The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page= en The Business Channel Newsletter May 2008 http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=75 Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 To receive your copy of The Business Channel for May, please subscribe by entering your email address on the website: www.thebusinesschannel.com.

Please invite your colleagues, business partners, custopmers and clients to follow suit.

]]> The Business Channel March Newsletter is now available by contacting feedback@litv.tv. http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=74 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Your Business in 60 seconds! http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=73 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 Fancy your company on the box? Do you want to take centre stage for a minute? The Business Channel is opening up commercial airtime to all the entrepreneurs out there keen to have a chance to talk to their peers about their business. 
  • Have you got a business problem that defies a solution?
      Someone out there may be able to help.  
  • Do you want to inform others of your achievements that have boosted your business?
           Others may be waiting to be impressed!   
  • Do you just want to explain where your business fits into UK plc? 
           You might find that you are in very good company. 
  • What could you say about your business in 60 seconds?
 Broadcast 15 times in a month, which would reach our BARB measured audience of some 495,000 viewers, 70% of whom are ABC1, middle to top level management Adults (like yourself!), would it be worth £1,500 in marketing terms to you? You won’t know until you try and NOW is the time.   Call Chiara Frigerio for further information Tel: 020 7735 0101Email: chiara@thebusinesschannel.com]]> Turning Good Directors into Great Directors http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=72 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000  

The Business Channel is now offering company executives an opportunity to improve their skills in high level certificate courses in the UK.

The courses cover the full range of;

  1. • Director development • Coaching and mentoring
(specifically for executive or non-executive director roles)

 

Attendees participate in a series of modular workshops in which business leaders share their knowledge and experience of directing companies on the international stage.

The courses aim to develop skills in a wide range of areas including;

  1. • inter alia corporate strategy

    • corporate finance

    • sourcing and working with investors

    • choosing and implementing a successful exit strategy

     

The topics of the workshops have been carefully selected to provide a full coverage of the duties and responsibilities of directors. Sessions are highly interactive and include exercises and case studies to help illustrate the key points. All members of the faculty have extensive international experience, so modules take into account differences of law and practice in different jurisdictions.

Completion of the required number of modules leads to the award of either;

  1. • Certificate or Diploma of Corporate Direction.

     

For more information and course dates, please email your name and contact details to:

courses@thebusinesschannel.com

or write to: The Director, Executive Training,

The Business Channel, 375 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY

 

]]> The Business Channel Newsletter for March 2008 can be received by subscribing with your contact details on the home page. http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=71 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 The Business Channel Newsletter December 2007 with details of the first year on air on Sky Channel 547. http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=68 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 For past issues of The Business Channel Newsletter, please contact feedback@thebusinesschannel.com, specifying which issue you require.

To subscribe to receive future issues monthly by email, subscribe at www.thebusinesschannel.com.

]]> The Business Channel Newsletter January 2008 with Book of the Month, Did you know? and other business related features. http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=69 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 For past issues of The Business Channel Newsletter, please contact feedback@thebusinesschannel.com, specifying which issue you require.

To subscribe to receive future issues monthly by email, subscribe at www.thebusinesschannel.com.

]]> Out Now - The Business Channel Newsletter Issue 3 February 2008. http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=70 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 To subscribe to receive issues of The Business Channel Newsletter, monthly by email, subscribe at www.thebusinesschannel.com.

]]> MICHELIN MAN TO AIR ON THE BUSINESS CHANNEL BIBENDUM ? THE STORY 1 X 52? http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=67 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0000 This colourful film celebrates the 100-year history of the Michelin man, the famous emblem of the French tyre manufacturer.   Created in 1898, the familiar round, roly-poly silhouette has played a major part in the worldwide success of the Michelin company and his adventures always reflect the major events of the 20th century. Filmed all over the world, the documentary illustrates the elaborate marketing strategies employed by the ‘Bibendum’ brand and how it is used in the context of fashion, advertising and architecture.   The film combines rich archive of the time with compelling interviews with artists and designers including Rossy la Palma, Marcel Marceau, Terence Conran and Philippe Starke among others. ]]> The Business Channel - Is It Art or Is It Fashion? http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=66 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000
Barely 30, Alexander McQueen already has nearly a decade of headlines marking his relentless climb to the top of the fashion world. As one of the brightest stars on the British scene, his work has upped the ante for what is possible in fashion while sparking a good deal of controversy along the way.

During the early years, his provocative shows were confrontational enough to qualify as performance art. From the raw edginess of London, to the aristocratic atelier of Hubert de Givenchy in Paris, Alexander McQueen is undeniably one of the hottest commodities in fashion today.


This colourful film traces the key moments in Alexander McQueen’s life and career and contains a lengthy interview with Britain’s hottest fashion icon.


Transmission times

SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER   07:30 12:00 17:00 20:00]]> The Business Channel with a stocking filler for Christmas http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=65 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000
Back in 1937 in the American seaside resort of Wilmington, Delaware, Wallace H. Carothers discovered a material that would greatly influence the following decades - nylon. When, in December 1940, the first batch of nylon stockings hit the American market, the police had to intervene in order to hold in check the masses of nylon-mad women in department stores!
Nylon Story (1 x 52’) takes a light-hearted look at how the "artificial" stocking becomes a symbol of modernity and luxury, a luxury that not only the rich can afford.
As WW2 began however, the peaceful exploitation of the new wonder fibre ended and nylon becomes an important war material, used for the manufacturing of medical threads, parachutes, tents and aircraft tyres.
Nylon stockings became a scarce commodity in great demand. From 1945, they became the manifestation of a new zest for life and growing prosperity. Nylon and Perlon are associated with dreams of beauty and eroticism, progress and prosperity but also of power and domination.
These artificial fibres stretch through six decades of economic, social, political and cultural history brought colourfully to life in this film.

Transmission times

SUNDAY 23rd DECEMBER         10:00 14:00 23:00

SATURDAY 29th DECEMBER      10:00 14:00 18:00 23:00]]> Whiskey and Water on The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=64 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000
This fascinating documentary has all the elements of a best selling novel - family fortune, Hollywood, greed and betrayal.

WHISKEY & WATER (1 x 52’) traces the meteoric rise and fall of Vivendi Universal and reveals the epic tale of a great family dynasty, which was all but destroyed by one of the biggest mergers of the 1990’s.



For a brief shining moment, Vivendi Universal epitomized the thrilling promise of media convergence. Instead, the marriage degenerated into a series of corporate blunders, conflict and betrayal, which cost the Bronfman nearly $6 billion, and their legendary whiskey empire.

Transmission times

SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER      06:30 11:00 15:00 17:30 & 21:30

SUNDAY 9th  DECEMBER     09:00 15:00 20:00]]> The Business Channel Unravels Copyright Farce http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=54 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
For over 100 years the Ugg boot, a type of sheepskin boot, has been a cultural icon in Australia sported by sheep-shearers, ‘surfies’ and anyone pottering around the house. Through a bizarre comedy of errors the ownership of the 'ugg' trademark name passed to an aggressive US corporation, anxious to protect a name many considered to be in the public domain.

'The Good, The Bad and The Ugg Boot' (1 X 52’) is a spaghetti western following the funny, brave and tragic efforts of a bunch of feisty family businesses in Australia and America as they take on a giant US shoe company. Interwoven with the dramatic twists and turns of the copyright court cases, the programme unravels the strange history of the humble ugg boot and how it became a global fashion sensation.]]> UK Premier - Jean Paul Gaultier On The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=56 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
He is among the most talented and famous of all French, indeed any designers in the world. Fascinated by fashion, this boy from the suburbs re-invented such pieces as the corset, the skirt for men, the Navy jumper; even tin cans were reborn as bracelets! From Madonna to Sting, the celebrities who sport Gaultier's chic and popular styles are too numerous to count.

Behind the cheerful and energetic exterior of this media darling, is the other side of Gaultier that director Tonie Marshall sought to discover: secretive, romantic, and rebellious.

In ‘JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER ‘  (1 x 52’ ), enriched by interviews with Gaultier's close friends (Jean-Baptiste Mondino, etc), Tonie Marshall takes the viewer on a remarkable journey with one of the most talented designers of our time, who has broken new ground in both men's and women's fashion.]]> The Business Channel Unpacks The Ultimate Flat Pack In 'Ikea Mania' http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=57 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
The founder of the company, 78 year old Ingvar Kamprad, describes his business philosophy and the crucial strategic decisions which brought so much success after overcoming the alcoholism and depression which threatened to wreck his early career.

Kamprad was exposed in the late 1990s as a former member of the Swedish Nazi Party during the Second World and the film describes how the Ikea empire coped with this damaging revelation and went on to open 34 stores on 4 continents, conquering  the emerging markets of China and Russia in the process.

Backed with revealing and entertaining interviews with figures from the world of commerce and design, “Ikea Mania” illustrates the revolutionary concepts of Ikea production and marketing  (the IKEA catalogue has a print run second only to the bible) and how Kamprad has encouraged a non-hierarchal and non-corporate culture within the company, giving workers the feeling they belong to a ‘family’.]]> The Business Channel Explores Trade In Pearls http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=61 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
Pearls are a mirror to history reflecting and determining attitudes of wealth, culture and social advancement. They have played an instrumental role in bringing together East and West, Ancient and New Worlds in a unified value system of wealth, status and power.

'Aphrodite's Drop' (1 x 52’) dives into the sensuous world of the international trade in pearls, uncovering their past and exploring their present – from their production, symbolism and pleasures, to the hard knocks of the marketplace.

Featuring interviews with leading celebrities and experts from the jewellery world, this stunning and lavish documentary explores the history of mankind's obsession with pearls over the centuries.]]> The Business Channel In London Fashion Week http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=46 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
Narrated by Joanna Lumley, ‘A Savage Life in Fashion’ traces the phenomenal growth of the fashion industry from the ‘new look’ of the late 1940’s to the present day. This documentary examines PR guru Percy Savage, the Godfather of fashion publicity and his extraordinary influence on some of the biggest names on the international fashion circuit.

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER

In this honest portrayal, enriched by interviews with Gaultier's closest friends, the viewer is taken on a remarkable journey with one of the most talented designers of our time. The film provides a rare and exclusive opportunity to observe this fashion icon at work in his studio

DONNA KARAN

Donna Karan, “The Queen of Seventh Avenue”, has been called the most important female designer of women’s fashions since Coco Chanel. This is the story of how a wacky kid from Long Island, who failed her college design courses and got fired from her first major job in the business went on to become a fashion giant.

GIORGIO ARMANI

This revealing film explores the fashion legend’s uncanny ability to stay on top of the world of fashion for more than 25 years.  Richly illustrated with footage of stunning fashion shows and Armani himself at work and play, this film is an enduring record of Armani’s unparalleled success.

THE GUCCIS

This revealing film investigates the intrigue and scandal surrounding the most famous fashion house of this century,culminating in then brutal murder of Maurizio Gucci.

THE HOUSE OF VERSACE

From his humble beginning, Gianni Versace pursued new and daring fashion styles that propelled him to the top of the fashion industry.

APHRODITE’S DROP

In the glamorous and competitive world of high fashion, the name "Versace" has a mystique unmatched by its rivals.  This film traces the meteoric rise of the company in the 1980's - a family-run label, which has been a consistent favourite of the beautiful people

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGG BOOT

Aphrodite’s Drop’ dives into the sensuous world of the international trade in pearls, uncovering their past and exploring their present – from their production, symbolism and pleasures, to the hard knocks of the marketplace.]]> Young Global Hotshots http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=49 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100 What does it mean for those people to be in this comfortable position, which is so in contrast with the rest of the country? How do they deal with their elite 'membership' and how do they see their personal role within their home country?

Each individual episode focuses on one individual and the countries covered include India, Russia, Brazil, China, Senegal and Jamaica. Set against the social-economical background of each country, each episode aims to shed some light on what it means - besides the material advantages - to live the life of a successful millionaire in a place so full of contrast and, therefore, full of opportunities.

The characters all have a few things in common: they are very rich, successful, young (maximum 35 years) and sometimes extremely famous. Whether a fashion designer in Iran,a media tycoon in China, a dairy farmer in Thailand or a CEO of an aviation company in Russia, this series provides a revealing insight into what can be achieved against the odds.]]> The Business Channel Charts Virtual World http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=50 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
This comparatively new craze to hit cyberspace are consists of 3D computer generated universes where you sign up, choose a body, build a house and you’re ready to live out your parallel existence.

 At any moment, around 20,000 people are logged into the site and, as in the real world, everything needs to be bought. It’s this business potential that fascinates many.and 40% of people who log on daily get involved in some kind of business transaction.

Like Barbie dolls, avatars come with no private parts so one of the most successful businesses in Second Life is ‘Strokerz Toys’. This sells virtual penises and online sex toys. “I probably sell 200 items a day”, boasts owner Stroker Serpentine. “There are no inhibitions in Second Life. You can pursue any sexual fantasy, create any scenario”.

With such a huge business potential, some claim that Second Life will quickly become more influential than eBay or MySpace.  But, as this extraordinary film reveals, this unregulated world has a sinister, dark side and there is nothing to stop adults having virtual sex with child avatars and the  first cases are emerging of people being ‘virtually’ raped.

But if virtual rape becomes a crime, how will sex offenders in Second Life be caught?


‘You only live twice’ will be transmitted at the following times:

8th September         10:00 & 20:00
9th September         09.30 & 23:00]]> The Business Channel Presents 'Lemonade Stories' http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=55 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
The film features successful entrepreneurs including Richard Branson, whose sense of risk-taking emerged from the life and example of his mother Eve who was quite feisty in her youth. As the film shows Eve was always there offering her support to her son, once bailing him out of the police cells after a scrape with the inland revenue and supporting him financially in his early years as he struggled to establish a student union newspaper.

Other entrepreneurs featured include Billy Starr, founder of the Pan-Mass Challenge, who was motivated by his mother’s untimely death from cancer to raise more than $100 million for cancer research, and Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons who accepted his mother’s gift of $250 and turned it into a multi-million dollar company.

Through intimate interviews with each entrepreneur and their mother as well as exclusive access to their family albums, Lemonade Stories will take you into a world rarely seen by anyone outside of each entrepreneur’s inner circle.


TRANSMISSION TIMES:

PREMIER        

19/10/07        14:00        20:00
21/10/07        16:00        23:00

‘LEMONADE STORIES PLAYS AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH]]> The Business Channel Profiles One Tough Mother http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=62 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100
When Gert Boyle’s husband died in 1970, the 46-year-old mother of three with no business experience found herself at the helm of Columbia sportswear, the struggling sportswear manufacturer founded in 1937 by her father after fleeing Nazi Germany.

Her first few weeks at the company were daunting – with her 40 employees in urgent need of reassurance and direction, she had little idea what she was doing or what was expected of her.

In this exclusive interview for The Business Channel Gert Boyle reveals how she gradually transformed the company into the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, with 2,000 employees and more than a billion dollars in annual sales. Along the way, thanks in part to a creative marketing campaign that billed her as “one tough mother”, she became an industry icon. Now 83, Gert Boyle is still very much in charge of her company.

During the interview Boyle offers insights into succeeding in business and in life and identifies the key strategic decisions and inspirational marketing campaigns that led to the ‘Bugaboo’ sports coat being the largest seller of its type in the world. She considers her hard work ethic combined with an excellent rapport with her workforce who she continues to treat her ‘family’ to be the main drivers behind her success.

Gert’s extraordinary story is an inspiration for mothers everywhere, as well as small business owners, or anyone facing seemingly insurmountable odds.


TRANSMISSION TIMES:

PREMIER

1/10/07    15.30    19:30    22.00

“A MOTHER OF INVENTION” PLAYS AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH]]> The Business Channel Announces First Original Programming. http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=47 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100
“For the first time in UK we have created a television channel that makes business accessible to all in society and our new programmes reflect this vision.” said Pooya Ahmadi, CEO of LITV. “With business ambition and entrepreneurialism as drivers of the 21st century economy we are proud to bring these success stories to UK viewers.”

In the first episode, ‘Sir Stelios at the British Library’ the Greek billionaire gives a frank and revealing interview and shares his business philosophy and insights into the life of an entrepreneur.

Gert Boyle is ‘A Mother of Invention’ who after the death of her husband faced the incredible task of taking over the business at the age of 46, with 3 children and practically no business experience. Now, at the age of 83, her company is worth billions and in her first UK television interview Gert shares her inspiring stories.

In ‘Christopher Howard Revealed’, The Business Channel examines the ideas of this exceptional American business guru, who combines Neuro Linguistic Programming with philosophy and psychology to offer a new way to view life and business.

In the final part of the series ‘Akasha – A State of Mind’ provides exclusive coverage of a variety of speakers at the London Palladium focusing on entrepreneurship, wealth and philanthropy. The line up includes Getrude Matshe who left Africa penniless with three children but went on to become a hugely successful author.

For further information on the programmes and The Business Channel, please contact Ziggy Gaji on 020 7735 0101.]]> The Business Channel Hits Top ABC1 Audience http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=48 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100
“We have exceeded the multi-channel average for several months. Achieving these averages affirms our belief that The Business Channel has got it right when it comes to business programming,” said Martin Everard, Director of Programmes. “We set out with the aim of broadcasting an attractive mix of business programmes and maintaining the ABC1 profile shows that we have been successful in this regard.”

The strategy for the viewing audience of the Business Channel is to continue to maintain a strong core block of ABC1 viewers and in tandem broaden the reach of the channel into other audience profiles.

“We do not see business as the exclusive domain of the rich and the privileged. We are very keen for The Business Channel to expand the range of its audience to include all people whose lives can be improved by having a better understanding of the way business works; ultimately we believe this is the majority of the population.” Said Everard.]]> The Business Channel Continues Its Winning Ways http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=52 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100
In the first programme, Gert Boyle is ‘A Mother of Invention’, who after the death of her husband, faced the incredible task of taking over the business at the age of 46, with 3 children and practically no business experience. Now, at the age of 83, her company is worth billions and in her first UK television interview Gert shares her inspiring stories.

1st TX: 1st October: 0700: 11.00: 1530: 1930: 2200

Next up, ‘Sir Stelios at the British Library’ where the Greek billionaire gives a frank and revealing interview and shares his business philosophy and insights into the life of an entrepreneur.

1st TX: 5th October: 0700: 1330: 1830: 2200

In ‘Akasha – A State of Mind’ there’s exclusive coverage of a variety of speakers at the London Palladium focusing on entrepreneurship, wealth and philanthropy. The line up includes Getrude Matshe, who left Africa penniless with three children but went on to become a hugely successful author.

1st TX: 8th October: 0700: 1100: 1530: 1930: 2200

In the final part of the series ‘Christopher Howard Revealed’, The Business Channel examines the ideas of this exceptional American business guru, who combines Neuro Linguistic Programming with philosophy and psychology to offer a new way to view life and business.

1st TX: 12th October: 0700: 1330: 1830: 2200]]> The Gucci's http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=53 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100
This revealing film investigates the intrigue and scandal of the most famous fashion family of this century. Beginning with the murder of Maurizio Gucci, the last Gucci in the company, and ending with the prosecution of former wife Patrizia Gucci, this film delves into the family's past, tracing the company's history from its humble beginnings to its heyday and its subsequent demise and rebirth under its Arab owners.

In the mid 1980s, Gucci is in turmoil. Aldo, once king of the empire, was languishing in an American jail, deposed by his upstart nephew, Maurizio. As company president Maurizio was determined to take control of Gucci. He buys out his cousins and changes the locks on the door of Aldo’s office in a very Italian coup.

Maurizio Gucci was killed shortly after selling his take to the Arab bank Investcorps and his violent death was the most tragic and baffling event in a long history of feuds and legal battles that had brought the family and the company to its knees.
]]> The Business Channel Transmits Landmark Economic Series http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=60 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100
September on The Business Channel highlights world economies, the factors that govern them and the direction they are heading as we move towards October 21st’s World Bank and IMF meetings.

As part of our “Masterclass” series of major documentaries, ‘Commanding Heights’ (6 x 52’) is a stunningly ambitious and important visual document, which tries to make sense of the world we live in today, recounting the inside story of our new global economy and chronicling the battle for economic power which has defined the wealth of nations in the 20th century.


Based on the best selling book by Pulitzer prize-winner Dan Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw, a number of key events are covered in detail throughout the series including the battle between capitalism and communism, the free market movement, the turmoil of economic reform, the emergence of globalisation and the future of the world economy.

(Dan Yergin)

Filmed on five continents, the powerful narrative combines stunning film footage with dramatic stories and extraordinary interviews with world leaders including Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney, Mikhail Gorbachev, Mexico’s ex-President Fox and the late Milton Friedmann.

Transmission times:

SUNDAY 16TH SEPT      22:00
THURSDAY 20TH SEPT     1700 & 2130
FRIDAY 21ST SEPT         11:00, 1500  & 2100
SATURDAY 22ND SEPT        1200 & 2200]]> The Business Channel Examines Soft Drinks Battleground http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=51 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100
This colourful  film traces the extraordinary rivalry between the 2 brands and contains many anecdotes and archive material which bring the epic saga vividly to life, such as when Coke’s ambitions spilled into communist China on the back of the Vietnam war or when Pepsi decided to use Soviet leader Krushchev as a publicity icon without his knowledge! 

In the 70s and 80s the bitter rivalry descended into all out war as a flurry of covert operations and underhand strategies were played out in developing countries around the world. Both companies were guilty of spying on each other and selling misinformation.

 Interviews with retired former executives from both sides provide a fascinating and sometimes disturbing insight into the ruthless corporate strategies employed by both corporations, particularly the incessant targeting of young people which continues today.]]> The Business Channel at The FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum 2007 http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=28 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100
In conjunction with the awards weekend, Yorkshire Forward – the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber - is the major sponsor of the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Awards) Global Business Forum.

The 2007 Global Business Forum is designed to promote bilateral trade between India and Yorkshire, providing an integral business focus to the entire IIFA weekend. The event will bring leaders of regional and international businesses together, to facilitate international networking between business leaders, policy makers and government officials. It will provide an insight into the issues facing international business and will provide inspiration and support to help UK business leaders develop existing or to enter new markets.

On the day, key speakers will include Lord Karan Billimoria, CEO, Cobra Beer, Sir Martin Sorrell, Chairman, WPP, Onkar Singh Kanwar, Chairman, Apollo Tyres and Kamalesh Sharma the High Commissioner of India with representatives of a wide ranging selection of financial, manufacturing,  pharmaceutical and industry leaders.

In 2 half hour programmes, The Business Channel will  be showing seminar topics coveing Building Partnerships Between India – UK; Clean Energy: Fuelling The Future; Environment and Sustainable Development; ICT & Telecom: Forging Collaborations and Entertainment: Enhancing Business Partnerships]]> BBC RADIO 3 TALKS TO THE BUSINESS CHANNEL ABOUT SHADOW COMPANY http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=45 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0100 Listeners to BBC Radio 3 in Beds, Herts and Bucks can eavesdrop on The Business Channel’s’ Head of Acquisitions, Chris Fletcher giving chapter and verse on one of next week’s lead programmes in the June schedule at 8.20 on Monday morning, the 119th June.

Being a mercenary may be one of the oldest human professions but private soldiers have always been regarded with fear and mistrust. Over 40,000 private soldiers and security personnel are now operating in Iraq. Who are these people? What do they do and why do they do it? 

‘Shadow Company’ (1 x 45’) is a powerful and revealing investigation into the secretive world of modern mercenaries. It follows one British contractor on his harrowing tour of duty, contrasting his experiences in Iraq with previous operations in places like Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea. Attracted by the lure of big money, many contractors arrive in Baghdad with little idea of how to operate in a war zone. Often the reckless antics of these largely unaccountable ‘cowboy’ operators place all other private contractors in danger.

Despite the growing international disquiet and countless allegations of abuses by testosterone-fuelled mercenaries, the privatisation of warfare looks set to increase. The private military industry is worth hundreds of billion pounds every year and even the military is calling for a system of global regulation. But this disturbing film highlights the difficulties in regulating so many people from so many different countries.]]> Asia Business Focus Programs on The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=29 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0100
This big budget international co-production examines the economic boom currently underway in China, which has lifted some 200 million people out of grinding poverty over the past few years

YEN FOR A DOLLAR          4 X 30’                                                       

This series focuses on business people of Asia in India, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.  12 very different people are featured and the series provides a good guide on how to do business in Asia from a western perspective, how to behave and what to avoid.

BOOMTOWN SHANGHAI        1 X 52’

This film looks at Shanghai’s astonishing development and transformation over the past 10 years.  Unregulated growth has impacted on the environment and on the city’s poorer residents

AN ORIENTAL AFFAIR

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel has stood proudly on the waterfront in the heart of Hong Kong for 40 years. Best selling author Simon Winchester looks at the part this legendary hotel has played in Hong Kong life, and why so many people have an ongoing love affair with this very British Institution, tinged with the romance of China.

THE DABBAWALLAS            1 X 52’                

Every day 4,000 dabbawallas pick up more than 100,000 lunches at homes in Mumbai, India, and deliver them to their places of work. The dabbawallas (or "box people") sort and then transport them by bicycle, cart and train. The fascinating film captures this more than 100-year-old work system.

BEHIND THE LABELS        1 X 52’

Despite being a U.S. territory, the pacific island of Saipan is exempt from the US federal minimum wage and certain immigration laws. Chinese female workers, lured by the promise of easy money, flock to the island in their thousands to work in the textile manufacturing trade. This hard-hitting programme, narrated by Susan Sarandon, exposes the harsh conditions under which the women live and work and asks: What are the multi-nationals doing to combat these abuses?]]> The Business Channel Profiles 'Rich List' Creator http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=32 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0100
In 1989 Malcolm Forbes brought 800 of his closest friends to his palace in Morocco to celebrate his 70th birthday.  The price tag for the bash was estimated at two million dollars.  Forbes' Scottish father would have been appalled at the expense.  Although Malcolm had been brought up in a comfortable lifestyle, it had certainly not been lavish.

Malcolm Forbes: High Flying Millionaire (1 x 52’) is an insight into the colourful life of one of America’s most controversial entrepreneurs.  His father Bertie was the founder of FORBES magazine, the first business publication in the country and Malcolm went to work for his father's magazine in 1944, juggling his corporate responsibilities with a long flirtation as a wannabe politician – a career path which he eventually abandoned after a series of setbacks.

With his concentration fully devoted to developing the success of the magazine, Forbes came up with one of his most effective marketing ideas, publishing "The Rich List", a compilation of the 400 richest people in America.  It was an immediate success and sales skyrocketed.

Soon after his death on February 24, 1990 OUTWEEK magazine became the first publication to print an article about Malcolm's alleged secret homosexual life. But above all he will be remembered for his sense of adventure and love of life which bought colour and controversy into the otherwise dull corporate landscape of post - war America]]> Shadow Company http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=27 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +0100
Being a mercenary may be one of the oldest human professions but private soldiers have always been regarded with fear and mistrust. Over 40,000 private soldiers and security personnel are now operating in Iraq. Who are these people? What do they do and why do they do it?

‘Shadow Company’ (1 x 45’) is a powerful and revealing investigation into the secretive world of modern mercenaries. It follows one British contractor on his harrowing tour of duty, contrasting his experiences in Iraq with previous operations in places like Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea. Attracted by the lure of big money, many contractors arrive in Baghdad with little idea of how to operate in a war zone. Often the reckless antics of these largely unaccountable ‘cowboy’ operators place all other private contractors in danger.

Despite the growing international disquiet and countless allegations of abuses by testosterone-fuelled mercenaries, the privatisation of warfare looks set to increase. The private military industry is worth hundreds of billion pounds every year and even the military is calling for a system of global regulation. But this disturbing film highlights the difficulties in regulating so many people from so many different countries.]]> The Dabbawallas http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=30 Sat, 12 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100 Every day 4,000 dabbawallas pick up more than 100,000 home-made lunches from houses in Mumbai, India, and deliver them to the home owners’ places of work with the most extraordinary efficacy. The dabbawallas (or "box people") sort the lunches multiple times and transport them by bicycle, cart and train. ‘The Dabbawallas’ (1 x 52’) captures this more than 100-year-old work system in this fascinating documentary.

Director Paul Goodman was astonished to learn just how efficient and reliable the dabbawallas' operation is without the help of any of today's technological or business tools. "They have developed an extremely complex and highly reliable system of work with none of the technology or practices that the industrial world thinks is necessary. It is a compelling example of what we in developed countries can learn from other countries," said Goodman.

Making the dabbawallas' success even more impressive is the fact that Mumbai, India, formerly known as Bombay, is continually growing and becoming more congested. The complicated network of streets and look-a-like buildings makes it difficult for the city's more than 16 million residents to get around. Yet the dabbawallas deliver lunches to the right person at the right time 96 percent of the time.]]> Modern Management Guru Profiled On The business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=31 Sat, 12 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100
‘Peter Drucker: An Intellectual Journey’ (1 x 52’) celebrates the life, work and rich contributions of the man who was known as the father of modern management. For more than sixty years, Drucker's books and articles defined the practice of management, teaching generations of executives from around the world how to successfully run corporations, government agencies and NGOs.

The documentary traces Drucker's intellectual journey from his early years in Europe to his ground breaking work in the United States and explores his landmark study of General Motors in the 1940's, one that led to the revolutionary concept of the decentralized corporation. It also examines the management ideas he used to help transform General Electric in the 1950's and that led to his famous primer book, The
Practice of Management.

Drucker continued to write, consult and teach until his death at the age of 95, with his later works offering penetrating insights into new methods for managing organizations in the 21st century. PETER DRUCKER: AN INTELLECTUAL JOURNEY features exclusive interviews with Drucker, held over the course of several days, in which he looked back on his career and looked forward to the challenges that all organizations will face in the years to come.]]> Dow Jones UP on The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=33 Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100 Rupert Murdoch’s recent bid for the Wall Street Journal has sent shockwaves through financial institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. As a backdrop to the ongoing corporate intrigue, The Business Channel is transmitting a fascinating  film on the 100 year history of the Dow Jones index.   

This is the riveting story of Charles Dow and Edward Jones, whose wildly dissimilar genius gave us the legendary Dow-Jones index, the grandfather of all market barometers. Through crashes and booms, wars and depressions, Dow and Jones and the geniuses and swindlers of Wall Street have made getting rich and getting poor equally fascinating.

One in three of us has part of his or her personal wealth invested and at risk somewhere in the market, with a huge chunk in them mysterious old Dow-Jones stocks and shares, which have depended over the years on the likes of J.P. Morgan, Carnegie, Lynch, Milken, and the notorious insider-dealer Ivan  Boesky a Wall Street roll of honour and dishonour.

Financial gurus Louis Rukeyser, Lou Dobbs, Frank Capiello, Ray Brady, Ron Insana, and Richard Stillman are among those interviewed, who will examine the colourful life of Dow and Jones over a tumultuous financial century.]]> The Business Channel Back In Fashion With Armani Profile http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=58 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100
A seemingly quiet, reserved man, Giorgio Armani is an icon of the fashion world. 

Though he often dreamed of being an actor, in 1957, Armani took a job at La Rinascente department store in Milan, and immersed himself in the world of fashion.  After working as a window dresser, photographer, and even, for Nino Cerruti, as a menswear designer, Armani met a man who convinced him to start his own line of clothing. Sergio Galeotti, an architect eleven years Armani's junior, became his business and life partner, and the two men launched Giorgio Armani S.p.A. on July 24, 1975.
 
A marketing genius, Armani quickly recognized the benefits of dressing the actors and socialites of the world.  Academy-award hopefuls began going to Armani to dress them, and soon the classic Hollywood stars were wearing Armani's designs - Jodie Foster, Michelle Pfeiffer, Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, and many, many more.  

‘Giorgio Armani: Deconstructing Fashion’ (1 x 52’) explores the fashion legend’s uncanny ability to stay on top of the fickle world of fashion for more than 25 years. 

Richly illustrated with footage of stunning fashion shows, celebrities donning Armani designs, and the great man himself at work and play, this film is an enduring record of Armani’s unparalleled success.

Transmission times:

FRIDAY    4    MAY    21:00
SATURDAY    5    MAY    12:00    22:00
FRIDAY    18    MAY    21:00
SATURDAY    19    MAY    12:00    22:00]]> Billionaires Take Lessons On The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=35 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100
What would you ask the two richest men in the world? In the revealing, HD interview special ‘Buffett and Gates go back to School’ (1 x 52’), multi-billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates field questions from business students on issues ranging through ethics, money, globalization and the secrets to their success.

Combined, the two men represent almost $100 billion in personal wealth. Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, acquired his $41 billion the old fashioned way: by investing in companies that sell basic products such as insurance, soft drinks, home improvement and shoes. Gates, in contrast, amassed his $51 billion fortune by founding Microsoft, the world's largest software company.

Yet, for the business students of the University of Nebraska, their true wealth lies in the wisdom that they've both accumulated over their remarkable careers. In a question and answer session marked by candour, humour and insightful commentary, the two visionaries provide a rare glimpse into what it takes and what it's like to achieve success beyond anyone's wildest dreams.]]> Donna Karan http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=59 Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100 DONNA KARAN is the story of how a wacky kid from Long Island who failed her college design courses and got fired from her first major job in the business went on to become a fashion giant. 
Donna Karan has been called the most important female designer of women’s fashions since Coco Chanel.  In 1984, she launched her own company with clothes for women just like her?powerful, sensitive, sexy, bright women in business.  Before Donna, executive clothes for women were mannish.  Donna made them sensual, luxurious, and yet easy to wear with the creation of her trademark Seven Easy Pieces a group of interchangeable clothes that could be worn from day into evening.
By 2000, that philosophy was the foundation of an empire earning a billion dollars a year including eyewear, fragrances, home furnishings, and the hugely successful DKNY line of hip, street smart sportswear.
Helping Donna tell her story is longtime friend Barbra Streisand,]]> Free Trade Guru Featured on The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=34 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100
This film profiles the remarkable life of Milton Friedman, the Nobel Prize winning economist whose visionary ideas led to greater liberty and economic development for citizens and countries around the world.

No one was a greater proponent of individual freedom and individual choice than Milton Friedman. An economic advisor to two American Presidents – Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan – he championed the idea that political freedom could only come through economic freedom. The rise of a global economy through free markets has underscored the power of his theories — the power of choice. In the 1970s and 80s Friedman’s views were under constant attack from the political left, especially after his controversial involvement in the Chilean economy under brutal dictator.Augusto.Pinochet.

Featuring interviews with leading economists and policy makers, including Alan Greenspan, Nobel Laureates Paul Samuelson and Gary Becker, and the first freely elected Prime Minister of Estonia, Mart Laar, ‘The Power of Choice: The Life and Ideas of Milton Friedman (1 x 90’) illustrates how the ideas of this once outrageous, yet innovative thinker are now part of the fabric of everyday life.

‘The Power of Choice – The Life and Ideas of Milton Friedman’ will be transmitted at the following times:]]> Halliburton Under Fire On The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=38 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0100
More than 100,000 private contractors are now working in Iraq, employed by the US military and paid for by the American taxpayer.

This industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars every year but corruption is rampant and many of the contracts were originally handed out to companies whose directors or ex-employees (eg  Dick Cheney, Halliburton) are high level members of the neo-conservative American republican elite. 

‘Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers’ (1 x 71’) illustrates how Halliburton in particular failed to provide even basic protection for their employees, particularly the truck drivers, and failed to deliver the goods and services to the US military for which they were paid vastly inflated fees. Halliburton’s decision last month to re-locate their headquarters to Dubai is widely regarded as a cynical ploy to avoid taxes and escape the gathering storm of controversy surrounding the company.

The film shows how private enterprise found its way into the notorious Abu Gharaib prison, where the US-based CACI logistics company were hired by the military to conduct the interrogation and torture of Iraqi inmates, ensuring the blame for human rights abuses did not stick to the US military.]]> The Business Channel - Three Quarters Of A Million Since Launch http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=39 Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000
“Great Channel!”
“I think the business channel is one of a kind.  Most of the programs I watched are of great quality and very informative.”
“I love the channel and .… I am a regular viewer”
“Fantastic, Super, I really love it!”

Just some of the many comments received from our enthusiastic ABC1 Adult audience that still ranks at a higher percentage than the multi-channel average with an upmarket profile that hit 92% in the second week in March and an overall average of 64% of ABC1’s, mainly 25-34 year olds.

Ahead in April, more highly-rated documentaries will impact the schedule in regular slots at 1000, 1400 and 2000 on weekdays, repeated at weekends to extend the opportunities to view for an appreciate=ive older demographic that includes the 35-64 year-olds.

For April, a three part series EMU – A History fills the Special feature slot on Thursday evenings with an account of how plans for a European currency nearly foundered and ultimately became the common currency for Europe’s many millions. A Saudi Royal Family highlights one of the Middle East’s most influential ruling dynasties; Bitter Harvest explores the opium poppy industry in Central Asia while Fake Business follows Cartier’s anti-counterfeiting team in China, the world’s most prolific producer of fake goods. Fashion takes  a prime position in the April schedule with A Savage Life in Fashion, in which Joanna Lumley recounts Percy Savage’s extraordinary influence on some of the biggest names on the international fashion circuit and The House of Versace’ traces the meteoric rise of a family-run label, which has been a consistent favourite of the beautiful people.]]> The Business Channel Profiles Fashion Legend http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=36 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000
In the glamorous and competitive world of high fashion, the name "Versace" has a mystique unmatched by its rivals. 

‘The House of Versace’ (1 x 52’) traces the meteoric rise of the company in the 1980's, - a family-run label, which has been a consistent favourite of the beautiful people - the velvet rope world of rock-stars, models and movie idols.

The Versace family has not always rubbed elbows with the rich and famous.  Gianni Versace was born on December 2nd, 1946, in a bedroom next to his mother's boutique in the impoverished Southern Italian port city of Reggio Calabria. 

Gianni's mother was a dressmaker and was the driving force behind Gianni's fascination with fashion at a young age.  From this humble beginning to the heights of wealth and fame, Gianni passionately pursued new and daring fashion styles that propelled him to the top of the fashion industry.

Years after her brother was senselessly gunned down in front of his Miami mansion, Donatella carries on his glamorous legacy. Donatella, once inseparable from her brother's side, now stands alone as the head of the family fashion label that continues to produce the standards to which all high fashion is compared.]]> Fake Business http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=40 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000
Counterfeiting is threatening the world economy.

Today, counterfeiting and piracy represent 5-7% of world trade: a staggering 300 billion dollars a year!

In ‘Fake Business’ (1 x 52’) the filmmakers follow watch-manufacturer Cartier and their 20-strong anti-piracy team as they investigate illicit retailing worldwide (bogus Cartier products are even sold on the Internet). The film focuses specifically on China, which produces 80% of the world's pirated goods in an organized sector providing jobs for millions. Here, Cartier's "harassment" policy is proving effective. Fines are so frequent that counterfeiters are starting to avoid Cartier products and concentrate on other brands.

Once piracy involved mainly luxury goods, software and music, but now even mass-produced items such as Bic razors, lighters and pens are copied too. These fakes made from poor quality materials can be dangerous…

Since legal costs are high, not all companies fight piracy as actively as Cartier or Bic. As a result, jobs will continue to be lost, taxes evaded, innovation undermined and economies severely affected.]]> The Business Channel and Opium Poppy Growth http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=41 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000
In the new political landscape of Central Asia, US and Australian troops are on the ground and Western military bases are under construction throughout the region.

But now, the forces aligned against the Taliban and their terrorist allies find themselves in an uneasy relationship with the drug lords who control the trade of much of the world's heroin using the age-old Silk routes into Russia and Europe.

Bitter Harvest (1 x 52’) illustrates how, after the departure of the Taliban, the current opium crop in Afghanistan has become one of the largest ever. How will the world's drug control authorities deal with this fact of Central Asian economy and life? 

Can agricultural reforms be implemented that will equal the profitability of the opium trade? And how will the United States resolve a dilemma that pits the war on terror against the war on drugs.]]> The Business Channel Profiles Luxury Hotel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=42 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel has stood proudly on the waterfront in the heart of Hong Kong for 40 years. It's one of the best hotels in the world, but it's more than just a hotel, it is Hong Kong, the vibrancy of the city is felt the moment you walk through the doors.

In ‘An Oriental Affair (1 x 52’), best selling author Simon Winchester looks at the part this legendary hotel has played in Hong Kong life and examines the behind the scenes business of running a large hotel.  With a number of rich and demanding guests and competition increasing all the time, the standard of the hotel has to be consistently excellent. This applies to all members of staff with the ever watchful management ensuring things always run smoothly.]]> The Business Channel Shows a Driving Force In Fashion http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=43 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000
Australian immigrant Percy Savage started fashion PR, introduced Saint-Laurent to Dior, created the Mary Quant explosion, invented the fashion video and established London Fashion Week. 

‘A Savage Life in Fashion’ (1 x 52’) traces the phenomenal growth of the fashion industry from the ‘new look’ of the late 1940’s to the present day and examines Percy Savage’s extraordinary influence on some of the biggest names on the international fashion circuit.

Narrated by Joanna Lumley, the programme features the first-ever portrayal of the secretive Percy Savage alongside a host of fashion icons, rare archive, and revealing interviews with the likes of Givenchy, Mary Quant and Karl Lagerfeld.]]> The Business Channel Takes 20 Steps To Better Management http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=44 Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000                                                     
Concentrating on different aspects of effective people management, 20 Steps to Better Management delivers a combination of pertinent comment delivered by Hugh Dennis with real life stories from case study companies and expert advice from leading business consultant, John Nicholson.

The series is designed to cover all aspects of traditional management skills but principally the people side of business and getting the most of them..

Scheduled for the next 10 weeks on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with two programmes per half-hour, at times to suit most office hours, April includes such subjects as: Making the Most of Yourself, You Can’t Do It Alone, Helping Others to Achieve, The Art of Influencing, Creating a Better Team and Telling People What You Think of Them – this series is a must for any budding entrepreneur and not a few more established ones!]]> The House Of Saudi Unveiled On The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=37 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000
From a desert warrior to the leader of the largest oil-producing nation in the world, Ibn Saud went on to establish a family dynasty that has ruled ever since.  ‘The Saudi Royal family (1 x 52’) profiles the lives of Ibn Saud and his sons who have successively taken the throne, including King Saud, King Faisal, King Khalid and King Fahd. 

Since 1995, when King Fahd had a stroke, Crown Prince Abdullah has been governing Saudi Arabia and will become the next King, when Fahd dies. Each King has had a unique reign and has shown varying degrees of friendship or animosity towards the West.  

They also had very different and distinct personalities but their successful business dealings since the creation of the Saudi state in 1932 have elevated the kingdom to a position of power in the region.]]> European Monetary Union Profiles On The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=26 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

‘The Money Changers’ (3 x 52’)  traces the origins of the move towards European Monetary Union  - a movement which can be traced right back  to the Vietnam War.  Witnesses who have never spoken publicly before describe the bitter behind-the-scenes quarrels that gave birth to the Euro,  focusing  specifically on Francois Mitterrand’s election to the Presidency in 1981 and how the French socialist made a dramatic U-turn in his attitude towards Monetary Union by becoming the only head of state ever to risk all for EMU. 

The final film in the series opens in 1991, with the maneuvers and secret discussions during the last stages of the negotiation of the EMU Treaty and concludes with the inescapable conclusion that the Euro was conceived and cynically nurtured as a political ploy rather than as an economic necessity.]]> Hotel Magnate Profiled On The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=20 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000
JW Marriott was born into a Mormon family of faith and of poverty. Out of necessity he matured quickly, shouldering as a child the responsibilities of a man in the harsh mid-western environment of turn of the century America.

Rich in historical archive of the time, ‘JW Marriott’ (1 x 52’) examines the early career of this man from Utah and how he developed the uncanny ability to motivate others and delegate effectively, setting him on a course, which ultimately produced one of the most successful companies in America. 

Alongside his beloved wife, the film illustrates how Marriott cleverly worked his way from obscurity into the upper echelons of corporate America through hard work, integrity, and an unshakeable belief in his own destiny, ultimately building up a billion dollar hotel empire.  Along the way he befriended presidents and routinely gave back to those who'd helped him.]]> Black Coffee http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=16 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000
Following on from The Business Channel’s widely acclaimed series ‘Big Sugar, ‘Black Coffee’ (3 x 52’) is an in-depth look at the unique and volatile history of coffee, from its discovery on an ancient Ethiopian hillside to its role as a contemporary elixir.
The Turks and the Arabs were the first to really embrace what many initially saw as an ‘evil’ potion and among the Europeans the Italians and French were quick to make it a central point of their social culture. Very soon it had spread worldwide, making traders and growers fabulously wealthy, sparking wars, encouraging imperialism and contributing to slavery.

Stunningly filmed in high definition and shot in 10 countries around the world from award-winning director Irene Angelico (‘The Cola Conquest’), the series examines the economics of the coffee trade, the main players and companies involved and the constant efforts of the fair trade lobby to finally achieve an increase in wages for the millions of coffee pickers around the world, the majority of whom live in poor, developing countries.]]> The Business Channel - Heading In The Right Direction http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=17 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000
This profile is exactly where the channel was targeted for a UK business-minded audience and proves that the policy of scheduling high quality, informative and entertaining programming was justified. Programmes have been acquired from major broadcasters and independent producers from around the world, including the BBC, Channel 4, the Open University, AETN and WGBH and have covered a wide range of business subjects ranging from reality shows, such as Holiday Maker, Back to the Floor and Blood on the Carpet; biographies that include such highly successful business names as Rupert Murdoch, Enzo Ferrari and Warren Buffett; documentaries that reflect the business world around us covering the oil industry in Africa; US Oil’s Next Target and the trade in counterfeit drugs in The Malaria Parasites and historical documentaries, such as Big Sugar, that put into context contemporary global issues.

Added to this mix has been content that might be viewed as unusual for a “business” channel - feature films. Among these titles, which include Jack of All Trades, Purpose and Seventh Floor, our highest individually rated offering (BARB .09) was Neville’s Island, scheduled strategically on Christmas Day, attracting an audience of around 35000 at its peak.  .

In the pipeline are a range of top quality programmes and series, the strategy being to build on planned programme acquisitions thus developing a loyal and burgeoning audience before becoming a leading
commissioner of original business programming: TV hits such as The Apprentice, Dragons Den, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and The Big Idea continue to win millions of viewers and prove that the public has an appetite for informative and entertaining business shows. The Business Channel aims to capitalize on this trend with its unique positioning in the business television space.



Feedback from viewers reflected the positive reception to the channel with comments such as:

‘It’s about time we had a channel dedicated to business programmes’;

‘I think your service is vital to everyone in business’;

and

‘Great work bringing the Business Channel on air. Think the concept is brilliant and it’s by far my favourite new channel’.]]> The Business Channel Uncovers Russian Corruption http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=21 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000 It’s been called the greatest theft ever. In the past decade between $200 billion and $500 billion has been gouged from the Russian economy. Most of the money has ended up in rich Western nations.

‘Looting Russia’s Economy’ (1 x 52’) is a story about the money laundering game played at the very highest international level. It’s about Russian gangsters, corrupt officials, impoverished South Pacific islands, shady middlemen and some of the world’s most reputable banks.

The film-makers travel to Russia, the US and western Europe and meet bankers, regulators and senior law enforcers in the making of this film.  Together they paint a very bleak picture.

“What’s happened in Russia represents the greatest theft of resources that has ever occurred in history in a short period of time”, says the Centre for International Policy.

This report tracks a single operation in which a staggering $70 billion exited Russia - an illustration of how globalization and the internet have become important tools of the modern criminal.]]> Fast Food King Profiled on The Business Channel http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=22 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000 In 1948, inspired by the success of McDonald's, which sprang up in his hometown of San Bernardino, California, Glen Bell started out with a modest burger stand called "Bell's Hamburger's."  But Glen knew he had to come up with something new and innovative to compete with the wildly successful burger boys.  In the midst of his visits to local Mexican restaurants, he discovered and "re-invented" the taco or at least an Americanized version of it.   Glen developed two more chains, "Taco Tia" and "El Taco" before he hit on "Taco Bell" in 1962.  The chain grew like wildfire until 1977 when Glen sold his share to Pepsico for 32 million dollars. 

Today, Taco Bell sits as one of the most well-known, successful franchises in the history of fast food.  Last year alone, the chain served more than 35 million people each week a savoury collection of tacos, burritos, enchiladas and nachos.   By 2005, Taco Bell generated more than $1.6 billion dollars in sales with another $3.8 billion chipped in by the franchisees, many of whom became extremely wealthy in their own right.]]> The Business Channel Blossoms with Tulip Mania http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=23 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000 In 1948, inspired by the success of McDonald's, which sprang up in his hometown of San Bernardino, California, Glen Bell started out with a modest burger stand called "Bell's Hamburger's."  But Glen knew he had to come up with something new and innovative to compete with the wildly successful burger boys.  In the midst of his visits to local Mexican restaurants, he discovered and "re-invented" the taco or at least an Americanized version of it.   Glen developed two more chains, "Taco Tia" and "El Taco" before he hit on "Taco Bell" in 1962.  The chain grew like wildfire until 1977 when Glen sold his share to Pepsico for 32 million dollars. 

Today, Taco Bell sits as one of the most well-known, successful franchises in the history of fast food.  Last year alone, the chain served more than 35 million people each week a savoury collection of tacos, burritos, enchiladas and nachos.   By 2005, Taco Bell generated more than $1.6 billion dollars in sales with another $3.8 billion chipped in by the franchisees, many of whom became extremely wealthy in their own right.]]> The Business Channel Unravels Worldcom Scandal http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=24 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000
The Business Channel is set to air an engrossing documentary which tells the true story behind the spectacular rise and fall of Worldcom boss Bernie Evers, who was recently sentenced to 20 years in a US penitentiary for his part in the biggest financial scandal of the 1990s.

‘The Wall Street Fix’ (1 x 52’) examines the dubious activities of US telecoms giant Worldcom against a backdrop of what a US prosecutor termed the  “inherently corrupt business practices” of Wall Street which eventually cost small investors trillions of dollars. A conspiracy of super banks (notably Citicorp) and Wall Street brokers, in league with Evers, artificially valued Worldcom stocks far above their real value leading to a frenzy of buying, inevitably followed by a spectacular crash.

While the banks were fined millions of dollars - a drop in the ocean for them - the real victims were ordinary US investors who were cleaned out. For many observers however Bernie Evers was a convenient and high profile scapegoat while the real problem lay with the dozens of unscrupulous Wall Street brokers who escaped punishment.]]> The Business Channel Profiles Computer Guru http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=25 Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Steve Wozniak is the undisputed genius behind the personal computer revolution, creating the first smaller, faster unit that came to be known as the Apple Computer in 1976.  He is indeed a legend among nerds.

‘Steve Wozniak: The Wizard of the Apple’ (1  x 52’) examines how Wozniak and his high school buddy Steve Jobs also changed the corporate rules of America, running their company like they ran their lives - informally, and without rules.  Together they brought an anti-corporate ethic to the Fortune 500 world that invited envy, praise and scorn in equal amounts.

‘Woz’, as he is widely known, was a college dropout working for Hewlett - Packard in the calculator department when he began tinkering in the company stockroom after hours.  The result of his work was the first truly personal computer, and almost overnight, Steve Wozniak changed the future and became a multi-millionaire.

By 1985, as Apple became one of the biggest high-tech companies in the country, Woz stunned the computer world by dropping out, worth a cool 100 million dollars]]> The Business Channel to Air Space Race Film http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=19 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000 Outer space is open for business. From orbits 36,000 km away, satellites run our daily lives and put missiles in contact with their targets. They see and hear everything. But this booming $50 billion dollar a year industry is virtually unregulated.

High Frontier (1 x 52’) is a timely and engrossing film, which shows how space has become the exclusive domain of the most powerful nations and the most influential international corporations. Their objective over the next few years is to consolidate the military and commercial dominance they already enjoy closer to home.

Specialist space brokers like Mary-Ann Elliott are stepping into the fray and becoming fabulously wealthy. Space buccaneers already have highly developed plans to mine asteroids in space while celestial estate agents bizarrely claim to have 2 million property owners on the Moon! 

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, keen to exploit new revenue streams, sets out his strategy to develop space tourism within the next five years but observers warn of the potentially catastrophic impact of unregulated development and the likely increase in tensions between America, Russia and China as the race for domination hots up.]]> The Business Channel - Expanding Its ABC1 Audience http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=18 Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0000
Coming up in March, several highly-rated documentaries stride across the schedule which has been transformed to make “appointments to view” at 1000, 1400 and 2000 on weekdays with even more documentary slots on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.

The three part series Black Coffee is the Special feature on Thursday evening tracing the world’s fascination with the coffee bean from its discovery in Ethiopia to its role as a contemporary elixir, while documentaries on Steve Wozniak, J W Marriott, Taco Bell, Versace and Jack Warner fill the biography slots. With Spring around the corner, Tulipmania tells the story of the Dutch bulb industry; Joanna Lumley investigates the history of fashion that was started by Percy Savage in A Savage Life in Fashion; The High Frontier looks at the latest space race, spearheaded by broker Mary-Ann Elliot and exploited by Sir Richard Branson; Susan Sarandon narrates Behind the Labels, an expose of the working conditions of Chinese ragtrade women in Saipan; The Good, Bad and the Ugg Boot dramatizes the fight over the famous footwear trademark; money laundering is highlighted in Looting Russia’s Economy and Aphrodite’s Drop dives into the sensuous world of the international trade in pearls.

More than one to watch on The Business Channel in March.]]> The Malaria Drug Parasites http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=15 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000
‘The Malaria Parasites’ (1 x 52’) follows the flamboyant and outspoken director of Nigeria’s food and drugs commission, Dr Dora Akunyili, and her struggle to expose the extent of the problem to a seemingly uninterested world.  Akunyili’s own sister was a malaria victim so her crusade also carries a personal dimension.

Drugs giant Glaxo Smith Kline in particular comes under the spotlight, accused of covering up the extent of the problem to preserve its bottom line. Glaxo’s anti-malarial tablets have been widely copied in Africa but according to ex-employees the company has chosen to remain silent, not wanting to acknowledge in any way the link between its own legitimate product and a fake killer, which often contains little more than flour and sugar.

Worrying signs are emerging that malaria is developing resistance to the one drug, which can still treat it. But after decades of silence, is it too late to act?

‘The Malaria Parasites’ will be transmitted at the following times:]]> Big Sugar http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=14 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000
In the second hour of the hard-hitting ‘Big Sugar’ series (2 x 52’) we see how this “unholy alliance” is largely dependent on the continuing exploitation of Haitian workers in the sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic where 650,000 migrant Haitian workers earn $2.50 per day, living in squalid shanty towns on the edges on the plantations.

Apart from this modern slavery scandal, another legacy is the frightening increase in obesity, especially among teenagers who are relentlessly targeted by the soft drink/fast food industry. This beautifully shot film reveals how the big sugar corporations, mostly based in Florida, enjoy the unwavering support of Governor Jeb Bush and the Whitehouse and spend huge amounts of money lobbying Congress and attempting to rubbish the link between sugar and obesity.

(The first part of this acclaimed series looked at the development of the sugar trade in the 18th century as the British and French empires vied for control).

‘Big Sugar’ will be transmitted at the following times: (with another chance to see Part 1 on Saturday, January 13.)]]> AL WALEED ? BUSINESSMAN, BILLIONAIRE PRINCE http://www.thebusinesschannel.com?page=press&press_id=13 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000
In an attempt to learn more about this relatively unknown entrepreneur, The Business Channel is set to air  ‘Al Waleed – Businessman, Billionaire Prince’ (1 x 52’), in which presenter Riz Khan is given exclusive and unfettered  access to  the urbane Al Waleed at work and play over the course of 2 hectic weeks.

Prince Al Waleed talks candidly about his early influences in the desert kingdom, the development of his property empire and his controversial encounter with New York’s Mayor Giuliani in the wake of the 9/11 attacks when his $10 million donation was turned down.

We look at his business and negotiating style in a number of ‘live’ situations and examine some of the extraordinary deals he has struck to make him one of the richest men in the world, worth over £12 billion.  Filmed in various exotic locations around the globe, including on his luxury yacht moored off Cannes, the film gives an intimate and rare insight into the fascinating lifestyle of the super-rich.


‘Al Waleed – Businessman, Billionaire Prince’ will be transmitted at the following times:]]>