ITV

Category: Television

  • Endemol UK & Cirque du Soleil Images sign 3 year collaboration deal

    Endemol UK & Cirque du Soleil Images sign 3 year collaboration deal

    CANNES: Producer of entertainment formats for the worldwide market Endemol via its U.K. arm Initial has signed a three-year deal with Cirque du Soleil Images to collaborate on the development and production of yearly Cirque du Soleil television specials.

    Specifically created for television, the one-hour specials will feature the best performances from Cirque du Soleil, as well as musicians and artists from around the world.

    Initial’s director of special projects Andy Ward said, “Cirque du Soleil are the most exciting, visual and popular artists in the world and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them to translate their spirit to television. Broadcasters are already very excited.”

    In addition to creating shows, Cirque du Soleil has for many years created original and innovative content for television, video and DVD and film through its multimedia division Cirque du Soleil Images. In every project, Cirque du Soleil Images aims to capture all the spirit of Cirque du Soleil shows.

    Cirque du Soleil will handle all creative content aspects of the stage show and Initial will be responsible for all aspects of the television production.

  • Zee wins ‘neutral venue’ media rights for $ 219.15 million

    Zee wins ‘neutral venue’ media rights for $ 219.15 million

    NEW DELHI: The numbers are going beyond believable as far as India cricket is concerned. Subhash Chandra’s Zee Telefilms has secured the rights for the latest money-mopping plan the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has pulled out of its cupboard — for matches played by India at neutral venues (non-ICC member countries) over the next five years.

    And the winning bid: a whopping $219.15 million (average of $ 8.77 million per match) for 25 matches spread over the next five years.
    The 25 matches will involve mainly Pakistan as the opposition, but will also include top cricket countries like Australia, England and West Indies. With this, the minimum bid guarantee of the BCCI has crossed the $1 billion mark all told.

    Zee Telefilms also becomes the rights holder for radio and broadband in non ICC member countries where matches may be played. It would also negotiate with pubcaster Doordarshan independently for a terrestrial feed.

    “This cricket property puts us on a strong wicket and would help us in our growth,” Zee Sports business head Himanshu Mody told Indiantelevision.com, adding that “the loss of India cricket rights have been more than made up”.

    The other bidders in the fray for the overseas rights were ESPN Star Sports (disqualified for bidding below the floor price), Nimbus and Sahara One Media & Entertainment.

    The media rights for this latest piece of the India cricket pie will be inaugurated with the two-match Indo-Pakistan limited over series that will be held in Abu Dhabi later this month. The presenting sponsor is Indian real estate major DLF and the ground rights for this series was secured by PDM International for $ 3.61 million.

    Pointing out that Rs 900 million are expected to be generated from these two matches, BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi said 50 per cent of the proceeds will go to Pakistan for earthquake relief fund, while the rest will be donated to the Indian Prime Minister’s relief Fund.

    Pakistan Cricket Board’s director cricket operations Salim Altaf, who was present during the opening of the financial bids as an independent observer, also exchanged documents with BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, signifying an understanding between the two countries for playing matches under a bi-lateral agreement.

    The 25 matches are to be played in places like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Holland, Lords, Oval and Birmingham in England, Toronto, New York, Tristate Area, Houston, Chicago, Palo Alto, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

    According to BCCI’s Modi, negotiations are on with the respective countries for venues. All the matches will also be recognized by the International Cricket Council and form part of India’s playing calendar.

    HOW THE DIFFERENT BIDS STACKED UP

    While Zee is likely to end up paying a total of at least $ 219.15 million over a period of five years on an average price of $ 8.77 million per match, the break-up of payment year-wise varies.

    According to documents circulated by the BCCI today at a press conference here, Zee bid $ 5.04 million for the first year, $ 6.03 million for the second year, $ 6.66 million for the third year, $ 8.10 million for the fourth year and $ 18 million for the last year.

    Similarly, the other bidders too had bid separately for every year. ESS had bid $ 2.86 million for each of the five years.

    Nimbus bid $ 5 million for the first year, $ 6 million for the second year, $ 7 million for the third year, $ 8 million for the fourth year and $ 14 million for the fifth year with an average of $ 8 million per match.

    Sahara’s bids were $ 5.32 million, $ 5.41 million, $ 6.40 million, $ 7.21 million and $ 10.90 million for each of the five years where on an average per match was costing $ 7.048 million.

    On being asked how does it feel to be on the losing side, Nimbus’ chairman Harish Thawani shot back, “Seeing the winner’s bids, I feel we got the rights to India cricket cheap. I wish Zee all the best.”

    Nimbus had bagged the four-year rights of Indian cricket for a whopping $ 612 million, beating the likes of Zee Telefilms ($ 513 million and ESS.

    DRAMA BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT

    Can anything related to cricket and BCCI be bereft of drama? Probably not.

    Before the media was apprised of the transparent way in which the BCCI conducts its affairs, especially those relating to bidding, journalists were kept waiting at a five-star hotel here as a closed-door meeting of cricket officials and representatives of bidding companies took place.

    Reportedly, there were two adjournments when frantic calls were made by some of those present in the meeting to their bosses.

    It seems there was some confusion regarding the way prices of every one year of the five-year contract period were to be quoted and calculated.

    When that got sorted out, discussions took place on the formal protests lodged by Zee Telefilms and Nimbus relating to the submission of financial bids by Sahara yesterday in Mumbai.

    While Modi reiterated that there were “no irregularities” in the Sahara bid, Zee Sports’ Mody smiled away questions on yesterday’s protests. “We don¡’t have any issue now,” he said, while sharing the dais with BCCI officials.

    While making a grand exit from the press conference, BCCI’s Modi said, ‘These rights will ensure coverage of matches played by India in non-ICC member countries as well. Professionalizing this aspect of Indian cricket management will make the sport, especially the Indian game, accessible to Indian communities across the globe, including the non ICC member countries.”

  • Star Gold to premiere “Jai Santoshi Maa” this May

    Star Gold to premiere “Jai Santoshi Maa” this May

    Mumbai, 6th April-2006…Pray, there is immeasurable power in it! The last week of May brings divine blessings in the form of the blockbuster-hit film “Jai Santoshi Maa” when it premieres on Star Gold. A Vijay Sharma film starring- Anita Guha, Ashish Kumar, Kanan Kaushal, Music composed by C. Arjun, lyrics by Pradeep, cinematography by Sudhendu Roy, story by R. Priyadarshini, produced by Bhagyalakshmi Chitra Mandir; Jai Santoshi Maa broke all records at the box office. IN terms of return on investment, Jai Santoshi Maa remains the biggest hit ever at the Indian box office. And it is currently in the news for two reasons: the first ever satellite premiere of the movie (on Star Gold), and the fact that it is being remade.

    There have been innumerable films, which have proved that films can have a big impact on society. But none of them can even come close to the monumental 1975 hit, ‘Jai Santoshi Maa’. The film almost brought to the limelight a new Goddess, leaving everlasting impression on the Indian masses.

    The music by C. Arjun was highly popular, especially the song, “Main to aarti utaaru re, Santoshi Mata ki”. The number became the nation’s new anthem and even today, it’s heard at all religious functions and ceremonies.

    The film depicts hardships, tough times and sufferings can be overcome by being tolerant, patient, enduring pain and lastly – worshipping Goddess – “Santoshi Maa”.

    And it can now be viewed by millions of Santoshi Maa bhakts, as well as everyone else, as it will be premiered on Star Gold this May.

    Jap, Tap, Vrat- the three simple ways to attain Nirvana:

    These are the simple rules of life in which Satyavati believed and followed religiously. Satyavati (Kanan Kaushal) –was a devoted wife and firm believer of “Santoshi Maa”. Her dedication was put to test; in many ways…But it was her immense faith in “Santoshi Maa” which helped her sail through high tide every time.

    “Santoshi Maa” puts her true devotees to test:

    “Santoshi Maa” has a unique way of bestowing blessings upon the deserving devotees: not until she has put them through an acid test.

    Some facts about the film-“Jai Santoshi Maa”

    Did you know????

    *Until this film’s release, Goddess Santoshi was not a very well known idol of worship. But this movie’s spectacular success made her a household name all over India. Housewives across the country began observing Fridays as the day of worship of Santoshi Maa.

    *The film had such a phenomenal effect on people’s minds that in most theatres where the film was being screened, audiences would remove their footwear outside the cinema halls, as a mark of respect to the Goddess

    *Such was the impact on the mind of people that the moviegoers would bring aartis to cinema halls and actually perform the pooja; threw coins at the screen during certain scenes and songs! It was during this phase the whole country saw an upsurge in a unanimous feeling of religiousness

    A treat for all “Santoshi Maa” devotees only on the small screen for the first time. Do not miss the exclusive premiere of “Jai Santoshi Maa” in the last week of May -2006, only on Star Gold.

  • Zee Sports to telecast Russia-France Davis Cup quarterfinal live

    Zee Sports to telecast Russia-France Davis Cup quarterfinal live

    MUMBAI: Russia takes on France in the BNP Paribas World Group 2006 Quarterfinal. Zee Sports will bring all the action from Palais des Sports, Pau, France live and exclusive from 7 to 9 April.

    France will be led by captain Guy Forget to face Russia in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. Marat Safin will lead Russia.

    Schedule:

    April 7, 2006 4:30 pm onwards Singles

    April 8, 2006 9:30 pm onwards Doubles

    April 9, 2006 4:30 pm onwards Singles

  • Channel 6 to air Alliance Atlantis titles

    Channel 6 to air Alliance Atlantis titles

    CANNES: Irish entertainment network Channel 6 has reached a deal to take rights for Alliance Atlantis titles like CBS dramas CSI and CSI: Miami, as well as the Canadian comedy Trailer Park Boys, the teen drama Instant Star and several TV movies.

    Channel 6 will air the first two shows in the CSI franchise from season one.

    Channel 6 founder and director of programs Michael Murphy said, “CSI and CSI: Miami are global sensations and drama fans around the world are addicted to them both. In addition, we feel that Trailer Park Boys is a real hidden gem and that Channel 6 viewers will quickly become fans of this award-winning, quirky comedy.”

  • FremantleMedia strikes deals with German broadcasters

    FremantleMedia strikes deals with German broadcasters

    CANNES: The distribution arm of global production company FremantleMedia, Fremantle International Distribution (FID), unveiled at MipTV a diverse range of programme sales to German broadcasters. It was announced by FID managing director David Ellender.

    Ellender said:”We are very pleased to announce this latest raft of sales in Germany. The diversity of our programming translates into broad appeal for the different networks and Veronika Gracher has worked closely with the German broadcasters to ensure that FID can meet their needs. These latest deals are testament to the enduring strength of our factual and drama catalogues.”

    The sales, brokered be FID VP Sales German Speaking Europe & Eastern Europe Veronika Gracher, include the acquisition of Munich: The Real Assassins (1 x 1 hour) by Discovery Europe (German-speaking Europe).

    This documentary looks back at the events of September 1972, when, at the Munich Olympics before the eyes of millions of television viewers, 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Black September, a radical group within the PLO. It features testimonies never heard before from Mossad agents who carried out Israel’s bloody revenge to reveal the true story behind the most incredible government-sponsored mission in the history of the War on Terror.

    In a further agreement, History of Football: The Beautiful Game (13 x 1 hour) will be broadcast on Germany’s History Channel to coincide with World Cup fever. Narrated by Terrance Stamp, this series tells the definitive story of the game that generates more excitement, passion and wealth across the world than any other sport.

    Other German deals will see crime drama Homicide (55 x 1 hour) will air on AXN, while Sex In The Bush: Australian Animal Attraction (2 x 1 hour) will be seen on Arte (Germany / France). This series combines stunning footage with amazing and sometimes shocking stories from passionate wildlife experts on the subject of courtship and reproduction among the animal kingdom in Australia – where the truth really is stranger than fiction.

  • Walt Disney unveils wireless service specifically designed for families

    Walt Disney unveils wireless service specifically designed for families

    MUMBAI: Consistent with its strategic focus to pursue technologies that deliver outstanding creative content and services in new ways, The Walt Disney Company unveiled Disney Mobile (www.disneymobile.com) in the US, which is the first national wireless phone service specifically designed for families.

    Disney Mobile will operate as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) utilising the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. This service will be a follow-up MVNO from the Walt Disney Company. Mobile ESPN, the only mobile phone service built from the ground up for sports fans was launched in the US in February.

    This was launched at the CTIA Wireless 2006 tradeshow in Las Vegas. This wireless service will launch in June with innovative features that, for the first time, allow parents to directly manage their family’s wireless experience.

    Unlike traditional family plans that focus on shared minutes, Disney Mobile will offer a comprehensive, family-tailored service. It will provide customisable tools to balance kids’ cell phone use with controls that allow parents to manage family phone use and help teach kids responsible use. In addition, Disney Mobile will come equipped with all the things tweens and teens are looking for in a cell phone today – from a camera to messaging to popular ring tones and content.

    At the core of Disney Mobile’s family plans are the Family Center features, which allow parents to:

        set spending allowances and track usage for voice minutes, text messaging, picture messaging and downloadable content
        determine the hours of the day and days of the week when kids can use their phones
        program restricted and always-on phone numbers to manage with whom kids may communicate
        prioritize important family messages
        locate kids’ phones with GPS capabilities

    Beyond the Family Center features, Disney Mobile will offer wireless voice service, text and picture messaging, and a broad range of entertainment and content that will appeal to every family member, and to Disney fans of all ages.

    “Given our strong commitment to embracing innovative technology, coupled with Disney’s outstanding creative content, Disney Mobile is perfectly positioned to transform the way families come together and stay connected. Parents will appreciate Disney Mobile’s unique capabilities to manage family communications, and tweens and teens get the functions they’re seeking in today’s wireless service,” said The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A Iger.

    Disney Mobile phones will have a stylish, clam shell-style design that appeals to adults and kids alike, but the parents’ phones will be configured with additional, exclusive functionality for managing the family’s mobile experience. These controls may also be accessed via the Disney Mobile website.

    The service will be available to consumers at www.disneymobile.com and at Disney Mobile kiosks in malls throughout the US. Additional retail distribution channels are planned for later in the year. Pricing plans, which will be detailed closer to consumer availability, will be competitively priced with other family mobile plans and will include Family Center features as part of the basic service. Handset pricing will start at $59.99 when purchased with a two-year service agreement.

    “Disney Mobile uses sophisticated technology to make family communication better and easier to manage than ever before. We have addressed what parents are looking for in a comprehensive mobile service, while also balancing the needs of what kids want in a cell phone. Never before has a mobile service offered such a feature-rich, customisable experience for both parents and kids,” said Walt Disney Internet Group president Steve Wadsworth.

    The centerpiece of the Disney Mobile experience is the innovative Family Center features, which are accessible on Disney Mobile phones and www.disneymobile.com. Its features include:

    Family Monitor
    Disney Mobile’s Family Monitor feature can help make surprise cell phone bills a thing of the past by giving parents the unique ability to manage their kids’ cell phone use real-time. A parent can set monthly allowances for each kid for key aspects of cell phone use, including voice minutes, text and picture messages, and downloadable content such as ringtones, wallpapers and background themes.

    Call Control
    Disney Mobile’s Call Control feature allows parents to use an online tool to designate when kids can use their cell phones, as well as who they can and cannot call. Parents can choose the day of week or even the time of day they will allow their kids to use their phones, eliminating use at inappropriate times such as during school hours or late at night.

    Family Locator
    The Family Locator feature allows parents to locate their kids’ phones using advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Parents can access the Family Locator feature from their phones or from www.disneymobile.com by entering a PIN which each parent personally selects. Once access is authorized, parents can locate their kid’s phone by selecting “locate” through the feature. When the phone’s location has been found, the location, a map of the location, and an indication of accuracy appear.

    Family Alert!
    Family Alert! allows family members on the same Disney Mobile family plan to send each other prioritised messages so the messages are unlikely to be missed. Family Alert! messages prominently appear on the handset screen whenever the phone is idle, causing family members to acknowledge messages before using the phone for other services.

    “Parents told us that they value the extra convenience and security a cell phone provides the family, but they also expressed a desire to be able to supervise their children’s cell phone use and avoid the horror stories they have heard about excessive mobile bill surprises. Disney Mobile’s Family Center features give parents the best of both worlds. It provides the ultimate in flexibility for parents, giving parents maximum visibility to their family’s phone usage, and allowing them to apply as much or as little control as they see appropriate for their kids,” said Disney Mobile senior vice president and general manager George Grobar.

    ENTERTAINMENT
    In addition to its Family Center features, Disney Mobile will also offer parents, tweens and Disney fans of all ages a wide variety of Disney and other family-appropriate content to personalise and customise their Disney Mobile phones. The “Theme-It” function will allow multiple screens of the phone to be re-themed with a selection of related content chosen by the subscriber.

    Disney Mobile subscribers will also enjoy a broad offering of Disney content. The Disney Zone includes exclusive ‘Vault Disney’ content only available to Disney Mobile subscribers and applications that will extend many of the online and offline worlds of Disney. At launch it will include a Radio Disney application that will allow direct interaction with Radio Disney and its family friendly music.

    There also will be a broad assortment of general entertainment content to complement the service’s Disney offerings.

  • MGM Channel to launch in India on Zee’s Dish TV

    MGM Channel to launch in India on Zee’s Dish TV

    MUMBAI: MGM Networks, a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., has announced a string of breakthrough distribution agreements in key Asian markets. The MGM Channel will roll out in India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

    Debuting this month, the MGM Channel will be available on Zee’s Dish TV platform.

    MGM Networks executive vice president Bruce Tuchman said, “We are very excited to begin our newest chapter in the booming Indian market with this launch. Having previously seeded demand in India through a co-owned, co-branded channel with Zee TV, we are now launching a wholly MGM-owned, exclusively MGM-branded network in order to more fully mine the opportunities abounding in this dynamic market.”

    In the Philippines, Sky Cable, the country’s largest MSO, has just commenced the roll out of The MGM Channel as part of its new digital “Platinum” package offering. In Vietnam and Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City Television and Phnom Penh Municipal Cable and Optical Television, respectively, have entered into distribution agreements with MGM Networks and recently introduced The MGM Channel to their customers.

    The MGM Channel’s launch into India and these new Southeast Asian markets are the latest milestones in an aggressive roll-out of the channel across Asia. Starting with its debut in South Korea in 2002, The MGM Channel followed up with a series of launches in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. MGM Networks also launched a second branded channel in South Korea, called MGM Plus, following the successful launch of its first Korean network.

    “Our success and growth in Asia mirrors our success and growth elsewhere around the world. Over the last five years, MGM has increased its channel interests from approximately 25 countries and territories in a handful of regions to over 110 across Europe, Latin American, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific Rim,” added Tuchman.

    In Southeast Asia/Greater China, The MGM Channel is produced and distributed by MGM Networks through a strategic alliance with CNBC Asia Pacific. In South Korea, the channel is operated through a joint venture with leading local media companies, Skylife and Taewon Entertainment.

  • TVHead licenses Tetris for interactive TV

    TVHead licenses Tetris for interactive TV

    MUMBAI: Capitalising on a truly global game phenomenon, TVHead has secured the worldwide interactive TV rights for Tetris – including cable, satellite and IPTV – through 2010. The games-on-demand television network will provide the game to cable and IPTV subscribers as part of its premium offerings.

    With its user-friendly interface and addictive appeal, Tetris is believed to be the world’s best selling electronic game, due to its wide availability on almost every modern computer and game system available.

    “Tetris is more than just a game… it’s a phenomenon with a level of consumer loyalty and awareness equal to top TV programs. Not only is Tetris the number one downloaded wireless game by a large margin, but it has also been incredibly successful on every other platform on which it has been introduced. We are thrilled at the opportunity to provide Tetris to TV audiences because television is the perfect casual games platform. By offering such a consumer-demanded blockbuster, TVHead enables operators to keep their game playing subscribers happy and in front of the TV,” said TVHead CEO and founder Sangita Verma

    TVHead will offer two versions of Tetris: Tetris Classic and Tetris Battle. In the classic Tetris puzzle game, players must clear horizontal rows to score points by creatively rotating and aligning falling blocks while the action accelerates with every move.

    Additionally, Tetris Classic will include high scores, multiplayer and advance play modes. Tetris Battle, a new multiplayer version currently in development, begins when a player submits his or her ‘best of’ game as a challenge to others. Competitors can then select to play against this game—being dealt the same pattern and speed of falling blocks—to see if they can best the score. Highest scores continue to move up the ranks with postings on leader boards and prizes for obtaining high-score benchmarks. Rankings span first local, then regional, and finally national status.

    TVHead is also working with Blue Planet Software Inc., the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for The Tetris Company, to create a consistent multi-platform game experience in which players are able to compete against each other using television and PCs.

  • Discovery to launch mobile, broadband channels in US

    Discovery to launch mobile, broadband channels in US

    MUMBAI: Today television content providers are looking to take advantage of new media platforms like the internet and mobile.

    Discovery in the US will launch Discovery Mobile for mobile video. It will also launch two new broadband channels, Discovery Channel Beyond and Travel Channel Beyond, for Internet users.

    Discovery Mobile will be a 24-hour mobile programming network featuring original content from Discovery’s core program genres. It will debut in the third quarter of 2006. The network’s content will consist of segments ranging in length from 30 seconds to four minutes, categorized into 20-minute blocks. Material will include made-for-mobile series, abbreviated versions of Discovery programs, never-before-seen footage, and user-generated content. The service is targeted to users 15-39.

    The two Internet channels will short-form programmes, as well as user-generated documentaries, over the Internet. TLC, Animal Planet and Discovery Health Channel will also launch on broadband in the coming months.