ITV

Tag: UK

  • Measat appoints Jarod Lopez VP – Broadcast Sales

    Measat appoints Jarod Lopez VP – Broadcast Sales

    MUMBAI: Measat Satellite Systems (Measat) has appointed Jarod Lopez as Vice President – Broadcast Sales.

    In this role, Jarod leads all the broadcast distribution sales activities across the Measat and Africasat fleet of satellites. Jarod is also supporting the expansion of the Measat business into the African region.

    Prior to assuming this role, Jarod was Measat‘s Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. Jarod has been with Measat since 2006

    and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from University of Northumbria at Newcastle, UK.

  • RIM lines-up music and movie content providers for BlackBerry 10

    RIM lines-up music and movie content providers for BlackBerry 10

    MUMBAI: Research In Motion (RIM) has said its new BlackBerry World storefront for BlackBerry 10 will feature the best of TV shows, movies and music from world‘s leading content producers and music publishers.

    The new BlackBerry World will include an extensive catalog of songs as well as movies and TV shows, with most movies coming to the store the same day they are released on DVD, and next day availability of many current TV series.

    The offering will feature content from all major studios, music labels and top local broadcast networks. Customers will be able to preview tracks and access the content using multiple payment options.

    "Music and video content is an integral part of a rich mobile experience. People want easy and convenient access to their favorite music, movies and TV shows wherever they are," said RIM CMO Frank Boulben.

    "RIM is committed to working with content providers to bring the best, most up-to-date content to our customers with BlackBerry 10, and to make it easy for them to get what they want."

    The video download and rental section in BlackBerry World will initially be available in the US, UK and Canada.
    Varying by region and distributor, customers will have access to movies from the following studios and independents: 20th Century Fox, Entertainment One (eOne), Lionsgate, MGM, National Film Board of Canada, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, StudioCanal, The Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures (UK), Warner Bros.

    Customers will also have access to TV shows from the following broadcasters and studios: ABC Studios, BBC Worldwide, CBC/Radio-Canada, CBS, DHX Media, ITV, National Geographic, NBCUniversal (UK), Nelvana, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Univision Communications Inc, and Warner Bros.

    The BlackBerry World storefront‘s DRM-free music download section will feature an extensive catalog from all major and independent labels including: 4AD Records, Domino Recording Company, finetunes, Matador Records, [PIAS] Entertainment Group, Rough Trade Records, Sony Music Entertainment, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, XL Recordings and Zebralution.

    The music section will initially be available in 18 countries: Canada, USA, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

  • BBC Sport launches mobile app in the UK

    BBC Sport launches mobile app in the UK

    MUMBAI: BBC Sport has launched a mobile application for iPhone and iPod touch devices in the UK. The free app brings together BBC Sport’s coverage to deliver news, live scores, stats, commentary and analysis on-the-go.

    Arriving in time for a start to the 2013 sporting calendar, the app’s customisable menu allows users to keep up with sporting events – from breaking football transfer news and gossip, to live text coverage of the Premier League, Rugby Union Six Nations championship and the upcoming F1 season.

    A new mobile football live scores section has been introduced allowing you to follow the action, whether you’re at the match or out and about. It provides a league-by-league overview of the latest scores and goal scorers at a glance, with dedicated match pages for more in-depth information, bringing together starting line-ups, match stats, live text commentary and the post-game report.

    In addition, a new fixtures and results section has been developed to help users keep on top of all the UK and international football competitions, by simply selecting any day in the season from the app’s calendar. There’s also access to live streams from Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra for even more great sports coverage.

    Other features, including live and on-demand video highlights, and an application for Android devices will be introduced soon.

    The rapid growth of smartphones over the last few years has made mobile a particularly important platform for BBC Sport audiences. Mobile devices account for a third of BBC Sport’s total traffic, rising to over 40% at weekends and peaking at 45% on Saturday afternoons, as the nation accesses the final scores from wherever they may be.

    BBC Future Media executive product manager for sport Lucie McLean said, “Through the huge success of the Olympics we know that audiences love to access sport services through both mobile browser and apps. The new BBC Sport app builds on the success of London 2012 to give users an even easier way to get the content they love, whether it’s checking out how their team got on, following live text updates on the day’s sporting action or catching up with the latest news.”

  • Skyfall is UK’s highest-grossing film of all time

    Skyfall is UK’s highest-grossing film of all time

    MUMBAI: The latest James Bond film Skyfall has broken all records at the UK box office by becoming the highest grossing film in British cinema history.
    The 23rd installment of the 007 franchise, that stars Daniel Craig as the suave superspy, was an instant hit with audiences and critics alike upon its release in October, grossing the biggest seven-day gross takings of all time in the UK, it has been reported.
     
    The film has now broken all box office records by raking in 94.2 million pounds in 40 days overtaking the earlier record held by James Cameron’s Avatar that earned just over 94 million pounds in 2009.
    "We‘re overwhelmed with gratitude to the cinema-going audiences in the UK who have made Skyfall the highest grossing film of all time. We are very proud of this film and thanks to everybody, especially Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes, who have contributed to its success," producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement.

  • Cineworld acquires Picturehouse Cinemas in UK

    Cineworld acquires Picturehouse Cinemas in UK

    MUMBAI: The second-largest British exhibitor Cineworld has taken over art house cinema chain Picturhouse Cinemas by buying out its parent company the City Screen Group for $76 million (?47.3 million) in cash.

    The deal was finalised between Cineworld and City Screen majority owner Arts Alliance and will add 21 sites and 60 screens to its real estate along with Picturehouse Entertainment, the distribution arm operated by the group. Cineworld also made public the fact that it plans to open 10 new locations across UK in the near future. Arts Alliance has been the majority shareholder of Picturehouse since 2002.
    Post the buyout, Picturehouse will operate as a separate business entity within the Cineworld Group and there will be no change in the existing Picturehouse management team that runs the outfit.

    For FY12 Picturehouse reported audited sales of $48.8 million (?30.3 million), profit before tax of $4 million (?2.5 million) and gross assets of $56 million (?35 million).

    Cineworld CEO Stephen Wiener said, "This acquisition gives us an opportunity to accelerate our growth by reaching new audiences in a high value and growing part of the market. We recognize that Picturehouse is valued by its customers and we look forward to supporting the business through the next phase of its development."

  • Half of internet users in UK unsure if content legal: Ofcom

    Half of internet users in UK unsure if content legal: Ofcom

    MUMBAI: Nearly half of all internet users in the UK are unsure whether the content they are accessing online is legal, UK media watchdog Ofcom‘s research has found.

    However, one in six people online believed they downloaded or accessed content illegally over a three-month period this year.

    The findings come from the first wave of a large-scale consumer study into the extent of online copyright infringement among internet users aged 12 and above.

    This ongoing research will identify trends over time, examining infringement of copyright on music, films, TV programmes, software, books and video games.

    According to the report, 47 per cent of users cannot confidently identify whether the online content they download, stream or share is legal or not, highlighting the importance of increased efforts to educate and inform consumers.

    In June, Ofcom published a draft Code that would require large fixed internet service providers (ISPs) to inform customers of allegations that their internet connection has been used to infringe copyright, and to explain where they can find licensed content on the internet.

    Under the amended Communications Act 2003, Ofcom will report to the Government on efforts made by content owners to invest in awareness campaigns to help educate consumers about the impact of copyright infringement.

    The consumer study also found that:

    • One in six (16 per cent) internet users aged 12+ downloaded or accessed online content illegally during the three month period from May to July 2012;
    • Reported levels of infringement varied considerably by content type: eight per cent of internet users consumed some music illegally in the three months, but just two per cent did so for games and software;
    • The most common reasons cited for accessing content illegally were because it is free (54 per cent), convenient (48 per cent) and quick (44 per cent). Around a quarter (26 per cent) of infringers said it allows them to try before they buy;
    • Infringers said they would be encouraged to stop doing so if cheaper legal services were available (39 per cent), everything they wanted was available from a legal source (32 per cent) or it was more clear what content was legal (26 per cent). One in six said they would stop if they received one notifying letter from their ISP;
    • Those who consumed a mixture of legal and illegal online content in the form of music, films and TV programmes reported spending more on legal content in these categories over the three-month period than those who consumed entirely legal or illegal content.
  • Skyfall grosses $ 156 mn from 56 destinations

    Skyfall grosses $ 156 mn from 56 destinations

    MUMBAI: Skyfall, the 23rd installment of the multi-billion-dollar James Bond franchise, expanded its offshore run by 56 markets and grossed an overwhelming $156 million.
    Markets handled by distributors, of the film, Sony delivered $139 million of the total with licensees of co-distributor Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer raking in $17 million. IMAX reported that its weekend take at 132 locations in 36 territories was $4.3 million.
    In just 10 days of its overseas release, Skyfall, the third Bond outing, has made a whopping $287 million. This propelled Sony International to its best year ever on the foreign circuit with total 2012 box office of $2.160 billion.
    Skyfall‘s weekend, take this time, nearly doubled the $78.6 million opening foreign weekend gross last round from 6,354 locations in 25 markets, is the third highest of 2012 surpassed only by the offshore weekend revenues logged in late April and early May by Marvel/Disney‘s The Avengers.
    A No. 1 German opening delivered $23.9 million, which Sony said was the market‘s biggest-grossing 2012 debut. The U.K.‘s second weekend take was $25.7 million, lifting the 10-day cume there to $85.8 million. France kicked in $14.3 million for a two-round market cume of $30 million.
    Italy launched with $7.9 million, a market record for a Hollywood title this year. Russia came up with $5.2 million in Skyfall‘s second round there, pushing the market cume to $16.1 million. Openings in Switzerland, India, Holland and Mexico generated $5.3 million, $5.1 million, $4.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively.
    An MGM/Eon/Danjaq co-production, directed by Sam Mendes and filmed in the UK, Turkey, China and France, Skyfall is well on track to become the biggest Bond grosser ever on the foreign circuit.

  • UK, Brazil sign film co-production treaty

    UK, Brazil sign film co-production treaty

    MUMBAI: The UK and Brazilian Governments have signed a co-production treaty.
    The terms were negotiated by BFI, a UK organisation for film, and Ancine, the National Cinema Agency of Brazil. The treaty was signed in Brasilia by Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint.
    The treaty is expected to take two years to come into force.
    Film and TV productions that qualify under the terms of the treaty will be able to access the benefits of national status in each country.
    In Brazil these include tax incentives, all federal public funds and access to favourable TV terms, while in the UK qualifying productions will be able to access the UK public film fund with a current allocation of ?18 million per year to invest in the development, production and completion of feature films.
    This is set to increase to ?24 million by 2017 when the BFI launches its five year plan for film in October.
    The announcement follows a number of initiatives to foster greater creative collaboration between the UK and Brazil. The most recent example came at the Rio Content Market in March 2012, where Pact and the ABPITV, the trade bodies representing independent producers in the UK and Brazil respectively, signed an agreement to promote closer ties between the independent production sectors in both countries.
    Further cultural collaboration between the UK and Brazil will come later in 2012 with the British Council Transform event, a cultural programme of cross arts and transformative arts activity spanning the four years between London and Rio Olympic Games.
    Transform kicks off at the Rio International Film Festival in October 2012 with a retrospective of the works of Brazilian director, Alberto Cavalcanti, from the BFI National Archive and a high profile screening of legendary British director Alfred Hitchock‘s The Pleasure Garden at an outdoor gala on the Copacabana Beach. The film has been restored by the BFI as part of its Genius of Hitchcock summer blockbuster project, and will be screened in Brazil accompanied by live music performed by the Brazilian Youth Orchestra from a score composed by British composer, Daniel Patrick Cohen.

  • Universal acquires Bigelow’s bin Laden film

    Universal acquires Bigelow’s bin Laden film

    MUMBAI: Universal Pictures International has acquired international distribution rights of Kathryn Bigelow’s yet untitled feature film about the killing of Osama bin Laden. It will distribute the film in the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Scandinavia, South Africa and Spain.

    The project from Annapurna Pictures was written by Mark Boal, who had earlier teamed with Bigelow for The Hurt Locker.
     
    Bigelow and Boal will produce alongside Megan Ellison of Annapurna. Greg Shapiro, Ted Schipper and Colin Wilson will serve as executive producers.

    A few days ago, the Obama administration had arranged to get special access to government officials involved in the operation that killed Osama bin Laden for Bigelow and Boal.

  • S Korean firm acquires global rights of Sidharth Srinivasan’s film

    S Korean firm acquires global rights of Sidharth Srinivasan’s film

    MUMBAI: South Korean film sales company Finecut has acquired the international rights of Sidharth Srinivasan‘s horror film The Profane, a co-production effort from India, UK and Korea.

    Andy Starke and Pete Tombs of UK‘s Root Films and Finecut‘s SUH Young-Joo are the production partners.

    The film is the story of a brother and sister, at odds with the world and one another, who take their elderly mother to Varanasi to fulfill her dying wish – to be cremated and have her ashes scattered in the holy river Ganges.

    But, once there, the mother refuses to die. To find a way out of their dilemma, her two children are forced to resort to extreme measures. Measures that trap them in a world of strange magic and dark desires, a world ruled by the dead rather than the living.

    Earlier named Samaadhi (The Penance), the film was selected for Locarno Open Doors and Hong Kong Asia Film-Financing Forum 2011.

    The Profane is likely to roll early 2013.

    Sidharth Srinivasan’s debut short film, The Tightrope Walker, premiered in the Competition section at Venice Film Festival in 2000 while his feature film Pairon Talle (Soul of Sand) had its World premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010.