ITV

Tag: Marie Jacobson

  • Sony AXN scripts deal with Pinewood; buys stake in SVOD service Hopster

    Sony AXN scripts deal with Pinewood; buys stake in SVOD service Hopster

    MUMBAI: Folks at Sony Pictures Television (SPT) are in a celebratory mood. Not only has it signed a six-series deal with Pinewood Television but has also acquired a minority stake in the London-based video subscription service for kids content – Hopster.

    With its partnership with Pinewood, Sony plans to develop and produce shows for their English entertainment channel AXN. The channel will carry the resulting drama originals across Asia, Australasia, Europe and Latin America. Co-financed by the two ventures, the creative director Helen Gregory will lead the initiative. The drama deal was brokered by SPT Networks (SPTN) executive VP, programming and production, Marie Jacobson, and Pinewood Television director Peter Gerwe.

    Jacobson said that they were looking for alternative paths to expand original series development, and Pinewood TV made for ideal partners. She said she was looking forward to developing projects that play both, in the UK and on our channels around the world.

    As for their investment in the digital service, the financial details weren’t disclosed. But, with this, Sony will become a strategic equity investor and take a seat on the company’s board. SPT Western Europe EVP Kate Marsh said that investing on this platform will offer an advantage to the entire network in this rapidly growing subscription led kids space. Additionally, this deal will also provide an opportunity to the network for its expansion in the on-demand services.

    Hopster provides service for the preschool crowd at a cost of $4.99 per month and is available on iPad, Android and selects TV-connected devices. The company claims to have more than 800,000 users and aims to differentiate itself from the competition by offering videos, TV shows and interactive content. Kids can also use the app to play learning games and listen to nursery rhymes. The platform also makes it possible for parents to download shows for their kids for offline viewing.

  • Sony AXN scripts deal with Pinewood; buys stake in SVOD service Hopster

    Sony AXN scripts deal with Pinewood; buys stake in SVOD service Hopster

    MUMBAI: Folks at Sony Pictures Television (SPT) are in a celebratory mood. Not only has it signed a six-series deal with Pinewood Television but has also acquired a minority stake in the London-based video subscription service for kids content – Hopster.

    With its partnership with Pinewood, Sony plans to develop and produce shows for their English entertainment channel AXN. The channel will carry the resulting drama originals across Asia, Australasia, Europe and Latin America. Co-financed by the two ventures, the creative director Helen Gregory will lead the initiative. The drama deal was brokered by SPT Networks (SPTN) executive VP, programming and production, Marie Jacobson, and Pinewood Television director Peter Gerwe.

    Jacobson said that they were looking for alternative paths to expand original series development, and Pinewood TV made for ideal partners. She said she was looking forward to developing projects that play both, in the UK and on our channels around the world.

    As for their investment in the digital service, the financial details weren’t disclosed. But, with this, Sony will become a strategic equity investor and take a seat on the company’s board. SPT Western Europe EVP Kate Marsh said that investing on this platform will offer an advantage to the entire network in this rapidly growing subscription led kids space. Additionally, this deal will also provide an opportunity to the network for its expansion in the on-demand services.

    Hopster provides service for the preschool crowd at a cost of $4.99 per month and is available on iPad, Android and selects TV-connected devices. The company claims to have more than 800,000 users and aims to differentiate itself from the competition by offering videos, TV shows and interactive content. Kids can also use the app to play learning games and listen to nursery rhymes. The platform also makes it possible for parents to download shows for their kids for offline viewing.

  • SPTI signs development agreement with Base Camp Films

    SPTI signs development agreement with Base Camp Films

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International’s (SPTI) international networks group is expanding its original production efforts by signing a format development and series production agreement with reality production house Base Camp Films.

    The announcement was made by Marie Jacobson, SPTI’s senior vice president, programming and production, international networks, and by Base Camp principals Brady Connell and Jim Jusko.
    SPTI’s international networks group has been acquiring rights to produce local-language versions of third party formats, mainly for its AXN and Sony Entertainment Television (Set) networks. AXN and Set have produced local-language versions of such international formats as The Amazing Race (on AXN Asia), Big Brother (on Set India as Bigg Boss), Pop Idol (Set India as Indian Idol and Set Latin America) and Strictly Come Dancing (Jhalak Dikhla Jaa on Set India).

    The agreement with Base Camp augments SPTI’s efforts to acquire and develop its own original formats as part of its overall growth strategy.

    “While we’ve found great success with such third party formats as Pop Idol, The Amazing Race and Strictly Come Dancing, SPTI’s international networks are continuously seeking out homegrown, commercial formats with multi-platform extensions which our networks can own and control,” said Jacobson. “Jim and Brady are just the guys to bolster our collective efforts to develop and adapt formats for our international web of channels.”

    Base Camp principals Connell and Jusko will executive produce projects developed under the deal and adapt formats developed or acquired overseas by SPTI for sale in the United States.

    “The opportunities and challenges in the international TV marketplace make it an exciting and growing business for us,” said two-time Emmy winner Connell (The Amazing Race, Survivor, Eco-Challenge). “Our relationship with SPTI has grown steadily over the years, and we share a strong belief in the value of international partnerships for the production of innovative high-value programming,” noted Jusko who, prior to forming Base Camp with Connell in 2002, brought key international partners to Disney’s Air Bud and Lions Gate’s Kiefer Sutherland starrer, Dead Heat.

    As part of the agreement, the first format in active development is Base Camp’s Six Degrees of X. Developed to be scalable for global, regional or local production, Six Degrees of X tests the theory that all people are somehow connected by only six degrees of separation, even today’s hottest celebrities and their most adoring fans.

    “Six Degrees of X is great TV and opens the door for compelling extensions in the web and mobile space,” added Jacobson. “We’re actively developing it out to pilot across our SPTI networks later this year.”

    SPTI is also fast-tracking the development of a groundbreaking cross-platform interactive ‘crimesolving’ project known as MyCrime. To be produced with Base Camp for SPTI’s international channels and networked with internet and wireless devices, MyCrime is set for global launch in mid 2007.

    Pamela Parker, SPTI’s vice president, business affairs and acquisitions, led negotiations on behalf of SPTI. The agreement was negotiated for Base Camp by United Talent Agency.