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Tag: Ireland

  • Sky & CBS ink pan-European deal for Showtime programming portfolio

    Sky & CBS ink pan-European deal for Showtime programming portfolio

    MUMBAI: Sky and CBS Corporation have inked a long-term licensing agreement for Sky Atlantic to be the exclusive home to Showtime’s growing portfolio of programming across all its territories in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. Previously, Sky has licensed select Showtime content from CBS on a programme by programme basis.

     

    The deal will span all new and future series including Billions, which premiered in the US with the best series debut performance ever for a Showtime original series. Other new series include the return of Twin Peaks and new seasons of hits such as Ray Donovan and The Affair. The agreement also means customers will have on-demand access to an acclaimed catalogue of premium Showtime programming including Californication, Dexter, Nurse Jackie, The Borgias and Brotherhood.

     

    Additionally, customers can watch these shows where they want using mobile TV service – Sky Go. Customers who use Sky’s streaming platforms, NOW TV and Sky Online also have access to this must-see channel live and on demand.

     

    The deal is the latest multi-territory agreement secured by Sky as it extends its market-leading offering across entertainment, sports, arts and movies. Alongside an expanding portfolio of the best shows from the US and around the world, Sky is also growing its investment in original production, which includes a successful partnership with Showtime to co-produce the gothic horror series, Penny Dreadful.

     

    For CBS Corporation, this is the largest and most expansive international deal to date for Showtime and the first time its content portfolio has been licensed to a single media company across multiple European territories. It also marks a significant next step in the company’s global expansion strategy to distribute Showtime’s prestigious brand and broad programming slate as a bundled offering.

     

    Last year, CBS and Bell Media announced a similar exclusive agreement for Showtime in Canada.

     

    Alongside scripted content, Sky will have an exclusive option to take all new Showtime distributed unscripted shows such as documentaries, late night and reality shows. Premiere dates for the programming may vary by country and current rights agreements with other platforms will remain unchanged.

     

    Sky managing director – content Gary Davey said, “This is one of the most important content deals Sky has ever agreed, cementing Sky’s position as the market-leader in Europe for world-class drama. We are enormously proud that Sky will be the exclusive home to new Showtime programmes for many years to come, building on a relationship that has grown over time including producing three successful seasons of Penny Dreadful together. The agreement means our customers can enjoy an incredible slate of upcoming new dramas like Billions, Twin Peaks and also explore hundreds of hours of amazing series such as Dexter, Californication, The Affair and House of Lies on demand from the back catalogue of one of the world’s most exciting pay TV networks.”

     

    CBS Global Distribution Group president and CEO Armando Nu?ez added, “This is the most significant international deal in the history of Showtime, and further signals the value and prestige of its content brand in the global marketplace. Showtime CEO David Nevins and his team have built an incredible roster of award-winning, critically acclaimed programming. This deal shows how robust and profitable Showtime has become as a stand-alone product and revenue stream. We look forward to working with our outstanding partners at Sky to present Showtime to its customers across Europe and on a wide range of their platforms.”

  • Sky & CBS ink pan-European deal for Showtime programming portfolio

    Sky & CBS ink pan-European deal for Showtime programming portfolio

    MUMBAI: Sky and CBS Corporation have inked a long-term licensing agreement for Sky Atlantic to be the exclusive home to Showtime’s growing portfolio of programming across all its territories in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. Previously, Sky has licensed select Showtime content from CBS on a programme by programme basis.

     

    The deal will span all new and future series including Billions, which premiered in the US with the best series debut performance ever for a Showtime original series. Other new series include the return of Twin Peaks and new seasons of hits such as Ray Donovan and The Affair. The agreement also means customers will have on-demand access to an acclaimed catalogue of premium Showtime programming including Californication, Dexter, Nurse Jackie, The Borgias and Brotherhood.

     

    Additionally, customers can watch these shows where they want using mobile TV service – Sky Go. Customers who use Sky’s streaming platforms, NOW TV and Sky Online also have access to this must-see channel live and on demand.

     

    The deal is the latest multi-territory agreement secured by Sky as it extends its market-leading offering across entertainment, sports, arts and movies. Alongside an expanding portfolio of the best shows from the US and around the world, Sky is also growing its investment in original production, which includes a successful partnership with Showtime to co-produce the gothic horror series, Penny Dreadful.

     

    For CBS Corporation, this is the largest and most expansive international deal to date for Showtime and the first time its content portfolio has been licensed to a single media company across multiple European territories. It also marks a significant next step in the company’s global expansion strategy to distribute Showtime’s prestigious brand and broad programming slate as a bundled offering.

     

    Last year, CBS and Bell Media announced a similar exclusive agreement for Showtime in Canada.

     

    Alongside scripted content, Sky will have an exclusive option to take all new Showtime distributed unscripted shows such as documentaries, late night and reality shows. Premiere dates for the programming may vary by country and current rights agreements with other platforms will remain unchanged.

     

    Sky managing director – content Gary Davey said, “This is one of the most important content deals Sky has ever agreed, cementing Sky’s position as the market-leader in Europe for world-class drama. We are enormously proud that Sky will be the exclusive home to new Showtime programmes for many years to come, building on a relationship that has grown over time including producing three successful seasons of Penny Dreadful together. The agreement means our customers can enjoy an incredible slate of upcoming new dramas like Billions, Twin Peaks and also explore hundreds of hours of amazing series such as Dexter, Californication, The Affair and House of Lies on demand from the back catalogue of one of the world’s most exciting pay TV networks.”

     

    CBS Global Distribution Group president and CEO Armando Nu?ez added, “This is the most significant international deal in the history of Showtime, and further signals the value and prestige of its content brand in the global marketplace. Showtime CEO David Nevins and his team have built an incredible roster of award-winning, critically acclaimed programming. This deal shows how robust and profitable Showtime has become as a stand-alone product and revenue stream. We look forward to working with our outstanding partners at Sky to present Showtime to its customers across Europe and on a wide range of their platforms.”

  • Two Indians feature in Asia Pacific Screen awards

    Two Indians feature in Asia Pacific Screen awards

    NEW DELHI: Indians have has managed to get nominated for only two awards, one of which is a collaborative film with other countries, in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. 

     

    A total of 39 nominations have been announced from 22 countries for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards to be presented in Brisbane, Australia on 26 November.

     

    The film Blinky Bill The Movie directed by Deane Taylor, which is a collaboration between Australia, India, and Ireland heads the best animation films list. The Indian contribution is by way of Nilesh Pillai being the digital compositor.

     

    Jean-Marc Ferri?re has been nominated for best cinematography for Sunrise (Arunoday) by Partho Sen Gupta.

     

    Kim Dong-ho, co-founder and former chairman of the Busan Film Festival, headed the jury with director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (Television), Chinese academic Zhang Xianmin, Malaysian filmmaker U-Wei Bin Hajisaari, Russian writer-director Alexei Popogrebsky and Iranian actress Negar Javaherian.

     

    Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s festival hit The Assassin, which won him best director at Cannes this year, has been nominated for three prizes at the Awards. The film will compete for best feature, achievement in directing for Hou Hsiao-Hsien and achievement in cinematography for Mark Lee Ping-Bing.

     

    Other nominees in the best feature category include multi-territory co-production Cementery Of Splendour, Korean feature End Of Winter and Japanese/French drama Journey To The Shore.

  • World T20 Qualifier is another boost for cricket’s global development

    World T20 Qualifier is another boost for cricket’s global development

    MUMBAI: On the eve of another exciting opportunity for the best Associate and Affiliate Members (AMs) to qualify for a major ICC event, the success of the ICC Development Programme is illustrated by the fact that there are now more people playing cricket outside the 10 full members than ever before.

     

    Indeed, the number of cricketers has increased in those countries three-fold in just the past six years. Now there are 1.4 million male and female participants currently involved in formal cricket programmes beyond the traditional boundaries.

     

    As the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, hosted by Ireland and Scotland, is set to start tomorrow, the truth is the associate game has never been so buoyant as it is today. This is due, in no small part, to the phenomenal financial investment that flows from ICC into its members, both in terms of direct funding and also opportunities afforded through high-performance programmes and tournaments.

     

    The ICC’s Development Programme was launched in 1997. Then, there were 26 Associate and 10 Affiliate Members. 17 years later, the ICC has 95 members (below the 10 full members), including 57 Affiliate and 38 Associate Members.

     

    There has been a substantial increase to the funding of the ICC Development Programme. Between 1998-2007, USD $65million was invested in the ICC Development Programme. In the recently concluded rights cycle, this was increased to USD $250million and in the next cycle approximately USD $300million will be invested.

     

    The results of this investment are evident. There were approximately 277,637 participants in countries below the Full Members in 2005. This number climbed to 410,248 at the end of 2008. At the end of 2014, the number of participants in countries below Full Members stood at 1.4million.

     

    ICC chief executive David Richardson said, “Cricket around the world is in rude health with more people playing the game outside the Full Members than ever before. This is a tribute to the hard work, passion and dedication of people within the Associate and Affiliate Members as well as the significant financial and other resources passed on from the ICC.

     

    Richardson added,  “As the final preparations are put in place for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015, this is another special opportunity for those Associates to claim a place at a major ICC event. The ICC World Twenty20 2016 in India will no doubt be a spectacular tournament. No fewer than six places are available for the best sides outside of the Full Members and I know that competition will be fierce over the next three weeks or so as we determine exactly which teams will be traveling to India next year.”

     

    The ICC Development Programme is tasked with building a bigger, better global game by assisting the 95 AMs grow and improve the standard of cricket within their territories. This is done through direct funding, the funding and management of qualification pathways to major events and the provision of guidance and advice in the crucial areas of administration, domestic participation, high performance, education, fund-raising and promotion. This includes senior men’s and women’s cricket as well as the youth game.

     

    Richardson stated, “The ICC is committed to growing the game beyond the historical heartlands and our Development Programme is reaping the rewards of its investment. All over the world, people are taking up cricket for the first time and, through the game’s unique spirit, lives are being changed for the better.”

     

    “While this qualifying tournament is all about Twenty20, the ICC is also working to improve the quality and depth of ODI cricket and Test cricket. Indeed, the ICC Intercontinental Cup is the clear pathway to Test cricket for the Associates and the decision to include the top Associates in the One-Day FTP with the Full Members provides a great opportunity for the best AMs to break into the hierarchy of the ODI game,” he concluded.

  • Dav Whatmore to help Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE for ICC WC 2015

    Dav Whatmore to help Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE for ICC WC 2015

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today announced that Dav Whatmore will help Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and UAE prepare for the 50 over ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (CWC) as part of the ICC High Performance Programme (HPP).

    Whatmore will begin his new role during the ICC HPP Support Staff Forum, which opens on 14 May in Scotland, where he will meet each of the teams’ coaches and start to provide tailored assistance.

     

     “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with the leading Associate and Affiliate teams during such a memorable period in world cricket.  We have seen some amazing performances recently from these teams, and, over the next 10 months, I look forward to being able to assist in honing their performances even further,” said Whatmore.

    Whatmore who in the past has coached full member teams like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will now work closely with the ICC High Performance Manager and each of the four teams in an advisory and support role as they prepare for the ICC CWC 2015. The mega sporting event will commence on 14 February 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. Whatmore is considered to have first-hand knowledge of the preparations needed to succeed on the global stage. He is best known to have coached Sri Lanka to ICC CWC glory in 1996.  

    “The ICC Cricket World Cup is the world’s biggest stage for any cricketer.  It takes hard work, dedication and motivation to succeed at such a huge global event, as well as unflinching confidence.  I hope to be able to assist on all of these fronts to ensure that Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and the UAE fire on all cylinders from the moment they arrive in Australia and New Zealand next year,” he added.

    ICC chief executive David Richardson said, “We welcome Dav Whatmore to this important advisory role.  Dav’s extensive coaching experience, including leading Sri Lanka to its unforgettable ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1996, will provide excellent support and expertise to the four qualifying teams as they put the finishing touches on their preparations for cricket’s premier one-day tournament.”

    Ireland coach and former West Indies Test player Phil Simmons, who led Ireland to a unique treble in 2013 when it became the first team to win three ICC events across three formats in one season, welcomed the appointment, saying, “Ireland is focused on making a big impact in Australia and New Zealand in 10 months’ time, and we have detailed plans in place to make sure we do just that. With Dav’s knowledge and experience, we will gain an extra edge in our preparations.”

       

    Afghanistan coach and former Pakistan bowler Kabir Khan, whose side claimed the second qualification spot at the ICC CWC 2015 after finishing behind Ireland in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship, said: “Afghanistan has a rigorous schedule of training and fixtures in the lead-up to its maiden appearance at the ICC Cricket World Cup.  This will be the biggest ever participated in, and the extra support from Dav Whatmore will be an excellent addition to our preparations.”  

    Aqib Javed, a member of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 and also played in the 1996 tournament, and who coached the UAE to the final qualification spot with a second-place finish at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014, said, “We are very focused on our one-day preparations over the next 10 months, and the opportunity to work alongside Dav Whatmore as we fine-tune our programmes and training is very exciting for us.”

     

    Craig Wright, who coached Scotland to victory at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 to seal the third qualification spot at the ICC CWC 2015, and has also captained Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 said, “Scotland performed strongly under pressure to win the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier earlier this year, and with insight from someone as experienced as Dav, we have the opportunity over the coming months to not just keep up that momentum, but boost it even further.”
     

  • Sony Six to broadcast 2014 six nations rugby

    Sony Six to broadcast 2014 six nations rugby

    ?MUMBAI: SONY SIX, India’s premier sports and entertainment channel has won the exclusive broadcast rights to the RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament which commences on 1stFebruary. Taking on its global viewing spectrum, the 2014 edition of the RBS 6 Nation’s Rugby tournament will be shown on aprime time slot between 8.00pm to 11.00pm on Sony Six and Sony Six HD for Indian audiences.

    The 2014 RBS 6 Nation’s Rugby tournament beginson 1stFebruary and will conclude on 15thMarch. The tournament consists of a league of 6 European nations – England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and France. Each teamplays every other team once, with home field advantage alternating from one year to the next. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Defending Champions Wales take on Italy in the opening game.

    The Six Nations is the successor to the Five Nations Championship (1910–31 and 1947–99) which in turn succeeded the Home Nations Championship (1883–1909 and 1932–39). The Home Nations Championship, played between teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, was the first international rugby union tournament.

    Sony SIX has also has broadcast rights to other premier rugby tournaments such as the Super Rugby League and the Rugby Championship.

     

  • Netflix loads up on kids shows yet again with Scholastic deal

    Netflix loads up on kids shows yet again with Scholastic deal

    MUMBAI: Netflix has been positioning itself as an online babysitter of sorts with a slew of deals for children’s content, thus it has sanctioned even more episodes of the kids’ genre.

     

    The streaming-video service said it has expanded an agreement with Scholastic Media, an arm of publisher Scholastic, to offer more of its TV series and video content, such as the shows based on the tween babysitting series, The Magic School Bus and Goosebumps. Most of the new content is available to Netflix members in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Latin America.

     

    Both Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service have been buying content for children. The idea is twofold: Go after a type of programming that – after sports – can be the most decisive sway factor when a consumer is choosing what entertainment to pay for. Then get children cozy with the format and style of internet-delivered content to create a new generation of subscribers.

     

    Netflix’s Scholastic deal marks the first time many of the episodes have been available in the streaming format, and Netflix has an exclusive hold on select programs like The Magic School Bus. However, most of the content is years old.

     

    “When we first added ‘The Magic School Bus’ and ‘Goosebumps’ for our members in the US and Canada earlier this summer we knew they would perform well, but after seeing just how popular they were we decided to expand our relationship with Scholastic and bring these great shows to more of our markets,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in a release.

     

    Three of the first five programs Amazon will produce as part of its original content push are children’s programs, and last month the company ordered up kids’ content solely for its next round of five pilots.

     

    Netflix is also working to fill a kids’ content void. The site declined high-demand Nickelodeon content earlier this year because parent Viacom wanted to bundle it together with less popular programs in a hulking deal. Amazon later snatched up the forsaken Viacom content.

     

    The latest deal with Scholastic however doesn’t include video content related to Scholastic’s most blockbuster brand, the Harry Potter series.

  • Soccer icon David Beckham joins Sky to promote sports through long-term partnership

    Soccer icon David Beckham joins Sky to promote sports through long-term partnership

    MUMBAI: Soccer icon David Beckham is joining British pay TV service provider Sky as an ambassador work to support grassroots sport and encourage participation across Britain and Ireland.

     

    During this long-term partnership, Beckham will also feature in ads to promote sport and services offered by Sky.

     

    In his role as a Sky ambassador, he will help to use the power of sport to change lives through the Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative. Now in its tenth year, this free initiative uses the stories and expertise of athlete mentors to inspire young people to learn new skills and improve their lives. Around 30,000 young people a year participate in the programme, which reaches one third of all secondary schools in Britain and has just launched in Ireland. Beckham is managed by Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment.

     

    In joining Sky, Beckham teams up with other sporting icons part of the company’s support for British sport and grassroots participation. They include Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis CBE, who became an ambassador for Sky Sports last year; Sir David Brailsford, Principal of Team Sky and the architect behind the exceptional performance of British Cycling; and Sir Bradley Wiggins, five times Olympic gold medalist and first ever British winner of the Tour de France.

     

    Beckham said, “Sky have followed my career since I broke into the Manchester United first team. They have done a huge amount to promote and encourage involvement in sport in Britain and I am delighted to be joining them. I have always been passionate about the importance of sport in the lives of young people. It is not all about winning – just getting involved in sport gives you confidence and skills for life. I was lucky to have some amazing role models when I was younger, and I am excited about the opportunity to work with Sky to pass on some of that knowledge to the next generation.”

     

    Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said, “It is great to welcome David to Sky. Sport is at the heart of what we do and both we and David believe in its power to excite, inspire and change lives. As a hero and inspiration on and off the field, David is a perfect ambassador to help us get more people involved in sport.”

  • Dublin’s Trinity college honour for Yash Chopra

    Dublin’s Trinity college honour for Yash Chopra

    MUMBAI: Influential filmmaker and founder of Yash Raj Films, Yash Chopra, received an honorary professorship from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin at a special event in Mumbai on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Bollywood films on 14 August.

    The prestigious award, which recognises Chopra‘s outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, was conferred on the veteran filmmaker by the university‘s Vice Provost for Global Relations, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer.

    Accepting the honour, Chopra said, “I am humbled to receive this honour from the renowned Trinity College Dublin. In this, the hundredth year of Indian cinema, I am privileged to still be an active member of a fraternity that I have been a part of for almost 60 years. Cinema, with its global reach, has brought us all closer, and given us the opportunity to be familiar with and enjoy the varied cultures of our beautiful world.”

    Commented Professor Ohlmeyer, “Yash Chopra is one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. This honorary professorship pays tribute to a dazzling career that has spanned five decades during which he has succeeded in breaking down geographical barriers by enamouring his Indian audience with overseas locations.

    This award has promoted the possibility of a Bollywood module being developed for students at Trinity College Dublin‘s School of Drama, Film and Music, further strengthening Irish educational ties with India.”

    Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland‘s oldest and most prestigious university, is ranked 21st in Europe and 65th in the world by the 2011 QS World University rankings.

    Last year, Yash Raj Films‘ Ek Tha Tiger was shot on location at Trinity College, Dublin. This was the first time that a Bollywood film was shot in Ireland.