Category: Television

European broadcasters oppose swimming, gymnastic Olympic events timings

MUMBAI: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has formally protested the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s decision to hold some Olympic swimming and gymnastic finals in the morning during the 2008 Beijing Games.

Media reports indicate that IOC had announced the changes last week in a concession to US broadcaster NBC. However the EBU says that this means that the events willl occur in the middle of the night in Europe.

In a statement the EBU says, “With this decision the IOC ends the tradition of staging these finals in the evening irrespective of the time zone at the venue. Viewers in Europe as well as the vast majority of the global TV audience will be disadvantaged.”

Swimmers too have registered their protest in a letter. Ian Thorpe says, “I won’t make a habit of posting annoyances here but this one just blew my mind. Anyone else think it irritating that NBC is putting pressure on the IOC to change the swimming schedule to only benefit the US prime time audience? That’s nice but what about the rest of the planet, who last time I checked, were also involved in the Olympics.”

Pieter van den Hoogenband says, “Do you see the big athletes of the 100 metre sprint, the Powells and Gatlins, running their final in the morning? Come on. Be serious. For one time, one tournament, they alternate the programme, because of American goals. Without knowing the opinion of the men to swim: we, us. This is worthless. For me especially. I am not a morning person. To be at my best at ten o’clock, shortly after breakfast, is impossible .”

November 1, 2006
Nickelodeon fights competition in kid‘s space

MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the announcement of a new head, Nickelodeon now boasts of entering the ratings game as the second longest watched channel amongst kids over the last three weeks (Week 40 to Week 42, daypart 07:00 – 22:00, 4-14 ABC, HSM1L+ markets).

The latest Tam data suggests that specific to this week (ie.Week 42, 15 – 21 October) Nick has squeezed itself into the second spot with timespent/viewer (TS/V) as being 162.05 minutes. However, the timespent/universe (TS/U), tells a different story as Nick slips to the fifth position with 22.2 minutes.

Hungama TV heads the pack, while the Disney Channel has overtaken the two players from the Turner stable, Cartoon Network and Pogo.

What‘s interesting, is that for same period (Week 42) Nick has held 0.41 TVRs outrunning the Southern leader Toon Disney (0.30 TVRs) and is not trailing too far behind Pogo which has clocked 0.46 TVRs.

Nick appears to be heading for happier times as it also claims the leadership position among all kids‘ channels in the younger kids category as time spent is pegged at 228 minutes (Week 42, daypart 07:00 – 22:00, 4-9 ABC, HSM1L+ markets). This category has seen a growth in GRPs of 83 per cent (From 84 in Week 39 to 154 in Week 42).

Additionally, over the past four weeks (Week 39 to Week 42) the time spent per individual on Nick has risen 74 per cent, while GRPs have risen 62 per cent to 86 (from 53 in Week 39 to 86 in Week 42), the channel claims.

Putting up a firm fight, the key properties that seem to be propelling this growth include Ninja Hattori, The Munnabhai Show and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.

October 31, 2006
Nicktoons forays into Sci-fi with ‘Skyland’

MUMBAI: Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon‘s 24-hour animation network, delves into the sci-fi realm for the first time with Skyland, an animated adventure series that will premiere Saturday 18 November at 9 pm.

The series employs the latest in animation technology by using motion capture, CGI, 2D and key frame animation to create cutting-edge television.

The premiere of Skyland will kick off with the hour-long special (that sneak-peeked globally in January) followed by an all-new, half-hour episode at 10 pm during the 3 Headed Monster programming block. Season one, which consists of 13 episodes, will air Saturdays at 9 pm on Nicktoons Network.

“Nicktoons Network continues to be the hub for animation fans to tune in and find unique, diverse and technically advanced shows like Skyland,” said, Nicktoons Network vice president and general manager Keith Dawkins. “In addition to its rich visual style and stunning imagery, Skyland is an epic, sci-fi action adventure of good verses evil — universal story lines kids have loved for ages,” he added.

Skyland, produced by Method Films and created by Emmanuel Gorin, Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, follows a heroic brother, Mahad and his telekinetic younger sister, Lena, as they search for their parents in a new world order. The year is 2251 and the earth has been shattered into millions of blocks that now drift aimlessly in orbit around the Earth‘s core known as Skyland.

The Sphere, led by a power-mad ruler with telekinetic powers named Oslo, has installed a dictatorship that controls water distribution, now a precious resource. Skyland‘s young heroes along with the pirate resistance, try to free their mother from Oslo‘s evil grasp and destroy the dreaded Sphere.

The hour-long special, Dawn of A New Day, introduces Mahad and Lena as they are faced with their biggest challenge yet when their mother is forced to sacrifice herself and be captured by the evil Sphere in order for her children to run to freedom.

In the premiere episode Manipulations, the sibling duo fights against the enemy when a solar phenomenon has unusual effects on Seijin powers. This allows a sect of the Sphere to take control of Dahlia, a strong member of the pirates, in effort to learn the coordinates of the pirate hideout.

Nicktoons Network offers a 24- hour schedule featuring programming such as the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, Kappa Mikey, Thumb Wrestling Federation, Corneil and Bernie and Martin Mystery, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Jimmy Neutron.

October 31, 2006
Zee Muzic to launch ‘Wild 10’ on 4 November

MUMBAI: Zee Muzic is set to kick off a one-hour theme based show Wild 10 on 4 November at 7 pm.

Hosted by Rohit Roy, every Saturday Wild 10 will play 10 of the hottest tracks of the week and pick five from each of the various segments such as – DJ’s pick, regional hits, viewer’s choice, old is gold – retro and international.

The show promises to take viewers through the wild side of fashion, parties, destinations and more. Every episode will see Rohit in different avatars, from a Bartender to a DJ or even a biker. The end of every episode will show Rohit doing something ‘Wild’ as part of his signature Wild 10 style, informs an official release.

Zee Muzic business head Irshwin Balvani said, “Wild 10 is a make-you-feel-good show. It makes for a perfect weekend viewing as it has lots of music and entertainment and of course Rohit Roy who unveils his wild side.”

October 31, 2006
AXN to roll out The Amazing Race Asia online race

MUMBAI: AXN is rolling out The Amazing Race Asia Online Race, an interactive online competition that gives viewers a chance to taste the action of the race. Contestants will have to decipher clues and execute challenges in the race to the grand prize, just like teams in The Amazing Race Asia.

The Amazing Race Asia Online Race is launched to further connect with viewers of The Amazing Race Asia, slated for broadcast on 9 November 2006. The online race is a manifestation of AXN’s commitment to deliver a 3600 entertainment experience for its viewers.

Contestants will have to search for clues and weave their way through a web of challenges, including tasks like assuming the role of an Amazing Race cameraman chasing contestants through the cities, a memory game and more.

The Amazing Race Asia Online Race is played in teams of two and the goal is to race from checkpoint to checkpoint online. Each team will have to complete a special task in order to get the clues to the next checkpoint. A tutorial of the race can be found at http://amazing-race-asia.axn asia.com/promotions/ online-race/index.html.

Registration for The Amazing Race Asia Online Race is open and registration would close on 5 November 2006. The race will run in two legs. The first leg will be held from 6 November 7 pm to 9 November 7 pm. Participants have to navigate and complete all the checkpoints in the specified sequence within this period to qualify for the next leg of the race.

The second leg will be held on 11 November, where all eligible participants have to log in from 12 pm onwards in the final race to the finishing line where the grand prize of USD$2,000 awaits the winner. Results will be announced on 13 November 2006.

October 31, 2006
Hinduja TMT Q2 net profit at Rs 5081 million

MUMBAI: Hinduja TMT has posted a profit after tax of Rs 5081.989 million for the quarter ended 30 September, 2006 as compared to Rs 120.993 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2005.

The company has recorded a total income of Rs 7758 million for the quarter comparing with a year-before of Rs 459 million. Net sales stood at Rs 934.74 million, compared to Rs 410.31 million a year ago.

Expenditure came to Rs 919.06 million compared with Rs 348.18 million in the third quarter of 2005. Expenditure includes direct / operating cost and connectivity cost Rs 22.407 million, staff cost Rs 412.346 million, rent & compensation charges Rs 58.453 million, legal & professional charges Rs 317.983 million, discounts and commission Rs 4.180 million and others Rs 103.686 million.

Operating Profit registered at Rs 6839 million from Rs 111 million, a year earlier.

The figures related to the current quarter ended 30 September 2006 are strictly not comparable to the corresponding previous quarter, since the Manila Branch commenced operations w.e.f. 1 October, 2005.

According to the official statement, pursuant to the sale of the company’s effective stake in Hutchsion Essar Ltd., on 30 June, the company (alongwith wholly owned subsidiaries and one offshore group company) received the total consideration of USD 450 million.

Part consideration was received on 30 June and the balance consideration on 17 August. As on date, the overseas ITES / BPO arm of the company, Pacific Horizon Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary has cash surpluses of over USD 130 mn in-organic growth initiatives.

The company has booked profits (net) on sale of long term investments on sale of Hutch stake and other overseas subsidiaries of Rs 2050 million in the first quarter and Rs 6800 million in the second quarter.

On 31 August the board approved a scheme of demerger of its IT-ITES/ BPO operations from the company with the appointed date as 1 October. The scheme has been filed with the High Court of Judicature at Bombay and shareholder approval is being sought, informs the release.

October 31, 2006
Vh1 set to debut six new musical series next year

MUMBAI: Viacom-owned US channel Vh1 is set to launch
six series in the first quarter of 2007. The new line-up includes, Irv Gotti Project, Man Band, ego trip’s White Rapper Show, Whitestarr Project, Rags To Riches, Bridging The Gap.

The above six series is part of the music-branded block VH1’s Wild Life.

“The breadth of this slate of music-based series illustrates, once again, that VH1 is the only place for adults to go to see the kinds of music and storytelling that speaks only to them,” said MTV Networks music group president entertainment Brian Graden. “This slate features all kinds of characters — Irv Gotti, Cisco Adler, Jeff Timmons, Queen Latifah — we love that they all have a place at Vh1.”

“Just as we gave Hulk and his family a home with Celebreality, we wanted to create a new branded block for all the crazy rockers and rappers that we love so well,” added MTV Networks music group executive vice president and general manager Tom Calderone.

Irv Gotti Project is a show based on Irv Gotti. After being investigated for three years by the federal government on charges of money laundering and acquitted, Gotti is now attempting a comeback with his label The Inc while also juggling his responsibilities as a husband and father.

Man Band is a reality based show where five boy band legends including Bryan Abrams (Color Me Badd), Rich Cronin (LFO), Chris Kirkpatrick (‘N Sync) and Jeff Timmons (98 Degrees) will come together to create new music and perform as a new pop group.

Ego trip’s White Rapper Show is a search for the next great white rapper. Whitestarr Project showcases the hourney of the rocker Cisco Adler and his band Whitestarr, while, Rags to Riches provides aspects of a musician or actor through their childhood and the various challenges of growing up, and Bridging the Gap documents two established artists to record a track together. Eve and Queen Latifah are featured in the first episode of the series.

October 31, 2006
Nickelodeon fights competition in kid’s space

MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the announcement of a new head, Nickelodeon now boasts of entering the ratings game as the second longest watched channel amongst kids over the last three weeks (Week 40 to Week 42, daypart 07:00 – 22:00, 4-14 ABC, HSM1L+ markets).

The latest Tam data suggests that specific to this week (ie.Week 42, 15 – 21 October) Nick has squeezed itself into the second spot with timespent/viewer (TS/V) as being 162.05 minutes. However, the timespent/universe (TS/U), tells a different story as Nick slips to the fifth position with 22.2 minutes.

Hungama TV heads the pack, while the Disney Channel has overtaken the two players from the Turner stable, Cartoon Network and Pogo.

What’s interesting, is that for same period (Week 42) Nick has held 0.41 TVRs outrunning the Southern leader Toon Disney (0.30 TVRs) and is not trailing too far behind Pogo which has clocked 0.46 TVRs.

Nick appears to be heading for happier times as it also claims the leadership position among all kids’ channels in the younger kids category as time spent is pegged at 228 minutes (Week 42, daypart 07:00 – 22:00, 4-9 ABC, HSM1L+ markets). This category has seen a growth in GRPs of 83 per cent (From 84 in Week 39 to 154 in Week 42).

Additionally, over the past four weeks (Week 39 to Week 42) the time spent per individual on Nick has risen 74 per cent, while GRPs have risen 62 per cent to 86 (from 53 in Week 39 to 86 in Week 42), the channel claims.

Putting up a firm fight, the key properties that seem to be propelling this growth include Ninja Hattori, The Munnabhai Show and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.

October 31, 2006
Nicktoons forays into Sci-fi with ‘Skyland

MUMBAI: Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon’s 24-hour animation network, delves into the sci-fi realm for the first time with Skyland, an animated adventure series that will premiere Saturday 18 November at 9 pm.

The series employs the latest in animation technology by using motion capture, CGI, 2D and key frame animation to create cutting-edge television.

The premiere of Skyland will kick off with the hour-long special (that sneak-peeked globally in January) followed by an all-new, half-hour episode at 10 pm during the 3 Headed Monster programming block. Season one, which consists of 13 episodes, will air Saturdays at 9 pm on Nicktoons Network.

“Nicktoons Network continues to be the hub for animation fans to tune in and find unique, diverse and technically advanced shows like Skyland,” said, Nicktoons Network vice president and general manager Keith Dawkins. “In addition to its rich visual style and stunning imagery, Skyland is an epic, sci-fi action adventure of good verses evil — universal story lines kids have loved for ages,” he added.

Skyland, produced by Method Films and created by Emmanuel Gorin, Alexandre de la Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, follows a heroic brother, Mahad and his telekinetic younger sister, Lena, as they search for their parents in a new world order. The year is 2251 and the earth has been shattered into millions of blocks that now drift aimlessly in orbit around the Earth’s core known as Skyland.

The Sphere, led by a power-mad ruler with telekinetic powers named Oslo, has installed a dictatorship that controls water distribution, now a precious resource. Skyland’s young heroes along with the pirate resistance, try to free their mother from Oslo’s evil grasp and destroy the dreaded Sphere.

The hour-long special, Dawn of A New Day, introduces Mahad and Lena as they are faced with their biggest challenge yet when their mother is forced to sacrifice herself and be captured by the evil Sphere in order for her children to run to freedom.

In the premiere episode Manipulations, the sibling duo fights against the enemy when a solar phenomenon has unusual effects on Seijin powers. This allows a sect of the Sphere to take control of Dahlia, a strong member of the pirates, in effort to learn the coordinates of the pirate hideout.

Nicktoons Network offers a 24- hour schedule featuring programming such as the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, Kappa Mikey, Thumb Wrestling Federation, Corneil and Bernie and Martin Mystery, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Jimmy Neutron.

October 31, 2006
Mobile ESPN subscription service launched

NEW DELHI: It’s in, it’s happening, but will it deliver on the monies? Sports broadcaster ESPN Star Sports today announced the launch of Mobile ESPN, marking its entry into the mobile value added services (VAS) domain in India.

The sports TV major sought glory at a press conference here today as the first out of the door in this field with its service, which kicks off from 15 November.

The Indian mandarins of the company were, however, taken by surprise when asked how they could claim a projected success, when the same service had to be withdrawn in the US. Mobile ESPN was launched in February with a huge promotional campaign but was disbanded within six months. Though the service was viewed as a technological success, it never caught on with consumers, who were apparently unwilling to pay a $10 to $50 premium to get highlights, fantasy sports alerts and even live games on ESPN-branded phones.

ESPN India MD RC Venkateish explained, “There (in the US) the business model was different. However, we see huge potential in the mobile arena here as the leading sports broadcaster.”

There was also some discomfort at the pitch over the rights issue — whether information of cricket, for example, being provided by ESPN Mobile could clash with rights holders like the Board for Control of Cricket in India?

Sricharan Iyengar, ESPN India vice-president (sales and marketing) and head of emerging technologies, responded to a question on how the rights issue would affect them, saying that they were presently in a “rights-agnostic” situation.

Venkateish added that they were news service providers and “no on can black out news”. He pointed out that most TV news channels were showing match reports anyway, without anyone coming in their way.

As of now, ESPN Mobile promises to launch a three-pipe outlet, with news, statistics, pre- and post-match analysis and what have you on all sports, from cricket to tennis to F1 to ice hockey through the mobile phone, Internet (through its website espnmobile.in) and TV.

Venkateish described the present TV-only scenario as the one-pipe outlet.

Sports fans will be delighted, said Iyengar, with the “360 degree” coverage of sports in all possible formats, voice, video, text, SMS and games.

Mobile ESPN services can be availed by dialling 505-ESPN (3776) on the phone or by sending an SMS to (ESPN) 3776, which will be the ESPN short code nationally. On entering the voice portal, consumers can select from a module comprising sections such as Welcome and user navigation; Cricket; Football; Sports center; and New Super Selector.

The price range is attractive, with monthly packages scaling between Rs 50 to RS 99, with the higher-end providing all possible services, including video.

Venkateish foresees a sea change in the media over the next five years, with the expected number of mobile phone users climbing by 30 per cent over the present 100 million, and ESPN has clearly pegged its business plan on the amazing growth in mobile connections across the country.

His punchline was, “We don’t want work to come in the way of sports.”

The company is working to optimise delivery through various service providers on the mobile networks, Iyengar said.

“The voice service has been specially developed for India,” he said, adding, “this will give an hour-by-hour update.

The voice news service was more satisfactory, with crisp info on the latest sports events being packed into a short 1.20 minute take. “We are aware that the user is paying Rs 6 per minute for getting the news and have developed the programme to give him the maximum.”

So far as a business plan was concerned, the two spoke of seamless integration and an advertising model being built in.

“Once we have built up a substantial subscriber base, we can also explore advertising on the service,” Venkateish said.

The service, which is a presentation of the ESPN Star Sports joint venture, will be hyped on and off air and will see approximately Rs 400 million spent on marketing activities.

The service of ESPN mobile will start off with English, then Hindi (in the first quarter of 2007), to be followed by other Indian languages subsequently.

Gaming software is also being developed for subscribers of the service, according to Iyengar.

October 31, 2006