ITV

Tag: UK

  • MTV Intl is showcaing Jay-Z in series of specials

    MTV Intl is showcaing Jay-Z in series of specials

    MUMBAI: MTV’s music channels across the globe are presenting a special series of programming featuring hip-hop mogul Jay-Z in support of his highly anticipated new album Kingdom Come, which was recently released worldwide on Universal Music.

    MTV Live: Jay-Z and Diary Of Jay-Z is airing across MTV’s channels globally. The raft of programming gives MTV viewers access to the hip-hop exponent to celebrate his return to the stage.

    To promote the launch of Kingdom Come, MTV is featuring music videos and long form programming dedicated to Jay-Z including an exclusive 30minute or 60minute MTV Live performance from Milan featuring hit tracks Encore and 99 Problems.

    Additionally, a Diary of Jay-Z shot by MTV International on the artist’s African, European and Asian tour dates featuring the hip-hop icon on safari and meeting Nelson Mandela in South Africa and being dressed up by local tribes in Tanzania and Lagos. The diary also features footage of Jay-Z’s Royal Albert Hall performance in London; the first by a hip-hop artist at the venue.

    A documentary special, Jay-Z: Water For Life, filmed by MTV US in which Jay-Z partners with MTV and the United Nations to visit several regions around the globe that have been most devastatingly hit by the world water crisis will also air across selected MTV channels globally.

    MTV International senior VP talent and music, Jamie Caring says, “It’s a rare privilege to see a hip hop legend like Jay-Z doing such a big tour outside the US. Creating a host of must-see live music and diary specials to document Jay-Z’s travels and phenomenal live shows is a great example of the highly collaborative partnerships we do with A list artists these days. It’ll allow our TV and online audiences to connect with him like never before across multiple music brands and platforms’

    The programming complements the recent Jay-Z tour partnerships of MTV channels in France, Germany, Poland and Eastern Europe, Holland, UK, Australia, Africa, Korea, Thailand and Taiwan as well as dedicated broadband content and ticket competitions enabling fans to experience the ultimate thrill of Jay-Z’s recent comeback tour via their TV, PC or up close and personal.

    MTV.com in the US recently unveiled a Jay-Z fan site at jay-z.mtv.com. This Jay-Z ‘Video Vault Experience’ offers users a comprehensive timeline of his career through footage from MTV’s archives including all of Jay-Z’s music videos, dozens of live performances, every MTV interview, including never-before-seen interviews, and more.

    In addition, US fans can enter the The Jay-Z Platinum Experience contest at www.mtvjay-zplatinumexperience.com for a chance to live like a hip-hop superstar including a private helicopter trip to NYC, a private tour of the Island Def Jam offices, a personalised JAY-Z platinum album and NJ Nets tickets. The contest closes on 9 December, 2006.

  • Star One, Star Gold to debut in UK this Nov-Dec

    Star One, Star Gold to debut in UK this Nov-Dec

    MUMBAI: After Japan, it’s the turn of the UK for Star India channels to spread their wings. Star India has entered into a syndication deal with BSkyB to launch Star One and Star Gold.

     

    Entertainment channel Star One and movie platform Star Gold will debut in the UK later this month or early December on BSkyB, which is over-35 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

     

    Star One is already available on US-DirecTV along with, Star Plus, Star News and Star Vijay. Speaking to indiantelevision.com Star India official spokesperson refused to comment on when will Star Gold be available to DirecTV subscribers.

     

    While, on BSkyB, only two of channels –Star Plus and Star News are accessible.

     

    According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the decision has been taken and most formalities are said to be been completed. The reason for taking these two channels, apart from already existing ones, to the UK is that there’s a sizable Indian-origin population residing there who would pay to watch Indian fare, especially Hindi movies.

     

    However, the programming on Star One and Star Gold may not be a photocopy of what’s seen back home. Reason: copyright issues. Especially those related to the satellite rights of Hindi movies.

     

    Earlier this week, Star had announced launch of five Indian and two international channels in Japan on a new IPTV and community platform World on Demand (WoD). On WoD, Star has launched Star Plus, Star One, Star News, Star Utsav and Vijay, along with Sky News and Fox News.

  • Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    MUMBAI: On the heels of the luanch of the channel Vom HD launch at the recently concluded television trade eevnt in Mipcom, France Rainbow HD Holdings, a subsidiary of Rainbow Media has broadened the global channel’s reach with a new distribution agreement.

    Rainbow has tapped Zonemedia to sell the channel throughout much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

    Voom HD offers the international marketplace a lineup of high-definition (HD) programmes selected from Voom HD Networks’ 15 thematic HD channels in the US. Its content includes signature programming from Equator HD ( places and people), Gallery HD ( stories from the art world), Gameplay HD (video gaming in HD), Rave HD, (live music in 5.1 surround sound), Rush HD (adventure sports), Treasure HD (people with a passion for collecting) and Ultra HD (fashion and luxury lifestyle).

    Rainbow Media senior VP business development Glenn Oakley says, “As we strategized the best possible distribution for Voom HD, Zonemedia emerged as a particularly solid choice because of its strong track record in successfully delivering third-party channels throughout the world. Voom HD’s vast array of quality high-definition programming has great appeal to the international marketplace, and we believe Zonemedia will exploit this to the fullest.”

    TVOOM HD is already set for a November 1 launch in Scandinavia through a deal made by distribution company NonStop Television with Canal Digital. Today’s news opens the channel for business throughout even more of the world, with carriage deals already in the works for possible announcement over the next few months.

    In addition to its impending launch in Scandinavia, three Voom branded channels have been launched in Canada, operated by High Fidelity TV: Treasure HD, Equator HD and Rush HD. Korea’s SkyHD recently deployed a daily primetime Voom HD branded programming block this past September.

    Since launching its global expansion initiative at Mipcom last year, Rainbow Media has also sold over 1,000 hours of programming from its Voom HD, WE tv, Mag Rack and sportskool brands to broadcasters around the world, including India, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, UK and Australia.

  • UK rights for ‘Lost’ move from Channel 4 to Sky

    UK rights for ‘Lost’ move from Channel 4 to Sky

    MUMBAI: New seasons of the show Lost will be seen exclusively on Sky One in the UK.

    An agreement has been done between BSkyB and Buena Vista International Television (BVITV). Sky One has secured deals for seasons three and four of the show which airs in India on Star Movies. With this agreement, Sky will also make the series available to viewers on its broadband and mobile platforms.

    The rights were earlier with Channel 4 which has aired the first two seasons. Sky One, Two and Three director of programming Richard Woolfe says, “We’re absolutely thrilled to bring Lost to Sky One. The series has defined TV drama over the last two years and has been the envy of every network. Today’s audiences demand more quality and flexibility than ever before.

    “So we are intending to use various digital media platforms to make Lost available to our customers when they want and how they want … ensuring that they never miss the mysterious goings on of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. This outstanding series will bring even more entertainment to Sky customers and demonstrate our strengths in multi-platform content and innovation.”

    BVITV executive VP, MD Europe, Middle East and Africa Tom Toumazis says, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Sky to launch much-anticipated new seasons of the globally successful US series in the UK. We are confident that Sky will build upon the established success of Lost across TV and digital media platforms, bringing the series to viewers in flexible ways, ideally suited to its watercooler, must-see status.”
     

  • Time Warner to sell AOL Internet business in UK

    Time Warner to sell AOL Internet business in UK

    MUMBAI: Time Warner will sell its AOL Internet business in the UK for $688 million to mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse Group.

    Completion is subject to EU competition authority clearance and is expected to take place by 31 December 2006.

    Under the agreement, Carphone Warehouse will acquire AOL’s Internet access customer base in the UK as well as the supporting management and infrastructure (the “Access” business). For its part, AOL will provide co-branded portal, content and other audience services and will manage the online advertising sales for Carphone Warehouse’s combined broadband customer base through a revenue-sharing agreement, according to a company statement. 

    The total cash consideration is £370m, of which £250m will be paid on completion and the balance paid in three instalments over the following 18 months. The consideration is being funded by an extension of existing bank facilities.

    The transaction is due to complete by 31 December 2006 and is subject to EU competition authority clearance. At this stage it is anticipated that the acquisition will increase current year pre-tax profits by approximately £10m (subject to completion by 31 December 2006), and next year’s pre-tax profits by £30-40m.

    Carphone operates the MViva mobile Internet portal. The deal gives the company a broadband customer base of about 2 million customers, vaulting it to third place among UK broadband service providers. AOL will continue to manage online advertising sales for the service and will share in those revenues.

    Commenting on the acquisition, Carphone Warehouse CEO Charles Dunstone said: “The acquisition of AOL’s UK Internet access business is transformational for our broadband business. This deal gives us significant scale to complement the rapid organic growth of our free broadband proposition. In addition, the joint development of AOL’s already successful audience platform will bring us new advertising and content revenues in a proven and low risk manner.”

    Time Warner chairman and CEO Dick Parsons said: “This agreement completes the restructuring of our AOL Europe businesses that both advances AOL’s strategic transition to an advertising-supported business model and underscores Time Warner’s commitment to shaping its portfolio of assets to drive the greatest growth possible. On both fronts – as well as across our company – we’re successfully building critical momentum to the benefit of our shareholders. As a leading provider of audience services in Europe, AOL will be better positioned than ever to continue to grow a cohesive online advertising business across a region that’s key to our future progress.”

    AOL’s Carphone deal follows an announcement that Neuf Cegetel, the French telecommunications network operator, plans to sell an 18.5 per cent stake in its business in order to raise around $957 million to fund its acquisition of AOL’s French Internet access business. Time Warner will also sell AOL Germany’s Internet business to Telecom Italia for $870 million.

  • Disney Channel inks pan-European mobile deal with Orange

    Disney Channel inks pan-European mobile deal with Orange

    MUMBAI: The Disney Channel has announced that it has signed its first pan-European deal to provide content to mobile phones. Through an agreement with Orange, the service will be available to customers in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Holland, Romania, Slovakia and, in time, France.

    The service will consist of 65 to 120 minute programming loops featuring some Disney Channel’s most popular content, including full 22-minute episodes of live-action programming franchises That’s So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and animated hits like Kim Possible and Disney’s Recess. In addition, consumers will be able to watch clips from Hannah Montana and a selection of Disney Channel Original Movies, informs an official release.

    Disney Channels, EMEA executive vice president and managing director John Hardie said, “This is a break-through deal which we expect to be a huge hit with kids all over Europe. With parents’ consent and knowledge, it allows kids to watch their favourite Disney Channel programmes on the way home or wherever they are. It’s how today’s kids are growing up to watch TV – at a time and in a place they choose and it’s important that content providers are able to deliver that.”

    In other agreements announced by the two companies, Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), Disney’s international TV distribution division, and France Telecom-Orange will extend their existing broadband VOD movie licensing agreement in France across other markets in Europe. With these agreements, Orange VOD subscribers in Spain and TPSA VOD subscribers in Poland will be the first to enjoy movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. 

    Titles include global box office hit Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the forthcoming sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian are also included in the agreements. 

    Orange currently boasts of more than 2.9 million mobile broadband customers. France Telecom Executive Vice President Patricia Langrand said, “The agreement for the mobile services illustrates our desire to develop dedicated formats and programs specifically adapted for our mobile services with prestigious partners. Our agreement with Disney for VOD will enrich the content offer for our on demand services across multiple territories and platforms.

  • GloboSat to distribute SaharaOne channels in UK, Europe

    GloboSat to distribute SaharaOne channels in UK, Europe

    MUMBAI: In a bid to garner international subscription revenues and also expand its footprint in UK and Europe, SaharaOne Media and Entertainment has entered into a long term deal with New York based broadcast distribution outfit GloboSat Entertainment in order to help the company launch its channel services at various countries.

    SaharaOne Media and Entertainment CEO Shantonu Aditya says, “Through the association with GloboSat Entertainment, we are looking forward to the expansion of our channels in newer markets through this partnership so as to entertain our viewers worldwide.”

    The company is also eyeing broadband as well as mobile platforms in the US. GloboSat Entertainment is said to be in talks with a couple of moblie companies in this regard.

    One such company that the GloboSat is talking to for carrying the two Sahara channels (Sahara One and Filmy) is US based made for mobile company Ithentic.

    The channels will soon be on JumpTV, the subscription-based broadcaster of ethnic television over the internet. JumpTV already streams other Indian channels SET, India TV News, Kairali TV, People TV and Amrita TV.

    GloboSat president and CEO Sudhir Vaishnav says, “Our strategic partnerships with DTH, cable, broadband, IPTV, mobile and other platforms spanning across North and South America, Europe and UK help our broadcast partners to build international presence faster.”

    The media company will soon launch the channels SaharaOne and Filmy in UK and Europe. The two channels will soon be visible in Bangladesh as well. The channels will also be accessible on Rogers Cable in Canada.

    The general entertainment channel SaharaOne already has its presence in US on Echostar. And the movie channel Filmy is offered on DirecTV, the other DTH platform in US controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

    The two channels have recently been launched in Nepal and Maldives. The company now plans to push SaharaOne in the Middle-East, where the movie channel has already made its entry via the Pehla platform.

    The company is also targeting to push the two channels in Africa as well as in Australia in due course.

  • Digital television progressing steadily in the UK : Ofcom

    Digital television progressing steadily in the UK : Ofcom

    MUMBAI: Britain’s media regulatory body Ofcom has published its Communications Market: Digital Television Progress Report for the second quarter of 2006 (April-June).

    The report shows that by the end of June 2006 70.2 per cent of UK television households (17.7 million) were watching digital television on at least one set in the home – up from 69.7 per cent at the end March this year.

    The report also reveals that the large majority of digital television receivers are now being bought for use on additional television sets within the home to complement digital viewing on the household’s primary television. The number of secondary television sets (for example, those used in a spare room or a child’s bedroom) viewed using digital receivers has more than doubled in the year to June 2006, from just under 3.5 million to over seven million.

    In total, more than 40 per cent of television sets in the UK are either connected to a digital set-top-box or have an integrated digital tuner demonstrating that a substantial number of households are now going fully digital.

    Key trends for the second quarter of 2006 include:

    Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) – Freeview services

    The three months to the end of June 2006 was the fourth consecutive quarter in which sales of DTT equipment (either set-top-boxes or televisions with built-in DTT tuners) exceeded the million mark. DTT sales, at 1.2 million for the quarter, were up more than 70 per cent on the same period in 2005.

    DTT services are now viewed on 19.4 per cent of the UK’s 60 million television sets, compared to 17.6 per cent in the previous quarter.

    The number of households viewing DTT services on their primary television set now stands at 6.4 million up 0.2 per cent since the first qyarter of 2006. The number of secondary sets used to watch DTT services has more than doubled in the past year and now stands at more than five million.

    Digital satellite television remains the most popular digital television platform on primary television sets in UK households. In total 33.4 per cent of UK television homes either subscribe to BSkyB’s television services or receive free-to-view satellite services.

    In the year to June 2006 satellite television accounted for around one quarter of net digital household additions. In the second quarter of 2006, of the 168,000 homes viewing digital services for the first time on their primary television sets, 64 per cent chose to do so via digital satellite television.

    The total number of Sky Multiroom subscribers (a subscription service which allows viewing on multiple sets in the home) broke through the one million mark in the second quarter of 2006 and the number of Sky+ subscribers stood at more than 1.5 million.

    Cable Television– NTL:Telewest services plus others

    An additional 50,000 households began subscribing to digital cable television in Q2 2006; the majority of those switched from legacy analogue cable television services. There are now over 2.8m digital cable television subscribers, representing 11.3% of all television households compared to 10.4% a year previously.

    Around 86 per cent of all cable television subscribers now view digital television services (with 14 per cent remaining on legacy analogue systems), up from 84 per cent in the previous quarter. When analogue cable subscribers are also taken into account, the total number of cable television subscribers stood at 3.3 million (13.1 per cent of all television homes) in the second quarter of 2006.

  • 3 to distribute Zone Reality’s mobile TV service in the UK

    3 to distribute Zone Reality’s mobile TV service in the UK

    MUMBAI: Zone Mobile, the new mobile division of Zonemedia (formerly known as Zone Vision Networks) has appointed UK mobile media company 3 to distribute Zone Reality’s Mobile TV service.

    Zonemedia will provide a supply of regularly refreshed, looped programming which can be accessed by 3 customers. The high-impact segments are being specially edited for mobile viewing and are created from the best of Zone Reality’s hit shows including Ouch! That Had to Hurt, Moronic 21st Century Idiots, Crash Bang and Beyond Bizarre.

    Via distribution on 3, Zone Reality programmes will be available to 3’s 3.75 million customers through single channel sales where customers pay for each channel that they watch, or in a bundled package with a number of other TV channels.

    Zone Mobile new media officer Tanya Gugenheim says, “3 are at a significant moment in the history of communications and media. They have created a different type of business by defining a new category which fuses together information, communication and entertainment into a single mobile device. We are really excited to be working with them and getting our innovative and in-demand Zone Reality material out to as wide an audience as possible.”

    3 marketing director Graham Oxby says, “We are excited about all of the new developments in the mobile content arena and see the product being offered by Zone Reality as new and appealing for our 3.75 million customers.”

  • News Corp buys UK jobs site

    News Corp buys UK jobs site

    MUMBAI: In a further attempt to connect with a younger demographic, US media conglomerate News Corp will buy a UK jobs recruitment site Milkround Online.

    Media reports state that the site which was launched in 1997 targets new students and graduates with job advertisements.

    A Reuters report points out that earlier this year News Corp had bought a stake in Simply Hired, a US-based job search engine.