ITV

Tag: SPTI

  • Star China renews Sony Picture Television Intl’s game show ‘Blackjack Bowling’

    Star China renews Sony Picture Television Intl’s game show ‘Blackjack Bowling’

    MUMBAI: Star has signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) to renew the second season of 212 episodes of Blackjack Bowling for Star Chinese in Taiwan.

    This follows the success of the game show format on the channel since its launch last June in Taiwan.

    On Star Chinese the show is known as Lucky Star and kicks of next month. The game show’s first season, which began broadcasting in June 2005, registered an audience of 6.6 million, and a 31 per cent reach in viewership in the first three months. It has consistently been ranked among the top three most watched game shows on pay TV channels in Taiwan says SPTI.

    SPTI adds that Blackjack Bowling is the only show of its kind that combines two of the world’s favorite pastimes – blackjack and bowling. Just as the two simple elements of the roulette wheel and hangman were combined to create Wheel Of Fortune, SPTI united two activities that everyone in the world has played. Blackjack Bowling’s format is flexible and can be played in either a half an hour or a one hour format.

  • SPTI’s ‘The Gong Show’ talent competition format making strides in Asia

    SPTI’s ‘The Gong Show’ talent competition format making strides in Asia

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International’s (SPTI) has announced that after 10 episodes, Indonesia’s terrestrial channel Trans TV, has ordered additional episodes of quintessential game show format The Gong Show.

    The show has been adapted for Indonesian audiences by Trans TV and was launched in June. The Gong Show’s audience has grown quickly, reaching 3.8 rating points (13.5 share) by its eighth episode opposite tough competition from local dramas The Gong Show is hosted by Indonesian TV personality Ari Untung and features Komeng – one of the highest paid comedians in Indonesia – as head judge of a panel which evaluates variety acts performed by members of the public.

    The Gong Show is based on the original talent show competition hosted by the legendary Chuck Barris. Named the 16th best game show by TV Guide, the bizarre format features three celebrity judges who view variety acts performed by amateurs. Any act that is deemed too awful can be ‘gonged’ at any time and stopped.

    All contestants will be awarded cash prizes according to the duration of their performance before being gonged. SPTI adds that The Gong Show has inspired countless talent competition-based television shows over the years, many of which have been tremendously successful. Its unique content – a showcase of unusual and often compelling talent – as well as its universal appeal, however, keeps it timeless, relevant and innovative.

  • Amaru inks deal with Sony Pics TV International for VOD rights in Singapore

    Amaru inks deal with Sony Pics TV International for VOD rights in Singapore

    MUMBAI: The US-headquartered Amaru Inc., a global player in broadband media entertainment business, has secured a multi-year deal with Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) for video-on-demand rights on film titles from both Sony Pictures Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for M2B viewers. The agreement has been done through Amaru’s Hollywood-based company M2B World Inc.

    The distribution deal, initiated at the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) conference held in Las Vegas in January 2006, allows for first-run films to be available, on-demand, to subscribers of Amaru’s Global Broadband TV service (M2BTV), accessible through the company’s soon to be launched Set-Top Box, informs an official release.

    In addition, a selection of films will be available via pay-per-view on Dimension88 — a Singaporean premium movie channel offered at www.Dimension88.com that can be accessed via a broadband Internet connection. This deal will give M2B viewers access to SPTI product in the window after local video release.

    The deal reflects the rapidly developing interest by consumers worldwide in the at-home on-demand entertainment market. An independent study commissioned last month by the M2B brand on consumer attitudes towards broadband entertainment found that 72 per cent of domestic respondents alone were interested in accessing first-run Hollywood films online. Through distinctive content and distribution agreements over the last few years, including this agreement with SPTI, the M2B brand has been a visionary leader at the forefront of the transforming entertainment market, the release adds.

    “This agreement is a result of the unique synergy that traditional Hollywood entertainment companies are looking towards. It is essentially the melding of the highly recognizable content that viewers are looking for with easily accessible distribution vehicles, such as our broadband channels, that offer consumers the highest quality feeds in a way that fits within their limited schedules,” says Amaru Inc. CEO Colin Binny. “Our philosophy has always been to offer wide-ranging content as our viewing demographic continues to broaden — and partnering with Sony Pictures Television International is reflective of that intention. We look forward to working with SPTI, and expect that the addition of these titles will be extremely well-received by our viewers.”

    “Viewers worldwide have been receptive to VOD and we’re pleased to make our extensive library available to M2B viewers”, adds SPTI’s vice president pay television Paul Littmann.

  • Animax to launch in Korea on 29 April

    Animax to launch in Korea on 29 April

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) and Korean satellite TV broadcaster SkyLife will be launching their joint venture channel Animax in Korea on 29 April.

    The announcement was made by SPTI international networks president Andy Kaplan and SkyLife CEO Dong-Koo Surh.

    Animax in Korea will be a 24-hour local program provider focusing on animation programming that will be carried exclusively on SkyLife’s DTH platform, which has a subscriber base of about 1.9 million in Korea.

    Unlike other animation channels in Korea, which focus mainly on programming for young children, Animax will air programs for teens and young adults. With various genres from anime producers, Animax will offer a wide variety of programming choices, including comedies, science fiction, action, dramas and thrillers.

    God Save Our King!, Monkey Typhoon, The Count of Monte Cristo, Otogi Zoshi, The Adventures of Tweeny Witches and Galaxy Angels, are among the first-run programs airing exclusively on Animax in Korea. Additionally, Animax will air popular local Korean animation programs such as Yorang-Ah and Black Rubber Shoes.

    Animax in Korea is part of SPTI’s expansion plans for its international network portfolio which now includes over 40 channels around the world.

    Animax Korea representative director Marty Hong said, “Animax Korea will be differentiated by a line-up of high quality programs and sophisticated graphic design elements. We will lead a new trend among animation channels and we also hope that by leveraging the distribution network of Sony, we will be able to contribute to the local animation industry.”

    “Sony Pictures Television International is committed to growing its international networks group, and Korea figures prominently in our plans. We launched our AXN channel in Korea on SkyLife last year and we’re thrilled to be working with them again on launching Animax in Korea. We now have Animax channels in Japan, South and Southeast Asia and Latin America, and the channels have been embraced by audiences everywhere. The thirst for quality anime programming is apparent and we’ll strive to make sure Animax in Korea offers the best anime shows,” said Kaplan.

    Surh added, “We are pleased to launch such a global channel as Animax, which will create a buzz in the animation industry. We think that the addition of Animax will add great value in terms of content differentiation of SkyLife and we will continue our efforts to secure strong content in various ways in the future.”

  • Fox Reality acquires shows from outside the US

    Fox Reality acquires shows from outside the US

    CANNES: Fox Reality channel has announced a slate of new acquisitions at MipTV, taking on programs from the BBC, Endemol, Sony Pictures Television International and Eyeworks Distribution.

    Fox Reality CEO and GM David Lyle said, “We like to be innovative and introduce some classics and some of the most irreverent and entertaining reality shows from outside the U.S. to domestic audiences for whom these shows are new experiences.”

    From the BBC, the channel has secured five seasons of Castaway, seasons one and two of Driving School and three episodes of The Bronx Crime & Justice. Driving School follows a number of would-be drivers as they prepare to take their driving tests. In Castaway, a number of Britons are stranded on the remote Scottish Island of Taransay in the Hebrides. The Bronx Crime & Justice offers a look into the New York legal system.

    Through Endemol, Fox Reality has secured the rights to the controversial dating show There’s Something About Miriam, and with SPTI, it has taken the broadcast rights to the British (three seasons) and Australian (one season) of Dragon’s Den.
    And from Eyeworks, the channel acquired the ten-episode adventure reality Going Straight.

  • Animax to launch in Korea later this month

    Animax to launch in Korea later this month

    MUMBAI: Animation channel Animax will be launched in Korea later this month. It has hired three experienced senior staff members to ensure a smooth launch and successful programming and operations.

    A joint venture between Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) and Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (KDB), Animax Korea will be carried exclusively on KDB’S DTH platform, SkyLife, which has a subscriber base of about 1.9 million in Korea.

    Marty Hong, Sang-Im Kim and S.K. Kim, have been appointed in various senior capacities, bringing with them rich experience in their areas of expertise to ensure the successful launch of Animax Korea.

    Hong is the channel’s representative director. He has more than 15 years of working experience in the media and pay TV industry. He was previously MBC Dramanet MD.

    Hong will be supported by Sang-Im Kim and S.K. Kim. Sang-Im Kim has assumed the post of programming director and will report directly to Hong. She will be responsible for the programming of Animax Korea, as well as on-air promotion and off-air marketing activities. Kim’s experience spans more than 11 years in the pay TV industry, and was previously KDB channel manager where she oversaw and supported foreign retransmission channels on the DTH platform.

    S.K. Kim will be Animax Korea’s finance director/CFO and will be in charge of all financial aspects of the channel. He is a US CPA and has more than 14 years of financial and accounting experience.

  • Jason Wells is SPTI senior VP, mobile entertainment

    Jason Wells is SPTI senior VP, mobile entertainment

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has announced that Jason Wells has been appointed senior VP, mobile entertainment. Wells will relocate from Los Angeles to SPTI’s European headquarters in London and will lead the newly formed mobile entertainment group.

    He will report to both SPTI president Michael Grindon and SPTI Europe president, MD John McMahon.

    Grindon says, “Many new distribution venues are now available for Sony’s feature films and television content. Regarding the mobile marketplace, Jason Wells has a great deal of experience and expertise in the mobile entertainment market and we are very fortunate that he has agreed to manage our growing business in this sector.”

    McMahon says, “SPTI has established itself as a leader in the international television distribution, production and networks business over the past 10 years. The appointment of Jason Wells to head up our newly formed mobile entertainment group is indicative of our belief that the mobile business is poised for substantial growth in the coming years. He brings a wealth of experience in this sector and I look forward to working with him here in London.”

    In his new position, Wells, will lead an international group within SPTI dedicated to extending Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE) theatrical and TV assets, as well as its range of custom-made mobile content, into mobile distribution outside the US. With products such as the Spider-Man II film, the Ratchet and Clank Going Mobile game adaptation from the popular Sony PlayStation franchise, and the Da Vinci Code mobile content, SPTI will be the international distribution and marketing arm for SPE’s portfolio of mobile content including mobile games, tones, images, video and text programs.

    As mobile TV adoption grows, SPTI’s mobile entertainment group will work alongside SPTI’s licensing, international networks and production business lines to roll out programming and new initiatives for mobile operators that draw upon the strengths of all of these businesses.

    Wells brings with him years of experience in business development, management consulting and business launch strategy. Most recently he was VP of business development for Handango, where he directed the content and distribution business units.