A Fox-Time Warner deal would give Murdoch new heft in China

July 21, 2014 0
Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corporation, speaks during a panel discussion at the B20 meeting of company CEOs in Sydney

Rupert Murdoch’s plan to buy Time Warner would help the Twenty-First Century Fox chairman make larger inroads in China, a fast-growing market that media moguls are finding hard to crack. Time Warner’s board rejected Murdoch’s $80 billion offer, but the Fox chairman is expected to continue the chase. It would also nearly double the revenues Fox generates from the emerging media markets in Latin America and Asia/Pacific. “He sees 3 billion new consumers coming into the market and a rising middle class in China and India, and mobile devices and strong demand for content,” said Mario Gabelli, the CEO of GAMCO Investors, in an interview with Reuters Insider, “He’s going to be able to create Netflixes of his own.” Gabelli owns shares of both Fox and Time Warner.

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Israel fund to invest $55 mln in TV shows for sale abroad

July 21, 2014 0

By Tova Cohen TEL AVIV (Reuters) – The TV Format Fund aims to capitalise on the recent success of Israeli television shows such as spy thriller “Homeland” in Hollywood by investing in new formats created in Israel and selling them abroad. Founded six months ago by Alon Dolev and the Rubicon Business Group, the fund plans to invest $55 million, hoping to do for Israel’s small but active entertainment sector what venture capital funds have done for its high-tech industry. In Israel, when you have an idea for a television show you have very few options for funding,” Dolev, the fund’s chief executive, told Reuters. The only outlets in Israel to fund TV shows are commercial channels 2 and 10, Bezeq’s satellite TV provider YES and cable operator HOT, owned by French group Altice.

First Look Posters of ‘Khoobsurat’ Unveiled!

July 21, 2014 0

Recently, ‘Khoobsurat‘, the upcoming film of Sonam Kapoor, revealed a glimpse of it and now, the comic-drama has unleashed its brand new first look posters. These posters depict the film as a blend of love, family, comedy and a misfit combo. The movie features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who is entering bollywood.

The first poster shows Sonam and Fawad sharing a happy moment together and Sonam looks gorgeous in her fairytale outfit, while this poster shows the tagline “The Royal Romance”. The second poster displays Sonam’s mischievous and crazy mood. She is dressed in funky attire and flaunts a big smile on her face. The poster also features the lead actor Fawad Khan. The star cast of the film forms the backdrop of this poster. “The Royal Misfit” is the tagline on the second poster. The trailer of ‘Khoobsurat‘ is going to unveil at 2 pm online.

Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Anil Kapoor Film Company and helmed by Shashank Ghosh, the comic caper ‘Khoobsurat‘ also features Ratna Pathak, Kirron Kher and Prosenjit Chatterjee in key roles. The movie hits the theatres on September 19.

Saif Ali Khan to team up with Homi Adajania again

July 21, 2014 0

After working together in the films like ‘Being Cyrus‘ and ‘Cocktail‘, the actor-director duo Saif Ali Khan and Homi Adajania is once again going to team up for their next. As per the report, Saif Ali Khan will be star in Homi Adajania‘s upcoming comic love tale that is being scripted by the filmmaker now.

A close source revealed that Saif and Homi share a great working rapport and they were keen to come up with another flick after the success of ‘Cocktail‘. They are yet to finalise the female lead for the film and the deal is yet to lock in. Saif Ali Khan confirmed the news by mentioning that they are looking forward to starting the shoot of this comic caper in November in Australia. The actor also said that this will be an out and out comedy drama flick.

Disney India launches mobile app for ‘Kick’!

July 21, 2014 0

It’s almost every fans dream to live the character role of their favourite filmstar Salman Khan. But will it ever come true? Well, with the latest mobile app of action-thriller film ‘Kick‘ launched by Disney India, it’s possible now.

An exclusive ‘Kick‘ game designed to run on both feature phones as well as on smart phones, makes the player step in the role of “Devil” (Salman’s character in ‘Kick‘), where he has to loot the rich and corrupt people and use that money for a good cause. It has to be played in two phases, robbing and escaping. At once the player fulfils them; he is eligible for the next level.

Disney India Vice President Head, Sameer Ganapathy announced the ‘Kick‘ mobile app saying that in our country gaming on mobile phones and Bollywood are the top entertainment sources. Therefore, this app will extend the experience of movie to consumers in an interactive environment through a highly engaging game.

“Devil” actor Salman also gave the thumbs up to ‘Kick‘ app by quoting it as an exciting and easy to play app!

Disney India will be launching the ‘Kick‘ app along with the film’s release on July 25.

‘Finding Fanny’ all set to delight international viewers

July 21, 2014 0

The fan following of Bollywood actors have crossed the boundaries of our country. This has made director Homi Adajania to release his film ‘Finding Fanny‘ in Hindi and English version in India and across 40 territories around the world.

Finding Fanny‘ is dated to hit the Indian theatres on September 12, but the latest progression states that the film will also be making the rounds of non-diaspora theatres in the United States, Europe and far in East, three-four months after its September release.

The desi version of ‘Finding Fanny‘ will be edited by Sreekar Prasad, while its firangi version will chopped by renowned Hollywood editor Nick Moore to suit the taste of international audience. Nick Moore holds the record of editing ‘Notting Hill’, ‘About A Boy’ and the BAFTA nominated film ‘The Full Monty’.

A quirky misadventure ‘Finding Fanny‘ stars Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Pankaj Kapur for a fun-filled quest to find postman’s lost love in Goa.

‘Mary Kom’ Trailer to be out on July 24

July 21, 2014 0

Priyanka Chopra is all set to take the box office by storm and prove her versatility by playing the role of Indian boxing champion Mary Kom in her forthcoming film ‘Mary Kom‘. The actress has worked hard to step in the shoes of Mary Kom in this biopic. The film recently unveiled its first look posters and the teaser. Going by the latest news update, ‘Mary Kom‘ is going to unveil its much-awaited trailer on July 24.

July 24 will see Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Sanjay Leela Bhansali Films will officially unleash the trailer of ‘Mary Kom‘, reportedly. COO of Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, Ajit Andhare stated that they are overwhelmed to see the mammoth response bagged by the posters and teaser of ‘Mary Kom‘, which was titled as “Mary Kom Punch” by them. After the success of first-round, they are looking forward to the next-round and have titled the trailer as “Mary Kom Knock-out”.

The director Omung Kumar also expressed his happiness of getting such a huge response to ‘Mary Kom‘ first look. Kumar also revealed his excitement to unveil the trailer of the flick.

Mary Kom‘ hits the theatres on September 5.

Reactions to the death of James Garner

July 21, 2014 0

“Jim was a mentor to me and a friend, and I will miss him.” — Tom Selleck, who early in his career guest-starred on Garner’s series “The Rockford Files.”

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Paridhi Sharma's reasons for Jodha Akbar's success

July 20, 2014 0

The number one show on Zee TV Jodha Akbar (Balaji Telefilms) has been winning hearts across the globe. And the appreciation that the lead pair of this show gets from their fans validates this fact.

In fact, recently the lead actor of the show Paridhi Sharma was couriered a perfume bottle with a beautifully worded letter from a Jodha Akbar fan in the US.

Now such is the love that their global fans are showering upon them.

What are the things that have contributed to the show’s humongous popularity?