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Tag: Robocop

  • Bid adieu to 2014 with SuperPIX PIXATHON this New Year’s Eve only on SONY PIX

    Bid adieu to 2014 with SuperPIX PIXATHON this New Year’s Eve only on SONY PIX

    Mumbai:  Movie buffs are in for a pleasant surprise as this New Year’s Eve, Sony PIX is offering a treat for it viewers with an interesting line up of entertaining and engaging movies all day long on Wednesday, December 31st from 9.00 AM onwards. The PIXATHON of the heroic and hilarious movies that will be aired are The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Grown Ups 2, The Smurfs 2, Robocop, After Earth and The Expendables 2, making sure you have the coolest, funniest and blockbuster New Year ever.

     

    A world with Giants and Dwarfs awaits you in the remarkable fantasy ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug airing at 9.00 AM followed by the rib tickling comedy, ‘Grown Ups 2’ where the adults get bullied by youngsters at 12.15 PM. Coming up next is ‘Smurfs 2’ at 2.00 PM where the little blue Smurfs set out for a wild adventure around Paris in search of their kidnapped friend Smurfette.

     

    Make way for the Ultimate Shiny reboot of the classic, undisputed crime eliminator in ‘Robocop’ at 4.30 PM and catch him extinguish felony on the city streets as a crime-fighting cyborg! Experience the beautiful journey of a father- son relationship and their fight for survival in the sci-fi action thriller ‘After Earth’ airing at 7.00 PM.  Coming closer to the year end is the multi starrer with the mammoth ensemble with Twice the action and double the punches at 9.00 PM is ‘The Expendables 2’.

     

    Tune in for an extravagant and compelling parade of this year’s most spectacular hits with six back to back movies only on Sony PIX, Wednesday, December 31st, 9.00 AM onwards!

  • MGM Holdings revenue down, income up in Q3-2014

    MGM Holdings revenue down, income up in Q3-2014

    BENGALURU: MGM Holdings Inc (MGM) reported 4 per cent drop in revenue to US$ 233.47 million in Q3-2014 from US$ 242.90 million in Q3-2013. Income for the period rose 72 per cent to US$ 28.59 million in Q3-2014 from US$ 16.59 million in Q3-2013.

     

    Here below are edited excerpts of MGM’s financial report for the quarter ended 30 September 2014.

     

    MGM says that as expected, revenue was lower due to the significant revenue it generated from its franchise film, Skyfall, which began its worldwide pay television and SVOD distribution in the prior year’s third quarter. This was largely offset by revenue performance in several areas in the current year’s third quarter, including higher revenue from MGM’s home entertainment distribution business, led by the worldwide distribution of RoboCop, plus higher revenue from its successful new television content and incremental revenue from previously released film content.

     

    Theatrical Revenue

     

    MGM’s Worldwide theatrical revenue was US$ 6.5 million for the three months ended 30 September 2014, an increase of US$ 3.9 million as compared to US$ 2.6 million for the three months ended 30 September 2013.

     

    Theatrical revenue for the current year’s third quarter primarily included international revenue for Hercules from certain territories where MGM controls the distribution rights. However, it did not recognise a substantial portion of the worldwide theatrical revenue for If I Stay, Hercules and 22 Jump Street, which are accounted for on a net basis after deduction of theatrical advertising and other related distribution costs. Net revenue from co-produced films is classified as other revenue from film and television content (see below). In comparison, theatrical revenue for the prior year’s third quarter primarily included the tail-end of the international theatrical distribution of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

     

    Home Entertainment

     

    Worldwide home entertainment revenue was US$ 41.7 million for the three months ended 30 September 2014, an increase of US$ 7.3 million as compared to US$ 34.4 million for the three months ended 30 September 2013. Home entertainment revenue increased in the current year’s third quarter due to the worldwide home entertainment distribution of RoboCop, which commenced in June 2014, plus the continued international distribution of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. In comparison, MGM did not have a significant home entertainment release in the prior year’s third quarter, which primarily included revenue from the continued international home entertainment distribution The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Skyfall worldwide. The company says that it is also keenly focused on strategies to maximise home entertainment revenue for its library, including targeted promotions such as the MGM 90th anniversary promotion in the current year. In addition, it has a steady pipeline of new film and television content that continues to generate home entertainment revenue, including recently released titles such as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey internationally, Carrie, Skyfall and its successful television series, Teen Wolf and Vikings, which have performed well in both physical home entertainment and EST.

     

    Television Licensing

     

    Worldwide television licensing revenue was US$ 150.6 million for the three months ended 30 September 2014, a decrease of US$ 15.2 million as compared to US$ 165.8 million for the three months ended 30 September 2013. Television licensing revenue was lower in the current year’s third quarter primarily due to significant revenue from Skyfall in the prior year’s third quarter, including its domestic pay television premiere on Epix and its initial pay television and SVOD availabilities in several territories internationally. The prior year’s third quarter also included the initial international television licensing of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Partially offsetting this decline was higher revenue from new television content in the current year’s third quarter, which primarily included MGM’s continued international television licensing of three successful current television series, Teen Wolf, Vikings and Fargo. In addition, MGM says that it generated revenue from several new film releases, including the initial international pay television and SVOD availabilities of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the domestic pay television premiere of Carrie on Epix, and VOD revenue for RoboCop.

     

    Other Revenue

     

    Other revenue from film and television content was US$ 13.6 million for the three months ended 30 September 2014, a decrease of US$ 10.7 million as compared to US$ 24.3 million for the three months ended 30 September 2013. Other revenue primarily included net revenue for MGM’s share of the distribution proceeds earned by its co-production partners for co-produced films for which its partners control the distribution rights in various distribution windows, including theatrical, home entertainment, television licensing and ancillary businesses. Net revenue from co-produced films is impacted by the timing of when a film’s cumulative aggregate revenues exceed its cumulative aggregate distribution fees and expenses. The decrease in the current year’s third quarter primarily reflected a higher number of titles moving through first-cycle distribution windows for which MGM record’s revenue on a gross basis as opposed to a net basis.

     

    Ancillary Businesses

     

    Total revenue from MGM ancillary businesses, which include MGM branded television channel operations, interactive gaming, consumer products, music performance and other revenue, was US$ 21.1 million for the three months ended 30 September 2014, an increase of US$ 5.3 million as compared to US$ 15.8 million for the three months ended 30 September 2013. This increase was primarily due to the timing of revenue from MGM branded television channels.

     

    Click here to read the full financial report

  • Witness the power of an undisputed crime eliminator ‘Robocop’

    Witness the power of an undisputed crime eliminator ‘Robocop’

    MUMBAI: Make way for the Ultimate Shiny reboot of the classic, future-shocker with Joel Kinnaman as the critically wounded Detroit detective who is rebuilt by the global OmniCorp as a crime-fighting cyborg. Experience an enthralling evening of action packed entertainment as SONY PIX premiers the legendary ‘Robocop’ airing Sunday, 19th October at 1 PM and 9 PM with a simulcast on AXN.
     
    Witness the cult classic in a new age futuristic film packed with special effects and robot technology. Set in the year 2028, director José Padilha’s Robocop, revolves around a world where mega-multinational OmniCorp headed by ruthless CEO Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton) has become the US military’s major contractor. Over in the Middle East, its soldier drones and heavy artillery units are helping to enforce the peace. Back home, its advanced robotics department is helping injured soldiers to walk again. But despite their best efforts, there’s one area of business they haven’t yet cracked… securing America’s own streets.
     
    With US citizens unwilling to accept a police force made up of faceless robots, Sellars devises an audacious solution to fuse a real cop with an artificial body. Enter Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman), a principled young detective left mortally wounded after a brutal assassination attempt. OmniCorp sees their chance to build a part-man, part-robot police officer but despite OmniCorp’s attempts to control their new ‘product, Murphy isn’t quite ready to play the puppet. Just like the original, the struggle between man and machine forms the backbone of this futuristic action packed film.
     
     
    So do not miss out on non-stop action, premiering 19th Oct, 1 PM and 9 PM on SONY PIX and AXN

  • Discovery Channel brings its first scripted series ‘Klondike’

    Discovery Channel brings its first scripted series ‘Klondike’

    MUMBAI: Discovery Channel presents its first scripted series KLONDIKE, which focuses on the Klondike gold rush in the 1890s and is based on Charlotte Gray’s book Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich in the Klondike.

     

    Featuring an all-star cast including Richard Madden (King of the North Robb Stark on Game of Thrones, A Promise), Abbie Cornish (RoboCop, Limitless), Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs) and Sam Shepard (August: Osage County, Out Of The Furnace), KLONDIKE tells the powerful story of the last great Gold Rush in our history. This epic six hour series will air from June 23 to 28, every night at 10 PM.

     

    Based on Charlotte Gray’s book “Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich in the Klondike,” the six-part period drama brings to life the tale of seven strangers and their collective fight for survival and wealth in a small, frontier town in the remote Klondike. The journey begins in 1897 when two childhood best friends, Bill (Madden) and Epstein (Augustus Prew) make the perilous journey through the North American wilderness to Klondike boom town Dawson City, “The Paris of the North,” where neither law nor order prevailed.  In the untamed Yukon Territory during a period of outrageous lawlessness – murder, revenge, riches, violence and redemption awaited these two young, ambitious men who made the arduous, back-breaking journey to Dawson City.

     

    Commenting on the new series, Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President & GM, South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, “Discovery Channel continues to bring compelling stories that would be relatable to our audience.  Klondike transports viewers back to the tail end of 19th-century life, and is presented in a refreshing format to offer a contemporary appeal.”

     

    KLONDIKE is a man-versus-nature tale that places the characters in a land full of undiscovered wealth, but ravaged by harsh conditions, unpredictable weather and deceptive, dangerous individuals fueled by desperateness – including greedy businessmen, seductive courtesans and native tribes witnessing the destruction of their people and land by opportunistic entrepreneurs.

     

    Even danger and death could not stand in the way between the gold diggers and their opportunity to hit pay dirt.

     

    Starting June 23, KLONDIKE, airs Monday to Saturday at 10 PM, only on Discovery Channel.

  • Sony PIX aims 20 per cent market share by 2014 in English movie space

    Sony PIX aims 20 per cent market share by 2014 in English movie space

    KOLKATA: Hollywood movie channel Sony PIX is looking to increase its market share to 20 per cent by the end of the current year 2014 in the Hollywood movie channel space from the present 18 per cent by strengthening its content.

     

    “Our aim is to grow our share and take it upwards to around 20 per cent by the end of 2014. In terms of viewership, the company has a market share of 18 per cent,” said Sony PIX EVP & Business Head Saurabh Yagnik, while announcing two initiatives – premieres of four big movies back to back and Pix Premiere Nights with the latest movie, Robocop in Kolkata, on Friday.

     

    “In 2013, we were consistent and maintained the second position, we even banged Star Movies occasionally from number one spot,” he said.

     

    On being asked the strategies to achieve this target, he said that the channel would focus on strengthening its content, while being innovative and relevant. “We are evaluating for other tie ups for content,” Yagnik said as he said that the channel plans to pump in more money to acquire content.

     

    When asked about the channel’s penetration in the Kolkata market, he said Sony Pix’s market share was 22 per cent in 2013, more than its average pan India share as people in WB are more inclined towards English movie channels.

  • Sony Pix presents Pix Premiere Nights

    Sony Pix presents Pix Premiere Nights

    Sony PIX, India’s premium Hollywood movie channel is geared up for the biggest amazement yet again! The channel is all set to make you go ‘Wow’ with an exciting proposition for its viewers on February 13 – PIX PREMIERE NIGHTS with the latest movie –‘ROBOCOP’
     

    PIX PREMIERE NIGHTS, is a unique proposition for the viewers to exclusively watch the premiere of the latest Hollywood movies before its theatrical release in India. Sony PIX will present this exclusive opportunity to its viewers to experience the thrill of a Hollywood blockbuster movie a day before its release in Indian theatres. The lucky few who win this contest stand a chance to win couple invites to the exclusive premiere of the summer blockbuster movie ROBOCOP.

     

    Commenting on this initiative, Neville Bastawalla – Marketing Head, Sony PIX says, “As part of our brand promise ‘Stay Amazed’, we push ourselves to being true to this promise. PIX Premiere Nights is one such brand deliverable that delivers this promise and will be a key tent pole on the channel. PIX PREMIER NIGHTS GIVES VIEWERS A CHANCE TO WATCH MEGA BLOCKBUSTERS month on month before India does in theaters, a day before the release. This also addresses strong viewer needs, giving our viewers badge value and flaunt value amongst their peers. It’s actually like secret screening of movies for select elite before the masses can see the movie. Also the scale across 6 cities is truly one of a kind by any English movie channel in India.

     
    From January 24th, a TAB on Sony PIX Facebook page gave the fans a chance to enter the contest and win tickets to watch the action – packed movie on February 13th, a day before anyone in India does. Viewers can also enter the contest by giving a missed call on 1800 3000 1140. 1200 tickets will be up for grabs as the contest will be run in 6 cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad).

     

    PIX Premier Nights is presented by Fair and Lovely Max Fairness.  

     

    Get ready for the biggest amazement with PIX PREMIERE NIGHTS and watch ROBOCOP before anyone in India does only with SONY PIX

  • Sony Pictures India releases an exciting slate of Hollywood movies for 2014-2015

    Sony Pictures India releases an exciting slate of Hollywood movies for 2014-2015

    As we ready ourselves to enter into the New Year, even production houses have chalked out their plans to entertain viewers with the big releases. One of those is Sony Pictures India that has released its slate of Hollywood movies for 2014-2015.

     

     Kicking off the New Year will be Carrie on 17 January, the supernatural horror reimagining of the 1976 cult classic, based on the bestselling Stephen King novel about a shy, alienated girl who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

     

    Following this, will be the release of Robocop on Valentine’s Day (14 February), another re-envisioning of the hit 1987 film about a bionic man facing humankind’s ever daunting question on who wins in the end: man or machine?

     

    Another remake soon follows suit on 11 April in the form of About Last Night, a reboot of the 1986 film of the same name, which was based on the 1974 David Mamet play, Sexual Perversity In Chicago.

     

    On 2 May, Peter Parker returns to fight against Electro, a formidable villain who has terrorised New York City in Spider Man 2.

     

    20 June would witness the release of two of the most highly anticipated movies of 2014, the first being Heaven Is For Real, about a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world, and the next being 22 Jump Street, the sequel to 2012 box office hit 21 Jump Street, about two police officers going undercover as adolescent students at a local school.

     

    25 July would see the release of the Eric Bana-starrer Deliver Us From Evil. On 8 Aug, watch a married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts in Sex Tape.

     

    Think Like A Man Too, another sequel, of the 2012 film will release on 29 August. Next up will be No Good Deeds, a movie about a former district attorney turned stay-at-home mom and her two small children who are terrorised and kidnapped after she invites a handsome but mysterious stranger into their home to wait for help after his car runs off the road releasing on 26 September.

     

    The Equalizer would release on 3 October, the storyline follows a retired intelligence officer Robert McCall who turns into a vigilante for the helpless. Ending the year on high note on 14 November would be The Interview, a movie about a late night talk show host and his producer best friend, approached by the CIA and asked to assassinate Kim, a mysterious and ruthless dictator of a nuclear-armed North Korea making them two of the least qualified men ever to assassinate – or interview – the most dangerous man on earth.

     

    Films slated for release in 2015 includes Annie, Kitchen Sink, Chappie, the new James Bond movie, and the latest installments in The Smurfs and Hotel Transylvania franchise.

  • MGM co-chairman, co-CEO Roger Birnbaum steps down

    MGM co-chairman, co-CEO Roger Birnbaum steps down

    MUMBAI: Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have announced that Birnbaum will transition to an exclusive producer role at the US studio MGM while Barber will become the sole chairman, CEO. Birnbaum will remain in his current offices in MGM‘s executive suite and will produce and develop new projects exclusively for the company.

    The announcement marks a return to hands-on producing for Birnbaum. He will first serve as executive producer and oversee production of the José Padilha reboot of the 1980s classic ROBOCOP, which started principal photography on September 15. Other upcoming projects he plans to produce include films based on ‘Deathwish‘, ‘War Games‘ and ‘Magnificnet Seven‘.

    Birnbaum said, “Gary and I decided, 2 years ago, to accept the challenge of joining MGM and restoring the company to its rightful place in the industry. I am very proud of where MGM is today. I have been in the film business a long time, and my greatest passion has always been producing. Now is the time for me to return to what I love to do the most…producing films. And the fact that I will be producing for MGM, with Gary, my partner and friend will be very gratifying.”

    Barber said, “I respect Roger‘s decision to return to his passion of ‘hands on‘ producing, and we are thrilled he has chosen to stay at MGM on an exclusive basis. We have been partners for almost 15 years and we have shared many successes together and I look forward to many more. I have the utmost confidence in Roger‘s ability to produce many of our key upcoming productions, and I could not be happier that we will continue to work together.”

    MGM Holdings lead director Ann Mather said, “The Board is very pleased with the performance of the company under Gary and Roger. We want to thank Roger and look forward to him producing upcoming MGM films and have full confidence in Gary continuing to lead the company with the talented management team in place.”

    Barber and Birnbaum were appointed MGM co-chairman, CEO‘s in December 2010 as the company emerged from bankruptcy. Since that time, they have secured a distribution and co-financing partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which includes such films as ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo‘, ‘21 Jump Street‘ and the upcoming 23rd James Bond adventure ‘Skyfall‘. They solidified a partnership with Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema on the upcoming ‘The Hobbit‘ trilogy, beginning this December with ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘. Additionally, MGM is partnered with Paramount Pictures on several upcoming films including ‘GI Joe: Retaliation‘ and ‘Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters‘. 

    Barber‘s and Birnbaum‘s reinvigorated MGM is also currently in production on the ‘Robocop‘ re-boot (along with partner Sony), scheduled for release in August 2013 and the recently wrapped ‘Carrie‘ (with Sony‘s Screen Gems) due March 2013. In April 2011, Barber and Birnbaum renewed MGM‘s worldwide home entertainment distribution pact with Fox Home Entertainment, extending the agreement through 2016.

    Since the company emerged from bankruptcy, it has created new TV content including an original scripted television series, ‘Vikings‘, which MGM has developed and will distribute with History Channel, as well as new programming from MGM‘s classic catalogue, including the drama series ‘Teen Wolf‘ with MTV and is in development on the upcoming re-imagined unscripted series ‘Fame‘ partnering with Nigel Lythgoe. Additionally, the company has also announced distribution and output deals to broadcast MGM‘s new films, television series and library assets with companies worldwide.

    Barber and Birnbaum will continue their long-term partnership at Spyglass Entertainment, a company they founded together in 1998, and which produced films like ‘The Sixth Sense‘. While no longer producing films through Spyglass, they continue to own the library assets of the company together.

  • MGM closes $500 mn revolving loan

    MGM closes $500 mn revolving loan

    MUMBAI: Ending its bankruptcy, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) has closed a $500 million revolving credit facility.

    The revolving credit facility replaces a term loan and a smaller revolving facility the studio received as part of a pre-packaged bankruptcy in which its lenders exchanged $4 billion in outstanding debt for equity valued at about $2 billion.

    Announcing the Studio’s endeavour, MGM co-CEO and co-chairmen Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum said, “A year ago MGM was in bankruptcy and to receive this oversubscribed facility just one year later is proof positive that through careful and efficient business decisions, we have earned the faith of the financial community.”

    The credit facility will be used to pay up debts and also to develop the film and TV businesses that will include films being made under a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment including 21 Jump Steet, the next James Bond movie Skyfall, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again (in partnership with Warrner Bros.) and GI Joe: Retaliation (with Paramount Pictures).

    Other films in development include remakes of Robocop, Carrie, Poltergiest and Teen Wolf, along with Punk Farm and Vikings.

    The restructuring of MGM was a long process that began in May 2009 when Moelis & Co, an investment bank, was hired to advice management. In August the same year, Stephen Cooper replaced CEO Harry Sloan who was said to be a turnaround expert.

    MGM was having problems meeting $300 million in annual interest payments. Moelis & Co. had to work out the bankruptcy with more than 140 creditors. The closing of the deal will trigger a payment of over $9 million to Moelis.

    The new loan was led by JP Morgan Chase, which reportedly put up $75 million of the new credit facility. The rest came from Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo, CIT Bank, Union Bank, City National Bank and OneWest Bank.