MUMBAI: A study on the economic impact of New York State?s film and television production tax credits finds that production incentives supported 28,900 jobs across all sectors of the state?s economy and generated $6.9 billion in economic spending in the state in 2011.

The study was conducted by HR&A Advisors and assesses the economic and fiscal impact of production tax credits on the state in 2011, the most recent full year for which data is available. The study also finds that the jobs HR&A analyzed within the film and television production industry in New York State grew by nearly 25 percent between 2008 and 2011, while private sector employment as a whole declined by 1.6 percent in New York State during the same time frame.

Motion Picture Association of America Chairman, CEO Senator Chris Dodd said, ?These findings further confirm that the New York State production incentives have grown into a major economic driver in the state?s economy. Not only does film and television production in New York employ the thousands of men and women working on some of the most popular television shows and films, it also supports small businesses in every sector of the economy ? dry cleaners, restaurants, florists -- who benefit when a production comes to town. Film and television production is a critical piece of New York State?s economy.?

Key findings from the study include:

• The production industry in New York State has grown despite an overall decline in private sector employment statewide. In New York State the jobs analyzed within the film production industry grew by nearly 25 percent between 2008 and 2011, while private sector employment as a whole declined by 1.6 percent.
• In 2011, the Credit supported 28,900 jobs across all industries in New York State, including 12,600 jobs directly associated with productions and 16,300 supported downstream in related businesses, as captured by multiplier effects.
• The Credit also generated $6.9 billion in economic spending and $4.2 billion in personal income to the New York State economy in 2011.
• Estimated tax revenues to New York State and New York City totaled $748 million. Compared to the present value of the 2011 credit distribution of $335 million, this results in a return on investment (ROI) of 2.23 for the Credit, i.e. for every $1.00 of credit distributed, the State and City received a combined $2.23 in taxes.
• Since 2004, the number of productions participating in the program has steadily increased from a total of 18 productions in 2004 to 135 productions in 2011. Spending on goods and services in New York State by these qualified productions has also significantly grown from $600 million in 2004 to $1.5 billion in 2011, an increase of 155 percent.

MUMBAI: Models, runways, grueling photo shoots and a prize! All this will be part of the reality show Australia?s Next Top Model, the sixth season of which will air Monday to Friday at 10:30 pm on the women targetted channel Big CBS Love.

Coming on board as the host and judge of Australia?s Next Top Model, is Sarah Murdoch. Sarah is an Australian supermodel, actress and daughter-in-law of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. She has modelled for L?Oreal, Estee Lauder and Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.

This is the second time that Sarah has come on to the show as the host and judge. Along with Sarah, the other judges on the show are fashion designer Alex Perry, television personality Charlotte Dawson and fashion and beauty photographer Jez Smith.

The show follows a group of 16 young Australian girls, who come from all over Australia to Sydney, to compete for the title of Australia?s next super model. The girls must undergo a series of challenges and tricky photo shoots that bring out different aspects that are vital for a model to master in order for the judges to determine who will be Australia?s Next Top Model.

The winner not only wins the coveted title but scores of other prizes that include representation by Australia?s premiere modeling agency Priscilla?s Model Management for 12 months; a $25,000 contract to be the face of the jeans brand Levi?s; a trip to New York to meet with top modeling agency Elite Model Management; a Ford Fiesta Zetec, $20,000 and an exclusive eight page editorial and cover spread in fashion magazine Harper?s Bazaar.

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: Sony Entertainment Network, USA, has concluded a VoD agreement with Splendid Film, a subsidiary of Splendid Medien.

The licensing deal will allow Sony Entertainment Network?s VoD platform to show classic films such as Traffic and Gangs of New York, as well as more recent films including The Expendables and SeeFood from Splendid?s film catalogue.

Sony Entertainment Network customers can watch and download the Splendid titles individually at any time. The video-on-demand range can be accessed using various devices including PSP (PlayStation Portable), Bravia, Xperia mobile, Sony Tablet, PlayStation 3 or PC.

Enteractive, another subsidiary of Splendid Medien, is handling technical provision of the titles for the VoD platform.

?Marketing of programmes via internet platforms is becoming increasingly significant. In the Sony Entertainment Network, we have gained another very important partner for broadcasting our programmes," commented Splendid Medien CEO Andreas R. Klein.