ITV

Tag: variety

  • Jane Turton to deliver keynote at Mipcom Cannes

    Jane Turton to deliver keynote at Mipcom Cannes

    Mumbai: Mipcom Cannes has announced that All3Media CEO Jane Turton will give a keynote interview at the forthcoming 40th edition of the international co-production and entertainment content market in Cannes (21-24 October 2024).

    Staged as a fireside chat in the grand auditorium of the Palais des Festival on Monday, 21 October at 3 pm, the keynote forms part of the ‘C-Suite Conversations’ series being presented across the opening afternoon of the market in partnership with Variety.

    Since becoming CEO in 2015, Turton has led All3Media, now owned by RedBird IMI, from 19 to over 40 production companies and labels. Producing more than 4,000 hours of content annually for linear broadcasters, VOD, social media, and digital platforms, key shows include The Traitors (30 versions), Wild Isles with David Attenborough, Gogglebox, Squid Game: The Challenge, Sort Your Life Out, Brawn: The Impossible F1 Story, Lingo, Fleabag, Call the Midwife, 1917, and Midsomer Murders. All3Media International distributes 35,000 hours of programming to 1,000-plus platforms globally, while Little Dot Studios manages over 700 digital channels with 830 million subscribers across social media.

    “Jane Turton is one of the most insightful and intuitive executives in global television,” said Mipcom Cannes and Mip London director Lucy Smith. “…with a deep experience of each area of the industry, unrivalled commercial acumen and a proven track record of championing talent, creativity and delivering growth at All3Media. There is no one who will be in Cannes who wouldn’t benefit from hearing Jane’s take on the current outlook and how to adapt in transitional times.”

    Originally joining All3Media in 2008 as deputy COO, Turton became COO in 2011 and CEO in 2015. She played a key role on the executive team at ITV where she was director of commercial and business affairs and director of business affairs at ITV Studios and then ITV Network. Jane was also a senior executive at UK broadcasters Granada Television, United Productions, and Meridian Broadcasting.

    The week-long Mipcom Cannes conference program helps define the TV industry year with world premieres of highly anticipated international series, exclusive insight presentations and keynotes from leading global players and thought leaders.

  • Banijay celebrates 25 years of Survivor

    Banijay celebrates 25 years of Survivor

    MUMBAI: Banijay is celebrating 25 years since the adventure reality format, Survivor, debuted in Sweden in September 1997. The milestone achievement follows the format’s most successful year-to-date last year, with 25 productions in 2021.

    Survivor tests the spirit of a group of ordinary, yet extraordinary people who are marooned, with little more than the clothes on their backs and their own animal cunning. As they catch their own food, build their own shelter and order their own society, castaways must compete in increasingly difficult tests of strategy and guile.

    Ranked the Best Reality Show Of All Time (Variety), Survivor, the format which is created by Charlie Parsons, has been commissioned in 50 territories and is one of the most loved and watched formats around the world. The anniversary follows the recent announcement that Survivor will return to the UK in 2023, with Remarkable Entertainment (part of Banijay UK) producing the series for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Other recent comebacks for the format include Brazil, Norway, Bulgaria and Romania, with all-new first-time adaptations in Mexico and Serbia, as well as an upcoming launch in Canada (French).

    Banijay global head of content operations Lucas Green said, “Survivor has all the elements of a hit format combining jeopardy, reality, strategy and adventure. Whilst each version is unique to its territory, every Survivor season celebrates the core values of this much-loved show. It has been honed through hundreds of seasons of expertise and is head and shoulders above the countless copycats which never quite stand up to the test. We are proud to produce the original – and in our view the best – adventure reality format on television. Most of all, we give thanks to those hard-working production teams around the world, with whom we celebrate this distinguished anniversary.”

    Amongst the hugely successful iterations around the world are the U.S., which is the longest-running version with season 44 confirmed and more than 7.5 million viewers tuning in to the most recent season on CBS; The Netherlands, which has aired every year since 2000; the hugely popular French series, which will air its 29th season next year; and the originating market Sweden, which recently aired its 21st run of Expedition Robinson. The format also enjoys successful companion shows, all-star spin-offs and celebrity versions.

    Survivor has created iconic moments over the last 25 years. These include an Israeli contestant meeting his child for the first time via video link at the Tribal Council, a player voting off her mum so she could progress in series 29 in the US, a proposal between two All Star contestants in the US. There was even a visit to the beach from Ivanka Trump in the Italian production, in heels and a sequinned dress!

  • WarnerMedia pauses business operations in Russia amid Ukraine conflict

    WarnerMedia pauses business operations in Russia amid Ukraine conflict

    Mumbai: As the Russia-Ukraine ongoing war has escalated over the days, the entertainment conglomerate WarnerMedia decided to pause “all new business” in Russia, CEO Jason Kilar said. This announcement comes a few hours after Discovery Inc, which is set to soon close its acquisition of WarnerMedia, suspended all operations in Russia amid the country’s war on Ukraine.

    According to Variety, Kilar, in a memo to WarnerMedia staff said, “Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing all new business operations in Russia. This includes ceasing broadcast of our channels, halting all new content licensing with Russian entities and pausing our planned theatrical and games releases.”

    Previously, along with suspending CNN broadcasts in Russia, WarnerMedia’s production house Warner Bros had halted its plans to release “The Batman” in the country ahead of its planned premiere. Kilar further stated, “We are following this situation closely and future business decisions will be made with that context in mind. Our thoughts in this moment are with  the people of Ukraine.”

    As per the Deadline report, Universal Music has also just announced it ceased operations there, along with McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and others. 

    Amazon will be shutting off Amazon Prime in Russia and stopping deliveries to the country, according to news agency ANI.

  • Sony interested in buying TV networks in India

    Sony interested in buying TV networks in India

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment is interested in buying additional TV networks in India, a report by Variety, a US-based source of entertainment news, said quoting Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton.

     

    Sony Pictures Entertainment’s India subsidiary Multi Screen Media currently owns 10 channels.

     

    The Variety report said Lynton emphasises that the company would be interested in buying additional TV networks in India or deploying capital in additional production companies outside of the US, but not in growing its film library through major acquisitions.

     

    Referring to Sony Corp’s investor conference late last year, the report said Lynton and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal, had said at Sony Corp’s investor conference late last year, that the studio was going to pour more resources into its television business as it was cutting back on its movie production.

     

    What is more surprising is that Pascal had then said that she would be assuming oversight of the TV production division.

     

    The report quotes Sony Corp CEO Kazuo Hirai as saying that the company is not selling its entertainment business. “We’re looking at selling businesses on the electronics side that we don’t deem to be core,” Hirai says, adding, “We sold off our chemicals business and all this other stuff. … I’m not entertaining even the notion of selling our entertainment assets.”

     

    Variety noted that Sony Imageworks shuttered its branch in India after previously closing its New Mexico operation and is in the process of shifting jobs from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Scores of employees are being laid off in the process.

     

    Between 2007 and 2013, Sony invested $415 million in media networks and $960 million in cable and broadcast TV production. Those sectors accounted for 39 per cent, or $3.4 billion of Sony Pictures’ $8.8 billion revenue in 2013.

  • ‘There is significant increase in competition from companies and countries from Asia and LA’ : Iatas president and CEO Bruce Paisner

    ‘There is significant increase in competition from companies and countries from Asia and LA’ : Iatas president and CEO Bruce Paisner

     

    The International Emmy Awards have been growing in strength from year to year. These recognise the best in television from around the world. This time around The International Academy of Arts and Sciences (Iatas) wants India to be a bigger part of the awards and the Academy. With that aim in mind Iatas president and CEO Bruce Paisner is coming down to India next month to meet with the top television industry professionals. He will be assisted in this by Anil Wanvari a member of the Academy.

     

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com, Paisner talks about the role the Academy plays in recognising the best of global television, country participation, the importance of having digital media awards.

     

    Excerpts:

     

     What role does The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences play in facilitating awareness of global television programming?
    We award International Emmys in ten categories as well as digital and news categories. During the year we run panels and forums to stay at the cutting edge of developments in international programming. We set the standard for excellence in television programming. Performances and nominations and wins are carefully followed by industry professionals, television fans and the media at large.

     

    We pride ourselves in offering every year, a unique cultural showcase of the best television currently produced around the world. When a producer or broadcaster enters a programme or performance into our competition, they open themselves up to many wonderful opportunities: being nominated or winning an Emmy of course, but also, having their programme watched by jurors from all over the world.

     

    Additionally, our network of over 600 Members from 50 countries who represent all sectors of the television industry including mobile and Internet, plays a major role in promoting our activities and the importance of entering into our competition.

    In light of this, we are doing more activities with our Members and more international outreach.

     

    How has your flagship event, The International Emmy Awards, grown over the past five years?
    The International Emmy Awards Gala has grown in both prestige and attendance. It also has grown in the number of countries represented that night in the room. Last November, we had over 50 countries represented. The International Academy’s goal is to make the experience in the room better for our guests every year. People convene to New York for the International Emmy Awards and The International Emmy World Television Festival and we strive to offer them a full 3-day programme which includes both business and social events.

     

    The buzz around the awards has grown. Last year we gave Special Awards to Lorne Michaels and Simon Cowell. Past award recipients in the last five years have included Steven Spielberg, Al Gore and Oprah Winfrey. The global publicity and excitement around the event is rising every year and we are thankful to our Gala Partners, Phoenix Satellite Television, TV Globo, Microsoft, Dori Media Group, Ascent Media, Ernst & Young, Variety, Mip TV and Sofitel Luxury Hotels for their continued support.

     

    How does the selection process work? Has country participation increased?
    It is important to understand that The Academy does not select programmes; the producers and broadcasters need to enter their programmes into the competition. All the rules and entry information are on our website www.iemmys.tv.

     

    We have a total of 15 programme categories. Nominees are selected through a lengthy and rigorous judging process which takes place over a period of six months and three rounds of judging. Over 720 independent jurors, who are selected because they are experts in their category, participated in this process in 2010. There are four nominees in each category that make it to the final round

     

    Regarding increase in country participation, in the past five years we’ve seen significant increase in participation in the competition from companies and countries from Asia and Latin America. Entries from Latin America have doubled and those from Asia, the Middle East and Africa have grown by more than 50 per cent. Unfortunately, India’s quality programming is vastly underrepresented so far. We look forward to that changing.

     
     
    What kind of marketing do you do to create awareness among broadcasters about the awards?
    We have ad campaigns that run in trade magazines throughout the year, throughout the world. We are present at the leading trade shows such as Natpe, MIPTV and Mipcom. We distribute our publication, The International Emmy Almanac, at those events where we also advertise about membership and entries into the competition.

     

    We also have a quarterly newsletter that goes to over 10,000 industry contacts worldwide and a Facebook and Twitter following. And as you know, since you have been hosting a semi-final round of judging for us for several years, we are present in over 15 countries every summer with local semi-final rounds of judging events organised by member companies. These events are strategic in creating awareness about the competition because they involve content producers directly. Once they see how the competition works, they are more likely to enter their programmes.

     

    “India is such a prominent player in the television industry and unfortunately, this is not reflected in the International Emmy Awards competition. We hope more Indian television professionals will get involved with us“

    You added the digital Emmys a few years back. Was that done to acknowledge changes happening in a rapidly changing media landscape?
    Definitely, as The International Academy we need to reflect the developments in our industry. Multiplatform content is the norm now, and audiences’ viewing patterns are leading the growth in the digital sector.

     

    The International Digital Emmy Awards recognise excellence in programming and content created and designed for viewer interaction and/or delivery on a digital platform (i.e. mobile, internet, interactive TV, etc.) originating outside the United States. We have three categories: Fiction; Non-Fiction and Children & Young People. The competition has been growing over the past five years and we’re looking forward to more entries every year.

     
    The aim for you is to stay one step ahead of developments in the industry. What steps were recently taken to achieve this?
    This is a very good question. Of course, we need to stay one step ahead so that our members can stay one step ahead. To that end we organise industry forums and panels that address the central challenges and opportunities our industry is facing.

     

    Our competition also stays one step ahead. One example is the digital Emmy awards, with the three categories which have evolved over the years and the presentation of a Pioneer Prize, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of an individual or organisation to the field of digital entertainment. Another example is separating the news categories to News & Current Affairs and presenting them at a separate News Emmy awards ceremony presented by the National Academy in New York.

     

    Also, the Telenovela category was created three years ago because of the global nature of the phenomenon and the need for our competition to recognise this important genre became imperative.

     
    Could you talk about the scope The International Academy sees in India for content producers and channels to be a part of The International Academy?
    First of all, we encourage Indian content producers and broadcasters to enter their programmes into the International Emmy Awards competition. The entry deadline for this year is February 20th, all the information is on our website www.iemmys.tv. It’s very simple to enter, and also important to enter as many categories as possible.

     

    Also, if you are involved in international television, you should consider becoming a Member. Our team in New York will be happy to help with any questions regarding Membership, they can email iemmys@iemmys.tv.

     

    India is such a prominent player in the television industry and unfortunately, this is not reflected in the International Emmy Awards competition. We hope more Indian television professionals will get involved with us and thanks to the wonderful platform offered by Indiantelevision.com and Anil Wanvari, we hope this will be possible.
  • ABC puts viewers through ‘The Con Test’

    ABC puts viewers through ‘The Con Test’

    MUMBAI: The UK game show The Con Test is coming to the US in a production deal between FremantleMedia North America and ABC.
    The Con Test is a game show where one person could walk away with over one million dollars without ever having to answer a single question right.

    The Con Test is a game for those who have the wit, nerves and guile to bluff their way to an exorbitant amount of cash. Dont understand the questions? Fake it. Dont know the answers? Lie. All that matters is that the opponent thinks you do.
    Each episode wil be in a question-and-answer format, with the contestants unaware of how they are faring against their opponents. This allows those who are trailing to advantageously bluff their way to victory.

    ABC says that the show is a unique and fresh game show concept and sees this series as a fun outlet for viewers who want to sit back, be entertained and scream at the TV set as if the contestants can hear them.

    FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, “We’ve seen tremendous success with a variety of game shows that have come over from the UK to America. We believe that The Con Test has all the elements of a hit and are extremely enthusiastic about introducing it to the US audience.”