ITV

Category: Television

  • Andrew Baxter joins BBC Worldwide as head of commercial policy

    Andrew Baxter joins BBC Worldwide as head of commercial policy

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has appointed Andrew Baxter as head of commercial policy. Baxter will be responsible for the full range of commercial policy matters relating to all of BBC Worldwide’s seven businesses. In particular, he will work to ensure that all of BBC Worldwide’s commercial activities serve the BBC’s wider goal by competing fairly in the marketplace, operating efficiently and through protecting the BBC’s reputation and promoting the BBC’s brand.

    He has management responsibility for BBC Worldwide’s compliance with the BBC’s fair trading commitment, Editorial Policy guidelines and the requirements of the new Charter. He will also take the lead in working with the BBC in developing new policy.

    BBC Worldwide director of business affairs Sarah Cooper said, “I am delighted to welcome Andrew to the company at a time of exciting new developments. Now that the BBC Charter has been agreed and the remit for BBC Worldwide’s activities has been clarified and endorsed, we are moving ahead with our plans to further increase profits for the BBC whilst ensuring we protect its brand, both at home and abroad. Our strategy includes building some important commercial digital opportunities for our parent and for the UK licence fee payer in what is a fast-changing media landscape.

    “A rigorous commercial policy is essential for any global brand with a reputation as strong as ours, and it is core to our business to ensure we always operate according to the four criteria laid down in the Government White Paper published earlier this year. Andrew’s extensive commercial and legal experience across the television industry and his breadth of understanding of regulatory, rights and competition issues will be invaluable as we take BBC Worldwide on to the next stage of growth.”

    Baxter said, “It is great to be joining BBC Worldwide at such an exciting time. The cornerstones of Commercial Policy – efficiency, respect for the brand, and fair and transparent trading – are policies which make sense for any responsible business and should help drive profitability and growth. I am very much looking forward to what I see as a really positive and enabling role.”

  • 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

  • Star 7827 to offer ‘unique’ Nach Baliye 2 content

    Star 7827 to offer ‘unique’ Nach Baliye 2 content

    MUMBAI: The much-awaited second season of Nach Baliye 2 is back along with a new line-up of real-life celebrity jodis. Star India will offer unseen content of the show through its mobile platform Star 7827.

    Users will be able to access Nach Baliye wallpapers, themes and animations on www.wap.star7827.com or by sending BALIYE as an sms to 7827, informs an official release.

    States Star Interactive senior VP Viren Popli, “For the first time for any TV show in India, Star Interactive has created content which has not been aired or seen on TV for exclusive consumption on the mobile phone. Mobile subscribers now demand richer forms of entertainment on their mobile phones, and the exclusive mobile content package for Nach Baliye 2 is an aim to give them just that.”

    The release adds that, the special mobile content package on Nach Baliye is available on Star 7827 through SMS, voice and wap platforms. Reliance users can also access the same through Reliance Mobile World, by clicking on the “Hot n New” section.

    What the consumer is offered:

    1. Audio
    Audiosodes on Star 7827 Voice
    Nach diaries from Nach Baliye 2 are exclusive interviews and behind-the-scene action which is unseen-on-TV. Nostalgic fans of the show can also catch highlights of Nach Baliye season 1. Just dial 5057827 from your Hutch and Spice phones and 127827 from your BSNL mobiles and say ‘Nach’ .

    2. Video
    Fans can also download videos capturing behind the scene action of the jodis gearing up for the competition. Users can also catch glimpses of Nach Baliye 1. Sms BALIYE to 7827 or logon to Star 7827 wapsite www.wap.star7827.com.

    3. Downloads Nach Baliye ringtone, wallpapers, themes & animations created for mobile phones. Sms BALIYE to 7827 or logon to Star 7827 wapsite www.wap.star7827.com.

    4. Interactivity
    Nach Baliye contest: fans can participate in the contest and they stand to watch an exciting invite to the shoot of Nach Baliye. SMS NB to 7827.

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

    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.

  • Keeping identity a challenge for PSBs

    MUMBAI: Maintaining competitiveness and universality will be the key issue for public service broadcasters as terrestrial broadcasting loses its audience share and media influence to emerging media.

    This was the message that Min Eun-Kyung, executive director of international relations for KBS-Korea, had for delegates to the annual Public Broadcasting International which opened in Maputo, Mozambique, on Thursday.

    “Amidst the countless number of channels, platforms and content, keeping the identity of public service broadcasting will become increasingly challenging,” Min has been quoted as saying in a report put out on the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) website.
    “The digital revolution will create room for critical voices about the function and role of public service broadcasting,” Min added.

    Min said that public service broadcasting was an essential societal institution in the service of cultural diversity and media pluralism. “We must make every possible effort to remind our viewers of the value of public service broadcasting and every possible effort to keep our function and identity in the future,” she explained.
    Finance is another key issue for public service broadcasters, according to Min. She said that having a stable financial structure is necessary to make progress in the multimedia environment, remain competitive, and to gain independence from political and commercial influences.

    “More importantly, a stable financial system is the only way to fulfill public service broadcasting missions in a highly competitive digital media environment,” she added.

    “Expanding services to multiple platforms is a high-cost business and without a desirable financing model, newly launched media services would have to charge a fee.”
     

  • Walt Disney brings ‘High School Musical’ to India

    MUMBAI: The Disney channel original movie High School Musical will premiere in India on the channel on 24 September at 11 am. Customized for India‘s kids, tweens and families, the dialogue and hugely popular songs are re-recorded in Hindi with Indian instruments added for Bollywood flair.















    Hindi with Indian instruments added for Bollywood flair.



    Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director programming & production Nachiket said, High School Musical symbolises all that Disney Channel means for kids in terms of following ones dreams and believing in oneself. Millions of kids across the globe have not just cherished the movie, they have adopted it into their lives. They have learnt the dance steps, sung the songs and relate their dreams and aspirations in those of the characters and the plot of the movie.”

    “We have made the music all the more relevant to our Hindi audiences across India by adding the artistry of music industry stars including Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Kamath, Shweta Pandit, Neuman Pinto, director John Stewart and programmer DJ G & John Stewart”, Nachiket added.

    Disney Channel will also provide an interactive experience for kids to express themselves through a nationwide music video dance contest, My School Rocks, with announcement of audition venues and dates to be detailed Sunday, September 24 on Disney Channel, states an official release.

    Walt Disney Television International (India) Marketing & Communications director Tushar Shah said, “Research has shown the universal appeal of song and dance among all Indian kids. My School Rocks will be a first of its kind event that will celebrate the talent of kids while providing them a nationwide platform for translating their dreams into reality. We are excited about the response this event has already garnered among advertisers and sponsors.”

    The initiative includes dance along interstitials, a viewer poll and ultimately, the televising of the winning school‘s music video. My School Rocks will be offered to 500 schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Ahmedabad and Amritsar wherein principals and arts teachers will be presented with the High School Musical kit complete with the VCD, lyric sheets, instructional dance moves and more, the release adds.
    The events in each metro will be spread across two days, videotaped by Disney Channel and judged by celebrity choreographers who will designate individual city winners. Those winners will travel to Mumbai, receive professional dance training and have their school music videos open to a viewer poll. The winning school‘s team will then star in a special My School Rocks music video to premiere Monday, December 25th on Disney Channel.

    Packed with laughter, memorable songs and spectacular dancing, High School Musical tells the story of two high school students – Troy, a popular basketball player and Gabriella, a shy, brainy newcomer – who share a secret passion for singing. When these two seemingly polar opposites decide to join forces and go out for the lead roles in the school musical, it wreaks havoc on East High‘s rigid social order. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the school‘s various cliques conspire to separate the pair and keep them from performing. But by defying expectations and pursuing their dreams, Troy and Gabriella inspire other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.

    Since its premiere on January 20, the movie televised 14 times on Disney Channel US and was seen by over 40 million unduplicated total viewers, approximately 21 million households, 11.0 million Kids 6-11 and 11.6 million Tweens 9-14. The TV movie has delivered best-ever ratings on Disney Channels in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. It has also been licensed by free to air broadcasters including Australia‘s Seven Network (where it was #1 in the timeslot) and in December, will air on the BBC in the UK. By the end of the year, it will reach over 100 countries.

    In the US, the Platinum-selling High School Musical soundtrack is the #1 album of the year, having sold more than 3.5 million units. It is also Platinum-selling in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines and Mexico and Gold selling in Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, the release further informs.

  • Walt Disney brings ‘High School Musical’ to India

    Walt Disney brings ‘High School Musical’ to India

    MUMBAI: The Disney channel original movie High School Musical will premiere in India on the channel on 24 September at 11 am. Customized for India’s kids, tweens and families, the dialogue and hugely popular songs are re-recorded in Hindi with Indian instruments added for Bollywood flair.

    Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director programming & production Nachiket said, High School Musical symbolises all that Disney Channel means for kids in terms of following ones dreams and believing in oneself. Millions of kids across the globe have not just cherished the movie, they have adopted it into their lives. They have learnt the dance steps, sung the songs and relate their dreams and aspirations in those of the characters and the plot of the movie.”

    “We have made the music all the more relevant to our Hindi audiences across India by adding the artistry of music industry stars including Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Kamath, Shweta Pandit, Neuman Pinto, director John Stewart and programmer DJ G & John Stewart”, Nachiket added.

    Disney Channel will also provide an interactive experience for kids to express themselves through a nationwide music video dance contest, My School Rocks, with announcement of audition venues and dates to be detailed Sunday, September 24 on Disney Channel, states an official release.

    Walt Disney Television International (India) Marketing & Communications director Tushar Shah said, “Research has shown the universal appeal of song and dance among all Indian kids. My School Rocks will be a first of its kind event that will celebrate the talent of kids while providing them a nationwide platform for translating their dreams into reality. We are excited about the response this event has already garnered among advertisers and sponsors.”

    The initiative includes dance along interstitials, a viewer poll and ultimately, the televising of the winning school’s music video. My School Rocks will be offered to 500 schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Ahmedabad and Amritsar wherein principals and arts teachers will be presented with the High School Musical kit complete with the VCD, lyric sheets, instructional dance moves and more, the release adds.

    The events in each metro will be spread across two days, videotaped by Disney Channel and judged by celebrity choreographers who will designate individual city winners. Those winners will travel to Mumbai, receive professional dance training and have their school music videos open to a viewer poll. The winning school’s team will then star in a special My School Rocks music video to premiere Monday, December 25th on Disney Channel.

    Packed with laughter, memorable songs and spectacular dancing, High School Musical tells the story of two high school students – Troy, a popular basketball player and Gabriella, a shy, brainy newcomer – who share a secret passion for singing. When these two seemingly polar opposites decide to join forces and go out for the lead roles in the school musical, it wreaks havoc on East High’s rigid social order. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the school’s various cliques conspire to separate the pair and keep them from performing. But by defying expectations and pursuing their dreams, Troy and Gabriella inspire other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.

    Since its premiere on January 20, the movie televised 14 times on Disney Channel US and was seen by over 40 million unduplicated total viewers, approximately 21 million households, 11.0 million Kids 6-11 and 11.6 million Tweens 9-14. The TV movie has delivered best-ever ratings on Disney Channels in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. It has also been licensed by free to air broadcasters including Australia’s Seven Network (where it was #1 in the timeslot) and in December, will air on the BBC in the UK. By the end of the year, it will reach over 100 countries.

    In the US, the Platinum-selling High School Musical soundtrack is the #1 album of the year, having sold more than 3.5 million units. It is also Platinum-selling in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines and Mexico and Gold selling in Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, the release further informs.

  • Cartoon Network to set up interactive Internet sites

    Cartoon Network to set up interactive Internet sites

    Cartoon Network plans regional websites in different regions across the Asia Pacific. The network will launch a site for Australia by mid year. Other sites planned are for India in English, Taiwan in Mandarin and so on.

    Turner International’s Hema Govindan said that the key difference between the TV channel and the site will be new, interactive elements introduced via the World Premier Tool.

    “For instance, hypothetically speaking, in a chat room, Johnny Bravo will have a dialogue with people visiting our website. It will also be specific to the country the website is being built for. The cultural cues will be very , very different. The characters we champion, the interactive elements will be different.” Govindan said that the net could consider regional sites in Indian languages at a later stage, similar to it’s channel strategy.

    She added that the channel penetration’s was 10 million at present, and plans were to extend penetration beyond urban India. “The tune in will only come with more localisation and customisation. We are also looking at initiatives like Get Tooned, when we actually animated five Indian kids and put them on air as interstentials.”

    The channel has featured five kids in Australia and New Zealand, five in South East Asia, 5 in Taiwan and five in India. Research has shown that Indian kids would like to see winners. Because of that, the channel plans to showcase more Indian kids as winners in cartoon form in the new future.

  • ESS brings English Premier League & Spanish Football League on weekends

    ESS brings English Premier League & Spanish Football League on weekends

    MUMBAI: Espn Star Sports will telecast live and exclusive top soccer action from the English Premier League and the Spanish Football league this weekend. The network will showcase its proprietary properties Premiership Saturday and Super Sunday showcasing taction from the world’s best football leagues.

    Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday which will be the match of the weekend with both clubs looking for three points after indifferent starts to the season. Liverpool fresh from mid week victory at home over Newcastle will look at three much needed points this weekend. Londoners Fulham will host Champions Chelsea who thwarted Liverpool’s challenge last weekend. The Blues are third on the table with only Manchester United and surprisingly Portsmouth leading them.

    Manchester United will also be in action on Saturday as they visit the newly promoted Reading who have shown grit and work man ship like qualities to be sixth on the table early in the season. United can not afford slip ups after they were defeated by old rivals Arsenal last weekend. The Gunners also take to field against lowly Sheffield United who are still looking to register their first win in the Premiership. All eyes will be on the return of Thierry Henry and if Arsene Wenger partners him with Adebayor up front.

    In the Primera Liga, Defending Champions Barcelona, host Valencia with the two powerhouses of soccer tied at nine points from three games. Though very early in the season, victory will certainly give the winner a psychological edge in the Spanish league. The Real Madrid Galacticos will tune themselves to face Real Betis late on Saturday.
    English Premiere League

    23 Sep 06 Liverpool Vs Tottenham Hotspur (L) 5:10 ESPN
    23 Sep 06 Fulham Vs Chelsea (L) 7:25 ESPN
    23 Sep 06 Arsenal Vs Sheffield United (L) 7:25 STAR Sports
    23 Sep 06 Reading Vs Manchester United (L) 9:40 STAR Sports
    23 Sep 06 Manchester City Vs West Ham United (S) 10:00 ESPN
    24 Sep 06 Newcastle United Vs Everton (L) 8:25 ESPN
    Spanish Football League
    24 Sep 06 Real Betis Vs Real Madrid (L) 01:25 ESPN
    25 Sep 06 Barcelona Vs Valencia (L) 00:25 ESPN

  • Live action from the English Premier League and Spanish Football League on ESPN Star Sports

    MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports, Asia’s leading sports broadcaster, will telecast live and exclusive top soccer action from the English Premier League and the Spanish Football league this weekend. The leading sports network will showcase its proprietary properties Premiership Saturday and Super Sunday showcasing top class action from the world’s best football leagues.

    On Sunday, Manchester United host archrivals Newcastle United on what is being billed as the game of the week. Newcastle United has never recorded a Premier League victory at Old Trafford, but the fixture has by no means been a walk in the park for Manchester United over the years. In the past, out of three matches, the Red Devils have recorded two victories while drawing once.

    And, with Chelsea yet to find their best form, the signs are that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will have to be in top gear all season if they are to end a three-year wait to win the league. At present, Chelsea leads the field with 15 points while Portsmouth and Man United have 13 each.

    In other matches, on Saturday, Liverpool takes on the Bolton Wanderers; Arsenal plays with Charlton Athletic while Chelsea is matched against Aston Villa. On Sunday, Portsmouth plays Tottenham Hotspur with the race heating up for the top spot in the League. The Gunners’s coach Wenger, who celebrated 10 years with the club last Thursday, will use all the tricks up his sleeve to improve Arsenal’s current standing of ninth in the table. After their 3-0 win over Sheffield United, all of a sudden Arsenal looked like world beaters again, in stark contrast to the languid displays they produced in their previous home games in the Premiership against Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

    In the Primera Liga, reigning double Spanish champions Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga despite being held to a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp by Valencia. They now play Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday in what is expected to be a ‘walk in the park’ for them. Real Madrid will be looking to build on their midweek success and create some gap between title rivals Barcelona and Valencia.

    Catch all the action Live and exclusive on ESPN Star Sports this weekend

    English Premier League

     

    Date Fixture Time Channel
    30-Sep-06 Bolton Wanderers Vs Liverpool (L 17:10 ESPN
    30-Sep-06 Charlton Athletic Vs Arsenal (L) 19:25 ESPN
    30-Sep-06 Chelsea Vs Aston Villa (L) 19:25 STAR Sports
    30-Sep-06 Everton Vs Manchester City (S) 22:00 ESPN
    01-Oct-06 Manchester United Vs Newcastle United (L) 19:24 ESPN
    01-Oct-06 West Ham United Vs Reading (S) 23:30 STAR Sports

    Spanish Football League

    Date Fixture Time Channel
    01-Oct-06 Athletic Club Bilbao Vs Barcelona (L) 01:25 ESPN
    01-Oct-06 Real Madrid Vs Atletico Madrid (L) 21:25 STAR Sports
    02-Oct-06 Valencia Vs Gimnastic (L) 00:25 ESPN

    India Time. Schedule subject to change; L: LIVE. S: Same day delayed. T: Taped