UK based Inflight Digital will offer airlines interactive language learning packages covering over 70 languages for IFE.
Inflight Digital is teaming with interactive learning specialist Meringue Productions in the UK to offer interactive language learning. Meringue is teaming with EuroTalk Interactive – specialist in the field to provide the content. The combination of these partners is designed to harness the best for airline passengers.
Inflight Digital Chief Executive Dave Tharp said, ‘We are absolutely delighted to announce our partnership with two recognised leaders in their fields.’
Tharp said that this type of content was growing in importance. ‘By introducing educational, informative and entertaining content to this segment, airlines can extend their product portfolio.’
Carlton International Media has acquired top quality movies, drama and documentaries from a variety of production companies.
New titles include The Second Coming, Goodbye Mr. Chips, White Collar Blue, Wide Angle, and Fig Leaf to Thong. Carlton International Media controller of programme development Mark Gray said, ‘With excellent casts, compelling stories and the cream of international production behind them, this is a very saleable - and very diverse - slate of new drama.’
The Second Coming is available as a two-hour TV movie or two 90-minute mini series from Red Productions. Set in the UK, it tells the story of Steven, played by Christopher Eccleston, who believes he is the ‘second coming’ and convinces people that Judgement Day is only three days away.
A new two-hour version of Goodbye Mr. Chips, made by SMG TV, stars British actor Martin Clunes. It charts the life and career of a teacher starting in 1874 against the unfolding backdrop of global events such as the First World War.
Carlton International has also acquired the rights to Australian waterfront police drama White Collar Blue, made as a 20 one-hour series by Knapman Wyld for Network 10 in Australia.
Wide Angle is a new current affairs documentary by Thirteen/WNET in New York for PBS. This consists of four 45-minute programmes covering current affairs around the world. Gray said, ‘Through our existing co-production relationship with PBS we have a good relationship stateside and a strong reputation for our sales expertise. Thirteen/WNET's Wide Angle provides an interesting and intelligent viewpoint on current affairs stories and we are confident that this will be demonstrated in international sales success.’
Fig Leaf to Thong is a one-hour documentary on the history of underwear from Diverse Productions for the UK’s Channel 5.
Gray added, ‘From the challenging and innovative The Second Coming to the more traditional Goodbye Mr. Chips and the winning formula of the intelligent and attractive police drama series, White Collar Blue, we have something for every schedule, underpinning Carlton International's reputation as a leading distributor worldwide.’
Discovery Private Networks (DPN) the specialised natural history/geography content provider, has launched an online catalogue. This will replace the annual hard copy print catalogue. DPN Director Catherine Breza said it was an ideal tool to navigate the ‘vast sea of short subject content’.
Visitors and clients can search the site according to subject, non-verbal, shorts and boarding videos. Subject categories include science and technology, history and culture, travel and adventure, kids, and natural history. The site lists over 4350 titles in 33 languages. It also offers over 250 two-minute clips to give visitors a ‘sneak preview’.
Visitors can also search by keyword to gain instant access. Each programme title lists episodes, total running time, first airdate, rights available and programme description.
Clients may download logos and promotional pictures for programmes ordered. A news update highlights monthly new releases and ‘hot picks.’
The online catalogue has already proved ‘phenomenally successful,’ according to DPN director Catherine Breza.
