All articles by Patrick Frater – Page 71
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Vodafone, Mannesmann deal rewrites media rules
With the Vodafone Airtouch merger with Mannesmann overtaking AOL's previous record-breaking takeover of Time Warner, investment bankers are rubbing their hands with glee. Media moguls and sector analysts, however, are looking for synergies between the two monster communications combines.While yesterday's $179bn (Euro181bn) Vodafone takeover of Mannesmann, is on the surface ...
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Bombo acquires Panorama title Shadow Boxers
Bombo Sports & Entertainment has picked up world sales rights to feature-length documentary Shadow Boxers, which is screening in the Panorama section of the Berlin film festival.The picture takes an insider's approach to the murky world of women's boxing, following world champion Lucia Rijker. It was voted best first feature ...
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European Commission seeks tax on internet movies
The European Commission (EC) is specifically targeting media products as it seeks to extend its tax net to goods sold on the Internet. The proposals, which will be detailed in the next two months, focus on virtual goods such as music, software and, by implication, streamed or downloadable film content. ...
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Brussels loses FIAPF status
The recently-wrapped Brussels International Film Festival has been stripped of its approved status, by the Paris-based International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF). FIAPF said that the Brussels IFF, which specialises in films from the European Union, had lost its accredited status as a result of its use of cassette ...
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Canal Plus reports 16% turnover increase
Canal Plus, the European pay-TV giant which has seen its shares more than double since November, reported 1999 turnover up by 16%.Driven by its international businesses and film division Le Studio Canal Plus, the group saw revenues for its majority owned operations hit $3.33bn (euro3.29bn), up from $2.78 in the ...
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Lucas adds Sega to games franchise
George Lucas' games company LucasArts Entertainment is to produce a series of games for the Sega Dreamcast platform. First off will be Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer, a game derived from the pod race sequence in The Phantom Menace, which is already available for PC and Nintendo. The Sega version ...
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Sony, Starz Encore unveil multimedia tie-up
In a wide ranging tie-up with Starz Encore Media, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has made one of the most dramatic moves by any studio to push its content into new on-line media.The deal which begins in 2005 spans more than 200 current feature films from the Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems ...
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Tele Images to back Gaumont Television buyout
French production and TV sales operation Tele Images International is to back the buyout of GTV from integrated French major Gaumont.Tele Images founder Simone Halberstadt Harari and Christian Charret, chief executive of GTV (formerly known as Gaumont Television), have jointly bought out Gaumont's remaining equity interest in GTV. The two ...
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NATPE 2000: DOTCOMS TAKE CENTRE STAGE
NATPE organisers said that despite bad weather delays, attendance at the New Orleans programme market exceeded last year - 17,520 had checked in after two days. But it was unclear whether record amounts of sales were being conducted.NATPE chairman Bruce Johansen said that the number of programme acquisition executives from ...
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Cologne Conference to host programming market
North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), the region which likes to think of itself as the electronic capital of Germany, yesterday unveiled details of plans for the Cologne Screenings (June 4-7), a new programming market to be held during the Cologne Conference.The Cologne Screenings confirmed international participation from Pearson, Granada and the ...
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Wiser to drive Modern Times int'l expansion
MTG Media Properties, part of Sweden's Modern Times Group conglomerate, has upped its international expansion drive by appointing Michael Wiser as its new chairman and CEO.Under Wiser, MTG Media is expected to increase its acquisition of contemporary English-language films and to buy companies involved in distribution, production and film library ...
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Video Networks boosts film slate with studio deals
Video Networks, the UK company that operates video-on-demand (VoD) service Homechoice, has struck feature film deals with Buena Vista International Television and Columbia TriStar International Television.Pictures covered in the deal include foreign-language Oscar-winner Life Is Beautiful, Central Station and The Waterboy. The new contracts lift Homechoice's film slate to ...
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NATPE: ONDA set to march to different drummer
ONDA Digital is a broadcaster that wants to do things differently. And in doing so it is likely to bring a sigh of relief to film sellers who have recently seen prices plateau.But, as the operator of only the second digital terrestrial television network in Europe after the UK's ONdigital, ...
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MGM wins back German pay-TV rights
MGM has regained further control of its extensive film library by renegotiating a deal with Degeto, the rights trading associate of German public channel ARD. Titles returning to MGM include Raging Bull, Moonstruck and Midnight Cowboy, as well as some Rocky and Pink Panther pictures.The new deal sees MGM able ...
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NATPE: Film Co expands slate with Palm Pictures
UK sales and finance boutique The Film Co has picked up international sales duties to a package of films from Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures. The five Lady Ninja pictures are produced by Japan's Tohokushinsha Film Corp and were financed by Palm. Palm will retain US rights for distribution through its ...
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NATPE: Beresford boards Coote/Hayes' Fatal Shore
Coote/Hayes Productions has added two high-profile TV movies to its expanding slate of film and TV productions and has confirmed Bruce Beresford as director of its four-hour miniseries The Fatal Shore.Jeffrey Hayes, Coote/Hayes Prods co-founder, revealed that the firm has optioned Bio Hazard, a novel written by Russian scientist Ken ...
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NATPE: Carlton picks up world rights to Wilderness
Carlton America has picked up worldwide distribution rights to Wilderness Love, a TV movie which stars Valerie Bertinelli.The picture to be produced by Grossbart/Barnett Productions in association with Carlton America, will get its US premiere on CBS later this year. The story is about three children who rekindle love between ...
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Beyond ups Fletcher to head distribution
Richard Fletcher has been confirmed as the new distribution manager for Beyond Films, the theatrical releasing arm of the diversified Australian film and TV group that is best known as a sales agent.The role sees Fletcher manage all distribution activities in Australia and New Zealand and take responsibility for the ...
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Belgian industry to hold UK showcase
Belgium's sometime divided film communities are teaming up in an effort to win over the British public and UK distributors. They are taking over London's Curzon Soho cinema to hold a week-long (Mar 30-Apr 5) showcase of modern Belgian films under the banner United Tastes Of Belgium. The event is ...
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Screen siren dies
Sexpot screen goddess Hedy Lamarr died yesterday aged 86. Frequently billed as "the world's most beautiful woman," she made a career of provocative roles and starred in hits including Samson & Delilah, Tortilla Flat and White Cargo. Although she had all but retreated from the screen by the 1960s her ...