Euromedia February March | Page 14

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Hincks, Fincham launch Expectation prodco

Tim Hincks, a former president of Endemol Shine, and Peter Fincham, who has been controller of BBC One as well as director of television at ITV, have launched Expectation, a multi-genre, independent production company covering both non-scripted and scripted programming. The venture has attracted investment from BBC Worldwide with a 24.9 % shareholding and board representation.

Expectation has revealed six departments across scripted and non-scripted programming including drama, comedy, factual entertainment, entertainment, reality and factual.
Co-CEO Fincham, said:“ It’ s not much of a secret that Tim and I have been planning a start-up together and we’ ve reached the right moment to take the wrappers off. First and foremost, Expectation is a creatively-led indie – we’ re going to put people and programmes first, second and third.”
Co-CEO Hincks, said:“ I’ m ridiculously excited to be launching Expectation with Peter.
“ I’ m ridiculously excited to be launching Expectation.”
Expectation has one simple aim which is to create a home for creative people to do what they do best. A home where the best talent can create and produce the best, most engaging, innovative and entertaining content for the UK
and the world. And above all, we’ re going to have fun doing it.”
Three leading talents in the UK television industry have already joined Expectation. Nerys Evans joins the company as creative director, comedy while Nick Mather and Nick Samwell- Smith are creative directors, entertainment.
“ The team is already growing; we’ ve started talking to broadcasters and we’ re developing ideas that we can’ t wait to get working on,” confirmed Fincham.“ Tim and I are like a couple of kids who’ ve been given bicycles for their birthday, we literally couldn’ t be more thrilled.”“ We’ re delighted that BBC Worldwide has come on board as our investing partner, both in terms of the creative values it brings and the help it can give us in reaching new platforms and creating opportunities on a global level,” said Fincham.
Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide said:“ Expectation is a creatively-led company. Peter and Tim are two of the most respected creatives in the television business and to be involved in supporting a production company with their vision and passion for producing bold, exciting and popular content was irresistible.”
The investment continues BBC Worldwide’ s strategy of supporting premium British independents in a range of ways, including a variety of development, output and equity relationships, alongside its primary content partnership with BBC Studios. Helen Jackson, chief content officer at BBC Worldwide, will join the board.
Indian entertainment for European expats
Pay-TV provider bobbles. tv has launched what it describes as Europe’ s most attractive package of entertainment for Indian viewers on bobbles. tv, the new multiculture satellite and OTT entertainment service for international expat communities in mainland Europe. bobbles. tv delivers 16 channels of entertainment in
Hindi and English including Bollywood blockbusterpacked B4U Movies, B4U Music, StarGOLD, Sony MAX and ZOOM. Offering NDTV India, NDTV 24x7, Times Now and Aaj Tak, bobbles. tv brings India’ s most watched news channels to viewers in mainland Europe.
Viacom18’ s COLORS, StarPlus, NDTV Good Times, NDTV Spice, Sony Entertainment Television( SET), Sony SAB, Life OK and RISHTEY Europe
deliver popular general entertainment, comedy, drama, lifestyle, reality TV and made-for-TV movies.
“ As many as 1.5 million Indian people living in mainland Europe now have a convenient way to receive their favourite TV shows from home, via satellite or OTT, live or on catchup,” commented Arnold C. Kulbatzki, bubbles media CEO.“ We are really excited to offer this great new package- with bobbles’ simple, affordable, contract-free subscription, feeling closer to home has never been easier.” bobbles. tv distributes channels from around the globe, aiming to reach a potential audience of around 14 million people originating from Asia, Latin America and Africa but currently living and working in Europe. In addition to its new
offering for Indian viewers, bobbles. tv delivers popular programming to Chinese, Indonesian and Vietnamese expat communities, with further language packages anticipated. bobbles. tv is available in Europe via ASTRA satellite at 19.2 degrees East. Supported by broadcast services leader MX1, it can also be enjoyed via OTT for online viewing, via connected TV or mobile devices, with a flat monthly fee of € 19.95 on satellite and € 12.95 online.
Fourteen channels of bobbles’ Indian package are available for live streaming and catch-up TV via OTT. The bobbles app is available from iTunes App Store and on Google Play. bobbles’ satellite receiver and smartcard( NAGRA-protected) can be purchased on the bobbles. tv website.
14 EUROMEDIA