ITV

Category: Television

  • Mukta arts to take Whistling Woods to South Africa and Dubai

    Mukta arts to take Whistling Woods to South Africa and Dubai

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker Subhash Ghai is planning to set up Whistling Woods, a film and media arts institute, in South Africa and Dubai through joint ventures with local partners.

    “We see opportunity in Dubai and South Africa. We have signed an MoU with the provincial government of the Western Cape and are in talks with Dubai Media City,” says Mukta Arts CEO Ravi Gupta.

    Whistling Woods International Ltd, a subsidiary company, will jointly conduct a feasibility report for each of these markets. “The cost of setting up each institute will be close to Rs 1 billion. We would want to do it along with local partners,” adds Gupta.

    Ghai, has signed with Ibrahim Rasool, the premier of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, Republic of South Africa, a declaration of intent to work out a collaborative strategy for establishment of a film and media institute in Cape Town. “We expect to complete the feability study in three to four months. We will take a decision only after that,” says Gupta.

    Mukta Arts has already pumped in Rs 600 million to set up Asia’s biggest film, television, animation and media arts institute in Mumbai. The aim is to create a talent pool for the rapidly-growing Indian film and animation industry.

    Whistling Woods, which is offering two-year courses, has tied up with technology majors including nVidia, Apple, Sony, AMD, Belden, Nortel, Seneca, DigiDesign, Recreate Solutions, ToonBoom and Sennheiser.

    The institute provides specialisations in direction, ccreenwriting, editing, acting, business of film and television, cinematography, art and techniques of animation and sound recording and design.

  • Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, and BT Plc, have announced that they have concluded a multi-year broadband video-on-demand rental agreement in the UK.

    This will make available, on-demand, a selection of upcoming, current and library movies from BVITV’s portfolio via BT’s upcoming next-generation TV service, BT Vision. This agreement is in line with The Walt Disney Company’s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution, asserts an official release.
    Through this agreement, BT Vision’s customers will be able to purchase on-demand a selection of current and upcoming features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. Titles include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Shaggy Dog and Scary Movie 4. The agreement also includes a range of library features, adds the release.

    BVITV EMEA executive vice president and managing director Tom Toumazis said, “As flexibility and choice of content become increasingly important factors to the entertainment consumer, we’re pleased to be working with BT to offer this strong selection of our movie titles to BT Vision’s customers across the UK, in a convenient range of ways on this exciting new digital service.”

    BT Vision CEO Dan Marks said, “We are delighted to announce this agreement with The Walt Disney Company. BT Vision’s film service will be immensely strengthened by our ability to offer current movies from one of the strongest studios and a great selection of titles from Disney’s magnificent catalogue. We look forward to working with Disney to develop and use innovative technology to continue providing our customers with choice, convenience and control over their movie-watching.”

    At launch, BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy a vast range of film, music and television programming available on-demand as well as interactive services and all the Freeview channels, all available on the TV, with no compulsory subscription. This combination, delivered on a software platform powered by Microsoft and through a set-top box made by Philips, will allow customers choice, control and convenience.

    BT Vision has already announced content deals with a range of entertainment companies including Dreamworks, i-concerts, Eagle Rock, BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music Group, National Geographic Channel,Universal,SONY BMG, Viacom and Turner Broadcasting; as well as with independents including Lionsgate, Entertainment Rights plc, NBD Television and Wall to Wall Television. BT Vision has also announced near-live FA Premier League matches from the 2007-2008 season, adds the release.

    This agreement was concluded by BVITV vice president Digital Media Damian Newton and executive director Sales UK and Ireland Catherine Powell, working with BT Vision’s director business affairs Mark Cranwell and head of film Bobbie Fox.

  • Sony withdraws from ICC rights bid process

    Sony withdraws from ICC rights bid process

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television India, the “incumbent” holder of telecast rights for ICC cricket in the subcontinent, has withdrawn from the bidding process for the next round of bids, for which the deadline for bids submission is 10 November.

    Up for grabs are the audio-visual rights for 18 ICC tournaments starting from the second half of 2007 till the World Cup in 2015. The last agreement began in 2000 and ends with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies next March.

    The Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) board was unwilling to bankroll the bid, which was seen as being too fraught with financial risk.

    Confirming the developments to Indiantelevision.com, Set India CEO Kunal Dasgupta had this to say: “We believe that the terms (of the tender) are quite onerous. We do not want to put our company at risk so we are constrained to hold back our bid. But that does not take away our right to enter into post-bid arrangements with the winning bidders.”

    Dasgupta made it clear that Sony did not want to get sucked into a bidding frenzy similar to what was witnessed in February when Harish Thawani’s Nimbus Communications walked away with the telecast rights to India cricket after putting in a bank-breaking $612.18 million composite bid. Nimbus’ bid was nearly $ 200 million higher than the base price of $425 million that had been set by the Indian cricket board.

    A point also worth noting is that Sony’s composite bid for the BCCI rights, made through Set Satellite Singapore Pte, was $478 million for the global rights and $397 million for the India territory.

    AGAIN A FACE-OFF BETWEEN MURDOCH AND CHANDRA?
    With Sony out of the reckoning, it could well be the same two who finally face off for the current block of cricket property, with Subhash Chandra squaring off against one time ally and now bitter foe Rupert Murdoch. It was Murdoch who won that particular skirmish so there will be some interesting history at play when the bids are opened at the ICC’s headquarters in Dubai tomorrow.

    To rewind to 1999, the News Corp controlled Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) had paid out $550 million to secure the rights after a fierce bidding war with Chandra’s Zee Telefilms. At the time of bidding, the GCC was a 50:50 JV between News Corp and World Sport Nimbus (itself a 50:50 JV between Nimbus and the UK-headquartered World Sport Group). News Corp subsequently bought out WSN’s stake in the JV.

    The GCC had sold the satellite rights for the Indian subcontinent territory to Sony Entertainment Television India for $ 208 million.

    One player that will definitely not be in this particular game is Nimbus. It has been taken out of the equation by the News Corp distribution deal. And neither, for that matter, will News Corp be bidding as a separate entity from ESPN Star Sports.

    Market speculation on how high the bidding will go this time round ranges from at least a billion dollars to even crossing $ 1.7 billion.

  • Discovery Travel and Living sets up an ‘Indian Rendezvous’

    Discovery Travel and Living sets up an ‘Indian Rendezvous’

    MUMBAI: Earlier this year Discovery Travel and Living had unveiled its first local initiative The Great Indian Wedding. This takes a look at six different weddings. Now the channel will look at six Indian cities. The show airs every Sunday at 8:30 pm from 12 November.

    The cities covered are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai. What is unique is that each episode will be anchored by a well known personality from that city. So Konkana Sen Sharma will anchor the Kolkata episode, Sushma Reddy will anchor the first episode of the show which looks at Mumbai, Vasundhara Das will anchor the Bangalore episode, filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor will anchor the episode on Hyderabad, Meera Vasudevan will anchor the episode on Chennai and Ayaan Ali khan will host the episode on Delhi.

    The episodes will inform viewers about the food, air, music, adventure and travel opportunities available in each city. The episodes will offer anecdotes on famous places, interactions with each city’s popular personalities, trivia and little known facts.

    Discovery India MD Deepak Shourie says, “Indian rendezvous promises viewers both in India and abroad an unparalleled journey into the heart of India’s biggest cities. It reflects the vibrand spirit and soul of modern India. We are confident that viewers will enjoy watching and rediscovering their cities.”

    Discovery Lifestyle Networks VP Aditya Tripathi says that the plan going forward is to have at least one local show each quarter. So in each year you will see between four to six local shows. Indian Rendezvous he says took eight months to complete. The Mumbai episode was shot a year back. The next show will kick off in February 2007. Vir Sanghvi will host a food based show. “This will give viewers an idea of different cuisines, their origins and how a cuisine defines a region. Most people know Vir as a journalist but his knowledge on the subject of food is phenomenal.

    “This month and in December we will be shooting several episodes of the Great Indian Wedding as it is the marriage season. Following the successful pilot we will air at least six episodes sometime in the middle of next year. There are also several other concepts that have gone into production. They include shows on hotels, homes, fashion, holiday destinations. Indian Rendezvous will also air on Discovery Travel and Living in the UK and in Asia.”

    Shourie adds that as DTH grows in India the network will look at bringing more channels into the country possibly next year. He however said that at this juncture it is too premature to say anything specific.

    Coming back to Indian Rendezvous. Reddy says, “Colourful, vibrant, energetic and friendly Mumbai is and will always be the gateway to India. Mumbai is a city of startling contradictions with stately Victorian architecture and flanking skyscrapers that stab the sky. It is the country’s financial hub and the Mecca of cinema. All this and more makes Mumbai one of India’s most exciting cities. Fast moving and full of life.”

    The Mumbai episode will among other things look at cricket and the episode visits the CCI where the champions trophy was played at the Brabourne Stadium, Wankhede Stadium and meets ex cricketer Ajit Wadhekar.

    It also visits the Taj Mahal Hotel where the discovery travel and living media meet took place this afternoon. The hotel even today retains an old world charm. It always visits the horse races at the Mahalaxmi race course. It also looks At the street food at Juhu Beach as well as Chor Bazaar as well as the small but passionate jazz scene. It talks to jazz musician Louis Banks who mentions that both Mumbai and Kolkatta have a history of jazz.

    DAs says, “Bangalore has attracted people from diverse ciltural and linguistic backgrounds. Being born and brought up in Bangalore and having had the opportunity to travel to other Indian cities I truly understand and love this city. In the past from being known as a pensioners paradise among many other things Bangalore has become a city for all age groups and profiles- students, young professionals, musicians, dancers and artists. Indian Rendezvous presents the city for all seasons in its totality and splendour”

    The Bangalore episode looks at the Infosys Campus which is a city within a city. It also examines fashion with expert Prasad Bidappa as well as looks at Bangalore’s pub culture. Bangalore is known as the pub city of India. The episode also looks at Cubbon Park, which is spread over 300 acres of urban tranquillity.The park is popular with daily joggers and nature lovers. The episode also looks at Soukhya a health clinic.

  • Star Gold presents ‘Savlon Sabse Favourite Kaun 2006’

    Star Gold presents ‘Savlon Sabse Favourite Kaun 2006’

    MUMBAI: Star Gold will open the voting lines for the opinion poll of bollywood Savlon Sabsey Favourite Kaun International 2006 from 12 November.
    The poll is open for fans not just from India but also from other countries including the Middle East, South East Asia, US, UK, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia and New Zealand.

    The nominees for different categories are:

    – Sabsey Favourite Hero:
    Amitabh, Abhishek, Akshay, Ajay or Aamir, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Kha, Hrithik, John and Sanjay Dutt.

    – Sabsey Favourite Heroine:
    Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Sushmita Sen, Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Priyanka Chopra and Ayesha Takia.

    – Sabsey Favourite Comic Hero:
    Arshad Warsi, Boman Irani, Rajpal Yadav, Johnny Lever and Paresh Rawal.

    – Sabsey Favourite Nayi Heroine:
    Kangana Ranaut, Tanushree Dutta, Konkona Sen Sharma, Sneha Ullal and Soha Ali Khan.

    – Sabsey Favourite Naya Hero:
    Abhay Deol, Shreyas Talpade, Kunal Khemu, Upen Patel and Shiny Ahuja.

    – Sabsey Favourite Film:
    Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Rang De Basanti, Krrish, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Fanna.

    – Sabsey Tez Sitara:
    Sharman Joshi , Kunal Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan.

    People can vote for this category only on www.indya.com

    To find out more about Savlon Sabsey Favourite Kaun International keep watching Star Gold along with the hosts Ranvir Shorey, Vinay Pathak and Suresh Menon. Accompanying them will be Savlon SFKI ambassador- Ayesha Takia.

    To vote: SMS ‘SFK’ to 7827 or Log on to www.indya.com.

    The first episode of Bandhon Mein Hai Dum will premiere on 12 November at 12 pm.

  • BBC launches ‘Sahara with Michael Palin’

    BBC launches ‘Sahara with Michael Palin’

    MUMBAI: BBC World is launching a new four-part series rom 4 Novemver, which sees Michael Palin’s journey unfold across the Sahara Desert revealing a huge and diverse range of cultures, landscapes and a long history of civilisation, trade, commerce and conquest stretching from the ancient Egyptians to the oil-rich Islamic republics of today.

    Starting and finishing his adventure in Gibraltar, Palin crosses the Straits to Morocco where he visits the main cities before traversing Atlas Mountains.

    The first episode, A Line In The Sand would premiere Saturday 4 November at 2:10 pm and would be re-telecsted on Saturday 4 November at 10:10 pm, Sunday 5 November at 5:10 am, 10:10 am and 6:10 pm.

    The first episode would see Michael’s journey begin in Gibraltar where he crosses the Straits to Tangier in Morocco. After pausing in Fez and Marrakech and crossing the High Atlas he enters the real desert. He is then guided to the Mauritanian border by the Sahawari people, where he climbs aboard the longest train in the world, breaking his journey at Chinguetti.

    The second episode, Destination Timbuktu would be aired on Saturday 11 November at 2:10 pm and re-telecasted on: Saturday 11 November at 11:10 pm, Sunday 12 November at 5:10 am, 10:10 pm and 6:10 pm.

    The second episode would see Michael briefly visiting Senegal, Bamako, Dogon and Djenne on the way to his destination Timbuktu. Celebrating the Muslim Tabaski feast in the city of Djenne with a man called Pygmy, and securing a passage on a cargo boat with a Norwegian missionary called Kristin, the rest of the journey down the Niger River to Timbuktu seems plain sailing till the boat runs aground a day out of its destination.

    The third episode, Absolute Desert would be aired on Saturday 18 November at 2:10 pm and re-telecasted on Saturday 18 November at 11:10 pm, Sunday 19 November at 5:10 am, 10:10 pm and 6:10 pm.

    In the third episode, Michael reaches the city of Timbuktu. He wanders through the rubble that is 21 century Timbuktu to find the Imam who shows him original astronomical textbooks that predate Galileo’s discoveries by 200 years.

    Amidst the chaos of camel races, shopping and general mayhem, Michael meets up with a group of Touareg for the next leg of his journey: a camel train across the Tenere desert to Algeria. Walking 12 hours a day, eating the odd sheep, and learning the rudiments of Tamashek, the language of the Tuareg, Michael finally gets to grips with the heart and soul of the desert.

    The fourth episode, Dire Straits would be aired on Saturday 25 November at 2:10 pm and re-telecasted on Saturday 25 November at 11:10 pm, Sunday 25 November at 5:10 am, 10:10 pm and 6:10 pm.

    In this episode, Michael arrives at the border of Niger and Algeria, where banditry is a way of life in the absence of law and order.Turning north Michael passes through the mountains of the Hoggar massif before he pauses in the oil and gas fields of central Algeria.

    Crossing into Tunis Michael re-lives the filming of The Life of Brian in Monastir, before taking the Maghreb Express to the city of Algiers.

    Michael talks to would-be immigrants before returning to his original starting point, Gibraltar.En-route he learns of the terrible fate that has engulfed so many Saharan men, women and children who attempt the eight mile crossing in search of a better life.

  • Mattel to kick off ‘National School Scrabble Championship’

    Mattel to kick off ‘National School Scrabble Championship’

    MUMBAI: Mattel Toys India Pvt. Ltd, in association with Birla Sun Life Insurance, has set the stage for the Mattel National School Scrabble Championship 2006. The zonal rounds will be held on 11 and 12 November and the final on 22 November in Mumbai.

    This year the brain-teasing word game championship will reach out to more than 200 schools across India, with a total of over 1000 students participating from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Pune, states an official release.

    Mumbai city alone, is expected to witness the participation of more than 300 students from close to 60 schools. Ten winners from each zonal final will be shortlisted for the national finals.

    The championship is applicable for students between the age group of 7-15 years and the event will be organised under the aegis of Scrabble Association of India.

    The big highlight of this year’s championship will be a grand trip for the champion and his parents to Malaysia, courtesy Cox and Kings. Kingfisher Airlines has joined in to support the event as the Travel sponsor for the Championship.

    Announcing the championship, Mattel Toys India managing director Sanjay Luthra said, “Scrabble, now 56-years old, is the world’s largest selling word game, with over 100 million sets sold in 29 different languages across 121 countries. In India our efforts have always been to try and encourage school kids to develop their vocabulary and analytical skills through the game of Scrabble.

    “The Mattel National School Scrabble Championship provides a platform for students to test these skills at a competitive level. This year, the Championship will be much bigger than ever before, with a lot more students pitting their Scrabble® skills against each other.”

  • TV18 strengthens senior management

    TV18 strengthens senior management

    MUMBAI: The Raghav Bahl promoted Television Eighteen has embarked upon a big and aggressive expansion not only into the online media, but also leveraging on the strengths of the ‘CNBC universe’ in order to cash in on the advertising boom.

    Thus, TV18 Media Networks, the ad sales division of the group has realigned ad sales operations to strengthen and capitalize on the TV18 Group’s television, online and mobile media properties.

    According to TV18 Media Networks CEO B Saikumar “The kind of growth our TV18 network has seen the challenge now is to do justice to individual products and revenue streams.”

    The business news channels, the online ventures, the CNBC bestsellers CD division and Focus (the ground events division have, thus, been grouped under an umbrella brand loosely referred to as the ‘CNBC Universe’.

    Streamlining the responsibilities of key professionals like Raj Kamath, Anil Uniyal and Sanjay Dua is one such move in this direction, says Sai Kumar. Reason: create ‘new touch points’ for clients and offer better business solutions, which all would add to the company’s
    revenues.

    For example, Kamath’s role has been expanded from handling sales activities of CNN-IBN to be in charge of ad sales inventories of the TV18 Network (business and general news channels).

    Uniyal, who earlier handled the west and south Indian regions of TV18 business channel, has been given the added responsibility of ‘CNBC Universe’. Dua, who earlier was responsible for north and eastern markets of India for the four channels (CNBC TV18, Awaaz, CNN-IBN & IBN7) will henceforth oversee CNN-IBN and IBN7 and possible local channels in the near future.

    This significant change is indication that the group has done away with regional head portfolios and placing four professionals of the company in charge of coordinating the sales activities of various products with each of them reporting into Kamath who is answerable to Sai Kumar.

    Reinstated what SaiKumar has said, Kamath adds that through this streamlined process, the clients will be offered an integrated marketing communication via the multi-media platform.

    Dua points out that the new structure will ‘help further in creation and optimizing’ of the brand clout of the TV18 Network. Though the Hindi news channel space is cluttered, for Dua IBN7 is bringing in more brands on board that have a national profile instead of mere regional appeal.

    The restructuring drive is also aimed at future plans of the TV18 Group, which includes expanding further into the web space through acquisitions and making forays into markets and language that have not been tapped by the company.

    As Sai Kumar points out, the group is poised to leap into the next level of growth as newer operations near profitability levels.

  • Disney US signs deal with Nintendo for games

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Disney and games firm Nintendo have announced a deal.


    Characters from shows The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, American Dragon: Jake Long and That’s So Raven are available on Nintendo handheld video game systems.



    Buena Vista Games VP marketing Craig Relyea says, “This fall, kids of all ages can experience the fun of following characters from their favorite Disney Channel shows through a series of great new video games. Whether at home or traveling during the holidays, kids can enjoy these all-new adventures on the Nintendo handheld system of their choice.”



    Based on the TV show American Dragon: Jake Long and developed by WayForward, American Dragon: Attack of the Dark Dragon for the Nintendo DS lets players take control of Jake, who must punch and kick his way through an onslaught of villains to save girlfriend Rose from the Dark Dragon. American Dragon: Attack of the Dark Dragon boasts five distinct worlds with more than 20 levels. When Jake transforms into the America Dragon, players can release dragon fire, perform jump attacks, whip with a tail swipe and take flight in 3D with up to four friends in wireless mode.


    In the game based on the show Disney’s Hannah Montana 13 year-old Miley Stewart lives a double life as girl-next-door and pop sensation in the Disney Channel original show, Hannah Montana. In Disney’s Hannah Montana for the Nintendo DS, developed by DC Studios, someone is threatening to reveal Miley’s secret and it’s up to the player to determine who it is.


    Playing as Miley, gamers must use spy skills and gadgetry to investigate their school, the boardwalk, stadium and beach to uncover hidden clues and solve the mystery. Players can interact with their favorite characters from the show using a branching dialogue system while exploring familiar Hannah Montana environments, and meet hilarious new characters along the way. Mini-games include a wireless two-player skateboard, rollerblade and scooter challenge and a mode that enables players to share clothes in Miley’s secret wardrobe with others via wireless connection.


    The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Caper for the Game Boy Advance takes players on a daring adventure with the 12-year-old twins at the Tipton Hotel. The boys are on a mission…crawling, climbing, jumping, racing and wearing disguises to conquer enemy forces, when they discover a plot to steal the crown from a Teen Beauty Pageant being held at the hotel. Players control the twins independently or team up in fun-filled missions to ensure the thief is stopped and the night is a success, all while trying not to get caught.


    Developed by Handheld Games, That’s So Raven: Psychic on the Scene challenges players to solve a hare-brained mystery brought on by one of Raven’s psychic visions. Taking the role of Raven or one of her friends, Chelsea or Eddie, players must gather clues to solve the mystery, fix fashion mishaps, save friends and progress through an array of fun puzzle challenges – all in 3D and for the first time ever on the Nintendo DS.


    Players can mix and match more than 40 different outfits, hairstyles and disguises, create custom clothing styles that can be shared over the wireless connection, sew new garments, and take the driver’s seat in several mini-games.

  • Imaginasian TV to premiere ‘Comedy Zen II’ on 10 November

    Imaginasian TV to premiere ‘Comedy Zen II’ on 10 November

    MUMBAI: ImaginAsian TV has announced that it will premiere the second season of its original comedy series, Comedy Zen on 10 November 2006 at 9 pm.

    Comedy Zen’s second season-taped at David Henry Hwang Theater-will consist of six new half-hour episodes and a dynamic lineup of Asian America’s wittiest comics, asserts an official release.

    Headed by returning host, Joey Guila (P-Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy, Takeout Comedy Tour 2004), Comedy Zen II showcases two comedians in each episode and highlights their unique styles ranging from playful irony to irreverent life observations.

    ImaginAsian TV SVP programming and production David Chu said, “The first season of Comedy Zen received a positive response from our many viewers, especially from those who have long clamored to see talented Asian American comedians brought to the limelight. We’re very excited to air this second season, which we think is even hipper, funnier, and more sharp-witted than our first season.”

    Airing weekly, the second season features many new as well as returning comedians. This season’s lineup of stand-up comics includes Nigel Lawrence (Comedy now, Vancouver comedy festival), Kevin Shea (Kims of comedy), Mark Saldana (NBC’s last comic standing), and Bobby Miyamoto (Comedy central’s premium blend), added the release.