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Tag: Turner Broadcasting

  • Bobble AI appoints Ravi Shharma as its chief business officer

    Bobble AI appoints Ravi Shharma as its chief business officer

    Mumbai: Bobble AI on Friday announced the appointment of Ravi Shharma as its new chief business officer. In his capacity as chief business officer, Shharma will be responsible for driving B2B business growth for existing revenue streams – A&M (Advertising & Marketing), DaaS (Data as a Service), and  TaaS (Technology as a Service) and future streams, overseeing sales and revenue generation strategies, and exploring new market opportunities to scale revenue. He will work closely with the executive team to steer Bobble AI towards continued success and growth and report to founder & CEO Ankit Prasad.

    “We are excited to welcome Ravi to our team. His extensive work experience of around 25 years, proven track record as a sales leader with quite a few Fortune 500 companies, deeper understanding of media sales, ability & vision to scale businesses in a rapidly changing digital landscape and commitment to delivering results will undoubtedly be a great asset to our business going forward. Bobble AI has been roping in industry stalwarts to accelerate the growth and expansion plans and we are confident that Ravi’s integration into the team will strengthen that process & help us achieve new milestones,” said Prasad.

    Shharma comes with a solid reputation as a veteran sales leader with a rich and diverse background coupled with exceptional revenue growth skills while working as sales/ revenue head for many global & Indian media companies like CNN, Turner Broadcasting, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros, HBO, Gaana & Saavn in his previous stint. In his more than two decades of experience, he has contributed to an array of activities spanning evolving business strategy and value proposition, creating a multi-year business plan along with the creation of multi-geography business ecosystems.

    Having a strong understanding of the entire media landscape – from Print to TV to Digital as an industry stalwart, at Bobble AI he will be instrumental in envisioning, designing and executing impactful business development strategies aligning the company’s expansion plans, its industry vision and the impactful approach backed by exclusive consumer intelligence and artificial intelligence to bring a paradigm shift in the mobile marketing & advertising landscape.

    Shharma said, “In the last few years Bobble AI has emerged as the most impactful deep tech solution company in India by re-imagining the keyboard utility as a holistic conversation media platform that has empowered brands to engage with their millions of potential customers in a creative and non-intrusive way. Despite having worked with many global media companies for over two decades, it’s probably the first time I felt moved by the unparalleled disruptions in the mobile marketing & advertising space that Bobble AI is driving and challenging the incumbents. I am quite excited to be part of a visionary team of innovators and look forward to achieving our collective goals and driving the company’s growth.”

  • NDTV’s Shouneel Charles joins Times Network as SVP – digital

    MUMBAI: Times is inducting senior executives one after the other. After Nikhil Gandhi, Times Network has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Shouneel Charles as its senior vice president – digital. Based out of Mumbai, he will report to Times Network MD & CEO M.K. Anand.

    Times Network recently appointed Nikhil Gandhi as president – revenue, whose key responsibility is growth of profitable monetisation of the entire bouquet of channels under the network. Earlier too, he was a part of the core team at Zoom during the launch of the channel.

    On Charles’s appointment, Anand said, “We look forward to scaling heights and claiming our rightful position as a strong Digital Media Company with this induction and other senior level interventions that we plan. Given his experience in digital media, marketing and advertising, we are confident that we will be able to better engage with the New Media market.’’

    Charles said, “Leading the digital practice at a network that is known for its unique campaigns and initiatives is a huge responsibility. The growing digitisation throws a huge opportunity for established brands like Times Network.”

    In his previous assignment, Charles was leading the digital business at NDTV Convergence as the chief sales & marketing officer and chief revenue officer. He helped the media company set up a digital ecosystem, profitable internet and mobile based business.

    With close to 20 years of experience, Shouneel Charles has previously worked for multi-national companies such as Yahoo, Turner Broadcasting, HBO, Warner Brothers, STAR TV and The American Express Bank.

    Also Read:

    Nikhil Gandhi joins Times Network as president – revenue

  • Turner subscribes to ‘Star Wars’ library

    Turner subscribes to ‘Star Wars’ library

    MUMBAI: The entire Star Wars library is coming back to cable TV after being off regular television for more than two years. Turner Broadcasting has acquired the commercial-television rights to the complete library of Star Wars movies, including four future theatrical releases. The films will play at some point on Turner’s channels — TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.

    Turner, reportedly have spent a whopping amount of $ 275 million to acquire the entire library for a pact of eight years.

    The agreement with The Walt Disney for 10 films includes the network premiere windows to last year’s record-breaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens and this year’s highly anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which opens in theatres on 16 December 2016. The Disney agreement also includes five of the six original classic Star Wars films, as well as the network television premieres of the next three yet-to-be-released movies. The installment that launched the franchise, Star Wars: A New Hope, comes to Turner through a separate arrangement with 20th Century Fox, thus making Turner the only company with basic cable rights to all 11 titles in the collection.

    The deal with Turner is separate from Disney’s pact with Starz. The Force Awakens will only air on Turner networks in early 2018, following its pay-TV availability on the streaming service. Once that window concludes, Turner can play Star Wars films past and future whenever it wants, as many times as it wants.

    The future titles will go to Netflix as part of the deal.

    Here’s a schedule for the upcoming marathon on TNT:

    Tuesday, September 20
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    11 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

    Wednesday, September 21
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    11:05 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

    Thursday, September 22
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    11:05 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

    Friday, September 23
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope
    10:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope

    Saturday, September 24
    10:45 a.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    1:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    4:55 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    10:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

    Sunday, September 25
    5:15 a.m. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    8:15 a.m. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    11:20 a.m. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    2:25 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope
    5:10 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
    11 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
    2 a.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

  • Turner subscribes to ‘Star Wars’ library

    Turner subscribes to ‘Star Wars’ library

    MUMBAI: The entire Star Wars library is coming back to cable TV after being off regular television for more than two years. Turner Broadcasting has acquired the commercial-television rights to the complete library of Star Wars movies, including four future theatrical releases. The films will play at some point on Turner’s channels — TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.

    Turner, reportedly have spent a whopping amount of $ 275 million to acquire the entire library for a pact of eight years.

    The agreement with The Walt Disney for 10 films includes the network premiere windows to last year’s record-breaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens and this year’s highly anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which opens in theatres on 16 December 2016. The Disney agreement also includes five of the six original classic Star Wars films, as well as the network television premieres of the next three yet-to-be-released movies. The installment that launched the franchise, Star Wars: A New Hope, comes to Turner through a separate arrangement with 20th Century Fox, thus making Turner the only company with basic cable rights to all 11 titles in the collection.

    The deal with Turner is separate from Disney’s pact with Starz. The Force Awakens will only air on Turner networks in early 2018, following its pay-TV availability on the streaming service. Once that window concludes, Turner can play Star Wars films past and future whenever it wants, as many times as it wants.

    The future titles will go to Netflix as part of the deal.

    Here’s a schedule for the upcoming marathon on TNT:

    Tuesday, September 20
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    11 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

    Wednesday, September 21
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    11:05 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

    Thursday, September 22
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    11:05 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

    Friday, September 23
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope
    10:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope

    Saturday, September 24
    10:45 a.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    1:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    4:55 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    10:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

    Sunday, September 25
    5:15 a.m. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
    8:15 a.m. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
    11:20 a.m. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
    2:25 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope
    5:10 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
    8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
    11 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
    2 a.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

  • Q1-16: Turner, HBO push Time Warner revenues up 2.5 percent

    Q1-16: Turner, HBO push Time Warner revenues up 2.5 percent

    BENGALURU: Time Warner Inc., (Time Warner) reported 2.5 percent growth in revenues for the quarter ended 31 March 2016 (current quarter, Q1-16) at $7,308 million as compared to the $7,127 million in Q1-15. Revenues increased due to growth at Turner and Home Box Office, partially offset by a decline at Warner Bros.

    Total Operating Income increased 11.8 percent year-on-year in the current quarter to $1,996 million as compared to $1,786 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Time Warner chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Bewkes said, ““We’re off to a terrific start to 2016, as we benefit from the investments we’ve been making in great content and new capabilities in order to take advantage of the growing demand for high-quality video content around the world. Revenues increased 3 percent and Adjusted Operating Income grew 11 percent to a quarterly record of $2 billion due to strong growth across all our operating divisions. In the past several weeks, we’ve seen Warner Bros. release its latest global hit in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, setting the stage for what we expect to be a big year in film, with upcoming releases including Suicide Squad and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In television, Warner Bros. continued to show its strength with three of the top five new shows on broadcast television this season among adults 18-49 and a record 21 renewals ahead of the upfront this year.”

    Bewkes continued, “Turner aired cable’s first ever NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship game, and Turner and CBS entered into an agreement with the NCAA to extend their television, digital and marketing rights to the NCAA tournament through 2032. TBS ended the quarter as the #1 ad-supported cable network in primetime among adults 18-49 and its repositioning as cable’s premier network for young, fresh comedy is underway with the introduction of new programming including Angie Tribeca, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and The Detour, the biggest new comedy on cable this year. With its must-watch coverage of the US presidential campaign, CNN continued to build on its success by more than doubling its primetime audience in the quarter. Meanwhile, HBO continued to make strides both inside and outside the traditional TV ecosystem, including expanding its OTT reach to new platforms and new international territories. And, more recently, HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones returned to record premiere night viewership. Further demonstrating our commitment to shareholder returns, we returned close to $1.3 billion to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends year-to-date.”

    Turner

    Turner reported 7.2 percent YoY growth in revenues in the current quarter at $2,906 million as compared to $2,710 million. The segment reported 11.8 percent YoY increase in operating to $1,239 million from $1,108 million. 

    Revenues increased due to increases of 11 percent ($143 million) in subscription revenues and 5 percent ($56 million) in advertising revenues. Turner says subscription revenues increased due to higher domestic rates and local currency growth at Turner’s international networks, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and lower domestic subscribers. Advertising revenues benefited from domestic growth, primarily due to Turner’s news business, and local currency growth at Turner’s international networks, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates.

    Home Box Office

    HBO reported YoY increase in revenues to $1,506 million in Q1-16 from $1,398 million in Q1-15. HBO operating income increased 4.1 percent to $477 million in the current quarter from $458 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Revenues increased due to increases of 5 percent ($57 million) in subscription revenues and 23 percent ($51 million) in content and other revenues. Subscription revenues grew primarily due to higher domestic rates and subscribers. The increase in content and other revenues primarily reflected higher international licensing revenues, partially offset by lower home entertainment revenues.

    Warner Bros,

    Warner Bros. reported 2.8 percent YoY decline in revenues Q1-16 to $3,109 million from $3,199 million in Q1-15. Despite drop in revenue, Operating Income from the segment increased 30.9 percent in Q1-16 to $424 million from $324 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Revenues decreased mainly due to lower theatrical revenues, partially offset by higher television and videogames revenues. Theatrical revenues declined as the prior year quarter included revenues from American Sniper and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies compared to the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice late in the current year quarter. Television revenues increased primarily due to higher international licensing revenues and higher initial telecast revenues. The increase in videogames was mainly due to Warner Bros. LEGO and Mortal Kombat franchises.

     

  • Q1-16: Turner, HBO push Time Warner revenues up 2.5 percent

    Q1-16: Turner, HBO push Time Warner revenues up 2.5 percent

    BENGALURU: Time Warner Inc., (Time Warner) reported 2.5 percent growth in revenues for the quarter ended 31 March 2016 (current quarter, Q1-16) at $7,308 million as compared to the $7,127 million in Q1-15. Revenues increased due to growth at Turner and Home Box Office, partially offset by a decline at Warner Bros.

    Total Operating Income increased 11.8 percent year-on-year in the current quarter to $1,996 million as compared to $1,786 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Time Warner chairman and chief executive officer Jeff Bewkes said, ““We’re off to a terrific start to 2016, as we benefit from the investments we’ve been making in great content and new capabilities in order to take advantage of the growing demand for high-quality video content around the world. Revenues increased 3 percent and Adjusted Operating Income grew 11 percent to a quarterly record of $2 billion due to strong growth across all our operating divisions. In the past several weeks, we’ve seen Warner Bros. release its latest global hit in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, setting the stage for what we expect to be a big year in film, with upcoming releases including Suicide Squad and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In television, Warner Bros. continued to show its strength with three of the top five new shows on broadcast television this season among adults 18-49 and a record 21 renewals ahead of the upfront this year.”

    Bewkes continued, “Turner aired cable’s first ever NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship game, and Turner and CBS entered into an agreement with the NCAA to extend their television, digital and marketing rights to the NCAA tournament through 2032. TBS ended the quarter as the #1 ad-supported cable network in primetime among adults 18-49 and its repositioning as cable’s premier network for young, fresh comedy is underway with the introduction of new programming including Angie Tribeca, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and The Detour, the biggest new comedy on cable this year. With its must-watch coverage of the US presidential campaign, CNN continued to build on its success by more than doubling its primetime audience in the quarter. Meanwhile, HBO continued to make strides both inside and outside the traditional TV ecosystem, including expanding its OTT reach to new platforms and new international territories. And, more recently, HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones returned to record premiere night viewership. Further demonstrating our commitment to shareholder returns, we returned close to $1.3 billion to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends year-to-date.”

    Turner

    Turner reported 7.2 percent YoY growth in revenues in the current quarter at $2,906 million as compared to $2,710 million. The segment reported 11.8 percent YoY increase in operating to $1,239 million from $1,108 million. 

    Revenues increased due to increases of 11 percent ($143 million) in subscription revenues and 5 percent ($56 million) in advertising revenues. Turner says subscription revenues increased due to higher domestic rates and local currency growth at Turner’s international networks, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and lower domestic subscribers. Advertising revenues benefited from domestic growth, primarily due to Turner’s news business, and local currency growth at Turner’s international networks, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates.

    Home Box Office

    HBO reported YoY increase in revenues to $1,506 million in Q1-16 from $1,398 million in Q1-15. HBO operating income increased 4.1 percent to $477 million in the current quarter from $458 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Revenues increased due to increases of 5 percent ($57 million) in subscription revenues and 23 percent ($51 million) in content and other revenues. Subscription revenues grew primarily due to higher domestic rates and subscribers. The increase in content and other revenues primarily reflected higher international licensing revenues, partially offset by lower home entertainment revenues.

    Warner Bros,

    Warner Bros. reported 2.8 percent YoY decline in revenues Q1-16 to $3,109 million from $3,199 million in Q1-15. Despite drop in revenue, Operating Income from the segment increased 30.9 percent in Q1-16 to $424 million from $324 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Revenues decreased mainly due to lower theatrical revenues, partially offset by higher television and videogames revenues. Theatrical revenues declined as the prior year quarter included revenues from American Sniper and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies compared to the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice late in the current year quarter. Television revenues increased primarily due to higher international licensing revenues and higher initial telecast revenues. The increase in videogames was mainly due to Warner Bros. LEGO and Mortal Kombat franchises.

     

  • Turner Broadcasting & WME | IMG partner to create eSports League

    Turner Broadcasting & WME | IMG partner to create eSports League

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and WME | IMG have formed a new strategic partnership to create an eSports competitive gaming league.

     

    Through the venture, Turner and WME | IMG will deliver competitive gaming events for all platforms including premium live fan experiences, televised coverage airing exclusively on TBS and extensive, high quality live digital event coverage and content extensions. Turner Studios in Atlanta will become the East Coast epicenter for eSports competitive gaming, serving as the headquarters for the new league and primary operations facility for the live gaming experience.

     

    Video game publisher Valve Corporation’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will be the featured game during the league’s first season. Turner Sports will produce the eSports competitions – in association with WME | IMG – and facilitate ad sales and sponsorship opportunities surrounding the new league.

     

    All aspects of the eSports league – including the live event experience – will be jointly managed by Turner Broadcasting and WME | IMG, with Turner Studios providing a state-of-the-art facility specifically created to showcase the live gaming competitions. Slated to begin in 2016, the televised presentation of the competitive gaming events will feature 10 consecutive weeks of programming twice per year – the most extensive commitment to televised eSports programming to date – airing Friday nights on TBS.

     

    In 2016, eSports tournaments will be televised twice per year with each 10-week period including a regular season, playoffs and championship. Both tournaments will include eSports teams facing off in competition while playing Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

     

    Additionally, digital coverage will include live daily competitive gaming content distributed Tuesday through Friday during each tournament week, as well as a live digital companion experience on Friday nights offered simultaneously with the TBS presentation. Digital content will also include behind-the-scenes event coverage and profiles on the eSports teams and competitors, with additional eSports coverage available through Bleacher Report’s top-rated Team Stream App.

     

    “eSports is one of the fastest growing entertainment genres among young adults around the world. We’re looking forward to creating a tremendous live event atmosphere, leveraging the infrastructure and expertise within Turner Studios, and presenting the competitions in an innovative way throughout our portfolio of leading brands,” said Turner Sports president Lenny Daniels.

     

    “We are proud to establish a leadership position in this rapidly growing arena, which I see as a tent pole for the next chapter of TBS. The level of rabid fandom and engagement that we see in this world is extraordinary and we aim to up the experience for both the players and fans alike and provide a cutting-edge live experience on both linear and digital TBS platforms,” said Turner chief creative officer and TBS and TNT president Kevin Reilly.

     

    “The eSports environment is purpose-built for a generation that consumes content across multiple platforms and seeks unique live experiences. We’re proud to be partnering with Turner to give competitive gaming a first-of-its-kind platform to meet the needs of the industry’s growing fan base and attract new audiences around the world,” added WME | IMG chief content officer Mark Shapiro. 

     

    “WME | IMG is constantly seeking new ways to help fans enjoy the eSports they love and attract more fans to the sport. This venture is a great example of our commitment to growing the eSports industry, and Turner is the perfect partner to make this a reality. We’ve so enjoyed working with Valve and the teams through this endeavor, and we’re excited for the future,” said WME | IMG’s eSports division head Tobias Sherman.

     

    eSports is a term used to refer to organized, multiplayer video gaming competitions that are rapidly expanding in popularity on a global scale. According to data provided by NewZoo, global eSports viewership is more than 226 million people with the total expected to climb to 323 million by 2018. 

     

    The addition of eSports competitive gaming is one of many live events set to air on TBS in early 2016. The network’s Spring slate will also feature the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Final Four, including TBS’s first-ever telecast of the National Championship game, as well as the iHeartRadio Music Awards. TBS’s upcoming live event programming will also include the first-ever Live Nation Music Awards – co-executive produced with IMG – in June and Turner Sports’ annual coverage of the Major League Baseball Postseason in October.

  • Turner green lights new kids co-production with Synergy Media & Studio Goindol

    Turner green lights new kids co-production with Synergy Media & Studio Goindol

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting has greenlit a new co-production with Synergy Media and Studio Goindol, marking the network’s biggest ever animation project in Korea.

     

    Titled Beat Monsters, the series is a comedy starring alien monsters from outer space on the lookout for the ultimate beat. There will be 52×2’ shorts and additional micro-shorts. Each episode will fuse live-action footage and CGI animation techniques to create a rich and colourful environment.

     

    “These fun and fresh shorts are exactly what we’re looking for as part of our International Shorts Program. We’re really pleased to find a like minded and globally-focused partner in Korea. When it launches, Beat Monsters will deliver world-class laughs around the world from London to Lagos, and Madrid to Manila,” said Turner kids networks Asia Pacific chief content officer Mark Eyers.

     

    Beat Monsters is expected to air in late 2016 on Turner’s portfolio of kids’ channels in Asia Pacific including Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami, as well as on Cartoon Network in EMEA. The project is under development with the assistance from Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and, in 2014, the pilot short was named ‘Best-in-Show’ at the Asian Animation Summit.

     

    Synergy Media president Eugene Kang said, “To partner with Turner and have exposure for our IP across millions of households is a real boon for us. I am really happy to see humorous Asian ideas go global, and hope that this is just the first of many projects and co-productions that Turner and Synergy will be able to work on together.”

     

    “Beat Monsters is so hilarious and we can’t wait to start production. We have high hopes for this bunch of crazy and adorable alien characters, and we will soon get to meet these guys in real life. It is inspiring for us that Beat Monsters fits perfectly with Turner, and I hope that our little guys make a huge impact as a result of this cooperation,” added Studio Goindol president and Beat Monsters director.

     

    Turner Asia Pacific is currently working with studios and animators to produce original shorts and micro-shorts in Singapore, Taiwan, India, Australia, the US and Japan, especially after the increase in demand for short-form content.

  • Turner Broadcasting acquires majority stake in iStreamPlanet

    Turner Broadcasting acquires majority stake in iStreamPlanet

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. has acquired a majority stake in iStreamPlanet, a company that operates in large-scale, live event streaming, TV Everywhere Network simulcasts and OTT multiplatform solutions.

     

    Turner will leverage iStreamPlanet’s technology to deliver its OTT programming, shift its core technology infrastructure to the cloud and develop new products and services for existing and new businesses. Turner’s diverse technology requirements, ranging from live news, simulcast networks, video on demand and multiplatform specific content will also enhance iStreamPlanet’s commercial offering. This transaction is an important piece of Turner’s ongoing technology transformation with the potential to advance technological capabilities across all of Time Warner Inc.

     

    Turner chairman and CEO John Martin said, “We’ve worked with iStreamPlanet in the past during the PGA Championship and they have also delivered world-class events such as the Super Bowl and Olympics to millions of viewers. There is no one better in the business. This partnership will expand our capabilities to offer live events within and outside of the traditional ecosystem and, by bringing iStreamPlanet’s innovative technology in-house, allow us to cultivate future business opportunities on digital platforms.”

     

    “Turner is a media powerhouse with tremendous reach via their entertainment and live sports programming, and strong relationships with advertisers. They have been a recognized innovator in the media industry, breaking ground first in cable and then in TV Everywhere. We couldn’t ask for a better partner to accelerate our growth and expand our portfolio of multiplatform OTT solutions to meet the changing needs of content owners and consumers,” added iStreamPlanet CEO and founder Mio Babic.

     

    Aside from Turner, iStreamPlanet works with a roster of media and technology companies. Under the terms of this deal, iStreamPlanet will remain a standalone entity and continue to conduct business and broker independent deals with existing and new third-party clients while working closely with Turner to explore new business opportunities.

  • Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros. sign global multi-series deal for Boomerang

    Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros. sign global multi-series deal for Boomerang

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting and Warner Bros. the two Time Warner companies have decided to deepen their ongoing partnership with a global agreement that will build on the company’s two-network strategy by strengthening the pipeline of original content being developed for the recently rebranded Boomerang.

     

    The agreement, which represents the first-ever original content being developed exclusively for Boomerang, includes nearly 450 half-hours of programming from Warner Bros. Animation. The content will premiere on all Boomerang channels worldwide and on some Cartoon Network channels internationally, along with potential crossover with Turner Broadcasting’s Pogo and Toonami in Asia, and Boing and Cartoon Network in other territories.

     

    The partnership also extends Boomerang’s access to the classic animation portfolio from the Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Warner Bros. Animation collection, a total of 3,500 titles. Drawing upon the vast resources of the world’s largest animation library which includes contemporary classics from Cartoon Network Studios, Boomerang’s on-air schedule will continue to feature timeless favorites like Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo!, programming that has multi-generational appeal and great co-viewership.

     

    “Turner Broadcasting has a very strong kids and family business around the world and our exciting new partnership with Warner Bros. presents a number of new opportunities that will help strategically grow the Boomerang brand,” said Cartoon Network president and general manager, Boomerang adult swim Christina Miller. 

     

    “Through this expanded relationship with our corporate partners, we will create new content that will engage fans across a variety of screens and platforms and further grow these timeless franchises that we’ll leverage not only across Boomerang but also our global kids and family portfolio of businesses,” added Miller.

     

     Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series president Sam Register said, “With the television landscape becoming more and more crowded, we are extremely fortunate to have one of the largest animation libraries, with some of the world’s most iconic and revered characters, and to be embarking on this important new partnership with Turner and Boomerang. This deal presents an exciting creative opportunity to explore this vast collection, to develop new and compelling programming based on these beloved characters, and to introduce them to new generations of families.”

     

    Premiering this autumn will be the first of Boomerang’s new original series from Warner Bros. Animation. Bunnicula is an all-new animated comedy series based on the bestselling children’s book of the same name. The series follows the paranormal comedy adventures of Bunnicula the vampire rabbit, who – instead of drinking blood – drains the juice of carrots and other vegetables to boost his supernatural abilities. Be Cool Scooby-Doo! is an all-new 22-minute animated comedy series featuring the Scooby gang, back with a modern comedic twist on the beloved classic. This time, the gang is working as hard to solve their own personal problems as they are to solve the endless, mind-bending mysteries that await them. In Wabbit – A Looney Tunes Production, Bugs Bunny is starring in all-new shorts that find the iconic carrot-loving rabbit matching wits against – and getting the best of – classic characters like Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote, along with brand new foes.