ITV

Tag: Kevin Beggs

  • YouTube Red announces list of new originals; ‘Step Up’ to release in 2017

    YouTube Red announces list of new originals; ‘Step Up’ to release in 2017

    CANNES: With Japan being the country of honour this year, one of the biggest content markets in the world MIPCOM took off with a great start by having Sony Corporation CEO and president, Kazuo Hirai, delivering a keynote session on the company’s work and its recent Playstation VR launch. While Japan promises to be 8K-ready by 2017, there was another interesting keynote session by YouTube global head of content Susanne Daniels about the original series and movies being featured on YouTube Red.

    She was joined on stage by: Lionsgate TV chairman Kevin Beggs and Rooster Teeth co-founder and chief creative officer Burnie Burns.

    Susanne Daniels starts off by introducing what YouTube Red is. While YouTube’s content is available at free of cost, YouTube Red is a paid membership that enables the ultimate YouTube experience. Members get all of YouTube uninterrupted, a premium YouTube music experience, and exclusive access to new original series and movies from top YouTube creators. YouTube Red is currently available in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, with plans for additional international expansion throughout 2017.

    “People have asked me what’s our original programming strategy? Are we planning to mirror Netflix or Amazon in bringing TV to digital, or recreate the programming themes of MTV? The answer to those questions is no. Our goal is to be uniquely YouTube. And our thesis is simple: Identify YouTube’s most engaging stars and top genres, and invest in the content that fans tell us they want. In other words, let our community drive our content.”

    Daniels goes on to mention that over the last year, YouTube Red has seen its original series become one of the leading drivers of subscriptions, with viewership that rivals cable shows in the US. Over half the time people spend watching originals on their mobile phones. And in the living room, Red members watch over 75 per cent more YouTube on their TV’s than the average YouTube viewer.

    Talking about their digital strategy, Kevin Beggs says, “At Lionsgate, we pride ourselves on going new places and forming innovative new partnerships that have never been tried before. Time and again, we’ve been first movers on new platforms. I believe YouTube is embarking on something big, a new chapter in its history that has the potential to change the way people think about its brand in a way that can benefit all of us here.”

    “I often get asked about the secret of our success. And to me, it easily comes down to two things: community and conversation,” a cheery Burnie Burns says. Talking about his journey, Burns elaborates, “When Rooster Teeth was born there was no YouTube and no real online advertising opportunity. So we had to engage our audience not only to watch our content, but also invest in it as well. We learned early on that talking “at” our audience was not enough. We knew we had to start a conversation, take them from being just viewers, to fans and friends, and ultimately create an engaged community around our brand for our business to succeed.”

    In the end, good news came in for YouTube fans as new season renewals and shows was announced. These include:

    Renewal of another season of the series Foursome, the sequel to Burnie Burns’s Lazer Team movie, and season two of Scare PewDiePie.

    They have greenlit a second season of Joey Graceffa’s murder mystery series, “Escape the Night.”

    YouTube Red has commissioned a drama with Universal Cable Productions called IMPULSE, from director Doug Liman. IMPULSE is a sci-fi thriller about a young girl who discovers her ability to teleport away from danger. The series will feature top YouTubers and will have Jeff Lieber – best known for the TV series “Lost” – attached to write and produce.

    Next is a scripted comedy series from Dan Harmon’s Emmy Award-winning production company Starburns Industries. The series will feature YouTube stars Dan Avidan and Arin Hanson of Game Grumps and follows a newly-formed team of eSports players trying to make it to the top in the cutthroat world of competitive gaming.

    The next original is going to excite you as together with Studio 71 and Corridor Digital, Dwayne Johnson will executive produce a new half hour action series about a life insurance company that send its agents forward 33 days in time to prevent the accidental deaths of its clients.

    Along with these, the announcement made by Kevin Beggs would be loved by all the dance lovers as he disclosed that Lionsgate will be coming out with episodes of their hit movie franchise Step Up in 2017.

  • YouTube Red announces list of new originals; ‘Step Up’ to release in 2017

    YouTube Red announces list of new originals; ‘Step Up’ to release in 2017

    CANNES: With Japan being the country of honour this year, one of the biggest content markets in the world MIPCOM took off with a great start by having Sony Corporation CEO and president, Kazuo Hirai, delivering a keynote session on the company’s work and its recent Playstation VR launch. While Japan promises to be 8K-ready by 2017, there was another interesting keynote session by YouTube global head of content Susanne Daniels about the original series and movies being featured on YouTube Red.

    She was joined on stage by: Lionsgate TV chairman Kevin Beggs and Rooster Teeth co-founder and chief creative officer Burnie Burns.

    Susanne Daniels starts off by introducing what YouTube Red is. While YouTube’s content is available at free of cost, YouTube Red is a paid membership that enables the ultimate YouTube experience. Members get all of YouTube uninterrupted, a premium YouTube music experience, and exclusive access to new original series and movies from top YouTube creators. YouTube Red is currently available in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, with plans for additional international expansion throughout 2017.

    “People have asked me what’s our original programming strategy? Are we planning to mirror Netflix or Amazon in bringing TV to digital, or recreate the programming themes of MTV? The answer to those questions is no. Our goal is to be uniquely YouTube. And our thesis is simple: Identify YouTube’s most engaging stars and top genres, and invest in the content that fans tell us they want. In other words, let our community drive our content.”

    Daniels goes on to mention that over the last year, YouTube Red has seen its original series become one of the leading drivers of subscriptions, with viewership that rivals cable shows in the US. Over half the time people spend watching originals on their mobile phones. And in the living room, Red members watch over 75 per cent more YouTube on their TV’s than the average YouTube viewer.

    Talking about their digital strategy, Kevin Beggs says, “At Lionsgate, we pride ourselves on going new places and forming innovative new partnerships that have never been tried before. Time and again, we’ve been first movers on new platforms. I believe YouTube is embarking on something big, a new chapter in its history that has the potential to change the way people think about its brand in a way that can benefit all of us here.”

    “I often get asked about the secret of our success. And to me, it easily comes down to two things: community and conversation,” a cheery Burnie Burns says. Talking about his journey, Burns elaborates, “When Rooster Teeth was born there was no YouTube and no real online advertising opportunity. So we had to engage our audience not only to watch our content, but also invest in it as well. We learned early on that talking “at” our audience was not enough. We knew we had to start a conversation, take them from being just viewers, to fans and friends, and ultimately create an engaged community around our brand for our business to succeed.”

    In the end, good news came in for YouTube fans as new season renewals and shows was announced. These include:

    Renewal of another season of the series Foursome, the sequel to Burnie Burns’s Lazer Team movie, and season two of Scare PewDiePie.

    They have greenlit a second season of Joey Graceffa’s murder mystery series, “Escape the Night.”

    YouTube Red has commissioned a drama with Universal Cable Productions called IMPULSE, from director Doug Liman. IMPULSE is a sci-fi thriller about a young girl who discovers her ability to teleport away from danger. The series will feature top YouTubers and will have Jeff Lieber – best known for the TV series “Lost” – attached to write and produce.

    Next is a scripted comedy series from Dan Harmon’s Emmy Award-winning production company Starburns Industries. The series will feature YouTube stars Dan Avidan and Arin Hanson of Game Grumps and follows a newly-formed team of eSports players trying to make it to the top in the cutthroat world of competitive gaming.

    The next original is going to excite you as together with Studio 71 and Corridor Digital, Dwayne Johnson will executive produce a new half hour action series about a life insurance company that send its agents forward 33 days in time to prevent the accidental deaths of its clients.

    Along with these, the announcement made by Kevin Beggs would be loved by all the dance lovers as he disclosed that Lionsgate will be coming out with episodes of their hit movie franchise Step Up in 2017.

  • Netflix renews ‘Orange is the New Black’ for three seasons

    Netflix renews ‘Orange is the New Black’ for three seasons

    MUMBAI: Netflix has renewed Lionsgate’s original series Orange is the New Black for three additional seasons.

    Season four of the comedic drama set in a women’s prison from creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan will premiere on 17 June with additional seasons five, six and seven premiering in future years.

    Currently seasons one through three are streaming on Netflix.

    Concurrently, it was announced that series creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan has committed to continue as Orange is the New Black’s executive producer and showrunner for seasons five, six and seven.

    “Jenji and her team have produced a phenomenal and impactful series that is both funny and dramatic, outrageous and heartfelt. Audiences around the world have come to love the ladies and men of Orange is the New Black, and we are eager to see where three more seasons will take them,” said Netflix vice president of original content Cindy Holland.

    “Three more years! Not quite a political term, but still plenty of time to do some interesting things. In some cultures, ‘May you lead an interesting life,’ is a curse, but I don’t live in those cultures,” said Kohan. “Here’s to keeping it interesting. Thanks Netflix! Both thanks and you’re welcome Lionsgate! And kudos and gratitude to the stellar cast and crew and writers and producers and editors and musicians and mixers and shleppers… with whom I have the pride and honor of crafting this show. Three more years! Three more years!”

    “We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationships with Netflix and the incredibly talented Jenji Kohan and delighted that one of the most acclaimed shows on television will continue on Netflix for three more seasons,” said Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs. “Jenji’s brilliant creative vision and a truly amazing cast have catapulted Orange is the New Black to the forefront of the platinum age of television, and we’re pleased that Orange fans around the world will be rewarded with another three seasons.”

    The hour-long series stars a diverse and award-winning ensemble of women including Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Kate Mulgrew, Laura Prepon, Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Danielle Brooks, Selenis Leyva, Samira Wiley, Taryn Manning, Yael Stone, Jackie Cruz, Lea DeLaria, Adrienne C. Moore and Elizabeth Rodriguez, along with Michael Harney and Nick Sandow. The series is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Piper Kerman.

  • Netflix renews ‘Orange is the New Black’ for three seasons

    Netflix renews ‘Orange is the New Black’ for three seasons

    MUMBAI: Netflix has renewed Lionsgate’s original series Orange is the New Black for three additional seasons.

    Season four of the comedic drama set in a women’s prison from creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan will premiere on 17 June with additional seasons five, six and seven premiering in future years.

    Currently seasons one through three are streaming on Netflix.

    Concurrently, it was announced that series creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan has committed to continue as Orange is the New Black’s executive producer and showrunner for seasons five, six and seven.

    “Jenji and her team have produced a phenomenal and impactful series that is both funny and dramatic, outrageous and heartfelt. Audiences around the world have come to love the ladies and men of Orange is the New Black, and we are eager to see where three more seasons will take them,” said Netflix vice president of original content Cindy Holland.

    “Three more years! Not quite a political term, but still plenty of time to do some interesting things. In some cultures, ‘May you lead an interesting life,’ is a curse, but I don’t live in those cultures,” said Kohan. “Here’s to keeping it interesting. Thanks Netflix! Both thanks and you’re welcome Lionsgate! And kudos and gratitude to the stellar cast and crew and writers and producers and editors and musicians and mixers and shleppers… with whom I have the pride and honor of crafting this show. Three more years! Three more years!”

    “We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationships with Netflix and the incredibly talented Jenji Kohan and delighted that one of the most acclaimed shows on television will continue on Netflix for three more seasons,” said Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs. “Jenji’s brilliant creative vision and a truly amazing cast have catapulted Orange is the New Black to the forefront of the platinum age of television, and we’re pleased that Orange fans around the world will be rewarded with another three seasons.”

    The hour-long series stars a diverse and award-winning ensemble of women including Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Kate Mulgrew, Laura Prepon, Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Danielle Brooks, Selenis Leyva, Samira Wiley, Taryn Manning, Yael Stone, Jackie Cruz, Lea DeLaria, Adrienne C. Moore and Elizabeth Rodriguez, along with Michael Harney and Nick Sandow. The series is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Piper Kerman.

  • Lionsgate roars with 24 Emmy nominations

    Lionsgate roars with 24 Emmy nominations

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate’s series Orange Is The New Black, Mad Men, Nurse Jackie and Manhattan, and its limited series Houdini earned a total of 24 Emmy nominations.

     

    These include an eighth consecutive Outstanding Drama Series nomination for four-time Emmy winner Mad Men (AMC); a Drama Series nomination for Orange Is The New Black (Netflix); and four lead acting nominations including Mad Men’s Jon Hamm (his eighth consecutive drama nod) and Elisabeth Moss (her fifth nomination in this category), Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco (an Emmy winner and six-time nominee for this role), and Adrien Brody, who landed his first Emmy nomination for Houdini.

     

    Mad Men’s 11 nominations also include nods for Christina Hendricks as Supporting Actress (her sixth nomination), two Writing nominations, as well as nods for Production Design, Casting, Editing, Hairstyling and Makeup.

     

    Orange Is The New Black scored a total of four nominations, including nods for Uzo Aduba as Supporting Actress, Pablo Schreiber as Guest Actor, and Casting, along with its Drama Series nomination.

     

    In addition to Edie Falco’s nomination for Nurse Jackie and Adrien Brody’s nomination for Houdini, Lionsgate picked up six additional Houdini nods in the Directing, Cinematography, Picture Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Makeup categories, as well as a Main Title Design nomination for Manhattan. 

     

    “We’re extremely proud of our incredible roster of nominated shows and we thank the TV Academy for this tremendous recognition. These nominations underscore our commitment to producing highly entertaining and original programs that resonate deeply with viewers and inspire broader cultural conversation,” said Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs. 

  • “Asia is a priority market for Lionsgate”: Kevin Beggs

    “Asia is a priority market for Lionsgate”: Kevin Beggs

    CANNES: Lionsgate is scrutinising the Asian market.  For the company which has been in the channel business in Asia through joint ventures for the past five years, the region now features in the priority market list.

     

    Addressing the audience at MIPCOM 2014, Lionsgate chairman Kevin Beggs said that with its Hong Kong office, the company is also pushing into India. “Shows like Orange is the New Black in China represent a huge revenue growth for us, which before was pretty close to nothing,” he said, adding that while the region is temperamental in a way, it is also very promising.

     

    The theatrical side of Lionsgate is in deep discussions about bringing more films into Asia. “We are looking at developing shows that could find itself in the market now. It’s a priority for the company, but it is also an emerging market for us, that will go a long way at making us strong, and we are focused on it,” informed Beggs.  

     

    Lionsgate, the creators of ‘Orange is the New Black’, ‘Manhattan’, ‘Mad Men’ is a firm believer of having a global look, while making a show. “Both Mad Men and Orange Is The New Black are high quality shows, which we were hoping would be liked by the global audiences. It has exceeded expectations,” he said.

     

    The company keeps its eyes open for finding great partnerships across the globe. “We are talking to people all the time. We are finding the perfect shows that we can co-commission or commission simply for the UK or Germany or France pay market. It is a high priority for us,” informed Beggs.

     

    Lionsgate has auctioned many formats so far in different markets. “We always look for the right thing to adapt,” he added.

     

    Beggs also touched upon the streaming services that have started playing a key role. “While television has ad breaks with 42 or 43 minutes of drama, the streaming services have no advertising obligation. And they have a much longer running time and no breaks. The storytelling of ‘Orange is the New Black’ on Netflix is very different. It takes a lot of digressions on the shows, and because people will re-watch, one has a lot of freedom to tell a story in a much more serialised and novelised way. There is no need for a dramatic ending before a commercial break, so that people can come back. So the pacing is interesting from our standpoint as well,” he said.

     

    He feels that in a scenario like this, the writers have to do a great job and also as producers “we need to understand the audience and what would hold them back. Audiences can watch the whole season of a series in a few hours and would wait for the next season, which would take a year. So this is different,” he informed.

     

    Beggs believes that there will be more streaming players in the future. “It the next two years or so, there will be six to seven new streaming services or may be more,” he stated. Citing the reason for the change, which could see some big players jumping into it, he said that streaming business, on a pay basis, does not need a huge number of subscribers to breakeven.  “Brands will follow where the audiences are,” he concluded.

     

  • Lionsgate set to bring Twitter story on TV

    Lionsgate set to bring Twitter story on TV

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate, a leading global entertainment company, has optioned the rights to Nick Bilton’s New York Times best seller Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal, with Allison Shearmur set as executive producer.  Bilton, a columnist and reporter for the New York Times, will write the screenplay and serve as the producer. The announcement was made on 18 December by Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs. 

    Hatching Twitter presents a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the creation of the social media service by four friends and its evolution into worldwide phenomena that has changed the accession of digital communication. Bilton sheds light on the relationships, battles, power grabs and betrayals along the way in one of the most talked-about books of the year.

    Published by Penguin/Portfolio on 5 November, 2013, Hatching Twitter is a New York Times Best Seller that debuted at number 14 on the E-Book Nonfiction list and number five on the Wall Street Journal’s Hardcover Business list.  The readers of the Wall Street Journal named it the Best Book of 2013.  It has also made it to the “best of year” lists in a number of other outlets, including The Economist, Gizmodo, Bookish and Mashable and was an Amazon Best Book of the month in November.

    “Twitter has transformed almost every aspect of our lives from politics to business to friendship, and I can’t think of a more compelling story to adapt for television right now,” said Beggs in a release. “Nick’s book has all the elements of a great drama with its complex characters, high-stakes power struggles and betrayed friendships, and we’re extremely fortunate to have Alli Shearmur onboard as executive producer,” he added. 

    “Hatching Twitter will go behind the scenes of a groundbreaking Silicon Valley company in a way that’s never been captured before on television,” said Shearmur. “The Social Network was a perfect film, and this series will be different, providing a longer view of the work life changes, gamesmanship and personal sacrifices made by a group of individuals who are building a company that will change the way that people communicate,” he added.

    “I am thrilled to work with Allison Shearmur and Lionsgate to adapt my book about the power, betrayal and billions of dollars that swirl through Silicon Valley,” said Bilton.  “The story of Hatching Twitter really speaks to a generation that has searched for friendship through technology and it will be very exciting to see it brought to life on screen,” he said. He further added on his website that, “I’m thrilled to announce that Hatching Twitter has been optioned by Lionsgate and we will be starting development of a TV series.”

    Lionsgate has enjoyed great success with book adaptations, including its blockbuster movie franchises Hunger Games and Twilight, which have collectively grossed more than $4 billion at the box office worldwide. Hunger Games’ Indian release of its latest installment, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has garnered a three-day collection in India of approximately – Rs 21 crore.