ITV

Tag: Sony

  • Sony and Panasonic agree on developing next-gen Optic Disc

    Sony and Panasonic agree on developing next-gen Optic Disc

    NEW DELHI: Sony and Panasonic have signed a basic agreement with the objective of jointly developing a next-generation standard for professional-use optical discs, with the objective of expanding their archive business for long-term digital data storage.

    Both companies aim to improve their development efficiency based on the technologies held by each respective company, and will target the development of an optical disc with recording capacity of at least 300GB by the end of 2015.

    Sony and Panasonic will continue to hold discussions regarding the specifications and other items relating to the development of this new standard.

    Optical discs have excellent properties to protect them against the environment, such as dust-resistance and water-resistance, and can also withstand changes in temperature and humidity when stored. They also allow inter-generational compatibility between different formats, ensuring that data can continue to be read even as formats evolve. This makes them a robust medium for long-term storage of content.

    Both companies have previously developed products based on the Blu-ray format, leveraging the strengths of optical discs. However, both Sony and Panasonic recognised that optical discs will need to accommodate much larger volumes of storage in years to come given the expected future growth in the archive market, and responded by formulating this agreement.

    In recent years, there has been an increasing need for archive capabilities, not only from video production industries, such as motion pictures and broadcasting, but also from cloud data centers that handle increasingly large volumes of data following the evolution in network services. Both Sony and Panasonic have a proven track record in developing Blu-ray disc format technologies, and by actively promoting the adoption of a new standard for next-generation high-capacity optical discs, they intend to offer solutions that preserve valuable data for future generations.

  • Hakuhodo Percept creates a TVC to launch Sony’s Sonic laptops

    Hakuhodo Percept creates a TVC to launch Sony’s Sonic laptops

    MUMBAI: As the old forms of communication give way to the new innovative machines, Hakuhodo Percept has launched Sony‘s new range of Sonic laptops with in-built subwoofers through a TVC for the Indian market. The film went on air on July 2.

    British musician Shlomo and his vocal project ‘Shlomo and the Lip Factory‘ have been used in this TVC. They are seen performing on ‘Moves like Jagger‘ by Maroon 5. Different shots of the group are shown through the Sonic range of laptops. This was done keeping in mind the taste and culture of the current generation. The brand has also initiated what is billed as India‘s first online ‘Beatboxing competition‘ where contestants need to share links of their beatboxing videos on Sony‘s Youtube channel to win a Vaio laptop from the Sonic series.

    Commenting on the TVC, Hakuhodo Percept executive creative directors, Shobhit Mathur and Sabuj Sen Gupta said, “Typically, laptops don‘t give you great sound forcing you to use additional speakers for better sound experience. But all that is about to change as Sony Vaio brings to you a laptop with an in-built subwoofer! Not only will you be able to hear great bass and thump, you will also be able to hear every sound with great clarity and distinction. It‘s a yet another first from Vaio. For us, it all started here. So to corroborate this brief, we devised a campaign with a fusion of A cappella and beat boxing.”

    “Our aim was to own the domain of voice & sound. Hence we tied-up with an internationally acclaimed human beat boxer, Shlomo and his latest vocal project ‘Shlomo and the Lip Factory‘ to perform the chartbuster ‘Moves like Jagger‘. We got seven beat boxers, including Shlomo, to recreate the song using only their voices. What‘s interesting is that each one of them has performed their part through a different Vaio thereby creating a never-heard-before orchestra of laptops”, they added.

    On the TVC, Sony India, marketing communication head, Ryusuke Fukushima said, “The new television commercial for Vaio aims to highlight the in-built subwoofers of the new Vaio series. After doing our research, we realised that users mostly complain about the quality of sound in their laptops and to redress this issue, Sony announced its new Vaio series with enhanced listening experience.” He added, “To bring out the sound proposition clearly in the TVC, we tied up with internationally acclaimed human beatboxer, Shlomo and his latest vocal project ‘Shlomo and the Lip Factory‘. As part of the campaign, we will also be rolling out print and online advertisements, outdoor and shop-front enhancement and PR activities.”

  • Sony to offer 4K movie downloads this fall

    Sony to offer 4K movie downloads this fall

    MUMBAI: Sony will begin offering 4K movies for download via its video unlimited service in early fall, company executives announced Wednesday. The movies will be from Sony Pictures, as well as other independent production houses.

    Sony‘s chief operating officer Phil Molyneux, announced the company would launch Video Unlimited 4K in early fall. Previously, 4K TV owners could only get native 4K content from Sony‘s 4K media server, which is delivered to users with the content pre-loaded. Any content updates are done manually through a hard-wire connection.

    “We will be first in the world with a native 4K downloading service,” said Molyneux during the launch event. “We‘re populating that now with 4K feature films, primarily from Sony Pictures, but there are other short-form films from other production houses.”

    As far as 4K content from other major studios, Molyneux would only say Sony had a “good relationship” with studios for Video Unlimited for its standard-definition and HD content. Molyneux couldn‘t say whether the launch would include the PlayStation 4 since that product is on a “different timeline.”

    4K, also called Ultra HD, is the next high-resolution video format. Loosely, it doubles the pixel count in both the horizontal and vertical directions, leading to a 4x increase in overall resolution. The first TVs were very large and expensive, but manufacturers, including Sony, have debuted TVs in the 55-inch size that are more affordable (Sony‘s is about $5,000).

  • Mutli Screen Media goes to the movies with film initiative

    Mutli Screen Media goes to the movies with film initiative

    MUMBAI: TV broadcaster Multi Screen Media India – which runs TV channels Sony Entertainment, Sab, Pix, and Six – is going to the movies. The company has set up a new initiative under MSM Motion Pictures which is slated to produce a clutch of films under the banner.

     

    The first film to get off the blocks is Bajate Raho, which it is co-producing in partnership with Eros International. The announcement of its new venture was made today in presence of the star cast of Bajate Raho at Versova Cinemax.

    MSM COO N.P. Singh

    “Multi Screen Media has been entertaining the audiences through its shows on television for the past 17 years. For us the time was apt for playing our role on the silver screen as well,” announced MSM chief operating officer N.P. Singh.

    MSM Motion Pictures has three more movies lined up for release by this year‘s end. “Three more projects are in production and pre-production phase. We have collaborated with different production houses for the same,” added Singh.

    Bajate Raho is a revenge comedy. “The other three movies, all mid budget, will be in the genre of comedy, romantic comedy and horror,” he said.

    The movie which promises to do away with formula movies has been directed by Shashant Shah of Dasvidaniya andChalo Dilli fame. “He was one more reason for us to co-produce the movie. He was a part of Sony Max ten years back. When we heard the script, it impressed upon us so much, that we decided to co-produce it along with Eros International.”

    MSM Motion Pictures, which is a division of MSM will be headed by CEO Manjit Singh and COO N.P Singh.

    “After our successful stint in television space we were keen to expand our horizons and tap the growing movie business in India. We are focused to provide entertaining and engaging content by offering combination of big as well as medium budget films,” said Manjit Singh.

    The film is set to release on 26 July and has a star cast consisting of Ravi Kishan, Tusshar Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey and Dolly Ahluwalia.

    Bajate Raho, a revenge comedy is about making things right by taking the wrong way.

    The promos seem promising, but will it reach out to the audience? We will have to wait and watch. For now as the star cast says “Bajate Raho.”

  • ‘Dabba’ to be distributed by Sony in North America

    ‘Dabba’ to be distributed by Sony in North America

    NEW DELHI: The Lunchbox (Dabba), which made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival‘s Critics‘ Week section, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for North America.

    Directed by Ritesh Batra and starring Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, The Lunchbox claimed the audience award in Critics Week.

    International sales are handled by Germany‘s The Match Factory GmbH, which also licensed the film to Happiness Distribution for France.

    The film has already been sold in 20 territories across the globe. It was already pre-sold to five countries. Major international sales include Artificial Eye (UK) and Happiness (France).

    The film has been sold to North America, France, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Baltic, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Central America, Brazil and Ex-Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia).

    The film had been pre-sold to Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

    The film was produced by India‘s Sikhya Entertainment and D?r Motion Pictures with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Germany‘s Rohfilm GmbH, France‘s ASAP Films and the US‘s Cine Mosaic.

    The story follows the connection between a widower nearing retirement and a frustrated housewife that is established when Mumbai‘s famously reliable system of lunchbox deliveries goes wrong.

  • Clash of the Titans

    Clash of the Titans

    JDJ has targeted the space of ambient marketing as well, with over 500 hoardings across 12 cities. The creatives – both outdoor and print, are spearheaded by creative agency Marching Ants. Iyer says: “Last year we focused on the symbolic shining disco ball as a promotable. The idea this year was to take JDJ outside the environment of the studio to outdoors build scale. You will see that both in our launch promos as well as creatives.”

    Ambient Marketing:

    Colors-500 horadings across 12 cities
    Sony- 4000 horadings across 24 towns
    However, in terms of ambient marketing, Sony is way ahead as it claims to have stationed over 4,000 outdoor advertising units across 24 towns promoting IIJ.

    Seth elaborates: “We have targeted our viewers across their daily touch points from whenever they step out of their houses to when they return. This includes innovative branding and presence on major roads and arteries across 24 key towns of India through large and small format billboards. In addition, we have taken branding inside and outside major transport hubs and vehicles such as trains and buses both intercity and intra-city. We have also targeted malls and shopping centers and even cinemas to ensure all touch points are covered extensively.”

    Sony also has several out-of-box promotional campaigns planned for IIJ. “We will be carrying out an activation titled “Society Idol Junior” across 12 cities in which we will be conducting mini auditions and talent performances judged by local celebrities in various residential societies and colonies. We will then be crowning individual winners from this age group from each of these. In addition we will also be having mega Idol city concerts featuring our final contestants and of course our talented judges,” informs Seth.

    On the online, digital and mobile front, Colors has created a dedicated microsite, web chat and dance tutorials wherein it has tied-up with dancewithmadhuri.com, which is Madhuri Dixit’s online dance academy. There are also plans to create a mobile application for the show.

    “This year we are taking the brand JDJ and our promise to make non-dancer’s dancers to the next level by giving them a taste of true dance with Dance Tutorials & Dance with Madhuri contest,” says Iyer.

    He adds: “Throughout the season every day, we will release one dance tutorial for our viewers. This will be from different dance forms for example seven steps salsa in a week etc. These videos will be released every week on our website, JDJ app and Colors Facebook page for viewers to easily access while on the go. To make this more even more exciting we have tied up with dancewithmadhuri.com. Viewers can now learn practice and upload their videos. Madhuri Dixit will herself select one lucky winner who will get a chance to dance with the Diva herself.”

    Apart from all of the above, Colors has a lot in store for online viewers before the grand premiere- a Live Chat with Madhuri, the video of which will be uploaded on the channel’s official website. A web premiere is also on the lines, wherein 20 minutes of the grand premiere will be uploaded on the channel’s official YouTube channel at 3.00 pm on Saturday. All in all, the online buzz around #Jhalak (the official hash-tag) will be kept alive through live chats, web premiere, contests and the works!

    Sony has also launched several web/digital initiatives for its debutante property. Myindianidoljunior.com is the official website for all news, views and happenings from the show. Seth says: “Exclusive content regarding the contestants, engaging apps etc will only be available there. In addition we launched the IIJ audition app which allowed smartphone users to enter the selection process by auditioning through their mobile device. There are lots of other interesting features on our social media pages and handles as well.”

    Social Media

    Colors- dancewithmadhuri.com
    Sony- Myindianidoljunior.com
    Zee TV: DID Super Moms’mobile App
    Zee TV has also launched several interesting social media initiatives for promoting DID Super Moms. Chawla states: “For Zee, the consumer has always been at the centre of business decisions. The channel has pioneered many digital and mobile initiatives with the intention of interacting with the consumers at every touch point. Committed to presenting out of the box ideas to market its shows, this time around some innovative features have been added in the DID Super Moms mobile app”.

    To amplify viewer engagement, a new feature called Tap on has been introduced. Here a user can hold the phone to capture the songs played during ‘DID Super Moms.’ Every time he does that, some exclusive content that is high on engagement would unlock on his phone giving him additional interesting information about the show. This content can be an exclusive live tutorial, images or some trivia from the show.

    Another feature is a chat room called Check In where everybody watching the show can check in and shares their viewpoints with each other. With the pattern of content consumption becoming more dynamic, the features introduced in the mobile app will keep the viewer engaged throughout the show via his/her mobile phone. This is a more personal way of interaction, engagement and entertainment.

    Talking about a recent online promotional activity, Chawla says: “The Masters of Zee TV’s DID Super Moms, Farah Khan and Marzi Pestonji along with skippers, Raghav, Prince, Jai and Siddhesh kicked off a virtual conversation on Google Hangout with 10 of their lucky fans on 24 May! These lucky winners were selected via a twitter contest where the ‘netizens’ were asked to use #dancingtome and write what dancing meant to them. In this online event, the masters and skippers not only shared interesting trivia’s and anecdotes but also showcased their signature moves to their admirers. For those who didn’t get a spot in the lucky 10, watched the hangout LIVE on Zee TV’s YouTube page.” 

  • Sun TV Network shows brighter results for FY 2013; announces ad rate hike

    MUMBAI: The Sun TV Network is celebrating its twentieth birthday this year. And the sun seems to be coming out from the clouds at south India‘s strongest media company – involved in broadcasting and production with a bouquet of 32 channels – if one looks at its latest financials for FY 2012 and FY 2013. Both profits and revenues are up, despite the testing times it is facing in its markets with national broadcasters such as Star, Sony and Zee TV getting aggressive in the regional language space.

    In an earnings release filed with the BSE earlier today, it stated that ad revenues maintained momentum up 15 per cent in the quarter ended March 2013 and DTH subscription revenues rose 16 per cent quarter on quarter and 12 per cent year on year. It also said that FM radio operations posted a strong around with its revenues rising 26 per cent year on year and reported profits.

    And it is looking at even better times in the year ahead the Sun Group CFO SL Narayanan told CNBC TV 18 earlier today. It announced that it was hiking ad rates for Sun TV for its weekday prime time slots by 19 per cent and also looking at hiking the slot fees it charges TV producers. This would be its first increase after 24 months, and it would look at raising advertising tariffs for the other channels under its umbrella in the coming months.

    But for now let‘s take a look at the standalone results for Q4 FY 2013 vs Q3 FY 2013

    Net profits fell by 6.5 per cent to Rs 177.50 crore on a quarterly basis as compared to Q3 FY 2013; however there has been a notable increase of 11.6 per cent when compared to the corresponding Q4 FY 2012 net profit of Rs 159.03 crore showing a clear positive trend.

    Its operational income of Q4 FY 2013 witnessed a slight decrease by 2.71 per cent to Rs 472.67 crore as compared to the numbers in Q3 FY 2013 but a positive upward trend of over 10.6 per cent is witnessed from the corresponding Q4 FY 2012 which stood at Rs 427.01 crore promising a decent growth and expansion.

    The operational expenses have increased by over 5.5 per cent to Rs 225.79 crore for Q4 FY 2013 as against Rs 213.90 crore for Q3 FY 2013, while the corresponding Q4-FY 2012 ‘s operational expenses stood at Rs.205.63 crore, implying an annual 9.8 per cent increase in expenses. Although the operational expenses overall have increased, the employee remuneration and benefits seem to have dipped to Rs 444.50 crore in Q4 FY 2013 from the preceding quarter‘s Rs 476 crore.

    Let‘s take a look at the annual consolidated results for FY 2013 vs FY 2012

    The overall net profits seem to show a decent positive trend. FY 2013‘s net profits stand at Rs 709.56 crore as compared to FY 2012‘s net profits of Rs 692.91 crore, a minimal increase of 2.4 per cent.

    The operating expenses over the year seem to have significantly increased to Rs. 955.59 crore for FY 2013 as against FY 2012‘s Rs. 906.40 crore year ending, a notable 5.42 per cent. A major contribution to these expenses is from ‘cost of revenue‘ which has shown a drastic 39 per cent increase. Also the operational revenues show an increasing trend of around 4 per cent standing at Rs 1923 crore for FY 2013 from Rs 1847.17 crore of FY 2012.

    The revenues have shown a better trend since the early quarters of the financial year 2013, considering the deal of Sun TV Network with AIADMK‘s Arasu Cable that was sealed in same year, leading to better advertisement and subscription revenues for its Tamil channels. However with Chennai, the city that gathers significant revenues in terms of subscriptions, resisting digitisation, the fruits of a digitised ecosystem have yet to accrue to its financials.

    The deferred tax liability in the balance sheet has positively shrunk and stands at Rs 28.44 crore for FY 2013 from Rs 33.78 crore for FY 2012. The long term loans too been clipped by around 54 per cent which seems to be a positive.

    The current liquidity ratio stands at 0.38:1 as compared to last fiscal year‘s ratio of 0.33:1, a slight improvement in its short term solvency position.

    On the assets side, Sun TV shows an increase in its fixed assets to Rs 1335.89 crore in FY 2013 from Rs 1205.54 crore in FY 2012.

    The meeting of the board of directors held on the 17 May has recommended a final dividend of Rs 2 (40 per cent) on a face value of Rs 5 per share. This is apart from the interim dividend of Rs 2.50 per share declared earlier in January 2013.

    The board has also announced an update on its allocation of its IPO proceeds totalling up to Rs 571.94 crore. Out of this a major part amounting to Rs 355.77 crore shall be used in capitalisation of its subsidiaries.

    The share price is at 427.90, down by 3.42 per cent (15.15 points)

  • Life OK, Sony are the biggest gainers of TAM wk19

    Life OK, Sony are the biggest gainers of TAM wk19

     MUMBAI: All’s Ok with Life OK and Sony Entertainment Television (SET) in week 19 of the TAM ratings report. The two channels are the biggest gainers in the ramped up digital universe that TAM is now reporting on from 5 May. TAM data (for Hindi speaking market including five new LC1 markets, C&S, 4+) sourced from a channel, shows Life OK added 21 GRPs this week to close the week with 123 GRPs (102 GRPs last week) and the No 6 slot. Life OK’s mythological drama Devon Ke Dev..Mahadev added some points to register 1.8 TVR (1.5 last week). Its crime-based show Hum Ne Li Hai…Shapath showed rapid improvement with 1.4 TVR (0.8 last week).

    SET, the other major gainer, continued its upward journey this week too by adding 12 GRPs to its last week tally taking it to 166 GRPs and the third spot among GECs. SET scored on the back of its crime-based properties like CID (2.2 TVR), Crime Patrol (2.0 TVR) and comedy reality show Comedy Circus that registered a 1.5 TVR. Its fiction shows such as Bade Achhe Lagte Hain added eyeballs as they rated 1.6 TVR (1.3 last week). Other fiction shows either stagnated or dipped marginally during the week.

    The good news for GECs, however, is that the genre has overall grown by 37 GRPs, taking it to 1,004.

    Back to the leader, Star Plus continues to lead the flock with an increase of eight GRPs to 232. The channel’s new talent hunt-cum-reality show India’s Dancing Superstar notched a 2.6 TVR on its Saturday and Sunday telecast even as fiction shows like Saathiya Saath Nibhana continue to be stable in week 19 with 2.2 TVR. Its chart topper, Diya Aur Baati Hum’s ratings, however, declined from 4.0 to 3.8 TVR in the week ended 11 May. Pyaar Ka Dard occupies No 3 position amongst all Hindi fiction shows with 2.9 TVR (2.8 last week).

    “We are doing very well in the expanded digital TV universe. But what is more important is that we have seen that our relative share has improved continuously over the last quarter. Though our relative numbers have been low (average of past 13 weeks) but the share of the channel has improved,” says Star India vice-president – marketing Nikhil Madhok.

    Following Star Plus is Zee TV, that held on to its second spot on the Hindi GEC chart with 174 GRPs (175 last week). Zee TV’s top performer was the fiction series Qubool Hai with 2.8 TVR (2.6 last week) followed by Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke that rated 2.7 TVR (3.0 last week). Its reality talent hunt India’s Best Dramebaaz’s viewership declined by a huge margin on Saturday to 1.8 TVR (2.4 last week) and on Sunday to 1.6 TVR (1.9 last week).

    At fourth spot, is Colors which dropped a point to record GRPs of 165. Its leading fiction series Balika Vadhu notched a 2.8 TVR (2.7 last week) and Madhubala rated a 2.5 TVR (2.4 last week). Sasural Simar Ka ended the week with 2.3 TVR (2.5 TVR last week).

    Multi Screen Media’s other Hindi GEC Sab maintained status quo with 131 GRPs and was at the No 5 spot. Ditto was the case with Max which is telecasting IPL6 which stayed put at 224 GRPs, while Sahara continued to shed GRPs and dropped to 13 GRPs.

  • Sony has confirmed a fourth installment for the Men in Black franchise

    Sony has confirmed a fourth installment for the Men in Black franchise

    MUMBAI: Sony has just confirmed that the fourth installment of the Men in Black (MIB) franchise is definitely on the way. It was revealed that the studio has hired a writer to pen the fourth film, said The Hollywood Reporter.
     
    The sci-fi quadrilogy is still in its early stages, so there’s still no word on Will Smith’s association yet. Last year, Sony released the third installment in their hit MIB franchise, MIB 3 which went on to gross a franchise best $624 million and received warm reviews.
     
    Oren Uziel, who is also penning the sequel to 21 Jump Street, has been hired to write MIB 4. 21 Jump Street already has a release date of 6 June 2014.
     
    Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back reprising their roles as underachieving cops and so are Phil Lord and Chris Miller as directors.