ITV

Category: Television

  • ‘The Simpsons’ to have live title sequence

    ‘The Simpsons’ to have live title sequence

    MUMBAI: A live-action main title sequence of The Simpsons will be unveiled on 26 March on US broadcaster Fox.

    The live-action show opening is a homage to American television’s longest-running sitcom. From the Simpsons parting through the clouds to the infamous Bart writing on the chalkboard, Homer pulling the nuclear rod out of his shirt, Maggie scanned at the supermarket and the always-anticipated ‘couch gag’ conclusion, the live-action opening mirrors each element of the animated sequence.

    The greatest attention to detail was paid in this recreation by a British team, as conceived and commissioned by the UK network Sky One. From wardrobe to location settings to character mannerisms, it’s all translated with uncanny accuracy via real, flesh-and-blood actors.

    The show’s executive producer Al Jean says, “I am just amazed there are people who want to be known for looking like the Simpsons.”

    The centerpiece of Sky One’s new Simpsons campaign in the UK, the short will make its American debut in the all-new episode, Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife guest-starring yet another British import, Ricky Gervais. In the episode, Homer’s obsession with Lenny’s new plasma TV causes Marge to enter the family in a sweepstakes, where they win a prize to the Fox studio lot.

    Against Marge’s judgment, Homer signs the family up for a “Trading Spouses”-type show and is forced to take in a controlling wife, while Marge moves in with a beaten-down husband, Charlie (guest star Gervais), and his perfect son. Charlie quickly develops a crush on Marge, while she’s just trying to give him the strength to stand up to his own wife.

  • Sun TV sets IPO price band at Rs 730-875

    Sun TV sets IPO price band at Rs 730-875

    MUMBAI: Sun TV has fixed the price band of its initial public offering (IPO) at Rs 730 to 875 per share. The issue will open for subscription on 3 April and close on 7 April.

    The company aims to raise Rs 6.03 billion at the top end of the price band. Sun TV will offer a fresh equity issue of 68,89,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each for cash, to be made entirely through the book building route.

    The issue will constitute 10 per cent of the fully diluted post issue paid-up capital of the company. Following the issue, the shareholding of Sun TV Ltd principal promoter Kalanithi Maran will reduce to 89.99 per cent from 99.99 per cent (61,999,969 shares).

    The company has mandated Kotak Mahindra Capital Company and DSP Merril Lynch for the issue. The proceeds of the issue will be used to beef up its subsidiaries, launch more television channels and construct its own corporate office. Investments will also be made in setting up studio facilities and up-linking infrastructure, purchasing new equipment and upgrading the existing ones.

    Sun TV Ltd is part of the Sun Network, which runs 14 TV channels, four FM Radio stations, two daily newspapers and four magazines. Sun TV Ltd comprises four Tamil channels — Sun TV, Sun Music, KTV and Sun News — and two Malayalam channels — Surya TV and Kiran TV.

  • FremantleMedia launches ‘The X Factor’ in the Middle East

    FremantleMedia launches ‘The X Factor’ in the Middle East

    MUMBAI: Format creator and production firm FremantleMedia has announced that it is launching a local version of The X Factor in the Middle East.

    The X Factor, XSeer Al Najah (The X Factor, The Essence of Success) will be produced by Lebanese production company Studiovision and will premiere on 26 March on music channel Rotana TV, culminating in the grand finale on 4 June.

    The 14 episode series will be broadcast in 22 Arabic speaking countries. Global interactive digital broadcaster Cellcast will handle telephony and will be responsible for mobile content across all 22 countries.

    FremantleMedia regional manager, Middle East and North Africa Isabelle Garcia said, “We are really excited about bringing this format to the Middle East. Not only do we have fantastic judges with great backgrounds but also the acts coming forward are something the Arabian public has never seen before.”

    FremantleMedia adds that thousands of hopefuls with dreams of becoming the next Arabic singing sensation have turned up to perform at auditions in The Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, Egypt, Dubai and Tunisia. Judging the talent are Michel Elefteriades, owner of the celebrated Music Hall in Beirut; Nelly from Egypt, a performer in both the acting and singing fields and Khaled El Sheikh, a Bahraini producer and composer. Following in the footsteps of the UK production, the three categories will comprise younger and older contestants and groups.

    The X Factor has been broadcast in five territories to date: the UK, Belgium, Colombia, Australia and Russia. In the UK, series two of The X Factor attracted audiences of up to 10 million and was voted the most popular entertainment programme of 2005 at the National Television Awards. The second series achieves shares of up to 60 per cent for all individuals, 91 per cent above the broadcaster’s primetime average.

  • Dic Entertainment debuts new animated TV series ‘Horseland’ at MipTV

    Dic Entertainment debuts new animated TV series ‘Horseland’ at MipTV

    MUMBAI: Dic Entertainment (Dic) will debut an all-new, adventure-driven animated series, Horseland, at MipTV 2006. The announcement was made by Dic Entertainment chairman and CEO Andy Heyward.

    Horseland, which is currently in production on 26 half-hour episodes, is based on the world’s premiere web community for horse lovers, www.horseland.com, on which kids can interactively buy, sell, breed and train virtual horses, and compete with themselves and each other.

    Featuring CGI and traditional animation, Dic will also debut the series in the US this August as part of the new CBS branded kids programming block, CBS’s Secret Saturday Morning Slumber Party.

    Dic currently plans to synchronise the interaction between the Horseland series and the website for maximum synergy with each character having their own personal page on the site, allowing users to interact with the characters and animals from the series. Additionally, players will be able to watch past episodes as streaming video and may submit story ideas. Dic is currently also developing a unique entertainment and consumer products program for the property that will incorporate Dic’s signature “360 Degree” approach to brand building.

    “Our goal is to tap into girl’s love of horses, the outdoors and adventure with this new television series that will extend the experience beyond the web community. We are thrilled to launch Horseland at MIP-TV, and look forward to working with our broadcast partners to make it a global success,” said Heyward.

    Horseland is set in the greatest stable ever, where kids and their horses compete and have adventures, and the horses and other animals can talk to each other – about the humans! In this new series, virtual reality horses come together with action adventure storylines.

    The episodes follow the relationships of five girls and two boys who have become fast friends trough their love of horses. Each episode features themes that deal with issues such as compassion, honesty, cooperation—both human and equine. But, like all friends, they occasionally have conflicts too.

    Each character owns a unique horse, and the horses and stable dogs can talk to each other. All of the horses will be rendered very faithfully to their breeds, with precise, accurate depictions of training, grooming, riding and competition.

  • Sky confirms HDTV launch in May

    Sky confirms HDTV launch in May

    MUMBAI: Sky has confirmed that the first installations of BSkyB’s new high-definition service, Sky HD, are scheduled to begin in May, in time for a raft of major sporting events. The announcement comes a day after the BBC confirmed it would start its HDTV trial in time for the World Cup.

    Customers will have to acquire the Sky HD box for £299, with a monthly charge of £10 in addition to their Sky digital subscription, currently between £15 and £42.50 a month.

    Sky’s director of product strategy and management Brian Sullivan commented, “Sky is just weeks away from an exciting new era that will transform the television viewing experience. Sky HD customers will be able to enjoy stunning picture and sound quality from the widest range of HD channels in the UK and Ireland. We’re delighted that the BBC has said that its HD coverage of the World Cup will be available to all customers with a Sky HD box as a non-subscription channel.”

    The initial Sky HD line-up will consist of seven channels, which includes Sky Sports HD with live Barclays Premiership football, Guinness Premiership Rugby coverage, Coca-Cola League, Carling Cup football matches and England’s home tests and one day cricket internationals.

    Sky Movies HD and Sky Box Office HD also includes movies like Kill Bill: Vol 1, Spider-Man 2 and Big Fish; Sky One, providing 24 and Rescue Me, among others, in HD.

    The HD package will also have arts programming including remastered footage of Jimi Hendrix’s performance at the Isle of Wight Festival, Sky One shows including 24, and Discovery and National Geographic programmes. Other BBC programmes to feature in its trial include natural history series Planet Earth and Galapagos, and forthcoming drama documentary Hannibal.

    The date of transmission has not been announced. HDTV provides a sharper, clearer and more colourful image than standard TV. BBC will make its HD World Cup coverage available to all viewers with a Sky HD box on a non-subscription channel.

    BBC announced this week that the coverage forms part of an HDTV trial and will be an extra stream alongside conventional analogue and digital broadcasts.

    Cable company Telewest launched the UK’s first high-definition television service earlier this month, though the service is currently limited to programmes made by BBC Worldwide. Sky estimates that 2.1 million HD TVs will have been sold in the UK by the end of the 2006, compared with 700,000 at the end of 2005

  • Convergence Committee says content should be brought under Broadcasting Bill

    Convergence Committee says content should be brought under Broadcasting Bill

    The Sub-Group on Convergence headed by senior legal professional Fali Nariman, in its interim report, has recommended that so far as content of information is concerned, it is to be dealt with in the new Broadcasting Bill. Since Webcasting was not covered in the existing IT Bill of 1999, it suggests that the proposed Broadcasting Bill willl have to be revised to reflect advances and developnment of technology and internet which has made Webcasting possible.

    It has recommended that the structural framework of the 1885 Indian Telegraph Act be retained as the New Telecom Policy has said that carriage of information should be left as open as possible. Any act should be enabling and it has suggested that a new Telecommunications Act be drawn up for the convergence era while the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 be repealed.

    The sub-group has obtained views from consumers, industry, bulk users, security agencies and private telecom players during discussions with Department of Telecommunications. At the end of it all, the subgroup has defined who has the power to establish and maintain telecom, the obligations of service providers, the right of way, message interception, and dispute settlements.

    The report claims to have been influenced by the major events taken place following the announcement of New Telecom Policy NTP, 1999 which includes the firm resolve of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to introduce a Broadcasting Bill in the next session of Parliament. The Bill will be on the lines of the Broadcasting Bill of 1997 which had lapsed on account of dissolution of Lok Sabha. Substantial ammendments will be made in the new bill to cover the entire content aspect of broadcasting including provisions for setting up of a seperate regulatory Authority.

  • Kids’ channels line up hot fanfare as summer beckons

    Kids’ channels line up hot fanfare as summer beckons

    MUMBAI: Summer is just around the corner and no doubt kids’ channels have a lot of programming goodies up their sleeves. Movies, live action, animation, contests and much more… it’s all there on Cartoon Network, Pogo, Hungama TV, Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Nick.

    What’s more… comedy seems to be the flavour for the holidays with Pogo, Hungama TV and Nick introducing special comedy shows for the summer.

    Pogo started its summer special programming with Pogo Funny Side-Up, featuring new episodes of Takeshi’s Castle, voiced by some of the winners of the Great Indian Laughter Challenge show.

    Pogo will also launch another new original, live-action production on Pogo following our two summer launches last year, M.A.D. and Bam! Bam! Bam!… Gir Pade Hum.

    On the other hand, Cartoon Network will see the launch of more Indian animation shows and a network premiere of a Beyblade full length movie – Beyblade, The Movie: Fierce Battle in Cartoon Network Theatre.

    Other highlights include, Beylade Marathon – 3…2…1 Hojaye Shuru, which will air every Sunday from 4 – 8 pm. Apart from that, Raja Hindustani – a special one hour block of Indian animation – began on the channel from 16 April and airs every Sunday at 11 am.

    Also new episodes of Tom & Jerry Tales will be aired on Sundays at 10 am. The new series in the Toonami block include Pokemon: Advanced, Beyblade G Revolution and a new show called One Piece. Yet another new show in the Half Ticket Express block called Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs will also be aired in summer.

    Turner International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman Misra said, “Summer is an important time for Cartoon Network and Pogo. We have some of the best programming mix lined up for Indian kids during these holiday months. New original productions, new family shows and blockbuster movies will mark their debut during the April – July period.”

    Homegrown kids channel Hungama TV too has a robust summer lineup in store for kids. The channel has acquired a couple of Japanese animation shows.

    In March, the channel already launched Dragon and FiFi & the Flower Tots in the pre-school band. The preschool band has now been renamed Toon Toon Toon.

    The other two bands that the channel will introduce are the Toon Blast band and a two and a half hour comedy band called Ha Ha Ha Hungama.

    The Toon Blast band will air new seasons of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Sonix X. In addition Hungama TV will launch the anime version of one of the most successful Japanese merchandise Amdriver, which has a futuristic storyline of a fight of good v/s evil. Yu-Gi-Oh! will air at 5 pm, Amdriver at 5.30 pm and Sonic X at 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

    The Ha Ha Ha Hungama band will tickle the funny bone with a new show Kochikame at 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday. “This show is the longest running hilarious slapstick comedy in Japan about an inefficient cop who is good in his heart but otherwise is good for nothing,” informs Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta.

    Another show called Peep and the Big Wide World will also be launched in this band and will air at 3 pm from Monday to Friday. This is a series featuring three birds – a chicken called Peep, a robin called Chirp and a duck called Quack. The story revolves around close friends and their fun and exploration in their neighborhood. Apart from unique humor it also imbibes a positive attitude and inquiry skills that promise to provide inspirational programming for kids.

    “We have always managed to get the best of content for our audience. The shows that are due to launch in April have truly delightful visual appeal offering kids a 360-degree entertainment parameter that will definitely make their vacation a roll-a- costar ride at home,” says Mehta.

    And that’s not all… Hungama TV is also planning a large scale ground event to coincide with a big show launch. But the channel is keeping it tightly under wraps for now at least!

    Coming to Disney Channel, one thing to look out for here is the Oscar-winning ‘fishy’ movie Finding Nemo. The channel will premier the movie in Hindi on 25 June. The film follows the comedic and eventful journeys of two fish – Marlin and his son Nemo. Disney Channel will go the whole hog to promote Finding Nemo including a watch-and-win contest around movie trivia, which will be aired during breaks. Viewers can send in their entries through SMS and IVRS to win cool Nemo merchandise.

    Apart from that, the channel will also air the first Indian animation movie – Hanuman, to which it recently acquired the telecast rights for three years from Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd. Hanuman will launch in May on Disney Channel as an eight episode series and will be aired at 9 am on weekends.

    What’s more, the channel will build a 360 degree multi media campaign around all new episodes of That’s So Raven!. On 15 April, Hatim – the saga of a strong and courageous Prince of Yemen will launch on Disney Channel at 6 pm on weekdays.

    Apart from that, the preschool content destination, Playhouse Disney is being further strengthened with the launch of Mickey Mouse Club House. The show will launch on 6 May at 8.30 am on weekends.

    The Walt Disney Television International (India) director programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya says, “This summer we have an exciting line-up of content for kids. We believe in showcasing a mix of the best local kid’s content and the best international content from the Disney stable. Hits like Hanuman, Finding Nemo and That’s So Raven will draw older kids to Disney Channel.”

    Live action, preschool programming and comedy will rule the roost on Nick. The first in line is a live action comedy show called Drake & Josh. The show revolves around a pair of diametrically opposite step-brothers and will premiere as part of an April Fool’s Day stunt on 1 April.

    Another new show Avatar will be launched in May. This new animated show is about a 12 year old boy who is master of all four elements and must stop the ruthless Fire Nation from conquering the world.

    Nick has also acquired a couple of preschool shows called Peppa Pig and Dougie in Disguise, which will also launch in May. While Peppa Pig revolves around a family of pigs, the Spanish acquisition Dougie in Disguise is about an ordinary kid who plays with sticker albums that come to life through his imagination. Apart from these, Nick has also lined up another new preschool show in June.

    “Summer vacations will be huge on Nick with an enormous programming bonanza rolling out. Starting 1 April, we’re premiering a show called Drake & Josh, which is a live action comedy and also showing a Nick Dhoom double bill on weekends featuring a whole hour of top shows,” says Nick India vice president and general manager Hema Govindan.

    Speaking on the preschool shows Govindan adds, “Preschool is doing very well and becoming a focus for us so we’re expanding our Nick Jr. preschool block. We’re also doing Monday Marathons of hit shows like Kenan & Kel and SpongeBob SquarePants, which means eight hours at a stretch of these shows.”

  • Zee sets 1 May deadline for DTO

    Zee sets 1 May deadline for DTO

    Zee Telefilms is expected to launch its direct to operator (DTO) bouquet on 1 May. It was earlier slated to introduce the bouquet last year but could not meet its set deadline.

    The management has announced that it has achieved a good response from the marketplace for its new channels – Zee Movies and Zee English.

    It claims the sale of 1,100 decoders for Zee English and Zee Movies. Already 550 agreements have been signed. This figure excludes 140 decoders which have been distributed to 70 odd SitiCable MSOs. Zee sources claim to have signed on seven sub-operators of the rival cable network In CableNet in Mumbai for the two channels. More cable ops are being negotiated with and Zee claims to have achieved a penetration of 2.6 million cable homes. Zee English and Zee Movies have set a target of seven million cable TV homes and are confident of reaching the astronomical figure within three to six months.

    The advantage Zee possesses is the lower-priced Philips’ decoders. The sale price of Rs 12,500 stands just a couple of thousands above the deposit price of HBO’s decoders which stands at Rs 10,000. Zee is also offering decoders at a deposit of Rs 2,000. Zee has placed an order for 40,000 decoders for its seven channel bouquet. According to senior level sources the Philips boxes have been selected because they can be upgradeable easily for convergence.

  • Ficci conference ends

    Ficci conference ends

    The Ficci’s International Conference on The Business of Entertainment ended today with a concluding speech by Tapan Sikdar, the Minister of Communications.

    Earlier in the day, discussions were held on the content aspect of the entertainment industry. The session was headed by the noted film maker Shyam Benegal. The next session covered the film production and marketing, and the international status and presence of Indian films abroad. The internationally acclaimed director and the maker of the Oscar winning film “Elizabeth” spoke about issues involved about Indian films in the international market. Before this Harish Thawani, chief of Nimbus Communications projected his views about the television and film sector. He displayed his views about importance of synergy between the television and the film industry. The session enlightened the audience about the need of marketing of Indian films and globalising the industry.

    The post lunch session was about the music industry in India. It covered issues from piracy, internet, IPR, radio and the general scenario of music industry in India. The concluding session was about convergence and the regulatory framework to enable it in India. The session was headed by the Nasscom chief Dewang Mehta and the panel of speakers included Sony Entertainment Television chief Kunal Dasgupta, MTV India chief Alex Kuruvilla, MD Modi Entertainment Network MD Ajay Nijawhan and UTV head Ronnie Screwvala. The session demanded a clear and comprehensive regulatory policy for the success of convergence in India which is a entertainment software heaven.

    The effort by the Ficci was quite admirable as it enlightened quite a few and brought the whole entertainment industry together.

  • ADAE to create radio division named Adlabs Radio Pvt Ltd

    ADAE to create radio division named Adlabs Radio Pvt Ltd

    MUMBAI: Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises (ADAE) has finally created a radio division for its FM radio foray and has sought government clearance for the same.

    The radio division of Adlabs Films, which bagged FM radio licences in several cities of India and is one of the bigger players in the arena, will be called Adlabs Radio Pvt Ltd.

    However, a brand name under which Adlabs Radio will run the FM radio services has not been decided yet.

    According to sources in the information and broadcasting ministry, the proposal is “under routine examination”.

    Adlabs Radio Pvt Ltd is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) created by ADAE for its radio business, while the corporate entity and the official licencee continues to be Adlabs Films Ltd.

    The SPV has been created for a focussed approach on the radio business as Adlabs Films concentrates more on the business of running multiplexes and post-production film facilities.

    Under the licencing agreement, licences are not transferable after being formally awarded to a company.

    In the recently-concluded bidding process for FM licences, the government has allowed foreign investment up to 20 per cent in radio ventures, but such deals had to be concluded before the bids were opened in the first week of February.

    Moreover, no change in shareholding pattern is allowed, under the guidelines, for the first five years of the 10-year licence period.

    The Anil Ambani controlled Adlabs Films has won 57 frequencies across the country, but had to surrender 12 stations to adhere to another norm, which mandates no single company can own more than 15 per cent of the total number of frequencies put up for sale throughout the country.

    Adlabs Films’ scrip opened on Wednesday at Rs 403 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and touched a high of Rs 409 and a low of Rs 395 during the trading day.