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Category: News Headline

  • Jigalova-Ozkan appointed as Walt Disney Russia managing director

    Jigalova-Ozkan appointed as Walt Disney Russia managing director

    MUMBAI: Marina Jigalova-Ozkan has been named Managing Director for The Walt Disney Company (Russia). The announcement was made by Walt Disney International president Andy Bird.

    In this capacity, Jigalova-Ozkan will be responsible for driving the company’s growth strategy and coordinating all of Disney’s business efforts in Russia, which will include overseeing Disney’s global brands in the market; expanding existing businesses; and seeking out new business opportunities.

    With Jigalova-Ozkan’s appointment, Disney will now have its existing businesses in Russia managed locally, with all business segments reporting in to Jigalova-Ozkan, as well as their respective business units. Jigalova-Ozkan will be based in Moscow and will assume her new post on 1 April, 2006.

    “We are delighted to bring Marina’s knowledge of the Russian media sector and her expertise in building businesses in Russia to Disney as we increase our presence throughout the country. All economic and business indicators point to impressive growth potential for Disney in Russia and Marina’s experience will be invaluable as we continue to exploit new business opportunities and contribute to Disney’s long term growth,” said Bird.

    Jigalova-Ozkan joins Disney from Prof Media Moscow, where she served as first deputy general director. Prof Media Holding is the largest private diversified media holding in Russia and whilst there, Jigalova-Ozkan led the management of the group in their launch of new businesses and acquisitions of new media assets, the development and implementation of restructuring programs in both the publishing and radio segments, as well as day-to-day operations.

  • Rediffusion DYR’s Midland Bookshop campaign nominated for One Show awards

    MUMBAI: Rediffusion DYR’s campaign for the Midland Bookshop has been nominated for the “One Show” awards across four categories.

    The campaign has been created and designed by Rediffusion DYR associate creative director Hemant Anant Jain and features a series of three ‘little’ books that illustrate stories of people who have benefited from reading books.

    The categories under which Rediffusion DYR has been nominated include two nominations for Booklet Brochure, one for Direct Mailer (Single) and Direct Mailer (Campaign).
    The 2006 One Show awards, which are going to be held on 10 May in New York, will award the best in the advertising industry across the world across categories.

    Rediffusion DYR president Preet Bedi said, “We are honoured to be participating in this event.. Rediffusion DYR has been sweeping award ceremonies and changing the rules of the industry with its cutting edge strategy and out of the box creative. We are very hopeful of winning this prestigious award to add another feather to our cap.”

    Rediffusion DYR national creative director KS Chax added, “The One Show is one of the biggest advertising awards in the world. And getting four nominations feels great!”

  • Emirates Airline in $195 million 7-year partnership with Fifa

     MUMBAI: Dubai-based Emirates Airline has signed a $ 195 million partnership deal with soccer’s international governing body, which would give it sponsorship rights to all Fifa competitions for eight years from 2007 on.
     

    With this sponsorship deal, the airline’s largest ever, Emirates becomes the sixth and final major sponsor of Fifa, joining the likes of Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas, Sony and Hyundai.

    The airlines will will be the official carrier to all Fifa events – including both the 2010 (South Africa) and 2014 (in South America) World Cups.
     

    Emirates, which is already one among the 15 commercial partners of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, expects to double in size by the end of its Fifa deal in 2014. These include Anheuser-Busch, Avaya, Continental, Deutsche Telekom, Fujifilm, Gillette, McDonald’s, Philips, Toshiba and Yahoo!.

    Last November, Coca-Cola and Fifa extended their partnership in a deal reportedly worth about $500 million. That agreement runs through 2022, making the soft drinks giant the only sponsor to commit for so long.

    Fifa has said it would now move into the second phase of negotiations for 2007-2014, seeking as many as eight sponsors for the global rights to the World Cup and Confederations Cup.
    Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al- Maktoum was quoted in media reports as saying, “It is part of Emirates plan to become a global brand and household name and association with the most high-profile sporting event in the world is one part of Emirates’ strategy to achieve that aim.”

    “We believe sport is an ideal vehicle to communicate with our passengers. This partnership will enable us to achieve global awareness of our brand,” he added.

    Maktoum also added that they were also looking at hosting a Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the rights period.

    In addition to hosting a Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup, Emirates can also choose to host a second official Fifa tournament in the UAE, to further enhance the country’s position as a centre of sporting excellence.

    Also, as a part of the partnership deal, Emirates has a commitment from Fifa so as to have at least 22 matches (including the opening match, two quarter-finals, two semi-finals, the third place play off and the final of both the 2010 and the 2014 Fifa World Cups) to be shown on free-to-air television within the UAE.

    On the other hand, Emirates passengers will also reap the benefits of this partnership as the airline has the exclusive right to broadcast matches of the 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cups either live or delayed on its in-flight entertainment systems.

    Emirates’ branding will be evident at all Fifa events, for 44 tournaments and 952 matches, during the term of this agreement, as well as on all Fifa merchandise and its website.

    In addition to this, as Fifa’s only Travel Partner, Emirates will also receive preferred airline status and a commitment from Fifa to develop business with Emirates and to develop Dubai as one of the world’s premier travel hubs and destinations.

    The airlines will also be launching a unique airport experience by installing interactive viewing stations at 16 international airports where fans can follow the tournaments.

    Airports at New York, Zurich, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Nagoya, Kansai, Shanghai, Narita, Brisbane and Hamburg are expected to launch their Emirates Experience booths in May, while airports at Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney, Milan, Rome and Dubai will kick off their campaigns in June.

  • ‘Fifi & The Flower Tots’ to launch on Hungama TV on 20 March

    ‘Fifi & The Flower Tots’ to launch on Hungama TV on 20 March

    MUMBAI: Hungama TV will be launching a new pre-school show FiFi and The Flower Tots on 20 March at 12:30 pm. This show will feature from Monday to Friday.

    Fifi Forget-Me-Not is a little Flowertot who is a bundle of energy and creativity, always positive and enthusiastic about everything.

    Fifi lives in ‘Forget-Me-Not’ cottage. She has a love for life and a real nose for adventure. Fifi is always busy, whether looking out for her friends, tending to the garden, or thwarting Stingo and Slugsy’s latest madcap scheme and sometimes she simply forgets what she was supposed to be doing in the first place.

    Hungama TV programming head Zarina Mehta said, “Hungama TV plans to bring this adorable pre- school series to Indian television not just to entertain but also imbibe some positive virtues in the process. These series be it Dragon or FiFi portrays the simplicity and complexities of life in every toddlers life in some metaphorical form. Making it fun to watch and easy to relate.”

  • Salah Negm is BBC Arabic TV editor

    Salah Negm is BBC Arabic TV editor

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC’s division BBC World Service has appointed Salah Negm as news editor for its Arabic television service which will be launched next year.

    He was a BBC programme editor, and is currently Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) GM in Dubai. His wide editorial and management experience in the region also includes working as director of news after the launch of the Al Arabiyah satellite channel and roles with the satellite broadcaster, Al Jazeera.

    He says, “I am very excited about re-joining the BBC to help launch and run its Arabic TV service. It is the best job in broadcasting for me – a chance to use my experience as a journalist to offer a television audience throughout the Middle East, a news and information service in Arabic informed by the BBC values of accuracy, independence and impartiality. I don’t underestimate the challenge – or the competition in a crowded media market-place.

    “But BBC Arabic will be the only major international news provider in the Middle East offering a service in Arabic across television, radio and online – sharing views and perspectives across the region and the wider world with access to unrivalled resources for gathering and analysing news which will have wide appeal.”

    BBC World Service head of Africa and the Middle East Jerry Timmins said, “Salah Negm is a well known journalist with a long and distinguished track record. He is committed to the values which have won the BBC huge respect in the Middle East.”

    BBC World Service director Nigel Chapman says, “Salah is joining a powerful team who will lead this channel to success. We are fortunate to have someone of his calibre and track record who understands both the competitive market in which our Arabic TV service will operate – and the core BBC values which will underpin the new service.”

    The BBC World Service Arabic TV service will be the first publicly-funded international television service launched by the BBC. International and major regional issues will be covered along with multi-media discussion programmes and debates in conjunction with the BBC’s Arabic radio and online services.

    BBC Arabic will be the only major international news provider in the Middle East offering a service in Arabic across television, radio and online – sharing views and perspectives across the region and the wider world. Recent research from seven capital cities across the Middle East indicates that between 80 and 90 per cent of those surveyed are likely to watch an Arabic Television service from the BBC.

    It will draw on 68 years of BBC experience covering the Middle East in Arabic – supported by its global newsgathering operation: 250 news correspondents reporting from 50 bureaux allowing a global rather than purely regional perspective.

  • Animal Planet goes to the movies

    Animal Planet goes to the movies

    MUMBAI: From Free Willy to Benji, animals have always been a part of the movie industry whether as stars of the show or simply filling their role as “man’s best friend.” But few people think about the trainers who work with them and prepare them for their spot in the limelight.
    This month Animal Planet takes its viewers behind the scenes for exclusive access to the animals and their trainers who are rehearsing for their latest big picture roles. The series Animal Planet At The Movies airs every Sunday at 8 pm.

    Some movies featured in the series include The Hawk is Dying (featuring Paul Giamatti), the remake of The Shaggy Dog (starring Tim Allen and Kristin Davis) and Greyfriars Bobby (starring Christopher Lee).

    Following the filmmaking process from beginning to end, the series aims at providing viewers with an insight into the relationships that develop between director, trainer, actor and animal. Featuring scenes from the actual movies and personal interviews with animal trainers and the animals’ human co-stars, the series looks at the on-going care that animals receive, the problems that some species pose and favourite anecdotes from veteran trainers.

    Viewers learn how the animals get familiarised with equipment, different locations and actors, as well as how they are maintained, fed and handled.

  • Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 award winners announced; MBC Creative Services win 13 award

    Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 award winners announced; MBC Creative Services win 13 award

    MUMBAI: UAE’s MBC Creative Services, Showtime and Dubai Media Incorporated bagged the most number of awards in the second annual Promax/BDA Arabia Awards.

    MBC Creative Services picked up 13 awards, Showtime bagged 10 and Dubai Media won eight.
     

    Presented at the culmination of the Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 conference on 15 March in Dubai, the awards celebrate works of excellence in promotion, marketing and broadcast design aired, published or distributed in Arabia between 1 April 2005 and 1 January 2006.

    Gold and Silver Muse Awards are presented in the promotional award categories and Gold and Silver Isis Awards are presented in the broadcast design categories.
     
    Promax/BDA EMEA senior vice president and managing director Carmen Alzner said, “We were excited by the unprecedented number of submissions for just our second year of the Promax/BDA Arabia Awards, knowing that it broadened the scope of potential winning projects, and we weren’t disappointed. All of us at Promax/BDA continue to be inspired and uplifted by the enthusiasm and camaraderie that our colleagues in this region bring to both the conference and the awards ceremony and look forward to our return next year.”
     

    The big winner of the night was the UAE’s MBC Creative Services, picking up 13 awards (six Muse and seven Isis) in categories such as Best Program Promotion (MBC4’s Live 8 Our Defining Moment), two wins in the Best Film Promo for MBC2’s High Crimes and Silence of the Lambs, Best Children’s Promo for BC2’s Tom & Jerry, two Best News Factual or Factual Entertainment Promo for Al Arabiya’s Quantanamo Bay and Arab Thought Foundation, Best Use of Music and Sound Design for MBC2’s My Name Is…, Best Copy/Script Writing for MBC1’s The Hard Way, Best On Air Branding for MBC1’s channel branding, two Best On Air Ident awards for MBC1’s Chairs and MBC4’s Ant, Best Mixed Media Animation for Al Arabiya’s The Third Eye and Best Design in Promo for MBC2’s My Name Is…

    UAE’s Showtime picked up 10 awards in the following categories: Best Film Promotion for Man on Fire, Best Children’s Promo for Angry Beavers, and in the Something for Nothing category, a win for CSI Thumb Print. Showtime earned double awards in Best Television Image Promo for its Al Pacino Special and DIFF Award Winning Movies, Best Drama Promotion for CSI Thumb Print and Desperate Housewives Smoke and Best Editing for its Tarantino Special and CSI combo.

    The night’s other big winner was Dubai Media Incorporated, picking up eight awards for its work in both promotion and broadcast design. Among its wins were two awards for Best Editing for AAKS and Dubai Sports, two awards for Best Set Design for Alittijah Al Khames and Assrarooha, as well as Best On Air Branding for Dubai Sports, Best Sports Promo for Al Sahmal Arabi, Best Use of Music and Sound Design for its Be a Sport, and in the Something for Nothing category, a win for Happy Birthday One TV.

     

    Also read:
    Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 awards receive record number of entries

  • FICCI’s report on the entertainment industry projects optimistic figures

    FICCI’s report on the entertainment industry projects optimistic figures

    The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has compiled a report “The Indian Entertainment Industry: Strategy & Vision” with the assistence of Arthur Anderson. It was officially released at the “International Conference on the Business of Entertainment: India-Opportunities in the 21st Century” held in Mumbai on 30 March, 2000.

    The report presents very optimistic figures pertaining to the entertainment industry and makes some recommendations to the government to facilitate the growth of the industry. It expects the turnover of the entertainment industry to touch Rs 600 billion. The report says that the future of television broadcasting belongs to the satellite channels. The market of regional channels is huge with more and more players like Zee and Broadcast Worldwide making a foray into the regional channel market. Even the niche channels like Nickelodeon, Maharishi, Cartoon network, Fashion TV, ESPN, Discovery, Channel V etc have a tremendous potential and their huge success indicates the fragmentation of audience. Regarding the Direct-To-Home (DTH) mode of distribution of television channels, the report says that it too has a tremendous potential and if the segment is opened up, there would be 1 million DTH homes in India by 2002.

    FICCI recommends that the government should lift the ban on the use of KU Band reception equipments as it will be incongruent in a scenario of freely viewable television channels over the Internet. It also suggests that the government should privatise the terrestrial network along with introduction of DTH which will enable the smaller cities to receive satellite channels as the cable operators ignore that segment. Another important point highlighted is the ammendment in the conditions for the presumptive rate of taxation of foreign companies which stands at the rate of 10% of deemed profits. A legislation clarifying the taxation of foreign telecasting companies is demanded.

    Development of about two to three earth stations in India within the next six to seven years would generate revenues between $12 million to $23 million as Indian as well as foreign channels would consider uplinking from India. The Government can generate revenues between $12 million to $23 million by leasing a part of its terrestrial network. The level of employment can double from the existing 2,50,000 people in the next three to five years. The growth in the broadcasting industry will simulate a similar trend in industries such as the television software industry, film industry, the music industry and even the equipment and hardware manufacturing industry which directly depend on the broadcasting sector.

    In the cable television sector, FICCI has requested the government to rectify the hinderences in the growth of the cable television market due to restrictions on foreign equity participation and the short-sightedness of the Cable Television (Networks) Act, 1995 and the archaic Indian Telegraphs Act, 1885. The growth of the cable television industry would help the government in generating more revenues in the form of taxes. The penetration of Internet to the common man can also increase with the growth of the cable television industry. Employment in this sector stands at 2,50,000 people. Additional 4,00,000 peaple can be employed in the next three to five years.

    On the television software side, FICCI has requested the government to nominate a representative who would be an active member and assist in industry issues like hardware insurance, copyright protection, etc. The government should also facilitate the growth of training institutions focussing on software development that would help the students learn modern techniques on up-to-date equipment and be aware of the dynamic trends in the entertainment industry. The television software and entertainment companies should also benefit similarly from the 10% listing criterion currently enjoyed by infotech companies as it would help in giving adequate ESOPs. Another benefit of utilising 100% proceedings of funds raised through ADR/GDR issues to acquire overseas companies is enjoyed only by IT industries and this benefit should also be made available to other companies.

    Owing to the increase in revenues in this segment to $2,093 million by 2005, the government’s tax collections will rise to $318 million. If proper and adequate incentives are provided by the government, the export earnings from this segment will rise to $233 million within the next two years, from the current $81 million. The industry expects this figure to touch $1.356 billion by the year 2005. Direct and indirect employment will rise from the current level of 1 million to 2 million by the year 2005.

  • Kelly Clarkson to co-host MTV Asia Awards

    Kelly Clarkson to co-host MTV Asia Awards

    MUMBAI: MTV Asia Pacific has announced that Kelly Clarkson and Wang Leehom will host the fifth annual MTV Asia Awards 2006 in Bangkok on 6 May. Clarkson was the winner of the first season of American Idol in the US.

    Clarksons debut album Thankful was released in 2003, Her new album Breakaway has sold over 8.5 million copies worldwide. It spawned four number one singles Breakaway, Since U Been Gone, Behind These Hazel Eyes and Because of You. Since U Been Gone brought her two Moon Men at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video. Earlier this year, she won two Grammy Awards.

    Asian star Leehom conceptualises ‘chinked-out’ music. This combines traditional Chinese tunes with pop and hip-hop music to form a new style of music.

    The MTV Asia Awards 2006 will be available to over 400 million households via 43 channels as well as through syndication worldwide. Updates on the MTV Asia Awards 2006 can be found at www.mtvasiaawards.com.

    Fans can also access information on their mobile phones by keying in maawap.com to follow the latest news on the upcoming awards, vote for their favourite artists and stand to win tickets to attend the show live. The Wap site will also feature content related to the awards show such as wallpapers and screensavers that are available for downloads.

    Sponsors for the MTV Asia Awards 2006 are Haier Electrical Appliances, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited with Siam Paragon, World Class Shopping Phenomenon. The local sponsors include IM3 and Gery Saluut Cokluut in Indonesia and 5425 in Korea. Official Hair Partner: Toni & Guy. The official make-up partner is M.A.C. The official hotel is Millennium Hilton in Bangkok.

  • BBC boosts coverage of MotoGP

    BBC boosts coverage of MotoGP

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced that its coverage of MotoGP will be the biggest yet, with more live races than ever before and extended interactive coverage of both qualifying and post race action. In India viewers can catch MotoGP action on Ten Sports and ESS.

    All 17 races will be shown live either on BBC Two. There’s also a new addition to the team with the arrival of former Dorna Sports MotoGP commentator, Matt Roberts.

    Matt will join presenter Suzi Perry and expert duo Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish in bringing viewers all the latest pit-lane action from all 17 races to be shown in 2006.

    For the first race of the season, coming live from Jerez, the BBC will also have extended qualifying coverage and post-race reaction on BBCi – the BBC’s interactive service available to digital viewers. Commenting on the 2006 season, the series producer Belinda Rogerson says, “This is our fourth year of broadcasting the MotoGP Championship, and we are delighted to be providing viewers with more live and interactive coverage than ever before.”