7 Letters directed by Royston Tan, Kelvin Tong, Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng, K. Rajagopal

    Slovakia: Goat directed by Ivan Ostrochovsky

    Slovenia: The Tree directed by Sonja Prosenc

    South Africa: The Two of Us directed by Ernest Nkosi

    South Korea: The Throne directed by Lee Joon-ik

    Spain: Flowers directed by Jon Garano, Jose Mari Goenaga

    Sweden: A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence directed by Roy Andersson

    Switzerland: Iraqi Odyssey directed by Samir

    Taiwan: The Assassin directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien

    Thailand: How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) directed by Josh Kim

    Turkey: Sivas directed by Kaan Mujdeci

    United Kingdom: Under Milk Wood directed by Kevin Allen

    Uruguay: A Moonless Night directed by German Tejeira

    Venezuela: Gone with the River directed by Mario Crespo

    Vietnam: Jackpot directed by Dustin Nguyen

     

    The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on 14 January, 2016 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

     

    The 88th Oscars will be held on 28 February, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The Oscar presentation will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

  • Strengthening Bollywood & Hollywood ties to be discussed at Regional Pravasi Divas in LA

    Strengthening Bollywood & Hollywood ties to be discussed at Regional Pravasi Divas in LA

    NEW DELHI: The significant media, cultural and entertainment engagement between India and the United States will be one of the primary subjects of discussion at the ninth Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Los Angeles next month.

     

    Ways of strengthening ties between Bollywood and Hollywood would also be discussed in the meet to be held on 14 and 15 November.

     

    The RPBD will be organised by the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and the India Embassy in Washington DC in collaboration with the major community organisations of People of Indian Origin in the USA and the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry.

     

    Various official forums for India-US collaboration will also participate in the RPBD.

     

    The RPBD Los Angeles will celebrate the presence of the single largest population of overseas Indians in any one country and strengthen the social, economic and political bonds between India, the USA and the Indian Diaspora.

     

    India and the USA share a growing partnership in almost all sectors vital to their economies. Indian Americans have made a significant impact in IT, medicine, academia, banking, hospitality, science and technology and also as entrepreneurs engaged in thriving businesses. The RPBD Los Angeles will focus and build on these synergies and collaborations, through seminars and discussions involving major stake holders on both sides.

     

    The concept of Pravasi Divas, which is to be held from 8 to 10 January in New Delhi next year, was given by a committee set up by then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to cement ties with the Diaspora. The date was chosen since it was on 9 January that Mahatma Gandhi emigrated from South Africa to India to lead the freedom struggle in the early part of the last century. 

  • Robert De Niro to be honoured with Hollywood Career Achievement Award

    Robert De Niro to be honoured with Hollywood Career Achievement Award

    MUMBAI: Two-time Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro will be honored with the Hollywood Career Achievement Award. The awards ceremony will take place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, on 1 November, 2015.

     

    The Hollywood Film Awards has recognised excellence in the art of cinema and filmmaking for 18 years, honouring some of the world’s biggest stars.

     

    “The Hollywood Film Awards is an incredible brand, previewing some of the biggest movies and stars of the year, while launching the award season. We are honored to have Robert De Niro as this year’s recipient of the Hollywood Career Achievement Award,” said Dick Clark Productions CEO Allen Shapiro. 

     

    De Niro is currently starring in Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Intern and will appear next in 20th Century Fox’s Joy, coming out 25 December, 2015.

     

    Past honorees of the Hollywood Career Achievement Award include Glenn Close, Harrison Ford, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Michael Keaton and Robin Williams among others.

     

    De Niro launched his motion picture career in Brian De Palma’s The Wedding Party in 1969 and has since starred in multiple movies including The Godfather, Part II for which he won the Oscar.

  • Comcast acquires majority stake in Universal Studios Japan for $1.5 billion

    Comcast acquires majority stake in Universal Studios Japan for $1.5 billion

    MUMBAI: Comcast NBC Universal has agreed to purchase 51 per cent ownership of Universal Studios Japan in a recapitalisation transaction, partnering with the current owners including Goldman Sachs, USJ’s CEO Glenn Gumpel, Asian private-equity firm MBK Partners, and U.S. hedge fund Owl Creek Asset Management. 

     

    Comcast NBC Universal’s purchase price for the majority ownership of the theme park destination is $1.5 billion (?183 billion).

        

    Located in Osaka and featuring classic Universal attractions as well as attractions and shows specifically designed for the Japanese market, USJ opened in 2001 and has experienced continued growth in attendance and revenue.

     

    “We are excited to expand our global footprint with this wonderful theme park in Osaka and are excited by the opportunities that lie ahead in Japan and all of Asia. This investment represents a huge opportunity and commitment to creating value for our shareholders and continuing to grow internationally,” said Comcast chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts.

     

    Acquiring majority ownership of Universal Studios Japan continues Comcast NBC Universal’s ongoing investment strategy for its US parks in Orlando and Hollywood.

     

    “We want to expand our theme park business around the world and this investment in Universal Studios Japan fits perfectly with that strategy. Our theme parks in the U.S. have performed exceptionally well and we look forward to working with our partners to achieve that success in Japan as we plan to introduce significant attractions at USJ over the next five years,” added NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke.