Summary Review: highlights from October 1 – 9

PAY TV

The news of the week FOX International Channels acquires Paramount stake in LAPTV, Latin America’s leading operator of  Premium Channels

FOX International Channels (FIC) today announced the purchase of Paramount Pictures share of LAPTV, bringing FIC’s ownership of the company to 100%. LAPTV is the leading operator of premium movie channels in Latin America. Paramount has also extended its long-term content output agreement with FOX International Channels…read more

TELENOVELAS

“LES MISERABLES” will be a telenovela in Spanish

International Telemundo announced at a press conference at MIPCOM 2013 in Cannes, France, which the recognized actress Aracely Arambula, will star in the new telenovela based in the great classic story of Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, to be produced by Telemundo in 2014. Valentina Parraga, the acclaimed writer responsible for the successful production of Telemundo, La Reina del Sur and La Patrona is in charge of the adaptation of this new production of Telemundo Studios…read more

TELENOVELAS

“To produce telenovelas in Bolivia?”… Of course yes. There are channels and audience!

The success of El Señor de los Cielos came to Bolivia. The stellar production of Telemundo last week through the Unitel channel in the 9pm schedule. The telenovela-series starring Rafael Amaya describes the life of Aurelio Casillas, the leader of a drug cartel in the 90’s which aims to dethrone Pablo Escobar and become the most powerful man in Mexico and the United States….read more

FILMS

The Spanish film industry – Recovering from death?

Within the framework of the latest San Sebastian Festival were revealed details of the Spanish film industry by the producers. And seemed more like an announcement festival on all types of contents and not a film festival. Poor in auspices, stars and contents. No more brightness from decades past. The good?: the denunciation of the situation and demanding Government for urgent measures to implement the new financing model and tax incentives, on thin ice despite the promises of a year ago. The numbers are devastating. José Antonio Félez himself, in charge of giving the bad news from the producers’ association, said:..read more

FILMS

DreamWorks Uncovers Need for Speed trailer

Based on the racing video game franchise the most successful of all time, which sold over 140 million copies, Need for Speed, the film will hit theaters in the spring of 2014. The film features the participation of TV star Aaron Paul, who is known for his role on the hit Emmy-winning series, Breaking Bad, who will be joined by actors Michael Keaton and Dakota Johnson…read more

PAY TV

DIRECTV offers 5,000 online titles

CONTENTS

MarVista in MipJr Entertainment in Cannes, France

The catalog of the independent producer and international distributor credits include “Julius Jr.”, “Digimon Fusion”, “Power Rangers Megaforce Megaforce & Cool”, “Nicky Deuce” and “1 Chance 2 Dance”. This is one of the leading independent producer and distributor of international programming based in Los Angeles…read more

APPOINTMENTS

Lionsgate named Faruk Alatan and Gabriella Ballabio as exclusive Sales Agents in Italy

The announcement was made by Peter Iacono, Managing Director of the company at international level. The executives will represent the current catalog of 30 television shows in 20 U.S. networks, along with new shows for the Italian market…read more

– People on low incomes will lead the growth of pay-TV services in the coming years. "There is an underserved market where no operator has been successful to sell services," said Jose Vielma, director of Grupo Hevi, which operates in Mexico under the trademark of Telecable. He explained that there are about 2, 520,000 TV households, equivalent to 18 percentage points of market share of national pay-TV, they are willing to pay, as operators have focused primarily on serving the high-end market.

– Cesar Diaz, Vice President of Sales of Venevision International said at MIPCOM, in Cannes, France this week that "a great project that we developed this year is the reality series ‘Todo por la Corona’. After promoting the brand and the beauty pageant ‘Miss Venezuela’ for so many years, we have made a reality on how the candidates get to participate in this event. Implementation of the program has also been a great project for Venevision and a great experience to be carried out jointly with Sony Entertainment Television".

– Peace Point Rights and RTL Netherlands announced an agreement at MIPCOM this week also and its about selling its bridal fashion reality series, "Keasha ‘s Perfect Dress" (14×30′), and “Keasha’s Fashion Tips" (21×2’) to be aired by RTL Lounge this fall.

– Tomas Yankelevich, global contents director at Telefe, joined his mother, the successful producer Cris Morena, CEO of CMG conducted a screening at MIPCOM (held in Cannes, France) on "Aliados" where, in addition to highlighting the production work and special effects they gave a talk on the revolutionary format, conceived under the cross-platform concept.

– Argentina will be the guest of honor of the Costa Rica-International Film Festival 2013 “Paz con la Tierra”, which will run from the 11th to the 19 of this month in the City of San Jose and will be attended by directors, producers and figures from around the world.