Mumbai: Empire Film Group has announced production commitments and financing for seven feature films or original projects scheduled for 2008 with a collective cost of more than $20 million. The production slate ranges from...
Read More
PepsiCo Slice finds first brand ambassador in Katrina Kaif
Mumbai: Where all actors are busy jumping onto the cola-endorsing wagon, Katrina Kaif has signed on to be the brand ambassador for PepsiCo India’s mango drink Slice. With this endorsement, Kaif becomes not just...
Read More
Great Debaters writers to receive Paul Selvin Award
Mumbai: Screenwriter Robert Eisele and his story collaborator Jeffrey Porro are slated to receive the Writers Guild of America, West’s prestigious 2008 Paul Selvin Award, celebrating written work that embodies the spirit of constitutional...
Read More
EA, Starz Media to produce animated dead space movie
Mumbai: Electronic Arts and Starz Media announced the development of an animated movie prequel to the highly anticipated sci-fi survival horror game Dead Space. The companies also have animation projects in development for two...
Read More
CST installs Kodak Digital Cinema in Paris theatre
Mumbai: The Commission Superieure Technique (CST), the French organization charged with evaluating new systems for television and the cinema, has purchased a Kodak Theatre Management System (TMS) as well as a Kodak Content Player...
Read More
Cinthol re-launched with Hrithik as ambassador
Mumbai: Superstar Hrithik Roshan will now be seen promoting the new Cinthol range of soaps, deos and talcs. Being the flagship brand of Godrej Consumer Products Ltd., Cinthol is all set to re-establish itself...
Read More
Jannat’s music topping the charts & mobile
Mumbai: The recently launched music album Jannat, composed by Pritam, has been topping music charts only three weeks since its release in the Indian market. Its lead track Zara Sa is also the hottest...
Read More
R-ADAG’s BIG Pictures to launch formally with 30+ films
Businessofcinema.com is privy to BIG Pictures' line-up of more than 30 films that will release over the next two - three years. EXCLUSIVE!!...
Read More
Time Broadband, Stanton ink IPTV JV for mobile platform
Time Broadband Services & Stanton Technologies launched internet protocol television over 2.5G mobile platform....
Read More
DivX launches in-car entertainment device
Mumbai: Digital media company DIVX announced that over 200 in-car and in-dash media device models from a variety of manufacturers have received DivX Certification. Thanks to the superior technology of the DivX format, consumers...
Read More
Award-winning writer Raymond Goldstone passes away
Mumbai: Award-winning television writer Raymond E. Goldstone, a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America, West, has died at the age of 88. Best-known for contributing his writing talents to several popular daytime...
Read More
Schwartz to head DreamWorks Animation development
Mumbai: DreamWorks Animation SKG has named Alex Schwartz as head of development filling the position vacated by Kristine Belson, who will produce the studio’s upcoming feature film with the working title Crood Awakening. Schwartz...
Read More
Nadiadwala and Sajid Khan’s next titled Housefull
Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone and Ritesh Deshmukh sign on Nadiadwala's and Sajid Khan's next film....
Read More
Hanuman Returns wins Best Animation Feature Film
Mumbai: Animation is getting bigger and better in India and to celebrate this, Tech 2 and Arena Animation in association with Aptech and CNBC 18 held the Golden Cursor Animation Awards on 20 March,...
Read More
Walt Disney confirms plans for store chain in NA
Mumbai: The Walt Disney Company confirmed that it is in advanced discussions with The Children’s Place Retail Stores to explore terms under which Disney might acquire ownership of a portion of the Disney Store...
Read More
Nickelodeon/MTVN to launch 3 new mobile websites
Mumbai: Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group announced the launch of three new mobile websites that provide easily accessible information and resources to audiences on wireless devices through branded content from Nickelodeon, The N and...
Read More
Kailash Kher sings the ICL Anthem
Mumbai: The Indian Cricket League (ICL) has an ace up its sleeve with the launch of its anthem song Dil Pe Le Liya Re, sung by none other than Sufi sensation Kailash Kher. Delighted...
Read More
Flirt with Zayed on MTV’s License to Flirt show
Mumbai: MTV, together with White Mischief, aims to present solutions to all of one’s dating problems, White Mischief & MTV License 2 Flirt, an innovative, fun and buoyant idea of flirting. It provides the...
Read More
Tata Elxsi joins as member of MoCA
Mumbai: Tata Elxsi has joined as a member of the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA). Tata and MoCA are aligned in their viewpoint and approach toward the delivery of video in the home and...
Read More
Yet another item number for Rakhi
Mumbai: After the hit item song for Rakesh Roshan’s Krazzy 4, Rakhi Sawant has been roped for yet another item number for Vikram Bhatt’s horror flick 1920, produced by Surendra Sharma of ASA Films...
Read More
Kodak enters NA market as D-Cinema facilitator
Mumbai: Eastman Kodak has signed up two mid-sized cinema operators in the US market for entire circuit-wide conversion of their screens to digital. The first major signing was Santikos Theatres with 126 screens in...
Read More
i9 Sports teams with Walt Disney for sportsgear
Mumbai: i9 Sports Corporation, a franchisor of youth sports leagues, camps, and programs, announces a brand new collaboration with entertainment icon, Walt Disney Pictures. Entitled The Ticket to Narnia, this special promotion from i9...
Read More
Mark Burnett will be EP for MTV Movie Awards
Mumbai: MTV has announced that revolutionary Emmy Award winning producer Mark Burnett will return as executive producer for the 2008 MTV Movie Awards for the second year in a row. The 2007 MTV Movie...
Read More
Wolfgang to direct for Columbia and Red Wagon
Mumbai: Academy Award-nominated director Wolfgang Petersen, who previously teamed with Columbia Pictures on such hit films as Das Boot, In the Line of Fire and Air Force One, will helm the new science fiction...
Read More
Sony Digital provides marketing tools to cinemas
Mumbai: Sony Electronics has formed a new integrated business group that will provide movie theater owners with a variety of tools to support the sales and marketing of 4K CineAlta digital projection systems in...
Read More
Media biggies to share their views at MIPTV
Mumbai: Three social media leaders will keynote at MIPTV on 10 April when the spotlight will be focused on social networking– MySpace/Fox Interactive Media managing director, international Travis Katz, BEBO president Joanna Shields, and...
Read More
2 Minutes
Adlabs, Harry Baweja unveil sci-fi look of Love Story 2050
Adlabs and Baweja Movies unveiled the first look of Love Story 2050 starring debutant Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra. The movie is slated to release later this year....
Read More
Cinemax ties-up with i-mint for loyalty programme
Cinemax has tied up with i-mint, the national loyalty and rewards program to offer movie-goers and i-mint card holders to earn points at its properties....
Read More
Sony Pictures offers to acquire 2waytraffic
Mumbai: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is making an offer to acquire all issued shares of the Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic. The offer from SPE is to acquire 2waytraffic for an initial cash consideration of...
Read More
India TV’s Syedain Zaidi joins Lehren Entertainment
India TV chief of bureau – Maharashtra Zaidi has joined Lehren Entertainment as head of news and operations; channel to launch in mid-April....
Read More
NDS commits convergence at 16th Convergence India
Mumbai: NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, announced that at the 16th Convergence India event, it will showcase a full range of solutions geared to help TV service providers enable...
Read More
UTV casts Sonu Sood opposite Soha in Dhoondte Rehe Jaoge
MUMBAI: After Jodhaa Akbar, UTV has now cast actor Sonu Sood in its next film Dhoondte Rehe Jaoge. Sood will be seen opposite Soha Ali Khan. The film also stars Paresh Rawal and will...
Read More
Nokia launches Mobile Filmmaking Awards for Pangea Day
Mumbai: Nokia is inviting everyone to enter the 2008 Nokia Mobile Filmmaking Awards by creating and submitting their short videos to be considered for inclusion in the first Pangea Day broadcast event on 10...
Read More
China’s games market to exceed $3 bn: Pearl Research
Mumbai: Pearl Research forecasts the online games market in China will exceed $3 billion in 2010. The market grew more than 60% to reach $1.66 billion in 2007. These findings are contained in Pearl...
Read More
Toby Emmerich is president, COO New Line Cinema
Mumbai: Toby Emmerich has been named President and COO New Line Cinema and will lead its reorganization to become a stand-alone production entity as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment, it was announced by Warner...
Read More
EFG in $2 mn advertising pact With Tradewell
Mumbai: Empire Film Group (EFG) has entered into an agreement with Tradewell Media of New York for the placement of more than $2 million of media advertising in support of the 18 July theatrical...
Read More
Hollywood loses writer/director Minghella in his prime
Mumbai: Writer/director Anthony Minghella died in London on 18 March. He died of brain haemorrhage at the age 54, arguably, the prime of his career. His latest movie as writer, The No. 1 ladies...
Read More
Race autographed CDs on auction on eBay India
Mumbai: Tips Industries and eBay India present a unique opportunity to Bollywood fans across the globe in the form of ten autographed music CDs of the movie Race. These movie collectibles, personally autographed by...
Read More
LG launches world’s fastest Blu-ray writer
Mumbai: LG Electronics, a leader in optical drives for the past nine consecutive years, announced the launch of the world’s fastest Blu-ray writer. The LG Blue Ray Writer has India’s fastest BD writing speed...
Read More
Seventymm ties up with Palador Pictures
Mumbai: India’s largest movie rental company Seventymm has tied up with Palador Pictures to enrich its portfolio by adding world films made by renowned directors like Akira Kurosawa, Francois Truffaut and Wong-Kar Wai. Works...
Read More
Race to have highest screenings in India: UTV
Mumbai: Tips Industries’ Race, being distributed by UTV, will have the highest number of shows ever screened in India with 3600 shows per day in multiplexes. Starring Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu,...
Read More
BIG Music acquires rights for 2 Kannada films
MUMBAI: BIG Music and Home Entertainment has acquired the music rights for two Kannada films – Minchina Ota and Bandhu Ballaga. While the music of Minchina Ota has been given by V Manohar, Hamsalekha...
Read More
7Seas ropes in Neetu Chandra for 3D Mobile game
Mumbai: 7Seas Technologies Limited, an independent games development company based out of Hyderabad, has signed an agreement with model-turned-Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra to develop a first-of-its-kind 3D mobile game. "Under the agreement, 7Seas Technologies...
Read More
VCU French Film Festival announced
Mumbai: The 16th annual Virginia Commonwealth University French Film Festival will be held from 28 – 30 March at the historic Byrd Theatre in Richmond. It will present an unparalleled selection of feature films...
Read More
Limewire launches its BETA DRM-free music store
Mumbai: Six Months after the announcement of a legitimate music downloading system, Limewire has finally launched its new store. Although still in BETA stage, the makers of Limewire claim to add thousands of songs...
Read More
BIG Music content, A&R head Hemwani quits
Mumbai: Big Music head of content and A&R (Artiste and Repertoire) Rajeeta Hemwani has put in her papers, after a brief stint of nine months. Prior to Big, Hemwani worked with Times Music for...
Read More
ODM to revolutionise video retail; can to generate $1.1 bn by 2012
MUMBAI: Screen Digest’s latest report titled On-demand media: Re-inventing the retail business model, examines the market for on-demand media (ODM). The research assesses the potential of this emerging market to revolutionise both how people...
Read More
Percept to release Vishesh Films’ Jannat on 2 May
Percept Picture Company has joined hands with Vishesh Films for the distribution of Emraan Hasmi starrer Jannat, which will be released worldwide on 2 May....
Read More
Disney Channel Original Movie to be produced in India
MUMBAI: The shoot of Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) ‘The Cheetah Girls One World’ will be shot completely in Udaipur, Rajasthan. To be shot completely in the Indian setting, the sequel continues the story...
Read More
Govt. allots Rs 150 million for DD’s Urdu channel
MUMBAI: The government has alloted a sum of Rs 150 million (Rs 15 crores) for Doordarshan’s Urdu channel for 2007-08. Twenty one people, who know Urdu, have been given contract jobs in this channel....
Read More
Pyramid Saimira enters China; inks JV with Longzhe Group
Pyramid Saimira Theatre has entered the Chinese market. The company also inked a joint venture agreement with Longzhe Group....
Read More
DQ Entertainment & PNC ink $50 million MoU for 6 movies
DQ & PNC to co-develop and co-produce six movies with PNC over the next 3-4 years, with an estimated total global budget of approximately $ 45-50 million....
Read More
Race to release with 1250 prints; ropes in two brands
On 21 March Race will release with 1250 prints worldwide, with approximately 250 prints overseas and 1000 prints in India including digital....
Read More
Compact Disc, WhiteLight Ent to produce $ 30 million film
Compact Disc India has joined hands with WhiteLight Entertainment to produce a $ 30 million movie titled Playing with the Enemy....
Read More
T-Series files FIR against director Ram Gopal Varma
On 18 March, T-Series lodged an FIR against Ram Gopal Varma in the Noida Court; charges include criminal breach of trust, extortion, fraud, conspiracy and cheating....
Read More
IFTA president Prewitt disagrees with MPAA’s Glickman
Mumbai: Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) president-CEO Jean Prewitt expressed astonishment at MPAA chairman-CEO Dan Glickman’s remarks regarding net neutrality. In his letter Prewitt said, "The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) was...
Read More
Paramount contacts Hindu leader Zed about Love Guru
Mumbai: Paramount Pictures, presenters of upcoming Hollywood movie The Love Guru, has made contact with prominent Hindu leader Rajan Zed after he demanded that it be shown to Hindu representatives prior to release. ...
Read More
Ken Ehrlich is Primetime Emmy EP yet again
Mumbai: Veteran television producer Ken Ehrlich (The Grammy Awards) will return as Executive Producer of the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards for the fourth consecutive year. The Primetime Emmys will be broadcast live on 21...
Read More
Jodhaa Akbar grosses Rs 1.20 billion worldwide in 31 days
Movie grosses Rs 1.20 million worldwide; of this, Rs 900 million is from India and Rs 300 million from the overseas box office....
Read More
Baghban holi song in BR serial
Mumbai: Awadh Mein Holi Khelein Raghuveera, the famous song from the BR Films hit Baghban has now been shot for BR TV’s new serial on Star One Pari Hoon Main. The song has been...
Read More
Monsoon Ads launches online ad, aggregation platform
Mumbai: Monsoon Ads, an aggregator of online display and contextual advertising for India, announced the launch of its online video advertising and aggregation platform. Monsoon Ads also announced an agreement to power online advertising...
Read More
The Mist online game at Blockbuster.Com
Mumbai: Blockbuster has launched a free online game inspired by the Stephen King film The Mist at its website http://www.blockbuster.com. The game pits players against the predatory Mist creatures from the movie and highlights...
Read More
Big plans for Big 92.7 this Holi
Mumbai: Big 92.7 FM is gearing up for Holi with its on-air and off-air initiatives planned for listeners across all stations. Big vice president programming Manav Dhanda said, "Holi is a time for celebration...
Read More
Om Shanti Om, Secret Sunshine honored at Asian Film Awards
Mumbai: In a star-studded celebration ceremony officiated by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) secretary for commerce and economic development Frederick Ma, the 2nd Asian Film Awards (AFA) presented their awards tonight at the...
Read More
Thomson Foundation launches Pune Film Treasures Fest
Thomson Foundation for Film & TV Heritage launched the Pune Film Treasures Festival, a four-day cinema event to be held at National Film Archive of India....
Read More
Govt considering revision of FDI limit for broadcast sector
MUMBAI: The Government is considering revising the foreign direct investment (FDI) limits in various subsectors of Broadcasting. In the keynote address at CASBAA India Satellite Forum, Secretary (I&B) Asha Swarup said, "We are of...
Read More
Govt to take action against surrogate advertising
MUMBAI: The Government is planning to take action against tobacco and liquor companies indulging in ‘surrogate’ advertising in print, electronic and outdoor media. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has recently issued a Notification...
Read More
Samir Karnik’s films go for National Awards, Cannes Film Fest
Mumbai: Managing a hatrick of sorts, Samir Karnik’s all three movies are competing for awards of some kind or another. Nanhe Jaisalmer (2006) has been sent as a nominee for the National Awards and...
Read More
UTV earmarks Rs 300 million for Hindi movie channel
<span>UTV has announced the launch of its new Hindi movie channel UTV Movies. UTV will be pumping in approximately Rs 300 million for marketing and promotion.</span>...
Read More
Dawsen Infotech readying animation film on Shakuntala
Kolkata based Dawsen Infotech is readying an animation movie based on Kalidas' play on Shakuntala. The film will be directed by VC Bhalotia....
Read More
Warner, Vodafone tie up for Hard Candy content
Mumbai: Mobile operator Vodafone and Warner Music International (WMI) have completed an agreement allowing new music and mobile content from Madonna’s highly anticipated new Hard Candy album to be distributed and promoted exclusively to...
Read More
Marvel Studios deals with FX for cable distribution
Mumbai: Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, has entered into its first basic cable distribution relationship for its self-produced movies through an agreement with FX. Under the terms of the five-picture deal, Marvel...
Read More
TVN, Film Movement deal for Film Festival On Demand
Mumbai: Television on demand company TVN Entertainment and North American distributor of award-winning independent films Film Movement, announced a multi-year deal under which TVN is distributing Film Festival On Demand, Film Movement’s VOD platform...
Read More
MyStarU’s Pye-Dog earns 4 nominations at HK awards
Mumbai: MyStarU.com announced that its subsidiary’s The Pye-Dog, a joint investment film in Hong Kong, has earned four nominations at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards. "MyStarU has been partnering with All in One Media...
Read More
Unprecedented growth for video game advertising: eMarketer
Mumbai: Buoyed by a vibrant video game industry that is enjoying unprecedented growth, eMarketer projects that US in-game advertising spending will increase from $295 million in 2007 to $650 million in 2012. The Video...
Read More
BigFlicks teams with Raj Television for VOD
<span>BigFlicks announces alliance with Raj Television Network Productions (RTN) for its video-on-demand (VOD) division, <a href="http://www.broadband.bigflicks.com/">www.broadband.bigflicks.com</a>. </span>...
Read More
RAPA Awards nominations extended to 5 April
Mumbai: The Radio and TV Advertising Practitioners Association of India (RAPA), which honors outstanding creative work in the radio and television field, has extended the deadline for submitting nominations for the 33rd All India...
Read More
Warner brings Batman Begins on Blu-ray hi-def
Mumbai: Batman Begins catapults into the high definition age on 8 July with the Blu-ray hi-definition release from Warner Home Video. Batman Begins has already been well received in high definition as the HD...
Read More
Image Ent picks Sony DADC for Blu-ray releases
Mumbai: Image Entertainment, a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, announced that it has selected Sony DADC for authoring and compression of the company’s continuing output of...
Read More
Skyy Spirits inks promotional deal with New Line
Mumbai: Skyy Spirits, marketer and distributor of luxury spirits brands in North America, announced a comprehensive marketing deal with New Line Cinema to serve as the official spirits sponsor and promotional partner for the...
Read More
Yash Raj Films gears up to release five movies in 2008
Yash Raj Films announces five releases for 2008 from different genres, with a variety of star cast....
Read More
Shemaroo to release Shilpa Shetty’s yoga DVD
Mumbai: Shilpa Shetty’s fitness DVD Shilpa’s Yoga emerged a sell-out in the European markets last month, beating other fast-selling workout videos of fitness specialists Davina McCall, Samanda, Erin Boag, Karen Hardy, Rebecca Wheatley, Nell...
Read More
Jalees Sherwani is new president of Indian Film Writers Association
Jalees Sherwani tells Businessofcinema.com about the new plans in store at the Indian Film Writers Association....
Read More
UK Film Council’s £1.88 mn lottery for Edinburgh festival
Mumbai: The UK Film Council announced a £1.88 million Lottery funding for the Edinburgh International Film Festival over the next three years. It’s the single biggest investment by the UK Film Council in a film...
Read More
Sanjay Gupta to direct Vijay Mallya’s IPL film
Vijay Mallya, Rediff and Sanjay Gupta have joined hands to create an AD film for Mallaya's IPL team Grand Royal Challengers....
Read More
John Pleasants named president, COO at EA
Mumbai: Electronic Arts announced the appointment of John Pleasants as President, Global Publishing and Chief Operating Officer of EA. In this role, Pleasants will lead EA’s global publishing organization, corporate communications and government affairs,...
Read More
Sun TV launches FM at Allahabad, Jabalpur
Mumbai: Sun TV Network Ltd has launched its FM radio stations at Allahabad and Jabalpur under the brand S FM from 18 – 19 March respectively, through its subsidiary South Asia FM Ltd. These...
Read More
Toonz Animation begins work on Santa Claus animation film
Toonz Animation has commenced work on an international animation movie Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, which is being made on a budget of $ 15 million....
Read More
UK Film Council looks to trade with China, HK
Mumbai: The UK Film Council is backing 11 British film businesses looking to build their trading links with China, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia through participating in Asia’s biggest film and TV...
Read More
1 Minute
Amitabh Bachchan unveils first look of Bhoothnath
Mumbai: The cast and crew of B R Films’ forthcoming film Bhoothnath came together on Saturday evening to unveil the look of the film and of Bachchan’s character in the film. In Bhoothnath, Bachchan...
Read More
Eros International releases Rakesh Roshan’s Krazzy 4
Mumbai: Eros International has announced the release of Krazzy 4, produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Jaideep Sen. Talking about the film, Roshan commented, "The idea for this story came to me almost...
Read More
Jackie Chan to release Dasavatharam’s audio
The audio of Kamal Haasan's upcoming movie Dasavatharam, where he portrays 10 different roles, will be released by Jackie Chan on 2 April in India....
Read More
Brazilian model Maria shoots club song for Hijack
MUMBAI: Ad film director Kunal Shivdasani’s debut feature film Hijack is nearing completion as the director is filming the last club song for the film with a Brazilian model Maria. The film stars Shiney...
Read More
Adlabs to upgrade to Cinema Park format
MUMBAI: After getting the IMAX technology in India, Adlabs Cinemas has now partnered with the worldwide Cinema Park Network to pioneer the multi-sensory cinema experience in India. The main aim of a Cinema-Park is...
Read More
Virtual Valley Studios looks to release animation film in 09-10
Greeva - Return Of The Lost Hero targetting release in late 2009 or early 2010; revolves around modern day fantasy with a touch of mythology....
Read More
Music Review: Race
Film: Race Director: Abbas Mastan Producer: Tips Music Director: Pritam Chakravarthy Lyrics: Sameer Rating: 3/5 Pritam Chakravarthy has been stirring some great music for the industry this last year. He creates a soundtrack that...
Read More
3 Minutes
‘I felt validated when I signed a film with Yash Raj’ – Minissha Lamba
The damsel embarked on her filmi career with the critically-acclaimed movie Yahaan. She was later seen in Corporate, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and a couple more. However, one hasn’t seen much of her so...
Read More
Sony Computer launches Singstar Bollywood with PS2
Mumbai: Sony Computer Entertainment has launched its Singstar Bollywood bundle along with a PS2. Singstar Bollywood is a fantastic way to enjoy social gaming with family and friends. The PS2, along with Singstar Bollywood,...
Read More
Deohans, Prime Focus work for ‘real’ look of Jodhaa Akbar
Together with cinematographer Kiran Deohans and Prime Focus' DI supervisor Rohan Desai, Gowariker created a historic atmosphere for his movie....
Read More
DreamWorks lines up cast for Monsters vs. Aliens
Mumbai: DreamWorks Animation SKG and Paramount Pictures announced its talented line-up for DreamWorks Animation’s Monsters vs. Aliens, the studio’s first film produced in Ultimate 3-D technology. Monsters vs. Aliens, which is slated for a...
Read More