ITV

Tag: Sony Pictures

  • Sun shines on kids

    Sun shines on kids

    The Sun TV Network – with its repertoire of 33 channels across genres including entertainment, music, movies, comedy, news and kids – is arguably a very big name in television (media), both in India and Asia.

    While the group debuted with its entertainment channel, Sun TV, back in 1993, children got their very own space on the network not before 2007. The Kids Cluster, as it came to be called, kick-started with Chutti TV (Tamil), followed soon by Kochu TV (Malayalam), Chintu TV (Kannada) and Kushi TV (Telugu).

    Of the four kids channels, Chutti and Kochu are extremely popular with a nearly 80 per cent reach in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, respectively.

    Kavitha Jaubin knows that maintaining a kids channel is difficult but for Sun Network it has proved to be a good market

    The mainstay of the cluster, whose core target is kids in the age group of four to fourteen years, is cartoon acquisitions from numerous distributors and production houses like Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Viacom18 and Scholastic. 80 per cent of the content is similar on all four channels while the remaining 20 per cent varies based on cultural preferences of the state in question.

    Says Sun TV Network Kids Cluster of Channels Head Kavitha Jaubin: “Till now, we’ve only been airing acquired content but we hope to own a few titles soon, considering how well we’ve understood our little audience’s interest patterns and what content they view the most.”

    The acquired content has to be dubbed by a skilled team in each state, which develops a script in the respective language. “The USP of our channel content is the nature of dubbing. It is extremely witty and is thoroughly enjoyed by our audience,” says Jaubin, adding that nearly a week goes into scripting and dubbing an episode.

    Yes, there is some amount of in-house content produced by the network’s 20-strong programming team, which includes game shows, chat shows, news segments, cookery shows and arts and crafts shows. For the purpose, they have studios in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

    While a major portion of the content is international, the network is looking to change this trend by including more local content. Some of the popular shows include Geronimo Stilton from Moonscoop, Penguins of Madagascar, Avatar from Viacom18, Jackie Chan Adventures from Sony Pictures and Little Prince from DQ Entertainment. Recently, the network acquired Little Krishna from Viacom 18 for Janmashtami, and is looking to acquire more such as Barney and Friends.

    Since the cluster caters to kids, the channels take care to handpick the content and also censor it to suit the tiny tots.

    “There are a few things that we particularly avoid – violence, content that hurts the sentiments of any section of the population or forces parents to scrutinise it,” says Jaubin.

     

    The other thing the network does in terms of cartoons is placing them as per the time band and the age of the audience viewing them.

    The morning audience mainly comprises kids between eight and 10 years of age, which changes to pre-schoolers by afternoon. Whereas, evenings are when kids in the age group of 9-14 years watch these channels, often accompanied by parents. At this hour, the channel claims to focus on edutainment type of cartoons more than action.

    Speaking of cartoons, those among the Kids Cluster of Channels airing them seem to be doing well.

    Mudra Max Media south head Anil Sathiraju says that a channel which talks regional does better than the one which does not. “Chutti TV is doing very well and for a kids’ TG, it delivers fantastically,” he says.

    According to Sathiraju, the cartoon genre doesn’t face competition from regional channels, with only Chithiram TV from the Kalaignar Group doing fairly well in Tamil Nadu and none in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

    It’s mainly national channels like Pogo, Cartoon Network and Disney that are capable of giving the cluster channels a run for their money. “The effect Pogo gives is pan-India while a Chutti TV or a Chintu TV is only restricted to the state,” says Sathiraju.

    Advertising-wise, the ads aired on these channels are directed straight at the kids who’re watching. The prime time of 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on weekdays and also weekends is when advertisers make the most out of their products. ITC, Surf Excel and Horlicks are some of the brands that advertise with these channels.

    Sun TV sources revealed all four channels in the cluster would be generating advertising revenue in the region of Rs 80 crore with Chutti and Kochu contributing a lion’s share.

    The channels are hardly visible on the digital front. The website has a game section which includes colouring and puzzles. A small section allows users to upload their childrens’ photos on their birthdays that will be displayed on the site. Show timings for the day can also be found out.

    Children dressed up for an event organised by Chintu TV

    Most of the marketing they do is for their shows through outdoor events. There are regular events and contests, the most recent one being on Janmashtami when kids were made to dress up as Lord Krishna and his consort Radha and click photographs.

    Other events include Chutti Premiere League on the lines of IPL, where a cartoon character heads a team and children vote for their favourite team; theme-based carnivals and so on. “This has definitely helped us gain visibility and intensify the already existing popularity,” says Jaubin.

    Is there room for more channels in the kids’ space? “It is a challenge to tailor programs that suit kids’ interests, and at the same time, sustain it,” says Jaubin.

    As things stand, the Kids Cluster seems to have made a place for itself in kids’ hearts although it continues to face stiff competition not from regional but national children’s channels.

  • The Smurfs to dance to the tune of India’s viral sensation Adhi and Indian Idol Junior competitors

    The Smurfs to dance to the tune of India’s viral sensation Adhi and Indian Idol Junior competitors

    NEW DELHI: Nine young participants in Sony TV’s Indian Idol Junior singing talent hunt, aged between eight and fifteen, have rendered an Indian song called “Na Na Na (Nice vs Naughty)” in the dubbed Hindi version of Sony Pictures’ Smurfs 2, being released on 2 August.

     

    To be released by Sony Music, the song features Chennai-based viral sensation Adhi of HipHop Tamizha (pronounced “Tamila”) whose hit “Club le Mabbu le” has garnered over 2.1 million views on YouTube.

     

    They join an illustrious group of top international artistes. The film’s international soundtrack features Britney Spears’ hit “Ooh La La”. Other major international artistes that have shown some Smurf love include Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Smurfy” (a remake of their classic “I’m Too Sexy”) and LMFAO’s “I’m Vexy and I Know It” (remake of their super-hit “I’m Sexy and I Know It”).

     

    Sony Music will make the song available across all digital platforms. The film itself is being released in 3D in both Hindi and English.

     

    In this sequel to Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation’s hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster comedy The Smurfs, the evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties that he hopes will let him harness the all-powerful, magical Smurf-essence. But when he discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, and only a secret spell that Smurfette knows can turn the Naughties into real Smurfs, Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, where he has been winning the adoration of millions as the world’s greatest sorcerer. It’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our world, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her.

     

    The film is directed by Raja Gosnell and produced by Jordan Kerner. The screenplay is by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick and David Ronn and Karey Kirkpatrick with a story by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick and David Ronn, and is based on the Characters and Works of Peyo.

     

    The story of the Smurfs started in 1958 with the creation of comic books which were later brought to both the big and small screen. Over the years, the little blue characters haven’t just limited themselves to the page and the screen. They have inspired records and CDs that have sold millions of copies, entire collections of figurines and toys, and many more products. In all, more than 3,000 derived products have been produced and leading brands and companies have spread their messages worldwide with the help of the Smurfs.

  • Sony Pictures to release sci-fi thriller ‘Elysium’ in India

    Sony Pictures to release sci-fi thriller ‘Elysium’ in India

    MUMBAI: This August, Sony Pictures is all geared up to release one of the summer’s biggest futuristic science fiction flick Elysium in Indian theatres. Set 146 years in the future, on a ravaged Earth and a luxurious habitat called Elysium, the sci-fi stars Academy Award winners Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity), Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs) and Sharltey Copley (District 9) in major roles. Produced by Bill Block, Simon Kinberg, Neill Blomkamp and written and directed by Oscar nominee Neill Blomkamp of District 9 fame, the film will touch upon political and sociological themes such as immigration, health care and class issues and is inspired by the South African director’s own experiences.

     

    Elysium takes place in the year 2159 A.D., where two classes of people exist: the extremely affluent, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated Earth ruined by poverty, war and crime. Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) will stop at nothing to preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium – but that doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in by any means they can. Max (Matt Damon) agrees to take on a life-threatening mission, one that could bring equality to these polarised worlds.

     

    Neill Blomkamp’s last outing District 9 was a critical and commercial success. The movie earned four nominations in the 2010 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and a writing (Best Adapted Screenplay) nomination for Neill Blompkamp.

     

    Elysium will hit Indian theatres on 23 August. It will be releasing in English and Hindi.

  • Paramount set to revive Beverly Hills Cop series

    Paramount set to revive Beverly Hills Cop series

    MUMBAI: The fourth film in the series is under discussion to be produced, after looking at the success of the TV series pilot episode last year.

     

    The first film was released in 1984 and the third in 1994 after which it stopped. The first three installments together grossed about $750 million.

     

    Eddie Murphy will still be playing the role of Axel Foley, the Detroid-based tough cop. Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec who have had successful stints in movies such as Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are also part of the ensemble.

     

    The decision came after a tough bidding for the series on TV ensued, before going to CBS. The pilot was produced by Sony Pictures TV with Paramount as rights holder. However, the series was never aired but it has created enough buzz to be made into a fourth installment in the franchise.

  • White House Down invites army personnel for Fourth of July screening

    White House Down invites army personnel for Fourth of July screening

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures will offer active military personnel and veterans free admission to see the Roland Emmerich helmed White House Down on the Fourth of July.

    The offer, valid for Independence Day only, is open to anyone showing proper military identification. Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Theatres, Cinemark, and Carmike Cinemas are participating in the offer. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and each military member may bring one guest.

    “We think White House Down is the summer‘s best action movie”, said Sony Pictures president of worldwide distribution Rory Bruer. “Seeing White House Down is a great way to celebrate the holiday and to honor and thank the troops for their service to our country.”

    This announcement follows a disappointing US debut for the Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx tentpole, which grossed just $24.8 million in its first weekend.

    The movie, which follows an ambitious capitol policeman (Tatum) and the president of the United States (Foxx) as they fight for survival during a terrorist attack on the White House, is also dodging punches from some conservatives who are urging audiences to boycott the film due to what they claim is liberal bias.

  • Angry Birds takes flight with a film

    Angry Birds takes flight with a film

    MUMBAI: The popular video game 'Angry Birds' will make the transition to the big screen with a film. Rovio Entertainment has announced that comedy writer Jon Vitti will write the screenplay for the upcoming animated 3D film. Additionally, veteran producer Catherine Winder is joining the production team that includes producer John Cohen and executive producer David Maisel. The movie is slated for a 1 July 2016 release and will to be distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures.

    Rovio Entertainment CEO Mikael Hed said, "I'm very excited that Jon and Catherine have joined us, bringing with them their vast expertise. I'm confident we are building the right team to deliver an amazing movie experience to our fans"

    Cohen said, "I'm thrilled to have Jon and Catherine joining the project. Jon is one of the funniest writers I know, and we're looking forward to working with him to bring the birds and pigs to life on the big screen. Catherine is a fantastic producer, with over 20 years of film and television experience, and I'm very excited to have her as a part of our filmmaking team"

    Angry Birds is one of the world's biggest entertainment franchises, starting in 2009 with the original mobile game that remains the number one paid app of all time. Angry Birds has expanded rapidly into entertainment, publishing, and licensing to become a beloved international brand.

    The upcoming movie marks Rovio's first foray into feature films, although fans have already been introduced to the Angry Birds world with the weekly 'Angry Birds' Toons animated series. Rovio launched the series in March through its Angry Birds apps, as well as on select video-on-demand channel providers, Smart TVs, connected devices, and on select TV networks around the world. Paving the way for a full-length feature film, Angry Birds Toons has been a massive success for Rovio clocking in over 150 million views from the Angry Birds apps alone within the first six weeks.

  • Focus creates online edutainment platform for kids

    Focus creates online edutainment platform for kids

    MUMBAI: While kids are increasingly spending time online there aren‘t many platforms that offer content tailor made for them. It is to fill in this need gap that advertising and digital media agency Focus Circle Group is looking to fill.

    Focus has launched Worldoo (worldoo.com), a unique platform that offers a blend of entertainment and education from the most popular content from a kid‘s world of interest, through an interactive experience.

    Worldoo, according to Focus, is an ‘Ever-evolving Online Ecosystem‘ for kids in the 6-12 age bracket. The aim of Worldoo is to offer kids an interactive experience.

    Worldoo has around 16 content partners including ZeeQ, Cartoon Network, Shemaroo, Sony Pictures and National Geographic. Kids can consume the content from their world of interests and earn virtual currency (Stars) by doing so. Stars are earned depending on the amount of content they consume.

    Focus Circle Group MD Monish Ghatalia reveals that the site took two and a half years to create. The company has invested Rs 90 million and is hoping to achieve a break-even in three years.

    “Our promise is to deliver something new, always. So far 600 kids have registered. We have invested Rs. 90 million and expect to breakeven within three years. We have a revenue sharing arrangement deal with our content partners for ads. Worldoo is an audience focused engagement platform for brands on the internet. With conventional activation mediums, it is challenging for brands to reach out to a large chunk of target audiences at a single point, and even more difficult to sustain the engagement,” he explains.

    Ghatalia adds, “We are confident that Worldoo will provide an edge for brands, to engage with the right target audience. It offers the right platform for brands to achieve much more than just impressions and clicks. Worldoo creates engaging experiences for kids as it offers activities, interaction and content, all in one place. Our aim in doing content deals was to have content that imparts both excitement and education, all in a single platform.”

    There are seven content sources (landmarks) in the site including Game Den that has games segmented by genre. Companies like ZeeQ and Cartoon Network have their own landmark within Worldoo.

    Ghatalia adds that the second phase for the company starts in a few months time. That is when it will look to be available on digital devices like the mobile as well. It will also have regional content. By the end of the year it could have 50 content partners. “We are looking to create content on our end as well. There will be comics, stories, games. The vision for us is long term and we want to touch upon diverse aspects that concern kids.”

    Turner International India VP ad sales South Asia Juhi Ravindranath commenting on the content partnership with Worldoo said, “At Turner, our aim has always been to push the boundaries and deliver innovative and entertaining content/experience across various platforms. Worldoo is a unique idea and we are happy to partner with Focus in a bid to create the right brand experience for consumers.”

    ZeeQ programming head Aparna Bhosle noted that technology is central to consumption of content. “content consumption is becoming increasingly multi-platform. TV, internet and the mobile phone should together allow greater opportunities to watch your favourite show at any time in any place and on any device. It is keeping this in mind that ZeeQ are excited about partnering with an innovative concept like Worldoo. It is a mechanism through which our shows can be sampled via the internet.”

    Shedding light on the ad strategy Worldoo head experience and brand Harsh Wardhan Dave said, “Advertising for kids online has always been restricted to banners, contest pages, micro sites. There is no innovation in this space in terms of customer engagement. The launch of Worldoo is a very proud moment for us, as we fill this gap for brands to think out of the box and create a real life engagement with kids through our digital platform. With all of this we are about digital engagement and not just digital marketing.”

    He adds that since Worldoo has a blend of social and engagement, brands can live with kids in Worldoo. Kids can follow brands, make friends with them, get tips from brands etc. Also creatively, they can seamlessly become a part of a user‘s journey as the brand can be present while kids spend their time in their world. For example a breakfast brand can place a bowl of cereals in a Kids Home at Worldoo or a car brand can be driving through the roads of Worldoo and more such tailor made innovations.”

    He added that the aim of Worldoo is to reassure parents who are unsure of what their kids are looking at online. “The pre-launch research conducted by IMRB gave us immense confidence that what we are creating is the need of the hour. Kids research told us liked the website as they get so many things in it. They are excited about the various types of games that are there. According to mothers the site has everything that a child needs and so there is no need for their children to go anywhere else. Mothers also feel that it the site is good as only kids will be there.

    “So children will interact with other children of their age. Mothers also feel that the point system will give children some business sense, about how to earn for themselves and then spend wisely. 1/3rd of mothers feel that the site is for 13-15 year olds. More than 80 per cent of mothers surveyed feel that Worldoo is an edutainment site. Our research also showed that Google is favourite site for kids followed by Cartoon Network, Facebook, Yahoo and National Geographic”.

    What is interesting about this survey is that two iconic kids brands Disney and Nickelodeon both ranked below National Geographic.

    The content that Worldoo offers includes:
    – Games from miniclip, the gamebox, zapak.
    – Cartoons from Cartoon Network and Chota Bheem
    – Animals and Environment and Conservation from National Geographic and JeffCorwinConnect.
    – Movies and Trailers from Warner Bros., Shemaroo, Sony Pictures, Reliance Big Flix.
    – Edutainment from ZeeQ,
    – Books and Comics include Amar Chitra Katha, Crosswords, Landmark, Dreamland, Britanica Books, Robinage, Champak.
    – International destination includes Sentosa.

  • Revenues for content providers are coming from more places now: Kaplan

    Revenues for content providers are coming from more places now: Kaplan

    MUMBAI: Content providers have a wide array of opportunities to tap revenues from as multiple screens emerge and compete, particularly in the advanced markets.

    "Revenues are coming from more places. More windows are opening, ensuring that there are more hours of content to sell," said Sony Pictures Television Worldwide Networks Andrew J Kaplan.

    The marketplace is becoming more complex and secondary revenue streams (Netflix and Hulu) are emerging stronger. "This means that there is a bit of a challenge on the infrastructure side. We need to be experts and understand the businesses of different distribution systems. It is a much more complicated world now. There is chaos and, hence, an opportunity," Kaplan said, while speaking at Ficci Frames 2013.

    In terms of genres, Kaplan noted that while American drama travels well globally, comedy does not — especially in non English speaking markets. “Some comedy shows that work overseas rely on physical humour. In India, we have Sab which has done well.”
    In terms of SPT channels globally, Kaplan noted that Sony offers American shows. “We buy from our own studio and other studios as well. The aim is to maximise the audience and ratings. As the reach of our channels have grown, we have become a more important buyer globally.”

    Kaplan also spoke about the action oriented channel AXN, saying that the challenge is to balance global with local content. “AXN is different in Thailand and Portugal. That is partly because certain rights are available in certain markets and also because audience tastes are different. Not everything will work equally well everywhere. We also have local shows because that drives in higher ratings. People like to look in the mirror and their want to see their neighbourhood.”

    He spoke about global co-productions ‘The Firm’, ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Crossing lines that SPT is engaged in. “The aim is to get a different creative input so that the content is more applicable to our networks."

    One challenge for a channel like AXN is to retain a uniform character for it globally. What it makes it tough is that there is no flagship channel for Sony in the US. “So we create channels on a market-to-market basis using a lot of research. While we balance global content with local shows, there has to be sanctity in terms of what the brand represents. Our local management teams are passionate about their markets. We have a lot of discussion about what will work the best. Usually we get right. Sometimes we stray. Then we have to pull things back in line,” said Kaplan.

    He also spoke about new media saying that Crackle, Sony‘s online platform in the US, relies on advertising as opposed to other platforms like Hulu which are subscription driven. “I am still trying to figure out if we are smart or stupid in relying on advertising. The advertiser’s response has been solid. We target males 18-49 which is a hard demographic to reach. What helps us is that advertisers want to be in the digital space.”

    The aim of Crackle is to supplement traditional television viewing and not cannibalise it. "Crackle launched in Latin America last year. That is because broadband penetration there is high. Also SPT has a strong ad sales team there. The next phase of evolution for Crackle is creating local content, which it is doing more of. Netflix is also doing this. The advantage of local content is that we can do product and environment integration with advertisers,” Kaplan said.

  • Sony Pictures unites sound, digital mastering departments

    Sony Pictures unites sound, digital mastering departments

    MUMBAI: With production underway on Sony Pictures Animation‘s ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2‘ and post-production continuing on ‘The Smurfs 2‘, Sony Pictures Digital Productions (SPDP) have announced it is bringing the studio‘s Sound Department and Colorworks, the studio‘s digital intermediate facility, under its umbrella.

    SPDP will now offer a host of post-production services to the professional community, including visual effects and computer animation, sound mixing and editorial and digital mastering, color grading, and film restoration.

    The announcement was made by Sony Pictures Digital Productions president Bob Osher. Commenting on the announcement, Osher said, “These changes to the production organisation will help us continue to provide our partners with the same world class suite of facilities and services they have come to expect from Sony Pictures Studios over the years, and I am thrilled to welcome the expertise of Colorworks and the studio‘s Sound Department, with their incredible teams of experienced professionals, to Sony Pictures Digital Productions.”

    These changes come following the announcement that Sony Pictures Studios president Gary Martin will be retiring this year. Martin was responsible for opening the lot‘s Barbara Streisand Scoring Stage and developing Sony Pictures Studios‘ Sound Department into a facility boasting a stable of Oscar winning sound mixers and sound supervisors.

    Along with Sony Pictures Technologies president, Chris Cookson, Martin opened the studio‘s digital intermediate facility, which introduced the industry‘s first fully-4K workflow. Osher and Sony Pictures Imageworks executive VP, GM Randy Lake will work closely with the sound department‘s Richard Branca and Tom McCarthy and Colorworks‘ Chris Holt in managing the studio‘s combined post-production operations.

    Sony Pictures Colorworks‘ 14,000 square foot facility, housed at Sony Pictures Studio‘s Stage 6, features colourists and technology offering real-time, 4K processing in a full digital workflow for top filmmakers from across the industry. The Sony Pictures Sound Department boasts some of the world‘s most sought-after sound facilities, and top sound editors with a combined six Oscar wins to the their credit, including this year‘s winner for Best Sound Editing, ‘Zero Dark Thirty‘.

    Sony Pictures Imageworks is the visual effects unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions known for live-action visual effects, CG animation, and 3D imagery.

  • BoxTV partners Sony Pictures & Disney UTV for content

    BoxTV partners Sony Pictures & Disney UTV for content

    MUMBAI: Times Internet Ltd‘s BoxTV has entered into content agreement deals with Sony Pictures Television and Disney UTV in order to provide premium titles on its video streaming service.

    Other content providers that the online video/content streaming platform has associations with include UTV Motion Pictures, Shemaroo Entertainment, Rajshri Entertainment and Everymedia Technologies for Bollywood and regional content in addition to international studios like Celestial Entertainment – for Hollywood content.

    Times Internet CEO Satyan Gajwani said, “With these partnerships, we provide our users access to a vast content library of popular choices to watch.”

    BoxTV is a provider of premium video service that offers a large bouquet of entertainment, including blockbuster movies, TV shows, short films, documentaries and more, which users can watch on a regular web browser or through the device of their choice.

    Sony Pictures Television Asia Pacific executive vice president distribution Angel Orengo said, “The Indian digital media industry has grown rapidly in the last few years and we support BoxTV‘s efforts to launch this service and another exciting medium for content consumption in this evolving digital landscape.”

    Disney UTV Studios executive director – syndication, international distribution and Disney UTV Media distribution Amrita Pandey added, “We are excited to offer some of our best content from ABC Studios, Disney Pixar, Disney UTV and Disney UTV Studios to the consumer at one destination. We believe that BoxTV will be a great platform for us to showcase our wide breadth of entertaining and world class content.”

    BoxTV has developed an India-centric media experience, which includes bandwidth meters, dynamic streaming and video chapters, along with metadata and search. The portal allows users to access BoxTV via a wide range of apps on the platform of their choice. It will be available across iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets; Kindle Fire, EvoTV, Woxi Pod and Roku. Apps for Windows 8, J2ME and Blackberry platforms are currently in the pipeline.