MUMBAI: Samira Ahmed becomes the face of NewsWatch this week as the programme settles into its new home in New Broadcasting House.

‘NewsWatch‘ aims to hold BBC News to account, presenting viewers‘ opinions directly to journalists and editors and hearing lively debate about how different stories are covered.

Over the next few weeks, NewsWatch plans to explore the BBC‘s coverage of stories such as the US presidential election, the conflict in Syria and the on-going economic problems of the euro zone.

Ahmed said, "In my 20 years in broadcast news, I‘ve seen how technology has transformed what we see on screen and social media have broken down some of the barriers between newsmakers and audiences. But the same questions are still coming up: about fair dealing, balance and proportion. With viewers more willing to challenge coverage they think is not right, I‘m proud to be part of NewsWatch, which remains focused on getting answers from editors about their concerns."

NewsWatch Editor Barney Jones said, "We are delighted to be welcoming Samira Ahmed. Her experience as a distinguished broadcast journalist and presenter will be invaluable, as NewsWatch starts a new chapter, broadcasting from a state-of-the-art studio in the BBC‘s recently opened news headquarters in central London. The programme will continue its tradition of airing viewers‘ opinions about BBC News and Current Affairs, and putting their points to programme-makers and executives."

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate CBS has posted net earnings of $427 million for the second quarter ended 30 June 2012, up eight per cent.

Operating Income was $769 million, an increase of five per cent.

CBS executive chairman Sumner Redstone said, "CBS?s content continues to fuel the success of this great company. In a world where greatprogramming commands premium pricing, we continue to hit on allcylinders. I am extremely pleased with our terrific second-quarter results, and I am confident that Leslie and his management team willbuild on our momentum in the quarters and years to come."

CBS expects to show stronger performance in the second half of the year due to the US presidential elections and the Olympics. The prospects for 2013 also look good as the network has Super Bowl.

CBS president, CEO Leslie Moonves said, ?For all of these reasons, we?re confident 2012 will be a record year, and we will produce exceptional results in 2013 and beyond as well.?

Two factors in the second quarter of 2011 ? the Company?s initial multiyear digital streaming agreement (under which dozens of the Company?s library titles were first made available for streaming) and the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men?s Basketball Championship (which aired during the first quarter in 2012) ? had an impact on the revenue comparison.

Second quarter 2012 revenues came in at $3.48 billion compared with $3.59 billion for the same quarter a year ago. Some of the impact was offset by growth in high-margin affiliate and subscription fee revenues, while underlying advertising revenues for the second quarter of 2012 reflected a steady marketplace. In addition, the OIBDA margin improved two percentage points, to a record 26 per cent and the operating income margin expanded two percentage points, to 22 per cent, in the second quarter of 2012.

Those increases, as well as the company?s record performance in the three key metrics mentioned above, reflect a higher profit margin on 2012 television licensing revenues as well as the growth in high-margin affiliate and subscription fees.

Free cash flow was $558 million for the second quarter of 2012, compared with $646 million for the second quarter a year ago. For the first half of 2012, free cash flow was $1.17 billion compared with $1.50 billion for the first half of 2011, reflecting higher investment in content (primarily television programming) and higher income tax payments. The company generated cash flow from operating activities of $1.26 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2012, versus $1.59 billion for the comparable prior-year period.

Entertainment

Entertainment (CBS Television Network, CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International, CBS Television Distribution, CBS Films, and CBS Interactive) revenues of $1.71 billion for the second quarter of 2012 decreased 7 per cent from $1.84 billion in the same prior-year period. Last year?s second quarter benefited from the initial licensing of the company?s programming for digital streaming, the third-cycle domestic syndication sale of Frasier, and the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men?s Basketball Championship, which aired during the first quarter of 2012 versus the second quarter of 2011. Some of the impact was offset by growth in high-margin retransmission revenues and higher international syndication revenues in the second quarter of 2012.

Cable Networks

Cable Networks (Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, and Smithsonian Networks) revenues for the second quarter of 2012 increased by eight per cent to $446 million from $413 million for the same prior-year period. The results were driven by higher affiliate revenues, which reflect increases in rates and subscriptions at Showtime Networks (which includes Showtime, The Movie Channel, and Flix), CBS Sports Network, and Smithsonian Networks, as well as higher licensing revenues from the digital streaming of Showtime original series.

Outdoor

Outdoor revenues for the second quarter of 2012 decreased by two per cent to $481 million from $490 million for the same prior-year period, driven by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rate changes. In constant dollars, revenues increased 1 per cent from the second quarter of 2011.

Revenues for the Americas (which includes North America and South America) increased by two per cent in constant dollars for the second quarter of 2012, principally driven by growth in the US billboards and displays businesses, partially offset by the impact from the nonrenewal of the Toronto transit contract.

Revenues for Europe increased by one per cent in constant dollars, primarily reflecting higher advertising sales associated with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Some of this increase was offset by weakness in the European economy and the nonrenewal of certain contracts.

MUMBAI: Bloomberg has entered into a joint-venture partnership with IMG, the global leader in sports, fashion and media, to expand and accelerate the growth of its vertical division, Bloomberg Sports.

The new venture will still be majority owned by Bloomberg and will be located in offices in New York and London. The new venture will retain the name Bloomberg Sports, and will be funded through the partnership created by both entities.

IMG will have a strong minority equity position and will provide enhanced marketing, sales and production assistance for both the existing Bloomberg Sports analytics products as well as a new series of projects that will be rolled out this summer.

They will include new ventures in international professional soccer as well as greatly enhanced fantasy analytic products for NFL football.

This will be in addition to the work the company is already doing in Major League Baseball both on the consumer and professional level. Other products and services are currently in development with additional professional and consumer sports brands which will be announced at a later date.

?We are very excited to partner with IMG, one of the most respected global leaders in sports and entertainment, to expand a business that was the brainchild of two entrepreneurial employees and incubated through Bloomberg in just two years,? said Bloomberg CEO Dan Doctoroff.

MUMBAI: London based television content distributor Passion Distribution has promoted Nick Rees who is its finance director to the newly created role of MD with immediate effect. Rees, who joined Passion in May 2009, alongside founder and CEO, Sally Miles, has helped build the business to a ?17 million turnover company. 

Miles says, "Nick has been instrumental in building and growing the business not only in terms of turnover and profits but to be an efficient well-managed operation. I am delighted Nick will be taking on a broader management role in the company allowing me more time with our content partners and to seize global opportunities for the business. 

"Nick has a unique style that takes him beyond the finance role. He has the same care and responsibility to our content suppliers as I do and this is rare in a Finance Director. I have confidence the business will continue to grow with Nick in this new key role."

Prior to joining Passion, Rees was Hit Entertainment senior VP of finance North America for working across the company?s TV, consumer product and live event divisions.