ITV

Tag: Korea

  • Veria living worldwide on pre-MIP-TV surge with over500 hours of programming already sold

    Veria living worldwide on pre-MIP-TV surge with over500 hours of programming already sold

    MUMBAI: Multiplatform healthy lifestyle and wellness media brand Veria Living Worldwide (www.verialiving.com/programsales) has sold 500+ hours of programming as it prepares to head to MIP-TV. Veria Living Worldwide will offer original HD/SD content – everything from fitness and reality to travel and healthy cooking series produced by Veria Living Studios along with select library titles – to buyers at MIP-TV (Stand: P3.B10) this April.

     

    The company has already secured deals with several networks that will air the content across 13 different countries. Noted Raymond Donahue, SVP of Programming Sales, Veria Living Worldwide, “The demand for health and wellness programming – which has been growing exponentially for several years – continues to increase dramatically across the global marketplace. Consumers are looking for expert advice that they can utilize to lead healthier, happier lifestyles. Broadcasters looking to engage this audience have successfully utilized our original programming to attract and build a loyal viewership.”

     

    Veria Living Worldwide signed a five-year agreement with the Armed Forces Network (AFN), a worldwide radio and television broadcast network, serving nearly one million American service men and women. AFN will air all Veria Living Worldwide content and has already begun airing Veria Living Live, a daily live audience lifestyle talk show, featuring a fast-paced mix of the latest pop culture, celebrity guests and more.

     

    RCS & RDS, one of the largest cable and satellite television operators in Romania, acquired 100 hours of Veria Living Worldwide original series. Viewers across Romania and Hungry can tune in to: Workout from Within, a fun and simple instructional exercise show; Naturally Beautiful, a health and wellness show that provides expert alternative beauty tips; What a Relief!, a look at alternative medicines that can be found in plants; Natural Companions, an exploration of the vast world of holistic pet care; Under the Sun, a survey of the flavorful and nutritious organic foods all over the world; What Happens Next?, an educational show about the relationship between the complex systems of the human body and everyday stimuli; and Veria Living Top 10, a countdown of the very best in the world of health and wellness, featuring doctors, lifestyle gurus, nutrition experts and fitness mavens.

     

    TVA, a privately owned French Canadian television network will air Yogi Cameron: A Model Guru. The series chronicles the work of Yogi Cameron, a former supermodel turned spiritual healer who successfully treats people challenged by health issues by using yoga and Ayurveda, a 5,000 year-old-system of medicine and healing.

     

    Israel’s leading lifestyle channel, Ananey Channels, picked up 100 hours of programming. Among the original series are: The Lisa Oz Show, an hour long talk-show where Lisa Oz empowers viewers to live well; Peggy K’s Kitchen Cures, a unique cooking show that featuring delicious and ailment-curing recipes; Fed Up, an inside look at Top Chef alum Andrea Beaman’s tricks to break unhealthy eating routines with delicious and easy-to-make meals; The First Step, a one of a kind series that combines couples therapy and fitness; and, Sweet Truth, a demonstration of natural and healthy alternatives to satisfying and sweet desserts.

     

    Serbia’s Prava I Prevodi, a strategic partner of major TV stations in countries of the former Yugoslavia, purchased 200 hours of Veria Living Worldwide originals. The media company acquired the rights to: Chasing the Yum, a cooking show that shares the secrets of how to prepare classic Asian dishes; Feng Shui Living, a unique design show that takes your home from drab to fab and offers healthy living tips; Naturally Delicious, a healthy cooking show that helps viewers shed pounds and boost energy; Simply Beautiful, a wellness series that provides viewers with healthy alternatives in the world of beauty, fashion and fitness; and What’s Brewing, a satisfying and sometimes caffeinated journey into the ancient origins and modern-day benefits of beverages from around the world. The company also acquired the rights to Peggy K’s Kitchen Cures, What a Relief, What Happens Next, Sweet Truth and Veria Living Top 10.

     

    LITV, 24hour HD network based in Malaysia that broadcasts across Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea and Vietnam attained 100 hours of series from Veria Living Worldwide. The acquired series include: the Emmy-nominated Good Food America (seasons 1 & 2), a travel and reality show that follows chef Danny Boome on a culinary adventure in search of the best healthy places to eat; Pilates: From the Inside Out, an instructional exercise class centered around Pilates; Rock Your Yoga, an interactive yoga show that features people of all body types; Fit, Famous & Fabulous, an inside look into the workouts, diets, training regiments and treatments that keep today’s hottest stars looking and feeling their best; and the shows Feng Shui Living and Veria Living Top 10.

  • Prisoners of War sells into Asia

    Prisoners of War sells into Asia

    MUMBAI: Keshet International, the global distribution arm of Keshet Media Group, has sold its successful drama Prisoners of War, on which Emmy® Award winner Homeland is based, to Korea’s Star J Entertainment, marking its entry to a fourth continent worldwide.

     
    The local adaptation of the show will be produced in partnership by Youngbeom Jeong, Sebastian Lee and Teddy Zee, Nam-gil Kim is also attached to star. He is best known for his role of Bidam in the hit Korean drama Queen Seondeokand stars in the film Pirates: The Bandit goes to the Seathat will be released later this year.
     

    Prisoners of Warscooped the top prize at the Seoul International Drama Awards in September 2013 beating its US adaptation Homeland, the eighth season of US series House and several other high profile international dramas for the Grand Jury Prize.
     

    Keshet Internationalhas enjoyed unprecedented international success with Prisoners of War having brokered deals for local adaptations in territories like Russia (WeitMedia), Turkey (Medyapim) and the US (Fox21 and Showtime – Homeland). The finished show has sold to more than 20 territories including the UK (Sky Arts), Australia (SBS), Brazil (Globosat), Arte (German and French-speaking Europe) and Norway (NRK). Prisoners of War is also available on several streaming and VOD platforms such as Hulu, Netflix Scandinavia, Universal Pictures German-speaking Europe and iTunes Canada as well as through a range of physical DVD partners worldwide.

    In 2012 author Stephen King included Hatufim (season one) at number 8 in his top 10 TV shows of the year.* In 2013 The New York Times placed Hatufim (season two) at number 2 in its top 12 TV shows of the year.**  

    Teddy Zee, Hollywood-based producer and former studio executive, said “We believe that the ongoing conflict between South Korea and North Korea makes the adaptation of Prisoners of Warespecially compelling and timely.”

    Sebastian Lee, producer, co-founder of EnterMedia Contents and international consultant for ABC Networks added, “With this cooperation with Keshet, we hope to expand the influence of the so-called Korean Wave in Asia and beyond.”

    Alon Shtruzman, CEO Keshet International, said, “We are very excited about the first Asian adaptation of Prisoners of War, I look forward to seeing how the Koreans interpret this incrediblestory. It’s a gem in our portfolio which is continuously evolving and extending its lifecycle internationally.”

    Youngbeom Jeong, CEO of Star J Entertainment shared, “This production represents a dream come true for my partner and client Nam-gil Kim.”

     
    Prisoners of War follows two soldiers as they attempt to re-adjust to their lives after returning home from captivity for 17 years. In addition to their personal struggles, it becomes clear that there is a profound secret that the two are keeping from everyone. The first season was the highest-rated drama of the year in Israel in 2011, achieving a 37% share (HH). Season two launched on Keshet Channel 2 in 2012, and scored a 40% average share, making it the most viewed drama of the year and peaking with an incredible 47.9% audience share during the season two finale.

     

  • DD, Prasar Bharati sign MoU with Korea’s Arirang TV

    DD, Prasar Bharati sign MoU with Korea’s Arirang TV

    MUMBAI: In September 2012, when Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar led the Indian delegation to the General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union at Seoul, he called on the then President of  Korea and other dignitaries. Since then the Korean Broadcasting System and Prasar Bharati have on-going partnerships.

     

    However, a new partnership was sought to be made between the Korean International Broadcasting Foundation, Arirang TV and Doordarshan for which Sircar and CEO of Arirang TV Jie-Ae Sohn renewed correspondence recently in November, 2013.

     

    And now the two stations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will allows them to share content. The CEOs from the two stations met in New Delhi on Friday and agreed to an exchange that will foster cultural ties between Korea and India.

     

    The Korean Minister expressed hope for a deeper cultural understanding between India and South Korea. One of the officials was quoted as saying on the Arirang News website, “Through this exchange of broadcasting and broadcasters, we can jumpstart this cultural exchange between two very strong culturally rich countries.”

     

    The deal took shape when ministers from both the countries were meeting to sign an MoU on Mutual Recognition of Digital Signature Certificates for Efficient E-Governance/Cross Border Trade Facilitation. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, India Kapil Sibal and Minister for Science, ICT and Future Planning, Republic of Korea Mun-kee Choi were present there.

     

    Under the agreement, Arirang and Doordarshan aim to make their global channels available on satellite platforms in both nations by 2014. Both parties will even explore co-production opportunities related to matters of mutual interest and share TV programmes in the cultural, educational, scientific, agricultural, entertainment, sports, news and any other possible fields. The MoU will be valid for a period of three years from the date of signature and will be automatically renewed for every following three years, unless terminated by either party by giving a written notice of three months.

    Interestingly, as the MoU was being signed, a documentary produced by Arirang TV was being aired on Doordarshan throughout India. The documentary explains the vision for the “creative economy” that President Park Geun-hye has advocated since the very beginning of her term last February.

     

     

  • Fox International productions, Ivanhoe Pictures in co-finance deal for Asian films

    Fox International productions, Ivanhoe Pictures in co-finance deal for Asian films

    MUMBAI: Production company Ivanhoe Pictures was launched in Toronto earlier this year by Ivanhoe Capital Corporation principal Robert Friedland, GreeneStreet president and co-founder John Penotti, and Beijing-based Ray Chen, founder and chairman of Beijing Premiere Media Company. At launch, the company said it would finance and produce film and TV projects that have broad global audience appeal, initially seeding opportunities in America and Asia, focusing on China, India, Korea and Japan.

     

    Fox International Productions, which has a lucrative local-language business in Asia and elsewhere, is now teaming with Ivanhoe in a four-year, multi-picture co-financing deal for homegrown movies in India, Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan. The pact will kick off with Ivanhoe investing in 10 FIP-produced films in varying stages of production. The investment from Ivanhoe signifies the strength of FIP’s local-language business which is also active in Latin America and Europe.
     

  • Close Koouka wins 2013 Mip Junior International Pitch

    Close Koouka wins 2013 Mip Junior International Pitch

    CANNES: Apart from content, Mip Junior’s biggest draw is an opportunity to present new intellectual properties (IPs) to a larger, more discerning audience.

    This year, of the 60 new projects vying for top honours at the international competition, Mip Junior International Pitch – New Projects for Kids TV, five made it to the final round and one of them was declared winner i.e. Koouka by Aldebaran Distribution and Vallaround, Italy.

    Presented by distributor Anna d’ Alessandro and producer Federico Vallarino, Koouka is the story of a chameleon, which changes the colour, shape and size of the things it touches. Replete with funny gags and sans any dialogue, the series’ theme is identity and how a natural desire to be accepted by others can stop people from expressing their real selves. Interestingly, there are 26 episodes, each of one minute duration.

    The other four who made it to the top five include Being Zeth by Source Animation, India; Goris the Gorilla by Split, Brazil and Chile; Nelly and Nora by Geronimo, Ireland; and The Little Train Choo Choo by JM Animation, Korea.

    The jury comprised BBC head of CBeebies production, animation and acquisition Alison Stewart; Canal+ head of children programmes and channels Laurence Blaevoet; The Walt Disney Company (South East Asia), India head of acquisitions, programming, branded media and content Anand Roy; Globosat Programadora head of content and programming Paula Taborda dos Guaranys; and Kenn Viselmann Presents CEO/owner Kenn Viselman.

    The jury looked for projects with potential for TV and multi-platform brand extensions, as well as originality and overall appeal in the storytelling technique, and Koouka bagged the award. Winners will get free access to Mip TV 2014 and a chance to interact with buyers during the main networking event on 6 October. 

  • Qissa wins NETPAC Award at 13th Toronto International Film Festival

    Qissa wins NETPAC Award at 13th Toronto International Film Festival

    NEW DELHI: Qissa by Anup Singh has won the NETPAC Award for World or International Asian Film Premiere at the 13th Toronto International Film Festival.

     

    The award is instituted by the Network for the promotion of Asian Cinema and given at very few festivals.

     

    Jury members include Jay Jeon (Korea), Intishal Al Timimi (Abu Dhabi) and Freddie Wong (Hong Kong).

     

    The jury remarked: “The NETPAC Award for the best Asian film at Festival 2013 goes to Qissa, directed by Anup Singh, for its sensitive portrayal of the issues of identity and displacement that affect people not only in India, but in all parts of the world and for brilliance of cinematic craft and the choice of metaphor that has been employed to tell a moving story that is bound to provoke thoughts, spark debate and give its viewers an intense experience.”

     

    Set amidst the ethnic cleansing and general chaos that accompanied India’s partition in 1947, this sweeping drama stars Irrfan Khan – also appearing at the Festival in The Lunchbox – as a Sikh attempting to forge a new life for his family while keeping their true identities a secret from their community.

     

    Beautiful, timeless, and touching the deepest of human impulses, Qissa carries the spirit of a great folk tale. Although it’s set in a particular time and place – the Punjab region that straddles India and Pakistan in the years immediately after partition – it is both deeper and broader than any one moment. As this eerie family drama progresses, it cuts to the heart of eternal desires for honour, empathy, and love.

     

    One of India’s best actors, Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, Festival premiere The Lunchbox, and a feature guest in this year’s Mavericks programme) plays Umber Singh, a Sikh uprooted by the religious violence that came with partition in 1947. He and his family move to a safer locale, and it is here that the story takes a remarkable turn. Having already fathered daughters, Singh now wants a son. When his next child is born he celebrates his wish come true, but there is one problem: the baby is in fact a girl.

     

    Qissa is originally an Arabic word meaning folk tale. Both the word and the idea migrated from the Gulf into the Punjab, still connected by the ancient oral narratives handed down in communal settings. Working within this tradition, director Anup Singh gives his film both the grand themes and elemental emotions of classic storytelling. As Umber’s daughter is raised as a boy, the characters are propelled with greater and greater urgency towards their inevitable fates.

     

    Part of a new generation of directors with feet firmly planted in India and far beyond, Singh has delivered a film immediately accessible to anyone sensitive to the conflicts that drive classic stories: fear versus hubris, individual need versus social codes. Qissa is a Punjabi story for the whole world. 

  • Panda approaches Gere for film on food security

    Panda approaches Gere for film on food security

    MUMBAI: With both his debut film I Am Kalam and Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid having won rave reviews, Nila Madhab Panda is making a film based on the issue of world food security.

    The film, which will span from 2001 to 2010, will be like a realistic version of Avatar.

    Panda has approached Richard Gere to star in the film. If Gere accepts, he will play the sutradhar, that of a foreigner who comes to India and gets involved with the socio-political setup of a village in the India-Australia joint production.

    The director has also proposed Harrison Ford’s name for the film.

    “We’re talking to a lot of people. Nothing is confirmed yet, but this film will be much bigger (compared to his past films),” observed Panda.

    Talking about Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid , Panda averred, “It’s more than just a children’s film. It falls in the family adventure space.”

    Panda is gearing up to release Jalpari on 28 July through producer-distributor Ultra Distributors.

    The distributor has already received distribution offers from far flung countries like Korea, Taiwan, Germany and Far East.

  • Korea’s ad spends jump 11% to $8.46 bn in 2011

    Korea’s ad spends jump 11% to $8.46 bn in 2011

    MUMBAI: Korea’s total advertising spend for 2011 has jumped 10.9 per cent to $8.46 billion, according to an estimate by Cheil Worldwide.

    This is the second consecutive year when the country’s ad expenditure has increased, after it dipped 6.9 per cent in calendar year 2009 over the prior year due to the global economic crisis .

    Data from the years 2010 and 2011 signal that the market is back on track. The jump in calendar year 2011 is due to improved consumer sentiment combined with aggressive marketing campaigns by companies, Cheil Worldwide‘s annual report on annual advertising spends in Korea stated.

    Segregating the spends according to the medium, one sees that Internet jumped by 20 per cent while TV and print media showed 11 per cent and 3.3 per cent increase respectively.

    Mobile advertising which is a relatively new category recorded a growth of 11,900 per cent from $0 .44 million in 2010 to $53.1 million in 2011. The major growth driver for this category is the use of smart phones which skyrocketed.

    Despite the Euro crisis and downturn in developed countries, 2012’s growth in the ad spend is expected to be between 5 per cent and 6.3 per cent higher than the national economic growth rate. This is keeping in view some positive signs like general programming TV (four new channels introduced by major newspapers) which will continue to increase ad sales. Print media is becoming increasingly digitalised and industries are reliant on individual digital media such as smart phones.

    The report is an estimate of advertising spending in Korea during the calendar year, representing the advertising media fees and production costs for the traditional media (newspapers, magazines, radio and television), along with those for the satellite media, Internet, and promotional media categories.

  • With no fight Journey 2 stands high

    With no fight Journey 2 stands high

    MUMBAI: Devoid of any serious competition, Warner Bros.’ Journey 2: The Mysterious Island maintained its No. 1 box office position for the third consecutive weekend by collecting $18.5 million from 8,500 screens in 48 offshore territories.

    A No. 1 opening in Italy, the film contributed $2.4 million from 418 screens and edged out French comedy blockbuster Intouchables that also made its debut in the market. The New Line/Walden Media family adventure has till yet grossed $159.2 million, $16.2 million more than foreign gross of the film’s 2008 predecessor Journey To The Center of the Earth.
     
    Foreign grosses for best-picture nominees at the Oscar like The Artist ($48 million versus $29 million domestic); The Help ($42 million versus $169.7 million domestic); The Tree of Life ($49 million versus $13.3 million domestic); Midnight in Paris ($98 million versus $56.5 million domestic); War Horse ($62.7 million versus $79 million domestic); Hugo ($46 million of which Paramount-handled markets account for $39.9 million, versus $69.4 million domestic); Moneyball ($34 million versus $75.6 million domestic); The Descendants ($77.7 million versus $79 million domestic); and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close ($8.5 million versus $31.2 million domestic).

    No.2 on the weekend was Safe House, Universal’s thriller starring Denzel Washington, opened in 11 territories and roped in $13.6 million on the weekend overall from 3,389 sites in 46 markets. Standing out was the film’s No. 3 bow in the U.K., which drew $3.6 million from 425 locations. Openings in Italy, Korea, Mexico, Panama and Indonesia are on tap this week.

  • Rampark Entertainment establishes base in India

    Rampark Entertainment establishes base in India

    MUMBAI: Rampark Entertainment, a production house based in Korea, has recently forayed into the Indian market.

    Rampark Entertainment chairman Mohinder Khajuria said that that their foray into India was very important and a critical aspect of the company’s expansion plans, especially in the light of the predicted economic slowdown in Europe and other parts of the global market.

    Rampark Entertainment provides exclusive production planning with budgeting and scheduling. They have a select database of experienced professionals like production designers, production supervisors, production managers, production accountants, location managers, cameramen, art directors, asst directors, light and grip professionals in the entertainment industry from all over the country.

    The company also specialises in location and scouting permits, site management, location support, catering, security and facility management.