ITV

Category: Television

  • BBC launches online Hindi magazine, Dev Anand is the guest editor

    BBC launches online Hindi magazine, Dev Anand is the guest editor

    MUMBAI: BBC World’s hindi website, bbchindi.com has launched its first internet magazine, BBC Patrika, with actor and film maker Dev Anand as their special guest editor. Incorporating all the regular features that used to be part of the website’s Entertainment index, BBC Patrika will also carry a range of original material, including stories, poetry and interviews.

    Editor of bbchindi.com Salma Zaidi explains, “We want to attract new users to our online site, and with BBC Patrika, we can widen scope to include features and thought-provoking articles which, we hope, will engage users looking for something more than just Bollywood and fashion.”

    “bbchindi.com will invite well-known names to write for BBC Patrika, and to ensure it constantly feels fresh and lively, we will have a new guest editor every three months,” adds Zaidi.

    Commenting on Dev Anand addition to magazine as the special guest editor, Salma Zaidi says,”Dev Anand is a perfect example. He is an acclaimed living legend with decades of expertise entertaining and informing the public. He also has a keen eye for the issues concerning Hindi-speakers across the world.”

    Taking on his new role, a elated Dev Anand says, “My association with the BBC goes a long way. I was first interviewed by the BBC in the fifties. When bbchindi.com approached me to be a guest editor for BBC Patrika, I was pleasantly surprised.”

    “I have played innumerable roles in my lifetime, but never that of an Editor. There is something that is common between BBC and myself. I have never copied anyone and in that regard I am ‘exclusive’. And so is the BBC. Apart from this, I have always accepted challenges and I feel BBC Hindi Online has also been doing this all the time,” added Anand.

    BBC Hindi programmes are produced from studios in London and New Delhi and are set in a rolling format, with news, current affairs and features.

    The interactive morning and evening programmes, Aaj Ke Din and Aaj Kal bring the BBC Hindi listeners news, analysis and interviews on a range of issues, from current affairs and careers to showbiz and sports.

    BBC Hindi is available on short-wave and medium-wave radio transmitters and via cable television. Hindi-speakers across the world can access BBC Hindi programmes in text and in audio at the 24/7 site bbchindi.com

  • Delhi Police cracks down on Zee TV outdoor campaign

    Delhi Police cracks down on Zee TV outdoor campaign

    MUMBAI: Delhi Police has asked Zee TV to remove promotional hoardings of its upcoming soap Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan saying the copy used was demeaning to women.

    Reportedly, the police has written a letter to the channel, drawing its attention to the advertisement which carries punchlines such as “Bete ek fayda, betiyan ek ghata”, “Beta apna dhan, betiyan paraya dhan”.

    “The advertisement smacks of gender bias and is demeaning to women. We have asked them to remove the hoardings put up at several places in the capital immediately,” a PTI report quotes Delhi Police.

    The soap was earlier in the news with Zee accusing Star of not only lifting the title of the show, but also the format for an upcoming Star One soap. Star in its turn countered the charges claiming early registration of the theme and the title in various copyright bodies.

    Zee TV has scheduled the launch of the soap for 25 September. Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan is produced by Dheeraj Kumar’s Creative Eye.

  • Nat Geo builds an online Wall against Terror

    Nat Geo builds an online Wall against Terror

    MUMBAI: In an effort to get Indian viewers more involved with its programming on terrorism the National Geographic Channel (NGC) has creating a unique microsite to increase interactivity with the viewers, encourage them to come forward with their views and get in depth information on the series Nat Geo Investigates: Terrorism. The series is airing till 22 September 2006 at 10 pm.

    The micro-site is called Wall against Terror. It includes a special forum called ‘India’s Voice’. This is a blog where viewers can share their ideas and thoughts about the issue of terrorism.

    The microsite also includes sections like ‘What’s Your Slogan?’, ‘Do Your Bit’ and ‘Send A Postcard’. ‘What’s Your Slogan’ invite’s viewers to post their slogan against terror, while ‘Do Your Bit’ looks at giving tips to citizens on how to deal with terrorism in day-to-day life. Through ‘Send A Postcard’, one can inform his or her friends about the series and the campaign against terrorism.

    Besides the above, the Nat Geo Investigates micro-site provides in depth information on the series and interesting factoids on some of the deadliest terror attacks in recent times.

    NGC India VP -marketing, Rajesh Sheshadri, said, “With a strong message like ‘India, Fight Back’, we are promoting this series not only on-air but also through radio, internet and various innovative on-ground activities. This series is a landmark event not only for us, but all our viewers and partners as it touches a topic which is pertinent to all. With only few days into the activity, we are getting tremendous response to the series and to our blog India’s Voice. It shows that people are now ready to be involved in the fight against terrorism, by being more alert and aware”.

    The micro-site, ‘Wall Against Terror’ can be accessed through the National Geographic Channel’s website www.nationalgeographic.co.in or directly www.designmechanics.in/natgeo/

  • Eros International in 2-year output deal with K Sera Sera

    Eros International in 2-year output deal with K Sera Sera

    MUMBAI: London-headquartered media and entertainment group Eros International that owns and distributes Bollywood content globally has announced a long-term output deal with the Mumbai-based production house K Sera Sera to co-produce and exclusively handle global distribution of its forthcoming films.

    Indiantelevision.com was the first to report that K Sera Sera and Eros were in negotiations for an output deal.

    “We have signed an MoU for a broadbased two-year output deal. We are working out the details,” says K Sera Sera managing director Parag Sanghvi. The deal is “for assignment of some of its rights for some of its forthcoming film projects.” Definitive agreement for assignment of the rights shall be entered between the parties at a later date.

    The deal gives Eros access to K Sera Sera’s entire output over a long term period, which is guaranteed to be at least 10 films. Projects in the pipeline include Nanhe starring Bobby Deol, Dombivili Fast directed by Abbas Mastan, and three Salman Khan films, including Partner directed by David Dhawan, informs an official release.

    With this deal, Eros expects to increase its presence in India through co-productions and the acquisition of distribution rights to include music publishing and more significantly, Indian cinema distribution, which accounts for over 50 per cent of the revenues of the Indian film industry.

    Says Eros chairman & CEO Kishore Lulla, “This deal demonstrates our content consolidation strategy as outlined at the time of our flotation. We are confident that collaborating with a successful production house like K Sera Sera will help accelerate our growth from co-productions and ensure a steady flow of content through our pipeline.”

    Adds Sanghvi, “We are delighted to be associated with Eros who have been pioneers in the Bollywood distribution and entertainment space for over three decades. This output deal allows us to focus on our core competency of film production.”

    Eros’s latest Bollywood venture has been Omkara, a Bollywood adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. As per the official release, the movie grossed box office revenues of $6.7 million in its first week of worldwide release in August 2006.

  • Calls for firmer IP laws featured in IPO seminar

    Calls for firmer IP laws featured in IPO seminar

    MUMBAI:In a bid to broaden the effectiveness of government when dealing with intellectual property rights (IPR) cases involving the Philippines cable and satellite TV industry, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa), with support from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Philippine Cable TV Association (PCTA), recently staged a high level legal training seminar in Makati City.

    The seminar, specifically designed to support IPO and NTC officers, brought together pay-TV industry experts, including cable operators, content creators and program distributors, along with IPR experts from law firm Quisumbing Torres, states an official release.

    Participants from both the government and the private sector highlighted the importance of building strong IPR protection to spur industry growth and boost its contribution to national progress.

    “This is the first of a series of seminars that IP Philippines will undertake in partnership with the NTC and the pay-TV industry through Casbaa and the PCTA. The objective is to advance our common goal of curbing IP violations,” said IP Philippines deputy director General Pacifico Avenido.

    The training session came on the heels of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the IPO and the NTC, which transfers the investigation and resolution of pay-TV industry IP cases to the IPO.

    “As soon as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the MoA are approved, the cases pending at the NTC will be transferred to the IPO”, said Avenido.

    “Thus, there’s an urgent need for our Bureau of Legal Affairs hearing lawyers to be trained comprehensively on pay-TV industry IP issues and the technical processes in broadcasting relevant to understanding the issues.”

    Meanwhile, John Medeiros, the Casbaa VP for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, expressed industry appreciation for the government’s efforts to address the worsening problem of pay-TV piracy.

    “We thank the IPO and the NTC for co-sponsoring this seminar, a truly positive step that demonstrates the value of cooperation between the government and the pay-TV industry,” said Mr Medeiros.

    PCTA president Allan Dungao echoed Casbaa’s call for the government of the Philippines to fortify the industry’s anti-piracy cause.

    “Industry estimates place pay-TV signal theft losses at billions of pesos. With the support of the NTC, the IPO, the different legislative bodies and local government units, laws and ordinances have been passed rendering signal theft a crime punishable with imprisonment. More intervention through further government legislation is required, particularly in addressing program piracy in the Philippines,” said Mr Dungao.

    Star TV Philippines VP, Liza Latinazo, with Tim Bautista, the COO of pay-TV channel distributor Cable Boss, joined Mr. Dungao on a panel of industry speakers during the training.

    As a follow-up, the IPO, NTC, Casbaa and the PCTA are planning a follow-up IP law seminar open to industry and public sector groups in October as part of the IPO’s IP Protect educational lecture series, adds the release.

  • Zee Sports-MSO tussle to deny cricket to Mumbaikars

    Zee Sports-MSO tussle to deny cricket to Mumbaikars

    MUMBAI: Looks like cricket fans in Mumbai will be unable to watch the India-Australia match on Saturday with Zee Sports and the major Mumbai multi-system operators (MSOs) continuing to take a hard stance.

    Even Incablenet’s plea filed in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) for restoration of signals was rejected today.

    “Since Incablenet was unwilling to sign the subscription agreement, TDSAT rejected the operator’s plea for interim relief. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for 19 September by which time if an agreement has not been reached between the two parties, then the court will take a decision,” Zee Turner said in a release.

    Incablenet’s argument was that Zee Sports had not served a 21-day notice before blacking out the signals, as required by a regulation prescribed by the Telecom regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The MSO also wanted restoration of the signals as the disconnection was patently illegal.

    “Zee Turner also offered a bulk discount to Incablenet but this was also rejected by the MSO,” the company said.

    The TDSAT has asked Zee Turner to file its reply on Monday following which the next hearing of the case would be on Tuesday.

    “We cannot allow our signals on any of the networks that have not signed the subscription agreement with us, especially since a majority of the country has already signed and is watching the tri-series. Zee Sports has been a pay channel since June 2005 and we have spent a substantial amount of money in acquiring the rights of the DLF Cup tri-series. We have the right to demand subscription fees,” says Zee Turner CEO Arun Poddar.

    “The operators that have already signed the agreement will continue to get the signals for Zee Sports,” Poddar adds. The sports channel, for instance, is on Seven Star, which operates in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

    Zee Sports was made available to viewers in Mumbai for the India-West Indies cricket match yesterday but was once again blacked out from the major cable networks in the evening.

    Sources say the cable operators were willing to sign up for a 10 per cent declaration of Zee Turner’s first bouquet. But this was not acceptable to Zee Turner, the company which distributes a bouquet of channels including Zee Sports.

    Zee Sports has the exclusive telecast rights for the DLF Cup between India, Australia and West Indies. The tri-series will last till 24 September.

  • BBC expands ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show

    BBC expands ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC will expand its dance based reality show Strictly Come Dancing. The new season of the show kicks off on BBC One next month. Two extra weeks have been added to the show along with two more celebrities than last year. 14 stars will be paired with internationally renowned professional dancers in what is termed as the hottest competition of 2006. In India Sony airs a local version of the show.

    The participants will include former Spice Girl Emma Bunton who is now a solo singer, actress Georgina Bouzova and cricketer Mark Ramprakash. Bunton will be dancing with Darren Bennett.

    Bruce Forsyth and his co-host Tess Daly will once again return to present the show. Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli also return to judge the competitors’ performances.

    Forsyth said, “The whole nation seems to have taken Strictly Come Dancing to its heart in a way that we could never have believed it would happen. I can’t wait to get back on screen with this wonderful show. Here’s to a great fourth series!”

    “With a line-up like this, the new series is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Where else could you see a Spice Girl dancing alongside Jimmy Tarbuck?” adds Daly.

    In a change to last year’s format, week one will witness boys dancing to stay in the competition whilst the girls entertain with a group Mambo. In the second week, the female celebrities will fight to stay in the competition, whilst the men kick back with a group West Coast Swing. From week three all couples will compete against each other performing either jive or tango.

    The couples will be judged on the basis of public as well as studio voting, with the lowest-scoring couple leaving the competition.

    As in previous series, all the proceeds from viewer voting will go towards BBC Children in Need which last year raised over £1.5 million.

    Also returning is the daily sister show Strictly Come Dancing – It Takes Two with Claudia Winkleman on BBC Two. It features footage from rehearsals and training as well as interviews with the judges and the contestants. All the latest news and gossips on the training and the show can be found on the website, bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing.

  • Arvind Agarwal to head finance at Neo Sports

    Arvind Agarwal to head finance at Neo Sports

    MUMBAI: Neo Sports the upcoming cricket channel from Nimbus has appointed Arvind Agarwal as senior VP – finance.

    Agarwal will oversee the finance, accounting and secretarial functions and also be a part of the core think tank on strategic planning, acquisitions, distribution and regulatory matters. He comes to Neo Sports from Star where he was VP finance, heading the budgeting and treasury functions for Star.

    Neo Sports CEO designate Shashi Kalathil said, “As we build the ‘A’ team of sports broadcasting, we are fortunate to have found in Arvind an outstanding fit given his domain expertise in broadcasting and capabilities that go well beyond the finance function. Arvind typifies the culture of Neo Sports which has become a magnet for top talent in the industry.”

    Agarwal says, “I am excited about the new enhanced role at Neo Sports. Nimbus has a vision of becoming by 2010 India’s first globally operating billion-dollar revenues company in the sector & I look forward to combining my experience in broadcasting with my passion for sport to contribute significantly to the realisation of that vision.”

  • Disney to debut 2 local live-action shows by year-end

    Disney to debut 2 local live-action shows by year-end

    MUMBAI: In line with its localisation strategy, Walt Disney is working on two original, live-action Hindi-language TV series to be shown on the Disney Channel.

    The move will mark Disney’s entry into production of shows locally as it pumps up efforts to expand in a fast-growing Indian kids television market.

    “We’ll have two shows on the air by the end of 2006,” Disney Channel Worldwide president Rich Ross told Financial Times in an interview.

    Ross did not disclose the working titles for the two new series, but said they will be ‘half-hour dramas telling different stories.’ One of these shows is reportedly centered around a girl band.

    Disney has shown aggression in the Indian market and recently acquired Hungama TV, a local kids channel, and a 14.9 per cent stake in production house UTV Software Communications for a total consideration of $44.5 million. The company has also announced serious intent to produce Bollywood movies.

    Following a step by step localisation strategy, Disney initiated this move by converting Toon Disney into Tamil and Telugu for audiences in the South. “Languaging was our first step,” a Walt Disney Company (India) Pvt. Ltd spokesperson told Indiantelevision.com.

    In order to provide the Disney channels a local environment, specific interstitials were introduced. The third step was to acquire locally produced content like Hanuman.

    “Producing our own shows locally was the final step in this localisation drive,” the spokesperson added.

    Another major initiative Disney has in the pipeline is a localised version of the international smash hit TV movie High School Musical. According to a report in the Guardian, the film is being remade as a feature film for the Indian and Latin American markets, swapping basketball (the male lead is a high school basketball star) for cricket or football as appropriate.

    As reported earlier by this website, Disney has also stated that the key driver for market expansion in India is live action programming and revealed that it was looking at local acquisitions to support that strategy.

    Live action programming is said to appeal to the tween age group (10 – 14 years), which is a large but underserved category in comparision to pre-school kids.

    Walt Disney is yet to evolve a programming strategy for Hungama TV as the acquisition process is not complete, the spokesperson told Indiantelevision.com. The three channels in India will cater to diverse audiences in the kids space.

    Disney also sees potential in the China market, although the company made inroads in India first for its “relative openness.”

    “We have yet to be able to strike a deal in China to make co-productions there. We believe that day will come as well but I think that is emblematic of the difference right now,” Ross told FT.

    High School Musical, which cost just $ 4.4 million to make, has had a phenomenal worldwide response. By year-end the film will have been shown in 100 countries. The DVD has sold more than 2.3 million copies and the soundtrack has shifted 3 million copies in the US alone. In February, there were nine songs from the musical in the top 100, five of them in the top 40, paving the way for the stage play, the T-shirt, the book, the dance craze and the theme park rides, the Guardian reported.