ITV

Category: Cable TV

  • Hathway launches interactive music channel ITV Digital

    Hathway launches interactive music channel ITV Digital

    MUMBAI: The Rajan Raheja promoted Hathway Cable & Datacom, in which Star India has a 26 per cent stake, has launched a dial-up interactive music channel I-TV through its digital services.

    The channel, which was launched yesterday and is currently available in Mumbai and Pune, will also be taken to other cities in due course, according to a statement issued by the MSO. Hathway is already running a movie and entertainment based channel CCC.

    “I-TV Digital will be a completely ‘ads-free’ channel and with its launch through our digital services Hathway ensures that its viewers receive great music that caters to all ages,” company spokesperson Haresh Gehaney was quoted in the release as saying.

    The I-TV Digital is packaged differently for its viewers who will be able to choose from a wider variety of songs categorised into various genres that include rock, pop, classical (English & Hindi), reggae and remixes.

    I-TV operates through the advanced hands-free technology for providing instant music on demand. Software the channel uses enables the operation of the service from a video server placed at each and every head-end in cities, which in turn are connected via the cable TV network, states the release. 

    Hathway’s digital cable TV services provides more than 150+ TV channels, radio channels and value added features like EPG as well as gaming (introduced last month).

  • MGM to consolidate its home entertainment biz with Fox

    MGM to consolidate its home entertainment biz with Fox

    MUMBAI: Revitalised by the recent reinvigoration of its motion picture distribution and marketing organisation as well as by the formation of its new media division, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) continues along the path of controlling its library.

    Moving in that direction, MGM will be re-establishing its worldwide television distribution efforts by bringing the business back in-house. Similarly, the studio will no longer divide its home entertainment releases between Sony Pictures Entertainment and 20th Century Fox home entertainment divisions. Instead, MGM will consolidate its home entertainment business with Fox. Additionally, MGM and Fox will continue their international theatrical distribution relationship.

    MGM’s library, recognised as the largest in the world, encompasses 4,000 movie titles and 10,000-plus episodes of television programming. A large number of such titles and episodes are available for home entertainment release.

    MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan said, “MGM’s motion picture distribution business is growing rapidly as we will release some 80 new feature films in North America over the next four years. We are now ready to turn our attention to our television and home entertainment distribution businesses. In so doing, we have identified another important opportunity to build out our business by returning our worldwide television sales operations in-house and by consolidating our home entertainment releases with a single distributor.”

    The changes do not affect Sony’s distribution of the upcoming James Bond release, Casino Royale, due out in theatres this November. Additionally, MGM and Sony have extended their relationship in regards to the Bond franchise with both MGM and Sony agreeing to co-produce and co-distribute the next Bond movie, as well as Pink Panther and others to be determined. MGM and Sony, along with Revolution Studios are also teaming up in a co-financing arrangement on Rocky Balboa, which will be released by MGM on 22 December 2006.

  • Nat Geo Kids appoints Vermeulen as head of sales

    Nat Geo Kids appoints Vermeulen as head of sales

    MUMBAI: National Geographic Television International (NGTI) has appointed Karen Vermeulen as its first dedicated kids sales person. Vermeulen will be based in London in the new role of head of kids’ sales but will also work closely with National Geographic Kids’ programming and production president Donna Friedman Meir – along with her US-based team – to drive the development of this growing area of National Geographic’s business.

    Vermeulen joins from Entertainment Rights where she was territory manager UK, Ireland and German-speaking Europe, responsible for maximising TV, new media and DVD sales for a range of properties including Postman Pat, Basil Brush, Little Red Tractor and Barbie. In addition, she managed the strategic rollout of licensing and merchandising for core brands in Germany.

    At National Geographic, Vermeulen will build on this experience, undertaking the key sales role for National Geographic Kids’ programming, but she will also have responsibility for managing the growing stable of brand franchises and developing properties for maximum benefit.

    Current programmes in production from National Geographic Kids include Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies, a mix of animation and live-action wildlife footage for preschoolers, produced in partnership with King Rollo Films; Iggy Aruckle, an animated comedy adventure for kids 6 – 11, produced with Blueprint Entertainment; Toot & Puddle: I’ll Be Home For Christmas based on the award-winning book by Holly Hobbie and being animated by Grand Slamm Children’s Films; and the first global reality adventure series for little kids, Are We There Yet?, produced in partnership with Cellar Door and Sinking Ship Productions.

    Friedman Meir said, “We are thrilled to welcome Karen to the team and to have someone in London who can work more closely with our European partners on a regular basis. She brings a wealth of very valuable experience to our developing business and has a real feel for integrated property management. She joins National Geographic at a pivotal time; in addition to those shows already in production we have a large number of unique and outstanding properties in development, targeting pre-schoolers, school-age kids and tweens with our hallmark approach – entertaining programmes that excite kids to explore their world.”

    NGTI president Ian Jones added, “The addition of Karen to our team, along with the kids programming to the NGTI catalogue, marks a new era for our business and a natural extension for our brand. Donna and her team in the US have already done a fantastic job in establishing National Geographic as a player in the kids market, particularly in Europe, and I have every confidence that Karen is the ideal person to consolidate and build on that activity going forward.”

  • Cingular Wireless sets text messaging record for ‘American Idol’

    Cingular Wireless sets text messaging record for ‘American Idol’

    MUMBAI: US wireless carrier Cingular Wireless has broken its own record for wireless text messaging during the fifth season of American Idol on Fox.

    Cingular recorded more than 64.5 million text messages throughout the show’s season, breaking last year’s record of 41.5 million text messages.

    Text messages include votes, trivia, sweepstakes, entries, TXT chats, fan club and vote number reminder. Cingular introduced a lot of American Idol themed content this season, but its newest offering, Live Idol Tones, stole the show. Cingular claims to have broken new ground in the music industry with the tones letting Cingular customers purchase and download ringtones and answer tones of select American Idol performances just 24 hours after they were performed live on the show.

    Typically, traditional recorded music requires months to go from recording to distribution. Last week, Cingular’s Live Idol Tones category of ringtones was one of the top sellers.

    Cingular Wireless VP marketing John Burbank says, “We are pleased to have played a role in what was another great season of American Idol. We knocked Idol-related text messaging out of the ballpark and added another home run with our Live Idol Tones which capitalised on the passion American Idol fans have for their favourite contestants.”

    Cingular customers also had exclusive wireless access to American Idol throughout the season with services including TXT chats with Idol contestants and convenient vote number reminders listing all of the American Idol contestants who performed that week. In addition, Cingular customers also connected to the show through the Idol Wireless Fan Club which let them keep up with the latest Idol news, play Idol Trivia on their wireless devices or download “American Idol” -related ringtones such as the show’s theme song or songs from former Idol winners and contestants.

  • Crutchfield develops website ahead of Fifa for Spaniards

    Crutchfield develops website ahead of Fifa for Spaniards

    MUMBAI: The integrated marketers of consumer electronic productsCrutchfield is on a full-speed breakaway towards 2006 Fifa World Cup Germany. Crutchfield is in the process to develop its Spanish-language website at http://www.crutchfieldenespanol.com to ensure that its Spanish-speaking customers will be able to enjoy the World Cup games in HDTV.

    Soccer remains the world’s favorite sport, played by over 240 million players on 1.4 million teams throughout the world. Bigger than the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics, this year’s World Cup will be the most-watched sporting event in the world, and for the first time it will be aired in high definition in the United States.

    With more than 40 million Spanish-speaking people living in the United States, including some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated soccer fans in the world, US viewership of this year’s World Cup is expected to reach record numbers, informs an official release.

    This year, with the games being broadcast in high-definition for the first time on ABC, ESPN HD, and ESPN2 HD, millions of soccer fans here in America will be able to watch every minute of their premier event unfold in unparalleled viewing quality.

    The Fifa World Cup has the biggest television audience of any sports event in the world. During World Cup 2002, a cumulative audience of over 1 billion people in 215 countries watched the matches. The estimated cumulative audience for the 2006 event is expected to be in excess of 32 billion hours of television viewing. Millions of those expected viewers will be Spanish-speaking fans in the US.

    “According to the Consumer Electronics Association, nearly 50 per cent of HDTV buyers cite high-definition sports programming as their primary motivation for upgrading their old analog television to an HDTV,” said Crutchfield senior home audio/video editor Steve Kindig. “Major sporting events like the Olympics and the Super Bowl present perfect opportunities to get the latest in viewing technology, and with the upcoming World Cup games to be broadcast in high-def for the first time, Crutchfield is stocking up on some of the best HDTVs on the market.”

    Shopping for a new HDTV is now even easier with Crutchfield’s own TV Fit Finder. The TV Fit Finder, available through Crutchfield.com and Crutchfieldenespanol.com, enables consumers seeking a new television to quickly and easily identify every television that will fit within their existing entertainment center.

    “Crutchfield’s Spanish-speaking Sales Advisors, who are available by phone, email, and online chat, will ensure that customers buy the right HDTV for his or her needs, and that the HDTV is in their home, installed, working properly, and delivering HD-quality colors and realistic images well in advance of the June 9, 2006 start. Acting now will ensure that on game day your favorite striker will be captured in ‘striking’ detail,” Kindig added.

  • UTV readies four multi-genre shows on various channels

    UTV readies four multi-genre shows on various channels

    MUMBAI: UTV has always been known for its multi-genre programming – be it fiction or non-fiction. In the hot summer months of May and June, the production house has lined up four new shows on various channels.

    The first one to launch is a drama – Kabhie To Nazar Milao, which will be aired on Sony from 15 May at 1 pm. This show will be a part of the new afternoon band – ‘Nayi Dophar’ – of Sony and revolves around a boy from Mumbai and a girl from Delhi. It will dwell on how destiny brings them together, only to separate them later.

    The other show is a science quiz show called Chamatkar, which will be aired on DD on Sundays.” Chamatkar is a science quiz show that will be hosted by a well known anchor, whose name I cannot divulge at the moment. The quiz will be around simple science questions that we come across in our everyday lives. The questions will be as simple as — What happens when two stones are rubbed together?” informs UTV vice president television Monisha Singh.

    After dabbling unsuccessfully in the reality genre some years back with the damp squib – Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai anchored by Madhuri Dixit, UTV is now geared up to launch yet another reality show. This time the hunt will be for kids. UTV’s kids’ channel Hungama TV recently roped in John Abraham as its brand ambassador and has also announced the John Aur Kaun talent hunt for kids.

    This talent hunt will aspire to search for two kids – one boy and one girl – who will get the opportunity to star in a UTV produced movie starring John. The entire hunt will be televised and will be aired on Hungama TV later this year. UTV’s television division will be handling the production of this series.

    “We will have professionals who are experienced in the reality genre working on this show. There will be workshops conducted for kids who qualify; there will be celebrity walk-ins and a whole lot of other features, which will all be televised,” Singh adds.

    Yet another show Soni Mahivaal, which is a comedy, will be launched on DD next month. The show will have Varun Badola and Shewta Khawatra playing the lead roles. “Unlike the name, Soni Mahivaal is not a mythological show. It is a comedy that revolves around Mr Mahivaal (Badola) and his wife Soni (Khawatra) and the different comical situations they face in their married life. Their love and their constant fights over mundane things will be the highlight,” says Singh.

    Apart from this, UTV’s Shanno Ki Shaadi that airs on Star Plus and was turned from a weekly to a bi-weekly will now be aired three times a week. The show has also been shifted from the 10.30 pm band to the 10 pm band. “We are very happy that Shanno Ki Shaadi will now start airing three times a week. Also, the fact that it has been shifted to the 10 pm slot will work for the show. Ba, Bahu Aur Baby, which used to air at 10 pm, has delivered some great numbers and we hope that our show also benefits from this slot,” concludes Singh.

    With these shows in the pipeline, UTV will be adding four to five hours of new programming in a week across channels.

  • Diddy to produce dance show for MTV

    Diddy to produce dance show for MTV

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks inks a deal with Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs to produce an untitled dance competition series.

    The project will focus on street dance troupes from around the country as they train, compete and express themselves. The television projects is between Bad Boy Entertainment and MTV. Combs will provide executive producer services for the dance competition pilot.

    The airing of the dance show has not yet been announced.

    This show will showcase the drive, determination and expression of this dance generation picture Rocky but with dance troupes.

    Diddy’s last reality TV project, Celebrity Cooking Showdown, was a flop and was pulled from the schedules after just four shows.

    The news follows on the heels of Jennifer Lopez is also developing a new reality dance show title Moves with MTV bosses.

  • AEIM To honour Wright with ‘Hall of Fame Award’

    AEIM To honour Wright with ‘Hall of Fame Award’

    MUMBAI: The Association of Electronic Interactive Marketers (AEIM) has announced that The Sims creator Will Wright will be honoured with its first-ever Hall of Fame Award.

    As a recipient of the award, Wright will also make a speech at the inaugural MI6 Conference and Awards Show on 27 and 28 June 2006

    The award recognizes Wright’s career of creative achievements, which include SimCity released in 1989 and credited as one of the most influential computer games ever made. Following on its success, Wright designed numerous other “Sim” games and earned the reputation as a designer of “software toys”-games. In 2000, The Sims was released, surpassing all previous sales records and became the best-selling computer game of all time.

    Following such success it was no doubt that Wright was named one of the most important people in gaming, technology and entertainment by Entertainment Weekly, Time, PC Gamer and GameSpy.

    “Will Wright has had a revolutionary impact on the electronic games industry,” said MI6 and AEIM president & CEO Jim Chabin. “As our industry and millions of fans worldwide anxiously await what promises to be a spectacular experience with his newest creation, ‘Spore,’ our board felt that now was an excellent time to acknowledge this person’s impact on all of us.”

    The AEIM is a new non-profit, professional trade organization designed to support the video game industry’s marketers and related professionals.

    MI6 speakers and participants include a list of gaming and entertainment industry executives involved in participating in professional development seminars, educational workshops and keynote sessions. Companies onboard include Microsoft, G4, Xbox, Activision, THQ, Electronic Arts, MTV Networks/Spike TV, Midway Games and ABC Entertainment, among others.

  • Destiny’s Child, Korn triumph at MTV Asia Awards

    Destiny’s Child, Korn triumph at MTV Asia Awards

    MUMBAI: The Siam Paragon venue in Bangkok was illuminated with international and Asian stars celebrating the fifth spectacular MTV Asia Awards 2006 on 6 May.

    Destiny’s Child got the Special Achievement in Music Award. In a special presentation during the show, MTV Asia Awards host Kelly Rowland accepted the Award on behalf of Destiny’s Child. The award winners included Korn’s Twisted Transistor which won for Favourite Video.

    The multi-platinum trio consisting of Rowland, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams, Destiny’s Child were honoured for their contribution to the music world and their immeasurable impact on pop culture.

    While Latin heart throb Ricky Martin was the viewers choice for Best Male Singer, the winner of the first edition of American Idol Kelly Clarkson was their choice for Favourite Female. The Backstreet Boys were voted the Favourite Pop act while Simon Webbe was the Favourite Breakthrough Artist.

    The Asian winners included India’s Jal, Vicki Zhao from China, Twins from Hong Kong and Thai singer Tata Young. Winners were determined by MTV viewers throughout Asia, who voted via SMS and online.

    The night started off with Korn performing their song Twisted Transistor. The 4,600 capacity-crowd were treated to a true blend of East and West throughout the night.

    Host city Bangkok got a special treat as Thai hip-hop group Thaitanium jammed with Simon Webbe in a performance of No Worries and Webbe’s Blue bandmate Lee Ryan partnered with Young for their version of the classic ballad Endless Love.

    Taiwanese favourite Jolin Tsai performed Dancing Diva. Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter got behind the piano and sang his hit Bad Day. The night ended with Korea’s Kangta joining forces with Taiwan’s Vanness Wu for a duet performance of 2nd Scandal.

  • Mukta Arts invests Rs 500 mn in Whistling Woods; courses start in July

    Mukta Arts invests Rs 500 mn in Whistling Woods; courses start in July

    MUMBAI: Subhash Ghai-promoted Mukta Arts Ltd has invested Rs 500 million to set up Asia’s biggest film, television, animation and media arts institute in Mumbai.

    Whistling Woods International Ltd (WWIL), which is offering two-year courses, has tied up with technology majors including nVidia, Apple, Sony, AMD, Belden, Nortel, Seneca, DigiDesign, Recreate Solutions, ToonBoom and Sennheiser.

    “At Whistling Woods, we are looking forward to arming the students with in-depth technology information, operating techniques and technical aptitude to enter the global entertainment industry,” states Ghai.

    The aim is to create a talent pool for the rapidly-growing Indian film and animation industry. “We hope the creation of new talent will even help our company ramp up movie production. We have invested Rs 500 million in the project,” says Mukta Arts CEO Ravi Gupta who is also the executive director of WWIL.

    WWIL provides specialisations in Direction, Screenwriting, Editing, Acting, Business of film and television, Cinematography, Art and techniques of animation and sound recording and design. The course fees range from Rs 7,00,000 to Rs 1 million. WWIL’s first batch will hit the classrooms in July 2006.

    “Through our well-respected faculty of working professionals from the industry, who will be educating the students on an international level, we believe that our Indian students can learn the art of story telling and the optimum use of technology for the same. With a good balance between creativity and technology, producing the best work, India will emerge as a major player in the international film, television, animation and media arts industry,” adds Ghai.