• Elzabeth Murdoch likely to take a bigger role at News Corp, steps down as Shine CEO

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jul 14
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Elizabeth Murdoch, the daughter of News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, is stepping down as CEO of Shine, a move seen as an intent by the senior Murdoch to assign her a bigger role at News Corp.

    Alex Mahon will step in as Shine Group CEO from September while Elisabeth will remain as its chairman.

    Elizabeth said, ?As Shine further diversifies across genres, geographies and platforms, I believe that the continued growth of the company requires the chairman and CEO roles to be distinct and separate. Alex has earned this new leadership position in recognition of her substantial contribution to Shine?s growth from a single U.K.-based production company a decade ago to the global business we run today."

    The division of duties will focus Alex?s attention on managing the operational business, while allowing Elizabeth to concentrate on identifying future strategic opportunities.

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    Elzabeth Murdoch
  • French Open sees increased coverage & reach

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jul 09
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: The F?d?ration Fran?aise de Tennis (FFT) and MP & Silva have said that the first year of their collaboration in distributing the European media rights for Roland Garros has seen increased hours of coverage, higher audiences and new channels showing the tournament.

    The collaboration with MP & Silva is the first time the FFT has chosen to partner with an agency in Europe following an over 30-year partnership with the European Broadcasting Union.

    For the 2012 tournament outside of the home nation (France), European broadcast partners showed over 7,800 hours of coverage across 50 channels, an increase from the 6,629 hours of coverage across 42 channels in 2011.

    Of the 25 broadcast partners for 2012, 12 were new, with the likes of ITV in the UK, Cuatro in Spain, PRVA TV and B92 in Serbia, Czech TV in Czech Republic and NTV in Turkey showing action from Roland Garros for the first time.

    In keeping with the FFT?s commitment to ensure the widest possible audience for its event, MP & Silva secured free-to-air coverage in 22 countries, up from 20 in 2011. Pay-TV coverage was provided by Eurosport across Europe and by Canal+ in Spain.

    FFT?s Media & Sponsorship Director Michel Grach said, ?Our aim is to develop our relationships with MP & Silva and our new broadcasters still further, and to continue to improve the quality and quantity of Roland Garros coverage for tennis fans and tournament partners worldwide."

    The 2012 distribution generated 18.8 billion viewing minutes (where one person watching for one minute equals one viewing minute) for the tournament, a 17 per cent increase on the 16 billion viewing minutes achieved in 2011.

    Excluding audiences on Eurosport, the 2012 tournament generated 10.8 billion viewing minutes, a 6 per-cent increase on the 10.2 billion viewing minutes for the 2011 event.

    The increased audience was achieved despite the overlap this year with Euro 2012 and the poor weather conditions for the men?s final, traditionally the biggest viewing peak of the tournament. Persistent rain forced the conclusion of the match to be postponed 24 hours and it eventually finished on Monday 11 June.

    The rain interruptions on the Sunday meant that coverage ended up clashing with Euro 2012?s Spain v Italy group stage match and Formula One?s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

    MP & Silva Group CEO Andrea Radrizzani said, "We are extremely happy with the results of the first year of our partnership with Roland Garros. We have worked together with the Federation with full transparency in every deal done with every broadcaster."

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    Roland Garros
  • Comedy Central UK acquires Charlie Sheen's sitcom

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jul 07
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Comedy Central UK has acquired exclusive broadcast rights to the Charlie Sheen sitcom ?Anger Management? from Lionsgate?s international television division.

    Charlie Sheen?s return to primetime television was picked up by Comedy Central UK at the LA screenings in May and joins top rating show Two and a Half Men exclusively on the channel.

    Comedy Central director of programming Chris Collie said, "?Anger Management? was the funniest show from this year?s screenings ? Charlie is back and on incredible form. ?Anger Management? sits perfectly alongside our line-up of the biggest and most talked about U.S. shows ? ?30 Rock?, ?South Park?, ?The Office?, ?Two And A Half Men?, ?Friends? and ?The Daily Show with Jon Stewart?."

    Lionsgate International television executive Peter Iacono said, "We believe that Comedy Central is the perfect home for Anger Management in the UK.and we?re delighted to continue building the show?s momentum through ground breaking sales in territories around the world. The show is off to a record-breaking start in the U.S., and we expect it to have similar resonance with audiences around the world."

    ?Anger Management? and series two of UK commission ?Threesome? are the first shows from the Comedy Central autumn line-up to be announced.

    The new series marks Charlie Sheen?s first return to serialised television since his departure from the CBS series ?Two and a Half Men? a little over a year ago. The show is loosely based on Revolution Studios? 2003 feature film ?Anger Management?, which grossed $178 million in global box office.

    In the series, Sheen stars as ex-baseball pro turned anger management therapist Charlie Goodson, who has to cope with some management issues of his own. His female costars are Shawnee Smith as his ex-wife and Selma Blair as his therapist. Bruce Helford heads up the writing team and serves as showrunner.

    Lionsgate International has already sold ?Anger Management? in Canada, Latin America, Germany, Scandinavia, Benelux, Australia, New Zealand and Poland. Lionsgate?s Debmar-Mercury syndication company sold the show to FX Network in the US and will be selling its second syndication window in the U.S. as well.

    ?Anger Management? debuted on 28 June in the US on FX.

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    Anger Management
  • Oxford Economics points out Sky's positive contribution to UK economy

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jul 06
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: UK pay TV service provider Sky is estimated to support a ?5.4 billion contribution to UK GDP in calendar 2011.

    The impact made by Sky on the UK economy is revealed for the first time in an independent study conducted by the leading economic consultancy, Oxford Economics.

    The report, The Economic Impact of Sky on the UK, finds that Sky makes a contribution to the economy in terms of GDP, jobs and taxes paid. It also shows how the company has stimulated economic activity in a wide range of associated companies and industries, through relationships with thousands of UK suppliers and business partners. 

    In 2011, Sky generated sales of ?6.4 billion and over 75 per cent of this revenue was retained in the UK.

    Sky?s direct contribution to GDP of ?2.2 billion is equivalent to around 40 per cent of the contribution made by the entire TV and radio creative sector in the UK.

    For every ?1 billion Sky contributes directly to GDP itself, it generates another ?1.4 billion in the rest of the economy through its purchase of goods and services and staff spending their wages.

    In 2011 Sky used 4,000 suppliers across the UK, including 645 independent suppliers in sports production and 110 independent producers in entertainment and the arts.

    "Sky?s footprint is UK wide and its contribution is felt in almost every part of the country," the report said.

    At the end 2011, Sky employed 22,800 people in the UK, more than half as many as the entire pharmaceuticals industry. This included 9,400 people in London, 6,430 in Scotland, and 1,560 in Yorkshire and Humberside.

    According to the report, 2,600 people are employed by Sky in producing and commissioning content. This is set to grow as Sky increases its investment in original British content to ?600 million by 2014. By the end of 2011, Sky had already increased its UK content spend to ?450 million a year.

    In the last three years, Sky has hired 3,800 young people (16 to 24 years), including nearly 300 graduate trainees and apprentices.

    Sky employs 800 engineers in software development and testing, representing 1 per cent of all people employed in the UK?s software development industry.

    In total Sky is estimated to support 118,600 jobs in the UK through its procurement of goods and services and consumer spending out of the wage income of its staff. This includes 1.2 per cent of all employment in London and 0.6% of all jobs in Scotland.

    The study also pointed out Sky?s contribution to tax revenues. These include:

    - In the financial year 2010/2011, Sky directly contributed a total of ?941 million to the Exchequer.

    - Of this, ?337 million came through corporation tax and business rates, with the balance collected on behalf of HM Treasury through employees? labour taxes and customers? VAT payments.

    - In total, Sky is estimated to support a ?2.3 billion contribution to tax revenues, including Sky?s procurement of inputs and direct and indirect staff spending is included. This is equivalent to ?36 for every person in the UK.

    Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch said, "We have grown rapidly since our business was established just over 20 years ago. Along the way we have taken risks, invested billions of pounds and been a driving force for innovation and change in our sector. As a result we have transformed UK consumers? experience of television and home communications, while generating significant returns for our shareholders and contributing positively to the UK economy as a whole.

    "This report from Oxford Economics measures and explains the scale of our economic impact for the first time. We hope that Sky?s story provides a good example of the important contribution that a successful British company can make, particularly at a time when economic growth is harder to come by. As we look ahead, our appetite to invest remains strong and we hope to contribute even more in the future."
     

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    Jeremy Darroch
  • News Corp?s split gains momentum with board approval

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 29
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Decks have been cleared for Rupert Murdoch?s global media empire to be split into two companies with the high growth media & entertainment business being separated from the sluggish publishing business.

    News Corporation?s Board authorised management to explore this separation after a Board meeting yesterday.

    The move, aimed at increasing operational flexibility, will see creation of two distinctly public trading companies which would allow News Corp shareholders to hold interests in a publishing company, consisting of publishing assets and a new digital education group, and a global media and entertainment company.

    Upon closing of the proposed transaction, Rupert Murdoch would serve as chairman of both companies and CEO of the media and entertainment company. Chase Carey would serve as President and COO of the media and entertainment company.

    Over the next several months, the company will assemble management teams and Boards of Directors for both businesses, News Corp said in a statement.

    Murdoch?s decision not to head the new publishing business has sparked speculation that he was setting the stage for the return of his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch to the company.

    The separation is expected to be completed in approximately 12 months. Management is developing detailed plans for the Board?s further consideration and final approval. To execute the transaction requires further work on structure, management, governance, and other significant matters.

    After receiving final approval of the Board of Directors, News Corporation will convene a special shareholder meeting to consider the transaction. This meeting is not expected to take place until the first half of calendar 2013.

    "There is much work to be done, but our Board and I believe that this new corporate structure we are pursuing would accelerate News Corporation?s businesses to grow to new heights, and enable each company and its divisions to recognize their full potential - and unlock even greater long-term shareholder value," said News Corporation Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch.

    "News Corporation?s 60-year heritage of developing world-class media brands has resulted in a large and unparalleled portfolio of diversified assets. We recognize that over the years, News Corporation?s broad collection of assets have become increasingly complex. We determined that creating this new structure would simplify operations and greater align strategic priorities, enabling each company to better deliver on our commitments to consumers across the globe.

    I am 100 percent committed to the future of both the publishing and media and entertainment businesses and, if the Board ultimately approves a separation, I would serve as Chairman of both companies."

    The proposed transaction would create global category leaders in both publishing and entertainment: a publishing company, which would consist of News Corporation?s newspapers and information businesses in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, the company?s leading book publishing brands, its integrated marketing services company, its digital education group, as well as its other assets in Australia; and a global media and entertainment company, which would encompass News Corporation?s broadcast and worldwide cable networks, leading film and television production studios, television stations and highly successful pay-TV businesses in Europe and India.

    The new global media and entertainment company would consist of News Corporation?s highly-profitable cable and television assets, filmed entertainment, and direct satellite broadcasting businesses, including Fox Broadcasting, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Fox Sports, Fox International Channels, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FX, Star, the National Geographic Channels, Shine Group, Fox Television Stations, BSkyB, Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland.

    The publishing company includes brands like Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, HarperCollins, The New York Post, and The Daily, as well as offer the rich diversity of assets in Australia, including leading brands such as The Australian, The Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph and The Courier Mail. In addition, the Company would include The Times, The Sun, The Sunday Times, as well as News Corporation?s integrated marketing services group and its ground-breaking digital education group, including Wireless Generation.

    Upon closing of the proposed transaction, News Corporation?s shareholders would receive one share of common stock in the new company for each same class News Corporation share currently held. Following the separation, each company would maintain two classes of common stock: Class A Common and Class B Common Voting Shares.

    In addition to shareholder approval, the completion of the separation will also be subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, opinions from tax counsel and favorable rulings from certain tax jurisdictions regarding the tax-free nature of the transaction to the Company and to its shareholders, further due diligence as appropriate, and the filing and effectiveness of appropriate filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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    Rupert Murdoch
  • News Corp to split biz into news and entertainment units

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 27
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Rupert Murdoch-controlled News Corporation has decided to split its business into two entities separating its film & television business from the publishing business.

    While most shareholders see the UK newspaper assets as a liability, Murdoch wants them.

    Investors had every reason to cheer as the film and television vertical contributes about 75 per cent of the company?s revenue overall while the publishing business was a drag on the conglomerates bottom line. News Corp?s film and television business includes Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, Star Television, Fox Broadcasting Company, BSkyB and 20th Century Fox.

    Publishing, including The Wall Street Journal, the Times of London, New York Post and Australian newspaper, accounts for about 18 per cent of News Corp?s operating income.

    ?News Corporation confirmed today that it is considering a restructuring to separate its business into two distinct publicly traded companies,? the company said in a brief statement without specifying any details.

    The announcement was hailed by investors with the company?s stock rising up 8.3 percent, to close at $21.76 Tuesday. During the day, the stock reached $21.89, its best performance in more than four and a half years.

    Business fundamentals apart, the Rupert Murdoch owned media and entertainment conglomerate was also concerned about the wider implications of the phone hacking scandal at the UK publishing subsidiary.

    The scandal had already led to the closure of News of the World besides, forcing News Corp to abort its takeover of profitable pay TV business BSkyB, where it holds 39 per cent ownership.

    British communications regulator Ofcom is in final stages of its review of whether News Corp deputy COO is "fit and proper" to hold a broadcast license.

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    Rupert Murdoch
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