ITV

Tag: Warner Bros.

  • Simon Kenny is Warner Bros. Digital Distribution president

    Simon Kenny is Warner Bros. Digital Distribution president

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Warner has announced that Simon Kenny has been named president of the newly formed Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

    He will manage the worldwide electronic distribution streams of the Studio’s product over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, subscription-video-on-demand, wireless and more. He will also oversee the studio’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.

    As announced at its formation in October 2005, the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group is comprised of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (which incorporates Warner Bros. Online and Wireless), Warner Home Video, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (including Warner Bros. Games), Warner Bros. Technical Operations and Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations.

    Kenny currently serves as Warner Bros. International Television Distribution executive VP, Europe. He will assume his new role full-time following the L.A. screenings at the end of May.

    Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group president Kevin Tsujihara says, “Our priority is the consumer, and our focus is on ensuring that our product is available to them on as many platforms with as much flexibility, functionality and portability as they desire. As digital distribution is no longer just a theory, but a reality, we are charged with managing and leading the retail and consumer transition from a purely packaged distribution scheme to one that supports both packaged and digital distribution, and both standard and high defination formats, while not cannibalising any one segment of the business, but rather maximizing the opportunities afforded by all.

    “Simon’s experience in existing, emerging and next-generation distribution scenarios makes him the perfect choice to head up our digital distribution initiative, and we’re pleased to have him as an integral member of our team.”

    Kenny says, “I am excited about leading the group that will strategise on and implement the methods of digital distribution for all the new and emerging platforms and to be working with Kevin to create new revenue opportunities on behalf of Warner Bros., a true leader in entertainment”.

  • AOL and Warner Bros. to launch the first broadband television network In2TV

    AOL and Warner Bros. to launch the first broadband television network In2TV

    MUMBAI: AOL and Warner Bros. are saying “Welcome Back” to thousands of classic TV shows with the launch of In2TV, the first broadband television network, on AOL.com.

    The network offers the largest collection of free on-demand TV shows on the web, including full episodes of favorite Warner Bros. programs from the past 40 years such as Welcome Back, Kotter, Chico & The Man, Alice, Growing Pains, Sisters, Kung Fu, Lois & Clark and many others, along with interactive features and viral videos that enable audiences to experience and interact with television programming in an entirely new way.

    “In2TV breaks new ground as the first true broadband television network. With the largest collection of full length television programming anywhere on the Web, plus interactive features and viral videos all free and on-demand, In2TV will appeal to existing fans as well as introduce these shows to a whole new generation. In2TV is another important milestone in the evolution of video on the Web, and is one more way that we are making AOL.com the best destination for video online,” said AOL Media Networks executive vice president Kevin Conroy.

    “In2TV begins to realise the true potential of web-based TV by putting the viewer in charge of their own TV schedule online. This opens up new opportunities for platforms and program distributors alike and points to the prospect of exciting new paradigms in online and interactive entertainment soon to come,” said Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group president Kevin Tsujihara.

    “In2TV offers consumers access to an unprecedented collection of Warner Bros. TV favorites including thousands of great dramas, comedies, animated series loaded with unique interactive features. We’re proud to team with AOL on this first-of-its-kind broadband network and, in the near future we will be adding more recent programs and other TV related content from our studio and other producers that you can’t find anywhere else on the web,” said Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution president Eric Frankel.

    Available exclusively through the AOL.com Web site (http://www.aol.com/in2tv), the In2TV service lets fans watch hundreds of episodes from dozens of shows every month, along with quizzes, puzzles, photo galleries and polls tied to the various shows. The shows are organiaed into six genre-themed channels (with two more to launch this summer), including:

    LOL TV: Laugh Out Loud with everyone’s favorite comedies from Welcome Back, Kotter which made a household name out of John Travolta to the slapstick antics of Cousin Balkai and Larry in Perfect Strangers as well as the Emmy-winning Chico and the Man, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper and Head of the Class.

    Dramarama TV: Fans will enjoy the unaired “lost” pilot of juicy soap Falcon Crest and all the drama of five-time Emmy nominated Sisters, plus there’s Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Spenser: For Hire and the family favorite Eight Is Enough.

    Toon Topia TV: Kids and adults alike will flock to animated fare such as Beetlejuice, Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and the Brain and Freakazoid, The New Adventures of Batman and Histeria!

    Heroes and Horrors TV: Sci-Fi and Horror come together in heroic proportions with Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Babylon 5, Wonder Woman, V and Freddy’s Nightmares.

    What a Rush TV: Rev up for plenty of action-adventure when East meets West in Kung Fu, plus La Femme Nikita, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., Dark Justice and The Fugitive.

    Vintage TV: Fans find all-time favorites such as Growing Pains with Kirk Cameron, F-Troop, The F.B.I., Maverick and Alice.

    In2TV also features highly engaging viral short-form videos and programming themes that repackage some of the greatest moments in television in exciting new ways.

    In addition, In2TV offers “In2Active TV”–unique interactive experiences that test fans’ knowledge of TV trivia and offer addictive games and challenges.

    In2TV provides advertisers with compelling video inventory for instream broadband advertising as well as opportunities for sponsorships and accompanying banner ads. Video ads, 15-second and 30-second spots, will be limited to a total of one – two minutes within each 30-minute episode as compared to eight minutes of advertising on broadcast television.

  • Amazon talking to Hollywood studios for online film downloads

    Amazon talking to Hollywood studios for online film downloads

    MUMBAI: Online retail giant Amazon.com is considering the launch of a service that would allow visitors to download movies and television shows.

    Media reports indicate that the move is aimed at offering an alternative to Apple’s iTunes. Amazon is believed to be in talks with Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros for the store.

    The market for video downloads has gained momentum due to broadband penetration growing. Apple has been strengthening its iTunes offerings. The company just launched a new subscription service that lets consumers purchase TV shows through a monthly subscription.

    AOL, meanwhile, also has been active in expanding its media offerings, creating a service through which users can download videos and other entertainment content. The company is also busy developing its own online TV properties. All of this comes as a challenge to the traditional retail outlets.

    Reports further indicate that Amazon.com’s store is expected to allow users to buy, burn and keep DVD’s and differ from Apple’s current policy on its American store by only allowing visitors to download for viewing on the computer or iPod video.