Sydney- Apple began marketing its Apple TV device, the wireless set-top box designed to show video downloaded from the iTunes store on living room televisions, in Australia last week, priced at A$449 (US$359). The marketing campaign makes no mention of the availability of movies or TV episodes, referring only to home movies, movie trailers, podcasts and digital photos. The blurb says: “Instead of huddling around your computer to watch what’s on iTunes, connect Apple TV to your … [Read more...] about Apple TV arrives Down Under
people and appointments
Bed of Roses and docs secure financing in Oz
Sydney- Bed of Roses, a six-part drama series for ABC TV, and 10 documentaries on diverse subjects such as baby boomers, asylum seekers and endangered birds, have secured funding from Film Finance Corp. Australia. Bed of Roses, from McLeod’s Daughters writers Jutte Goetze and Elizabeth Coleman, follows the adventures of spoilt, rich, city-dweller Louisa Atherton, who is forced to move back to her tiny hometown when her husband dies in the arms of another woman, leaving her and two teenage … [Read more...] about Bed of Roses and docs secure financing in Oz
Ambience Entertainment beefs up TV, film output
Sydney- Australia’s Ambience Entertainment, part of the Omnilab Media Group, is ramping up television production and branching into feature films.Headed by Michael Boughen, Ambience is co-producing the second series of children’s show Erky Perky with Canada’s CCI Entertainment, with animation by sister company the LaB Sydney. In pre-production is Sharky’s Friends, a comedy game show for 8-12 year olds, created by Boughen and Rick Maier, for Australia’s Nine … [Read more...] about Ambience Entertainment beefs up TV, film output
J:COM pursues advertising revenue via new Media Business Department
Tokyo – Jupiter Telecommunications (J:COM) has established a Media Business Department within its Marketing & Sales Division. Comprising 15 employees, the new department will seek to diversify revenue streams and widen the company’s scope of operations.J:COM will strengthen its programming and implement a new advertising sales model for its media channels which include its free-to-air television channel, VOD service and an interactive TV channel, as well as two magazines and … [Read more...] about J:COM pursues advertising revenue via new Media Business Department
Record exhibitor turnout for Tokyo International Anime Festival
Tokyo - The sixth edition of the annual Tokyo International Anime Festival opened on March 22 with a record 270 exhibitors, including 55 from overseas, occupying 750 booths at Tokyo Big Sight. Out of 457 entries, Kadokawa Movies' feature film The Girl Who Leapt through Time was declared the year’s best anime and its director Mamoru Hosoda took the best director's award. One innovation this year is the Robot Animation Expo, exhibiting 55 robot anime from the early days of … [Read more...] about Record exhibitor turnout for Tokyo International Anime Festival
PCCW’s now TV enhances its menu of channels
Hong Kong - Triple play service provider PCCW's IPTV network, now TV, inked multiple deals to carry Rainbow Media's VOOM HD channel, National Geographic Channel's video-on-demand (NGC VOD) service as well as Eurosport and Eurosportnews channels. The new offerings will potenially reach now TV's 700,000-strong customer base.24-hour VOOM HD channel provides HD programming on adventure travel, fashion, luxury lifestyle, art, live concerts, action sports and video gaming. VOOM HD … [Read more...] about PCCW’s now TV enhances its menu of channels