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Tag: Robert Montgomery

  • Banff World Television Festival, NHK announce partnership

    Banff World Television Festival, NHK announce partnership

    MUMBAI: The Banff World Television Festival joins forces with NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, to offer up the NHK Prize.

    This is a new version of the NHK President’s Prize which has been awarded for the past six years. The new NHK Prize will be given for the best HD international co-production. NHK will sponsor it with a $20,000 (Cdn) cash award. The winner will be announced at the 2007 Awards ceremony during the event which takes place in Banff, Canada,from 10 -13 June 2007.

    BWTVF CEO Robert Montgomery says, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with NHK again. As leaders in HD technology, NHK’s support of this award will help to ensure that the best new HD productions are recognized.”

    NHK head International programme acquisition and co-production Fumio Narashima says, “NHK always has a keen eye on quality programming and strives to explore the frontiers of innovation and creativity with international partners. Given our dedication to superior programming and the increasing global dominance of HDTV, we hope to further encourage excellent HD international co-productions with this new award”.

    All internationally co-produced HD programmes submitted for the 2007 Banff Television Awards will be eligible for nomination. Producers are urged to submit as soon as possible as the deadline for submissions for the Awards is 23 February 23, 2007.

    The Banff World Television Awards include 18 categories covering the major programme genres. New to the awards this year is the Best Telenovela/Drama Serial Program category. In addition to this, BWTVF’s 2007 programme competition will include several expanded categories for its Interactive Programme: Best Mobile Programme Enhancement Award, Best Internet Programme Enhancement Award and Best Internet Only Production Award.
     

  • AOL, Charter Communications ink broadband marketing partnership

    AOL, Charter Communications ink broadband marketing partnership

    MUMBAI: Reinforcing its commitment to the global HDTV industry, the Banff World Television Festival in Canada has joined forces with NHK, Japans public broadcaster, to offer up the NHK Presidents Prize for the sixth consecutive year.

    NHK will sponsor the special award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize for the best HDTV programme.

    All HD programmes entered into the 2006 Banff World Television Awards will be eligible for nomination. The winner will be announced at the 2006 Banff World Television Awards ceremony during The 27th Banff World Television Festival, from 11 to14 June 2006.

    Banff World Television Festival CEO Robert Montgomery says, As a public broadcaster, NHK is also a leader in advanced HD technology, which is an incredibly important focus for us. We are delighted at the opportunity to work with NHK again in recognizing HDs true visionaries.

    NHK president Genichi Hashimoto says, “NHK always has a keen eye on the potential of new broadcasting technologies, so we’re delighted to encourage producers and directors who are leading the way in HDTV production. Given the increasing global dominance of HDTV and the Banff World Television Awards’ commitment to recognizing excellence, we look forward to seeing outstanding HD work in the competition”.

    The Banff World Television Awards include 18 categories covering the major program genres andnew this yeara category recognising excellence in interactive television. A Banff Rockie will be awarded to the best entry in each of the 18 categories. Entry forms and the detailed regulations for the 2006 Banff World Television Awards international program competition are available at www.banMUMBAI: AOL and Charter Communications, Inc have inked a partnership to offer consumers the AOL service and Charter’s high-speed internet access.

    The combined offer provides AOL members access to the AOL service’s leading security features and exclusive content via Charter’s true high-speed Internet connection at the price of $25.90 per month.

    Beginning on 6 February, AOL members in the Charter footprint will be able to sign-up for the new combined offering, as well as order a cable modem, making it simple and convenient to upgrade from dial up.

    “With the addition of Charter to AOL’s coast-to-coast broadband network, we’re expanding our footprint so that more AOL members around the country are able to take advantage of a competitively-priced high-speed offering. We’re happy to add this major new cable partner to our network of Internet providers as we are entering this new phase for our company,” said AOL Access Business president Joe Redling.

    Charter executive vice president and chief marketing officer Bob Quigley said, “Through this innovative marketing partnership, we’re targeting new high-speed customers and expanding our customer base. Our robust high-speed product makes all aspects of the Internet experience better, and together with AOL’s popular online service, provides a very compelling offer.”

    Key features of the new offering will include:

    Speed: The high speed of broadband makes all aspects of the Internet experience more valuable.
    Fast and Easy Setup: Makes getting up and running quick and easy.
    Customer Service: Help that’s available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.
    Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identify theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.
    Content: AOL exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and additional Charter content offerings through charter.net.
    Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.
    ff2006.com.

  • Curtains close on 2006 Banff World TV Fest

    Curtains close on 2006 Banff World TV Fest

    MUMBAI: The 2006 Banff World Television Festival came to a close on 14 June, with a combined 1,700 delegates attending both the television festival and its sister-event, nextMedia-The Future of Digital Content.

    Banff World Television Festival CEO Robert Montgomery said, “This year’s elite lineup of VIP guest speakers and record number of U.S. delegates really is a reflection on how important this Festival is, globally.”The Festival included a host of panel and session rooms along with special events. It also generated the signing of new deals and an opportunity for delegates to turn their project ideas and concepts into real productions, informs an official release.

    Some of the notable deals inked this year included, David Paperny of Paperny Films who sealed a $1.4-million financing deal with both the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and CTV Inc. for a new documentary.

    Chris Haddock’s latest procedural drama, Intelligence will be viewed in the U.S., an outcome of the deal between U.S. distributors Program Partners and Thunderbird Films.

    In addition, last year’s pitching finalist, Sinking Ship Enterprises, announced that their children’s project Roll Play is slated to air this fall on Canada’s Treehouse TV.

    “We not only saw a significant number of deals being signed, but also facilitated the development of a plethora of future programming,” added Montgomery.

    The winners this year include:

    CTV Canadian Documart 
    First prize and $50,000 was presented to The Dolphin Dealer by Leigh Badgley, OMNI Film Productions Ltd.

    Second prize and $30,000 was presented to Inventing The Future: Atanasoff, Mauchly And The First Computer by Mila Aung-Thwin, EyeSteelFilm.

    Third prize and $20,000 was presented to Web Warriors by Edward Peill, Tell Tale Productions Inc.

    Pitch It : Drama and Comedy 
    Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Ian Johnson, Guru Inc. won a development prize of $10,000 from Showcase for the completeness of the pitch-its setting and characters.

    Pitch It : Lifestyle and Reality 
    High School Reunion Stories by Antonio Hrynchuk, Fahrenheit Films with a development prize of $10,000 from Life Network for an appealing concept and endless potential for conflict in the stories.

    Pitch It : Children’s Programming
    The World According To Ella by Mark Montefiore, Polenta Productions won for fleshed characters, a nice, simple concept and brilliant writing and casting.

    Kodak Audience Award
    Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Ian Johnson, Guru Inc. received $5,000 in film stock from Kodak Canada for being the all-round favourite pitch, chosen by the audience.

    iPitch
    Raven Tales by Michael Ockenden, Sand Box Media Games with Joanne Levy, APTN won a development prize of $10,000 from the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund for an incredible game element and portraying beautiful Canadian stories.

    nextMedia-The Future Of Digital Content
    nextMedia finished on a high note following an impressive three day schedule of speakers, panels, keynotes and networking events. The sold-out event featured more than 260 delegates, representing a 10 per cent increase over last year.

    The Banff World Television Festival owned by the Banff Television Festival Foundation, is produced by Achilles Media Ltd. on behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Board of Governors, representing international producers and broadcasters. Achilles Media is a management organization for some of the world’s leading television and new media industry events including the Banff World Television Festival, the World Congress of History Producers and nextMedia – The Future of Digital Content.

  • Banff to focus on digital media with sister event nextMedia

    Banff to focus on digital media with sister event nextMedia

    MUMBAI: Recognising that new media platforms is an invaluable part of todays television industry, the Banff World Television Festival in Canada has ramped-up the programme for its lead-in, sister conference, nextMedia 2006.

    The aim is to offer delegates an all-encompassing experience. nextMedia from 9 to 11 June will deliver the latest information on cutting-edge multi-platform distribution and content. This will be followed by Banff 2006 from 11 to 14 June.

    Set amid the Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta, this years nextMedia is a three-day event, featuring keynotes, international panels, best practices, case studies, as well as pitching and networking events. All these will focus on the future of digital content.

    This years theme focusses on digital content that is seamlessly integrated into our lives and distributed across multiple media platforms. nextMedia will also offer attendees an insight into the future of television, providing an essential companion to the Banff World Television Festival.

    Achilles Media CEO Robert Montgomery who is producing the event says, “nextMedia is on the pulse of emerging technologies and the future of digital content on such mobile channels as mobile internet, videophones and other handheld devices. The nextMedia/ Banff 2006 coupling is a must-attend for all television industry executives interested in staying up-to-date on such advanced media distribution platforms and their expanding markets and audiences.”

    nextMedia 2006, now in its second year, has bolstered its offerings to include these new highlights:

    – Digital Delivery Briefings with content aggregators
    – Interactive Exchange Sessions with broadcasters, CEs and TV executives
    – The Digital Deli a working lunch for content creators, where delegates learn how to repurpose and sell their content
    – The Market Place a delegate lounge with screening facilities and market kiosks.