Sydney- FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) sold 84 hours of topical lifestyle and music programming to Australian subscription TV company XYZnetworks (XYZ). FME’s recently acquired The BRIT Awards 2008 will premiere on XYZ’s Channel [V] in February next year. Also included in the deal is Jimmy’s Farm series two and three, Jamie’s Italian Escape and Jamie’s School Dinner Special featuring Jamie Oliver, both of which are new to Australian subscription television. XYZ … [Read more...] about XYZ buys 84 hours of lifestyle and music programming
Pay-TV
Telstra streams Federal election and Australian Idol final
Sydney – Telstra streamed live video coverage of the Nov. 24 Federal election and the Nov. 25 final of Australian Idol to its Next G mobile phone subscribers. The Nine Network’s election coverage was offered to 1.5 million customers for a one-off charge of A$2.95; the Idol live pack, which included exclusive behind-the-scenes during the ad breaks, was priced at A$2 per week. Telstra's Next G network covers 98.9% of the Australian population. Telstra’s BigPond mobile … [Read more...] about Telstra streams Federal election and Australian Idol final
BBC Worldwide and Paul Marquess set up Cliffhanger Productions
BBC Worldwide has teamed with Paul Marquess, former Head of Drama at Thames Television, to launch Cliffhanger Productions, focusing on making dramas for UK networks. BBC Worldwide has 25% of Cliffhanger while Marquess holds the rest. BBC Worldwide will be responsible for commercializing Cliffhanger’s content through its global sales and marketing network as well as local production bases. Marquess most recently was developing dramas for Endemol subsidiary Showrunner and has brought that … [Read more...] about BBC Worldwide and Paul Marquess set up Cliffhanger Productions
SkyCable looks to IPO in 2008
Manila - The Lopez group is taking leading cable TV operator SkyCable public next year, aiming to raise more than P3 billion (US$69.3 million), to fund digital video, new content, broadband and VOIP expansion, and service debt and restructuring. The company expects to finish 2007 with 458,130 customers, about half the legitimate market for pay-TV in the Philippines. The significant growth driver will come from combating piracy, accelerating digital migration and growing ARPU, says Media Partners … [Read more...] about SkyCable looks to IPO in 2008
Sportfive and NHK strike Premier League deal
Kuala Lumpur – Sportfive has agreed a TV deal with Japan’s NHK to show weekly free-to-air coverage of the Barclays Premier League (BPL) soccer. NHK was the first broadcaster in Japan to deliver sports programming to the public. Under the deal, NHK will air BPL matches for the next three seasons. “We are very happy with NHK adding the matches of England’s top football league to their prominent sports content”, says Lars Heidenreich, Managing Director of Sportfive … [Read more...] about Sportfive and NHK strike Premier League deal
Disney teams with Softbank for mobile services
Tokyo – Disney-branded mobile phones and content services are expected to hit the market in Japan in spring 2008, following the announcement of a deal between Walt Disney Co. Japan and Softbank Mobile Corp. Disney has been offering mobile content services in Japan for over a year, claiming 3.5 million registered users. Handsets and Disney Mobile services will be available at Softbank’s 2,400 stores nationwide and for Softbank Mobile’s subscriber base of around 17.2 million. … [Read more...] about Disney teams with Softbank for mobile services