Sydney - Mariner Financial looks set to take over Beyond International Limited after BIL's board accepted an offer of $A74.6 million ($US67.3 million), beating an earlier bid of $A72.8 million ($65.7 million) by Malaysian-based private equity firm Navis Media. Cementing its prospects of winning control of the TV producer/distributor, Mariner bought more than 5 million shares in Beyond, raising its stake to just under 20%. Beyond Chairman Ian Ingram is associated with Mariner, an investment firm … [Read more...] about Mariner Financial set to grab Beyond International
format licensing
STAR beefs up programming and production team
Hong Kong- STAR has appointed Todd Lituchy as President, Entertainment. Based in Hong Kong, he will oversee STAR’s program planning, production, network creative services, research and scheduling functions. Lituchy joins the company at the end of 2007 and will report to Laureen Ong, COO, STAR. Adding to STAR’s team in Hong Kong are David Searl, Senior Vice President, Production, and Donovan Castillo-Mohlman, Vice President, Program Strategy and Acquisitions. Reporting to Lituchy, … [Read more...] about STAR beefs up programming and production team
Galleon Holdings acquires Phoenix Investment Global for foothold in China
London – Galleon Holdings plc, the AIM-listed intellectual property owner and developer in the entertainment sector, has acquired Hong Kong-based media solutions company, Phoenix Investment Global Ltd for an initial £1.5 million ($US3.1 million). A deferred £500,000 ($US1 million) will be payable subject to, inter alia, two of Phoenix’s broadcast customers in South East Asia entering into exclusive arrangements on certain mobile phone services. Also, an additional £3.5 million … [Read more...] about Galleon Holdings acquires Phoenix Investment Global for foothold in China
Singapore mobile TV trial TV2GO brings Bloomberg TV on board
Singapore-based DVB-H mobile TV trial TV2GO, run by PGK Media, has added Bloomberg Television to its current trial offerings. Starting from November 2007, the channel will be broadcast live on the latest mobile TV phones including Nokia’s N92 and N77, as well as Samsung’s P930 and F510. Bloomberg TV adds to TV2GO live channels in the genres of News, Sport and Entertainment including CNBC Asia Pacific, ESPN STAR Sports and WOW!TV by Kamera. TV2GO also supports various real-time … [Read more...] about Singapore mobile TV trial TV2GO brings Bloomberg TV on board
NBC Universal finalizes acquisition of Sparrowhawk Holdings
London – NBC Universal (NBCU) has finalized the acquisition of Sparrowhawk Holdings and its global portfolio of pay-TV channels including the international (non-US) Hallmark Channels, from Providence Equity Partners, 3i and management shareholders. The deal closed following the conclusion of regulatory approvals and terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. As previously announced, NBCU acquired all of the company's shares to own the 18 feeds of the international (non US) Hallmark … [Read more...] about NBC Universal finalizes acquisition of Sparrowhawk Holdings
Pain but hope for gain in Indian broadcasting
Delhi- The US$4.5 billion Indian broadcasting sector is gearing up for a war of attrition and only those with courage, capital and content are likely to survive and prosper. That was the key conclusion from the India Digital Networks Summit, held in Delhi on Oct. 17, organized by Media Partners Asia (MPA) and Indian Television Dot Com (ITV). The summit was told that intensifying competition, growing digital pay TV penetration, the launch of hundreds of TV channels and the entry of new investor … [Read more...] about Pain but hope for gain in Indian broadcasting