ITV

Category: News Headline

  • Vh1 to launch two new shows in April

    Vh1 to launch two new shows in April

    MUMBAI: Vh1 will be reliving the days of yore with classic videos and shows this April. Also, MTV favourite Headbanger’s Ball will air not only old favourites but also the latest headbanging bands. A new hip hop destination Hip Hop Hustle ensures that viewers get their weekly dose of bump ‘n’ grind.

    Vh1 India vice president and general manager Keertan Adyanthaya said, “Our viewers have been requesting us to show more classic on Vh1 so we’ve decided to surpass their wildest dreams and make this month all about classic. Introducing Headbanger’s Ball and Hip Hop Hustle will give lovers of a certain genre a fixed destination to go to every week on the channel.”

    Every Big Weekend will have a theme like Classic Rock, Classic Pop, Classic Dance and Classic Hollywood setting the tone for all the rest of the week. So viewers can not only see videos but also shows such as Rolling Stones Live in Brazil as part of Classic Rock, Driven: Whitney Houston in Classic Pop, When Disco Ruled The World in Classic Dance and When Star Wars Ruled The World in Classic Hollywood.

    The one-hour non-stop music block Headbanger’s Ball will have some of the greatest new and old heavy metal acts – Korn, Iron Maiden, System Of A Down, Black Sabbath and loads more. Headbanger’s Ball will be telecast every Friday at midnight from 7 April onwards.

    For hip hop lovers, there’s Hip Hop Hustle, a 60-minute on-air version of the successful property of the same name which saw Vh1 India bring in US hip hop band Flipsyde late last year. With the top selling international records in India last year being from 50 Cents and Mariah Carey respectively, both hip hop artistes, it’s clear that hip hop is having the same kind of success in India as it is in the US and worldwide. Hip Hop Hustle will air every Saturday at 10 pm starting 15 April.

  • Sun, Raj TV reach out-of-court settlement on 66 movie telecast rights

    Sun, Raj TV reach out-of-court settlement on 66 movie telecast rights

    MUMBAI: Sun TV Ltd and Raj TV Network have reached an out-of-court settlement over disputes on 66 Tamil films valued at around Rs 19 million.

    According to the agreement, both the networks can screen these movies on their channels. The titles include blockbusters such as Dalapathy, Nayakan and Kaathal Kottai. “We recently arrived at an out-of-court settlement. Both the networks can show these movies,” a source close to Raj TV Network said.

    Claiming to have the perpetual rights to these 66 movies, Raj TV had moved the Chennai High Court against Sun TV.

    Sun TV has also made a similar statement in its initial public offering (IPO) document. “We are party to 15 civil suits with Raj TV, either filed by us or by Raj TV, in relation to alleged infringement of copyright in respect of 66 Tamil films. Raj TV and we have reached an agreement to settle all the aforesaid civil suits. Under the terms of the agreement, Raj TV and us have agreed to withdraw these cases upon each of them being listed,” the company said.

    Tamil and Malayalam combined, Sun owns a movie library of around 2,650 films. Raj TV owns about 2000 to 2500 Tamil movie titles.

  • Games on demand TV network TVHead looks to gain momentum in the US

    Games on demand TV network TVHead looks to gain momentum in the US

    MUMBAI: Bringing high-quality casual games to broad television audiences, US firm TVHead has announced the details of its premier games-on-demand TV network.

    TVHead says that it opens up new revenue streams for American cable and IPTV operators by offering the nation’s first massively deployable games-on-demand network for cable and IPTV. This news is the culmination of 18 months of stealth development.

    The TVHead Games-On-Demand Network (TVHead) integrates into existing video on demand (Vod) infrastructure providing a uniform high-quality game experience to 100% of Vod-enabled households. The servicve will target nearly 60 million North American households that spent $11 billion last year to play games on consoles, PCs, the internet and wireless handsets.

    TVHead founder, CEO Sangita Verma says, “Casual gaming is a high-growth market that cable and IPTV operators do not adequately address today. TVHead was created to enable cable and IPTV operators to become a major force in the games industry. By offering a rich gaming experience to all of their subscribers today—not just the small percentage with high-end set-top boxes—TVHead allows operators to monetize gamers directly, and keep them in front of their televisions.”

    Operators that affiliate with TVHead have a chance to provide on-demand interactive casual games to their entire subscriber base, leveraging their distribution reach to become major participants in the gaming economy adds the firm.

    With new and updated games added daily, TVHead showcases a multitude of genres, including puzzle, arcade, card games, word, trivia, sports, and kids games that appeal to everyone in the family. The unrivalled programming lineup features blockbuster brands and classic favorites, including Space Invaders, Bejeweled, Diner Dash, Zuma, Texas Hold’Em, Solitaire, Backgammon, and many more.

    TVHead creates a casual gamer community, including high-score leader boards and system-wide multiplayer that allows players to compete with others throughout the country from the comfort of their living rooms. In addition, players may use internet and wireless devices to check their stats, taunt their opponents and compete for high-score bragging rights.

    TVHead’s two-tiered business model includes a free ad-supported offering that encourages subscriber loyalty while creating revenue streams from targeted advertising, and a premium games offering for subscribers who desire multiplayer options, advanced community features and special brand-name games. On-screen impulse subscription allows customers to purchase and play the service using their remote controls.

  • Nick to launch four new shows in May

    Nick to launch four new shows in May

    MUMBAI: Nick has a scorching hot line-up this summer. After launching Trollz in February, Gili Gili Gappa in March and Drake & Josh on 1 April, Nick is launching four new shows in May.

    This brings the tally of new shows on Nick in 2006 so far to seven, not to mention new episodes, a fully made-over programming schedule and marketing events.

    Nick India vice president and general manager Hema Govindan said, “The four new shows are in line with Nick’s programming plans to introduce more than 500 episodes of new programming for the kids this year. We’re also making some major changes to our programming grid so watch out for that. With a philosophy that puts kids first, Nick strives to keep the excitement alive for kids given their short attention span and quest for newer things.”

    First up, the Nick Jr. pre-school block sees a complete makeover with three new shows including Peppa Pig, Dougie in Disguise and Lazy Town all launching on 8 May.

    Peppa Pig is a cheerful pre-school show about a family of pigs. Peppa is a loveable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa’s favourite things include playing games, dressing up, days out and jumping in muddy puddles. Her adventures in growing up and making friends always end happily with loud snorts of laughter.

    Dougie in Disguise is a pre-school show about Dougie, an ordinary kid. He loves to play with his sticker albums which turn into a living world through Dougie’s imagination. In each episode Dougie, with his viewers, meets new friends and enjoys exciting adventures in a unique environment, with songs and beautiful animated stickers. It’s a world of magic and wisdom where Dougie overcomes situations with his little dog while interacting with the audience.

    Lazy Town is a one-of-its-kind comic live action-cum-animation series about health and fitness for kids. Eight-year-old Stephanie has just moved to a strange new place called Lazy Town where people like to lounge and do nothing, where the word “healthy” brings her blank stares and the word “broccoli” can cause people to scream.

  • NBC to air back to back episodes of ‘The Apprentice’ on Monday

    NBC to air back to back episodes of ‘The Apprentice’ on Monday

    MUMBAI: For one night only, US broadcaster NBC will air back-to-back episodes of the business based reality show The Apprentice on 10 April.

    The candidates in the first hour hammer it out in the renovation business as the teams are given their seventh task – create an activity area in a local Boys & Girls Club as part of Ace Hardware’s charity program. In the second hour, the candidates launch a new pizza sandwich and a losing team gains an opposing teammate. In India, the show airs on Star World.

    In the first hour, Gold Rush tries to nail down a win when Lenny volunteers to be the project manager, hoping to prove to Donald that he can lead the team to victory – but he is troubled with managing a negative teammate. Michael, the project manager for Synergy, has a good concept, but drives his team crazy. The winners help make a child’s dream come true by partnering with the “Make A Wish Foundation,” while the losers face a hammering in the boardroom.

    In the second episode, the remaining candidates launch a new pizza sandwich for 7-Eleven, one candidate volunteers to switch sides to help out a losing team, while the team tries to make the biggest sale imaginable. The winners jet out of town to dine with US Senator Chuck Schumer, while the losers get grilled in the boardroom.

  • BBC’s broadband learning service for children begins a storytelling trial

    BBC’s broadband learning service for children begins a storytelling trial

    MUMBAI: BBC jam (bbc.co.uk/jam) the UK pubcaster’s new broadband learning service for 5 to 16 year olds, has begun a three-month Augmented Reality (AR) storytelling trial.

    AR is a concept which allows users to interact with virtual 3D objects in real time, by using their own hands, rather than a mouse or a keyboard.

    The trial will enable users to see themselves on a computer screen, holding and moving the 3D characters as they explore the specially-created story (bbc.co.uk/jam/trial/ar).

    AR works by mixing the live video from a digital camera with animated 3D models, which are made to appear in the hands of the user.

    This is achieved by special software which tracks patterns, printed on paper, in each video image. AR technology allows learners to literally pick objects off the page and explore them in a highly rewarding way.

    The animated characters are able to interact with other objects and each other; they are even able to walk off the page.

    Building on technology developments that have led to BBC using AR in the broadcast of BBC News and BBC Sport, the BBC is now able to bring the same technologies to the homes and classrooms of the public.

    To be involved in the first trial all users will need is a standard PC, a webcam and a broadband internet connection. Free software access will be provided and users will be asked to fill in two short feedback forms during the three-month pilot.

    This first trial uses a brand-new story by the award-winning children’s author, Rob Lewis. Written especially for five to seven year olds, it supports shared reading, at home or at school.

    During the trials there will be user guides, teacher notes, tutorials and technical support available and a space to share personal experiences with other participants.

    The BBC has been working with the collaboration of an open source community called AR Toolkit, to explore the use of the technology in broadcasting. They would now like to see it used in classroom and homes.

    The team has recently carried out two projects with teachers and pupils in the BBC’s 21st Century Classroom (21CC) – a digital learning centre in central London, dedicated to exploring creative and cutting-edge uses of technology in teaching and learning; they are now looking to gauge the general public’s reaction.

    If the trial is successful then the BBC hopes to launch further subjects for different ages to explore, learn and create. The pubcaster believes that AR has the potential beyond purely learning as a fun and initiative way of interacting with digital content in collaborative ways for both children and adults.

  • Zee bucks the trend as Sensex crashes

    Zee bucks the trend as Sensex crashes

    MUMBAI: The Sensex underwent a dramatic “corrective” drop of 157 points on 7 April but Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL), was among the few stocks that bucked the trend.

    ZTL, which closed the previous day’s trade at Rs 246.60 on the BSE, had opened the day on a strong note. Zee’s acquiring the telecast rights for one day international matches to be played by India on neutral venues over the next five years yesterday seems to have made the market hungry and it was just waiting for the next day’s trading to open to pounce on the stock. The buying spree even saw the stock price touching its 52-week high of Rs 270 (Rs 291 at NSE) before falling prey to the negative sentiment that gripped the market, around afternoon.

    The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the session at 11,589.44, lower by 1.34 per cent than its previous closing mark, while the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) 50 stock Nifty index settled at 3454.80, recording a 56.10 points or 1.6 per cent loss.

    During the early day trade, the Sensex had surged past the 11,900 mark to a new lifetime high of 11,930.66. Just when it seemed that the12,000 mark was within reach, the Sensex took a beating amid rumours that the regulator had banned eleven foreign institutional investors from participating in the market. Consequently, ZTL also took a plunge from its day’s best Rs 270 to a rather poor score of Rs. 244.60.

    Then, after SEBI came out with a denial of that report, the stock made a timely recovery along with a few blue chip stocks which also regained some lost ground. ZTL finally saw it closing for the day at Rs 250.10 at the BSE, up by 1.42 per cent or Rs 3.50 higher than its previous closing mark. At the NSE, it closed at Rs 250.45, up by 1.42 per cent or Rs 3.50 than the previous closing mark.

    A total of 2 million ZTL shares were traded during the day, while the average number of shares traded per day during the last two weeks period is 1.5 million.

    According to broking analysts indiantelevision.com spoke to, the positive performance ZTL has been displaying in the recent times shows that the stock is on its way to reach a value that is more in conformity with the levels that the Sensex has reached. “ZTL is yet to reach its real value and speaking about the overall performance of the stock in the recent times, we can assume that it is in the process of realising its actual price at the Sensex,” says an analyst.

    “Acquiring the neutral venue International cricket rights might have helped the stock to buck the negative trend at the Sensex today. But, there are more significant factors that have been boosting the stock overall. The four-way demerger, the remarkable improvement on the programming front, the advertising rates consequently going up, all have been helping the stock to attract buyers,” he adds.

  • Content remains major issue for IPTV providers: seminar

    NEW DELHI: The industry is hyping IPTV in India as the next revolution, but has actually done little on the content side, said former member of Telecom Regulatory of India (Trai), DPS Seth.

    Speaking here today at IPTV India 2006 conference, organised by Bharat Exhibitions, Seth disagreed with some of the speakers before him saying that people who have been talking about IPTV have “failed to address the issue of content,” which could be delivered through IPTV.

    A certain section of the industry, especially the telecom companies have touted IPTV as a technology ready to ready to change the way Indians have been watching television.

    With its advantages over the current cable and satellite TV technologies, IPTV can be typically bundled with other services like video-on-demand (VOD), voice over IP (VoIP), or digital phone, and Web access, which are collectively called triple play.

    But, asked Seth, not many have given a thought to the type of content that should be generated to be delivered over this triple play platform.

    Seth¡’s argument was that unless the content issue is addressed — especially as in this segment content has to be customized — IPTV may languish.

    A report by Multimedia Research predicts that IPTV adoption worldwide will grow from 1.9 million users in 2004 to 25.3 million in 2008 and that the service provider revenue from IPTV is likely to jump from $ 635 million to 7.2 million by 2008.

    Various speakers at today’s IPTV seminar harped on strategies to tap this opportunity in India as the consumer is getting increasingly demanding.

    Some of the pertinent questions that were raised during the day-long conference were the following:

    What should be the policy framework that will govern IPTV in India?
    How will the interdependence between various service, technology and hardware providers work?
    Will it require further expansion of broadband spectrum?
    What are the operational challenges that would be faced by service providers in transforming their existing businesses models to the one suiting IPTV?

    Key panelists included Airtel CTO (mobility) Jagbir Singh, Sun Microsystems director (telecom) Kapil Sood, URStarcom director sales K K Peringhat, Alcatel South Asia Ltd vice president and head of sales, India, Fixed Communications Group Anuj Kapur, BSNL director (planning and new services) RL Dube and Siemens Public Communication Networks (Pvt.) Ltd MD Michael Kuehner.

  • Hathway expands in north, acquires 51% in a Kanpur cable network

    Hathway expands in north, acquires 51% in a Kanpur cable network

    MUMBAI: Hathway Cable & Datacom is expanding its cable TV network in the northern region through the acquisition route. After buying a controlling stake in two local cable TV networks in Chandigarh and Mohali, the multi-system operator (MSO) is expanding its footprint in Kanpur.

    Hathway has acquired 51 per cent equity in JMD Sherawali Network, a leading cable operator in Kanpur, for an undisclosed amount.
    “By reaching out to Kanpur, it will be an important start for us into the core Uttar Pradesh market. JMD Sherawali Network has a 60 per cent market share in Kanpur. We have bought 51 per cent stake in the network,” said Hathway Cable & Datacom CEO and MD K Jayaraman.
    The MSOs are selectively expanding their cable networks. Last year, rival MSO Siticable bought out Indian Cable Net from the RPG Group to become the dominant MSO in Kolkata. Hathway has swung into action this year with the first acquisition made in February.

    With this acquisition, Hathway will be operating its cable TV services in 14 cities. Hathway’s cable TV is already available in cities across the nation including Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Nashik, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Vijaywada, Jalandhar and Mysore. The MSO is currently offering digital cable services in New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

    Besides the analogue business, Hathway is also making efforts to rolout its digital services. The MSO will be launching gaming on its digital cable TV services by April-end. For the gaming technology, Hathway has selected NDS. Though available free, the commercial launch is likely to take about a month.

    “The gaming feature will be available to all our digital customers initially on a free of cost basis from end of April. Many more games will be added in the course of the year,” said Jayaraman.

  • CAS: Gloves off as IBF, cable frat hurl charges

    CAS: Gloves off as IBF, cable frat hurl charges

    NEW DELHI: The game of ping-pong being played in the name of Conditional Access System (CAS) took another turn today with the broadcasters and cable fraternity hitting out against each other as the government reserved its verdict on the issue of rollout of addressability.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation today made it clear in a submission to the information and broadcasting ministry that all addressable systems should be mandated like CAS and providing a la carte pricing of channels would not be in the interest of consumers. Indiantelevision.com had reported on Wednesday that this was the stand the IBF would be taking on the CAS imbroglio.

    While the government is yet to firm up its stand from the wide-ranging industry feedback, which, if taken into account, would push CAS rollout to fourth quarter of 2006, the Hinduja-owned IndusInd Media Communication Ltd has said that the government should honour the court verdict in the light of CAS being operational in Chennai since 2003 without any objections being raised by stakeholders.

    The Delhi High Court on 10 March had directed the government to implement CAS in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi within one month’s time, which is about to get over technically this month. But it needs to be seen when the government received a certified copy of the court order.

    Interestingly, at a meeting that the government had with industry stakeholders today on CAS, the issue of registering of CAS operators with the government and the whole process of doing it, is likely to add to the delay.

    A new sequencing of CAS rollout submitted by Siti Cable at the meeting, according to government sources, states the date of implementation should 14 November 2006 with the time in between used for getting ready for a CAS-enabled regime.

    The IBF’s submission has not only created more confusion, but has enraged a certain section of the cable industry too.

    At one place in its letter to the I&B ministry, the IBF has said that the government should stop the cable industry from charging huge amount of carriage fees, which raised the hackles of cable ops present during today’s meeting.

    In a separate submission to the ministry, the Delhi-based National Cable & Telecommunications Association has, in turn, requested the government to direct the pay broadcasters not to play tough.

    “If the pay channels demand more time for the implementation of conditional access system in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, then it is imperative that they must be directed to immediately stop collecting monthly subscription from the cable service providers till CAS comes into force,” NCTA has said.

    Though the NCTA letter exhorts the government to “exercise its powers” and direct the pay channels to declare rates of their individual channels and fix an upper limit for pricing of individual; channels and bouquets, the I&B ministry representatives at the meeting today did not utter any word on these issues.