By Lee Pfeiffer
Charles Cohen, the founder of the Cohen Film Collection, not only finances and distributes acclaimed independent films, but he also controls the rights to an impressive number of largely forgotten British films. Instead of letting them languish, Cohen has invested in bringing some of these titles to Blu-ray with stunning new transfers. The latest release is a Blu-ray double feature consisting of two modestly-budgeted murder-themed sagas. First- and most impressive- is "Cast a Dark Shadow", a 1955 noirish production with up-and-comer Dirk Bogarde in the lead role. He plays Edward Bare, a handsome and charismatic young man who, when we first meet him, is improbably newly wed to Monica (Mona Washbourne), an elderly woman with a sizable fortune who Edward dotes over and manipulates. Monica's lawyer Phillip Mortimer (Robert Flemyng) smells a rat but Monica is too delusional to believe Edward is manipulating her. When she turns up...
Charles Cohen, the founder of the Cohen Film Collection, not only finances and distributes acclaimed independent films, but he also controls the rights to an impressive number of largely forgotten British films. Instead of letting them languish, Cohen has invested in bringing some of these titles to Blu-ray with stunning new transfers. The latest release is a Blu-ray double feature consisting of two modestly-budgeted murder-themed sagas. First- and most impressive- is "Cast a Dark Shadow", a 1955 noirish production with up-and-comer Dirk Bogarde in the lead role. He plays Edward Bare, a handsome and charismatic young man who, when we first meet him, is improbably newly wed to Monica (Mona Washbourne), an elderly woman with a sizable fortune who Edward dotes over and manipulates. Monica's lawyer Phillip Mortimer (Robert Flemyng) smells a rat but Monica is too delusional to believe Edward is manipulating her. When she turns up...
- 5/11/2021
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
London's analogue television signal was switched off at midnight this morning (April 18) as the capital completed its digital switchover. BBC One, ITV1, Channel Four and Channel Five were the final channels to cease transmitting on the frequency as the BBC's director general Mark Thompson and Arqiva CEO John Cresswell flicked the switch at Crystal Palace. To mark Britain's march into the digital age, a light show will be held at the Crystal Palace transmitter, with celebrity guests including Sir David Attenborough (more)...
- 4/18/2012
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
London -- ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell has warned staff at the commercial broadcaster of yet more cost-cutting as the economic climate and advertising revenues continue to deteriorate here.
The news came as BSkyB said it would appeal antitrust regulators’ decision to force it to sell down its 17.9% stake in the leading British commercial broadcaster, which airs such shows as “X Factor,” and “Coronation Street.”
In an email to staff, Cresswell said ITV would have to “accelerate our plans to improve the efficiency of all our operations,” and that cost-cutting was “urgent,” adding that these were “extraordinary times.”
"There is still a lot more to do, these are extraordinary times for ITV, the economic outlook has worsened significantly since the summer and businesses right across the U.K. including most of our customers are facing considerable uncertainty," he confirmed.
The moves come on top of the announcement in September...
The news came as BSkyB said it would appeal antitrust regulators’ decision to force it to sell down its 17.9% stake in the leading British commercial broadcaster, which airs such shows as “X Factor,” and “Coronation Street.”
In an email to staff, Cresswell said ITV would have to “accelerate our plans to improve the efficiency of all our operations,” and that cost-cutting was “urgent,” adding that these were “extraordinary times.”
"There is still a lot more to do, these are extraordinary times for ITV, the economic outlook has worsened significantly since the summer and businesses right across the U.K. including most of our customers are facing considerable uncertainty," he confirmed.
The moves come on top of the announcement in September...
- 11/29/2008
- by By Mimi Turner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- Regardless of whether the U.S. passes the $700 billion bailout the second time around, the impact of chronically tightening financial markets and nearly 12 months of economic jitters are already blowing cold winds over Europe's biggest broadcasters.
"I'm operating on the assumption that the world as we know it isn't going to end and that the bailout program will be passed," said one European media analyst based in London.
"But the impact will be widely felt and comes on top of a tough year. Commercial broadcasters and especially those who are mostly reliant on advertising are in for a very rough ride," he added.
Even before the impact of the multiple bank failures of the past month cycles through the economy, free-to-air channels are showing the strain of nearly a year of financial unease -- slashing program budgets, issuing profit warnings and issuing a confetti of pink slips.
This week,...
"I'm operating on the assumption that the world as we know it isn't going to end and that the bailout program will be passed," said one European media analyst based in London.
"But the impact will be widely felt and comes on top of a tough year. Commercial broadcasters and especially those who are mostly reliant on advertising are in for a very rough ride," he added.
Even before the impact of the multiple bank failures of the past month cycles through the economy, free-to-air channels are showing the strain of nearly a year of financial unease -- slashing program budgets, issuing profit warnings and issuing a confetti of pink slips.
This week,...
- 10/2/2008
- by By Mimi Turner and Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- U.K. commercial television web ITV has issued bonds to raise 110 million pounds ($218 million) in cash to help fuel its recovery amid plunging stock prices.
The move follows hot on the heels of a stock price low of 38.8 pence ($0.56) posted Thursday and a year long slide that has seen more than a 60% fall in value.
The Eurosterling bond issue will have a maturity date of March 20, 2013, ITV said.
ITV Coo and finance director John Cresswell said: "We are pleased with this new issue of debt."
Since the creation of ITV Plc on the London stock exchange in 2004 the broadcaster has issued three bonds in accordance with its note program.
"We also have available a further 200 million pounds ($397 million) of five year committed bi-lateral financing, none of which includes financial covenants or credit rating triggers," said Cresswell.
The move follows hot on the heels of a stock price low of 38.8 pence ($0.56) posted Thursday and a year long slide that has seen more than a 60% fall in value.
The Eurosterling bond issue will have a maturity date of March 20, 2013, ITV said.
ITV Coo and finance director John Cresswell said: "We are pleased with this new issue of debt."
Since the creation of ITV Plc on the London stock exchange in 2004 the broadcaster has issued three bonds in accordance with its note program.
"We also have available a further 200 million pounds ($397 million) of five year committed bi-lateral financing, none of which includes financial covenants or credit rating triggers," said Cresswell.
- 7/4/2008
- by By Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Five years after turning down the job of ITV chief executive, Dawn Airey is returning to Britain's leading commercial broadcaster in the newly created role of director of global content, reporting to ITV chief operating officer John Cresswell, it was announced Tuesday.
The announcement comes exactly a month after Airey quit as CEO of start-up content and distribution venture Iostar, which has since gone bankrupt after failing to attract the necessary funding.
In her new role, the former Five chief executive and BSkyB head of programming will be responsible for developing ITV's U.K. and international production, distribution and content exploitation businesses.
Airey will take up the post later this year and will have oversight of ITV Prods., Granada Ventures, Granada International and ITV's international production businesses in Australia, Germany and the U.S.
Together, the businesses generated revenue of £652 million ($1.3 billion) in 2006, including £370 million ($735.3 million) of business from the ITV network.
Airey will endeavor to grow the international profile of ITV Prods., an area which chairman and CEO Michael Grade is keen to expand.
The announcement comes exactly a month after Airey quit as CEO of start-up content and distribution venture Iostar, which has since gone bankrupt after failing to attract the necessary funding.
In her new role, the former Five chief executive and BSkyB head of programming will be responsible for developing ITV's U.K. and international production, distribution and content exploitation businesses.
Airey will take up the post later this year and will have oversight of ITV Prods., Granada Ventures, Granada International and ITV's international production businesses in Australia, Germany and the U.S.
Together, the businesses generated revenue of £652 million ($1.3 billion) in 2006, including £370 million ($735.3 million) of business from the ITV network.
Airey will endeavor to grow the international profile of ITV Prods., an area which chairman and CEO Michael Grade is keen to expand.
- 5/24/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Michael Grade has appointed former BBC head of strategy Carolyn Fairbairn as ITV's director of group development and strategy. The move marks Grade's first appointment since taking over as executive chairman of the commercial network.
Fairbairn, currently a partner at McKinsey & Co., will join ITV on March 5 and report to chief operating officer John Cresswell.
Fairbairn was a senior figure at the BBC for eight years, working under former director general Greg Dyke and current incumbent Mark Thompson, ultimately becoming director of strategy and distribution and a member of the management executive board.
She was involved in the development of digital platform Freeview, now the U.K.'s fastest-growing digital service with more than 7 million homes. Her other BBC roles included director of strategy for the corporation's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.
At ITV, she is expected to review the broadcaster's digital strategy and investment in such Web portals as Friends Reunited, as well as the positioning of its digital channels.
Fairbairn, currently a partner at McKinsey & Co., will join ITV on March 5 and report to chief operating officer John Cresswell.
Fairbairn was a senior figure at the BBC for eight years, working under former director general Greg Dyke and current incumbent Mark Thompson, ultimately becoming director of strategy and distribution and a member of the management executive board.
She was involved in the development of digital platform Freeview, now the U.K.'s fastest-growing digital service with more than 7 million homes. Her other BBC roles included director of strategy for the corporation's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.
At ITV, she is expected to review the broadcaster's digital strategy and investment in such Web portals as Friends Reunited, as well as the positioning of its digital channels.
- 1/25/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- ITV announced Tuesday that net advertising revenue for its core channel dropped 12.5% this year, with the network's share of commercial impacts (when one viewer watches one advertisement) down 10.4%, giving it just over a third of all U.K. television commercial impacts.
In an end-of-year trading statement to the London Stock Exchange, the broadcaster said that the year's trading had been "in line" with current expectations but conceded that the future for airtime sales "remains challenging."
But interim chief executive John Cresswell welcomed the appointment of Michael Grade to the post of executive chairman and said that digital channels were showing strong growth.
ITV's digital channel portfolio grew its net advertising revenue by 40% for the year.
"2006 trading remains in line with current market expectations and, whilst the airtime sales environment remains challenging, our digital channels continue to perform strongly," Cresswell said in a statement. "I am delighted to welcome Michael Grade as executive chairman of ITV and we look forward to working with him in the New Year."
Program investment next year will not be cut as some had predicted, but will be maintained at £1 billion ($2 billion).
In an end-of-year trading statement to the London Stock Exchange, the broadcaster said that the year's trading had been "in line" with current expectations but conceded that the future for airtime sales "remains challenging."
But interim chief executive John Cresswell welcomed the appointment of Michael Grade to the post of executive chairman and said that digital channels were showing strong growth.
ITV's digital channel portfolio grew its net advertising revenue by 40% for the year.
"2006 trading remains in line with current market expectations and, whilst the airtime sales environment remains challenging, our digital channels continue to perform strongly," Cresswell said in a statement. "I am delighted to welcome Michael Grade as executive chairman of ITV and we look forward to working with him in the New Year."
Program investment next year will not be cut as some had predicted, but will be maintained at £1 billion ($2 billion).
- 12/19/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- ITV continued its asset and executive overhaul Tuesday, announcing the £4.5 million ($8 million) sale of outside broadcasting division 021 Television Limited and the promotion of chief operating officer John Cresswell to the post of financial director. Cresswell will replace Henry Staunton, whose departure was announced last September. Among other boardroom changes, media consultant Ben McOwen Wilson will take up the newly created post of strategy director, reporting directly to chief executive Charles Allen. McOwen Wilson is currently a partner at Spectrum Strategy Consultants.
- 1/17/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Granada's hold over the soon-to-be merged ITV network strengthened Monday with the announcement that three of the four senior posts in its program-making division have been filled by Granada execs. Granada director of drama John Whiston has been appointed director of drama, arts and children's at production arm Granada Prods. He will be joined by Dianne Nelmes as director of daytime and lifestyle and John Cresswell as chief operations officer. Whiston, Nelmes and Cresswell are all from the Granada fold. The sole representative from merger partner Carlton Communications is the chief operations officer of its content business, William Medlicott, who will be finance director.
- 12/9/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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