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Tag: NBC

  • NBC stations renew ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ through 2020

    NBC stations renew ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ through 2020

    MUMBAI: Multiple Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been renewed by the NBC Owned Television Stations in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution through summer 2020 (the 2019-20 television season).

     

    The series, from Telepictures Productions, will continue to air on 10 of the NBC-owned stations, including WNBC (New York), KNBC (Los Angeles), WMAQ (Chicago), WCAU (Philadelphia), KXAS (Dallas-Fort Worth), KNTV (San Francisco Bay Area), WRC (Washington, D.C.), WTVJ (Miami-Fort Lauderdale), KNSD (San Diego) and WVIT (Connecticut).

     

    NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations president Valari Staab said, “For more than a decade, Ellen has anchored the daytime lineups of the NBC-owned stations, offering our viewers a great afternoon show, delivering a strong lead in for our early evening newscasts and helping to launch new hits. We’re proud of our partnership with Ellen, her fabulous team and our friends at Warner Bros., and we are thrilled to extend our relationship with them.”

     

    Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution president Ken Werner added, “There’s a very simple explanation as to why Ellen is number one. Day in and day out Ellen delivers the best show on television. Ellen and her team produce a completely unique and exciting hour, which is appointment television for viewers everywhere.  We are thrilled to continue our 13-year partnership with the NBC Stations, which delivers to their communities the entertainment and inspiration of Ellen.”

     

    The Ellen DeGeneres Show continues to be the daytime destination for laughter, generosity and fun, highlighting Ellen’s one-of-a-kind humor, warmth and generosity, and featuring the biggest stars from television, film, music and more. The show has now earned an impressive total of 55 Daytime Emmy Awards. The Ellen DeGeneres Show premiered on 8 September, 2003 and was the highest-rated freshman syndicated show of the 2003-2004 season.

     

    Originating from Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, The Ellen DeGeneres Show is produced by A Very Good Production and WAD Productions, Inc. in association with Telepictures, an industry-leading and Emmy Award–winning producer of syndicated programming, and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. Ellen DeGeneres, Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner and Kevin Leman serve as executive producers.

  • NBC renews ‘Blindspot’ for second season

    NBC renews ‘Blindspot’ for second season

    MUMBAI: NBC has ordered a second season of its hit freshman drama Blindspot, the #1 new series of the fall in the 18-49 demo.

     

    With Sullivan Stapleton as an FBI agent who’s not to be messed with and breakout star Jaimie Alexander now firmly established as a TV leading lady, Blindspot has proven to be both a ratings and critical smash. Since its 21 September launch, the series has dominated the 10 pm Monday timeslot.

     

    “We are over the moon with the success of Blindspot, and want to thank our producers and amazing cast for creating one of the most riveting shows on television. Jaimie and Sullivan have done an amazing job of ratcheting up the tension each week in trying to unravel the mystery of Jane’s tattoos. We literally can’t wait to see what the second season will bring,” said NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke.

     

    Blindspot is averaging a 3.7 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 and 12.7 million viewers overall so far this season, according to “most current” averages from Nielsen Media Research through the season’s opening six weeks, making it the #1 new series of the new fall season in 18-49.

     

    The cast includes Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ukweli Roach and Ashley Johnson.

     

    Writer Martin Gero serves as executive producer along with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Mark Pellington and Marcos Siega. Pellington directed the pilot episode.

     

    Blindspot is a production of Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions.

  • Al Jazeera America expands executive news team

    Al Jazeera America expands executive news team

    MUMBAI: Al Jazeera America (AJAM) has expanded its executive news team with the appointment of Heather Allan as senior vice president of news gathering.

     

    Additionally, AJAM’s current news gathering head, Amir Ahmed, an Emmy award-winning journalist who held leadership roles at CNN before joining AJAM in 2013, will assume the role of senior vice president of news planning. 

     

    Allan, who is a long-time American news veteran, will be responsible for overseeing all of AJAM’s news coverage. She has worked for 30 years at NBC, including as West Coast bureau chief, before joining Al Jazeera English in 2009 as head of global news gathering.

     

    On the other hand, Ahmed will be responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of AJAM’s high-quality news content.

     

    The appointments reflect a strategic commitment by AJAM to bolster its news gathering resources and realign editorial operations so the network is best positioned to advance its journalistic mission across a range of platforms.

     

    “Amir and Heather are strong leaders whom we’re pleased to have join the newsroom as we continue to advance AJAM’s mission to deliver the highest quality, in-depth journalism to more audiences and through multiple platforms,” said Al Jazeera America executive vice president of content Amjad Atallah.

     

    In her previous role at Al Jazeera English, Allan managed all global news coverage for the network’s 34 bureaus across the world. She played a key role in in launching AJAM in 2013, setting up all of the channel’s domestic bureaus and recruiting news staff for each location.

     

    “Heather’s worldly experience and innate news sense will be a valuable asset in further strengthening AJAM’s exceptionally talented news division,” said Al Jazeera America president Kate O’Brian.

     

    “AJAM’s unique mission, passionate journalists and dedication to its editorial vision are characteristics that I truly admire in this young network,” added Allan. “I’m excited about the opportunity to be part of it at such a pivotal time, as AJAM defines its role in the market and promotes the value of its content to new audiences.”

     

    “With a news team committed to delivering content that’s consistently second to none, it’s a fascinating opportunity to work amongst journalists who all share the same mission,” said Ahmed. “I’m looking forward to having Heather on board as we embark on this next phase of AJAM, working together to reach new heights while ensuring our quality journalism continues to reflect our editorial DNA.”

  • Donald Trump to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ with Sia

    Donald Trump to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ with Sia

    MUMBAI: US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump will return to studio 8H as host for Saturday Night Live (SNL) on 7 November on NBC.

     

    Trump previously hosted SNL on 3 April, 2004.

     

    Returning for her second musical guest appearance, Sia’s forthcoming album This Is Acting features her new single Alive. Her last album, the gold certified 1000 Forms Of Fear reached Number One on the charts and featured four-time Grammy nominated singleChandelier. 

     

    Saturday Night Live is produced in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels.

  • Bulldog to bring ‘The Apprentice’ & ‘Space Race’ to India in 2016

    Bulldog to bring ‘The Apprentice’ & ‘Space Race’ to India in 2016

    MUMBAI: After India’s Next Top Model, Bulldog Media and Entertainment is gearing up to bring two more international formats to India.

     

    Even as Donald Trump is standing for the next US Presidential elections in 2016, the television show synonymous with him – The Apprentice – will make its India debut as Bulldog Media and Entertainment will be bringing the Indian adaptation of the game show. Additionally, the company has also acquired the format rights of NBC’s ambitious series – Space Race.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Bulldog Media and Entertainment co-founder and executive producer Akash Sharma said, “We are very excited about the new reality shows that we will launch soon. The Apprentice is an American reality game show that has also been launched in several countries; it’s a very successful show in America.”

     

    Sharma further added, “Our plan is to expand ourselves in different genres. For the next 18 months we will work on bringing quality content and international formats to India. We are also looking at bringing back People’s Choice Award.”

     

    The Apprentice is an American reality game show hosted by Trump, which has been created by American television producer Mark Burnett. The format has been licensed across the world in Africa, Australia, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia and Russia amongst others. 

     

    On the other hand, Space Race is an unscripted series produced by NBC along with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Burnett. It is an elimination competition series where everyday people compete for the ultimate prize – a trip for the winner into space on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo for a life-changing experience few people have ever enjoyed, all captured on camera. However, NBC was said to have been seriously assessing the probability of launching the show in the light of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo spacecraft crash in October 2014, which killed one pilot and seriously injured the other.

     

    Talking about this unique show, Sharma says, “Space Race will be the most aspirational show ever on Indian television. It basically takes contestants from different walk of life to space. Putting them into physical and mental challenges will give them chance to go in space in the Virgin Galactic spaceship. The show will be produced by Mark Burnett and Virgin Galactic. We are waiting for the official clearance from Virgin Galactic.”

     

    “We will have very intense challenges in store for contestants and the winner will get a chance to board space port America in Virgin Galactic space port. In the finale they will have a chance to represent India in space,” he adds.    

     

    Bulldog Media’s bid to bring Space Race to India will indeed be worthy to watch.

  • You’re Hired: ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ tells Arnold Schwarzenegger

    You’re Hired: ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ tells Arnold Schwarzenegger

    MUMBAI: Twice-elected California governor and international movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger has been named the new host of NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice, which will return to the network for the 2016-17 season.

     

    Schwarzenegger steps into the shoes of erstwhile host Donald Trump, who, in his role as host of the seven seasons ofThe Celebrity Apprentice, helped raise more than $15 million for charity.

     

    Schwarzenegger served two terms as governor of California, managing more than 300,000 state employees and a state budget in the hundreds of billions. He has successfully invested in both real estate and sports franchises, and is known to millions globally for his starring role in the Terminator film franchise. His films, over a six-decade career, have grossed billions of dollars in worldwide box office.

     

    The Apprentice franchise is one of the most successful reality formats in television history. In The Celebrity Apprentice, business-savvy celebrity contestants work in teams and are asked to perform various tasks and win challenges, all the while employing a business model that promotes teamwork and, hopefully, ends with a financially successful outcome – all for a worthy charity. Contestants are subjected to long hours, grueling deadlines, intellectual challenges, personality clashes and intense scrutiny. Each task will end in the Boardroom, where contestants must account for their actions or risk being “fired” by the host until one remains.

     

    Previous Celebrity Apprentice winners include Joan Rivers, Piers Morgan, Bret Michaels, Trace Adkins, Arsenio Hall, John Rich and Leeza Gibbons.

     

    The Celebrity Apprentice is produced by United Artists Media Group. Mark Burnett, Schwarzenegger, Page Feldman and Eric Van Wagenen are executive producers.

  • Universal plans six-network roadblock on NBC for ‘Jurassic World’ preview

    Universal plans six-network roadblock on NBC for ‘Jurassic World’ preview

    MUMBAI: A roadblock broadcast of the original Jurassic Park will be hosted by three-time Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg and Chris Pratt, the star of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World, beginning on 5 June and concluding on 6 June.

     

    They will also introduce a two-minute, exclusive sneak preview of Jurassic World, which arrives in theaters on 12 June.

     

    Spielberg and Pratt will share their respective memories of Jurassic Park and drive to a debut of a two-minute exclusive sneak preview of Jurassic World, which will air during the program.

     

    This first opportunity to see new material from the upcoming film will be aired on 5 June on NBC. The following evening, on 6 June, the program will air on Bravo, Syfy, USA Network, E! and NBC Universo. For its part, NBC Universo will telecast a Spanish language version of Jurassic Park.

     

    In Jurassic World, the story of Spielberg’s original comes full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life. Jurassic World is a fully operational luxury resort off the coast of Costa Rica where 20,000 guests explore the wonder of Earth’s most magnificent living prehistoric marvels—of every shape and size—and interact up close with them every day.

     

    When the massive and mysterious Indominus rex stages an escape and disappears into the jungle, order turns to mayhem and guests turn into prey. Dinosaurs escape into the open, skies and water to engage in an all-out war for survival, and no corner within the world’s greatest theme park is safe anymore.

     

    Pratt, Irrfan Khan, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy and BD Wong star in the 3D epic action-adventure that is directed by Colin Trevorrow and based on characters created by Michael Crichton.

  • Mongol TV announces programme acquisitions

    Mongol TV announces programme acquisitions

    MUMBAI: Mongol TV CEO Nomin Chinbat has announced several acquisitions from the recent Asia TV Forum, mainly drama renewals and a new acquisition from the UK.

    From ITV, Mongol TV has acquired Mr. Selfridge. This apart the channel has also acquired Downton Abbey from distributor NBC. The Mongolian broadcaster also renewed popular American primetime dramas: from CBS, The Good Wife, Hawaii Five-O, NBC’s The Blacklist and ABC’s Scandal.   

    Well known for broadcasting live events, Mongol TV will air the 87th Academy Awards live on 22 February 2015, which it acquired from Disney. This is the second year the broadcaster will air the show live.

    “Mongol TV has been consistently top in ratings in Mongolia by providing our audiences with the best quality programming from around the world. We are fortunate that CBS, ITV, NBC, Fox , Disney and Sony provide us with their best shows for our territory and appreciate our ongoing partnerships with them,” said Chinbat.

     

  • Q3-2014; Gannett broadcasting segment doubles revenue, Operating income; company moots split

    Q3-2014; Gannett broadcasting segment doubles revenue, Operating income; company moots split

    BENGALURU:  International media and marketing solutions company and diverse local content provider Gannett reported 15.2 per cent growth in its Total Net Operating Revenues (TNOR) to $ 1443.14 million for the 13 week period ended 28 September 2014 (Q3-2014). TNOR for the corresponding period ended 29 September 2013 (Q3-2013, current quarter) was $ 1252.89 million.  TNOR grew at 13.5 per cent for the 39 week period ended 28 September 2014 (9M-2014) to $ 4307.21 million from $ 3793.32 million during the 39 week period ended 29 September 2013 (9M-2013).

     

    The company’s operating income (OI) attributable to Gannett Co grew 48.6 per cent to $ 118.52 million in Q3-2014 from $ 79.75 million in Q3-2013. OI for 9M-2014 grew 29.6 per cent to $ 386.14 million from $ 297.93 million in 9M-2013

     

    Segment and sub-segment results

     

    Broadcasting segment

     

    The company’s broadcast segment reported more than doubling (2.05 times) of net operating revenue in the current quarter to $ 416.51 million from $ 203.36 million in Q3-2013. Further, Operating revenue for the segment almost doubled (1.97 times) in 9M-2014 to $ 1197.04 million from $ 606.91 million in 9M-2013.

     

    OI from this segment more than doubled (2.12 times) to $ 177.97 million in the current quarter from $ 83.81 million in Q3-2013. For 9M-2013, OI from broadcasting segment went up 90 per cent to $ 503.84 million from $ 265.58 million in Q3-2013.

     

    Publishing segment

    The company’s publishing segment has three sub-segments-publishing advertising, publishing circulation and all other publishing. Publishing segment reported a 3.6 drop in operating revenue to $ 826.82 million in Q3-2014 from the $ 858.09 million in Q3-2014. OI from this segment fell by half a per cent to $ 62.42 million in 9M-2014 from $ 62.74 million in 9M-2013.

     

    All other publishing saw the steepest fall in operating revenue of 12.4 per cent to $ 55.1 million in Q3-2014 from $ 62.89 million in the corresponding period of the previous year. During 9M-2014, operating income at $ 173.12 million was 5.8 per cent lower than the $ 183.75 million in Q3-2013.

     

    Publishing advertising operating revenue also dropped 4.9 per cent to $ 494.9 million from $ 520.19 million in Q3-2013. Operating revenue fall in 9M-2014 was even steeper at 5.1 per cent and $ 1526.28 million from $1609.16 million in 9M-2013.

     

    Publishing revenue operating income rose fractionally by 0.7 per cent to $ 276.83 million in Q3-2014 from $ 275 million in Q3-2013. 9M-2014 operation revenue from this segment however fell half a per cent to $ 836.76 million from $ 840.63 million in 9M-2013.

     

    Digital segment

     

    Digital segment saw operating revenue grow 4.4 per cent to $ 199.8 million in Q3-2014 from $ 191.45 million in Q3-2013. Operating revenue in 9M-2014 grew 3.8 per cent to $ 573.92 million from $ 552.88 million in 9M-2013.

     

    OI from Gannett’s publishing segment in Q3-2014 was 15 per cent to $ 48.34 million from $ 42.05 million in Q3-2013. 9M-2014 OI  rose 6.9 per cent to $ 107.86 million from $ 100.93 million in 9M-2013.

     

    Company split mooted

    On 5 August 2014, Gannett announced plans to create two publicly traded companies: one exclusively focused on its broadcasting and digital businesses, and the other on its publishing business. The planned separation of the publishing business will be implemented through a tax-free distribution to Gannet’s shareholders of shares of a new entity formed to hold its publishing assets.

    Gannett says that it expects to complete the transaction in mid-2015, subject to a number of conditions. There can be no assurance regarding the ultimate timing of the proposed transaction or that it will be completed, cautions the company.

    On 1 October 2014, Gannet completed the acquisition of the remaining 73 per cent interest in Classified Ventures LLC, which owns Cars.com, for $ 1.8 billion cash.

    About Gannett’s businesses

    Gannett’s broadcasting segment currently includes 46 television stations that it either owns or services through shared service agreements. Excluding owner-operators, Gannett claims that it is the no 1 NBC affiliate group; no 1 CBS affiliate group; and the no 4 ABC affiliate group. These stations cover almost a third of the U.S. population in markets with approximately 35 million households.  It claims to be the largest independent television station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 U.S. markets.

    The primary categories of Gannett’s broadcasting segment revenue are: 1) core advertising which includes local and national non-political advertising; 2) political advertising revenues which are seasonal with peaks occurring in even years (e.g., 2014 and 2012) and particularly in the fourth quarter of those years; 3) retransmission revenues representing fees paid by satellite and cable networks and telecommunications companies to carry Gannett’s television signals on their network; 4) digital revenues generated through advertising on the stations’ web, tablet and mobile products; and 5) other revenues, which consist of payments by advertisers to television stations for other services, such as producing advertising material.

    Within its publishing segment, Gannett says that it provides content through 82 loca

     

    Click here for the financial statement

  • Indian-origin Janina Gavankar co-stars in ‘Mysteries of Laura’ on NBC

    Indian-origin Janina Gavankar co-stars in ‘Mysteries of Laura’ on NBC

    NEW DELHI: Janina Gavankar, a young actress of Indian origin, has won laurels for her role in the American television cop drama “The Mysteries of Laura” starring Debra Messing on NBC. Gavankar plays Meredith Bose, a strict and not-easily-amused detective and the “bitchy” co-worker who rightfully calls Laura out on recklessly firing her weapon and tries to focus on proper police procedures, only to be scoffed at and ridiculed.

    Though she had small roles in movies like ‘Barbershop’ and played an intern for two episodes on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Gavankar’s first big acting role came on Showtime’s “The L Word,” where she played Papi, a lesbian lothario for two seasons. From there, it was a role on ABC Family’s supernatural series “The Gates,” where she played an officer in a gated community full of vampires and werewolves.

    Then, she jumped to another set of vampires and werewolves, with a role on ‘True Blood’ playing Luna. She’s also appeared in ‘The League,’ playing Shiva, who is the “deity” of their league’s trophy.

    Most recently, she appeared in the first season of “Arrow,” playing McKenna Hall, the detective who Oliver briefly dates. Just before she joined “The Mysteries of Laura,” Gavankar played Tessa on the fifth season of “The Vampire Diaries.”

    But acting is just one of the things the 24-year-old is well-known for. In an interview on the now off-air “Attack of the Show,” Gavankar claimed to be the first actor on Twitter in 2006. She is also a self-proclaimed gamer, and spends a lot of her time trying to help other actors reach more fans with their online media presence, according to her website.

    Gavankar has a music career too. She was a member of the now defunct girl group, Endera, who was signed to Cash Money Records. Along with singing, she also plays piano and percussion. Her last single, ‘Waiting for Godot,’ was released in 2012.