Australian free-to-air network SBS has inked a deal with BBC Worldwide for the rights to a local version of Top Gear. Freehand Productions, BBC Worldwide’s Australasian partner, will produce eight-episode series to air on SBS in 2008. BBC Worldwide identified Top Gear as one of its top priority brands across all platforms. Top Gear Managing Director at BBC Worldwide, Adam Waddell, said, “With the UK series viewed in more than 100 countries worldwide, and BBC Top Gear magazine … [Read more...] about BBC Worldwide’s Top Gear goes local Down Under
Channel: Content
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
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
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
Oracle muscles into media solutions
Singapore - Oracle is moving into solutions for media and entertainment companies in Asia Pacific. China’s language search engine company Baidu and Xinhua News Agency; India’s Amar Ujala and Tata Sky; and Indonesia’s Global TV are among Oracle’s latest clients in the region. Solutions that manage information and content assets, protect intellectual property rights, ensure information quality, manage projects, revenues and financials, as well as reduce infrastructure costs … [Read more...] about Oracle muscles into media solutions
Mobile games market to reach US$10 billion by 2009
Hampshire, England – Booming popularity of casual gaming, combined with a steadily increasing variety of gaming-friendly handsets offering high quality 3D graphics aimed at core gamers, will help drive revenues from mobile games to nearly US$10 billion in 2009. So says Jupiter Research, which estimates more than 460 million mobile users will be downloading games by 2009, more than double the current number. Much of this growth will be generated by emerging markets such as the Indian … [Read more...] about Mobile games market to reach US$10 billion by 2009