Monday, 1 December 2008
The Hutton inquiry
The Hutton Inquiry was a British judicial inquiry chaired by Lord Hutton, appointed by the United Kingdom Labour government with the terms of reference "...urgently to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly". On 18 July 2003, Kelly, an employee of the Ministry of Defence, was found dead after he had been named as the source of quotes used by BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan. These quotes had formed the basis of media reports claiming that Tony Blair's Labour government had knowingly "sexed up" the "September Dossier", a report into Iraq and weapons of mass destruction. The inquiry opened in August 2003 and reported on 28 January 2004. The inquiry report cleared the government of wrongdoing, while the BBC was strongly criticised, leading to the resignation of the BBC's chairman and director-general. The report was met with widespread scepticism by the British press.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Globalisation
Viacom- Bet networks (BET, BET J)
MTV networks (atomfilms, addicting games, logo, MTV, MTV2, comedy central, game trailers, noggin, VH1)
Background: In 2005, the previous company announced plans of spreading the company into two publically traded companies. In june 2005, Viacom announced its purchase of Neopets, a virtual pet website. That December, Paramount announced it would acquire DreamWorks. On february 1st 2006, Paramount completed its long-awaited acquisition of DreamWorks. As of April 24, Viacom has obtained Xfire. In August, just hours before announcing its most recent quarterly earnings, Viacom announced that it had acquired Atom Entertainment for $200 million. In September, Viacom acquired game developer Harmonix for $175 million dollars.
Paramount pictures (paramount pictures, dreamworks studios, paramount vantage, MTV films, nickelodeon movies, home entertainment, global reach, brand index).
Background: In 1970, Paramount teamed with Universal Studios to form Cinema International Corporation, a new company that would distribute films by the two studios outside the United States. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer would become a partner in the mid 1970s. Paramount's successful run of pictures extended into the 1980s and 1990s, generating hits like Flashdance, Footloose, Fatal Attraction, the Friday the 13th slasher series, as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels. Other examples are the Star Trek series and a string of films starring comedian Eddie Murphy (such as Beverly Hills Cop).
Under Dolgen and Lansing the studio had almost a ten year unbroken track record of success including 6 of Paramount's ten highest grossing films (as of 2007) and the highest grossing film of all time.
Sony- Playstation (PSP, Playstation2, Playstation3, games, media and downloads)
Online games (PC games, console and handheld, casual games, game shows)
Music and Movies (music, movies, TV, crackle videos)
Background: 1988 — Acquired CBS Records Group from CBS. It was renamed "Sony Music Entertainment".
1989 — Acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment from the Coca-Cola Company for US$3.4 billion. It was subsequently renamed "Sony Pictures Entertainment" in 1991.
1993 — Acquired Psygnosis Limited a computer games company based in Liverpool, UK. Psygnosis director Ian Hetherington was made Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
1995 — Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation of America and Michael Jackson.
1997 — ST Liquid Crystal Display Corporation (STLCD), a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and Toyota Industries Corporation.
2001 — Sony Ericsson, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and Ericsson AB, was established in October.
2002 — Aiwa Corporation in October.
2004 — S-LCD Corporation, a joint venture of Sony Corporation and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share) was established in April. 2005 — On 8 April 2005, The MGM Company (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists) was acquired by a Sony-led consortium. 2006 — Obtained an option to acquire half of Michael Jackson's 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 2007 — Qreatic Design Inc, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and Qimonda AG. 2008 — Acquired Gracenote, Inc. for $260M.
MTV networks (atomfilms, addicting games, logo, MTV, MTV2, comedy central, game trailers, noggin, VH1)
Background: In 2005, the previous company announced plans of spreading the company into two publically traded companies. In june 2005, Viacom announced its purchase of Neopets, a virtual pet website. That December, Paramount announced it would acquire DreamWorks. On february 1st 2006, Paramount completed its long-awaited acquisition of DreamWorks. As of April 24, Viacom has obtained Xfire. In August, just hours before announcing its most recent quarterly earnings, Viacom announced that it had acquired Atom Entertainment for $200 million. In September, Viacom acquired game developer Harmonix for $175 million dollars.
Paramount pictures (paramount pictures, dreamworks studios, paramount vantage, MTV films, nickelodeon movies, home entertainment, global reach, brand index).
Background: In 1970, Paramount teamed with Universal Studios to form Cinema International Corporation, a new company that would distribute films by the two studios outside the United States. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer would become a partner in the mid 1970s. Paramount's successful run of pictures extended into the 1980s and 1990s, generating hits like Flashdance, Footloose, Fatal Attraction, the Friday the 13th slasher series, as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels. Other examples are the Star Trek series and a string of films starring comedian Eddie Murphy (such as Beverly Hills Cop).
Under Dolgen and Lansing the studio had almost a ten year unbroken track record of success including 6 of Paramount's ten highest grossing films (as of 2007) and the highest grossing film of all time.
Sony- Playstation (PSP, Playstation2, Playstation3, games, media and downloads)
Online games (PC games, console and handheld, casual games, game shows)
Music and Movies (music, movies, TV, crackle videos)
Background: 1988 — Acquired CBS Records Group from CBS. It was renamed "Sony Music Entertainment".
1989 — Acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment from the Coca-Cola Company for US$3.4 billion. It was subsequently renamed "Sony Pictures Entertainment" in 1991.
1993 — Acquired Psygnosis Limited a computer games company based in Liverpool, UK. Psygnosis director Ian Hetherington was made Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
1995 — Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation of America and Michael Jackson.
1997 — ST Liquid Crystal Display Corporation (STLCD), a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and Toyota Industries Corporation.
2001 — Sony Ericsson, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and Ericsson AB, was established in October.
2002 — Aiwa Corporation in October.
2004 — S-LCD Corporation, a joint venture of Sony Corporation and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share) was established in April. 2005 — On 8 April 2005, The MGM Company (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists) was acquired by a Sony-led consortium. 2006 — Obtained an option to acquire half of Michael Jackson's 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 2007 — Qreatic Design Inc, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and Qimonda AG. 2008 — Acquired Gracenote, Inc. for $260M.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Profile on Julian Bellamy
Job: head of programming
Channel 4
Age: 36
Industry: broadcastingAnnual programming
budget: £510m2006
ranking: 78
Julian Bellamy is the only Channel 4 executive in this year's list not to have been damaged by the Celebrity Big Brother race row. Probably because he was not there when it happened: the former BBC3 controller was appointed as Channel 4's head of programming in March.
It remains to be seen how Bellamy's relationship will work with the man he in effect replaced - and who he leapfrogs in this year's MediaGuardian 100 - Kevin Lygo.
Previously director of television with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the channel, Lygo moved upstairs to a more strategic role as director of television and content. But will he be able to let go?
"But Bellamy is new in the job and that is always a powerful position to be in. He can do what he wants. The field is wide open."
The BBC3 controller, Julian Bellamy, is returning to Channel 4 to run its flagship network after barely a year at the corporation.
Mr Bellamy will be head of programming for Channel 4, with overall responsibility for commissioning for the network.
Mr Bellamy will have line management responsibility for Channel 4 genre commissioning teams, including comedy and entertainment, drama, daytime, documentaries and news and current affairs.
Channel 4
Age: 36
Industry: broadcastingAnnual programming
budget: £510m2006
ranking: 78
Julian Bellamy is the only Channel 4 executive in this year's list not to have been damaged by the Celebrity Big Brother race row. Probably because he was not there when it happened: the former BBC3 controller was appointed as Channel 4's head of programming in March.
It remains to be seen how Bellamy's relationship will work with the man he in effect replaced - and who he leapfrogs in this year's MediaGuardian 100 - Kevin Lygo.
Previously director of television with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the channel, Lygo moved upstairs to a more strategic role as director of television and content. But will he be able to let go?
"But Bellamy is new in the job and that is always a powerful position to be in. He can do what he wants. The field is wide open."
The BBC3 controller, Julian Bellamy, is returning to Channel 4 to run its flagship network after barely a year at the corporation.
Mr Bellamy will be head of programming for Channel 4, with overall responsibility for commissioning for the network.
Mr Bellamy will have line management responsibility for Channel 4 genre commissioning teams, including comedy and entertainment, drama, daytime, documentaries and news and current affairs.
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