ITV

Category: Television

  • SC ruling gives FM lifeline to Millenium Broadcasting

    SC ruling gives FM lifeline to Millenium Broadcasting

    MUMBAI: There’s hope yet for Millenium Broadcasting, one of the early entrants into the FM scene in Mumbai with its Win 94.6 station, but which has been off air since May 2004.

    The Supreme Court has thrown a lifeline to the Gautam Radia promoted private radio venture in its long drawn battle with the government, initially fought through the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

    The apex court, which heard the case last week, has ruled in Millenium Broadcasting’s favour, concurring with TDSAT’s judgment in the matter. TDSAT had earlier ruled that the government shall not auction the frequency 94.6 MHz and that the company was entitled to broadcast FM radio within the territory of Mumbai.

    In its ruling, TDSAT had also ordered that Millenium Broadcasting was entitled to the benefit of migration from fixed licence fee regime to revenue sharing regime under the second phase of the FM radio policy, which grants this benefit to the existing license holders.

    For the record, the licence of Millenium Broadcast Pvt Ltd was revoked in May 2003 for non-payment of licence fee. Subsequently, in September 2005, the government had invited pre-qualification bids for 338 FM channels in 91 cities across the country, including five FM stations in Mumbai.

    After hearing Millenium Broadcast’s plea in the matter, TDSAT issued an order in October 2005 stating that the frequency shall be excluded from the ambit of the five FM channels in Mumbai that were up for bidding.

  • Al Jazeera International gears for Kuala Lumpur broadcast centre

    Al Jazeera International gears for Kuala Lumpur broadcast centre

    MUMBAI: Doha based — Al Jazeera International, the yet-to launch 24-hour English-language news and current affairs channel has roped in Divya Gopalan and Hamish MacDonald have joined the channel’s team of on-screen talent.

    Divya and Hamish will be the channel’s weekend news anchors for Al Jazeera International’s Kuala Lumpur broadcast centre, one of four regional broadcast centres strategically placed around the world in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC. They join the weekday news anchors Veronica Pedrosa and Teymoor Nabili, formerly of CNN International and CNBC Asia respectively.

    Gopalan brings the channel over 10 year’s experience in international journalism including roles with BBC News, CNN and American networks NBC and CNBC. MacDonald meanwhile joins Al Jazeera International from the UK’s Channel 4 News where he built a career as a news producer and reporter covering a range of international stories.

    Al Jazeera International MD Nigel Parsons said, “I am pleased to confirm our weekend presenters who bring a dynamic approach to news reporting in keeping with the channel’s aim of bringing a fresh perspective on world news while maintaining the highest journalistic standards.”

    Already on the board, are name likes of Sir David Frost, Veronica Pedrosa and Riz Khan.

    At the BBC Gopalan worked on daily news and current affairs programmes such as Hard Talk. Her portfolio included major news stories such as the Iraq war, the Asian Tsunami, the Bali and London bombings. She also covered the 1997 Hong Kong handover for NBC and at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival interviewed Palm D’or winner for best actress Maggie Cheung and best director nominee Wong Kar Wai. Gopalan was the first ethnic Indian newsreader on Hong Kong television.

    Starting her on-air career as a sports reporter, Gopalan interviewed some of the biggest names in the sporting world like tennis stars Steffi Graf, the Williams sisters, Anna Kournikova, F1 star Jensen Button, and International soccer players including Gianfranco Zola and Andy Cole.

    Gopalan has a truly global background, she is of Indian origin and was born in Hong Kong. She was also brought up in the Philippines, educated in North America and spent five years living and working in London and is fluent in four languages.

    MacDonald has covered major stories at Channel 4 including the Asian Tsunami and the London bombings. He reported live for Channel 4 and ITV news and reported as an eyewitness for Australian Networks 9, 7 and ABC.

    He began his TV career with WIN television in Canberra as a politics reporter and presenter. From there he moved to the UK and freelanced for a short period, before joining the Channel 4 news team as a producer.

    MacDonald trained in journalism at Charles University in Australia and began his career as a Talk Radio presenter and newsreader on Radio 2BS Gold. He is the first Australian news anchor to join the Al Jazeera International news line-up of on-screen talent.

  • ESS kicks off a month of finals in May

    ESS kicks off a month of finals in May

    MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has declared the month of May as the “Month of Finals”. The action series begins with soccer when Liverpool meets West Ham on 13 May in the FA Cup final. The telecast will kick off at 9 55 pm (Singapore time) and 7 25 am (IST).

    The FA Cup final follows the Champions League final, between Barcelona and Arsenal on 18 May. The final telecast is scheduled for 2 am and 11 30 pm (IST).

    UEFA Cup action heats up on 10 May at Eindhoven, Netherlands, as Middlesbrough and Sevilla meet for their first European final, with both finals of UEFA’s cup competitions featuring England vs Spain. ESS will telecast the finals on 11 May at 2 30 am and 12 am (IST).

    Another season of the Barclays English Premier League comes to an exciting conclusion in May. ESS will telecast the action starting 7 May from 9 55 pm and 7 25 pm (IST).

    It is the business end of the NBA with the coveted ring awaiting the Champions. Post-season sees 16 teams, eight each from the Eastern and Western Conferences fighting out for the right to play in the NBA Finals. ESPN will telecast this on 25 May, 27 May, 29 May and 31 May at 8 am (Singapore Time) and 5 30 pm (IST).

  • PWC releases nominations for Idea IIFA Awards 2006

    PWC releases nominations for Idea IIFA Awards 2006

    MUMBAI: PriceWaterhouseCoopers has released the nominations for the Idea IIFA Awards 2006 as per the results of voting by the film industry. The nominations were derived from the IIFA Voting Weekend held in the first week of April.

    During the course of the week, the best talent from Indian cinema including producers, actors, film directors, music directors, scriptwriters and singers cast their votes for the Popular and Technical awards. The nominations for the Popular Awards are now open for public voting, using the globally accessible www.msn.com/iifa and www.indya.com platforms. The voting process is monitored and audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who are also the audit firm for the Oscars, informs an official release.

    The nominees for the best picture are Black, Bunty aur Babli, Iqbal, No Entry, Page 3 and Parineeta. In the best director category, Madhur Bhandarkar, Nagesh Kukunoor, Pradeep Sarkar, Prakash Jha and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have made it to the final list.

    In the best actor category, the nominees are Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. In the actress category, the final nominee list includes Konkana Sen Sharma, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherjee and Vidya Balan.

    This year’s IIFA Awards ceremony will be held on 17 June in Dubai.

  • Buena Vista Games to create and publish video game property Spectrobes

    Buena Vista Games to create and publish video game property Spectrobes

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG), the interactive entertainment arm of The Walt Disney Company has announced that it is creating and publishing the company’s first video game based on an original property, Spectrobes.

    Set to release exclusively for the Nintendo DS, Spectrobes is an anime-inspired action/role playing game that is being developed by Jupiter Corporation in Kyoto. The announcement was made this morning from BVG’s local offices in Tokyo.

    Spectrobes is an anime-inspired action/role playing game created by Japanese developer Jupiter and published by Buena Vista Games.

    “We’ve experienced tremendous success developing new intellectual properties such as Kingdome Hearts in Japan, and the innovation and style of Spectrobes are a perfect fit for the expertise of renowned developer Jupiter Corporation,” said Buena Vista Games senior VP and GM Graham Hopper.

    “Spectrobes is a new and unique property with endless potential for a dynamic entertainment company such as The Walt Disney Company. There is tremendous interest in this franchise from other divisions such as media networks, online and consumer products.”

    “Based on BVG’s original concept and utilizing the creative style of Japanese anime, manga and traditional Japanese art, Spectrobes is an innovative game developed by the outstanding team at Jupiter,” said BVG Japan producer Kentaro Hisai. “The game’s intense real-time battle and unique excavation features should enthrall gamers throughout the world.”

    Spectrobes introduces two junior Interplanetary Patrol officers named Rallen and Jeena who learn of strange, prehistoric creatures called Spectrobes that possess special powers. These fossilized Spectrobes hold the key to defeating a vicious and merciless force, known only as the Krawl that threatens to destroy the galaxy. The two heroes embark on a mission to save their galaxy – to do so they must excavate, awaken, train and collect all the Spectrobes they can and battle to defeat the Krawl, informs an official release.

    Spectrobes is infused with the edgy, highly stylized look and feel of Japanese anime and manga, and uniquely combines original characters, a compelling story and breakthrough gameplay. Spectrobes allows players to excavate, train and battle with nearly 500 unique creatures, utilizing every interactive feature of the Nintendo DS.

    Once the creature is excavated using the touch screen portion of the Nintendo DS, the Spectrobe is then awakened and can be utilized in real-time battles with enemies. Players must collect, train and help their Spectrobes evolve in order to progress and succeed in the game. With highly customizable elements and powers, each Spectrobe is unique to individual game players.

    The release date for Spectrobes will be announced later.

  • Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft to build integrated broadcast system for MediaCorp

    Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft to build integrated broadcast system for MediaCorp

    MUMBAI: Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft Corp. have been selected to design and build an integrated broadcast system to support MediaCorp Pte Ltd., Singapore’s largest broadcaster and a leading media company in Asia.

    Accenture, which is leading the project, is teaming up with Avanade to design and deploy a scalable and open-standard-based solution featuring the Microsoft Connected Services Framework, a software solution that enables broadcast companies and film studios to create, deploy, integrate and manage services.

    The work at MediaCorp will streamline many of the company’s core business processes, including program planning, scheduling, airtime sales and finance processes, into one integrated system, which will support all of MediaCorp’s television businesses. The system will support nine channels and be used by more than 1,200 employees.

    The new system will include a unified grid for programs, ads and automated workflow. Once the system is in place, MediaCorp users within different groups and departments will be able to share information, work together more effectively and react more quickly to the changing needs of the business, giving the company a competitive advantage in how it does business.

    “As one of the region’s most established broadcasters, we need to be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities. By working with Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft and our internal IT teams, we are building a solution that will leverage our capabilities to support the current and future needs of our television businesses,” said MediaCorp deputy group CEO Group Services Henry Lim.;

    “We have been working with MediaCorp to develop a solution that effectively migrates its core business processes onto one unified platform. We evaluated multiple options to implement the system and development platforms. Based on that assessment we designed an application blueprint founded on Microsoft .NET. The platform will be highly scalable, giving MediaCorp the flexibility and control to integrate other, future processes such as digital asset management, editing services and new content delivery channels,” said Accenture partner in the media and entertainment practice Robert Chew.

    “We chose a service-oriented architecture to manage MediaCorp’s investment in technology. The media industry is transforming. Digitization is rapidly changing the business dynamics of yesterday’s television. A strong and scalable information system becomes a requirement for MediaCorp to embrace digital media and benefit from its growth in the future,” said MediaCorp chief information officer Jack Chiam.

    To deliver the integrated broadcast system, Accenture will team up with Avanade, combining its business and industry acumen with Avanade’s technical expertise in Microsoft technologies. Accenture and Avanade will build the system using Microsoft .NET and the Microsoft Connected Services Framework.

    “MediaCorp’s business lies in the successful management, distribution and consumption of content. As the world’s first terrestrial broadcaster to adopt the Connected Services Framework, MediaCorp is helping to demonstrate Microsoft’s knowledge of the key business drivers in the broadcast industry and, more important, how to translate that knowledge into solutions that enable broadcasters to work efficiently, increase revenues, and expand and retain audiences,” said Microsoft corporate vice president communications sector Maria Martinez.

  • Animax Asia to target youth with new image

    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.

  • Hungama TV launches talent hunt for kids; ropes in John Abraham as brand ambassador

    Hungama TV launches talent hunt for kids; ropes in John Abraham as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: After Sony and Zee, it’s now the turn of kids’ channel Hungama TV to go the reality way. The 18-months old channel, which has grown to become the number two kids’ channel in the country recently, has roped in Bollywood youth icon John Abraham as the brand ambassador for two years.

    Additionally, John will also be endorsing the ‘John Aur Kaun?’ talent hunt, which will give two kids (one boy and one girl) an opportunity to star opposite him in one of UTV’s forthcoming movie.

    The winners, apart from getting an opportunity to star opposite the hunk, will also get a cash prize of Rs 500,000 each and a three year contract with UTV to manage their career.

    The applications will open in the third week of May. The channel will shortlist 1000 candidates each in five cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad – where auditions will be held in June and July.

    Kids’ between the age of 7 – 14 can apply and the selection criteria for the talent hunt will be based on acting and dancing skills. Finally, 40 kids (eight from each city) will be selected. These finalists will be brought to Mumbai, where they will go through a comprehensive training process during which the judges will be narrowing down the participants to four. The final two will be chosen via popular voting (SMS) and IVR (interactive voice response) exercise. Ernst & Young have been roped in as the auditors for the selection process.

    The entire hunt – from the city level auditions to the grand finale – will be televised as a reality show on Hungama TV and will be aired in October. The show will be in the form of 13 one hour episodes and will air three times a week on the channel.

    Hungama TV has roped in Oral B as the presenting sponsor for the ‘John Aur Kaun?’ talent hunt. Bournvita, Maggi and Sunfeast Dream Biscuits will be the co-presenting sponsors, whereas Dermi Cool, Waffy, Tata Salt and Add Gel Achiever are the associate sponsors for the event. Mitashi Edutainment is the prize sponsor.

    The channel has also partnered with Radio City (official radio partner), the Times Group (print and online partner), Planet M and Star News (national news channel partner). A nationwide 360 degree marketing and promotions campaign will hit the print, television, outdoor, radio and internet media in the third week of May.

    An elated Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta said, “Indian kids have tremendous potential and Hungama TV wants to offer them a platform to showcase their talent. Kids today have the drive and inclination to learn and succeed and this is evident across all sections of the society. In keeping with this philosophy of constant innovation and distinctive content, Hungama TV is proud to bring to viewers ‘John Aur Kaun?’ – a first ever in the kids category.”

    “We are also really excited to have John Abraham on board as the brand ambassador for the channel. John’s sunny personality and easy going nature, couple with his drop-dead looks and undeniable talent, have made him a role model for kids across the country,” she added.

    The channel zeroed in on John as its brand ambassador after an extensive research with kids last year, wherein the dimpled-boy won over his other colleagues in popularity.

    Abraham said, “It feels great to be associated with Hungama TV. I am looking forward to spending time and interacting with kids. ‘John Aur Kaun?’ will give talented kids across the country an opportunity to shine and I am very glad to be involved in this effort.” a

  • Fox Reality inks deal with Zig Zag Productions for ‘My Bare Lady’

    Fox Reality inks deal with Zig Zag Productions for ‘My Bare Lady’

    MUMBAI: Fox Reality has entered into a deal with US/UK co-production with Zig Zag Productions. The new Fox Reality original, My Bare Lady is a series of three, one-hour shows slated to air on the US cable and satellite network in the latter half of 2006.
    The series will follow top US female porn stars who want to see if they can give leading British thespians a run for their money.

    Many adult film stars think they can act, but can they make it in the refined and stuffy world of an English acting school? My Bare Lady is a reality series in which viewers find out if four female US adult stars can make it as legitimate actors in a matter of weeks, informs an official release.
    After a casting call in Los Angeles, an established British theatre director will select his performers. He will bring them to London and put them through an intensive three week transformation. It shows what happens when you take a group of American porn stars and thrust them on stage in London’s famous theatre-land to perform a classic play.

    Fox Reality CEO & general manager David Lyle said, “We look forward to working with this great British production company and creating an ambitious docu-soap. And it is a wonderful concept to have a production that shoots on both sides of the Atlantic, highlighting a humorous and all-too-real culture clash.”

    “Zig Zag is very excited about this new and irreverent series for Fox Reality,” said Zig Zag managing director Danny Fenton. “We are really pleased to be making one of the first original commissions for the channel and appreciate their boldness and distinct new flavor. It typifies the freshness of Fox Reality to seize on an idea likeMy Bare Lady.”

  • Creative Eye forays into sports marketing, celebrity management

    Creative Eye forays into sports marketing, celebrity management

    MUMBAI: Production house Creative Eye Ltd has made a foray into sports marketing and celebrity management. The company has begun the innings by marketing the telecast rights of the on going EurAsia Cup Cricket Series. It is planning to include tennis also under the purview.

    “Creative Eye’s aim is to function as an event promoter and rights holder of sports properties. We will be negotiating with private broadcasters as well as Doordarshan. We have started with the EurAsia cricket series and propose to hold the series every year, thus establishing our mark in the field of sports. Another segment we are very serious about is tennis,” states Creative Eye director Dheeraj Kumar.

    In an official communiqué, Creative Eye said its foray into sports had opened new avenues for the company in terms of revenue generations and also added new horizons for the company’s overall growth. “We are targeting revenue of $3 million out of the first EurAsia Cup series,” says Kumar.

    The first edition of the EurAsia Cup Cricket Series is currently underway in Abu Dhabi. As already reported, Sahara One Media & Entertainment Ltd. acquired the satellite rights of the series from Creative Eye. Now the production house has brought Prasar Bharati also on board to telecast the series from 29 April, when the second leg of the series begins. The matches will be aired live on DD Sports from 4 pm onwards, apart from the satellite telecast on Sahara One’s Hindi movie channel Filmy.

    Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Trust , in association with the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council has conceptualised the EurAsia Cup Cricket Series, which features India A, Pakistan A, Sri Lanka A, Holland, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Trust’s sports wing V K Sports then signed Creative Eye to market the telecast rights of the event.

    “Regarding EurAsia, our responsibility is to market the telecast rights and also ensure that the logistics are in place. This is a cash-less deal. Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Trust’s interest in the initiative is to promote the young cricketing talents in this country,” explains Kumar.

    Creative Eye is planning to market two more sports events this year, including a tennis tournament. Celebrity management is another area the company is planning a foray into. “We have already initiated with prominent sportspersons of the country, including various new talents in cricket. We will be divulging the names as soon as the deals are through,” says Kumar.