ITV

Category: Television

  • Mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola now showing on your mobile phone

    All roads lead to Shravanabelagola, about 150 kilometers from Bangalore, the world famous Jain pilgrim center in South India, as it readies itself to host the Mahamastakabhisheka (the head anointing ceremony) of the monolithic 57 foot statue of Lord Bahubali, from February 8 to 19, 2006.

     

    It is an event of great significance, organ ized once in 12 years and is the first of the new millennium. Over the decades, the Mahamastakabhisheka has drawn the attention of not just India but the entire world. An estimated 30-lakh devotee witness and participate in the religious spectacle. Truly, there are few events to match the magnificence of the Mahamastakabhisheka performed for the 57-foot monolith statue of Lord Bahubali that stands atop the Indragiri Hill as an imposing symbol of benevolence and sacrifice. Bahubali was a Jain prince who renounced the world and took to leading a life of penance.

    Rajshri Media (P) Limited, the newly established digital content and new media arm of the Rajshri group, is the exclusive digital content distribution company appointed by Gommateshwara Bhagwan Shri Bahubali Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava Samithi 2006, the official body organising the mega-event under the auspices of his Holiness Jagadguru Karmayogi Swasthishree Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji.

     

    Says Rajjat A. Barjatya, Managing Director, Rajshri Media (P) Limited, “The Mobile Phone is fast becoming a communication device, an entertainment device and a lifestyle device, all rolled into one. The Mobile Phone screen is fast becoming the most powerful, most personal and most watched screen in people’s lives. More than 70 million Indians now carry a Mobile Phone. Growing at a phenomenal pace of 3 million subscribers a month, it is estimated that by the end of 2006, there will be more Mobile Phones in India than TV sets. It is our proud privilege to showcase and distribute the invaluable and awe inspiring footage from the past and present Mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali, via wap and voice portals of all leading mobile networks, through a compelling and innovative suite of mobile entertainment products like video clips, audio clips, ringtones and images. This content has the power to inspire a whole new generation. On the occasion of the first Mahamastakabhisheka of the new millennium, this is our humble offering to Lord Bahubali, the greatest preacher of non-violence and sacrifice.”

  • Radio City brings to its listeners ‘Asha & Friends’, Volume I

    Radio City brings to its listeners ‘Asha & Friends’, Volume I

    MUMBAI : Radio City 91.1 FM India’s Leading Radio Network, has taken yet another step in engaging with its listeners. Keeping up to its promise of delivering more, when it shifted to its common unified frequency of 91.1 FM across the country, Radio City now treats its listeners to a morning with the legendary Asha Bhosale, as she comes in and chats live about her new album, Asha & Friends, with Radio City’s morning jock, Manish Paul.

     

    Asha & Friends is an album that features Asha Bhosale singing with some of the most unconventional singers, personalities from the glamorous Bollywood to the professional Entrepreneurs and even sports stars. Being the pioneers in innovating programming, Radio City has always brought the best by the best to its listeners. With the perfect blend of its musical expertise and a thorough understanding of its listener’s likes and dislikes, Radio City treats its listeners to the exciting and unique album to keep them glued to their radio sets.

     

    November 20, 2006 saw an exclusive episode with the melody queen… Asha Bhosale in the a unique chatterati with RJ Manish Paul on the morning show, Kase Kai Mumbai only on Radio City, Mumbai’s favorite radio station. Radio City provided an opportunity to all music lovers and die- hard fans of Ashaji with the special episode where in she spoke about her mesmerizing moments while recording with various personalities. Listeners could learn from Ashaji about a wide array of subjects like how she and Shameer, the music composer of the album, came up with the unique concept of having famous personalities in the album & some of her memorable incidents and listen to songs from the album, exclusively on Radio City.

     

    According to Mr. Rana Barua, Head Marketing, Radio City, “Radio City is the pioneer of innovative & creative programming. We received amazing response from our listeners when we associated with Koi- Baat Chale and had Gulzar Saab and Jagjit Singhji coming in and sharing some of their experiences.. We will continue to treat our listeners with “Asha & Friends”. It was an honor for Radio City to have the melodious Ashaji in our studio. Am certain that such shows will continue to enthrall and add to our audience. And help our positioning of being music experts.”

     

    About Radio City

    Radio City is India’s first and leading hit music FM radio brand. Promoted by Music Broadcast Private Limited (MBPL), the private FM network has captured the hearts of millions of listeners across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Lucknow and now Hyderabad, Chennai & Jaipur. In Phase II of expansion of FM Radio, Radio City has bagged the licences to broadcast in 16 more cities. Radio City will soon regale listeners in Coimbatore, Vizag, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nagpur, apart from the smaller centres in Western India. Radio City broadcasts 24/7, using state of the art digital stereo FM for unmatched quality in signal strength, clarity and brilliance. Backed by expertise in programming, sales and marketing, Radio City is characterized by exciting shows that give it unmatched popular appeal. Innovative programming, vivacious radio jockeys and popular contemporary music uniquely position Radio City to deliver targeted audiences across India’s most important cities.

  • NDTV exclusive with LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham

    NDTV exclusive with LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham

    LTTE Accepts Responsibility For Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Apologises and assures that LTTE wont act against the interests of Govt of India.

    June 27, 2006, New Delhi…In an exclusive interview to NDTV correspondent Noopur Tiwari in an undisclosed location in Europe, Anton Balasingham, Chief Negotiator and idealogue of Sri Lanka’s LTTE, has for the first time, accepted responsibility for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and apologised.

     

    “As far as that event is concerned, I would say it is a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy for which we deeply regret and we call upon the Govt of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective”, said Anton Balasingham.

     

    On being asked by NDTV correspondent, whether LTTE’s unhappiness over the accord between the two states led to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Anton Balasingham said, “No. It happened later on. What has happened is, since we rejected the Sri Lankan accord there were a lot of events that took place creating a gulf between the LTTE and the Govt of India and the Indians later sent an IPKF – Indian Peace Keeping Force to disarm the LTTE and eventually broke out into an open confrontation. We fought a guerrilla war against the Indian army for 2 years and finally the Sri Lankans. We had a negotiation with Sri Lanka and secured the withdrawal of the Indian troops in the 90’s and of course finally it was followed by the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. As far as that event is concerned, I would say it is a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy for which we deeply regret and we call upon the Govt of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective.”

     

    Watch the whole interview at 7.30 pm today on a special Episode of Southern Edition (for states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala) and at 8.00 pm today on India 60 Minutes on NDTV 24X7.

     

    Excerpts of the exclusive interview with Anton Balasingham:

     

    “India helped the Liberation Tigers at a particular historical time to train and arm our fighters, to protect our people from state oppression but the intention was not to create a separate state as such but to help the Tamils to protect themselves and there was a period of Indian intervention from 1983 upto 1987 during which the Sri Lankan Indian accord was written and it was during that time India wanted to find a political solution to the conflict. It is a very complicated history…”

    Further Anton Balasingham explains the finer nuances of why the LTTE was not shy of the accord. “We were not very happy with the political solution proposed by India because it did not satisfy the political aspirations of our people. If India has offered a federal solution as she has in her own country then we would have definitely responded positively but the provincial administration suggested by India was totally inadequate to meet the demands of the Tamil people so that’s why we did not support the accord.”

    On asked by NDTV correspondent, if the LTTE can give any sort of assurance to India that this kind of a thing wont happen again, Mr Balasingham said, “We have made pledges to the Govt of India that under no circumstances we will act against the interest of the Govt of India and that ever since the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, India played a detached role. What we feel is India should actively involve in the peace process. “

  • Cable ops must carry channels operated by Parliament

    Cable ops must carry channels operated by Parliament

    MUMBAI: The government has made it mandatory for all cable TV operators to transmit the Sansad Television Network channels.

    The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2006 has incorporated section (8) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 making it compulsory for every cable operator “to re-transmit channels operated by or on behalf of Parliament”.

    According to an official statement, the Cabinet’s decision will enable consumers to view the Parliamentary proceedings and other informative and educative programmes being transmitted by the channels operated by or on behalf of the Parliament of India.

    As per the new directive, every cable operator shall, from the commencement of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000, re-transmit at least two Doordarshan terrestrial channels and one regional language channel of a State in the prime band, in satellite mode on frequencies other than those carrying terrestrial frequencies.

    Section 8 also mentions that these channels shall be re-transmitted without any deletion or alteration of any programme transmitted on them.

  • Star World examines the psychology of ‘Criminal Minds’ next month

    Star World examines the psychology of ‘Criminal Minds’ next month

    MUMBAI: From 3 September 2006 English general entertainment channel Star World will air the show Criminal Minds on Sundays at noon and 10 pm, Mondays at 1 pm and on Saturdays at 5 pm.
    Best described as a psychological suspense thriller, with lots of deductive action, Criminal Minds follows an elite squad of profilers who analyse the country’s most twisted serial criminal minds, anticipating their next move before they strike again.

    The show stars Mandy Patinkin Chicago Hope as head of the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, the series also features Thomas Gibson as a disarming family man, Matthew Gray Gubler as a socially-retarded genius, Shemar Moore as an expert on obsession crimes and Lola Galudini as an agent specialising in sexual offenses, who was herself assaulted years ago.

    In the first episode, when a fourth woman goes missing in Seattle during the course of four months, the team is brought in to profile her captor and find him before he strikes again. Gideon, who has taken a six month leave of absence since running lead on a case in Boston that ended in a disaster, is asked to help crack the case. While the team works to hunt down the serial killer, Hotch is asked to discreetly evaluate whether or not Gideon is really ready to return to full-time duty.

    In the second episode the team investigates a series of fires set on a college campus. Since most of the evidence from the fires has been burned beyond recognition, Gideon and his team must rely on psychological analysis to identify the firestarter. Utilising their knowledge of serial arsonists, they set up a general profile. When the fires start, claiming the lives of several victims, the search heats up, forcing them to look beyond the textbook profile to catch the killer.

    The channel will also air the second season of Enterprise from 9 September every Saturday at 10 pm. The science fiction show is set in the 22nd century, nearly 100 years before the events shown in the television show Star Trek. Enterprise takes place during the early pioneering days of deep space exploration, when interstellar travel is in its infancy and the United Federation of Planets is still decades away.

    Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) is the prototype for Starfleet captains to come; he’s bold, intensely curious, and eager to venture where no man has gone before. Unlike the seasoned, sometimes unflappable officers of the 24th century, the crew of Enterprise exhibits a sense of wonder and excitement, as well as a little trepidation about the strange things they’ll encounter. With their star charts mostly empty, they’ll have to prove they’re ready for life among the stars.

  • Government defers decision on TV channels’ apology

    Government defers decision on TV channels’ apology

    NEW DELHI: The Indian government deferred a decision on cracking the whip on TV channels airing surrogate liquor and tobacco advertisements.

    A communiqué from the information and broadcasting ministry to TV channels said that the decision on airing a public apology from 18-21 August has been deferred.
    The ministry communication also added that a decision on airing of surrogate ads relating to liquor and tobacco companies would be taken by a “competent authority” at a later date.

    The ministry of Information and Broadcasting had earlier this month issued a warning to 43 channels directing them to carry a scroll for three days regretting airing surrogate advertisements of liquor and tobacco products in violation of rules.

    The ministry, however, did not elaborate on the competent authority that will decide on such matters or when would such an authority come into existence.

    Broadcasting industry sources said that this was an outcome of effective lobbying with the ministry.

    On Monday, broadcast industry representatives met up with I&B minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and ministry’s secretary SK Arora to discuss various aspects of a proposed broadcast legislation, a draft of which has been dubbed “draconian” by stakeholders.

    One of the issues discussed that day was airing of an apology by ‘errant’ TV channels, which was described as public humiliation.

    Interestingly, when confronted with the apology issue, Dasmunsi had told some of the media companies’ representatives that he wasn’t aware of such a diktat.

    The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) had also written to the ministry expressing member-TV channels’ reservations on the issue of scrolling an apology.

    The scroll that was to be aired 24-hours for three days read thus: “Ministry of information & broadcasting issues a warning to X (name) channel for telecasting surrogate advertisements of liquor/tobacco products in violation of advertising code. X (name) channel regrets this and apologies for the same. We assure to be more careful in future.”

    Meanwhile, a government-industry meeting on coverage of terrorism and related issues by TV news channels, slated to be held 18 August, was postponed.

    No further date has been intimated to TV channels presently.

    The meeting, called in the aftermath of bomb blasts in Mumbai recently, was to deliberate on the modalities of coverage of terrorism-related events.

    At least two Indian news channels had been issued show-cause notices by the I&B ministry for airing programmes, which have been “objected” to by security forces and the home ministry.

  • Rob Clark is FremantleMedia Worldwide Entertainment senior executive VP

    Rob Clark is FremantleMedia Worldwide Entertainment senior executive VP

    MUMBAI: Format creator and distributor FremantleMedia has promoted Rob Clark to the position senior executive VP entertainment and production, Worldwide Entertainment. This is a part of Fremantklemedia’s creative networks division.

    Hitherto, Clark has been executive VP Production, Worldwide Entertainment. In this capacity he managed the global roll-out of FremantleMedia developed or acquired formats, guaranteeing production quality and ensuring the transfer of production skills between FremantleMedia companies around the world.

    The worldwide entertainment team, including a group of flying producers, develops and distributes marketing materials, format bibles, and provides specialised training in specific formats. Current projects include the global roll-out of Simon Cowell’s latest formats Got Talent launched successfully this summer on NBC in the US, as well as Inventor, which launched this spring on ABC in the US, and Ant and Dec’s Poker Face which launched its first series last month on ITV.

    In addition to this set of production responsibilities Clark will now also oversee the other activities of Worldwide Entertainment, including development and acquisitions. He will identify and support the acquisition of third party entertainment formats that have global potential.

    In addition, he now takes responsibility for the co-ordination of all FremantleMedia’s entertainment development departments worldwide, working with the local heads of development to ensure a flow of FremantleMedia developed formats throughout the company’s global network.

  • Amrita TV plans to enter feature film production

    Amrita TV plans to enter feature film production

    MUMBAI: Amrita Enterprises Pvt Ltd (AEPL), the promoters of Malayalam channel Amrita TV, is planning to set up a separate division for feature film production. Though the business plan is still in its primary stages of evolution, the company is targeting a February 2007 launch of the initiative.

    “We are getting into Malayalam feature film production and the plan is to start the operations within the next six months. We are in the process of working out a business plan,” Amrita TV director and CEO Sudhakar Jayaram told Indiantelevision.com.

    At a time when the number of films produced in Malayalam has gone alarmingly down and consecutively the acquisition rates have shot up, Amrita TV attempts to change the picture in association with industry experts. The plan is to leverage on its in-house film expertise and thus put an end to the scarcity of films available in the acquisition market.

    “The plan is to enter into partnership with key stake holders in the market such as producers and distributors and offer our expertise in this field to launch feature film projects. We will be also launching solo projects as well, making us an independent producer. An important objective of the initiative is to solve the supply demand issue, which is threatening the television business presently,” says Jayaram.

    AEPL’s strategy, according to Jayaram, is to leverage on the creative and infrastructure strengths it already has in the area of film production. He feels that these key assets would attract similar minded players and thus provide a good start to the initiative.

    “We have a nationally well acclaimed film director in our programming head Shyamaprasad. Then there are various other talented filmmakers, who are part of our programming wing. We have a state-of-the-art production infrastructure and we expect that all these elements would come together to give shape to this initiative,” he says.

    When queried on the investments planned, Jayaram says it is too premature to talk about the money part. “It will actually vary from project to project. We will be looking at big, medium and small budget projects. We are yet to finalise details of the initial investment to be made,” says Jayaram.

    Amrita TV draws inspiration from its successful telefilm production experience. In 2005, the channel produced 22 telefilms of 90 minute duration each and all the films were well-acclaimed by the critics as well as the viewers, according to Jayaram.

    However, getting into feature film production doesn’t mean that the AEPL would shift its focus totally. “We will be producing almost the same number of telefilms this year as well. We have already lined up four telefilms for the upcoming Onam festival,” informs Jayaram.

    AEPL, promoted by a group of investors closely associated with Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, launched Amrita TV in 2005 April. The channel is presently making its best efforts to emerge as a tough competitor to market leaders Asianet and Surya TV. In its first year of inception, the channel swept the Kerala State TV awards, winning 15 of the top laurels.

  • Christina Aguilera, The All-American Rejects set to zizzle at 2006 MTV Video Music Awards

    Christina Aguilera, The All-American Rejects set to zizzle at 2006 MTV Video Music Awards

    MUMBAI: US music broadcaster MTV has announced that Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and The All-American Rejects are among the performers for the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.

    The event takes place on 31 August.

    MTV says that the event will be a multi-platform, multi-screen experience. For the first time ever in the awards show history, MTV will expose fans to the insanity on and off the stage. While the VMAs are airing live on MTV, Overdrive, the network’s broadband channel, will air “VMA Live: Backstage Uncensored”, a live view of the all the action behind the scenes and backstage viewers have never gotten to see.

    In addition to the television and broadband experiences, MTV Mobile on all wireless carriers will also offer updates and recaps of the VMAs within minutes. Also, prior to the show, viewers will have access to all nominated videos on MTV Overdrive (www.vma.mtv.com).

    The event will be available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.3 billion people via MTV’s global network of 50 channels reaching 481.5 million households around the world as well as through syndication. Its convergent and original online programming will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV’s 44 Web sites around the world.

    The sponsors of the event are Acuvue, Chevrolet, Dodge, Herbal Essences, JCPenney, Pepsi, Taco Bell and Virgin Mobile USA.

  • Mobily launches 3.5G wireless technology globally

    Mobily launches 3.5G wireless technology globally

    MUMBAI: Saudi Arabia mobile operator Mobily has announced the offer of its 3G services internationally. Mobily subscribers will be able to make video calls to UAE, Italy, Hong Kong, Luxemburg and Australia using the technology of 3G or 3.5G. Mobily has just completed its own 3.5G network which covers 15 cities in Saudi Arabia, consisting more than 900 base stations.

    Subscribers will also be able to watch TV channels live on 3.5G. These include Alarabiyah channel, CNBC Arabiya channel, Saudi TV, Space Toon and others. Mobily says that it is offering a very competitive rate compared to other operators. The cost of video telephony is 0.80 halalas per minute for postpaid subscribers, whereas a minute cost one riyal when using the TV streaming. Mobily does not demand any monthly fees for all the third generation services.

    Media reports indicate that the 3.5G service will also allow for multiplayer gaming. Most of the 3.5G (HSDPA) services require 2G and 3.5G phone handsets, except for the video calling which works only on 3G handsets. One of the excellent services the 3.5G will provide is the access to the internet with 3G speed from laptop using the mobile as a modem. The setting of the internet will not be different from 2G web setting. The speed exceeds four mega per second for download.