ITV

Category: News Headline

  • Cable war erupts in Mumbai

    Cable war erupts in Mumbai

    Mumbai is facing a round of cable rivalry and war. Reportedly, underworld kingpin Chhota Rajan has reportedly being threatening the former minister of state Ramdas Kadam and his brother Sadanand Kadam who run a cable network, Sai Cable Network, affiliated with the InCable breakaway, Win Cable, in the Dahisar-Borivali-Kandivli area in northern Mumbai, which almost has a monopoly in the locality. They have reportedly been asked to forego their stake in Sai Cable Network and merge it with Seven Star Cable network which is said to be run by Rajan front man Kashi-Pashi.

    Another incident was reported from the Sion-King Circle area in north Mumbai. The Hinduja run cable network, InCableNet,set up a head-end in the area and roped in a Chhota Rajan frontman to operate from there. This apparently has ruffled the feathers of sub operators affiliated with InCableNet in the locality who have switched over to InCable arch rival Siticable. These operators – about 32 of them – used to take a signal feed from another Hinduja headend located in the suburb of Mahim.

    A Hinduja spokesperson agreed that InCable had set up a new headend but it was done to improve the signal available to suboperators and also to be in a position to offer them southern Indian language channels on the prime band which cable TV subscribers had been demanding. Siticable officials, however, dismissed the report of any shifting loyalties saying that everything was normal in the locality.

    The lucrative cable trade which commands a lot of revenues and huge profits has always been plagued by disputes and wars. It has since the beginning of cable TV in India been influenced by politicians and the underworld. It however had appeared united when all the cable TV networks in Mumbai blacked out ESPN-Star Sports a couple of months ago. The unity has since fractured and the bickering amongst the cable TV operators is once again become public.

    The trade will become more lucrative with the introduction of broadband internet access. Everyone wants to grab their share of the pie which is worth around Rs 45 billion as of now.

  • Mideast firm Spacetoon targets October launch of kids channel in India

    Mideast firm Spacetoon targets October launch of kids channel in India

    MUMBAI: Jeddah-based Spacetoon is eyeing the kids channel space in India. The company is contemplating launching a 24-hour animation kids channel around September – October this year.

    However, at present it is not clear whether the channel will be launched independently or in association with an Indian company.

    Spacetoon Media Group is headed by Fayez Weiss Al Sabbagh and is a mammoth kids’ entertainment brand for animation content in the Middle East.

    Spacetoon TV caters to kids in the age group of 2 – 12 years. Late last year, the company had inked a deal with Sahara One Television for a branded kids block called Sahara One – Spacetoon Hour. Talks are also on with a couple of players in the South for a branded Spacetoon block, which is likely to launch around May – June. The popular properties under its belt include Crush Gear and Me & My Brother, amongst others.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Spacetoon India CEO Rajiv Sangari said, “Through these branded blocks we are looking at testing our content in the Indian market. We have big plans for the company and are not just looking at the television business. Spacetoon is a vertically integrated company and we have a presence in merchandising, licensing, publishing, retail and the theme parks business. We are looking at launching all these divisions in India.”

    Spacetoon is also in the process of acquiring animation content from across the world. As far as local content is concerned, the company will be looking at acquiring content from Indian production houses and will also be producing the same for the Indian market. “We are acquiring a lot of content for the India region, so that when we launch, we launch with a bang,” he said.

    On Spacetoon TV, every hour has been symbolised with a planet. The planets are categorised into the following: Movies, Education, History, Science, Action, Adventure, Sport, Comedy, Girls and Bon Bon (for younger kids).

    Spacetoon has been active in the Middle East for the last 20 years but launched its channel Spacetoon TV in March 2000. The channel transmits to over 130 million viewers in more than 22 countries throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Indonesia and Korea.

    Spacetoon kids TV is in English and Arabic and plans are underway to launch a second kids’ channel in the Middle East called Space Power in July this year, which will cater to the tweens.

    The company is also planning to launch two to three theme parks in India and the Middle East in the next couple of years.

    Sangari said, “We are looking at replicating this model in India in a step by step process.”

    Through a sister concern, Spacetoon also has a presence in animation production in the Middle East. “We are also venturing into animation training colleges in India. Spacetoon has taken over an animation college in Toronto called DaVinci through which we will be having an affiliation in India. Here, we have partnered with a college, which has a presence Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. The plan is to set up animation training colleges for Indian students,” said Sangari.

    Sangari also informed that the merchandising division will be scaled up towards the end of April, which is when the Spacetoon block on Sahara One will be given a major push. “We launched the block in a very preliminary manner but will re-launch the toys and merchandising around our properties in a big way in April. We are also looking at organizing large scale events for Crush Gears across major metros,” he said.

    Spacetoon is the leader in kids publication and merchandising products in Middle East through its group company. It is also in the process of creating a “Space Toon Galaxy” in Dubai, which will form part of the Dubai Land Theme Park development.

    Plans on the retail front are also underway in the Middle East. “We are in the process of creating exclusive retail malls only for kids, which will have all major brands catering to kids under one roof. We will be looking at creating the same in India too once our television plans are underway,” Sangari said.

    Last year, Spacetoon Media Group entered into partnerships with Mondo TV, Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network for the supply of a wide range of children’s programs such as films, educational programs, history and science documentaries, as well as action, adventure, sports and comedy shows.

  • NBC Universal signs deal with UK video on demand firm FilmFlex

    NBC Universal signs deal with UK video on demand firm FilmFlex

    MUMBAI: UK video-on-demand (VOD) service provider FilmFlex has signed a multi-year licensing deal with US media conglomerate NBC Universal to offer the studio’s current and library feature films.

    FilmFlex is a joint venture between Sony, Disney and the pay-TV specialist ON Demand Group.

    The deal covers films like King Kong, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Jarhead, Nanny McPhee and Pride & Prejudice. FilmFlex MD Andrew Keyte says, “The depth and breadth of films on offer is one of the key features that attract users to VOD. We are delighted that NBC Universal is providing some of its great movie classics and new releases for the FilmFlex service which further underpins our objective in creating the pre-eminent movie experience for cable customers in the UK.”

    FilmFlex says the deal makes it the largest movie Vod service provider in Europe, with some 500 films available at any one time.

  • British Telecom’s The Phone Book to sponsor ‘Deal or No Deal’ in UK

    MUMBAI: The Phone Book from British Telecom (BT) will be sponsorsing Channel Four’s Deal or No Deal, which is presented by Noel Edmonds.

    The multi-million sponsorship of Deal or No Deal will further help promote and raise the awareness of The Phone Book from BT’s Classified Directory, a full colour directory which provides comprehensive local contact information, making businesses more accessible to their local target market.
    The sponsorship, which starts on 1 May, 2006, will run initially for one year, and will continue with the “Find it with The Phone Book from BT” theme, seen in the recent Phone Book TV advertising campaign. The sponsorship breaks will show how members of the family, seen in the ads, use The Phone Book to move their lives on, by finding solutions to everyday problems, quickly and easily.

    The breaks will illustrate the comprehensive nature of The Phone Book’s Classified Directory, which helps consumers find a wide variety of products and services from the everyday; plumbers, roofing services and repairs and household insurance, to the more specialist; pest and vermin control, and recycling services.

    Deal or No Deal has become one of the biggest TV hits of recent times, enjoying a growing audience and winning the Royal Television Society’s Daytime Programme award. Deal or No Deal has seen the popularity of Noel Edmonds soar following his return to television after a long absence from the UK’s screens.

    The Phone Book general manager marketing Mike Hopkins said, “The Phone Book’s sponsorship of Deal or No Deal is fantastic news for us, as it gives us the opportunity to communicate our message, in an entertaining and engaging way, in front of the 3.6 million people or more who tune in every day to watch and enjoy the excitement of this great new game show.”

    “Our significant investment in sponsorship of this kind also shows our real commitment to raising the awareness of The Phone Books Classified directory, which in turn will help generate more leads and business for our important advertiser customers,” he added.

    Channel 4 head of sponsorship David Charlesworth added, “We are delighted that BT has done its own “deal” with Channel 4 for Deal or No Deal and that we have the opportunity to work with a well known, household brand. The size and profile of the audience will make a significant contribution to the awareness of The Phone Book. And our audience will benefit from knowing exactly how to find the information they need, which will in turn help prevent them missing even a moment of Deal or No Deal.”

  • MCC launches JVC’s digital camcorder GR-D350 in India

    MUMBAI: MCC Marketing Private Limited, a MCC Group company, has launched JVC’s digital camcorder GR-D350 in India. The product is priced at Rs. 19, 990.

    JVC GR-D350 will be available on zero interest installments at select MCC Group retail outlets (out of a national retail infra-structure of 30,000 outlets across the country) in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Ambala, Jaipur, Lucknow, Raipur, Patna, Guwahati, Pune & Pondichery, informs an official release.
    The GR-D350 offers special features like 32x Optical Zoom, the largest optical zoom on the market, with an additional 800x Digital Zoom. With the powerful 32x optic zoom an image is enlarged 32 times without jagged edges. Images can be further enlarged up to 800x when combined with the digital zoom. The wide mode feature allows the user to change the recording size from a standard (4:3) to the now popular wide screen (16:9) size with the touch of a single button typically found in today’s flat panel displays.

    The GR-D350 is easier to use than other models in the category thanks to a new Auto button – just press the button to switch between manual and automatic operation. It also features a new on-screen menu system that sorts menu layers by category, making operation easier, the release adds.

  • Alpha Gujarati launched

    Alpha Gujarati launched

    The Zee Network launched the fourth of its regional language channels – Alpha Gujarati on 21 March. The launch took place at a bash attended by the who’s who of Gujarati language theatre, film and folk art industry. The launch was done at the hands of the Hindi and Gujarati theatre and film star Paresh Raval.

    “It was the complaint of a woman when I was travelling in the UK a few years ago that Zee TV does not air programmes in Gujarati which got me interested in regional language programming,” says Zee Network chairman Subhash Chandra.

    The channel is targeted at the rich Gujarati community which has been served by state-owned Doordarshan and the RITV owned Gurjari TV, now and then. A programming formula similar to that used on Zee TV is being used with Alpha Gujarati: women’s oriented series, family dramas, sitcoms, music shows and participatory game shows.

    The Zee Network looks likely to have a potential leader of its Alpha series of channels in Alpha Gujarati. Reason: it has the inhouse distribution advantage thanks to its ownership of its MSO Siticable. Second Gujarat is a very strong cable and satellite market. And extremely rich. Consumers today are willing to spend on flashy goodies with little restraint.Also Gujarat has a gaggle of entreprenuers who will use the channel to reach consumers if they are made to believe and understand that they are getting a good deal.And with a targeted audience for the channel they will undoubtedly be interested in even taking up commercial air time.

    Meanwhile, Zee is looking ahead at launching channels in the four southern regional languages. Among these: a Telegu channel, a Tamil service, a Kannada service and a Malaylam channel.

  • Zee Studio to showcase ‘The Celestial Shaolin Nites’

    Zee Studio to showcase ‘The Celestial Shaolin Nites’

    MUMBAI: Zee Studio is all set to feature all-time favourite films with the The Celestial Shaolin Nites beginning 24 March.

    The festival kicks off with the classic trilogy The 36th Chamber of Shaolin on 24 March, Return to the 36th Chamber of Shaolin on 31 March and Disciples of the 36th Chamber on 7 April. The movies will air at 9 pm onwards every Friday.

    Speaking on this initiative Zee Studio business head Neil Chakravarti says, “We are quite excited to bring these all time favourites to the Indian audience. Kung fu is a highly popular genre and we are certain these films will prove to be quite entertaining for Zee Studio viewers across the country.”

    The trilogy is based on the true history of the origin, the basic learnings and the code of ethics that has permeated Shaolin for hundreds of years. Lau Kar-Leung , a ‘real master’ of kung fu film-making not only explores the depth and meaning of kung fu, but presents it on screen in a clear and entertaining way that any viewer can appreciate.

    The essence of the films however is not complete without mention of Gordon Liu who has the distinction of being one of the most popular martial arts stars.

  • Caracol, Funky Formats to showacse interactive telenovela at MIPTV

    Caracol, Funky Formats to showacse interactive telenovela at MIPTV

    MUMBAI: Colombian broadcaster Caracol Television and Funky Formats have come put with an interactive telenovela Second Sin.

    The format will air on Caracol later this year. The parties will offer the format to broadcasters at the television event MIPTV which takes place in Cannes next month.

    Caracol VP content and production Cristina Palacio, says, “In Latin America, this concept represents an evolution in our long history of telenovelas. But in the US and other markets, there’s an added advantage, since broadcasters can introduce a brand new telenovela script to a mainstream audience through a construct which is already well-established: reality TV. Everyone already understands how that works, so it’s the perfect introduction.”

    Funky Formats creative director Richard Martin says, “While there have been attempts at producing interactive dramas before, Second Sin is the first full-scale entertainment production of its kind. Without giving too much away, let’s say that the story line of Second Sin has something in common with Desperate Housewives, Lost and even Greek tragedy. It’s primetime entertainment—and in our view, American Idol meets Betty la fea.”

  • Ad revenues to sustain despite of hike in excise rates

    Ad revenues to sustain despite of hike in excise rates

    The ad industry seems to have no qualms about the recent budget. Industry professionals believe that the recent excise hike that the budget imposed on several categories of goods, among which figure FMCGs, automotive and consumer durables, is unlikely to prove a dampener to advertising fortunes in the coming year.

    In the past a rapid rampup of prices courtesy government levies has led to slow offtake of goods which in turn has led to a reduction in ad spend by advertisers. Ad agencies have in the process seen their billings dry up.

    Industry professionals however don’t think the scenario will be replicated this time around. Says Saatchi & Saatchi media head T.V. Shivkumar: “The hike in excise rates won’t in anyway have an effect on the ad spend of companies. There is no blanket increase in the price of commodities. The ad spend has got more to do with the bottomline of the company, whether it is able to keep its commitment with its shareholders.”

    Euro RSCG’s Gautam echoed the same sentiments: “The ad budget of a company depends more on the state of the economy as a whole. Price rise is a common feature. I don’t think there should be any change in the ad spends.”

    The excise rates, which have gone up to 16%, seem to have raised no alarms as far as the advertising and promotional expenditure of the companies is concerned. If at all, ad pros maintain that this may go up so as to cheer the slackening markets.

    What needs to be seen is whether consumers will react similarly to the situation. Will they cut back or postpone consumption like they did in the early nineties which led to reduced ad expenditures? If they do react negatively, the ad industry will be caught unawares like in the nineties when they overstaffed and overcommitted resources in the hope of good economic growth.

  • CNN Intl’s new initiative looks at technological innovations of the future

    CNN Intl’s new initiative looks at technological innovations of the future

    MUMBAI: With a view to offering a broad picture on how technological changes of the future will affect people’s personal and professional lives, news broadcaster CNN International is launching CNN Future Summit. This is a forum that brings together prominent personalities in an interactive process to explore how innovation and technology will shape our lives in years to come.

    This is a two-year multi-media programme aims at stimulating global discussion on new developments in medicine and health, communications, the environment and new habitat, and the implications of these changes for the future of mankind.

    CNN International senior VP Rena Golden says, “CNN Future Summit demonstrates our commitment to preparing viewers for the events of the future by providing insights into the issues that affect our world today. In addition, this initiative is set to engage our viewers in global dialogue and will prove as significant in inspiring people’s vision for the future.”

    The centerpiece of the initiative will be four televised roundtable discussions to be held in Singapore, hosted by CNN anchor Michael Holmes. Each roundtable focusses on one area of technology that is shaping the future. A nominating committee of respected experts will select a panel of global leaders in a specific field to discuss the promises, challenges and controversies sparked by their innovations.

    The initiative also provides a dedicated website, featuring interviews with the visionaries, profiles of the nominating committee, and details of the issues discussed. Viewers are encouraged to participate in the discussions through the website, offering their thoughts and insights, suggesting potential panelists and issues to be debated.

    The first topic of this global dialogue is Of Man And Machine. With genetic engineering, stem cell research, robotics and cybernetics offering the promise of dramatically reshaping the human machine, this program will explore the impact of these developments on societies around the world.

    Through the dedicated website: http://cnn.com/futuresummit, viewers around the world will be able to explore the views of the remarkable list of leading scientists, philosophers, entrepreneurs, futurists, authors, and journalists. Among them: Dr. Alan Colman, one of the team that cloned Dolly the sheep; astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Ray Kurzweil, futurist/inventor/author. (A complete list of the nominating committee and their profiles can be found on this website)

    Highlighting the focus of the CNN Future Summit, Professor Balasubramanian, currently the director of research at the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, in Hyderabad, India and also a member of the CNN Future Summit Committee, said, “The role of scientists as interpreters to society about advances in stem cell therapy, genetics and such is vital. Dialog between us and ethicists, religious leaders and sociologists must occur in periodic intervals. That is the only way.”

    A final list of panelists will be named in mid-May. They will gather in Singapore for the roundtable to be aired on CNN International on 15 June.