Archive for December 2nd, 2008

ITV, the U.K.’s biggest private terrestrial web, has tapped the BBC exec credited with nurturing the original version of global hit “Strictly Come Dancing” — known in the U.S. as “Dancing With the Stars.”Elaine Bedell, who will be ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy, also helped mastermind the success of motoring skein “Top Gear,” and is regarded as one of British TV’s most talented commissioning executives.

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Telemundo has signed two content-development deals with Hispanic marketing communications agency the Vidal Partnership targeting Hispanics ages 18-34.

The deals include production integrations across three screens for Telemundo’s reality show “Letra y Musica” (Music & Lyrics) and the telenovela “Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso” (Without Breasts There Is No Paradise).

The integration partnerships will place mobile, broadcast and digital content from the agency’s leading clients within the two shows.

Viewers also will be directed to www.telemundo.com to vote on the direction of the telenovela’s storyline through on-air mobile and Web drivers. Read the rest of this entry »

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Attention shoppers: Nutrition tips from Rachael Ray in the produce aisle.

Tapping the growing segment of out-of-home media, the perky TV personality’s cooking magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, is giving airtime on flat-screen TVs in supermarkets to print advertisers like Tylenol and Eggo who make a minimum page commitment.

For two clients, Kraft and the Almond Board, the magazine created 30-second vignettes featuring Rachael Ray pals who prominently showcase the products. In one, restaurateur Nikki Cascone will use Kraft products like Nilla Wafers and Cool Whip to make tiramisu, while in another, nutritionist Stacey Antine will concoct an almond treat for the holidays. The vignettes will end with a shot of the magazine cover and the tagline, “Brought to you by Every Day with Rachael Ray.” They’ll air for one week in December in the produce aisles of Albertsons stores across the country.

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BET Networks, the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and consumers ofBlack culture worldwide, announced today that it has partnered withPlayPhone, Inc. (www.playphone.com), operator of the largest network ofglobal mobile entertainment destinations, to build and manage its mobileentertainment and personalization business. The new BET Mobile destination (http://mobile.bet.com) powered by PlayPhoneis a place where fans of BET programming can download new and exclusivemobile content directly to their mobile phones. The service is accessibleon the Web or WAP deck (wap.bet.com) and is also easy to access from morethan 2,000 wireless devices across all major North American wirelessnetworks.

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Mobile internet use in the United Kingdom is growing while the number of people going online via a PC is slowing, analyst firm Nielsen Online has found. Some 7.3 million people accessed the net via their mobile phones, during the second and third quarters of 2008. This is an increase of 25% compared to a growth of just 3% for the PC-based net audience — now more than 35 million.

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Russian exhibition promises to remain a money spinner for Hollywood blockbusters, despite the threat of global recession, Paramount Pictures Intl. senior VP Europe, Mark Viane, told industry professionals at Moscow’s 76th international cinema market late Monday.Viane, who is responsible for distribution in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said that this year had been Paramount’s best ever in Russia, taking just under $112 million at the box office, including more than $41 million alone for “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.”

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By iTVX Staff

A Subway endorsement,  a guest spot on Entourage, and hosting duties on Saturday Night Live. Apparently that’s not enough for Michael Phelps. The Olympic champion has been named - to little surprise - “Sportsman of the Year” from Sports Illustrated. The 23 year old took home a record eight gold medals - breaking Mark Spitz 1972 record.

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By iTVX Staff

Disney’s Bolt hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations at the box office (that could still change since animated fare seem to have legs around the holidays), but one aspect of the film is a clear cut winner. That is product placement. The film subtly includes a laptop with the Apple insignia on it. Including an animated MacBook in a seamless way is always a good thing considering in various other examples of product placement the Apple lap tops are always excessively front and center.

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Film trio “Ballast,” “Frozen River” and “Rachel Getting Married” led the field with six nominations each at the 2009 Film Independent’s 24th Annual Spirit Awards. All three are in the running for best feature, best director and best female lead for actresses Anne Hathaway, Melissa Leo and Tarra Riggs.

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Quantum Of Solace star Jeffrey Wright has developed an obsession for Cadillac cars after driving one throughout new movie Cadillac Records.

The actor, who plays 007 informer Felix Leiter in the new Bond movie, admits it pained him to hand over the keys to the rented vehicle he drives in the film about the birth of R+B label Chess Records.

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