ITV

Tag: MTV

  • Todd Phillips is MTV Asia senior VP communications

    Todd Phillips is MTV Asia senior VP communications

    MUMBAI: MTV Asia has announced that Todd Phillips is its senior VP, communications.

    Phillips will provide leadership and direction to the corporate and regional Asia-Pacific communication teams, manage media relationship with trade and consumer media, support key MTV Networks International communications strategies and manage all internal and external company messaging. Mr. Phillips will be based in Singapore and report directly to MTV Asia Pacific president Nigel Robbins.

    Robbins says, “Todd has been a global pioneer for our brands and an integral part of MTV Networks’ development in Asia and Australia. His passion for our brands, keen knowledge of linear and digital media and experience throughout the region makes him the perfect choice to lead our communications efforts in this exciting time of growth.”

    Phillips has been part of the MTV Networks communications team since 1990. He served as Publicity Manager for MTV on STAR TV in Hong Kong, spearheaded communications efforts for the re-launch of MTV Asia and the launch of MTV Mandarin in Singapore in 1995, and managed public relations around the Australian launches of Nickelodeon, MTV and VH1.

    He served as VP of corporate communications for MTV in Los Angeles until 2001, working across all the brands and businesses under the MTV Networks umbrella including television networks, feature films, online and broadband properties, and consumer products.

  • MTV, VHI US go Pink in association with Honda

    MTV, VHI US go Pink in association with Honda

    MUMBAI: MTV and VH1 in the US will paint their broadband and mobile platforms Pink with content from an exclusive flashmob concert in New York City with platinum-selling
    LaFace/Zomba artist Pink. The concert footage features music from Pink’s latest album, I’m Not Dead.

    The concert was the result of a contest launched last year in conjunction with Honda and its advertising agency RPA to promote the launch of the 2006 Honda Civic. MTV and VH1 worked with Honda to develop the extensive 12-week Honda Civic Under The Hood campaign featuring a series of music-based interstitials that drove viewers to various media platforms to enter their zip codes, giving the region with the most entries a “flashmob” concert by a national music artist.

    VH1 and MTV joined forces for the first time ever in creating a cross-channel multiplatform campaign that amplified the reach of the networks’ live music franchises to support the launch of the 2006 Honda Civic.

    On 5 April, text messages and emails went out to contest entrants informing them of the Pink “flashmob” concert in New York that evening. The first 200 to respond to the message won access to the event at Crobar. Pink Across All VH1 and MTV Platforms

    From tomorrow 13 April, footage from the exclusive concert, including full songs from Pink’s performance will be available on VH1 and MTV’s broadband channels VSpot (vspot.vh1.com) and Overdrive (overdrive.mtv.com).

    Fans will also be able to enjoy video clips of the concert on MTV Mobile and VH1 Mobile cross-carrier. Pink appeared on MTV’s Total Request Live the day of the concert and upon her exit took a few of the members of the audience and escorted them to the show. In addition, a half-hour version of the concert will air on MTV on 14 April.

    VH1 will also produce a video podcast interview with Pink that will be available for download on VH1.com and iTunes.

  • MTV US president Van Toffler highlights the importance of short form videos during CTIA keynote

    MTV US president Van Toffler highlights the importance of short form videos during CTIA keynote

    MUMBAI: In his keynote address at the CTIA Wireless 2006 event in the US, MTV Music Group president Van Toffler highlighted the appeal of short-form video from the MTV, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo and Spike TV brands on the wireless platform.

    He described the mobile platform as a rich, creative medium for new and emerging talent to connect with and cultivate new audiences.

    To underscore that point, Toffler welcomed recording artist LL Cool J, to the stage. LL offered an advance look at an upcoming episode of MTV’s Life & Rhymes, which chronicles his life as an artist and is set to debut tonight 10 April on MTV, MTV’s broadband channel Overdrive and on MTV Mobile.

    Toffler noted that audiences have increasingly embraced MTV Networks’ diverse array of mobile programming. Last month MTV Networks streamed nearly 2.5 million videos cross-carrier, an all-time high, Toffler reported, adding that the number is growing by nearly 40 per cent month-to-month for the first three months of 2006.

    He says, “Our audience is responding in droves to our mobile programming. They have a personal relationship with our brands and they increasingly want to consume our content on the handset, the new ‘holy grail’ of electronic
    devices.”

    LL Cool J echoed that sentiment saying, “The mobile phone helps me establish closer ties with my fans, connect with new ones and hopefully inspire everyone I touch through my music. The cell phone — which has become
    the accessory for today’s young adults — is one way that helps me reach them.”

    Among the varied types of mobile programming driving audience consumption are music videos, comedy segments, user-generated content, scenes from television shows, ‘after shows’ developed exclusively for mobile, never-
    before-seen outtakes, and short art breaks, also known as “sharts,” featuring animated and live-action segments.

    In many respects, the burgeoning mobile
    platform is a return to MTV Networks’ early roots, when MTV gained significant
    notoriety for the five- and 15-second art breaks created by brilliant, young talent and which lived between the music videos. For the MTVN Music Group, which encompasses the CMT, MTV and VH1 brands, three types of programming — extensions of on-air franchises; made-for-mobile episodes; and music — are all performing well on the mobile platform.

    Extensions of On-air Franchises
    VH1’s Flavour of Love, the most successful show in that channel’s history, was also the most popular VH1 Mobile content in February
    and March.
    — Web Junk 20 also on VH1 and VH1 Mobile, ushered in the user-generated era to TV and simultaneously to mobile phones.

    — MTV will showcase a 20-year-old college student’s visual interpretation using stick figures based on the lyrics of Fall Out
    Boy’s Sugar We’re Going Down, representing original user-generated content.
    — VH1 is debuting Dingo Ate My Video, a made-for-mobile series that combines VH1’s comedic voice with music videos from a wide
    range of artists, including Green Day, Missy Elliot, Jewel and others.
    — Country Music Television soon will debut a made-for-mobile reality series called Road Hammers about a southern rock/blues band trying to make it in the music business.

    MTV adds that labels and artists like LL Cool J increasingly are embracing the mobile platform to connect with fans and institute new marketing paradigms.
    The Arctic Monkey’s new video I Bet You Look Good on the Dance floor made its debut on: mtvU, MTV’s network for college students; mtvU’s Uber broadband network; mtvU.com and mtvU wireless.

    The approach mirrored a similar one taken by VH1 last year, which debuted Te Amo Corazon, the new Prince single, on VH1, VH1’s
    VSPOT broadband channel, and VH1 Mobile. The Prince debut marked the world’s first-ever multimedia, multiplatform worldwide
    exclusive premiere.
    — Prior to releasing her latest single and album, Madonna distributed an exclusive ringtone for Hung Upon MTV Mobile and VH1 Mobile.

    Spike TV is delivering the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s ‘Ultimate Fight Night(TM) Live’ to Amp’d Mobile subscribers tonight.
    This represents the first time the live sporting event is being simulcast to both mobile devices and to television subscribers.

    “The wireless platform is as important to us as television and computer screens. As soon as we start developing a new concept, we think beyond the television. We think of how that idea can live on broadband and mobile” Toffler says.

  • Global broadband consumption of sports content expected to increase by 25 per cent

    Global broadband consumption of sports content expected to increase by 25 per cent

    MUMBAI: A New Media Sportscasting Summit delegation survey done reveals that global broadband consumption of sports content will increase by 25 per cent over the next three years.

    The New Media Sportscasting Summit held in Dublin, a few days ago, saw experts from the sports industry gathered together to discuss the trends and opportunities for the delivery of sport over broadband and 3G.

    Participants included LiverpoolFC.TV, Setanta Sports in the US, Aura Sports, Google Video, The Rugby Football League and Vodafone. The best way to minimise subscriber churn from broadband sports subscription services is to incentivise customers towards annual rather than monthly subscription.

    Setanta Sports CEO Simon Green emphasised that the new phenomenon of ‘Placeshifting’ means that the desire to have sports content anytime, any place is driving new media sportscasting.

    Reduction in time delay to ‘as live’ will increase opportunities to incorporate in-running betting with online sports content; live pictures can sit alongside prices for events and web content dictated by the broadcast.

    At the same time the creation of more web-specific content will create opportunities to sponsor on-demand broadcasts linked to major racing events. The fourth screen – the mobile phone – is vital in the communications mix for new media sports content. An understanding of mobile personalisation, content recommendations and search capabilities in a wireless environment are key to enabling the success of mobile portal content propositions in the sports industry.

    Having a well presented preview function with sample content and offering occasional free video samples to get customer more used to watching video online is essential for successful subscriber recruitment. Investing heavily in customer services and technical support is also key to keeping online subscribers.

    There is also a need to understand the time-starved individual who lives in an ‘information overload’ society. The sports industry must react strongly to this. The sports industry is in the entertainment business and must compete for the customer’s attention in a very busy market dominated by MTV, iPods, PSPs, television soaps, the cinema, pubs and PCs.

    It was pointed out that the ‘Placeshifting’ phenomenon is growing. This means having content anytime, any place. In the US, this is reflected in the Slingbox which enables users to watch their TV programming from wherever they are by turning virtually any Internet-connected PC into a personal TV.

    In the US, it is selling three times as fast as Tivo did.This phenonmenon is reflecting the needs and demands of time starved, busy individuals who want sports information anytime, anywhere. One potential problem for broadcasters in this scenario is that national territorial rights deals could get eroded.

    Streaming services are now succeeding because the delay on the television picture is cut down to seven seconds. More users now understand the relationship between PC Spec, Connection Speed and picture quality and broadband penetration is growing rapidly. Further improvements are taking place in terms of the quality of the stream, reductions in the delay as well as enhancements to the free and archive video services.

    There is also a huge potential in the online gambling space and the opportunities to integrate broadband video with a ‘Bet & Watch’ facility.

    Vodafone media head Kieran Mahon sees sport as the most compelling content to distribute over mobile. He described the importance of the fourth screen – the mobile screen. He outlined that recent developments in mobile data delivery means that mobile sports content can be consumed easily, adding, “Personalisation of mobile content has improved usability by learning about users’ mobile content preferences, dynamically building the user a personalised menu and reducing the time and clicks to services.”

    For a sports fan using their mobile to access sports content, this means the link to their favourite sports content will be top of the menu on their mobile phone. Kieran also emphasised that an understanding of personalisation, automatic content recommendation and mobile search in a wireless environment is key to enabling the success of mobile portal content propositions.

    Online sports ad agency, Aura Sports MD Paul Wright offered insight into the best ways to develop an advertising revenue stream from digital sports properties. He stated that sponsorship and advertising was equally important and beneficial online as on TV and that the interactivity that can be achieved through online advertising is extremely valuable.

  • MTV to exclusively premiere new Red Hot Chilli Peppers video on 4 April

    MTV to exclusively premiere new Red Hot Chilli Peppers video on 4 April

    MUMBAI: MTV will exclusively world premiere the new Red Hot Chili Peppers video “Dani California.” The video will premiere simultaneously in the US on MTV and MTV Overdrive immediately following the 10 Spot on 4 April.

    On 28 March, a week before the official video premiere, Chili Peppers madness begins when a 60-second clip of “Making the Video” and a 30-second teaser clip of the video become available for viewing on multiple wireless carriers.

    In addition, MTV Overdrive, the broadband network, will make the video available exclusively to fans on-demand for 24 hours immediately following the world premiere. There will also be an Overdrive show, which will feature the new video as well as past videos.

    “Dani California” will be the first single and video from the Chili Peppers’ highly anticipated new album Stadium Arcadium, which will be released on 9 May.

  • MTV, Rolling Stone team for reality series

    MTV, Rolling Stone team for reality series

    MUMBAI: Amateur journalists will vie for a year long position at Rolling Stone magazine in a new reality series for MTV US.

    Contestants will work with the veteran music magazine’s senior editors to develop their writing skills and secure interviews with artists, actors and politicians.

    Rolling Stone founder and publish Jann Wenner says, “Throughout our history we have seen the careers of some of the nation’s most notable journalists flourish, including Cameron Crowe and the late Hunter S. Thompson. We are anxious to meet the candidates and welcome them into the Rolling Stone family as they embark on their professional careers.”

    MTV executive VP programming Lois Curren says, “The series will capture the drama and excitement of the fast-paced world of Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone has long been an incubator for top journalists, which makes this an amazing opportunity for aspiring writers.”

    The show will be taped in New York from June through August and is expected to premiere later this year.

  • MTV multi-platform debut in Canada from 21 March

    MTV multi-platform debut in Canada from 21 March

    MUMBAI: It’s a historic day not just for Canadian audiences, but for Canada’s creative and production communities too. The MTV brand debuts today in Canada. The Toronto based CTV will replace the name of its talktv speciality channel with the MTV brand.

    The MTV launch represents the biggest multi-platform launch among all 49 worldwide MTV services comprising the MTV Networks International family, according to MTV Networks International president and MTV Networks vice chairman Bill Roedy.

    The MTV brand will debut in 360 degree fashion, across six different platforms. The ‘Six Arms of MTV’ will incorporate numerous distribution strategies including conventional and specialty channel platforms, mobile, Video On Demand (VOD) and in pioneering fashion, across a newly created premium broadband service, MTV Overdrive, the first of its kind in Canada.

    MTV is a newly branded Canadian analog specialty service and offers a winning schedule, infused with lifestyle, talk and documentary programming.

    In an official statement, the networks claims that the channel will immediately be available in 6 million Canadian households via all major cable and DTH services.

    Newly created MTVonCTV branded blocks of programming will be seen six nights a week across Canada on CTV’s conventional stations.

    MTV Overdrive is a new broadband channel that represents a
    first-of-its-kind in Canada. The free premium video service harnesses the latest in technology to deliver MTV content to anyone at broadband speeds. On demand are full-length MTV programs, daily MTV News, custom short-form programming, movie and game reviews and much more. In addition to providing MTV-branded content, Overdrive is MTV’s answer to music authenticity in Canada with exclusive MTV music events, artist interviews, live performances and thousands of music videos.

    On Mobile will have exclusively produced MTV mobisodes and made for mobile programming by individual carriers and also via cross-carrier mobile distribution, MTV Mobile showcases a range of MTV programs that include video, soundtrack ring-tones, wallpapers and more, all available for download via mobile phones and directly off the mtv.ca website.

    Video on Demand comes with an extensive line-up of MTV hit programs immediately available. In addition, MTV is now underway with plans for an additional distribution strategy to make MTV’s hit programs available to portable video devices.

    “A new chapter in Canadian media, employing multiple platforms and
    interactivity, begins. The future is now,” said Bell Globemedia president and CEO and CTV Inc CEO Ivan Fecan.

    “It’s a landmark day for Canada’s creative community and viewers from coast-to-coast. A culturally vibrant country like ours deserves its own MTV. Sharing Canada’s creative talent with the world through MTV’s worldwide network puts Canada on the world stage. It’s where we belong,” said CTV programming president Susanne
    Boyce.

    MTV, in the official statement revealed an extensive list of 23 advertising partners who have inked multi-platform sponsorship deals to be on-board for day one. They include Bell Mobility, Cadbury Adams, Clean & Clear and Neutrogena Deep Clean, Coca Cola, Colgate Palmolive Canada Inc., Columbia Brewery, Dairy Farmers of Canada Milk, General Motors of Canada, KFC Canada, Kraft Canada, Labatt Breweries of Canada, McDonalds Restaurants of Canada Limited, Mission: Impossible III, Molson Canadian, Motorola, Nike, Nokia Products Limited, Pepsico, Sony Entertainment – the Benchwarmers, Taco Bell, Telus and West 49.

    MTV’s multiplatform advertising opportunities will allow clients’ brands to reach millions of consumers via an array of on-air and digital assets,
    including the broadband service MTV Overdrive.

    “The incredible response from clients and the agency community is confirmation that we are on target with the brand, our content and the distribution strategy,” said MTV Canada sr VP and general manager Brad Schwartz. “We want to acknowledge all 23 partners who have joined the MTV business from day One. Our goal is to make MTV the preferred destination for advertisers, large and small, and we look forward to growing together with all of our partners.”

  • Paramount Pictures to premiere ‘M:i:III’ trailer across MTV Networks

    Paramount Pictures to premiere ‘M:i:III’ trailer across MTV Networks

    MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures will premiere an exclusive look at this summer’s most highly anticipated action-thriller, Mission: Impossible III (M:i:III) as Tom Cruise introduces the new trailer across MTV Networks on 16 March.

    The trailer will air simultaneously on MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT, BET and Spike TV on 16 March, one day before it runs in any movie theater. The exclusive material will also be available on the internet at mtv.com, mtv2.com, vh1.com, cmt.com, spiketv.com, and at iFilm.

    The film, starring Tom Cruise and directed by J.J. Abrams, the creator of Lost and Alias, opens in theaters in the US on 5 May 2006.

    Paramount Pictures president of worldwide motion picture marketing Gerry Rich said, “Tom and J.J. have come through with an amazing action movie and we think viewers across MTV networks will agree that M:i:III is the first must-see event film of the summer. When you’ve got the goods, it’s exciting to be able to share it with the audience in a special way. We’re thrilled to be pulling out all the stops with our partners at the MTV Networks.”

    Cruise returns as special agent Ethan Hunt, who faces the mission of his life in Mission: Impossible III. Abrams brings his unique blend of action and drama to the billion-dollar franchise.

  • Tdsat directive on Dish TV: Deadline over, MTV mum

    Tdsat directive on Dish TV: Deadline over, MTV mum

    MUMBAI: With just a day left for the 30-day deadline set by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat), but music channel MTV and sibling kids’ channel Nick are still missing from Dish TV.

    It was on 10 February that Tdsat had issued a directive giving the two Viacom channels 30 days notice to make themeselves available to Zee Group’s DTH service Dish TV. As per Tdsat’s dictat, within the time frame from 10 February to 12 March, the two channels from the MTV stable had to be visible to Dish TV subscribers.

    Dish TV had issued a reminder to MTV, stating that the time period is on the verge of expiry and hoping for a positive response on the same. According to a senior Dish TV executive, “We issued a final reminder on 9 March. If they fail to respond to the same, we will move the Tdsat next week.”

    When contacted by Indiantelevision.com, a senior MTV Networks India executive said, “At this point of time, we don’t want to comment on this matter.”

    It is worth noting that when contacted earlier by Indiantelevision.com, MTV Networks India Sr VP network development and licensing and merchandising Sanjeev Hiremath had stated that the Set-Discovery One alliance (of which the two channels are a part) is already in talks with ASC Enterprises (Dish TV’s holding company) in regards to the matter.

    When asked if his DTH network and the One Alliance were anywhere near agreement, a senior Dish executive said, “We did have a few rounds of talks. However, nothing has been finalized as of now.”

    Dish TV, last year, had moved the disputes tribunal seeking legal redressal against, what it says, is MTV’s unwillingness to come onto its DTH platform.

    MTV India operates three channels in the country — MTV and Nick, distributed by the One Alliance and Vh1, distributed by Zee-Turner.