ITV

Category: Television

  • BBC scouting for partners in India for Hindi and Urdu news channel services

    BBC scouting for partners in India for Hindi and Urdu news channel services

    MUMBAI: The British Broadcasting Corporation is scouting for joint venture partners for launching television news channel services in Hindi and Urdu languages in India.

    “We are launching a 24-hour news channel in Arabic next year and we are looking at television services in Hindi and Urdu. They will be joint ventures,” BBC World Service business development manager Michel Lobelle told reporters in Colombo, according to news agency PTI report.

    The expansion of television saw a slight dip in radio listenership in India but, it is on the rise again with more people tuning into radios, he said.

    In India, the Corporation has already entered into partnership on various fronts such as magazine and radio. The BBC Worldwide owns 50 per cent of the Times of India’s magazines subsidiary including its selling titles, FilmFare and Femina. In August 2005, Top Gear magazine launched in India making it the first BBC magazine from the joint venture.

    On the radio front, the BBC Worldwide has partnered with Radio Mid-Day West (India) Private Ltd. The company has won bids for six cities including Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Pune.

    The Corporation also announced its rebroadcasting deal with Sri Lanka’s state-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) radio.

    The SLBC radio will rebroadcast nine hours of BBC programmes under the new deal, Lobelle said, adding that the deal provides an opportunity for Lankans to easily access BBC programmes through a network of FM channels.

  • Discovery Channel breaks the science fiction barrier with ‘Beyond Tomorrow’

    Discovery Channel breaks the science fiction barrier with ‘Beyond Tomorrow’

    Discovery Channel will showcase several such dream innovations that are destined to change human lives forever in its new and engaging programme BEYOND TOMORROW. The programme travels around the world for information on and demonstrations of far-reaching breakthroughs in a diverse range of fields – medicine, aviation, computers, space research, agriculture, transport, architecture, energy, environment, leisure and adventure.

    In an endeavour to bring the world’s attention to India’s untapped and abundant talent, Discovery Channel, in association with National Innovation Foundation, has juxtaposed Indian grassroots innovations along with the global technological breakthroughs and scientific advancements. So while the programme BEYOND TOMORROW will present stories on products like the Aquada, the next generation amphibian car from New Zealand which is as sleek on land as on water; the channel has produced a short film on Indian grassroots innovations like an amphibious bicycle, created by Mohammad Saidullah from Bihar – a conventional bicycle that can be modified to cross ponds and other water bodies and is extremely useful during floods.

    To showcase the immense talent present in the interiors of India like Motihari in Bihar, Kutch in Gujarat, Malappuram in Kerala, Discovery Channel has produced short films on the Indian grassroots innovators which it will air on the channel during the three-month long series.

    To generate a discussion on the progress, pace and potential of Indian science and innovations in the backdrop of the global examples, Discovery Channel will showcase the global and Indian innovations through a nationwide roadshow which will include a special address by some of India’s most eminent scientists and experts including: former UGC Chairman and Padmabhushan Prof. Yash Pal; Padmabhushan Dr. R A Mashelkar, Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the largest chain of publicly funded industrial research and development institutions in the world; Dr. A P Mitra, Honorary Scientist of Eminence, National Physical Laboratory and former Director General, CSIR; Prof. S Mohan, Chief Executive – Society for Innovation and Development, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Bakul Dholakia, Director, IIM-Ahmedabad and Prof. Anil Gupta, Executive Vice Chairperson, National Innovation Foundation.

    “I have always believed that ‘I’ in India should stand for Innovation. What is most gratifying for us is to see the extraordinary blend of innovations not only in high tech sectors, where CSIR is in the forefront, but also at the grassroots level, where Honey Bee Network and National Innovation Foundation (NIF) are the pioneers. Where else in the world, would an organization like NIF would exist, which has mobilized about 50,000 traditional knowledge practices and grassroot innovations from over 400 districts of the country? I have no doubt that India is poised to be a global leader in sustainable technologies, which will provide better living conditions not only for our people in India but also the people worldwide,” said Dr. R A Mashelkar, Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Chairman, National Innovation Foundation.

    Mr. Deepak Shourie, Managing Director, Discovery Networks India, said, “BEYOND TOMORROW breaks the science fiction barrier and looks further into the future to see what is now within the realms of possibility. The series is packed with amazing technological innovations and breakthrough scientific advancements destined to change the way we live. We will, for the first time ever, showcase the Indian potential providing them an ideal platform to communicate with the world. These grassroots innovators have no or little academic qualification or formal training but through their single-minded focus, unmatched passion and above all the ‘need’ have created unique products and solutions. Discovery Channel salutes their spirit of innovation.”

    IIM-A Prof. Anil Gupta and the Executive Vice Chairperson, National Innovation Foundation, said, “One resource in which economically poor people may be rich is their knowledge and innovative potential. Honey Bee Network started more than 17 years ago has created a new benchmark in the field of scouting, documentation, dissemination, value addition, protection of IPR and benefit sharing. SRISTI (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions, GIAN (Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network) and NIF (National Innovation Foundation) with help of other Honey Bee Network collaborators such as SEVA (Sustainable-agriculture & Environmental Voluntary Action), PRITVI (People Rewarding Initiatives in Technology, Value and Institutions), etc., have mobilised thousands of green grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge from around the country. Many of the innovators have got patent in US and also in India. The technologies have been commercialised not only within the country but also internationally. Journey from the grassroots to global is bound to provide model for India to become a creative, collaborative, and compassionate society sharing its innovations with disadvantaged people in the rest of the world.”

    BEYOND TOMORROW, an 18-episode series features more than 130 stories on the latest product and service innovations that are shaping the 21st century will premiere on Discovery Channel every day in the first week from February 20th to February 24th at 8 pm and thereafter will air once a week every Friday at 10 pm. The Indian innovations will be presented on the channel during the series and even beyond that.

    Some of the innovations included in BEYOND TOMORROW*
    Aquada: A next generation amphibian! Neither a boat nor a car, the Aquada is as sleek in the water as it is on land, combining the best principles of on-road design with streamlined aquatic performance.

    BIS Monitor: Being awake during an operation sounds like a scene from a horror film, but it’s a terrifying reality for victims of anesthesia awareness. This new device, for the first time, enables doctors to monitor a patient’s brainwaves during surgery and accurately determine the level of a patient’s consciousness under anesthesia.

    Future Shopping: The store uses pay-as-you-walk technology to tick off items as you put them in your computerised trolley. The trolley also acts as an in-store GPS, guiding you to products. It can even suggest recipes and then lead you to the ingredients!

    Hand Held Translator: The biggest difficulty for a traveller to a foreign country is to communicate in the local language. Whether it be reading a menu in Thailand, getting directions in Italy, or doing business in Paris, that headache can now be a thing of the past with the help of this technology which makes you multilingual.

    *more examples mentioned in the fact sheet

    Some of the Indian grassroots innovations that will be aired on the channel*
    Pedal Operated Washing Machine: This washing machine follows a “tumble wash” system which can be operated using a pedal system that has been developed using parts of a conventional bicycle. In rural areas, this electricity free washing machine can have enormous applications and simplify the lives of many. Ms. Remya Jose from Kerala.

    Amphibious Bicycle: A conventional cycle retrofitted to cross rivers, ponds and other water bodies. Now, you will have no obstacles in commuting during floods and in areas having high proportion of water coverage like the Kerala backwaters. Innovator: Mohammad Saidullah from Bihar.

    Scooter for the Handicapped: The innovator of this product, Dhanjibhai, is physically challenged. He has modified an existing scooter making it possible for the physically challenged to ride it. The scooter has the potential to become a treasured possession for the physically challenged. Innovator: Dhanjibhai Kerai from Gujarat.

    Tree Climber: A device which makes climbing high trunk trees like palm and coconut very simple and safe. Has a direct use in the maintenance of electric poles, street lights, etc. Innovator: Appachan from Kerala. *more examples mentioned in the fact sheet.

  • Classical pianist prodigy Lang Lang on CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’

    Classical pianist prodigy Lang Lang on CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’

    Airtimes: Indian Standard Times
    Saturday, February 11 at 09:30am, 20:00hrs, 22:30hrs
    Sunday, February 12 at 06:00am, 17:00hrs and 20:30hrs
    Monday, February 13 at 09:00am

     

    World renowned classical pianist Lang Lang joins Lorraine Hahn on this week’s Talk Asia. The 23-year-old has taken the musical world by storm, playing in front of presidents and world leaders, accumulating accolades and rave reviews for his performances in competitions and festivals.

     

    Lang Lang credits his early success partly to his parents while also recalling another influential, if unusual, musical inspiration: “I was watching Tom and Jerry, and one of the episodes they were playing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody number two. Tom was playing like a totally crazy cat! He is a crazy cat, but the way he played on that piano, I will never forget … flat fingering, fingers flying all over, that really inspired me a lot!”

     

    His performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall was especially memorable as he played a duet with his father, someone who had made numerous sacrifices to further his son’s talent and career. His father joined him at the end of the concert and played the Chinese classical stringed instrument the ehru. Lang Lang felt he was giving something back to his father, particularly so as all musicians aspire to play Carnegie Hall. And, when that involves playing a Chinese instrument, “…it’s far beyond dreams”.

     

    The young virtuoso suggests that classical music education is “…often very strict. So I think for kids, it’s not very healthy.” He suggests that instead budding musicians should treat music like art where “every piece has the fun part, the sad part, the beautiful part. But you should bring the joy from your heart and bring that out!”

     

    For more program information and details on upcoming guests on Talk Asia visit http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/talkasia/

     

    AIRTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

  • Raj TV to celebrate 75 years of Tamil Cinema

    Raj TV to celebrate 75 years of Tamil Cinema

    MUMBAI: Tamil television channel Raj TV is celebrating 75 years of Tamil cinema with a slew of programmes from 5 April to 19 June, including screening of 75 best films in the language. The first Tamil talkie, Kalidas, was released on 14 March in 1931.

    “We hold copy rights to nearly 2,000 films. We propose to telecast these 75 films as part of the celebrations,” Raj TV directors M Ravindran and M Raghunathan said.

    The channel is also planning a glittering star-studded award function to culminate the celebration phase. The event will be held in Chennai on 24 June, where 75 veteran contributors to Tamil cinema would be honoured.

    ‘Chitra’ Lakshman, film producer-director, who is also associated with the celebrations, said each year on March 14 awards would be given away in the name of late Nataraja Mudaliar, the man who was responsible for the first silent Tamil movie Keeshavadam.

    According to Lakshman, the channel will also institute an award of Rs 1,00,000 each to a dozen low budget movies in Tamil as an annual feature.

  • Sun TV to consolidate radio assets in Kal Radio, South Asia FM

    Sun TV to consolidate radio assets in Kal Radio, South Asia FM

    MUMBAI: Sun TV is transferring the existing licenses of its operational radio stations to the subsidiary companies – Kal Radio Ltd and South Asia FM Ltd.

    The company has applied to the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) for approval. The plan is to consolidate Sun’s FM radio assets in Kal Radio and South Asia FM, the two subsidiaries who have bid for licenses under Phase II of FM radio expansion.

    Sun’s existing FM radio operations are in four cities. Suryan FM has licenses and operates in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. Udaya TV Pvt Ltd. operates Vishaka FM in Visakhapatnam and has also applied to the MIB for the transfer of the license to Kal Radio.

    Some analysts expect radio operations to contribute to 20 per cent of Sun’s total revenues by FY 2008. Suryan FM generated 9.3 per cent and 8.8 per cent of the total advertising income of Sun TV for fiscal 2005 and nine months ended 31 December 2005. Suryan FM was launched in Coimbatore and Tirunelveli in March and in Chennai in May 2003.

    Sun TV is using the radio vehicle to expand to language markets other than Tamil and Malayalam. It plans to set up and operationalise FM radio stations in 41 cities across the country. Kal Radio has bid for stations like Bangalore and Hyderabad in the southern region while South Asia will operate in the other markets including cities like Pune, Ahmedabad and Allahabad.

    Sun TV will use a major chunk of the proceeds from the initial public offering (IPO) to capitalise the radio business. The company aims to raise Rs 6.03 billion at the top end of the price band at Rs 875 per share.

    Kal and South Asia FM would require an approximate of Rs 1.83 billion towards acquisition of broadcasting equipement (FM transmitters, FM antennas, payment of common infrastructure), setting up of local offices and radio studios. Besides, the inter-corporate deposits provided to the subsidiaries for bidding in Phase II amounted to around Rs 1.55 billion.

    The public issue opens on 3 April and will close on 7 April.

    Sun TV owns 89 per cent in Kal Radio and 94.91 per cent in South Asia FM. Promoter Kalanithi Maran holds 10.5 per cent in Kal Radio and 5.1 per cent in South Asia FM.

  • BCCI awards ground rights for Abu Dhabi Series to PDM International

    BCCI awards ground rights for Abu Dhabi Series to PDM International

    MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has awarded PDM International the contract for ground rights for the Indo-Pak Friendship Series to be held in Abu Dhabi. PDM bid $ 3.61 million for the rights, outbidding Abu Dhabi Cricket Club with a slim margin.

    The one-day series will be held on 18 and 19 April. The third participant in the bidding, Nimbus, was disqualified for not fulfilling the Tender conditions.

    BCCI Marketing Sub Committee VP & chairman Lalit Modi said, ”it is good to see corporates interested in associating with this series and more importantly the cause for which it is being played. Out of the three companies that submitted the ground rights tender, the BCCI Marketing Sub Committee awarded the rights to PDM International that had the requisite qualifications and experience as per the conditions listed in the Invitation to Tender. We now look forward to a positive and lasting association with them”.

    These matches are being played for the earthquake relief victims that affected millions of people in the subcontinent. 75 per cent of the proceeds will go to Pakistan, while 25 per cent of the proceeds will go to India. The India and Pakistan players have also agreed to waive their match fees towards this cause.

    Announcing the development, PDM International MD & CEO Sanjay Lal said, “We launched PDM India with a focused objective and today we have made our first step towards achieving this objective. We completely support this cause and deeply relate to it. We are happy to contribute in our own way by attaining the rights to this series. We will be announcing the title sponsor along with the other on-ground partners shortly.”

    Billed as the ‘Friendship Series’, this will be the first time in nearly eight years that India and Pakistan will play in a bilateral series on a neutral venue. BCCI & PCB have decided to play 15-25 games over the next 5 years at a neutral venue and these are the first 2 ties to be played, states an official release.

    There are a large number of expatriates in the UAE and they will be treated to an Indo-Pak cricket affair after nearly 6 years. These matches will be played at the Zayed stadium, which boasts of state-of-the-art facilities and a capacity of 18,000 spectators.

    PDM has been in the sports and entertainment arena since 1995 and have already made their mark in the subcontinent. They have worked very closely with organizations like Levers, Sahara P&G, Airtel and Hero Honda. In the past year, PDM entered the International arena and have worked in countries like the US, UK and UAE. This development signals the entry of PDM into the big league, the release adds.

  • GRB Entertainment is all set to ‘Rumble’

    GRB Entertainment is all set to ‘Rumble’

    MUMBAI: Continuing its move into the scripted world of dramatic series, GRB Entertainment has signed a deal with screenwriter John Milius for a new one-hour dramatic series entitled Rumble.

    Rumble is loosely based on the life and bestselling book of Chuck Zito, the former president of the New York City Hells Angels who rose to become one of the most famous Hells Angels in their history. Zito will serve as executive producer and story consultant for the series.

    GRB Entertainment plans to take the project out in the next 2-3 months and is offering the series at next week’s television event MIPTV in Cannes, France. It is looking to secure a co-production deal with a European partner.
    Milius says, “I have always been fascinated with motorcycle gangs having grown up around them and if I had not been a surfer, I would have been a biker. The biker image is shrouded with mystery, fear, and admiration and the outlaw biker gang is an authentic international counter culture that has lasted a long, long time. This series will tell all.²

    Set in the volatile streets of New York City, Rumble follows the life of Johnny Ringo, a tough, take-no prisoners, brute of a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Loosely based on a true story, this gritty series chronicles Ringo’s reign as he assumes the presidency of the largest and most ruthless biker gang in the world.

    Milius created and served as the executive producer on HBO’s series Rome.

  • American Idol judge Paula Abdul signs new multi year deal

    American Idol judge Paula Abdul signs new multi year deal

    MUMBAI: Pop star Paula Abdul has agreed to continue her role as a fan-favourite judge on US broadcaster Fox’s show American Idol for at least three more years

    Fox Entertainment president Peter Ligouri says, “Paula is an integral member of the Amerian Idol family, and we are excited to have her continue as the show’s beloved judge. As someone who rose to the top of the charts as a solo artist, she has unique insights into the contestants’ hopes, dreams and fears.”

    In India, the show airs on Star World. Fox executive VP special programming Mike Darnell says, “Paula’s warm and nurturing nature is vital to the balance of the show. We are thrilled to have her alongside – or actually in between – Randy and Simon”.

    Abdul said, “It is truly an honour to be a part of the American Idol phenomenon. As an artist myself, it is a pleasure to have a connection with each of the contestants and be able to fully support their dreams and aspirations. They truly inspire and amaze me each week. Of course, I also look forward to putting Simon in his place for years to come.”

  • UK study highlights the need for more innovative TV on mobile phones

    UK study highlights the need for more innovative TV on mobile phones

    MUMBAI: The results of a new study, Mobile TV – Attitudes to Broadcast on Mobile, confirms the need for broadcast and entertainment brands to work harder to tailor their content to mobile phones.

    The qualitative study by Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcast) and digital media research agency, iBurbia, aimed to research consumer attitudes to specially made or tailored mobile content compared to TV streamed to mobile phones.

    The findings suggested that full length programming on mobile is not as popular as made for mobile TV because screen sizes are too small, opportunities to watch full length programmes on-the-go are rare and subjects preferred to watch full-length programming on the TV.

    iBurbia’s Omar Bakhshi says, “We talked with a broad range of people in this study and there was significant interest in concepts that complemented TV viewing with extra and exclusive content on mobile phones. But, the content had to be sufficiently compelling to be worth the effort and there is a fear of billing abuse, meaning that cost needs to be made clear”.

    The results have also suggested that the most effective way to market mobile TV will be using on-screen prompts within related television shows. The most successful mobile TV will also be of the right quality to work on a mobile screen and targeted to a specific audience. Participants in the study found that, on the smallest of mobile screens, any content over three minutes was too long and anything over one pound was too expensive.

    The recent Oxford trials confirmed that there is an appetite for mobile TV, but this research highlights how ‘TV’ for mobile is wildly different from the ‘TV’ of linear broadcasting. New rules for advertising, navigating and entertaining apply. We worked with iBurbia to find out what viewers really want to watch on their mobile phones. Red Bee Media has built a successful business in understanding consumers’ needs in order to create and tailor content and communicaton for multiple platforms and formats.

    Red Bee Media business director new creative content Catriona Tate says, “The results point towards the mobile TV market being driven in the short term by advertiser funded content and mobile video that compliments or promotes TV programmes”.

    The qualitative study was produced by iBurbia in its interactive media research centre in West London. It included six focus groups – two groups made up of people aged 16-25, three 26-40 and one 41-60. One of these groups consisted of ‘gadget’ users (26-40 age group), the rest only having freeview TV at home and mostly using their mobile phones just for calls.

    The subjects were shown content specially made for mobile on mobile handsets that was created by Red Bee Media. The content included a sport clip, comedy clip, one minute mobidrama, advertiser funded programme, interview with football manager and reality TV clip. As a comparison, subjects were also shown a full length High Definition programme on a PSP (portable Play Station) and a Freeview channel streamed live to a mobile phone.

  • ‘Rainbow’ voted best children’s TV show in UK

    ‘Rainbow’ voted best children’s TV show in UK

    MUMBAI: A survey conducted by BBC Worldwide in the UK to celebrate the launch of the new CBeebies Weekly pre-school magazine, takes a nostalgic look at the favourite kids programmes of yesteryear.

    George, Zippy and Bungle came out soaring up above the roofs and houses as Rainbow was voted number one show most fondly remembered from early childhood (3-6 years old). The show aired in the UK from 1972 to 1992. It was a children’s puppet programme featuring music and stories.

    The study confirms that they are still as cherished as today’s the Teletubbies, Tweenies and Charlie & Lola, all featured in the new weekly magazine.

    1000 people took part in the Omnibus survey, which asked 25-45 years old to take a trip down memory lane and select their favourite kids programme of all time.

    The Magic Roundabout with Zebedee, Ermintrude and Dougal came in a close second, and as if by magic, bowler-hatted Mr Benn and his costumed world of adventures grabbed joint third position with Little Ted, Big Ted, Jemima and Humpty still holding a firm place in Play Schoolers’ hearts. Slumbering Bagpuss came in at number five.