--Signs Deals with BBC Worldwide, WEG India Pictures
Babelgum--a European company that operates a service it describes as
an "interactive Web TV portal" featuring "only professionally produced
content spanning film, news, sports, documentaries, music videos,
concerts, lifestyle and trends, animation and scripted programs"--has
opened its first US office, and has hired Ethan Podell as president of its
new Babelgum US division, and Michael Rosen as EVP and chief
revenue officer. According to Babelgum, Podell, who reports directly
to Babelgum CEO, Valerio Zingarelli, is a 30-year television-industry
veteran, who previously founded and ran several successful start-ups,
including Orbis Communications and All American Orbis. His resume
also includes stints at HBO and CBS. Rosen, who reports to Podell, is
tasked with running Babelgum's global ad sales, distribution and trade
marketing, and will be responsible for promoting the company to the
advertising community worldwide. He joins the company from
WeatherBug, where he was SVP and general manager; his resume also
includes stints at Bloomberg, News Corp.'s New Digital Media Group
and Showtime Networks. "The US is a strategically important market
for Babelgum," Zingarelli said in a prepared statement. "Its size and
regional business hubs require on-the-ground presence. We intend to
emerge as one of the leading Internet TV platforms, especially in
independent programming. The appointments of Ethan and Michael,
coupled with the development of a technologically advanced platform
and a sound business proposition, will see Babelgum strive forward
into the largest economy in the world." Added Podell: "Babelgum is
about delivering programming and communities to those who are not
interested in UGC or re-cycled network shows. Our audience of
curious, well-educated, well-traveled consumers is under-served on the
Web. Their interests are in having access to rich levels of content about
subjects they care about passionately. Babelgum's initial content
focuses on five core passions: independent film; the environment;
global travel; adventure sports and music."
In other Babelgum news:
- The company has signed a deal with BBC Worldwide, the BBC's
commercial arm, that sees the latter providing it with video clips from
its natural history, travel and other factual shows, including such
high-profile programs as "Galapagos" and various other David
Attenborough-hosted nature documentaries, "Tribe," and "Top Gear."
The clips, which are being monetized via advertising, are being offered
through three new branded channels, dubbed BBC LoveEarth, BBC
Knowledge and BBC Entertainment respectively. "Babelgum's focus
on natural history and the environment is a great fit for us," Jemma
Adkins, head of content and development for digital media at BBC
Worldwide, said in a prepared statement. "We've got a wealth of
content in this genre and we're excited about making it available to
Babelgum's users around the globe. Babelgum is an innovative player
in the market and a great way of reaching out to an audience that
perhaps doesn't see our content on more traditional channels."
- The company claims that it is now offering the largest collection of
Bollywood films online, thanks to a distribution agreement with WEG
India Pictures. According to Babelgum, its service now offers over 100
hours of free-to-view Bollywood movies, presented in a new channel
dubbed "Colors of Bollywood." "Today we are further emphasizing the
international appeal of our network by adding content from different
sides of the world," Zingarelli said in a prepared statement. "We expect
the new channels to be a great success and add to our fast-growing film
community."
