ITV

Category: Television

  • TV18 to hive off its internet biz; Q4 net up 112% at Rs 219 million

    TV18 to hive off its internet biz; Q4 net up 112% at Rs 219 million

    MUMBAI: Television Eighteen has decided to hive off its internet ventures and consolidate it into a new wholly owned subsidiary to bring sharper focus and growth momentum to these operations.

    The internet subsidiary plans to raise capital from financial or strategic investors. TV18 board, which met today, has authorised the subsidiary of any such exercises to raise capital.

    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.

    The board of TV18 also announced the results. The company’s consolidated net profit is up 112 per cent to Rs 219.15 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2006 as against Rs 103.36 million a year ago.

    The company’s revenues rose 66 per cent to Rs 535.10 million in the last quarter of the fiscal with news operations contributing Rs 474.75 million (up from Rs 310.96 million). The earnings from the internet and software operations were at Rs 60.35 million, up six times from a year ago period.

    The revenues from Awaaz and CNN-IBN channels are not reflected in the Q4 result. The company’s operating profit stands at Rs 306.59 million while operating margins are at 57 per cent.

    The group is all set to re-launch Channel 7 in new avatar in June. The group has recently, acquired a 50 per cent interest in Indian arm of Jobstreet.com.

    Commenting on the result Television Eighteen promoter Raghav Bahl said, “We are delighted to report a record quarter for the company – in terms of revenue performance and the spectacular success of CNN-IBN – which in just five months of launch has become the dominant player in the English General News category, firmly establishing the TV18 Group as India’s Premier News Network. We believe our new initiatives in the internet and home shopping spaces too will contribute significantly to our future growth.”

    TV18 opened at Rs 609.85 and closed the trading day at Rs 627.60, after touching a high of Rs 646 and a low od Rs 625.

  • Times Now brings you the Big action, from the cities

    Times Now brings you the Big action, from the cities

    Launches ‘ACTION CITY’ – city centric show With News Now Overnight

    Mumbai, May 29, 2006: TIMES NOW, soon after successfully completing 100 days of bringing urbane viewers the ‘Big Story’, announced the launch of ‘Action City’ – the show that covers all the action from the big cities of India. Recognizing the urbane viewers need for a quick catch up on the action of the day, its added ‘Action City’ at 10:30 pm and News Now Overnight 11:00 pm, Monday to Friday only on Times Now. Viewers can now look forward to a fresh new power-packed hour every weekday evening with ‘Action City’- an energetic, slick, high spirited city-centric show giving a daily doze of what’s buzzing in the city; and a classic round-up news bulletin ‘News Now Overnight’- that will empower you with the days’ relevant news.

    Speaking on the launch of the show, Sunil Lulla, CEO, TIMES NOW said, “With just over 3 months of being on-air, TIMES NOW presentation of the big stories has made the channel capture quality market share. The success of accurate exit polls, insightful analyses and wide variety of guests during Assembly Elections has made a mark in the News Broadcast Space. The launch of two new shows with City focus and Big Story Focus will give our viewers a fulfilling news experience in the late prime time band.”

    Action City – ‘Your city’s barometer!’ tells viewers what’s hot, happening and buzzing in the city and about its people. The show with its fast paced, racy and distinct content will give viewers a closer look at the happenings in their own city. The show has exciting segments like 60 seconds, Action Headlines, Action Nuggets and Entertainment packed – Action E, offering viewers a dose of heady adrenaline-and-testosterone news, all packaged in thirty minutes. The show will be anchored by Ekta Kumar Nagpal.

    Speaking on the launch of the show, Arnab Goswami, Editor in Chief said, “With a strong focus on the big story, Times Now brings the action from the big cities adding to the news centric 7 to 11 PM Prime Time band. The show will be relevant to our target audience, making sense of all that is going on around them, bringing them face to face with the news from their environment and reporting on all that matters to them”

    News Now Overnight is a classic wrap of the day’s important and significant, big stories that are relevant and will impact the lives of the viewers. The format of the show provides the viewers a complete news experience that are uniquely packaged with slick production values.

    The shows will be anchored by Ekta Kumar Nagpal which will go beyond the conventional studio reporting and take the viewers in the city streets and lanes experiencing the news as it is.

    So feel the news on your city and watch out for what impacts your life the most…Don’t miss to watch out for Action City and News Now Overnight from Monday, May 22nd from 10.30pm to 11.30pm only on Times Now.

     

     

    About Times Now

    TIMES NOW, a Times Group & Reuters Service is an urbane, 24-hour cutting edge English news channel connecting viewers with news and shows, which are relevant, distinctive, & appealing.

    Focused at the Urbanite, TIMES NOW recognizes the varied television viewing habits across day parts and delivers news in relevant and distinctive formats at different times of the day. TIMES NOW weekend shows feature leading personalities from the field of theatre, business, defence and entertainment. The channel builds consumer associations through its various touch points – www.timesnow.tv, mobile and interactive voice response system.

    TIMES NOW, a Times Group & Reuters Service, brought to you by Times Global Broadcasting Co. Ltd. is based in Mumbai with studios in Mumbai and Delhi and bureaus across the nation.

    The Times Group is the largest media conglomerate in South Asia, with leadership in newspaper publishing; magazines; music; retailing; FM Radio; Internet; Interactive media; mobile services and lifestyle television.

    Reuters (www.reuters.com), the global information company, provides indispensable information tailored for professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets. Its trusted information drives decision making across the globe based on a reputation for speed, accuracy and independence. Reuters has 15,300 staff in 91 countries, including staff from the acquisition of Moneyline Telerate (MLT) in June 2005. It also includes 2,300 editorial staff in 196 bureaus serving 129 countries, making Reuters the world’s largest international multimedia news agency. In the 2004 Annual Report and Form 20-F, Reuters Group revenues were ?2.9 billion.
    Reuters and the sphere logo are the trade-marks of the Reuters group of companies

    For further enquiries:

    Vishakha Singh
    TIMES NOW
    A Times Group & Reuters Service
    Times Global Broadcasting Co. Ltd.
    Trade House, 1st Floor,
    Kamala Mills Compound,
    Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel
    Mumbai-400 013
    Tel: (+9122) 24990318
    www.timesnow.tv

    Ruchi Agrawal/ Sonia Huria
    Genesis Burson Marsteller
    1st Flr, Elegant House
    Raghuvanshi Mills Compound
    S.B.Marg, Lower Pare
    Mumbai-400 013
    Website: www.genesispr.com

  • Animax Asia to target youth with new image













    MUMBAI: Animax Asia is all set to refresh its image in order to target youth aged 15 to 24, and mature viewers with a youthful attitude. The new look Animax will hit television screens on 1 June.



    The channel announced today that as part of the its new look, it will be streamlining its programme structure to target this market segment, as well as introducing a creative campaign, Imagine-Nation, to capture the imaginative minds of the youth market.


    “Like all entertainment genres, animation continues to evolve, and we have noticed that the animation from Japan is moving towards a more youth-driven demographic. Animax too must move ahead with current trends to provide viewers with the coolest entertainment,” said SPE Networks – Asia vice president Animax, programming and production Betty Tsui.


    In line with the channel’s commitment to bringing the latest, hottest animation from Japan to its target audiences, helming the refresh programme this summer are two blockbuster animations, God Save Our King and Trinity Blood. Viewers can also expect unique programme content covering a wide variety of themes and styles in the next few months, including the latest Inuyasha: Fire on the Mystic Island, Paradise Kiss, Honey & Clover, Black Cat and Girl from Hell amongst others.


    The new initiative Imagine-Nation will roll out together with the channel refreshment. The Imagine-Nation project is Animax‘s showcase of successful or famous people from the region who are connected to the creative world of games, film, anime and design. This project also features those who dared to let their imagination lead them to success and fame.


    A host of talent, including local animation guru Nickson Fong and StickFas Toys founder Bany J from Singapore, and India’s first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan will share their visions and inspirations with viewers in a series of candid interviews.


    Fong said, “I am excited to be able to share my passion with youth through the Imagine-Nation project. Hopefully, this will inspire some local talent to go into designing, animation or film-making as a career choice, and take the burgeoning animation industry in Singapore to new heights.”


    Tsui added, “Like imagination and creativity, Anime is more than an art form. Anime is inspiring, innovative, unique and always on the edge. It is a lifestyle. We hope that the new Animax will inspire our youths to live out their dreams.”


    She further said that with the refreshed look of the channel, viewers will now be able to enjoy more edgy anime programmes that are most suited to their lifestyles, and viewers can certainly look forward to greater ‘out-of-the-box’ activities and off-air offerings to experience the ultimate animation lifestyle Animax presents.

  • BBC seeks suppliers for priority marketing campaigns

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC plans to acquire the services of a small roster of suppliers to provide strategic and creative content for its priority marketing campaigns commencing on 1 January 2007.

    This will be the result of a formal review of the BBC’s current Advertising Roster which is required to satisfy the BBC’s fair trading responsibilities.

    Suppliers will be required to work across the BBC’s public service portfolio including BBC One, BBC Two, its digital channels, radio networks and other New Media Services.

    Successful suppliers will work with the BBC’s marketing department to deliver communications plans and creative content for specific marketing campaigns. Campaigns will predominantly utilise the BBC’s own media – including TV, radio and online – with occasional use of external media such as posters and press advertising.

    The suppliers will have overall responsibility for successful delivery of the campaigns. Production of TV and radio executions, however, will be exclusively produced by the BBC’s preferred supplier in this area, Red Bee Media.

    Interested agencies need to apply via bbc.co.uk/supplying – see the link on the right-hand side of this page.

    The selection process will be completed by the end of the year.

  • Disney TV movie becomes fastest selling DVD title

    Disney TV movie becomes fastest selling DVD title

    MUMBAI: Disney US has announced that the television film High School Musical sold over 400,000 units on DVD on the first day of release.

    High School Musical has thus become the fastest selling television programme on DVD for the home entertainment industry this year and the industry’s fastest selling television movie of all time on DVD. In the film Troy and Gabriella – two teens who are worlds apart – meet at a karaoke contest and discover their mutual love for music.

    Gabriella Montez is a shy, studious new student at East High School; but all that changes when she is forced to sing at a karaoke contest with Troy Bolton, the captain of the school’s basketball team. After spending time with each other, both realise that they share a passionate love for music and singing. But will they retain this love when their school is telling them they cannot be together?

    Disney adds that the success of the film on DVD continues the phenomenon of the franchise. The film also has a triple-platinum selling soundtrack. The DVD contains bonus features including a ‘Learn the Moves’ feature led by Emmy Award-winning director Kenny Ortega , a never-before-seen music video I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.

  • Disney TV movie becomes fastest selling DVD title













    MUMBAI: Disney US has announced that the television film High School Musical sold over 400,000 units on DVD on the first day of release.



    High School Musical has thus become the fastest selling television programme on DVD for the home entertainment industry this year and the industry‘s fastest selling television movie of all time on DVD. In the film Troy and Gabriella – two teens who are worlds apart – meet at a karaoke contest and discover their mutual love for music.


    Gabriella Montez is a shy, studious new student at East High School; but all that changes when she is forced to sing at a karaoke contest with Troy Bolton, the captain of the school‘s basketball team. After spending time with each other, both realise that they share a passionate love for music and singing. But will they retain this love when their school is telling them they cannot be together?



    Disney adds that the success of the film on DVD continues the phenomenon of the franchise. The film also has a triple-platinum selling soundtrack. The DVD contains bonus features including a ‘Learn the Moves‘ feature led by Emmy Award-winning director Kenny Ortega , a never-before-seen music video I Can‘t Take My Eyes Off of You.

  • WWE to bring ECW brand to Sci Fi Channel in the US

    WWE to bring ECW brand to Sci Fi Channel in the US

    MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has signed a deal with US broadcaster Sci Fi Channel.

    World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has signed a deal with US broadcaster Sci Fi Channel.

    The WWE will debut a summer series on 13 June 2006. Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) will be an alternative brand of wrestling suited to fit the SCI FI Channel’s commitment to fuel the imagination. Raw airs on Sci Fi Channel’s sister USA Network. In India viewers can catch WWE on Ten Spotrs.

    USA Network and Sci Fi Channel president Bonnie Hammer says, “Research tells us that there’s a healthy appetite for wrestling among SCI FI viewers. With ECW, we are able to deliver to those fans unique action with a twist that’s perfect for Sci Fi.”

  • Arqiva to supply BBC with digital transmission services

    Arqiva to supply BBC with digital transmission services

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has selected Arqiva as its preferred supplier for a range of new digital transmission services.

    Subject to agreement of final terms and other matters, the BBC hopes that it will soon be able to sign a contract with Arqiva for the design, deployment, and operation of a new high-powered digital terrestrial television (DTT) network for the BBC which will come into service as part of the UK’s digital switchover programme.

    This will replace both the BBC’s analogue television network and the current low-powered DTT network.

    In so doing, the BBC will be able to increase the coverage of its DTT services so that they substantially replicate the coverage of analogue television.

    These transmission services will become operational during 2008 and will continue until 2031. Arqiva will also be responsible for building and operating additional transmitters to expand the coverage of the BBC’s DAB digital radio network. At least 10 and potentially a further 160 new transmitters will come into service starting in 2007.

    This expansion in DAB transmission will make BBC DAB services available to listeners in a number of parts of the UK. The exact locations of the transmitters are still to be agreed and the BBC hopes to confirm the precise details in due course.

    The selection of Arqiva follows a rigorous procurement process conducted throughout 2005 and early 2006. The selection of Arqiva as the BBC’s preferred supplier has been approved by the BBC Governors.

    BBC controller of distribution Richard Waghorn said, “This represents one of the major steps in our preparations for digital switchover. It will mean that everybody who currently receives a good analogue service will receive the BBC’s digital services through their aerial after switchover.

    “Subject to finalising our discussions with Arqiva, we hope soon to be able to sign a contract with Arqiva which will also secure true value for money for the future provision of these transmission services.”

  • Singer Celine Dion to make appearance on NBC’s show ‘Deal Or No Deal’

    Singer Celine Dion to make appearance on NBC’s show ‘Deal Or No Deal’

    MUMBAI: Superstar singer Celine Dion will make a special guest appearance on the special 90-minute season finale of US broadcaster NBC’s reality show Deal or No Deal.

    The show raises the stakes as the top prize money increases from one to five million dollars on 5 June. During the finale high school guidance counselor Casey Bell of Temecula, California is the lucky contestant. She will be surprised with a chance to become a millionaire five times over when the new stakes are revealed. Does she have the nerves of steel needed when she is confronted with life-altering financial decisions in a highly pressured environment?

    She gets a little help from her family, friends and a surprise guest when she serenades the banker with a song by her all-time favorite musical artist, Celine Dion. Dion joins Bell’s support team live via satellite from Las Vegas and helps Bell during crucial decision making moments when host Howie Mandel asks the all-important question, “deal, or no deal?”

    A Deal or No Deal aficionado, Dion watches the show with her family. She says, “Around our house, Deal or No Deal rules! My son Rene-Charles is a very enthusiastic ‘at home’ contestant, and my husband and I are right there with him! It was a thrill for me to participate and give encouragement to the contestant on the show.”

    Hosted by Howie Mandel Deal or No Deal sees contestants play for a large cash prize in a high-energy match of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Each night, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant faces 26 sealed briefcases containing anything from a penny to one million dollars. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one — his to keep, if he chooses, until its unsealing at game’s end.

  • Nick US to make the summer sizzle with TV movies

    Nick US to make the summer sizzle with TV movies

    MUMBAI: As temperatures soar, Nickelodeon in the US will break out a blend of new TV movies and series, feature-film blockbusters and daily Nicktoon marathons to spice kids’ viewing.

    The television movies are on Friday nights from 9 June. It will unreel new animated telefilms based on the series Danny Phantom, The X’s, Avatar and Jimmy Neutron/The Fairly
    OddParents along with Nick network debuts of the theatrical films Rugrats in Paris and Kangaroo Jacke.

    In Danny Phantom/Reality Trip an escaped evil
    ringmaster with ghostly minions reveals phantom-fighting teen Danny’s secret identity. Then, Truman’s a turncoat and family menace in The X’s/”Truman X, Supervillain after the wayward tween is recruited as an evil agent of SNAFU. The Fury of the Avatar finds Aang and the Avatar gang traversing the deadly Serpent’s Pass into Ba Sing Se just as a colossal fire nation invention aims to destroy the Great Wall there. A friendship blooms between erstwhile rivals Jimmy Neutron and Timmy Turner in the Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour III: “The Jerkinators as the tween leads of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius and The Fairly OddParents join forces to battle old foes and an evil new one bent on stealing Jimmy’s brains and Timmy’s magic. Whisking kids on adventures to Australia and France on 23 and 30 June.

    As far as new shows are concerned, the channel will kick off the fish-out- of-water anime action comedy Kappa Mikey on 20 August. It chronicles the madcap adventures of once- struggling American actor Mikey Simon as he adjusts to his new role as the biggest anime star Japan has even seen. Shuriken School is a crazy place in fictional Tokirohama where Eizan and his pals learn how to melt into the walls, fly over rooftops and disappear in a cloud of smoke.