ITV

Tag: TV

  • Nickelodeon US hits record with SpongeBob ‘Best Day Ever’ marathon

    Nickelodeon US hits record with SpongeBob ‘Best Day Ever’ marathon

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants all-day marathon titled “Best Day Ever” which was held on 10 November, earned the network it’s most-watched and highest-rated total programming day in its history, averaging 1.9/4.4 million total viewers (P2+).

    An official release issued by the channel stated that overall, during its total programming day (from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT) on 10 November, Nick averaged a 7.6/2.5 million kids 2-11, a network high average in terms of kid 2-11 viewers, and a 7.5/1.5 million kids 6-11.

    The Nickelodeon celebration of the happy-go-lucky sponge began on 9 November at 8 pm featuring viewers’ top 100 cartoon picks, and culminating in an all-new “Best Day Ever” SpongeBob SquarePants special on 10 November at 7:30 pm ET/PT. The marathon was followed by the network premiere of the Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies feature film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie at 8 pm ET/PT.

    The “Best Day Ever” special recieved an average of 12.0/4.0 million kids 2-11, 12.8/2.6 million kids 6-11 and 6.7 million total viewers. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie averaged a 13.3/4.4 million kids 2-11, 14.6/2.9 million kids 6-11 and 7.3 million total viewers, adds the release.

    The marathon kicked off on Thursday with the initial telecast on 9 November at 8 pm – 9 pm earned a 7.1/2.3 million kids 2-11, 7.7/1.5 Kids 6-11, with 3.9 million total viewers (P2+). The portion of the SpongeBob SquarePants marathon on Nick at Nite (9 p.m. to 11 p.m.) increased ratings and delivery by triple digits among kids 2-11 and 6-11 with a 5.3/1.8 million K2-11, an increase of +204 per cent, and 6.1/1.2 million K6-11, an increase of +188 per cent. An average of 3.2 million viewers tuned in during primetime, with 831,000 adults 18-49.

    The “SpongeBob Best Day Ever” game went live on 9 November and in three days, generated 1.3 million game plays and more than 867,000 unique visitors. SpongeBob’s “Best Day Ever” full length music video was the number-two video of last week on TurboNick (Nov. 6 to Nov. 12) generating more than 1.4 million streams, with 471,000 unique visitors. The “Best Day Ever” promotion video on TurboNick ranked within the top 10 videos on the broadband player during the same time period with 370,000 streams, adds the release.

    In addition, during the week of 6 November, Nick.com experienced a +35 per cent increase in unique visitors over last year, and page views were up 16 per cent over year ago levels. TurboNick also witnessed a +327 per cent increase in streams over year ago levels. Activity increases can be attributed to the online campaign surrounding the SpongeBob “Best Day Ever” television event (source: Omniture SiteCatalyst 2006 & 2005).

    Leading up to the “Best Day Ever” event, Nickelodeon invited kids to vote (beginning Oct. 5) for their favorite SpongeBob SquarePants cartoons on a new super-site http://www.nick.com/bestdayever. Kids were encouraged to choose their 10 favorites by viewing clips from multiple SpongeBob SquarePants episodes. The super-site received almost 5 million streams and 3.2 million votes. The fans’ votes determined the order of the 24-hour marathon leading up to the premiere of the “Best Day Ever” special. Overall, SpongeBob’s “Best Day Ever” campaign was the most successful online campaign for the property to date.

  • ESS plays it cool on Zee acquisition of Ten Sports

    ESS plays it cool on Zee acquisition of Ten Sports

    NEW DELHI: In the face of the acquisition of Ten Sports by Zee Telefilms, rival ESPN Star Sports has presented an unruffled visage, though the scene could be different in the boardroom.

    Star officials avoided commenting during the day, but in the evening, ESPN India head RC Venkateish said: “It changes nothing in the landscape.”

    The deal between Zee Tele and Ten Sports will give Zee for the first time access to high-viewership international programmes, especially cricket, and also a foothold in the West Asian markets. Would this not give ESPN-Star some competition in India? “I don’t think so,” Venktateish told indiantelevision.com.

    “ESPN is the world sports TV leader. Zee Sports was there already and so was Ten Sports, and they were already having many sports properties. What has happened is a change in the pattern of ownership. Why should it make a difference to us?” Venkateish pointed out.

    “We are focussing on what we have already,” he added.

  • ESPN Star Sports bags TV rights for ‘French Open’

    ESPN Star Sports bags TV rights for ‘French Open’

    MUMBAI: ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s sports broadcaster, has acquired the exclusive telecast rights to the French Open Grand Slam tournament for a period of five years in South Asia, starting with the next championship in May-June 2007.

    Roland Garros (commonly referred to as the French Open) will add to the existing line-up of tennis programming on ESPN and STAR Sports, which already includes the Australian Open, the Wimbledon, ATP Masters Series, the Tennis Masters Cup and other national and Asian level tournaments, asserts an official release.

    Speaking on the acquisition, ESPN India Pvt Ltd managing director R C Venkateish said, “We are in the business of bringing top sporting action to our fans and the French Open fits in beautifully with our tennis calendar, making our offering even more satisfying for Indian tennis fans, who will continue to enjoy the international quality production and packaging synonymous with tennis broadcast on ESPN and STAR Sports.”

    French Federation of Tennis (FFT) commercial director Michel Grach said, “We are extremely pleased to be associated with ESPN STAR Sports for the telecast of the French Open for the next five years. Being a premier tournament, we are indeed delighted that the leader in international sport will be showing the tournament live in the Indian sub-continent, providing tennis fans a chance to see some of the game’s best in action.”

    ESPN STAR Sports has a major share of Indian tennis, being the official broadcaster of the recently-concluded Mumbai Open and having broadcasted earlier this year the Bangalore and Chennai Opens, adds the release.

  • ‘Jemma Adkins’ is Head of content digital media for BBC Worldwide

    ‘Jemma Adkins’ is Head of content digital media for BBC Worldwide

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide, has announced that Jemma has joined the digital media division as Head of content.

    Earlier Adkins was handling BBC Worldwide TV sales division where she was responsible for negotiating the sale of programming in the UK and Ireland market including working with VOD services BT and Homechoice.

    Reporting to director of digital media Simon Danker, Adkins will be responsible for sourcing programming and digital content for the global digital media business which includes BBC Worldwide’s VOD and mobile offering in addition to its proposed commercial iPlayer, asserts an official release.

    Adkins will lead the development and growth of the division’s digital media content catalogue, primarily in terms of television programmes but also through the development of newly commissioned or reversioned content for mobile and online, adds the release.

    Commenting on Adkins’ appointment Danker said, “Jemma’s appointment demonstrates BBC Worldwide’s commitment to making our content available on multiple devices throughout the globe. Her experience in the TV Sales division will bring valuable experience in rights, independent relationships and knowledge of the BBC programme catalogue to her new role.”

    Adding Adkins said, “I’m delighted to join the digital media division at such an interesting time. Content is at the core of our global offering and by leading the development and growth of BBC Worldwide’s digital media content offering I aim to ensure that popular entertainment is available as and when our consumers want it.”

    BBC Worldwide Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

  • Endemol expects organic growth in turnover to the tune of 15 per cent

    Endemol expects organic growth in turnover to the tune of 15 per cent

    MUMBAI: Television format creator and distributor Endemol has announced that the sound performance in the first half-year of 2006 continued into the third quarter of 2006. The company has enjoyed growth in all genres and most of its territories.
    The overall financial outlook for 2006 remains good. Turnover is expected to grow organically by more than 15 per cent. The previous guidance 11-13 per cent.

    The performance has been fuelled by the success of the game show Deal or No Deal. The show Endemol says has enjoyed popularity in most of the 45 territories where it has been produced so far this year, the most significant examples being the US and the UK. The success of DOND triggered an increasing demand for game shows worldwide. This has had a very positive effect for Endemol, helping the company to close a number of deals in several territories for other game shows.

    These include 1 vs. 100 a revamped format from Endemol’s library, and new formats Show me the Money and Set for Life. 1 vs. 100 is already sold in 15 territories, and is likely to roll out further in the near future thanks to successful debuts in the USA on NBC and in the UK on BBC One. The show’s mid-October launch on NBC scored the highest 18-49 rating for any non-sports Friday telecast on any network since January 2005. NBC ordered 10 additional episodes just after its launch. On BBC ONE the show has been achieving very strong ratings, peaking at 7.4 million viewers and a 33.6% share.

    Endemol CEO Elías Rodríguez-Viña says, “In the third quarter we have continued to perform strongly across the group. We are confident that the full year results will continue to show growth in turnover and looking further ahead we remain optimistic about the future of the group.”

  • Most DVR homes in the US play recorded primetime content within two days

    Most DVR homes in the US play recorded primetime content within two days

    MUMBAI: Among television households with digital video recorders (DVRs) in the US, more than 78 per cent of all viewers who watch recorded broadcast primetime shows within a week play them back within two days. 84 per cent of them play them back within three days.

    That is one of the findings from recent analysis of DVR playback viewing by Nielsen Media Research, for the week of 25 September.

    TAmong viewers age 18-49, 76% played back broadcast network primetime programs within 48-hours. During the same time period, 84% watched primetime shows they recorded off advertiser-supported cable networks; and 85% viewed time-shifted syndicated shows within two days. By the third day, those percentages rose to 84% for primetime broadcast, 90% for primetime cable and 91% for total syndication.

    Nielsen Media Research senior VP planning and analysis Pat McDonough says, “The TV landscape is changing rapidly, and as consumers increasingly decide for themselves when to watch their favorite shows, Nielsen will establish new means to track their behaviour.

    “This latest analysis allows clients to better understand how DVR playback affects viewing over seven days. It will enable us to work with clients to determine the most appropriate way to incorporate this data into our measurements.”

    Nielsen says that viewers age 18-49 constitute the largest targeted buying group within the television industry. Other key findings with respect to DVR playback of primetime programming among persons 18-49 reveal that:

    Among all households age 18-49, 2.6 per cent of viewing time is DVR playback, but among households with DVRs, 22.9 per cent of all primetime minutes viewed are via DVR playback.

    Among total minutes of primetime programming viewed by households with DVRs within seven days, the percentage that is played back from DVR is:
    Broadcast Networks: 41.1 per cent
    Ad-Supported cable: 17.9 per cent
    Syndication: 14.1 per cent

  • MyFM station moves to new frequency 94.3 FM

    MyFM station moves to new frequency 94.3 FM

    MUMBAI: Bhaskar Group’s first FM station MyFM has moved to its new frequency 94.3 from today. Earlier MyFM was operating on the 106 FM that was given by the government.

    Says MyFM national programming head Viplove Gupte, “Frequency and the station name are two prime identifier with the FM station, they speak a language of attitude that the listeners empathize with and thus builds the brand.”

    According to an official release, he said, “In normal course a change in frequency would create a setback. But when you have a product that matches with listeners taste – epitomizing the attitude ‘dil se’ – it’s the listeners miss the content / programme much before the radio station misses them.

    “Its they, who seek out the content and in the process their favourite radio station. MyFM fortunately has reached this level of comfort on programming and activation- result of knowing their listeners’s pulse, their ambitions, desires and most importantly their inner self- what translate and means Dil se.”

    Bhaskar Group communication head Sanjeev Kotnala believes, “At the end of the day – listeners get attached to at least one or maximum two frequencies – stations as their priority set. And it is for these stations to continuously perform for their listeners- to prevent any outsider to join the club.

    “A listener will tune in to your frequency till you do not give him a reason to shift to another frequency. So the game is all about the listener’s choice and you’re realizing and acting on them. It’s all in the programming just like the content in a newspaper that makes or breaks a station. And this could be a very simplistic way of placing the complex 24 hour clock work of a FM station”

    Presently MyFM has initiated a ground level ‘Kaan marodo’ campaign which asks people to tweak Kaan (dial) and tune in to the new frequency. Also the media communication exercises listeners to smoothly move over from 106 to 94.3FM, informs the release.

  • CAS pricing case: TDSAT sets 12 December for next hearing

    CAS pricing case: TDSAT sets 12 December for next hearing

    MUMBAI:The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has fixed 12 December as the date for next hearing in the case filed by broadcasters against the Rs 5 tariff for pay channels set by sector regulator Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) in a CAS (conditional access system) regime.

    The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has fixed 12 December as the date for next hearing in the case filed by broadcasters against the Rs 5 tariff for pay channels set by sector regulator Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) in a CAS (conditional access system) regime.

    The pay broadcasters have challenged the two Trai notifications dated 24 August (on carriage fee) and 31 August (channel pricing). They are also contesting the revenue sharing model designed for industry stakeholders by Trai. The sector regulator had specified in the notification that the revenue generated from pay channels leaves the broadcaster with 45 per cent, while the MSOs stays on with 30 per cent and the cable operators get 25 per cent.

    Earlier this year, a division bench of the Delhi High Court had passed an order directing the implementation of CAS with effect from 31 December in the south zones of the three metros – Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

  • ‘CSI’ drives Alliance Atlantis’ 3Q results

    ‘CSI’ drives Alliance Atlantis’ 3Q results

    MUMBAI: Canadian television firm Alliance Atlantis Communications has reported revenue and earnings growth for the third quarter ended 30 September, 2006.

    The company benefitted from strong sales for the CSI franchise. In India CSI airs on AXN.

    Alliance Atlantis CEO Phyllis Yaffe says, “We are exceptionally pleased with the performance of the CSI franchise and the previously announced licensing of certain international second window rights which demonstrate the strong interest of CSI around the world .

    “In our broadcasting business, we were pleased with continued strong subscriber revenue gains as well as strong audience growth. While ad revenue was down slightly year over year, we are pacing well in the fourth quarter and in 2007 we believe advertising revenue will increase in line with the Canadian specialty television market expectations. Over the past 12 months, our advertising revenue is up seven per cent.”

    Broadcasting revenue of $66.7 million represented an increase of four per cent over the prior year’s quarter. Subscriber revenue grew by 10 per cent to $33 million in the quarter compared to $30.1 million in the prior year reflecting steady growth in paid subscribers. Advertising revenue decreased slightly to $32.1 million for the quarter compared to $33.0 million in the prior year due to slightly lower demand for ad inventory.

    In the entertainment segment, CSI revenue of $140.2 million was up $89.9 million from $50.3 million in the prior year’s quarter. The increase was primarily due to second window license fees recognized in the current quarter offset by a stronger Canadian dollar. The company recognises second window license fees from licensing arrangements with existing broadcasters of the CSI franchise when the company has fulfilled its obligations, which typically occurs ahead of the actual second window availability and payment of the license fees.

    During the current quarter, the company entered into several second window licensing arrangements with existing CSI broadcasters and recognised $91.3 million in revenue from these arrangements.

  • ‘The future of TV will be personal’: Nokia report

    ‘The future of TV will be personal’: Nokia report

    MUMBAI: Personalisation and interactivity will be the key drivers of mobile TV according to a new report commissioned by Nokia and conducted by London School of Economics Lecturer Media and Communications Dr Shani Orgad.

    The report, titled This Box Was Made For Walking, examines the future impact of mobile TV on the broadcasting and advertising industries, asserts an official release.

    The report predicts that the introduction and adoption of mobile TV will ultimately give way to a more personal and private TV experience than that of traditional broadcast TV, with big implications for users, content providers and advertisers.

    Users will be able to receive content anytime, anywhere, choose what is most relevant to them, and even create and upload their own television content, while content providers and advertisers will be able to tailor their offerings more specifically to the user.

    Dr Orgad said, “For mobile TV to become more than just television on the move, it will have to build on existing channels, programmes, and ways of watching television and using the Internet.Mobile TV will become a multimedia experience with an emphasis on personalisation, interactivity and user-generated content.”

    “We are currently entering a new era in television, that of personal TV and video consumption. This LSE report highlights the opportunities for both broadcasters and advertisers in this new mobile television era, ” added Nokia director multimedia Harri Männistö.

    According to the report, the current trend of user generated content, as seen by the growth of YouTube, will be a key feature of mobile TV. As consumers increasingly use their mobile devices to create video content, new broadcast platforms will emerge to distribute this content to other mobile users, adds the release.

    Introducing the five second ad spot Dr Orgad examined the impact of mobile TV on the advertising industry and predicts new opportunities for the industry as it is able to better target and interact with key audiences. On mobile TV, advertisers will be able to pinpoint their messages to users according to very specific levels not possible with traditional TV and at success rates higher than those of the Internet.

    The report also reveals that advertisers are currently experimenting with five and seven second-long ad spots to be better suited to the snacking culture’ of mobile TV viewing.

    What will people watch?

    The report predicts that mobile TV programming will be a combination of original content from broadcast television and new content made specifically for mobile, as the release states.

    It is expected that the most popular genres and programmes on mobile TV will be news, entertainment (soaps, reality shows, comedy, animation), sport, music and children’s programmes. Moreover, the content will be tailored with the mobile viewer in mind:

    – Much shorter and more concise news bulletins

    – User interactivity in the plots of reality TV shows and game shows

    – Growing importance of user-generated content

    – New distribution formats

    New TV content

    The mobile TV viewing experience is also likely to see new programme formats emerging. These include:

    – Talking heads and close ups – due to the small screen size, broadcasters will need to focus on talking heads, where viewers will be able to watch close-ups and see the details, rather than capturing a wide screen.

    – Snackable content – mobile TV content will need to be suitable for ‘snacking’.

    – Mobisodes – mobisodes are fragmented and small made-for-mobile episodes that cater to bite-sized portions of content on the go.

    – Visual spectacle – programmes will need to emphasise visual spectacle over conventional narrative and be image-orientated.

    – Local content – content should be relevant for the here-and-now of viewers.

    New prime times

    Broadcasters are likely to see a new mid-day prime time with mobile TV according to the report. This is backed up by consumer trials of mobile TV in Europe which revealed heavy usage of mobile TV during the day as well as during the more traditional early morning and late evening prime times.

    This Box Was Made For Walking written by Dr Orgad is based on a review of existing literature, analysis of mobile TV consumer trials, interviews with experts in the fields of television, mobile media, advertising and other media, and attendance at industry events.

    The event will be webcast live on www.nokia.com/press/mobiletvreport from 1:30 pm GMT on Friday 10 November.