ITV

Category: Television

  • Shemaroo anti-piracy raids yields Rs 3 million booty

    Shemaroo anti-piracy raids yields Rs 3 million booty

    MUMBAI: Home video major Shemaroo continues its fight against the biggest threat to its business – piracy. In two separate anti-piracy raids conducted at Mira Road and Bandra a few days ago, the vigilance team of Shemaroo Video seized pirated VCDs and DVDs worth over Rs 3.1 million.

    The first raid at Vajreshwari Music Center in Mira Road yielded a haul of 2000 pirated VCDs / DVDs, DVD players, DVD Writers and a television. This also included 23 master copies of various films – these being the copies from which “replication” is possible. Replication is the act of making copies without loss of data and quality. Generally, pirated master copies already have a bad quality, resulting in poor copies that could damage players.

    The second raid was conducted at the three stalls outside Bandra Railway station. Stalls outside railway stations in Mumbai are notorious for pirated Audio and Video CDs and this comes as an effort from Shemaroo to curb piracy at the point of sale.

    Rs 2.2 million worth pirated goods were seized from these stalls, which included over 4000 DVDs. Senior PI Kadri, PSI Pednekar conducted the raid and were instrumental in making the raid possible because of their timely action. One Aftab Alam Ansari was arrested.

    Shemaroo VP Hiren Gada said, “Piracy is taking up almost 90 per cent of the market in home video sales. It is very important that the Industry joins hands to curb this menace so that everyone in the movie business can reap true benefits of their efforts.”

    The Shemaroo anti-piracy team carries out various vigilance activities gathering information, surveillance and warning the pirates. The team also gives information about dealing in legitimate products and educates on the consequences of dealing in pirated video products. Only when they cease to heed to all the warnings that Shemaroo raids the outlet and takes action against the pirates.

    Having an end-to-end objective in mind, Shemaroo says that it believes that fighting anti-piracy will gradually increase the legitimate home video market. Increased revenues can be shared with other people involved in the entertainment industry, which will also help the government get more taxes bringing a decrease in the black economy.

  • Salah Negm is BBC Arabic TV editor

    Salah Negm is BBC Arabic TV editor

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC’s division BBC World Service has appointed Salah Negm as news editor for its Arabic television service which will be launched next year.

    He was a BBC programme editor, and is currently Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) GM in Dubai. His wide editorial and management experience in the region also includes working as director of news after the launch of the Al Arabiyah satellite channel and roles with the satellite broadcaster, Al Jazeera.

    He says, “I am very excited about re-joining the BBC to help launch and run its Arabic TV service. It is the best job in broadcasting for me – a chance to use my experience as a journalist to offer a television audience throughout the Middle East, a news and information service in Arabic informed by the BBC values of accuracy, independence and impartiality. I don’t underestimate the challenge – or the competition in a crowded media market-place.

    “But BBC Arabic will be the only major international news provider in the Middle East offering a service in Arabic across television, radio and online – sharing views and perspectives across the region and the wider world with access to unrivalled resources for gathering and analysing news which will have wide appeal.”

    BBC World Service head of Africa and the Middle East Jerry Timmins said, “Salah Negm is a well known journalist with a long and distinguished track record. He is committed to the values which have won the BBC huge respect in the Middle East.”

    BBC World Service director Nigel Chapman says, “Salah is joining a powerful team who will lead this channel to success. We are fortunate to have someone of his calibre and track record who understands both the competitive market in which our Arabic TV service will operate – and the core BBC values which will underpin the new service.”

    The BBC World Service Arabic TV service will be the first publicly-funded international television service launched by the BBC. International and major regional issues will be covered along with multi-media discussion programmes and debates in conjunction with the BBC’s Arabic radio and online services.

    BBC Arabic will be the only major international news provider in the Middle East offering a service in Arabic across television, radio and online – sharing views and perspectives across the region and the wider world. Recent research from seven capital cities across the Middle East indicates that between 80 and 90 per cent of those surveyed are likely to watch an Arabic Television service from the BBC.

    It will draw on 68 years of BBC experience covering the Middle East in Arabic – supported by its global newsgathering operation: 250 news correspondents reporting from 50 bureaux allowing a global rather than purely regional perspective.

  • Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 award winners announced; MBC Creative Services win 13 award

    Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 award winners announced; MBC Creative Services win 13 award

    MUMBAI: UAE’s MBC Creative Services, Showtime and Dubai Media Incorporated bagged the most number of awards in the second annual Promax/BDA Arabia Awards.

    MBC Creative Services picked up 13 awards, Showtime bagged 10 and Dubai Media won eight.
     

    Presented at the culmination of the Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 conference on 15 March in Dubai, the awards celebrate works of excellence in promotion, marketing and broadcast design aired, published or distributed in Arabia between 1 April 2005 and 1 January 2006.

    Gold and Silver Muse Awards are presented in the promotional award categories and Gold and Silver Isis Awards are presented in the broadcast design categories.
     
    Promax/BDA EMEA senior vice president and managing director Carmen Alzner said, “We were excited by the unprecedented number of submissions for just our second year of the Promax/BDA Arabia Awards, knowing that it broadened the scope of potential winning projects, and we weren’t disappointed. All of us at Promax/BDA continue to be inspired and uplifted by the enthusiasm and camaraderie that our colleagues in this region bring to both the conference and the awards ceremony and look forward to our return next year.”
     

    The big winner of the night was the UAE’s MBC Creative Services, picking up 13 awards (six Muse and seven Isis) in categories such as Best Program Promotion (MBC4’s Live 8 Our Defining Moment), two wins in the Best Film Promo for MBC2’s High Crimes and Silence of the Lambs, Best Children’s Promo for BC2’s Tom & Jerry, two Best News Factual or Factual Entertainment Promo for Al Arabiya’s Quantanamo Bay and Arab Thought Foundation, Best Use of Music and Sound Design for MBC2’s My Name Is…, Best Copy/Script Writing for MBC1’s The Hard Way, Best On Air Branding for MBC1’s channel branding, two Best On Air Ident awards for MBC1’s Chairs and MBC4’s Ant, Best Mixed Media Animation for Al Arabiya’s The Third Eye and Best Design in Promo for MBC2’s My Name Is…

    UAE’s Showtime picked up 10 awards in the following categories: Best Film Promotion for Man on Fire, Best Children’s Promo for Angry Beavers, and in the Something for Nothing category, a win for CSI Thumb Print. Showtime earned double awards in Best Television Image Promo for its Al Pacino Special and DIFF Award Winning Movies, Best Drama Promotion for CSI Thumb Print and Desperate Housewives Smoke and Best Editing for its Tarantino Special and CSI combo.

    The night’s other big winner was Dubai Media Incorporated, picking up eight awards for its work in both promotion and broadcast design. Among its wins were two awards for Best Editing for AAKS and Dubai Sports, two awards for Best Set Design for Alittijah Al Khames and Assrarooha, as well as Best On Air Branding for Dubai Sports, Best Sports Promo for Al Sahmal Arabi, Best Use of Music and Sound Design for its Be a Sport, and in the Something for Nothing category, a win for Happy Birthday One TV.

     

    Also read:
    Promax/BDA Arabia 2006 awards receive record number of entries

  • Kelly Clarkson to co-host MTV Asia Awards

    Kelly Clarkson to co-host MTV Asia Awards

    MUMBAI: MTV Asia Pacific has announced that Kelly Clarkson and Wang Leehom will host the fifth annual MTV Asia Awards 2006 in Bangkok on 6 May. Clarkson was the winner of the first season of American Idol in the US.

    Clarksons debut album Thankful was released in 2003, Her new album Breakaway has sold over 8.5 million copies worldwide. It spawned four number one singles Breakaway, Since U Been Gone, Behind These Hazel Eyes and Because of You. Since U Been Gone brought her two Moon Men at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video. Earlier this year, she won two Grammy Awards.

    Asian star Leehom conceptualises ‘chinked-out’ music. This combines traditional Chinese tunes with pop and hip-hop music to form a new style of music.

    The MTV Asia Awards 2006 will be available to over 400 million households via 43 channels as well as through syndication worldwide. Updates on the MTV Asia Awards 2006 can be found at www.mtvasiaawards.com.

    Fans can also access information on their mobile phones by keying in maawap.com to follow the latest news on the upcoming awards, vote for their favourite artists and stand to win tickets to attend the show live. The Wap site will also feature content related to the awards show such as wallpapers and screensavers that are available for downloads.

    Sponsors for the MTV Asia Awards 2006 are Haier Electrical Appliances, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited with Siam Paragon, World Class Shopping Phenomenon. The local sponsors include IM3 and Gery Saluut Cokluut in Indonesia and 5425 in Korea. Official Hair Partner: Toni & Guy. The official make-up partner is M.A.C. The official hotel is Millennium Hilton in Bangkok.

  • UK leads in digital television viewing: Ofcom

    UK leads in digital television viewing: Ofcom

    MUMBAI: Latest data from UK regulator Ofcom shows that the UK has the highest digital penetration of any country in the world. As of 31 December 2005 digital television was viewed by just under 70 per cent of all UK television households, up from 65.9 per cent in the previous quarter. Ofcom is now predicting 100 per cent digital TV penetration by 2012 (across all platforms – satellite, cable and terrestrial).

    The Communications Market: Digital TV Progress Report for the fourth quarter of 2005 is published by Ofcom. It examines data provided by the main digital television platform providers for the October-December 2005 period.

    Preliminary sales figures of Freeview (Digital Terrestrial Television or DTT) set top boxes suggest that by the end of February 2006, digital penetration had exceeded 70% of UK homes. Take up varies across the UK and has not passed the 50% mark in any other European country.

    Digital satellite is now the UK’s most popular television platform. For the first time, there are now more digital satellite subscribers in the UK than there are homes watching analogue terrestrial-only TV, as a result of continued growth in BSkyB’s subscriber base and large numbers of households switching from analogue terrestrial television to digital terrestrial services.

    In the year 2005, more than 2.7 million additional households began viewing digital television for the first time – more than in any previous year. By 31 December 2005, the total number of households viewing digital television services on at least one TV set in the home stood at 17.5 million. The report also reveals that almost one in four UK adults live in homes where all TV sets are now used for digital television viewing and viewing of analogue television services has ceased entirely.

    Quarterly DTT sales DTT sales DTT sales
    Q3, 2005 Q4, 2005
    Freeview set top boxes 826,300 1,527,600
    IDTV’s 196,000 402,200
    Total sales 1,022,300 1,929,800
    Source: Q4 sales figures, Gfk
    Cumulative total DTT boxes DTT total DTT total
    Q3, 2005 Q4, 2005
    Freeview set top boxes 7,214,700 8,742,300
    IDTV’s 1,411,100 1,813,300
    ITV Digital set top boxes 289,000 250,000
    Total digital terrestrial units in market 8,914,800 10,805,600
    Source: Ofcom, Gfk
    Other highlights from the Ofcom data:

    ” By the end of 2005, just under one in four homes had fully converted all their analogue TV sets to digital (either by adding a set top box or by upgrading to an integrated digital TV set (IDTV) – up from 16% in March 2005. Sales of IDTVs doubled between Q3 and Q4 2005, from around 200,000 to 400,000, to reach a total installed base of 1.8 million (see tables below). That means that almost 60% of all UK TV sets (36 million) still receive analogue transmissions.

    ” There are currently an estimated 34 million VCRs in use in the UK. Those that viewers use for recording one programme while watching another amount currently to around 25% of VCRs (7.5 million recorders) and will need to be replaced by personal video recorders (PVRs) if viewers wish to retain this functionality following switchover. By the end of 2005, around 1.4 million PVRs had been sold (mostly Sky+ boxes) and 2.3 million DVD recorders. Most of the latter do not have integrated digital tuners, however, and cannot replicate the full functionality of analogue VCRs.

    ” Ofcom’s new forecasts suggest that digital take-up will continue to grow steadily over the next few years, as switchover starts to take place on a region-by-region basis. It expects digital penetration to grow by around 1.7 million homes in 2006, and on average by around one million homes per year thereafter, until 2012. That means that 85% of homes will have taken up digital TV by the time the first region (Border) switches over in the second half of 2008. By the end of 2010, Ofcom estimates that 95% of households will have taken up digital TV. Penetration will reach 100% by the end of 2012, by the time analogue television is due to be switched off.

  • BBC, Reuters to host global media conference

    BBC, Reuters to host global media conference

    MUMBAI: The power of trust in the media and citizen journalism are among the topics to be discussed by top media names at a two-day forum in London next month, to be hosted by the BBC and Reuters.

    The 2006 We Media Global Forum will bring together personalities from media, business and technology to discuss and collaborate on how the media can foster trust and influence global issues in a world made smaller by the Internet. The Forum takes place on May 3 and 4, presented by The Media Center, a US-based non-profit think tank committed to building a better-informed society in a connected world.

    The speakers include actor Richard Dreyfuss, Google partnerships dierctor Joanna Fields, Reuters CEO Tom Glocer, Meetup.com founder and CEO Scott Heiferman, Al Jazeera DG Wadah Khanfar, Global Voices co-founder Rebecca MacKinnon, Guardian Newspapers CEO Carolyn McCall, BBC global news director Richard Sambrook, Reuters Global Managing Editor David Schlesinger.

    The event will have a live broadcast of the BBC’s World Service programmes, World Have Your Say, and an interactive experience with the Digital Assassins, a group of disruptors and innovators in digital media. Day 2, at Reuters global headquarters in CanaryWharf, includes a series of satellite-linked “town hall” meetings around the world, and an in-depth look by venture capitalists and business leaders at the changing economics of media and value of social capital.

    The Global Forum will offer glimpses of the future in short “Future Forward” segments – first looks at emerging technologies and media from leading developers, entrepreneurs and companies. BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “Trust has always been central to BBC values. We all know the pressures that news organizations face in this fast changing multi-media world. I am delighted to welcome participants to the We Media Global Forum and I hope that it will provide a valuable opportunity for all of us to share our insights.”

    Glocer said, “The balance of power between content creators, suppliers and consumers is changing, with an end to the notion of a passive audience. The ramifications of this new phenomenon are most acutely felt in the area of trust. As consumers, this democratization of media will have profound effects on where we source news and entertainment, and whom we trust. For a company like Reuters, this is a great time to be taking a 150 year-old news brand in exciting new directions.”

  • Simon Kenny is Warner Bros. Digital Distribution president

    Simon Kenny is Warner Bros. Digital Distribution president

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Warner has announced that Simon Kenny has been named president of the newly formed Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.

    He will manage the worldwide electronic distribution streams of the Studio’s product over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, subscription-video-on-demand, wireless and more. He will also oversee the studio’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.

    As announced at its formation in October 2005, the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group is comprised of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (which incorporates Warner Bros. Online and Wireless), Warner Home Video, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (including Warner Bros. Games), Warner Bros. Technical Operations and Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations.

    Kenny currently serves as Warner Bros. International Television Distribution executive VP, Europe. He will assume his new role full-time following the L.A. screenings at the end of May.

    Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group president Kevin Tsujihara says, “Our priority is the consumer, and our focus is on ensuring that our product is available to them on as many platforms with as much flexibility, functionality and portability as they desire. As digital distribution is no longer just a theory, but a reality, we are charged with managing and leading the retail and consumer transition from a purely packaged distribution scheme to one that supports both packaged and digital distribution, and both standard and high defination formats, while not cannibalising any one segment of the business, but rather maximizing the opportunities afforded by all.

    “Simon’s experience in existing, emerging and next-generation distribution scenarios makes him the perfect choice to head up our digital distribution initiative, and we’re pleased to have him as an integral member of our team.”

    Kenny says, “I am excited about leading the group that will strategise on and implement the methods of digital distribution for all the new and emerging platforms and to be working with Kevin to create new revenue opportunities on behalf of Warner Bros., a true leader in entertainment”.

  • BBC current affairs veteran Robinson to call it a day

    BBC current affairs veteran Robinson to call it a day

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC’s current afairs veteran Mike Robinson has decided to step down as editor of the Panorama block. He is retiring from the BBC after spending 25 years with the organisation. He has been the editor of the BBC’s flagship current affairs strand for more than five years.

    He and his team have produced many shows including the story of the row between the government and BBC which culminated in the death of David Kelly, which won the RTS Home Current Affairs journalism award and was the first of a number of Panoramas examining the government’s case for war.

    Other programmes include John Simpson and Tom Giles’s tale of death by friendly fire in the Iraq war, which won the RTS International programme award; and the trilogy of investigations into the anti-depressant Seroxat, which had a significant impact on both the programme’s audiences and the field of drug policy and regulation.

    Panorama’s RTS award winning investigation into corruption in horse racing also had significant impact, forcing the Jockey Club to hold an internal enquiry and strengthen its security measures. Before joining Panorama, Robinson had worked in a variety of roles including Editor of the One O’Clock News and News Editor across BBC TV News as a whole.

    After joining Panorama as a film-maker in 1992, he produced a number of documentaries, including The Story of Child B; Valentina’s Story and When Good Men do Nothing on the genocide in Rwanda, and the famous Martin Bashir interview with Princess Diana. The latter recorded one of the largest TV audiences in BBC history and picked up a Bafta, one of two which he won.

    BBC News director Helen Boaden said, “Mike’s passion for Panorama and his commitment to serious current affairs have made him an outstanding Editor of the series over many years. He’s never been afraid of tackling vested interests, current orthodoxies and unfashionable issues and subjecting them to rigorous, scrutiny and appraisal. We shall miss his vision and his tenacity very much and wish him good fortune in the coming years.”

    Robinson said, “I am delighted to have been worked for so many years with a talented Panorama team still committed to producing ambitious and significant television journalism across a broad agenda. With its public funding, the BBC still occupies a privileged position within British society and I greatly appreciate the backing I’ve enjoyed for the difficult and challenging journalism for which I have had responsibility. After 25 years with one broadcaster, I relish the challenges and opportunities that the future holds.”

  • Discovery Networks acquires India rights to BBC Worldwide’s soccer show ‘More Than a Game’

    Discovery Networks acquires India rights to BBC Worldwide’s soccer show ‘More Than a Game’

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has signed a number of deals with Asian networks to screen More Than a Game, the story of the emergence of each of the superpowers of world football.

    In India, the property has been snapped up by Discovery Networks.

    The program, already pre-sold to over 30 territories internationally, has also been licensed to Hong Kong Cable TV, MediaCorp in Singapore, SBS in South Korea and Channel 9 in Thailand. The deal was developed in association with FIFA.

    More Than a Game explores the 76 years of World Cup football and includes exclusive access to FIFA’s film archive and interviews with famous players.

    “More Than a Game showcases the greatest moments of the World Cup. We have found that it appeals to both football aficionados and the uninitiated,” says BBC Worldwide sport sales manager Richard Hornsby-Smith.

  • 15 August launch for Sahara Urdu news channel

    15 August launch for Sahara Urdu news channel

    MUMBAI: Sahara India Mass Communications, which manages a bouquet of news channels, is proposing to launch an Urdu news and information channel. The probable launch date: 15 August 2006, Indian Independence Day.

    The 24-hour Urdu news and information channel is targeted at the100 million plus Urdu-speaking denizens spread out in various states all over India. The channel will be headed by Dr Aziz Burny who is also the editor of the Sahara Urdu daily – Roznama Rashtriya Sahara.

    Says Burny: “The channel’s name has not been finalised as yet. As of now, we are toying with a name like Urdu Sahara. We are in the process of finalising the team. We hope to launch the channel by 15 August, once all the logistics are in place.”

    There is just one major player – the Hyderabad based Enadu TV – which runs a 24 hour Urdu channel – ETV Urdu. Last year, pubcaster — Prasar Bharati also announced that it would launch an Urdu TV service.

    Urdu Sahara will be entering a space which has been rough for players in the past. UTN and Falak TV are some of the Urdu news & infotainment channels which have ended up in the graveyard.