Author: indiantelevision.com Team

Entertainment industry to be valued at Rs 650 billion

A comprehensive report on the entertainment industry, the first of its kind, has been compiled by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) along with Arthur Anderson. The report reveals very positive and optimistic figures projected for the entertainment industry’s growth. The media committee is headed by Lalit Modi and the members include Plus Channel’s CEO Amit Khanna, Sone Entertainment Television’s CEO Kunal Das Gupta and ESPN India Chairman Manu Sawhney along with representatives of film, music and entertaiment industry.

The report says that the Indian entertainment industry’s turnover will touch Rs 650 billion in the year 2005 from the current Rs 150 billion. The television software industry is slated to grow to Rs 90 billion, music industry to Rs 22 billion from the current Rs 12.54 billion where as the live entertainment sector would be worth Rs 33.65 billion from the current Rs 2 billion.

The survey suggests private or progressive participation in Doordarshan. Other suggestions are as follows:

* Creating a special anti-piracy cell with the police department to combat the growing piracy menace.
* Developing closer association with international cells guarding against piracy and streamlining anti-piracy laws with that of US, UK etc.
* Bringing the industry in parity with the information technology sector with respect to overseas investment and stock listing norms.
* Providing stable legislation for the issue of radio broadcasting licences.
* Reviewing the functioning of the Censor Board in light of the changing scenario and citizens increasingly demanding the right to make their own decisions on entertainment.
* Issuing board regulations/guidelines for banks and financial institutions to facilitate lending to this intellectual property related industry.
* Reviewing archaic laws and onerous responsibilities cast on the industry particularly in the film exhibition and live entertainment sectors.

The Ficci has organised a conference on 30 March and 31 March, 2000 in Mumbai to discuss the problems faced by the entertainment industry. Industry bigwigs and political bigwigs are slated to attend the seminar.

March 14, 2006
FremantleMedia to focus on fun with comedy & entertainment for MipTV

MUMBAI: FremantleMedia will be centre stage at MipTV 2006 as it presents a number of exciting new formats to buyers worldwide.

From Australia’s Working Dog comes a spontaneous and often hilarious new format, Thank God You’re Here. The improvisation sketch show will premiere on Australia’s Network Ten as an 8 x 1 hour primetime series on 5 April. Thank God You’re Here brings together a group of celebrities whose improvisation skills are tested to the max when they are thrown into an unknown situation which they must ad-lib their way through.

Each star walks, clueless, through a doorway and into a scene which might be an operating theatre, a Roman dungeon or a spaceship. Greeted by the catchphrase “Thank God Youre Here”, the celebrity must think on their feet and quickly figure out who they are and why they are there.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show supports the adage that there’s nothing funnier than seeing a great mind in panic. The programme showcases a celebrity’s versatility and sharpness of mind as well as their ability to lie and deceive.

Straight From The Heart is this new format in which six ordinary people take to the stage to perform a song for an unsuspecting special someone in the audience. Having secretly rehearsed, it’s now their chance to belt out a ballad or raise the rafters with a rock song for their loved one. It could be friends singing in thanks for a unique friendship, a teenager apologising to his parents in song, or perhaps even a melodic proposal of marriage. The surprise element delivers some very real emotional reactions when the performers sing out their special message. There’s no record contract at stake, but the chance to send out a song Straight From The Heart, and be in the running to win a holiday, as awarded by the viewers.

Variety is back and bigger than ever with Showtime! This vibrant entertainment format is a perfect fit for worldwide primetime schedules, combining talent and tantrums, humour and humility, not to mention its fair share of divas and drama queens.

The programme features celebrities – news presenters, politicians, chefs as you’ve never seen them before. Each week four well-known personalities are transformed into ‘A list’ performers. With a manager and a budget behind them, they are dressed to impress and take to the stage to deliver their surprising, convincing and sometimes hilarious performances, while the viewers decide which team has made the grade.

FremantleMedia Worldwide Entertainment executive vice president production Rob Clark said he was looking forward to the prospect of sharing this line-up of programming with MipTV buyers this April. “We are proud to present a diverse and exciting slate, with everything from inventive entrepreneurs to improvisation. With such a great mix of different styles of variety entertainment to suit the range of needs presented by broadcasters around the world, we believe they’ll find what they re looking for at FremantleMedia,” he said.

March 14, 2006
Discovery Communication launches online homework service

MUMBAI: Capitalizing on broadband video, Discovery Communications has launched Cosmeo, an online homework help service engineered for the twenty first century family.

The site has been designed for the generation that lives online, Cosmeo harnesses the power of broadband and media to help kids achieve academic breakthroughs.

In an official statement, Cosmeo is the only comprehensive digital library that includes easy to digest homework help, interactive learning games and more than 30,000 video clips that are correlated to grade level and state curriculum standards.

The intuitive interface allows kids in grades K through 12 across the 50 states to instantly reference video clips and other learning tools for any required assignment in all key subject areas.

For more than 20 years, Discovery has been committed to providing knowledge that satisfies human curiosity across any platform,” Discovery Communications founder and chairman John Hendricks said. “Cosmeo will bring the world to students at the click of a mouse and will allow them to continue their learning experience at home and improve their performance at school.”

“Cosmeo is the first educational tool to teach today’s kids in the way they learn best. This online product meets them where they’re spending most of their time and is helping to define how they learn today,” said Discovery Communications president and CEO Judith A McHale.

“Cosmeo also gives parents a terrific window into their kids’ education and the ability to participate in their progress at school like never before. We sense families across the United States will find a real benefit in, for example, the WebMath section, which offers a full spectrum of math learning — from third-grade multiplication tables to advanced calculus — with easy-to- understand, step-by-step solutions,” added McHale.

Cosmeo’s features include:

30,000 educational videos that make complex topics easier to understand and retain;
Powerful search tools that instantly locate information by subject,grade level, and keyword — something no other search engine can do;

Over 15,000 interactive quizzes and 200 subject-related Brain Games, all supported by videos;
20,000 high-resolution digital photos and 2,300 clip art images available for school projects;
Digital encyclopedia with access to over 27,000 research articles, soon to be expanded;

WebMath equation solver detailing step-by-step explanations to most math problems; and much more.

Cosmeo, tested by educators and consumers with content proven to help students with homework and learning, is available for the introductory price of $9.95 per month or $99 per year after a free 30-day trial. The standard retail price of Cosmeo is $12.95 per month or $129 per year.

March 14, 2006
Telstra, Microsoft, Broadcast Australia plan live mobile TV demonstration

MUMBAI: Telstra, Microsoft and Broadcast Australia have announced plans for Melbourne’s first live demonstration showcase of mobile TV as part of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

This announcement follows the recent launch of Telstra’s live Big Pond mobile 3G and broadband service for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The demonstration will use Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) technology, which allows simultaneous transmission of television, radio, video, audio and internet content to mobile phones, PDAs, PCs and other handheld devices.

The Melbourne showcase service will broadcast up to seven channels of live Commonwealth Games coverage, including Channel Nine coverage of the games on specially enabled Windows Mobile handheld devices. The handsets will operate using Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 software, and the content will be broadcast using Windows Media Video 9 compression technology to ensure efficient use of bandwidth. Broadcast Australia will provide the transmission infrastructure for the showcase service.

Telstra Commonwealth Games executive Phill Sporton said viewers would be able to catch medal-winning performances in the DVB-H showcase at the Telstra Discovery Centre in Birrarung Marr for the duration of the Games. “Telstra is pleased to be able to provide an opportunity for our customers and partners to experience the new entertainment content available on mobile devices of the future,” said Sporton.

The transmission of the DVB-H broadcast will begin on 15 March and end at the conclusion of the closing ceremony on 26 March.

March 14, 2006
Bradford & Chua to speak at BroadcastAsia 2006 Intl Conference

MUMBAI: This years knowledge exchange forum for the broadcasting and multimedia industry, the BroadcastAsia International Conference will feature industry veterans including Tandberg Television president Reggie Bradford and Asia’s first interactive cross media channel The Interactive Channel (TIC) founder Robert Chua.

The BroadcastAsia International Conference will take place at the Singapore Expo from 19 to 22 June alongside BroadcastAsia2006. BroadcastAsia is Asias premier broadcasting and multimedia technology event.

Delegates will benefit from Reggie Bradfords keen insight and experience as an entrepreneur and visionary within the global internet and television business.

As president of Tandberg Television, Bradford plays a pivotal role in enabling customers to realise the full potential of their video networks. His primary focus is providing content providers and network operators in the Americas region with the world’s most advanced live and on-demand digital video solutions, states an official release.

Robert Chua will be presenting an address on Cross Media Interactive TV Channels. Robert is a pioneer of terrestrial television in Hong Kong where he launched TVB. He brought Hong Kong audience their first and longest running variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight and created the first Miss Hong Kong pageant, the release adds.

The conference will present 14 tracks covering a wide spectrum of pertinent technology and business issues facing Asias broadcasting and multimedia industry today. These include:

High Definition (covering HDTV technology)
IPTV
Broadcasting to Handhelds
Digital Audio Broadcasting
Interactive TV session
Asian D-Cinema Summit (with a keynote address by 20th entury Fox)
Capacity Building of Broadcast Sector
Production (covering production issues and technology updates)
Content Delivery
Protecting Broadcast Content
Satellite Interference Issues in the Broadcast Industry
Testing and Measurement
Two industry dialogues:
Developments of Contents in / for Asian Markets,
Content and Outsourcing
States BroadcastAsia International Conference conference director Martin Salter, I am excited about the line-up of topics that address the hot issues facing the fast changing dynamics of the electronic media industry – from the large screen experience of D-Cinema, through to the opportunities of IPTV, and the new challenges of content creation and delivery to mobile devices.

Yet current issues like the digital transition are not ignored. Presentations will be delivered by eminent speakers from a broad international base. These key sessions are augmented by specialised sessions from renowned organizations from around the world, he adds.

Singapore Exhibition Services project director Jackson Yeoh says, The conference aims to provide delegates with the maximum opportunity to exchange ideas and network. This years conference will do just that – increase the level of sharing and knowledge exchange as well as provide them with insights and new perspectives, which can be applied to their daily work long after the conference ends.

March 14, 2006
‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge’leads to ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’

NEW DELHI: Zee TV, the flagship of Zee Telefilms, has announced a brand new show with the same flavor of its successful Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005.

Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, with double the frenzy will give the viewers an opportunity to see the talent and chemistry between couple contestants. The contestants will feature in duet performances with an aim of enhancing the richness of the show, the channel said.

Speaking about the new show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa creative director Gajendra Singh offers, “As in all competitions, Challenge 2005 could have only one winner claiming the voice of India title. And the success of the show with solo performers was immense. We thought duet performances would only add more sheen to the already established equity of the show.

Further reinforcing the point, Zee TV programming head Ashvini Yardi says, “Ek Main Aur Ek Tu is actually for the benefit of millions of viewers worldwide who just cannot get enough of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. As a channel committed to provide desirable entertainment, we were sure that this new version will bring in a fresh new look and a enhance the already existing popularity for the contestants, only this time with added grandeur and fanfare.”

The series will revolve around the contestants who will be singing in couples. The best of the Challenge 2005 contestants will be selected for this and the viewers will be asked to select their favorite pair. Public voting would eliminate one couple every week and as the tensions mounts, India will get to choose the Ek Main Aur Ek Tu duo.

The show launches of 16 March 2006 and is scheduled to air every Thursday and Friday at 10 pm.

March 14, 2006
Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends season 2 premieres on Nick

MUMBAI: Miss Spider and her fun-loving clan ofbugs are back. Nick Jr. has begun airing the second season of Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends, the 3-D animated series based on the book series by David Kirk from 13 March.

The new 20-episode season of Nick Jr.’s hit preschool series rolls out with a new half-hour episode premiering every day this week at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT) through Thursday,16 March. Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends airs regularly weekdays on Nick Jr. at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and weekends on CBS.

Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends follows the days of Miss Spider, her husband Holley and their eight kids, four spiders and four adoptees from different insect species. Nearby are Spiderus, Grandma Betty, Uncle Gus and many other hoppers, fliers and crawlers. The Sunny Patch bugs are a miniature menagerie of creatures of every size, shape, color and personality that strive to get along and accept each other despite their differences. This CGI-animated show stars Emmy-nominated actress Kristin Davis as the voice of Miss Spider.

Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (ET/PT) and weekends on CBS. Completely dedicated to preschoolers ages 2-5, Nick Jr.’s Emmy, Peabody and Parents’ Choice award-winning programs are curriculum based, fun and commercial free. At Nick Jr., kids play to learn with innovative, original shows created just for them.

March 14, 2006
HBO series Six Feet Under to be aired on Bravo

MUMBAI: The NBC Universal-owned cable network Bravo has acquired the exclusive rebroadcast rights to 63 one-hour episodes of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama series Six Feet Under for the next four years.

To be telecast on Bravo in the fall of 2006, Six Feet Under is a darkly comedic series about the trials and tribulations of a family of undertakers, played out against the solemn backdrop of an independent funeral home in Los Angeles. The series ran on HBO for five years.

Six Feet Under was created by Alan Ball, Oscar-winning writer of the film American Beauty. The acclaimed series ended its run on HBO last year. It received 32 Emmy nominations and won seven times, and was nominated for eight Golden Globes, winning three.

Bravo’s president Lauren Zalaznick said, “Six Feet Under represents the artistic, creative and critically acclaimed series that defines Bravo’s programming. The phenomenon that hooked so many HBO viewers will be brought back to ‘life’ on our air, now available to more than 80 million households, with its signature dark situational humor and dramatic irony.”

Earlier, Bravo had acquired the rights to and aired HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, as well as NBC’s The West Wing.

March 14, 2006
Nimbus signs more global broadcasters for India cricket

MUMBAI: Nimbus Communications Limited, the global media rights partner of the BCCI, has entered into TV licensing agreement for terrestrial broadcast of Indian cricket in Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The company has also closed a four year deal with Super Sport, the South African pay TV service.
Nimbus, in an official release, claimed that it worked out a comprehensive telecast strategy for the Middle East with the signing of the radio rights deal with Hum FM and the TV rights deal with Ten Sports.

According to the official communiqué, the Sinhala ‘edutainment’ channel Derana has secured the terrestrial TV rights for Sri Lanka for the ongoing England series. The series’ non exclusive pay TV rights for Hong Kong and Sri Lanka have been acquired by Ten Sports.

Says Nimbus VP International & Syndication Vikram Das, “We are proud to be associated with the phenomenal expansion of the reach of Indian cricket. In a very short space of time we’ve achieved outstanding results in terms of reach, revenues and platforms.”

With the latest round of deals announced, Indian cricket is now going live onto every continent: America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia and is available on television, radio and internet broadband, the release adds.

March 14, 2006
CDF to increase stake in USL

Century Direct Fund (CDF) of Mauritius LLC, which currently holds 18.42 per cent equity stakes in United Studios Ltd, will be increasing its stake by another one percent as TCFC Finance Ltd is selling out its stake in United Studios.

United Studios Ltd is a company under the umbrella of Unilazer group. Other group companies include United Teleshopping, United TV (UTV), a TV software production organisation, and UTV Interactive which is a wholly-owned susbidiary of UTV.

TCFC Finance Ltd held 71,000 equity shares constituting 0.77 per cent of the current paid up capital of United Studios. The investmend had been made as co-investor along with CDF to which TCFC was an advisor.

As a result of a restructuring of the operations of TCFC Finance, it has ceased to be an advisor to CDF and has agreed to sell its investment in United Studios to Century Direct Fund.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approved United Studios proposal recently. The other foreign shareholder in United Studios is Mitsui group of Japan which holds 18,49,990 shares aggregating to 20 per cent of the total paid up equity capital of the company.

Total foreign equity in United Studios amount to 38.42 per cent amounting to 35,54,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each.

Earlier, the government had given permission for foreign direct investment in United Studios subject to:

*All future laws on broadcasting will be applicable to United Studios and it will not claim any privilege or protection by virtue of prior approval.

*The company will not undertake any broadcasting from Indian soil unless specially permitted to do so by the government.

* There will be no obligation on the part of Doordarshan to buy TV software from the joint venture company, United Studios.

Earlier this year, Intel Pacific and GE Capital Mauritius Equity Investment picked up 12.86 and 6.98 per cent, respectively in United Teleshopping & Marketing Co. Ltd. Subsequently, the foreign equity in United Teleshopping has increased from 45.45 to 57.14 per cent amounting to Rs 360 lakh. United Teleshopping is in the process of issuing fresh equity of 13,50,000 shares of Rs 10 each in the revised paid up capital of Rs 630.07 lakh which will be subscribed as follows:

* Draper India International Mauritius– 17.86 per cent
* Walden-Nikko Mauritius Company, Mauritius– 19.44 per cent
* Intel Pacific Incorporation, USA — 12.86 per cent
* GE Capital Mauritius Equity Investment –6.98 per cent.

Last year, UTV promoters had decided to buyout Rupert Murdoch-controlled News Corp’s 37 per cent equity stake in the Indian media house. Part of the additional funding for this News Corp shareholding buyback came from FII, Warburg Pincus.

March 14, 2006