ITV

Category: News Headline

  • Raj TV to air Visswarupam from 5 June

    Raj TV to air Visswarupam from 5 June

    MUMBAI: Mediaone Global Entertainment Ltd., is launching the mega Tamil serial Visswarupam on Raj TV and also in Telugu on Vissa TV- a unit of Raj TV network.

    The series will commence telecast on 5 June on RAJ TV at 8 30 pm and air every Monday through Thrusday.

    The story and direction of this tele serial is by Bombay Chankya – a director from the K. Balachander school and stars leading Tamil artists like Bombay Gnanam, Deepa Narayanan, Poovizhangu Mohan, Kaushik, Siva Kavitha, Preethi, Sairam and others.

    Visswarupam is a period drama in a village hamlet dating back to thirties, that progresses to the current period. The serial is about what happens when a man begins to think he is ‘Lord Incarnate’ and seeks to meddle with the process of creation. It shows a Vedic Scholar with a scientific mind who begins to dream of cloning as early as 1930s and lives a hundred years spanning four generations to see his dream come true.

    Mediaone Global Entertainment Limited is among South India’s media companies headquartered in Chennai with its subsidiary in London. It has made a beginning in production of popular TV serials for leading TV Channels like ‘Swabhimana’ and ‘Geethanjali’ in ZEE Kannada which air primetime from Monday to Thursday at 915pm and 10 00 pm respectively.

  • B.A.G plans to invest Rs 500 million in radio biz

    B.A.G plans to invest Rs 500 million in radio biz

    MUMBAI: B.A.G Infotainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of B.A.G. Films Ltd, plans to invest over Rs 500 million for its FM radio business spread over 10 towns.

    The investment includes expenses towards infrastructure, equipments and studio facilities. The company will also have to contribute to the common transmission infrastructure. “We have bid successfully at very low costs. This has given us an edge and our outgo towards license fee is just 10 per cent of our project cost,” says B.A.G Intotainment CEO Rajiv Mishra.

    B.A.G is also trying to work out an equity arrangement among a consortium of small and regional radio operators who are in the process of being formed for collectively tapping advertising. “Our feeling is that there should be a common bonding for the consortium that will make it last. This will be best served by an equity arrangement among the partners. We are in talks towards this,” says Mishra.

    The consortium of radio operators for ad sales is in the process of being finalised. B.A.G will lead this combination which will have a national footprint to present before advertisers. Besides pressuring on higher ad rates, the partnership arrangement can help drive down operating costs for these FM broadcasting companies.
    B.A.G expects to rope in 40 radio companies as members of this consortium. The idea is to counter the bigger players like Radio Mirchi, Radio City, Sun TV group and Anil Ambani-controlled Adlabs. “We hope to form the consortium by 15 July. We have already signed up with six companies including Renecka Fincon and Gwalior Farms. We are also in advanced talks with many others,” says Mishra.

    B.A.G has bagged licenses to operate stations in Shimla, Patiala, Karnal, Hissar, Ahmednagar, Jabalpur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Muzzaffarpur and Ranchi. “We expect the second phase of FM stations to be active by December. The marketing efforts should start somewhere in September-October. As for selecting radio companies who would form the consortium, we are careful that in each locality no competing operator is selected. We are selecting geographical blocks,” says Mishra.

  • Panregional players to participate in Discop 2006

    Panregional players to participate in Discop 2006

    MUMBAI: The 2006 edition of Discop to be held from 22 to 24 June expects a good attendance due to the strong recovery of the world television programming markets and the awakening of Central Europe and Eastern Europe to production projects in addition to sales of finished product.

    To be hosted at the Sofitel Atrium Hotel in Budapest, Hungary, there will be 1,300 participants from less than 400 participants four years ago.

    Discop is a programming market focused especially on Central and Eastern Europe and it is attended by small- and medium-sized buyers that do not usually go to MIPTV and Mipcom. The highlights are:
    * For the first time, there will be regional production presence, with a good number of local, regional and independent producing companies.
    * Larger buyers will attend, including some from Western Europe.
    * New players are emerging including regional distributors, new pan-regional pay TV channels and also broadcasters, from Czech Republic, Bulgaria and smaller nations.
    * Several ancillary business developers will also attend, covering home video, licensing, mobile telephony and Internet. This did not happen in the past.
    On the sellers side, there will be larger participation, too:
    * Western Europe will be more represented than earlier.
    * Latin America will be participating at full, not only with telenovelas but also offering other types of finished product and formats, cashing on the new bonanza of telenovelas and general “Latin” product in Europe.
    * The countries within the region are starting to market their own product.
    * More participants from the U.S. are expected, since NATPE purchased the show from Reed-Midem.

  • BBC Worldwide global channels appoints Anne Howarth as SVP

    BBC Worldwide global channels appoints Anne Howarth as SVP

    MUMBAI: Anne Howarth is BBC Worldwide global channels senior vice president. She is the first senior management appointment for this division.

    Anne joins Worldwide from the BBC and will be responsible for the strategic direction of BBC Worldwide’s international television channels business, as well as the development and growth of its portfolio of channels, currently 18 wholly owned and joint venture television channels, available in 324 million homes around the world.

    She has already begun working with BBC Worldwide global channels MD Darren Childs, on a new strategy for BBC Worldwide’s TV channels business. The strategy will roll out in 2006 and will gradually develop BBC Worldwide’s portfolio of TV channels in both existing and new markets.

    Childs said, “Anne brings to this role a wealth of expertise. She has played key roles in transforming business into focused, robust operations as well as successfully closing major deals. We are embarking on an unprecedented period of growth around the world and Anne will be instrumental in delivering this growth.”

    Howarth said, “The BBC brand is one of the most respected around the world, and in the UK, its name is synonymous with high-quality, engaging programming. Our new strategy will engender the same feeling with our international audiences, building a strong portfolio of channels that engage and entertain audiences worldwide and it is tremendously exciting to be joining BBC Worldwide TV channels at this time.”

    Prior to this, Howarth had been with the BBC where she most recently played a leading role in the sale of BBC Broadcast now known as Red Bee Ltd, to Macquarie Bank. The sale won Acquisition Monthly’s award for the best mid-market corporate deal of 2005.

  • Globecast will deliver HDTV Fifa World Cup for Sky Italia

    Globecast will deliver HDTV Fifa World Cup for Sky Italia

    MUMBAI: Global content management and delivery firm GlobeCast has been selected by Sky Italia to provide HDTV contribution for the World Cup of Football from the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) in Munich to Sky’s headquarters outside of Milan, Italy.

    The event kicks off on 9 June in Germany and airs in India on ESPN Star Sports.

    This solution includes both fibre and satellite contribution to ensure a seamless broadcast.

    The contribution service provided by GlobeCast is an end-to-end solution including routing and transmission via fibre, as well as the provision of encoding and decoding equipment in HD.

    GlobeCast will also provide HD satellite coverage as a backup for the event, using capacity on Eutelsat’s Eurobird 3 satellite at 33º East. This satellite coverage will guarantee a high level of reliability and service quality, especially with the inauguration of the latest HD-ready member of GlobeCast’s proprietary fleet of Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) vehicles. This particular truck is the first such all-HD vehicle in the Italian market.

    The service package provided by GlobeCast also includes a 24 hour on-site customer support and technical assistance desk, staffed by GlobeCast’s technical experts.

  • ESS ropes in astrologer Bejan Daruwalla for Fifa World Cup predictions

    ESS ropes in astrologer Bejan Daruwalla for Fifa World Cup predictions

    MUMBAI: With the Fifa World Cup kicking off in Germany next week, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has roped in noted astrologer Bejan Daruwalla who will attempt to predict the outcome of the matches.

    Daruwalla’s GaneshaSpeaks provides astro predictions regarding the outcome of World Cup matches and highlight players of the day from quarterfinal matches and phone in for key matches of the Fifa World Cup to be telecast.

    ESS marketing director Nirmal Dayani said, “It has been our utmost endeavour to provide the Indian audience an experience of a lifetime during the World Cup telecast this year.

    “All our programming and marketing initiatives have been aligned to involve our consumers in the game. Our latest initiative featuring Daruwalla will add a new dimension to our special programming during Germany 2006. Daruwalla and his GaneshaSpeaks team will be providing predictions and astro foresight as a build up for World Cup matches. The objective here is to give the telecast of the World Cup a new flavour.”

    Daruwalla said, “This is a great challenge. I know it is exceptionally difficult to come right in the unpredictable games of cricket or football or hockey or any other great sport. But that is exactly why I love to do my best and leave the rest to Ganesha. This is a tremendous opportunity for me to try out my predictions, thanks to the sports channel ESPN Star Sports.”

    Daruwalla, rated among the top 100 astrologers in the world by Harper Collins’ Prophecy, will feature on all pre match shows to give an astrological viewpoint to the World Cup matches. Not only will he assess the teams involved according to their stars, but will also give a foresight on the players to watch out for every match of the tournament.

    To build hype on the Fifa World Cup, ESS had earlier announced various initiatives to generate viewer interest. The broadcaster had earlier launched 11 Hindustani, a consumer based contest in partnership with Coke to take 11 Indians to watch the World Cup live along with a nation wide search for four Indian children to be Fifa Flag Bearers during the World Cup. The channel has also announced a special Hindi feed and an in studio panel of Gerry Armstrong, Steve McMahon and Harsha Bhogle for the Word Cup.

    GaneshaSpeaks provides astrology content and services on mobile phones and the Internet. Bejan Daruwalla’s GaneshaSpeaks team provide personalised predictions and guidance to customers via Ganeshaspeaks.com. SiddhiVinayak Astrology Services owns the brand.

  • Robert McDowell joins as member to FCC

    Robert McDowell joins as member to FCC

    MUMBAI: Robert McDowell was sworn in by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman C to be a member of America’s media regulatory body.

    McDowell said, “I am honoured and humbled to be joining such a distinguished group of commissioners as well as the fine career public servants at the FCC.

    “There are many challenging issues facing the Commission, and I am eager to begin working on them with my fellow commissioners, with Congress, and with the American people. I am confident that our efforts will help bring the most advanced and efficient communications systems in the world to all American consumers.”

    McDowell brings to the FCC nearly 16 years of private sector experiences in the communications industry. Immediately prior to joining the FCC, McDowell was senior vice president and assistant general counsel for COMPTEL, an association representing competitive facilities-based telecommunications service providers, emerging VoIP providers, integrated communications companies and their supplier partners, where he had responsibilities involving advocacy efforts before Congress, the White House and executive agencies.

  • ABC puts viewers through ‘The Con Test’

    ABC puts viewers through ‘The Con Test’

    MUMBAI: The UK game show The Con Test is coming to the US in a production deal between FremantleMedia North America and ABC.
    The Con Test is a game show where one person could walk away with over one million dollars without ever having to answer a single question right.

    The Con Test is a game for those who have the wit, nerves and guile to bluff their way to an exorbitant amount of cash. Dont understand the questions? Fake it. Dont know the answers? Lie. All that matters is that the opponent thinks you do.
    Each episode wil be in a question-and-answer format, with the contestants unaware of how they are faring against their opponents. This allows those who are trailing to advantageously bluff their way to victory.

    ABC says that the show is a unique and fresh game show concept and sees this series as a fun outlet for viewers who want to sit back, be entertained and scream at the TV set as if the contestants can hear them.

    FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, “We’ve seen tremendous success with a variety of game shows that have come over from the UK to America. We believe that The Con Test has all the elements of a hit and are extremely enthusiastic about introducing it to the US audience.”

  • ESS roots for subscription ramp up from cable ops ahead of soccer season

    ESS roots for subscription ramp up from cable ops ahead of soccer season

    MUMBAI: Riding on the Fifa World Cup wave, which kicks off next week in Germany, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is asking for a substantial increase in the subscriber base from cable networks across the country.

    ESS is asking for a 20 to 30 per cent hike from the major networks. And, in smaller markets the channel is targetting an increase as high as 70 per cent from those networks which are terribly underdeclared.

    ESPN Software India VP sales and marketing Sricharan Iyengar says, “Our aim is to use the World Cup event reactivate in those networks where we are absent. We are looking for at least a 20 per cent growth in the subscription base from the major networks. In smaller markets we are looking at a raise from anything between 30 to 70 per cent.”

    Sources say that InCable has signed a deal allowing for a 20 per cent raise. On the other hand, Hathway CEO K Jayaraman, while declining to comment on any figures maintains that when the yearly contract was renewed with ESS in March, there was no undue pressure put on them by the broadcaster on acount of the Fifa World Cup.

    In addition to increasing subscription declarations ESS, this fiscal, is also targetting a 50 per cent growth in subscription revenue. That is because in addition to the Fifa World Cup, it will also air two cricket series involving India. One of them sees the Indian cricket team touring South Africa in December. Iyengar says, “We hope to achieve a 50 per cent growth in subscription revenue this fiscal. We are kicking this off with the World Cup”.

  • The History Channel to air special series on Rome

    The History Channel to air special series on Rome

    MUMBAI/BANGALORE: This month, The History Channel brings its viewers up close and personal with Rome. The civilisation has been ruled by visionaries and tyrants whose accomplishments ranged from awe-inspiring to deplorable.

    The broadcaster is featuring a two-hour special series Rome: Engineering an empire and four films Augustus, St. Peter, Nero and Spartacus every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm. The aim is to to highlight the power, grandeur and conflict of Rome. 

    Rome: Engineering an empire’s airs on 3 and 4 June at 10 pm. This special two-hour series chronicles the rich history of the Roman Empire from the reign of Caesar in 44 B.C. to its eventual fall around 537 AD, detailing the remarkable works of architecture and technology in between that helped Rome leave an indelible mark on the world.

    St. Peter with Omar Sharif in the title role airs on 10 June at 8 pm. The saint changed Roman History. On 17 June at 8 pm viewers can watch Emperor Nero , which reveals the true picture of the lonely, tormented man behind the monstrous mask . This film depicts Nero’s transformation from a pragmatic ruler into a tyrannical monster, who while watching Rome burn on one hand, on the other presented the severed head of an ex-wife to a future wife as a gift, murdered his mother and allegedly burned much of Rome to the ground to make room for a new palace.
    Goran Visnjic and Rhona Mitra star in Spartacus, which airs on 24 June at 8 pm. It depicts a legendary slave’s rise from a gladiator to a hero in Spartacus.