ITV

Tag: Phyllis Yaffe

  • ‘CSI’ drives Alliance Atlantis’ 3Q results

    ‘CSI’ drives Alliance Atlantis’ 3Q results

    MUMBAI: Canadian television firm Alliance Atlantis Communications has reported revenue and earnings growth for the third quarter ended 30 September, 2006.

    The company benefitted from strong sales for the CSI franchise. In India CSI airs on AXN.

    Alliance Atlantis CEO Phyllis Yaffe says, “We are exceptionally pleased with the performance of the CSI franchise and the previously announced licensing of certain international second window rights which demonstrate the strong interest of CSI around the world .

    “In our broadcasting business, we were pleased with continued strong subscriber revenue gains as well as strong audience growth. While ad revenue was down slightly year over year, we are pacing well in the fourth quarter and in 2007 we believe advertising revenue will increase in line with the Canadian specialty television market expectations. Over the past 12 months, our advertising revenue is up seven per cent.”

    Broadcasting revenue of $66.7 million represented an increase of four per cent over the prior year’s quarter. Subscriber revenue grew by 10 per cent to $33 million in the quarter compared to $30.1 million in the prior year reflecting steady growth in paid subscribers. Advertising revenue decreased slightly to $32.1 million for the quarter compared to $33.0 million in the prior year due to slightly lower demand for ad inventory.

    In the entertainment segment, CSI revenue of $140.2 million was up $89.9 million from $50.3 million in the prior year’s quarter. The increase was primarily due to second window license fees recognized in the current quarter offset by a stronger Canadian dollar. The company recognises second window license fees from licensing arrangements with existing broadcasters of the CSI franchise when the company has fulfilled its obligations, which typically occurs ahead of the actual second window availability and payment of the license fees.

    During the current quarter, the company entered into several second window licensing arrangements with existing CSI broadcasters and recognised $91.3 million in revenue from these arrangements.

  • Alliance Atlantis announces licensing of intl second window rights for ‘CSI’

    Alliance Atlantis announces licensing of intl second window rights for ‘CSI’

    MUMBAI: Canadian media firm Alliance Atlantis Communications has announced the licensing of certain international second window rights for the CSI franchise including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

    In India, the show airs on AXN.
    The license fees generated for these international second window rights total approximately $250 million. Alliance Atlantis executive MD of international content distribution Ted Riley says, “We have now secured second window licensing agreements in a number of countries including France, Spain, Australia and, most recently, Germany and the UK. These agreements with international broadcasters demonstrate the strong interest in the re-licensing of CSI around the world.”

    Alliance Atlantis Communications CEO Phyllis Yaffe says, “We are exceptionally pleased with the performance of the CSI franchise in the international marketplace. As we have previously stated, the franchise has outperformed our original expectations in international first window and DVD sales. With this announcement, we can confirm that the trend continues. International second window rights are worth significantly more than we had originally anticipated. We continue to have active discussions with broadcasters in other territories regarding further second window licensing opportunities.”

    International broadcasters that have acquired second window rights to the franchise include RTL in Germany, Five in the UK, TF1 in France, Telecinco in Spain, Nine Network in Australia and CTV in Canada. These sales include both produced and future episodes of CSI. To date, the CSI franchise has produced 287 hours of programming inventory.

    Alliance Atlantis also announced video-on-demand (VOD) partnering agreements for the CSI franchise in certain European territories including Germany and the UK, to take advantage of emerging opportunities in cable and online distribution.