Category: Television

Fingerprint Pictures acquires remake rights to ‘A Better Tomorrow’ from Fortune Star

MUMBAI: Fingerprint Pictures, a production company set up by producer Park Hyung Jun has acquired the remake rights to multi award winning film A Better Tomorrow (originally directed by John Woo, starring Chow Yun Fat) from Fortune Star Entertainment, the distribution division of Star Group.

Fingerprint Pictures is currently recruiting scriptwriters and a director for the Korean remake, which is planned for production in 2007. Fingerprint Pictures is also working with Fortune Star Entertainment to bring in a high profile producer for the project.

Fingerprint Pictures together with Fortune Star Entertainment will handle the international distribution of the remake outside of Korea.

“We are delighted to work with Fingerprint Pictures, a renowned production company, to remake this classic title from our library, A Better Tomorrow. We are especially excited about the prospect of bringing this incredible story back to a new generation of viewers in Asia as well as the rest of the world,” said Fortune Star Entertainment general manager Peter E. Poon.

Hyung Jun added, “We are thrilled and honored to have acquired the rights to remake one of the most prestigious films in Hong Kong’s history. This remake represents a landmark cooperation between the film industries of Hong Kong and Korea, and we look very much forward to bringing this wonderful story to new audiences everywhere.”

A Better Tomorrow tells the story of two brothers: one a successful counterfeiter and the younger a fledgling police academy graduate. The plot revolves around the conflict caused by the younger sibling learning about his brother’s criminal lifestyle. Meanwhile, the older sibling is struggling to change his evil ways. Along the way are a number of action-packed heists, double-crosses and shootouts.

In 1986, A Better Tomorrow won awards for Best Film and Best Actor (Chow Yun Fat) at the 6th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards and for Best Director (John Woo), Best Actor (Ti Lung), Best Cinematography (Horace Wong Wing Hang) and Best Sound Recording at the 23rd Annual Golden Horse Awards.

May 25, 2006
Al Jazeera International sees delay in launch

MUMBAI: The proposed English news and current affairs channel Al Jazeera International has delayed the launch of the channel from April to September at the earliest.

The channel an offshoot of the Qatar-based Arabic network has pushed the launch date on account of series of constructions and technical glitches at its four centres in London, Doha, Kuala Lumpur and Washington, according to The Guardian.

The channel is said to be still experiencing problems and thus, the launch has now been stated to be early September.

The executives of the channel are said to be increasingly fed up with the slow pace of progress. “Staff are extremely frustrated, as is the management, who are tearing their hair out at the inefficiency of support staff,” said a source to the publication The Guardian.

The bosses at the English-language service were concerned about “meddling” from Al-Jazeera’s Arabic owners, who are thought to be worried the new channel could end up a “watered down version of the BBC or CNN” and a “damp squib managed by non-Muslim westerners”.

Although the broadcaster has inked a deal with the Sky Digital in UK, it is however finding difficulties in striking deals in the key American market.

The Al-Jazeera spokeswoman speaking to The Guardian said that the broadcaster was not releasing an official launch date. However, she said the channel’s management had a particular date towards which they were working.

“They are waiting on their technical requirements to be fulfilled,” she said.

CNN and BCC are the main competitors to the Al-Jazeera International targeting the English-language news audiences, particularly in its coverage of the Middle East.

The broadcaster has already roped in high-profile personalities, including Sir David Frost, former CNN Riz Khan, former CNN Rageh Omaar, Channel Five news presenter Barbara Serra for the London newsroom, and as well as other journalists from Sky, ITN and elsewhere.

Recently, the channel hired a host of presenters for sports coverage.

Al-Jazeera launched in Qatar in November 1996, bankrolled by the Emir of Qatar, but came to international prominence during the US attack on Afghanistan in 2001 when it was the only foreign broadcaster in Kabul.

Al-Jazeera, which has been credited with changing the face of Arab television news, has faced criticism from the US as well as several Arab states. The channel is always surrounded by controversies by screening messages from the most-wanted man Osama bin Laden, the leader of the terrorist group Al-Qaida.

The British Broadcasting Corporation has announced plans to set up its own Arabic news channel next year and has roped in former Al-Jazeera executive Salah Negm as news editor.

May 25, 2006
Quick-start, long-play internet television arrives with Zattoo P2P IPTV

MUMBAI: To date, television on the Internet hasn’t been like television at all; video streams tend to skip, stutter and break, image quality is low, and very little content is live. That’s about to change.

Making its worldwide debut at Streaming Media East in New York City, Zattoo has unveiled a new peer-to-peer IPTV service that makes live, quick-start, long-play Internet Television a reality for broadband users, broadcasters, content owners and advertisers.

The first Zattoo P2P IPTV broadcasts begin in Switzerland with the availability of every action-packed minute of the 2006 soccer world championship (known globally as the FIFA World Cup(TM)), streamed live to Swiss viewers starting with the first match in June and culminating with the championship match on 9 July 2006, states an official release.

“Advances in broadband, video compression, and multicast streaming technology are rapidly lowering the technical hurdles for Internet and television to merge on a PC. However, there is still the matter of cost. Our streaming network solves that problem by reducing broadcasters’ costs by a factor of ten, making it compelling for them to switch to our technology and broaden their service offering,” says CTO and co-founder of Zattoo Sugih Jamin. “Also, Zattoo’s proprietary P2P streaming technology ensures a video delivery and smoothness that has until now been impossible to achieve.”

Developed by researchers and software engineers from University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Zattoo offers a DRM-secure, commercial peer-to-peer network optimized for streaming video that is uniquely capable of serving the needs of consumers, broadcasters, content owners and advertisers, adds the release.

“End users are tired of islands of content. They want a single place to go where they can switch channels as easily as pressing channel up and down on their current TV remote,” says CEO and co-founder of Zattoo Beat Knecht. “Zattoo offers such a single point of access to the widest variety of content, delivered with the highest possible quality and reliability. Users may watch news at work, educational programs at school, or movies in the privacy of their room, all without set top box, as long as they have broadband access.”

May 25, 2006
ESPN, Airtel tie-up for Fifa WC on mobile phones

Live goal alerts. Live match updates. Live fixtures. Download mobisodes of previews and predictions. Contests and much more. The soccer World Cup anywhere and anytime. Football fans in India just got a bonus.

Airtel, a leading mobile services provider, today announced the launch of a host of services for the FIFA World Cup 2006 that will be exclusively available to the company’s subscribers.

The latest breaking team news, fixture listings, half-time and full-time scores and penalties will be available on SMS/ WAP alerts. Also, an Airtel customer may choose to receive SMS alerts on their favorite teams’ progress such as goals or score updates or match fixtures.

A dedicated news section on the World Cup 2006 will be available from 31 May to 9 July 2006.

The official statement quoted Hemant Sachdev, director, marketing and communications, Bharti Airtel Limited, as saying, “The Football World Cup connects billions of people across the world in a very special way. We are delighted that Airtel customers will now have the exclusive advantage of following their favorite team’s progress and accessing rich and exciting World Cup 2006 content on the mobile.”

Commenting on the tie-up with Airtel, ESPN Software India MD RC Venkateish, “As the leading sports network, we are focused on servicing the fan – that means making our sports content available anytime and any place through any pipe and any device. Through Mobile ESPN, we have merged what avid fans expect on our TV channels and on espnstar.com and created a third screen in sports.”

Airtel has also lined up exciting contests for its users during the World Cup. Call 646 and say “Scream”. Choose your favourite country and also your favorite ‘mood’– loud or funny. After that JUST SCREAM ‘GOOAAAL”. The winner will win an all expense holiday to their favorite football playing country.

How to access World Cup 2006 services on Airtel? Airtel customers can subscribe to these services by SMS & WAP. SMS WCG to 646 for alerts or visit Airtel Live from a GPRS enabled phone or dial 646

Services available on Airtel

[a] “ESPN Here We Go” – starting 8 June.

Made-for-mobile ‘mobisodes’ by ESPN Star Sports presenters. Each mobisode consists of 2-minute and 30-second previews clip on every World Cup 2006 match, which features match analysis and predictions by ESPN STAR Sports football analysts and pundits, as well as previous day highlights and team news

[b] SportsCenter: This section comprises 2-minute and 30-second video clips featuring daily bulletins and coverage of top sports stories from around the world.

SportsCenter Football Update: Dedicated news section on the world of football, with 2-minute and 30 second video clips featuring the latest match updates, summaries and results.

Special news report on World Cup 2006

[c] ESPN Football Live: Live alerts and news service providing the latest breaking team news, match updates and match fixtures. Match updates, goal updates, half time / full time scores, yellow / red cards information, penalties etc.

Match fixtures: List of upcoming matches

[d] ESPN Insider – starting 29 May.

Dedicated match preview service with expert analysis and opinions from ESPN Star Sports presenters and professional tipster. Pre-match analysis and predictions provided by ESPN Star Sports celebrity presenters such as Andrew Leci, John Dykes, Andy Penders, Paul Masefield or Steve McMahon.

[e] Mobile ESPN content on SMS – starting 9 June.

Live goals: live scores, half time and full time scores.

[f] Other sports content service offerings available for download- Starting 29 May.

Java games, wallpapers of popular football players.

Bharti Airtel Limited is one of India’s leading private sector providers of telecommunications services with an aggregate of over 22.07 million customers as of end of April 2006, consisting of more than 20.68 million mobile customers.

May 24, 2006
Star World to air ‘American Idol’ finale live on 25 May at 9 am

MUMBAI: Star World will telecast the performance finale of American Idol on 24 May at 8 pm, while the grand finale will be aired live on 25 May 2006 at 9 am.

Finally, after months of gruelling competition, millions of votes and many favourites being knocked out, the fight is now between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. As McPhee, a 21 year old born and raised in Los Angeles and Hicks, a 29 year old from Alabama battle it out, America will make the final call.

No doubt the judges have their preferences but it’s no longer in their hands. The performance of the two finalists will determine who takes away the crown and an opportunity to work with some of the best music producers in the industry.

Currently in its fifth season, it was named the highest-rated show in the history of American Idol. It also seems to have acquired an international appeal and fans anxiously await the announcement of America’s favourite, the release adds.

A two hour special of the finale will be telecast live on 25 May at 9 am, with a prime time repeat at 8 pm. Repeats of this show will also be aired on 26 May at 1:30 am and10 am, respectively.

May 24, 2006
Ten Sports’ properties clash; Zee Sports to air French Open

MUMBAI: French Open 2006 has graced Ten Sports at a time when its hands are full with the India-West Indies cricket series. The broadcaster has however found a way out by roping in Zee Sports as a telecast partner for the tennis tourney.

According to a deal inked by both the broadcasters, while Ten Sports retains the marketing rights, Zee Sports will exclusively telecast all the final matches, which include Men Singles, Men Doubles, Women Singles, Women Doubles and Mixed Doubles live. The other matches will be available on both channels.

This arrangement has been necessitated because Ten Sports’ focus will of course be on West Indies versus India cricket series which is shaping up to be a real classic confrontation.

Ten Sports VP programming Peter Hutton comments, “We have been concerned for some time about the clashes every year between West Indies cricket and our live coverage of the French Open. This new arrangement will allow viewers to choose between their favourite sporting events so that no one loses out.”

Zee Sports business head Himanshu Mody adds, “We are delighted to conclude the broadcast sharing agreement with Ten Sports for one of the most exciting tennis events of the year.” He further added, “This acquisition adds to the exciting line up of tennis properties on Zee Sports which includes WTA, Davis Cup and Fed Cup.”

The agreement marks increasing co-operation between Ten Sports and Zee Sports, after Ten recently sub-licensed the India versus Pakistan cricket from Abu Dhabi from Zee for the Pakistan region, points out an official release.

French Open 2006 is scheduled for 27 May to 13 June, while the cricket series will go on till 30 June. The countries have already played three One Day Internationals. The remaining matches will be played as per the following schedule: May 26 Fourth ODI Trinidad / May 28 Fifth ODI Trinidad / Jun 02-06 First Test Antigua / Jun 10-14 Second Test St Lucia / June 22-26 Third Test St Kitts / June 30 – Jul 04 Fourth Test Jamaica.

May 24, 2006
Kangaroo Media & Formula One Management ink programming deal

MUMBAI: UK’s Kangaroo Media Inc. and Formula One Management Limited have entered into a six-year licence agreement to provide fans at all Formula One events with access to live race video, audio and data on Kangaroo Media’s Kangaroo TV hand-held device.

Fans can follow their favourite drivers around the track on the Kangaroo TV screen, receive race telemetry and timing data, and listen to live driver and team communications, all from a device in the palm of their hands, states an official release.

The Kangaroo TV service for Formula One is expected to debut on a limited basis at the 2006 U.S. Grand Prix, which will be held on 2 July at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kangaroo is working closely with F1(TM) Teams and Formula One Management to help activate the program and rapidly build awareness among Formula One fans. The Kangaroo TV service will be the exclusive hand-held video and data service of its kind offered at Formula One events worldwide.

The parties have contractually agreed not to disclose specific commercial terms pertaining to this agreement, as it could jeopardise competitive advantage to both companies. The agreement is subject to normal and usual commercial terms and conditions including reasonable guaranties, performance, breach and termination provisions, adds the release.

May 24, 2006
Qualcomm initiates patent infringement proceedings against Nokia in the UK

MUMBAI: Qualcomm Incorporated, a developer and innovator of CDMA2000, WCDMA and other advanced wireless technologies, today commenced patent infringement litigation in the UK against Nokia Corporation.

The proceedings, issued in the Patents Court of the High Court of England and Wales, allege infringement of two patents by Nokia in the UK in relation to mobile devices which are capable of operating in accordance with the GPRS and/or Edge standards but not having a capability to operate with CDMA technology. The proceedings seek an injunction against Nokia, as well as damages in relation to phones already sold.

This litigation is a geographic extension of the patent infringement litigation filed by Qualcomm against Nokia in the US on 4 November, 2005. Both cases involve infringement of Qualcomm’s patents by Nokia’s GSM/GPRS/Edge products.

Qualcomm’s extensive patent portfolio includes more than 4,000 US patents and patent applications and more than 20,000 patents and applications around the globe.

May 24, 2006
HC raps government on CAS delay; next hearing 5 July

NEW DELHI: The government today got some reprieve and the stick on the issue of CAS from the Delhi High Court.

While fixing 5 July as the next date for hearing in a case pertaining to implementation of CAS in three cities, the court questioned the government’s rationale for seeking 265 days for rollout of addressability.

On 10 March, the Delhi High Court had directed the government through the information and broadcasting ministry to implement CAS in four weeks.

The order had come on a petition filed by some MSOs, including Hathway and INCablenet.

A few days after the 30-day deadline got over in April, the government and sector regulator had filed an appeal in the court seeking more time to facilitate rollout of CAS.

The government’s contention was that a consensus needed to be evolved for implementing CAS for which eight to nine months time was needed.

However, the court today reiterated that it would like to see the rollout happen during this calendar year and directed the government to deposit a fine of Rs 100,000.

May 24, 2006

WDIG and Shanda to bring Disney content to China’s online game market

MUMBAI: Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Shanda Interactive Entertainment have entered into an agreement to bring Disney‘s branded entertainment content to China‘s online game industry via Shanda‘s online game operating platform. The agreement with Shanda marks Disney‘s entrance into China‘s online game market.

The agreement calls for Shanda to develop, distribute and operate an online casual game based on the magical worlds of Disney and featuring some of Disney‘s most popular animated characters.

The game, which will be developed for a broader demographic than traditional online games, as well as China‘s burgeoning segment of female online gamers, will be available in China for open beta in the spring of 2007.

“The market for online games in China is large and growing, and it was important for us to find the right partner. We‘re pleased to have found that in Shanda. Disney‘s rich content library, combined with Shanda‘s capabilities as a leading online game operator, will bring a new, unique and fun experience for the online game consumer. We actively look to bring more of our content to the online interactive entertainment market in China,” said WDIG executive vice president and managing director, international Mark Handler.

“The Disney brand and its lineup of animated characters are already popular in China, and through this agreement we bring this well-known content to China‘s online game community in the form of an exciting new casual game. We remain firmly committed to providing our users with new and compelling entertainment content that will keep their online experience fresh and enjoyable, and we believe the addition of Disney‘s wholesome content will further broaden our user demographic, thus making a significant contribution to the implementation of our home strategy. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the Walt Disney Internet Group and are excited about bringing Disney‘s content to China‘s online game community,” said Shanda chairman and CEO Tianqiao Chen.

“China is a priority for the entire company, and this announcement is part of our strategy to expand our presence here. We have a huge competitive advantage, thanks to the strength of the Disney brand, which is embraced and sought-after around the world. The combination of Shanda‘s strong capability in developing and operating online games with Disney‘s expertise in providing compelling content breaks new ground in China, as this will be yet another way for consumers to interact with and experience the magic of Disney,” said The Walt Disney Company (China) managing director Stanley Cheung.

May 24, 2006