MUMBAI: DreamWorks Animation has announced that DreamWorks Classics has made its debut at the on-going television trade event Mipcom 2012, in Cannes, bringing to worldwide telecasters a television portfolio highlighted by DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, which is inspired by the film How to Train Your Dragon, and an all-new television series based on the studio‘s upcoming animated feature film Turbo.

DreamWorks Animation Worldwide Head of Franchise Strategy and Distribution Kelley Avery said, "DreamWorks Classics is now the home of an expansive collection of high-quality properties that will resonate with a worldwide audience, and we are proud to make our Mipcom debut this year, spearheaded by DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, one of our premiere television series based on our blockbuster film, together with Turbo, one of our most highly-anticipated future franchises."

Classic Media founder, CEO Eric Ellenbogen said, "Over the last four years DreamWorks Animation has proven to be a consistently successful producer of CG animated television content with its three series already in existence. I believe that our longstanding success in the family market combined with DreamWorks Animation‘s unparalleled original content will present many exciting growth opportunities for DreamWorks Classics in the future."

DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk is inspired by the studio‘s popular How to Train Your Dragon franchise, of which the second and third feature film installments are due in theaters on 20 June 2014 and 18 June 2016, respectively.

Also highlighting the DreamWorks Classics portfolio at Mipcom 2012 is the all-new CG animated television series Turbo, based on the upcoming DreamWorks Animation 3D feature film of the same name. The movie tells the story of a garden snail with an impossible dream: to win the Indy 500. When a freak accident gives him extraordinary speed, Turbo sets out to try to make this dream come true. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti and Michael Pena. It will be released in theaters on 19 July 2013.

Two CG animated television series inspired by other DreamWorks Animation film franchises currently air on Nickelodeon. Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness debuted in November of 2011 and Penguins of Madagascar in March 2009. Both programmes air in approximately 140 countries, reaching over 450 million households worldwide. Nickelodeon will also debut a future Monsters vs. Aliens television series.

Beginning with The Croods on 22 March 2013, all films from DreamWorks Animation will be distributed by Fox. Rise of the Guardians, which will be released in theaters on 21 November 2012, will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

This makes DreamWorks Animation the first major film studio to debut at Mipcom in more than a decade. In addition to the original CG animated television productions from DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks Classics will represent Classic Media‘s well-known movies, series and specials. The DreamWorks Classics sales team, headed by London-based Chloe Van Den Berg, are at Mipcom along with Avery and Peter Gal, head of Television Development at DreamWorks Animation.

MUMBAI: DreamWorks Animation?s net income for the second quarter ended 30 June tanked 63 per cent to $12.8 million from $34.1 million a year ago.

The company?s total revenue for the quarter was $162.8 million, down 25 per cent from the year ago period.

"DreamWorks Animation?s second quarter of 2012 was driven primarily by the box office performance of Madagascar 3: Europe?s Most Wanted, the seventh highest-grossing film of the year," said DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.

"The third and biggest film in our blockbuster Madagascar franchise has surpassed $500 million at the worldwide box office to date, with a large number of key international territories yet to come."

Madagascar 3: Europe?s Most Wanted contributed approximately $54.8 million of revenue to the quarter, driven primarily by its performance at the worldwide box office. The film was released on 8 June and has grossed approximately $210 million at the domestic box office and $293 million at the international box office to date.

Puss In Boots contributed $22.8 million of revenue to the quarter, driven primarily by home entertainment.

The film reached an estimated 5.2 million home entertainment units sold worldwide through the end of the second quarter, net of actual and estimated future returns. Kung Fu Panda 2 contributed $46.4 million of revenue to the quarter, driven primarily by domestic pay television.

The film reached an estimated 5.7 million home entertainment units sold worldwide through the end of the second quarter, net of actual and estimated future returns.

Megamind contributed $1.4 million of revenue to the quarter, driven primarily by home entertainment. The film reached an estimated 5.5 million home entertainment units sold worldwide through the end of the second quarter, net of actual and estimated future returns.

Library, which now includes Shrek Forever After, contributed approximately $27.4 million of revenue to the quarter. All Other items, including non-feature film businesses, contributed $10.0 million of revenue to the quarter, of which Shrek The Musical in London was the single largest contributor. Costs of revenue for the quarter equaled $114.2 million.

Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $30.8 million, including approximately $5.2 million of stock-based compensation expense. The Company?s income tax expense for the second quarter was $5.9 million.

Its combined effective tax rate and the actual tax rate coupled with the effect of the Company?s tax sharing agreement with a former stockholder was approximately 30% for the second quarter.

DreamWorks Animation?s third quarter results are expected to be driven primarily by the continued theatrical performance of Madagascar 3: Europe?s Most Wanted. Television revenue for Puss In Boots is also expected to contribute to the Company?s third quarter results.

MUMBAI: CNN has appointed Ann Chu as director - partner solutions group, CNN Advertising Sales Asia Pacific.

Chu will be based in Hong Kong and will report to CNN advertising sales Asia Pacific VP William Hsu. She will be responsible for generating and managing sponsorship opportunities and projects across the region.

Hsu said, "Ann?s experience in both the newsgathering and content sales functions position her extremely well to provide our clients with first-in-class sponsorship solutions. As the CNN ad sales team in Asia continues its solid sales performance this year, we look forward to Ann?s continued commitment to the network and our clients."

Chu brings in over a decade of experience. She was most recently the executive director of CNN broadcast sales and affiliate relations, responsible for managing sales and support of the network?s broadcast services to networks across the region. Prior to joining CNN, Chu had also worked at MTV Asia and Dreamworks in Los Angeles.