ITV

Category: Television

  • MotoGP live on Ten Sports

    MotoGP live on Ten Sports

    MUMBAI: Ten Sports continues its comprehensive coverage of the 2006 MotoGP series when it brings live coverage of round 15 in Japan this weekend.

    The Championship is hotting up as it heads to the land of the rising sun with five times World Champion, Valentino Rossi just 21 points behind Nicky Hayden who leads this year’s championship race.

    Hayden looked to have an unassailable lead just a few races ago but the reigning champion has been gradually narrowing the gap and has now moved into second place in the standings on 204 points with Hayden on 225 points.

    Both Marco Melandri and Dani Pedrosa are a further 11 points back and still have an outside chance of claiming the title with three races to go.

    The 4.8KM Motegi circuit in Japan is one of the most modern track in the championship and also one of the most challenging as Rossi found out last year when he crashed out of the race. A repeat of that and he can write off his hopes of claiming a sixth straight World Title.

    The action gets underway at 7:15 am live on Ten Sports.

  • Airtel offers roaming on 3G handsets in Japan, Korea

    Airtel offers roaming on 3G handsets in Japan, Korea

    MUMBAI: Mobile service provider Airtel today announced ‘seamless roaming services’ on 3G networks across the world, including Japan and Korea. This latest initiative is set to benefit more than 25.65 million Airtel mobile customers while roaming to any of the 3G networks worldwide.

    This is particularly a boon for customers visiting Japan and Korea who so far had to change their handsets upon landing in these two countries in order to stay connected. Now with a 3G handset they can use International GSM roaming services.

    Korea and Japan have 3G networks based on WCDMA technology which allows GSM subscribers to connect to their networks on roaming.

    Airtel has been the first to seize this opportunity and has carried out extensive network testing in Korea and Japan to ensure seamless connectivity. As a result, Airtel customers traveling to these countries will be the first to benefit from this initiative. Any Airtel customer on 3G compatible handset will be able to experience seamless connectivity whether on voice or data, while on roaming on WCDMA network and this includes Korea and Japan. Presently Airtel offers roaming facilities on more than 365 mobile networks across 154 countries.

    Announcing the availability of international roaming services also on WCDMA networks, Sanjay Kapoor, joint president – Bharti Airtel Limited, said, “An increasing number of our customers travel overseas and our roaming facility on international networks therefore becomes very important. This latest initiative will undoubtedly add a lot of convenience especially to those Airtel customers who travel to Korea and Japan. We are happy that our innovative services & products provide our customers with supreme convenience and ease wherever in the world they travel.”

  • TV’s popularity continues growing in the US despite new media threat

    TV’s popularity continues growing in the US despite new media threat

    MUMBAI: In its latest analysis Nielsen Media Research reports that average American television viewing continues to increase in spite of growing competition from new media platforms and devices, such as video iPods, cell phones and streaming video.

    During the 2005- 2006 television year, which ended on 17 September, 2006, traditional in-home television viewing continued to hold its own with audiences, and even gained among technology-savvy teenagers.
    These results come at a time when Nielsen is able to provide more granular information on diverse television viewing through its larger national television sample and other investments in research and technology.

    The total average time a household watched television during the 2005-2006 television year was 8 hours and 14 minutes per day, a three minute increase from the 2004-2005 season and a record high. The average amount of television watched by an individual viewer increased 3 minutes per day to 4 hours and 35 minutes, also a record.

    Meanwhile, during primetime, households tuned to an average of 1 hour and 54 minutes of primetime television per night, up 1 minute, and the average viewer watched 1 hour and 11 minutes, which was the same as last year.

    Although teenagers typically drive the consumption and development of new media platforms, teens aged 12-17 viewed three per cent more traditional television during the full day than in the 2004-2005 television year. This increase was driven primarily by teenage girls, who increased their total day viewing by six per cent. Increases among teenage girls were particularly high during early morning (6 am to 9 am) and late night (11:30 pm to 2 am) viewing, which were up 12 per cent and six per cent, respectively.

    Younger children age 2-11 also watched more television during 2005-2006, increasing their total day viewing levels by four per cent. Viewing by children increased three per cent during primetime, five per cent during early morning and six per cent during late night.

    Nielsen Media Research senior VP planning policy and analysis Patricia McDonough says, “These results demonstrate that television still holds its position as the most popular entertainment platform. At this point, consumption of emerging forms of entertainment, including internet television and video on personal devices seem not to be making an impact on traditional television viewing. This is especially true among teenage girls, who have shown significant increases in viewing during the past year.”

    During the 2005-2006 television year, which ended on September 17, 2006, Nielsen Media Research says that it achieved a number of milestones that enabled it to provide even more precise information about television viewing. These milestones, which reflect Nielsen’s commitment to continuous improvement in television measurement, include:

    The 2005-2006 television year was the first one in which Nielsen was able to provide ratings based on a 10,000 household sample. During the season, Nielsen completed the expansion of its National People Meter sample from 5,000 to 10,000 households. As a result, Nielsen’s sample now includes approximately 25,000 people.

    This was the first season in which measurement of digital video recording was included in Nielsen’s estimates. As of September 17, 2006, 8.7% of Nielsen’s sample homes had digital video recorders.

    Nielsen completed the roll-out of Local People Meters (LPMs) in the top ten local markets during the 2005-2006 television season. Nielsen also began to provide ratings based on its National People Meter sample for four Spanish-language national broadcast networks: Azteca America, TeleFutura, Telemundo, and Univision. Prior to this agreement, these networks had been reported solely within the Nielsen Hispanic Television Index (NHTI) service. Now they are being reported in the national ratings along with national general market broadcast networks.
    Based on agreements concluded during the year, Nielsen will now provide ratings for 80 national cable networks, up from 78 a year ago.

    During the 2005-2006 television year, Nielsen released a vastly improved version of NPOWER, Nielsen’s custom research service. It allows clients to analyze ratings on a minute-by-minute level; to determine the reach and frequency of all broadcast network, cable network and syndicated television programs; and to identify the ratings of all commercial minutes. With this new version of NPOWER, the average processing speed on most customized reports is now under a minute, and more complex reports take no longer than 10 minutes.

    Also during the 2005-2006 television season, Nielsen launched its Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement (A2/M2) initiative, which will provide integrated, all-electronic ratings for television regardless of the platform on which it is viewed. Through this initiative, Nielsen will provide electronic measurement for video viewed on the Internet and personal media devices, as well as television viewed outside the home.

    Nielsen will also begin reporting the ratings for the average of all commercial minutes in each nationally televised program rated by Nielsen. This step was requested by clients who want more detail on viewing levels of television commercials.

  • Star News launches ‘Benaqab’

    MUMBAI: Star News and Aniruddha Bahal have joined hands to present Benaqab. The investigative bulletin will seek to unmask the ugly face of corruption, whatever the stakes. Launched on September 16, at 9.00 pm and to be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 9.30 pm from September 17 onwards, the investigative bulletin will be anchored by Aniruddha Bahal. Benaqab aims towards a better tomorrow for the people of India by leaving a strong message to the corrupt in our land – you can run, but you can’t hide! Benaqab will be watching…

    World over, investigative journalism has helped imprison the corrupt, trigger legislations and uncover miscarriages of justice. Watergate, the most shining example of investigative journalism was the darkest hour for US presidency and the brightest for media. What started off as a small and insignificant investigation turned out to be the nemesis for Richard Nixon and his allies. Thus establishing that as the champion of public opinion, media serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change, even in the face of the biggest odds.

    Star News has proved its prowess in investigative journalism through its instrumental role in some of the biggest exposés and unearthing scandals – Operation Chakravyuh (the MPLAD funds), Operation Yamraj (corrupt cops of UP), the case of fake Tantriks, the Anti-Bribery campaign etc. Aniruddha Bahal, on the other hand, has been the man behind many significant exposés. His role in Operation Westend – exposé on Indian Defence procurement, and Fallen Heroes – a startling investigation into cricket match fixing has created ripples in the highest corridors of politics and sports.

    Commenting on the launch of Benaqab, Uday Shankar, CEO & Editor, MCCS says, “It’s our endeavor to bring to light the most closely guarded secrets of corrupt practices and corrupt people. Through Benaqab, we aim to help create a better environment and a corruption-free society by taking investigative journalism to the next level.”

    With programmes like Sansani and Red Alert and various path-breaking exposés that have provoked public opinion and forced the corrupt even in the lofty corridors of power to bow to the demands of public interest, Star News has proved its mettle and capabilities in investigation. Through Benaqab, the channel goes a step ahead in launching a stronger challenge in unmasking the face of corruption and its influence in our daily living.

  • BBC celebrates 10th anniversary of Teletubbies with a new JV

    MUMBAI: This year UK pubcaster BBC‘s children‘s show Teletubbies celebrates 10 years. On this occasion the broadcaster has formed a joint venture with UK family and children‘s entertainment firm Ragdoll.


    The new entity Ragdoll Worldwide will look to manage and exploit the Ragdoll catalogue including Teletubbies, In The Night Garden, Brum and Boohbah.



    Ragdoll Worldwide will secure the creativity of Ragdoll as it moves into the next stage of its commercial life alongside its long term and most successful commercial partner, BBC Worldwide.



    As well as exploiting the current catalogue of Ragdoll programming, the joint venture will launch two new properties, In the Night Garden and Tronji, which Ragdoll are now in the final stages of completing. In the Night Garden, a pre-school property, will be launched at the television trade event Mipcom in Cannes next month, and the CG/live-action programme Tronji is scheduled to air on BBC next year.



    BBC Worldwide will manage the international broadcast sales and the UK and international licensing of all Ragdoll properties including: Blips, Boohbah, Brum, Tots TV, Rosie and Jim and the Open a Door series on behalf of the new joint venture.



    Ragdoll retains all UK broadcast rights and Ragdoll USA part of the new joint venture, will manage the Ragdoll portfolio in the US.



    Ragdoll commercial director Mark Hollingsworth says, “Ragdoll is pleased to further strengthen its unique relationship with BBC Worldwide. Creating a vehicle that is equally owned by, and managed with BBC Worldwide allows both organisations to collaborate and capitalise on our respective strengths around the world. I am certain that the creation of Ragdoll Worldwide will result in additional exposure and awareness of the Ragdoll brand globally”.



    BBC Worldwide MD children‘s and global TV sales, Mark Young says, “This is an important development for BBC Worldwide as it secures one of our most important relationships in the Children’s business in advance of the launch of their new slate of fantastic properties. Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide have had a long and successful partnership going back over a decade.”



    Ragdoll which was formed in 1984 has produced more than 1,400 programmes aimed at the youngest viewers. Ragdoll-produced series can be seen in more than 120 countries and territories around the world, and in the UK are screened by the BBC, ITV and Five.

  • Judging rounds for 6th Indian Telly Awards completed

    Judging rounds for 6th Indian Telly Awards completed

    MUMBAI: Honouring the best in television is what defines the Indian Telly awards. As the awards enter its sixth edition this year, it continues to evolve with the television industry. And this year the awards get even bigger.

    New categories have been introduced this year in the technical category, which means more recognition and honour for people who are considered as the unsung heroes of television.

    And for the awards this year, the jury members have already given their verdict on who is the best in each category. You will have to wait with bated breath to know which of your favourite star, favorite dialogue writer or your favorite programme have won accolades from the jurors.

    Cinematographer Dharam Gulati watching the nominations
    The jury meetings of the programming and technical categories of the awards concluded on 22 September. It spanned over a week’s time with the members comprising of who’s who of television industry, right from directors, actors, cinematographers, editors to animation specialist.

    The jury for the programming awards category included distinguished names from the industry like Gitanjali Rao, Ishan Trivedi, Nitish Bhardwaj, Priya Singh Paul, RD Tailang, Rakesh Sarang, Rathikant Basu, Rakesh Sharma, Rekha Nigam, Reena Wadhwa, Sarita Tanwar and Vinod Ranganathan.

    Some of the jury members of the Indian Telly Awards 2006
    Whereas, the jury for the Technical Awards consisted of Animation specialist Yunus Bukhari, Film Editor Ashmit Kunder and Cinematographer Dharam Gulati.

    The awards this year has been classified into six broad categories:

    THE TRADE AWARDS
    Comprising 4 categories

    THE TECHNICAL AWARDS
    Comprising 22 categories
    THE CHANNEL AWARDS
    Comprising 10 categories
    THE PROGRAMMING AWARDS
    Comprising 17 categories
    THE POPULAR AWARDS
    Comprising 25 categories
    SPECIAL AWARDS
    Comprising 5 categories

    With the television industry witnessing a rapid growth as a medium of information and entertainment, the jurors have evoked a mixed feeling about the content and quality of the program shown on television.

    Jury members watch the nominations
    Scriptwriter RD Tailang, who has written game shows like KBC and Khul Ja Sim Sim and was one of the jury members, feels that the standard of programming and content in Indian television has undergone a drastic transformation. “I have judged about ten categories for the Indian telly awards and I think that awareness coupled with exposure has taken the Indian TV industry to a higher platform. I have judged Emmys and I feel that our programmes are way ahead as compared to theirs. And honouring the best among them is a great step taken by Indiantelevision.com,” said Tailang.

    Writer Director Ishaan Trivedi, who judged the nominations for non-fiction shows on news channels, echoes Tailang’s views. He says, “News Channels are doing a good job, with indepth reporting. There were some programs which are for the common people, and for the viewers.”

    He added, “There are only two award functions honouring thepeople working in the television industry and the Indian telly award is doing a commendable job in this arena. A special mention goes to Anil Wanvari, who is making these awards as the Emmys of India.”

    Director Rakesh Narang in a pensive mood
    Whereas director Rakesh Sarang says, “There are so many things happening in the Television industry. News channels are also diversifying. With innovative ideas and concepts being worked upon, competition has definitely increased, but competition of this kind always yields better results.”

    But at the same time he seemed disappointed with the content and quality of fiction shows, despite the fact that he has directed serials like Aashirwad. He says,”The storyline along with direction and technical inputs is the same. There is no difference in the treatment. There should be more innovation in terms of content.”

    Its not only Rakesh Sarang, also the jury members judging the technical categories have been disappointed with the quality and content of programming in television. They feel that there has been a gradual decline in the quality of programs being made, which can either be attributed to the growing competition or the lack of creative ideas.

    Let’s take a break! Jury members having lunch
    “Focus of the program aired on various channels has seen a paradigm shift. The technicians have lost their creativity. Editors are no more editors, they are simply machine editors, the directors are not serious about their work,” said Cinematographer Dharam Gulati.
    Gulati however pins his hopes on the churning happening on the television front with more channels planning their entry.
    Ashmith Kunder, who is a film editor added, “India has a lot of talent. And technical improvisation is the need of the hour besides the content.”

    “People have experimented with new concepts and have been successful. It’s not what people want, it’s about giving them what they require,” asserted Kunder.

    Animation specialist Yunus Bukhari in the process of judging
    Yunus Bukhari, who is an animation expert lauded the effort that Indian animators are taking into promoting the animation industry, but says Indian animation industry is at a nascent stage and has a long way to go.”Animation is a 60 billion dollar market with India contributing only 3-5 percent. The industry not only requires seriousness from the aspirants but government should also take concrete steps to promote the industry and regulate software piracy,” said Bukhari.

    He further added,”Entertainment channels and production houses are not justifying the content that goes on air. If you look at most of the programs on air, the storyline is the same, technical improvisation has been nil and animation is way behind.”

    Despite their critical views, the jury members applauded the Indian Telly Awards for its initiative to honour people in the industry.

    Indiantelevision.com’s founder Anil Wanvari at work
    The brainchild of Indiantelevision.com’s founder Anil Wanvari, the awards was envisioned in 2001 to honour people in the television industry and since then has grown with more categories and more people receiving the awards. What started as awards for select performances has moved ahead and now covers almost every category in television. Winners are decided through a process wherein several jurors go through the nominations and give their verdict on the most deserving candidate.

  • MSN India launches Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam portals

    MSN India launches Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam portals

    MUMBAI: With the sixth anniversary celebrations of MSN India under way, MSN India has announced the launch of five new portals, MSN Hindi, MSN Tamil, MSN Telugu, MSN Kannada and MSN Malayalam apart from unveiling Windows Live Messenger in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

    MSN India also unveiled the new MSN India Homepage and Windows Live Domains. Prominent amongst these announcements is the launch of its new language portal homepage on http://in.msn.com along with launching Windows Live Messenger in the Hindi and the other regional languages (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam).

    This new introduction enables MSN users to now chat in their regional language with their friends and family on MSN Messenger. The MSN Hindi and regional language portals was launched by renowned singer Shubha Mudgal in an event organized recently in the capital.

    The new MSN Hindi other regional languages (MSN Tamil, MSN Telugu, MSN Kannada and MSN Malayalam) feature of Windows Live Messenger is also integrated with the MSN portal and has plenty of content which is of desi flavor such as Movies featuring film previews and interviews with the stars. The MSN Language portals (MSN Hindi, MSN Tamil, MSN Telugu, MSN Kannada and MSN Malayalam) also has the latest news with a special focus on local news, Infotech, Astrology, Sports, Recipes and Humour, informs an official release.

  • Hungama TV to launch ‘John Ke Dus Kaun’ on 1 October

    Hungama TV to launch ‘John Ke Dus Kaun’ on 1 October

    MUMBAI: Kids channel Hungama TV will unveil a new show John Ke Dus Kaun to be telecast every Sunday from 9 to 5 pm starting 1 October 2006.

    It is an interactive contest that will run for five consecutive Sundays in the month of October. Every half during this time slot questions will be asked whereby kids can reply through an SMS to 4242. The contest will not only give kids an opportunity to win merchandise, but will give ten little John fans the opportunity to spend an entire day with the star.

    These 10 lucky kids selected from across India will get to interact with John at the grand finale of the reality talent hunt Oral B John Aur Kaun.

    Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta says, “Two lucky winners will be selected every Sunday and along with a parent will get to fly down to Mumbai for their date with John. So through out the month we will select 10 kids in all and fulfill their dream to meet the star.”

    John Ke Dus Kaun has been co-sponsored by Oral B and Carx are the co-presenting sponsors.

    Previously announced, the John Aur Kaun contest is a 13 part reality based talent hunt, which will finalise the two kids to star alongside John Abraham. The selected pair of a boy and girl will co-star in the movie called Goal, slated to hit the big screen by May 2007. John Aur Kaun will come on air in December 2006 and will run through January.

  • TV content code to be in place soon

    TV content code to be in place soon

    NEW DELHI: The Indian government is close to finalising the content code for television and films, which is likely to re-write the business of broadcasting vis-à-vis prime time viewing.

    According to a government official in the information and broadcasting minister, the content code is likely to be notified by month-end or early November.

    “We are in the process of finalizing the content code and would like to get it in place as soon as possible,” an official in the I&B ministry said.

    The content code is aimed at having a uniform yardstick for films and television content.

    If the code gets in place, then quite a few popular TV soaps are likely to get re-classified and would have to be aired at timings set by the government.

    The official said that the government is worried about complaints relating to content on TV and would like to regulate the same.

    The content code is likely to classify TV content into categories, including whether it’s fit for unrestricted viewing or not.

    This would be the first time that the Indian government would bring under censor regulations (mainly meant for films) TV content, which has been left out of regulation.

    The Indian film censor board chief and veteran actress Sharmila Tagore had exhorted the government to remove overlaps in the functioning of censor board and a proposed broadcast regulator.

    She also called for “transparency” while forming the proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai), which is supposed to deal with content regulations.

    Regulating content or complaints relating to TV shows is part of the government’s overall aim to address issues on content.

  • Casbaa urges pay TV regulation rethink for India

    Casbaa urges pay TV regulation rethink for India

    MUMBAI: The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) has called on the Government of India to make a shift in its regulatory approach to the pay-TV industry.
    Casbaa CEO Simon Twiston Davies says, “The Indian authorities’ current positioning is holding back the industry and introducing significant new constraints of the kind that slowed India’s economic development for decades”.

    According to Casbaa, recent initiatives by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) will severely limit development, not just of pay-TV, but of the entire Indian communications industry.

    Speaking at a conference in Delhi organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), Casbaa said it would like to see more emphasis on promoting growth, rather than on restricting market flexibility, adding that international and domestic examples of thriving, lightly regulated markets are plentiful.

    A Casbaa study last year Regulating for Growth clearly demonstrated this linkage, under-scoring the success of markets such as Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

    Davies adds, “India can make immediate and enormous strides towards becoming a digital leader – if it takes fundamental steps to loosen restraints on industry growth. The size of Malaysia’s pay-TV market, for instance, has doubled in the last three years.”

    In other Asian markets bidding for cable systems is generating offers of more than $1.5 billion each, yet there is little encouragement of fresh domestic or foreign investment into the India market.

    Meanwhile, Casbaa believes that the proposed Broadcast Services Bill would create a new pay-TV industry regulator potentially subject to political interference.

    Favies says, “India needs to install a truly independent communications industry regulator. Regulatory decisions should be technical and quasi-judicial, responding to the demands of the fast-changing media environment, and not subject to transient political pressures.”

    Casbaa also highlighted items such as the recent Trai decision to set maximum retail prices for all pay-TV channels at Rs5 ($ 0.11) each and the draft Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill (2006) – which mandates local content requirements for every pay-TV channel.

    “Does the Government of India really believe that all TV channels have the same value; that a high cost movie channel should be priced in the same way as a channel dedicated to low cost chat shows? This makes no sense,” argues Davies.

    According to Casbaa investment in high-quality content could quickly dry up as channel providers find they cannot make a return on their investment. The rate cap decision could quickly produce a race to the bottom in terms of content, to the detriment of viewers.

    The maximum retail price directive ignores market realities states Casbaa. “It is now over two years since TRAI first instituted a cable price freeze which it said would be temporary until the launch of DTH satellite services. Unfortunately, that understanding seems to have evaporated, even though we have two DTH platforms that are now competing ferociously – with each other and with cable providers,” said Davies.

    Casbaa also has serious concerns over a proposed 15 per cent ‘local content’ requirement for all channels aired in India, another example of regulation that will restrict the access of Indian viewers to premium content, especially international news, documentaries, sports and entertainment.

    Many internationally focussed channels do not have India-specific feeds. “How can a global news channel meet a 15 per cent local content requirement? News happens where it happens. The same applies to international sports. And how reasonable is it to expect niche channels from Italy, or Australia, or Germany, or China to carry Indian programming?” ask Davies.

    According to Casbaa, India’s content industries are already strong and don’t need artificial life-support. “India’s film and television industry is now an export market and part of the global industry. Indeed, it benefits from the airing of Indian-generated TV programming in jurisdictions that don’t impose content quotas. The domestic market should operate in sync with the rest of the world and gain the full benefit of a global marketplace.

    “Without taking account of the new digital world, India’s pay-TV regulators will fall further and further behind global trends,” Davies warned.