ITV

Category: Television

  • Kerala’s first digital movie to release in 80 theatres

    Kerala’s first digital movie to release in 80 theatres

    MUMBAI: Malayalam cinema is making its full-fledged foray into the digital cinema space. The Kerala-based production house Emil and Eric Digital Private Limited (EEDPL) is gearing up to release its maiden production Moonnaamathoraal (The Third Man) through the satellite digital delivery system across the state.

    “Moonnaamathoraal is a digital movie shot using the High Definition technology (HD) technology. The movie will be delivered to the theatres through satellite and will be exhibited using the digital projector system. We have rented about 150 theatres in Kerala to set up the required digital infrastructure for a five year period, says Emil & Eric Productions promoter Martin Joseph.

    EEDPL is releasing Moonnaamathoraal in 80 of these 150 theatres on 30 June. The company has tied up with the Mumbai-based United Film Organizers (UFO) to set up the digital infrastructure for the project in the theatres. The system include the digital server, the Hughes Escorts Communications Limited (HECL) powered satellite delivery solutions through Vsat and the Panasonic 3 chip/single chip DLP projection system.

    UFO has invested in the range of Rs 130 million to Rs 150 million in Kerala for the project. The company has installed the digital systems on a refundable deposit of Rs 2,25,000 per theatre.

    As the company’s national revenue model goes, UFO charges the exhibitor Rs 250 per show for the first week, Rs 200 per show for the second week, Rs 150 per show for the third week and Rs 100 per show for the fourth week. The charges made on the distributor are, Rs 175 per show for the first week, Rs 100 per show for the second week, Rs 50 per show for the third week and Rs 45 per show for the fourth week.

    For Moonnamathoraal, EEDPL will be donning the triple roles of the producer, distributor and exhibitor. The Jayaram-starrer, directed by Chennai-based ad man V K Prakash, is made on a budget of about Rs 5 million. “We have spent Rs 5 million on this project, which, on the analogue system, would have required Rs 7.5 million to complete. For the total project, we have spent about Rs 9 million,” says Joseph, adding that EEDPL’s next digital venture Aanachandam will go the floor on 24 June.

    Aanachandam, again a Jayaram starrer, will be directed by veteran Jayaraj.

    Last year, UFO Moviez, the digital cinema network launched by Valuable Media Pvt Ltd, unveiled its digital project to set up 500 digital movie halls by 2006 March at an investment of Rs 800 million and then scale it up progressively to 2000 cinema halls across the country at a total investment of Rs 3 billion. However, the company fell short of its 2006 target due to the shortage of digital projects, according to UFO senior manager Mukesh Sherigar.

    “We couldn’t meet the target in these circumstances, but now we are well on track. We have installed the digital system in about 300 theatres across the country as of now,” he says.

  • Adlabs to foray into production of Hollywood movies

    Adlabs to foray into production of Hollywood movies

    MUMBAI: Anil Ambani-controlled Adlabs Films Ltd is entering into production of Hollywood movies through AshoK Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group.

    “We will be making Hollywood movies only with Hyde Park Entertainment. The first co-financed movie will start production in the next 2-3 months. We are finalising the investment details. We are also working out other movie projects,” says Adlabs Films chairman and managing director Manmohan Shetty.

    The signing of the co-production, film financing deal with Hyde Park Entertainment Group comes after Adlabs Films has set up offices in UK and US. Though distribution of Bollywood movies will form the primary business activity, the overseas operations will also explore opportunities in film production and post-production activities.

    Adlabs plans to distribute 18-24 films overseas this year and has some of the biggest films lined up for release in the coming months, like Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish, Sajid Nadiadwala’s Jaanemann, Ravi Chopra’s Babul and Mani Ratnam’s Guru.

    Hyde Park Entertainment, a production, financing and international sales company privately held by American film producer Amritraj, is planning to establish a foothold in India and is in talks to form a joint venture with an Indian animation company.

  • TV18 to bring internet biz under Web 18

    TV18 to bring internet biz under Web 18

    MUMBAI: Television Eighteen is consolidating its internet businesses under a single holding company, Web 18.

    Web 18 will undertake activities of acquisitions of other internet businesses and websites, in exchange for cash stock or other valid consideration, including the website. TV18 will hold its EGM on 29 June to also allow Web 18 to raise funds from strategic and financial investors via private placement or public listing or in any other manner in one or more tranches. The TV18 Group, however, will retain control and at least 51 per cent of the voting rights of Web 18.

    Web 18 will reserve up to a maximum of 10 per cent of its shareholding to run a stock option plan for its employees and other key personnel.

    TV18 has been acquiring internet properties to create a bouquet. The company recently acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Indian arm of Jobstreet.com. Eariler in the year, it had invested in Yatra Online where other investors included Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital and Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) – Promod Haque’s leading venture capital firm.

    The company also manages online platforms which include moneycontrol.com, commoditiescontrol.com, poweryourtrade.com and ibnlive.com. 

  • Fluid Audio brings American Idol Underground to Fox’ Americanidol.com

    Fluid Audio brings American Idol Underground to Fox’ Americanidol.com

    MUMBAI: Fluid Audio Networks’ web site, American Idol Underground, will be used to create a “micro site” on Fox Interactive Media’s Americanidol.com. The new site provides visitors immediate access to American Idol Underground’s online branded music player, where they can listen to and judge the music of emerging artists and submit their own music for review.

    “The American Idol Underground micro site will expose American Idol fans to a whole new universe of undiscovered talent through access to American Idol Underground’s 50-plus online music players. Additionally, this is a great opportunity for American Idol Underground bands and solo acts to get in front of the nearly 10 million people who visit Americanidol.com each month,” said Fluid Audio Networks chief executive officer and founder Justin Beckett.

    “Americanidol.com is a community for ‘American Idol’ fans looking to enrich their experience through our interactive offerings. The addition of American Idol Underground adds to Americanidol.com another dynamic, interactive application for our fans to take part in,” said Fox Interactive Media vice president Jeff King.

    In addition to rating emerging artists and discovering new bands, the micro site, located at www.americanidol.com/underground, gives fans access to all of American Idol Underground’s best features and prizes, including:

    Listeners prizes for voting on favorite American Idol Underground artists

    Charts ranking artists and highlighting top-rated songs and artists

    Music uploads for artists which are guaranteed 200 spins on American Idol Underground’s online branded music player

    A chance to win cash, musical equipment and exposure for the top rated artists on American Idol Underground.
    The American Idol Underground Web site is powered by Fluid Audio’s proprietary self-publishing software and is licensed by FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas.

  • Fame Multiplexes launches mobile ticketing in three cities

    Fame Multiplexes launches mobile ticketing in three cities

    MUMBAI: Fame Multiplexes has launched ‘M-ticket’ service in Mumbai, Pimpri (Pune) and Kolkata that allows booking of tickets from the mobile phone.

    People can now book movie tickets of any Fame Multiplexes by a voice-recognition service and pay through their credit card. This service has been powered by OnMobile and is available for Hutch, Airtel and Idea subscribers in the above mentioned cities.

    Shringar Cinemas Limited managing director Shravan Shroff said that going forward Fame would introducing more services to enhance the movie viewing experience.

  • Sifymax to offer Fiffa World Cup updates in five languages

    Sifymax to offer Fiffa World Cup updates in five languages

    MUMBAI: Broadband portal Sifymax is providing World Cup updates in five different languages – Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

    This initiative is an attempt to enhance the reach and the accessibility to the Fifa World Cup available in “our national language and other south based languages”, according to an official release.

    Besides providing Fifa updates on sify home page www.sify.com, the language channels have also been linked to the city channels namely, www.sifymax.com, www.bangalorelive.in and www.samachar.com.

    Sify Limited VP Surya Mantha said: “Further to providing exclusive highlights and special video footages on FIFA World cup 2006, we are excited to go that extra mile to give more privilege to football lovers by providing them updates in 5 different languages. This includes our national language further enhancing the accessibility of the game nationwide.

  • Curtains close on 2006 Banff World TV Fest

    Curtains close on 2006 Banff World TV Fest

    MUMBAI: The 2006 Banff World Television Festival came to a close on 14 June, with a combined 1,700 delegates attending both the television festival and its sister-event, nextMedia-The Future of Digital Content.

    Banff World Television Festival CEO Robert Montgomery said, “This year’s elite lineup of VIP guest speakers and record number of U.S. delegates really is a reflection on how important this Festival is, globally.”The Festival included a host of panel and session rooms along with special events. It also generated the signing of new deals and an opportunity for delegates to turn their project ideas and concepts into real productions, informs an official release.

    Some of the notable deals inked this year included, David Paperny of Paperny Films who sealed a $1.4-million financing deal with both the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and CTV Inc. for a new documentary.

    Chris Haddock’s latest procedural drama, Intelligence will be viewed in the U.S., an outcome of the deal between U.S. distributors Program Partners and Thunderbird Films.

    In addition, last year’s pitching finalist, Sinking Ship Enterprises, announced that their children’s project Roll Play is slated to air this fall on Canada’s Treehouse TV.

    “We not only saw a significant number of deals being signed, but also facilitated the development of a plethora of future programming,” added Montgomery.

    The winners this year include:

    CTV Canadian Documart 
    First prize and $50,000 was presented to The Dolphin Dealer by Leigh Badgley, OMNI Film Productions Ltd.

    Second prize and $30,000 was presented to Inventing The Future: Atanasoff, Mauchly And The First Computer by Mila Aung-Thwin, EyeSteelFilm.

    Third prize and $20,000 was presented to Web Warriors by Edward Peill, Tell Tale Productions Inc.

    Pitch It : Drama and Comedy 
    Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Ian Johnson, Guru Inc. won a development prize of $10,000 from Showcase for the completeness of the pitch-its setting and characters.

    Pitch It : Lifestyle and Reality 
    High School Reunion Stories by Antonio Hrynchuk, Fahrenheit Films with a development prize of $10,000 from Life Network for an appealing concept and endless potential for conflict in the stories.

    Pitch It : Children’s Programming
    The World According To Ella by Mark Montefiore, Polenta Productions won for fleshed characters, a nice, simple concept and brilliant writing and casting.

    Kodak Audience Award
    Chugga Chugga Choo Choo by Ian Johnson, Guru Inc. received $5,000 in film stock from Kodak Canada for being the all-round favourite pitch, chosen by the audience.

    iPitch
    Raven Tales by Michael Ockenden, Sand Box Media Games with Joanne Levy, APTN won a development prize of $10,000 from the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund for an incredible game element and portraying beautiful Canadian stories.

    nextMedia-The Future Of Digital Content
    nextMedia finished on a high note following an impressive three day schedule of speakers, panels, keynotes and networking events. The sold-out event featured more than 260 delegates, representing a 10 per cent increase over last year.

    The Banff World Television Festival owned by the Banff Television Festival Foundation, is produced by Achilles Media Ltd. on behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Board of Governors, representing international producers and broadcasters. Achilles Media is a management organization for some of the world’s leading television and new media industry events including the Banff World Television Festival, the World Congress of History Producers and nextMedia – The Future of Digital Content.

  • BBC Worldwide appoints Simon Danker as director, digital media

    BBC Worldwide appoints Simon Danker as director, digital media

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has appointed Simon Danker as the director of the digital media. Prior to taking up this new role Simon Danker was director of UK and Ireland TV within BBC Worldwide’s Global TV sales division.

    Danker will be reporting into BBC Worldwide managing director Digital Media & director of Strategy David Moody.

    Danker will lead the team looking at widening the availability of programmes on new technology platforms such as the Internet and mobile phones.

    This will include the development of BBC Worldwide’s iPlayer, a commercial version of the BBC’s proposed iPlayer, which would allow people to download television and radio programmes via the internet, according to an official release.

    Danker’s portfolio will also cover music, determining new commercial opportunities for BBC Worldwide’s music rights and working closely with record labels. Developing partnerships with music and new media industry players both domestically and internationally will be a key part of his role.

    Simon Danker said: “New distribution platforms will give audiences what they really want – access on-demand to an unprecedented choice of programming. The quality and breadth of BBC Worldwide’s catalogue and our global reputation as a distributor, means we are in a great position to work with platform owners and producers to generate new income streams in this space.

    Digital Media & Director Strategy managing director David Moody said: “Simon brings to this new role a wealth of experience. His proven track record in developing strategies for TV Sales, building relationships with third parties and his knowledge of new media distribution make him perfect to join this increasingly important area of the business. I’m delighted to have him on board.”

    Danker joined BBC Worldwide in 2000. More recently, Danker has managed and grown the development of programme sales to Video on Demand (VoD) platforms such as BT and Homechoice.

    Danker’s prior position as director of UK and Ireland TV within BBC Worldwide’s Global TV sales division is to be filled by Lisa Cfas, currently head of business affairs in the Independents Unit and Children’s. 

    She joined BBC Worldwide in August 2003 before which she was part of the business affairs team in the BBC, supporting drama commissioning for Indies and later BBC Films.

    Cfas will take over Simon’s role gradually over the next two to three months.

  • MediaCorp Radio launches Chinese FM station on Visual Radio

    MediaCorp Radio launches Chinese FM station on Visual Radio

    MUMBAI: MediaCorp Radio has announced the launch of Singapore’s hit music station Y.E.S. 93.3FM, which is the first Chinese language radio station to be made available on Visual Radio.

    This makes MediaCorp Radio the first broadcaster to launch the service in Chinese.

    Developed by Nokia and offered by Hewlett-Packard (HP), Visual Radio adds a new dimension to FM radio with interactive content and services for mobile radio listeners, increasing listener loyalty for radio station operators while providing an opportunity to increase data services usage for mobile operators., states an official release.

    In conjunction with the launch of Y.E.S. 93.3FM, HP has also integrated M1 as the second mobile operator in Singapore to offer the Visual Radio service to their customers.

    M1 will be offering the Visual Radio service to its customers with Nokia devices with the Visual Radio application. With Visual Radio, M1 customers can access appealing visuals, information and entertainment of what’s playing over the air, check upcoming concert dates, purchase ring tones and other mobile content of the artiste, participate in radio station promotions, polls, contests, and interact with radio DJs and special guests.

    HP first engaged MediaCorp Radio to bring Visual Radio to Singapore and in December 2005, 987FM became the first radio station in Singapore and Asia Pacific to launch the Visual Radio service, adds the official release.

    Y.E.S. 93.3FM is now the second MediaCorp radio station to offer the service. HP continues to improve the mobile content available on Visual Radio by partnering with major record labels such as Sony BMG, EMI, Universal Music and Rock Records, to provide Visual Radio users with the coolest, original mobile artist content to download as they listen to the artist’s songs over radio.

  • 5 million visit Fifa website on Day 1 of WC

    5 million visit Fifa website on Day 1 of WC

    MUMBAI: With the Fifa World Cup in full swing, comScore Networks analysis reveals that over 5 million users worldwide visited the official website hosted by Yahoo! at Fifaworldcup.yahoo.com on the opening day of the Fifa World Cup.

    According to the digital media measurement company comScore, this was followed by an average of 4.4 million visitors during the opening weekend.

    Additionally, comScore revealed the site served more than 400,000 video streams on the opening day and averaged approximately 375,000 streams per day throughout the weekend.

    As per a release issued by the company, 57 per cent of the page views occurring during the opening weekend were from the English-language section of the site. While in the non-English language content, the Spanish language section made up 14 per cent of page views.

    The Asian language content also drew significant traffic with six per cent of the pages viewed in Japanese, three per cent in Chinese and just one per cent in Korean, combining for more than 18 million page views per day, adds the release.