ITV

Tag: NGC

  • TWI to acquire independent production firm Darlow Smithson

    TWI to acquire independent production firm Darlow Smithson

    MUMBAI: Sports content producer and distributor TWI has acquired the London based factual independent production company Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP).
    TWI, will finance the acquisition entirely with capital from parent company IMG. The acquisition significantly expands TWI’s non-sports production output, enabling it to become a market leader in high quality factual programming, as part of its continuing growth strategy.

    For DSP, the agreement enhances its position as one of the top global factual production companies and gives access to new opportunities and new technologies.

    Key to the acquisition is DSP’s outstanding worldwide reputation as an innovative, factual programming leader, delivering ground-breaking documentaries, series and docu-dramas with a growing annual output of more than 100 hours and an annual turnover of £20 million. In a global peer poll just released, DSP has been named as one of the seven most notable companies in the world in non-fiction production, selected for its inspirational and trendsetting programmes.
    DSP’s programme portfolio includes multi episode returning series I Shouldn’t Be Alive (Channel 4, Discovery US), Seconds From Disaster (NGC/NGCI) and Channel 4 documentaries The Falling Man, Blitz: London’s Firestorm and The Somme. DSP’s Touching the Void was the UK’s most successful ever theatrical documentary.

    TWI senior VP production and business development Alastair Waddington said, “We are delighted to acquire such a prestigious company as Darlow Smithson Productions, whose reputation in the factual arena inspires admiration all over the world. The respect that DSP commands from global broadcasters and clients is reflected in its growing stature, increased turnover year on year and more than 25 international awards to date. DSP harnesses some of the industry’s most creative and technical talent, and we look forward to its continued success and growth, while maintaining its distinctive identity as a producer of top quality programming.”

    DSP executive chairman and creative director John Smithson said, “This is an exciting opportunity for us at the right time in the growth of our company. The Darlow Smithson name remains – same people, same creativity, same editorial standards. But going forward, it will bring much more. TWI and IMG Media will provide us with an extensive international structure to help us grow DSP, including areas like new media where it has significant experience, strengthening our relationships with clients and enhancing our creative development.”

    IMG chairman and CEO Ted Forstmann said, “IMG is already a major player in worldwide distribution, rights management and multi-platform exploitation including new media, and the acquisition of Darlow Smithson Productions will enhance the company’s global assets and help us achieve our growth ambitions. Going forward, we are prepared to invest in development and production of content, and intend to pursue additional innovative business partnerships in order to maximise those goals.”

  • India, Pak cable ops form SAARC Electronic Media Association

    India, Pak cable ops form SAARC Electronic Media Association

    NEW DELHI: At a time when relationship between India and Pakistan are thawing a bit for the better, Indian and Pakistani cable operators have joined hands to push for a regional body that would take up industry issues in the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region.

    The campaign for such a body has been jointly launched by India’s Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh and Pakistan Electronics Media Association (PEMA).

    According to Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh founder-president AK Rastogi, “The time has come when an organisation is launched that will work for the interest of cable operators and the cable and broadcast industry in the SAARC region, including interfacing with various governments.”

    SAARC region includes countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. “A meeting of the new organisation, attended by Pakistani and Indian representatives, has been held. Consent from those in other countries had been taken earlier,” Rastogi added.

    Such a body, according to Rastogi, would go a long way in creating awareness about the industry and its intricacies amongst the general populace of various South Asian countries.
    Concurring with Rastogi, PEMA’s founder chairperson Muhammad Ibrahim Rana told Indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of the ongoing 14th Convergence India 2006, that even the Pakistani government has realised the futility of banning Indian TV channels.

    “There is a growing feeling in Pakistan that Indian TV channels like Zee TV, Star Plus, NGC and Sony can be given landing rights with certain riders like inclusion of a certain percentage of Pakistani content on the channels’ Pakistan feed,” Rana said.

    However, these content-related riders are worrying some Indian and foreign broadcasters who have sought permission from the Pakistani authorities to beam there.

    For example, a senior executive of Zee Telefilms, India’s largest vertically integrated media company, said, “These conditions being flaunted by Pakistani authorities for giving a green signal to us will only increase cost and red tapism. Does the Indian government put such conditions on Pakistani channels, including PTV?”

    Pakistan may not see eye to eye with India over various issues, but when it comes to watching Indian cable television, most Pakistanis will tune in faster to Indian general entertainment channels than a runaway rickshaw.

    It is this factor, according to some critics, that has stopped the Pakistani cable industry and subscriber homes from growing as fast as their Indian counterparts.

    While India boasts of over 61 million C&S households, PEMA’s Rana said that the total number of cable TV homes in Pakistan would be approximately 2 million. Though Dubai-based ARY Digital has obtained a DTH licence, it is yet to start the service.

    “But if Indian TV channels agree to about 20 per cent of Pakistani programming on their Pakistan feeds, we don’t see any reason why the likes of Zee and Star cannot be seen in our country,” Rana said, admitting that before a ban was put in place Zee News, notably, had seized a fair market share.

    The SAARC Electronic Media Association can work towards removal of such governmental, political and social barriers, Rana asserted.