ITV

Category: Television

  • Coruscant Tec launches Anant Pai’s ‘Shiri’ comic strips on R-World

    Coruscant Tec launches Anant Pai’s ‘Shiri’ comic strips on R-World

    MUMBAI: Mobile video clips are in vogue! Various services such as news, entertainment, sports and games can be accessed and what’s more, Coruscant Tec has now launched videos of the Anant Pai comic entitled Shiri.

    Shiri is a political satire and along with the Surabhi Foundation, Coruscant Tec will be showcasing its monuments, temples, places of interest, culture and people on the Reliance Infocomm network.

    The Reliance subscribers can view interesting videos of the ancient Khajuraho Temple, Konark Temple, Golden Temple, Alleppey boat race, peeling of a coconut with fingernails in record time through R-World. The Surabhi videos will be accessible for Rs 7 per view. The video clips are a mix of religious sites, the unusual and places of interest. All clips are approximately 45 seconds long with a background musical score.

    On the other hand, the Shiri comic strips are available for Rs 2 per view and are updated weekly.

    “Today people explore their mobiles increasingly for entertainment combined with information and visuals. The videos from Surabhi foundation have exciting Indian monuments and places of religious interest, which are very appealing to people with traveling interests. At the same time, the Shiri comic strips will appeal to all age groups. We will continue to develop such innovative and exciting applications in the mobile content space,” said Coruscant Tec founder and MD Ajay Adiseshann.

    Surabhi, a popular cultural show, which used to air on the DD network in the 90’s was anchored by Siddharth Kak and Renuka Shahane and is still regarded as the quintessential audiovisual archive of Indian culture and monuments.

    R-World holds a wide range of applications, which includes TV news clips, ball-by-ball cricket score and other information, latest movie clips, city and TV guides, railway reservations, banking, bill payment and examination results.

  • Discovery Intl’s quarterly revenue up 21 %

    Discovery Intl’s quarterly revenue up 21 %

    MUMBAI: For the three months ended 31 March 2006 Discovery Communications Inc experienced a six per cent revenue growth to $443 million and three per cent operating cash flow growth to $152 million.

    Internationally, it achieved a 21 per cent revenue growth to $193 million and 35 per cent operating cash flow growth to $31 million at its International Networks division for the first quarter of 2006.

    During the first quarter, Discovery commercially launched Cosmeo, its online homework help tool.

    Net distribution revenue increased by 25 per cent due to increases in paying subscription units in Europe, Latin America and Asia, as well as the international joint venture channels combined with contractual rate increases in certain markets. Net ad revenue increased by 16 per cent primarily due to higher viewership in Europe and Latin America combined with an increased subscriber base in most markets worldwide.

    Operating expenses increased by 19 per cent due to expected increases in headcount as the business expands, particularly in the UK and Europe, combined with an increase in marketing expense associated with branding and awareness efforts, particularly in Europe, related to the Lifestyles category initiative. Operating cash flow increased as the growth in revenue outpaced the growth in operating expenses.

    The growth in revenue in the US was due to a 22 per cent increase in distribution revenue. This was partially offset by a six per cent decrease in ad revenue. Net distribution revenue increased 22 per cent as the US Networks had an 11 per cent increase in paying subscribers in the first quarter combined with contractual rate increases.

    US networks distribution revenue increases were also aided by reduced launch fee amortisation, a contra-revenue item, as certain affiliation agreements were extended. Net ad revenue decreased by six per cent, primarily due to lower advertising sell-out rates combined with lower rates at certain networks.

    Operating expenses increased by eight per cent due to an increase in programming expense as the company continued its investment across all US networks in original productions and high profile series and specials. Operating cash flow increased due to the increased revenue.

  • MGM to honour director Oliver Stone at Cannes

    MGM to honour director Oliver Stone at Cannes

    MUMBAI: Oliver Stone will receive the first annual Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Leo The Lion Award on 21 May at the Cannes Film Festival.

    The award will be presented to Stone by MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan, at a cocktail reception to be held at the Majestic Hotel.

    The award has been established to recognise and encourage artistic excellence in individuals who, through significant contributions to filmmaking, have made an indelible impact on the overall value and merit of the library of MGM released films as well as on the world’s movie going public.

    Stone’s first film on the Vietnam war – Platoon – starring Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger and Forest Whitaker, will have a special screening. Platoon which earned $135 million at the US box office during its 1986 release and won the Oscar for Best Picture, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

    Sloan says, “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is proud of its film legacy. This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Oliver Stone’s Platoon. This was not just another war film. It was written and directed by a combat veteran who brought an authenticity to cinema that had not been seen before, and consequently set the standard for all other films concerning the US involvement in Vietnam. MGM is honoured that the 2006 Cannes Film Festival has scheduled a special anniversary presentation of Platoon.”

    Stone says, “Getting to make Platoon was one of the highlights of my life. To have it shown 20 years later in this great garden of cinema is a deep honour.” MGM COO Rick Sands confirmed that Oliver Stone, Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe who star in the film would be travelling to Cannes for the special anniversary presentation.

  • Cartoon Network’s Beyblade Championship in Mumbai sees more than 1500 kids participate













    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network‘s Hojaye Shuru Beyblade Championship that was held in Mumbai on 14 May saw a participation from more than 1500 kids.








    Tarun Shenoy (right) spins his Beyblade to emerge Mumbai winner


    Tarun Shenoy from Podar International School, Santacruz won the title of the Mumbai champion, while Prathamesh Mistry of St. Thomas School, Goregaon was the runner up of the championship.


    Tarun took home a Beybalde medal along with a digital camera and Prathamesh received a BMX cycle. Besides Tarun and Prathamesh, Kartikeya Upasane and Manas Pawar were the lucky ones to reach the final four to win Magnadomes.


    The final four were judged on their ability to spin the Beyblade and assemble the same. Beyblade goodies were distributed amongst all those who participated.


    Tarun will be flown to New Delhi on 21 May to compete with the Delhi champion for the title of National Beyblade Champion. The final winner will receive a Beyblade trophy and a personal computer, while the runner up will take home a Sony Play Station2.

  • Electronic album, interactive software launched by a Miami firm for Fifa World Cup

    Electronic album, interactive software launched by a Miami firm for Fifa World Cup

    MUMBAI: A Miami-based company Miflux has unveiled e-Album Germany ’06, an electronic album and interactive software internationally. This offers soccer fans a new way to keep track of the World Cup, which kicks off in Germany on 9 June 2006.

    e-Album Germany ’06 features tools that allow the users to interact and have fun with the World Cup before, during and after the tournament. It is designed for the users to collect and exchange information and images of the teams, players and venues, using the internet and e-mail.

    With this software, users can also perform a wide range of activities. These include entering scores to keep track of their favourite teams and speculating about results. They are also
    able to build their own scenarios and run soccer pools with their friends.

    e-Album Germany ’06 positions itself as an electronic equivalent of the old tradition of collecting and exchanging cards with friends.

  • Doordarshan launches SMS based news service

    Doordarshan launches SMS based news service

    MUMBAI: Doordarshan has launched an SMS based news service, by which mobile phone users can get the top four news headlines and cricket score updates on match days of matches telecast live on Doordarshan.

    As far as All India Radio network is concerned, News on Phone Service (IVR) is already functional at Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna and Ahmedabad. This service is expected to be commissioned at Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore shortly.

    Besides, this service is also expected to be launched at Raipur, Jaipur, Shimla, Lucknow, Guwahati, Imphal and Kolkata during the 10th Plan period. SMS based news service is expected to be commissioned in Delhi during the 10th Plan period.

    The information was given by minister of information and broadcasting and Parliamentary affairs, P R Dasmunsi in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

  • Social networking sites grow by 47% year on year

    Social networking sites grow by 47% year on year

    MUMBAI: Nielsen//NetRatings, which works in the area of internet media and market research, has announced that last month’s top 10 social networking sites in the US collectively grew 47 per cent year over year.

    They increased from an unduplicated unique audience of 46.8 million last year to 68.8 million in April 2006, reaching 45 per cent of active web users. MySpace, which has attracted significant media attention of late, thanks in part to its acquisition by News Corp, topped the list with 38.4 million unique visitors and a remarkable year-over-year growth rate of 367 per cent.

    Blogger took the second spot, garnering 18.5 million unique visitors and growing 80 per cent year over year, followed by Classmates Online with 12.9 million unique visitors and a 10 per cent year-over-year increase.

    Newcomer YouTube and the more established MSN Groups rounded out the top five, with 12.5 million and 10.6 million unique visitors, respectively.

    Nielsen//NetRatings senior director of media Jon Gibs says, “Social networking sites are the reality television of the Internet The content is relatively inexpensive for publishers to produce and social networking is not a fad that will disappear. If anything, it will become more ingrained in mainstream sites, just as reality TV programming has become ubiquitous in network programming.”

    “However, again like reality programming, the concept of ‘reality’ alone, or in this case ‘social networking,’ is not enough. In this competitive marketplace, sites also have to provide consumers with distinct content they can identify with,” he added.

    The interactive nature of social networking sites keeps visitors coming back. MySpace enjoyed the highest retention rate among the group, with 67 per cent of all March at-home visitors returning in April.

    MSN Groups and Facebook also benefited from a loyal following, with 58 and 52 per cent of visitors returning month over month, respectively. Xanga.com and MSN’s new social networking site MSN Spaces rounded out the top five sites ranked by retention rate, with 49 and 47 per cent, respectively.

    Gibs said, “The social networking sites that are seeing strong growth have developed a unique online presence that is continually refreshed by user generated content. This promotes ongoing consumer interest and visitor loyalty. However, while these sites have seen explosive growth over the past 12 months, this is a fickle youth audience, and the masses that have rushed to these sites, could turn their attention elsewhere. “The question that remains is, how strong are the social networks that consumers are building on these sites?”

  • Discovery, Nokia team for second edition of Mobile FilmMakers Awards

    Discovery, Nokia team for second edition of Mobile FilmMakers Awards

    MUMBAI: Discovery Asia has announced its second collaboration with Nokia. The two parties have launched the second edition of the Mobile Filmmakers Awards.

    With the first initiative completed in December 2005, the second contest gives consumers the opportunity to try their hand at mobile filmmaking. It will give them the chance to walk away with a $10,000 and a three-month stint with Discovery Asia based at the channel’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, during which he or she will be involved in the process of documentary filmmaking.

    The Mobile Filmmakers Awards initiative was launched last year. The aim was to empower mobile phone users with the knowledge and technology of mobile filmmaking at their fingertips and the opportunity to showcase their talent. Reflecting the widespread mobile penetration and usage in India, maximum entries of 609, were received from India last year with two Indians making it to the semi-finals.

    The second edition of the contest is open to the residents of India, Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The closing date for submissions for the contest is 30 June 2006.

    In the first round of the competition, 60 semi-finalists will be selected from all the entries received. These 60 semifinalists will need to attend a workshop in July, organised by Discovery Networks Asia. Each semi-finalist will receive a Nokia N90 mobile phone. In the second round of the competition, the 60 semifinalists will be narrowed down to the best 12 contestants from the region.

    The finalists will be flown to Singapore to attend an intensive workshop in September. Here they will have the opportunity to learn more about mobile filmmaking techniques from experts in the industry and to familiarise themselves with the wide range of mobile film functions of the Nokia N93, which they will be using to shoot and submit their final entries. Each finalist will receive a Nokia N93 mobile phone.

    The initiative reinvents the way people view filmmaking and adds a new dimension to the film industry, contributing to the evolution and growth of filmmaking. Using multimedia devices such as the Nokia N93 that comes with optics from Carl Zeiss, a leading optics company, talent in the region are now able to create their own personal high-quality mobile films. The genre of mobile filmmaking also provides those who are interested in filmmaking with a new medium through which they can bring to life their unique visions and perspectives, and showcase their films on a different platform.

    The two parties state that even seasoned professional filmmakers are experimenting with this new genre. The Mobile Filmmakers 2006 Awards site – www.mobifilms.net – will showcase clips produced by celebrity filmmakers from Asia, as part of the mobile filmmakers gallery. Among the filmmakers featured are Kaizad Gustad from India who had made Hyderabad Blues, Ekachai from Thailand (Beautiful Boxer), Kelvin Tong from Singapore (The Maid) and Yasmin Ahmad from Malaysia (Sepet).

    Discovery Asia senior VP programming and creative services James Gibbons said, “The response to the First Time Mobile Filmmakers 2005 Awards and the quality of the entries received shows that anyone with basic knowledge of how a mobile phone works is able to shoot their own mobile film and capture the world around them. With Discovery’s expertise in documentary filmmaking coupled with Nokia’s technology leadership in imaging, we have launched a new genre in Asia – mobile filmmaking – which is revolutionising the way content is utilised by mobile phone users. Together with Nokia, we are committed to growing and developing the genre of mobile filmmaking. As such, we will be organizing this contest annually, to continue to uncover new talent and take mobile filmmaking to greater heights.”

    Nokia senior vice president, customer and market operations, Asia Pacific Urpo Karjalainen said, “Multimedia computers like the Nokia N93 give consumers an unparalleled experience in mobile photography and filmmaking. Regional initiatives like the Mobile Filmmakers Awards – coupled with the supporting workshops and information that participants and consumers get – prove that with the software and hardware that’s built into today’s camera phones, you can get an imaging and filmmaking experience that’s equal to, or better, than that from a dedicated digital camera or camcorder. As technology keeps developing, we will continue to push the envelope in bringing consumers the best experiences they can expect from their converged devices, whether it’s in filmmaking, email, imaging or other areas.”

  • Third season of ‘Naach Meri Jaan’ on ETC

    Third season of ‘Naach Meri Jaan’ on ETC

    Mumbai, May 15, 2006: The third season of Naach Meri Jaan on ETC is once again a cool sparkling success.

    Second Event of this six event season with artistes like Meet Brothers, Yasmin Khan and Shibani Kashyap, is telecasting on ETC on Saturday 20 May 2006 from 8:30 pm onwards.

    The show opens with a sizzling performance by YASMEEN KHAN on song ‘Hona hai Hona hai’. Once the mood was set MEET BROTHERS took over. They sang the popular numbers like Jogi singh Barnal Singh, Pyar Hamya, Dekta hoon koyi ladki, Bluffmaster and Masti ki Pathshala. Once again Yasmeen entertained with a medley on kuan ma duub jaanogi. SHIBANI KASHYAP showcase the songs like Zinda, Sajna, Dum maro dum, Medley of latest Bollywood hits, Duma dum mast kalander, Woh Lamhe, Medley of vintage classic songs remixed and Ho gayi hai mohabbat tumse.

    They were performing to entertain the huge crowd at Water Kingdom. Show was anchored by ETC anchor Aanchal and in between the performances mimicry artiste Nitin entertained the crowd as Mithun Da, Amitabh Bachchan and Dev Anand.

    Other musicians and artiste to perform on different events are Bombay Vikings, Deepa Chari, Band of Boys, Sonu Kakkar, Crazy Cat, Kailash Kher, Kainaz and many others.

    Commenting on this association Ashish Chakravorty busines head of ETC- says, “It has always been the endeavor of ETC to provide its viewers with innovative and original musical programming. Naach Meri Jaan are musical events that showcase this spirit. These events are also in synergy with Water Kingdom because both represent fun and frolic. Once again ETC is opening the thrird season of this popular annual event from 13th May to provide its viewers with non stop entertainment for next six weekends.”

    So if you have missed the fun at Water Kingdom, then from May 13th catch the one & a half hour long sensuous singing and dancing show Naach Meri Jaan on ETC every Saturday from 8.30 PM. And make sure that you keep your appointment with Naach Meri Jaan on Saturday evenings because there is no repeat to catch up later.

    Naach Meri Jaan on ETC is four year old property that telecasts exclusively on ETC through the Summer Season. Since the summer of 2003, ETC has been associated and telecasting series of Musical Events held at Water Kingdom. Never before any channel has done and telecast eight events in a row.

    ETC is a music based entertainment channel with music dominating more than 98% of the programming content. In all India markets, ETC enjoys the largest reach amongst all the music channels.

    For more information contact:
    Neelam Gupta
    Corporate Communication
    ETC Networks Ltd
    Tel: 022 – 2674 2503 (D), 2673 2033-7
    Email: corpcomm@entertainmenttv.com web: www.entertainmenttv.com

  • Prasar Bharati to beef up DD, AIR news operations with fresh recruitments

    Prasar Bharati to beef up DD, AIR news operations with fresh recruitments

    MUMBAI: Prasar Bharati is strengthening its manpower for news coverage in All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan. Responding to a written query on the subject, minister of information and broadcasting and Parliamentary affairs P R Dasmunsi said in the Lok Sabha that the Prasar Bharati board had approved the proposal to position Part Time Correspondents (PTC) in all those districts of the country where regular AIR correspondents are not posted.

    According to Dasmunsi, there are about 90 full time correspondents/editors and 419 PTCs posted/positioned across the country and the process of selection of PTCs in respect of remaining 150 districts headquarters is underway.

    “With this, Prasar Bharati will have correspondents in all the district headquarters of the country. Doordarshan News has a network of Stringers who, along with the PTCs of AIR, provides news inputs from various districts in the country. Besides, Doordarshan regular TV correspondents/news reporters are also deployed to gather important news from time to time for inclusion in the news bulletins telecast by Doordarshan,” Dasmunsi said.

    Dasmunsi informed that, AIR and Doordarshan tried to cover all important news events across the country with its limited manpower and support. “Some events in far off places which are not covered due to infrastructure and manpower shortages are covered by subscribing to news agencies,” he said.