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Tag: LLC

  • CareView becomes Dish Network’s private cable operator

    MUMBAI: CareView Communications, Inc., an information technology provider to the healthcare industry, executed an agreement with Dish Network, LLC, a Colorado company, to become a Private Cable Operator (PCO). This agreement will enable CareView to provide television network services via Dish Network as part of its full suite of products and services offered through its CareView System.

    “Our intention is to include television services via Dish Network to residents in skilled nursing and assisted living centers as a part of our bundled service offering which will provide greater flexibility for the facility and more viewing options for their patients”

    As a PCO, CareView will have greater flexibility and less overhead than cable operators or public utility companies and can pass savings along to its customers. This bulk programming will provide a low cost viewing package that can be delivered to each room within assisted living centers, nursing homes and hospitals.

    “Our intention is to include television services via Dish Network to residents in skilled nursing and assisted living centers as a part of our bundled service offering which will provide greater flexibility for the facility and more viewing options for their patients,” stated CareView CEO Steven Johnson. “This represents a continuation of our present bundled services philosophy. It offers an additional way for facilities to cut costs and add additional revenue.”

    CareView installs its equipment in healthcare facilities at no charge, thereafter generating revenue from subscriptions to its suite of products and services that are priced as a bundled service. As CareView’s tiered pricing structure is based on the volume commitment by each customer, it intends to include television services via Dish Network to skilled nursing and assisted living centers as part of the bundled service offering to allow customers access to the full suite of CareView services.

    The Company’s CareView System provides a full complement of clinical and patient monitoring services for a variety of healthcare facilities. It also provides an entertainment suite of services to increase patient satisfaction scores and enhance the overall image of the facility including first-run, on-demand movies, Internet access and the ability to visit with family and friends through video conferencing.

    CareView’s mission is to be the leading provider of products and on-demand application services for the healthcare industry by specializing in bedside video monitoring, archiving and patient care documentation systems and patient entertainment services. Through the use of telecommunications technology and the Internet, our products and on-demand services will greatly increase the access to quality medical care and education for both consumers and healthcare professionals.

  • Dentsu to acquire 33.3% stake in Californian sports agency

    Dentsu to acquire 33.3% stake in Californian sports agency

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Inc’s subsidiary Dentsu Sports will be acquiring a 33 per cent stake in sports agency Athletes First, LLC, which is headquartered in California.

     

    Founded in 2001, Athletes First is a full-service agency, which represents National Football League (NFL) players, NFL and college coaches, professional baseball players, individual athletes in other sports, and other sports-related clients, including broadcasters, with regard to individual contract negotiations, marketing/commercial endorsements, and other client services.

     

    The firm’s core expertise involves the representation and management of athletes and coaches associated with the NFL, a sports league, which boasts a popularity and economic scale that is unparalleled even among the four major professional sports leagues in the US. Its championship game, the Super Bowl, holds nine out of the top ten rankings for the most watched television broadcasts in the US.

     

    Athletes First has more NFL clients than any other privately-owned representation agency including the reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, as well as several other high-profile NFL players including Clay Matthews, Carson Palmer, Earl Thomas, Von Miller and Jamaal Charles. Athletes First also represents ESPN broadcasters Steve Young, Ray Lewis, and Trent Dilfer, as well as NFL head coaches Chip Kelly and Jason Garrett.

     

    The Dentsu Group has to date been involved in business with sales of marketing and broadcasting rights for professional sports leagues in the US, and the investment in Athletes First will enable it to expand its array of services to its client base in terms of sports marketing and related endeavors in the United States.

     

    Going forward, Dentsu will work toward the further expansion of Athletes First’s agency business and the diversification of its sports representation, sports marketing and consulting business across the United States, and internationally as well. 

  • ABC’s ‘Rising Star’ technology creator,Screenz, secures $5m investment

    ABC’s ‘Rising Star’ technology creator,Screenz, secures $5m investment

    MUMBAI: Cross-media company Screenz, announces the procurement of $5M investment from Marker LLC to expand research and development, accelerating the growth of technological advances in media entertainment.

     

    Screenz CEO Eli Uzan says, “The evolving media landscape provides partnership opportunities with major production companies and broadcasters, making traditional TV and second screen experiences inseparable. We are delighted that Marker LLC, a leading U.S. VC, is joining us to ensure Screenz continues to change how the world views and interacts with television.”

     

    Screenz and Keshet International’s Rising Star is the most social television series to date with 129,071 tweets at the series premiere and was the No. 1 downloaded iOS app. The ABC premiere outperformed NBC’s America’s Got Talent season premiere by 116% (59,734 tweets) and exceeded America’s Got Talent social media interactions by 290% (33,106 tweets).

     

    Rising Star scored the highest rating for an ABC summer series debut in two years. Sold into more than 25 territories, this format uses an extensive suite of products featured on Screenz’s Real-Time Platform.

     

    The cloud-based software solution developed by Screenz permits over 100 million interactions per minute while viewers engage with shows through second screen formats including: talent, trivia apps, real-time prediction, and social media extensions. Broadcasters and producers achieve live audience engagement while simultaneously capturing viewer data, extending their brands beyond the confines of TV, generating new advertising revenue opportunities, and taking TV into the Big Data marketplace.

     

    “Screenz is a leader in the emerging interactive television sector and helps navigate the future of the industry,” says Marker LLC Partner, Rick Scanlon. “The company has created and flawlessly managed real-time interactive experiences on a large scale with globally renowned entertainment companies. Marker is thrilled to partner with Screenz and support its rapid growth.”

     

    Screenz recently joined forces with Google extending the reach of its real-time technology. Screenz maintains a platform of innovative formats that will be revealed through leading technology and entertainment industry partnerships worldwide.

  • ARY Digital gets Media Morphosis on board as sales agency

    MUMBAI: ARY Digital Network, the Urdu language broadcasting network, has appointed full service multicultural communications company Media Morphosis LLC to handle its ad sales in North America.

    Media Morphosis LLC will also look after the local business of ARY Digital Network for Canada.

    In 2010, Manhattan Communications had acquired a majority stake in Media Morphosis LLC. It is an associate company of Manhattan Communications India.

    According to the company, as a consumer group the Urdu speaking community boasts one of the highest income, education and business ownership levels than any other ethnic group in the US or Canada.

    ARY Digital Network aims to further educate mainstream companies and organisations on the growing trends amongst Muslims in North America and make them aware of the opportunities available within this community.

    ARY Digital Network VP- Operations Junaid Bawany said, “In North America Muslims comprise one of the most educated, affluent and influential ethnic communities in existence. The potential for companies in North America to reach this growing population is immeasurable. We are pleased to have MediaMorphosis further assist us creating greater awareness of ARY Digital Network with mainstream companies.”

    MediaMorphosis LLC director, strategic marketing and development Daniel Ocner added, “We are proud to join ARY Digital Network in helping service the needs of Muslims in North America. Mainstream companies need to understand they are interested in brands that not only empower their cultural relevancy but also take the time to understand who they are. By helping engage mainstream companies to strategically approach the Muslim market as a long-term investment, we plan to build value that will benefit ARY, corporations and consumers.”

    ARY Network holds one of the most diversified portfolios of channels, starting with its flagship channel ARY Digital, current affairs and news channel ARY News, youth based music channel ARY Musik, religious and spiritual teachings channel ARY QTV and traditional food and recipes based channel ARY Zauq.

    All production is done in-house catering to Urdu speakers residing in Pakistan and abroad.

  • The Children’s Place Retail Stores appoints Ivy Ross as Sr VP & chief creative officer of Disney Store North America

    MUMBAI: The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. has announced the appointment of Ivy Ross as senior vice president and chief creative officer, Hoop Retail Stores, LLC, the owner and operator of Disney Store North America.

    Ross will join the Disney Store on 23 January and report directly to Disney Store president Tara Poseley, informs an official release.

    “We are delighted to welcome Ivy to our team,” said Poseley. “Ivy brings an extensive background of innovative product design expertise in hardlines and softlines and her passion for design and innovative thinking make her uniquely qualified for this newly-created role. Ivy will oversee the creative aspects for the Disney Store brand and will be an integral part in our continued efforts to elevate the product and guest experience.”

    Ross most recently served as executive VP of product design and development from the Old Navy division of Gap, Inc. Prior to that, Ross was with Mattel, Inc. as senior VP of Worldwide product design and brand image for the girls division, where she was responsible for design of toys, as well as packaging, licensed product, and brand imaging for the girl’s division.

    The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. is a specialty retailer of children’s merchandise. The company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells merchandise under the proprietary “The Children’s Place” and licensed “Disney Store” brand names.

     

  • GlowSkin Active Illumination powers Cartoon Network’s ‘Adult Swim’ in US

    GlowSkin Active Illumination powers Cartoon Network’s ‘Adult Swim’ in US

    MUMBAI: GlowSkin Active Illumination Technology manufacturer Safe Lites, LLC has announced that it has added animated illumination to the advertising billboards for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim in 14 markets throughout the US. This claims to be the largest such implementation in North America.

    “Our goal with any Adult Swim ad campaign is to present something highly creative and completely unexpected,” said Cartoon Network and Adult Swim senior vice president of marketing Dennis Adamovich. “This new GlowSkin technology captured our imaginations by providing a unique solution for infusing actual animation to a traditionally static billboard campaign. The result is an iconic, memorable presentation that should get people talking.”

    GlowSkin is Safe Lites’ proprietary specification of industrial-grade electroluminescent (EL) lighting, which is a powered lighting system that glows, rather than shines, and is designed to stand up to harsh outdoor conditions while improving the visibility of vehicles, equipment, people, or nearly anything. The thin and flexible nature of GlowSkin, the fact that it requires minimal energy to power it, the ability to create GlowSkin in nearly any colour, size, and shape, and the safety elements designed into GlowSkin all make it an ideal technology for advertising and promotion applications, states an official release.

    “In the two months since Safe Lites applied GlowSkin to the sides of light rail cars in Portland for Pentax Imaging, we have rolled out nearly 60 billboards across the US through the cooperation of dozens of organizations. We are proud to be working with Adult Swim, and the many OOH (Out of Home) Advertising organizations that are going to make this campaign a success for the late-night network’s programming,” said Safe Lites founder, chairman and CEO John Golle.

  • Virgin Comics to produce ‘Secrets of the Seven Sounds’

    Virgin Comics to produce ‘Secrets of the Seven Sounds’

    MUMBAI: Sir Richard Bransons’ Virgin Comics, LLC and Kahani World, Inc. an independent animation company based in Toronto, Canada, have teamed up to co-produce Secrets of the Seven Sounds, a full length animated feature for kids (seven & above age group), inspired by Ramayana.

    In addition to action, adventure and fantasy, Secrets of the Seven Sounds challenges tradition by asking us to consider what it might really be like to be the little brother of the Chosen One? Seven Sounds tells the story of the handsome, naturally gifted, and love-struck Prince Ram whose destiny has chosen him to rescue Princess Sita (the object of his affections) and save the world from the villainous lord Ravan. But the real hero of Seven Sounds is of course, Lux – prince Ram’s 11 year-old little brother – the family’s insightful and often-overlooked intrepid fighter, states an official release.

    “The Ramayan continues to be the bedrock of India’s cultural identity in ways that no other myth can claim,” says Deepak Chopra, best-selling author and chairman of Virgin Comics. “The Seven Sounds’ animated film is a marvelous way to share this story and inspire children around the world.”

    Secrets of the Seven Sounds is already in an advanced stage of development; full production begins in just seven weeks. The feature is in collaboration with Virgin Comics co-founders, Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur (director of Four Feathers, Bandit Queen and the 8-time Oscar nominated Elizabeth) and is based on an original story by Gotham Chopra, Sharad Devarajan and Jeevan Kang. The animated feature will be brought to market in the summer of 2007, the release adds.

    “Our comics and film stories are infused with characters and mythic sensibilities that resonate with audiences around the globe,” says Virgin Comics CEO Sharad Devarajan. “Kahani World shares our vision and understands the importance of epic storytelling. Together we are uniquely positioned to produce an exceptional animated feature, and adapt the film for global merchandising, graphic novels and promotional campaigns.

    Virgin Comic’s chief creative officer Gotham Chopra concluded: “It’s about time the world is exposed to the rich mythology we have stored up in our vaults in India and Asia. With Kahani, we are excited to be bringing one of the greatest Indian legends, re-fashioned, to the world, and in doing so create new planetary myths that people every where can enjoy. This is just the start!”

    “Kahani is focused on creating and producing world-class animation brands that become icons in India, resonate throughout Asia, and also appeal to the audiences around the world,” says animation veteran, CEO and president of Kahani World Inc and Executive Producer of Secret of the Seven Sounds,Biren Ghose. “We aim to put a new spin on storytelling, blending stories that may have an ‘Indian DNA’ but which thrive in the contemporary context and culture of the global kidizen! Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation have succeeded in straddling the East – West paradigm with equal excellence and are an inspiration and benchmark for what Kahani seeks to achieve as a company.”

  • AOL buys video game site GameDaily

    AOL buys video game site GameDaily

    MUMBAI: AOL has acquired GameDaily, one of the Internet’s leading independent video game publications, from Gigex, Inc, but did not disclose the financial terms.

    As part of the agreement, AOL will acquire both the GameDaily consumer website (http://www.gamedaily.com) and the industry-leading newsletter, (http://Biz.GameDaily.com).

    GameDaily will become the flagship video games brand within the AOL Games network, and will be united with content and community features currently found on the AOL Video Games website (http://www.aol.com/videogames), informs an official release.

    In addition, the AOL Video Games editorial team will be integrated into the GameDaily editorial staff to create the new GameDaily editorial team. The GameDaily Biz newsletter team will also operate under the newly combined AOL Video Games-GameDaily editorial team. Additionally, certain GameDaily content partnership agreements will be transitioned to AOL.

    “Video game sites have become a valuable resource for advertisers wishing to reach the young male audience, and GameDaily is a brand that resonates with these highly sought after consumers,” said AOL Games VP and GM Ralph Rivera. “We look forward to continuing to serve this audience, maximizing GameDaily content with AOL’s community features, and further expanding the AOL Games community.”

    “Video games are now a vital piece of the entertainment landscape along with music, video and online communities,” said Gigex Inc CEO Mark Friedler. “We’re thrilled to combine our experience delivering top-notch consumer content and leading business news with AOL’s tremendous reach to provide a new level of innovative entertainment content to online consumers everywhere.”

    According to the release, in addition to GameDaily.com, the AOL Games network also includes AOL Games (http://www.aol.com/games), destination for casual and downloadable games from leading publishers; AOL Video Games (http://www.aol.com/videogames), gamers’ leading online resource for video game news, previews, cheats and original programming such as the interactive Inside the Game feature; and the recently acquired Games.com, an extension of AOL Games’ best-of-breed casual games available at one of the most popular URLs among web users seeking games content.

    GameDaily is AOL’s fourth announced acquisition of 2006, following the acquisition of Userplane last week, Lightningcast, Inc. in May, and Truveo, Inc. in January. Other recent corporate acquisitions in 2005 by AOL include Music Now, LLC, Weblogs, Inc., Xdrive, Inc. and Wildseed, Ltd.

  • China Video Industry Association to develop HDMI technology with Silicon Image

    China Video Industry Association to develop HDMI technology with Silicon Image

    MUMBAI: The California-headquartered Silicon Image, Inc., a global player in semiconductors for the secure storage, distribution and presentation of high-definition content, has announced a landmark agreement with the China Video Industry Association (CVIA) under which CVIA will promote and support the use of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) by the consumer electronics industry in China.

    The agreement with CVIA positions China to play a major role developing next-generation digital consumer electronics technology.

    As part of the agreement, Silicon Image and CVIA have agreed to work together to promote HDMI adoption among domestic Chinese electronics manufacturers, co-develop new technology applicable to HDMI, and collaborate on establishing testing and interoperability certification labs that complement the capabilities of the HDMI Authorized Testing Centers established by Silicon Image, states an official release.

    In addition, Silicon Image will support the China Digital Interface Industry Alliance (CDIA), an industry alliance consisting of major Chinese electronics manufacturers that CVIA is establishing. CDIA will work to promote the use of HDMI in consumer electronic products, promote communications among manufacturers in China and abroad, and strengthen coordination between hardware manufacturers and content providers, the release adds.

    In a related announcement, HDMI Licensing, LLC, announced a global reduction in the annual administration fee charged to HDMI adopters. The fee reduction was made possible by HDMI’s growing success in the marketplace; more than 400 makers of consumer electronics and PC products worldwide have adopted HDMI, including 82 companies in China.Based in Beijing, the China Video Industry Association (CVIA) is China’s industry association for manufacturers of digital television, digital movie/broadcasting, high definition optical disc, set-top box and information technology equipment and components, and is focused on promoting China’s digital consumer electronics industry.

    In 2005, China manufactured 82 million televisions and 140 million DVD or VCD players, according to CVIA. Sales of plasma and LCD TVs are forecast to grow 105 percent this year to $5.5 billion, and are estimated to reach $10.5 billion in 2008, according to IDC.

    “Today China is taking a major step forward in promoting the development of its digital consumer electronics industry,” says Department of Broadcasting and Television, Ministry of Information Industry director Bai Weimin. “CVIA’s agreement to partner with Silicon Image to develop new digital interface technology will further the development of China’s electronics manufacturers as leaders in creating advanced digital technologies.”

    “Under this agreement, China’s companies will not only embrace the global HDMI standard but will partner with Silicon Image to participate in future technology development for HDMI,” says CVIA vice secretary-general Hao Yabin. “This agreement will help China develop its own intellectual property, protect the interests of China’s digital consumer electronics industry, and improve the cooperation and mutual benefit of the domestic and international high definition technology industries.”

    “Silicon Image will work closely with China’s digital consumer electronics industry to help create innovative, cutting edge products and technologies,” says Silicon Image president and CEO Steve Tirado. “This agreement represents an important expansion of the HDMI standard into the world’s largest consumer market, and strongly re-affirms HDMI as the worldwide standard for high-definition digital devices.”

    New Testing Labs

    As part of the agreement, Silicon Image and CVIA will cooperate in establishing testing and interoperability certification labs. Silicon Image will continue to operate HDMI Authorized Testing Centers (ATCs) and Simplay HD Testing Centers in China. In addition, Silicon Image, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplay Labs, LLC, and CVIA will work together to establish testing and interoperability certification labs that complement the capabilities of the HDMI ATCs.

    Silicon Image today also announced the opening of China’s second combined HDMI ATC / Simplay HD Testing Center in Shanghai, and with the support of CVIA plans to open a third such facility in China at a location to be determined.

    The Simplay HDTM Testing Program consists of branding, compatibility testing, and education for consumers to provide them with a consistent “plug and play” user experience and to maximize their access to premium high definition (HD)

  • Wenner Media acquires Disney’s 50% stake in ‘Us Weekly’

    Wenner Media acquires Disney’s 50% stake in ‘Us Weekly’

    MUMBAI: Wenner Media has acquired Disney’s 50 per cent stake in Us Weekly LLC, which publishes Us Weekly, and now once again owns the magazine in its entirety.

    Disney had invested in Us Weekly and formed the 50/50 Us Weekly LLC joint venture with Wenner Media in February 2001, advancing Us Weekly’s transition to the weekly frequency. Under the joint venture, which was managed by Wenner Media, Us Weekly revamped its format, spearheading the evolution of the celebrity magazine genre, and doubled circulation from 850,000 to 1.75 million, making it one of the fastest growing titles in the publishing industry. During that same period, advertising pages also doubled.

    For the first six months of this year, Us Weekly’s circulation grew by seven per cent (from H1 2005), with newsstand sales surpassing the one million mark for the first time. For the same period, ad pages grew by four per cent to 912 pages.

    Wenner Media chairman Jann Wenner said, “Disney has been a superb partner and we will miss them. I am deeply grateful for their vote of confidence in Us at a time when not everyone thought we had much of a future or there was a future in celebrity magazines.”

    Disney CEO and president Robert Iger said, “Jann Wenner and his team have been great partners over the course of our involvement with Us Weekly. They have managed this business extremely well and we wish them continued success.”

    Launched as a bi-monthly publication in 1977, Us Weekly was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The magazine moved from a monthly to a weekly format in March 2000. Privately held Wenner Media also owns and publishes Rolling Stone and Men’s Journal.