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Category: News Headline

  • Disney to broaden mobile distribution channel in Southern Europe via Buongiorno

    Disney to broaden mobile distribution channel in Southern Europe via Buongiorno

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has inked a mobile content agreement with Buongiorno, a company in the field of multimedia content for telephony and digital channels. This move supports Disney’s strategy to make its highly creative and engaging content available to consumers in a wide variety of ways.

    Under the terms of the deal, Buongiorno will make Disney mobile content such as screensavers, wallpapers, ringtones and games available to consumers across Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Content includes Mickey Mouse and Friends (e.g. Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck), Disney Classics (e.g. Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Finding Nemo and The Lion King.

    “This agreement with Buongiorno gives consumers another means to access Disney’s popular mobile content in southern Europe. Buongiorno’s expertise and local market reach will help consumers find Disney mobile content anytime and anywhere, and we are pleased to add them to our network of distributors,” said WDIG Europe vice president of mobile Sunil Gunderia.

    “We are delighted to be associated with a leading entertainment company like Disney to help bring their properties to market. Disney content will allow Buongiorno to offer several million customers in southern Europe a unique experience of entertainment on the move. We are looking forward to widening our collaboration to new markets, exploiting Buongiorno and its consumer brand Blinko’s global network,” said Buongiorno Group head of global products Matteo Montan.

    According to Informa, an international provider of specialist information and services, the fast-growing mobile entertainment market will be worth $42.8 billion by 2010, of which $11.2 billion will be generated from mobile games.

    Disney content will become part of Buongiorno’s portfolio of over 300,000 services and licensed contents, marketed to a potential target of more than one billion wired and wireless telephone users globally, through a multi-channel strategy that includes direct distribution through the brand Blinko as well as through partnerships with telecom companies and the most important media groups.

    All of Disney’s mobile content will be managed by Buongiorno through B!3A, its proprietary technology platform conceived to design, build, manage and provide high quality services to leading businesses and to mobile consumers globally. B!3A provides a full-blown set of components that allow performing all the main tasks to create a complete digital content marketplace embracing content acquisition, presentation, delivery, reporting, billing and CRM.

  • Disney’s ‘Pirates’ creates new box office records

    Disney’s ‘Pirates’ creates new box office records

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest opened on 7 July to a record $132 million in its first three days at the North American box-office, shattering the record previously held by Sony’s Spider-Man, which opened to $114.8 million.

    The movie has set new benchmarks as it is the biggest opening weekend in Hollywood history and also the biggest opening day on Friday with collections of $55.5 million.

    In India, the film will hit the big screens on 21 July.

    It is also bigger than the four day opening weekend record holders – X-Men: The Last Stand, (grossed $122.9 million) and Spider-Man 2, (grossed $115.8 million in four days last summer).

    Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is also the first film in history to cross the $100 million mark in just two days and is Disney’s biggest opening, surpassing The Incredibles, which had garnered $70.5 million in three days.

    The movie also led the way in the UK with a $25 million debut and grossed $9 million from South Korea and $8.2 million from Australia.

    Buena Vista (the theatrical distribution arm of Walt Disney) attributes the success of Dead Man’s Chest to the mass appeal it had with male and female audiences of all ages.

    Dead Man’s Chest reunites the cast and crew of the Curse of the Black Pearl including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, director Gore Verbinski, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

    Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl opened in 2003 to $46.6 million over the weekend and $70.6 million over five days, leading to a huge $305.4 million mark domestically (US and Canada) and $654 million worldwide.

  • Film & Television Producers Guild opposes proposed Broadcast Bill

    Film & Television Producers Guild opposes proposed Broadcast Bill

    MUMBAI: Media bodies are now waking up to condem on the draft of Broadcast Bill prepared by the information and broadcasting (I&B). After the Indian Broadcast Federation (IBF) has opposed the cross-media holding restrictions and the so-called Draconian clauses in the bill.

    The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd has expressed its concerns about recent reports in the media that the government of India is planning to present a Broadcast Bill in the monsoon session of parliament.

    In an according to an official release issued, the Guild feels that the proposals are retrograde in nature, restrictive and definitely regressive.

    The Guild fears that if this bill is passed, anybody will have the right to complain to competent authorities and they will have the right to intervene. This will hamper the smooth functioning of media components and can lead to unnecessary government control of media. 

    The Bill also talks of imposing restriction on cross-media holding which is against the spirit of free enterprise. Also, extremely important problems of Copyright Theft and Piracy which together threaten to cripple the industry have not been addressed at all in the bill.

    The Guild which represents all major stakeholders in the Filmed Content space would like to play a more active role in this and should definitely be consulted before any such Bill is finalized/passed, informs the release.

  • Distraction promotes Richardson to acquisition manager

    Distraction promotes Richardson to acquisition manager

    MUMBAI: Distraction Formats acquisitions and sales coordinator Nina Richardson has been promoted to acquisitions manager. This was announced by Distraction CEO and president Michel Rodrigue.

    Richardson joined the Distraction team in 2004 from the VTR Group, a Soho based post production house.

    In addition to continued work with Distraction’s sales team to source and sign new properties, Richardson will now be spearheading the growth of the format broker’s acquisitions department and developing structures in line with its expanding sales department.

    She will also be in charge of sourcing new formats to complement Distraction’s current catalogue, which includes scripted comedies, prime-time entertainment formats and ready-to-air footage.

    Rodrigue said, “Over the past two years, Nina has been implicated in all aspects of Distraction’s business and has acquired a thorough knowledge of the industry. Her skills and flair will definitely contribute to the continued growth and development of the company.”

  • Sahara One to launch new weekend chat show on 15 July

    Sahara One to launch new weekend chat show on 15 July

    MUMBAI: Sahara One Television will be launching a new chat show – Mrs Punjabi – on 15 July. The half hour show will be aired on Saturdays and Sundays at 7.30 pm, just before the 8 pm movie on the channel.

    In the first episode, the show, whose anchor’s name is being kept under wraps by the channel will have Shahrukh Khan, Mallika Sherawat and Mahesh Bhatt together on Indian television for the first time.

    The show feasts on hot gossips as Mrs Punjabi unveils the secrets and buried facts about her special guests, behind the scenes of latest Bollywood blockbusters, star party circuits and much more. Touted as a light hearted show that promises to unburden your woes, the show seems more on the likes of Kandy Floss on Sony, which is being hosted by Archana Pooran Singh.

    “Humor makes friends, wins enemies and this show will make viewers unwind and laugh at issues that would otherwise end up as stressful experiences,” said Sahara One Television COO Purnendu Bose.

    Mrs. Punjabi is a typical Page 3 wannabe aunty with huge assets and flashy make up and low-necklines and an even lower IQ.

  • Zee unveils state-of-the-art digital studio in UAE

    Zee unveils state-of-the-art digital studio in UAE

    MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms International has opened a state-of-the-art digital studio in Sharjah, UAE. The studio been launched with the purpose of telecasting locally-produced programmes in the region.

    UNI has quoted Zee Telefilms International regional MD Yogesh Radhakrishnan as saying that, the system would complement the network’s increasing emphasis on Arab viewership and indigenous content as exemplified by its Arab-oriented channel Zee Arabiya.

    The six million dollar high-end studio and post-production facilities located at the ISO certified Airport Free Zone will serve several purposes, including support to the new, Arabic based and youth-focused channel Zee Arabiya, as per the report.

  • GSLV to launch Insat-4C on 10 July

    GSLV to launch Insat-4C on 10 July

    MUMBAI: The countdown is on for the launch of GSLV-F02, which will be carrying the state-of-the-art communication satellite Insat-4C into space. The launch is expected to take place around 4:30 pm on Monday, 10 July, the Indian Space Research Organisation announced today.

    Preparations for the launch are proceeding satisfactorily at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota from the second launch pad. The launch vehicle systems have been integrated and checked out, Isro said in a statement issued today.

    Insat-4C was transported from Isro Satellite Centre, Bangalore to SDSC SHAR in the first week of June 2006 and since then, it has undergone detailed checks. After propellant filling, the spacecraft has been integrated with GSLV.

    The Mission Readiness Review is planned on 6 July, 2006 followed by the meeting of Launch Authorisation Board which will clear the launch. In the next few days, a complete checkout of the fully integrated launch vehicle along with satellite will be carried out. The final countdown and fuel filling for the liquid propellant stages are expected to commence on the morning of 9 July.

    Insat-4C is the second satellite in the Insat-4 series. The first, Insat-4A, was launched in December last year, from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana by an Ariane5 vehicle, which also carried the Meteosat weather Satellite for Eumetsat.

    Isro spokespersons have been pointing out that using indigeneous launch vehicles will result in a saving of about 30-40 per cent or Rs 1.5 billion in expenses per launch. With four satellites to be launched by GSLV Mark II and Mark III, the savings thus will be substantial. Isro will, however, be using the services of Arianespace to launch the Insat 4B satellite from Kouru next year.

    “With the commissioning of the Rs 3.5 billion ($75million) second launch pad at Sriharikota, India is the only country to have such a state-of-the-art facility to launch different types of vehicles Ranging from PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle), GSLV Mark-1, GSLV Mark-II to the upcoming GSLV Mark-III in the four-tonne class,” a top Isro official is reported to have said sometime back.

    It’s for the first time that India’s space agency is putting into orbit a two-tonne class satellite. Equipped with 12 high-powered Ku band transponders (Like the earlier Insat-4A), the 2,180 kg spacecraft is designed for a mission life of 10 years.

    Insat-4C is designed to provide direct-to-home (DTH) television services, facilitate video picture transmission (VPT) and digital satellite news gathering (DSNG) as well as to serve the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for its VSAT connectivity. The 2,168 kg Insat-4C has a mission life of ten years.

    Insat-4C will be used for broadcasting 150 TV channels through the DTH platform. Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Group has booked space on Insat 4C for its DTH venture Sun Direct. All the Ku-band transponders on the Insat 4A satellite, meanwhile, have been leased to the Tata-Star consortium, which will soon be launching the Tata Sky DTH service.

    Other than Tata Sky and Sun Direct, there is also Anil Ambani’s DTH venture Reliance Bluemagic, which will be rolling out in due course.

    At present, DD Direct Plus managed by the pubcaster Prasar Bharati and the Subhash Chandra owned Dish TV are the two operators offering DTH services in the country.

    Salient features of Insat-4C:

    Orbit: Geostationary (74 degree East Longitude)
    Co-located with Insat-3C, KALPANA-1 and EDUSAT
    Lift-off Mass: 2,168 kg
    Mission: 10 years
    Communication Payloads: 12 Ku-band 36 MHz bandwidth Transponders employing 140 W Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) to provide an Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of 51.5 dBW at Edge of Coverage (EOC) with footprint covering Indian mainland; Ku-band Beacon as an aid to users to lock on to the satellite signal

  • Ram Jethmalani talk on ‘Spirituaity and management’ on Sanskar TV

    Ram Jethmalani talk on ‘Spirituaity and management’ on Sanskar TV

    Mumbai July 11, 2006: This Sunday watch Mr. Ram Jethmalani, former Law Minister- Union of India speaking on “Spirituality and Management” at 01:40 pm on Sanskar TV. A versatile Lawyer still full of enthusiasm shares with the youth of India experiences of his life and what he thinks should be the purpose of life for the youth.
    He shares his life in India beginning at Ulhasnagar, after partition ,with only Rs. 10 in his pocket. He interprets the Bhagavad Gita as only how Ram Jethmalani could do it. He has his opinions on leadership, not sparing even Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Nehru. He advises the youth on Management and that creation of wealth is no crime. The youth should learn that there are no failures and every adversity is an opportunity to move up in life. In the end he advises the youth that to rise in life you have to earn the trust of the people and that can be earned only by honesty and integrity.
    Watch all this and more on Sanskar TV on Sunday July 16 at 1.40 PM.

    Some of the administrative heads to appear and educate the populace about the relationship and dependency between spiritualism and administration are Vithal Kamat – CMD The orchid and Deena Mehta, a Chartered Accountant and MBA.

    Sanskar TV is a spirituality channel that imparts insight into humanity and goodwill. It is a free to air channel on Thaicom – 3.

    Media Contact
    Neelam Gupta – 98200 70564
    Vedika Tripathi – 98703 32920
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  • CNN scores with air travelers

    CNN scores with air travelers

    CNN International has another set of numbers to thump its chest about. The International Air Travelers survey (IATS Asia 7) – conducted by the European Data & Research Ltd (EDR) between March and April 2000 in the international departure/gate areas of ten major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei – has revealed that CNN reaches more than twice the number of international air travelers than its nearest rival the Beeb.

    The survey shows that CNNI reaches 37 per cent of international air travelers on a weekly basis as against BBC World’s 19 per cent and CNBC Asia’s 15.4 per cent. IATS Asia 7 also confirmed that CNN International reaches 50 per cent of all senior business executives surveyed, the CNN press release states.

    “This is a very positive result for CNN International. (It) endorse(s) our investment in regionalisation, which has meant a significant amount of extra spending to increase the localized content available to our viewers, ” says CNN International managing editor, Asia Pacific Bill Baggitt.

  • Radio Mirchi to launch visual radio in Delhi

    Radio Mirchi to launch visual radio in Delhi

    MUMBAI: Radio Mirchi will unveil a visual radio in Delhi by the end of this month, making it the third city in the world to adopt a technology that will open up a new revenue for the private FM radio operator.

    Radio Mirchi is partnering with Hutch and Airtel to offer this service. The broadcast will be available on Nokia mobile phones with Hewlett-Packard (HP) as the technology provider.

    “We have identified four key markets including Mumbai for launching visual radio. Though it is too early to exploit strong revenues from this medium, it will give us a presence in emerging platforms like mobile phones,” says Entertainment Network (India) Ltd managing director and CEO AP Parigi.

    Radio Mirchi will speed ahead of Virgin Radio which is planning to launch visual radio later this year. “We are doing test runs and will launch it this year,” says Virgin Radio UK director of digital media James Cridland.

    Helsinki in Finland and Singapore are the other two places where visual radio has kicked off commercially. The plan to launch in Delhi was announced today by Radio Mirchi deputy-CEO Prashant Pandey at the India Radio Forum 2006.

    Radio stations are turning to new revenue streams as they are facing competition from emerging technologies. Specific threats from MP3, which had an estimated 55 million devices in the market in 2005, and internet webcasting are eating into the earnings of traditional radio. So the way out is to adopt into new digital platforms like direct-to-home (DTH) and digital audio broadcasting (DAB).

    Virgin is moving its content to such platforms. “About 28 per cent of our audience is coming from new platforms. As for visual radio, it is important to have a presence in this segment. Nokia will have 100,000 handsets in UK for visual radio by the end of the year,” says Cridland.