ITV

Category: English Entertainment

  • NBC’s ‘The Voice’ season 9 names Adam, Blake, Gwen & Pharrell as coaches

    NBC’s ‘The Voice’ season 9 names Adam, Blake, Gwen & Pharrell as coaches

    MUMBAI: Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams will be the season nine coaches and Carson Daly as host for NBC’s musical competition series The Voice.

     

    The ninth season will begin in September.

     

    “With such an astounding group of coaches at the peak of their musical ingenuity and Carson returning as our host, we are thrilled for what season nine will bring. The expertise and camaraderie of this panel will provide an immeasurable experience for the artists and must-see entertainment for all who are watching,” said NBC Entertainment president, alternative and late night programming Paul Telegdy.

     

    Levine and Shelton have been Voice coaches since the series inception in 2011. Season nine will mark the third season for Williams and the second for Stefani.

     

    “I can’t believe we’re already on the ninth season. Time after time, coming back, it honestly feels like the first day of school. It’s become a second family for me and I’m always so excited to come back to it,” Levine said.

     

    Shelton added, “Adam, Gwen, Pharrell and I had a blast together in season 7 and I’m excited we’re back together again. They are all so talented but I’m pretty damn excited about another winning season for Team Blake.”

     

    Stefani said, “I’m coming back and am so excited! I can’t believe I get to return to ‘The Voice.’ It’s so inspiring to be around such incredible talent and music. I’m looking forward to working again with Adam, Blake and Pharrell. I love those guys.”

     

    “I am grateful to have a role on the show among such an incredible group of great people and am looking forward to another season of talented artists,” Williams said.

     

    Daly said, “For eight seasons The Voice has enlisted world-renowned coaches, amassed the most talented singers ever on TV and we are just warming up! Season nine will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible when you have a dream. I’m so honored to continue to be front and center of this consistently exhilarating show.”

  • HBO Defined to premier True detective Season 2 in India

    HBO Defined to premier True detective Season 2 in India

    MUMBAI: Season 2 of True Detective is all set to premiere simultaneously with its U.S. premiere on Monday, June 22nd at 6:30 a.m. with a repeat telecast on the same day at 10:00 p.m. – exclusively, 100% ad-free onHBO Premium Channel, HBO Defined.

     

    “True Detective”, returns for its Eight Episodic Second Season on June 22nd. A bizarre murder brings together three law-enforcement officers and a career criminal, each of whom must navigate a web of conspiracy and betrayal in the scorched landscapes of California. Written and created by Nic Pizzolatto, this series stars Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch where the first two episodes are directed by Justin Lin.

     

    “The much anticipated new season of True Detective is HBO’s summer treat to the fans. With the simulcast, the Indian audience gets to watch the show with the U.S. Television truly has gone global. HBO is taking an unprecedented step today in finding a way to avoid spoilers by airing the shows simultaneously  in different countries with different time zones. ”, said  HBO India managing director Moinca Tata

     

    True Detective Season 2 to air in India simultaneously with its U.S. Premiere, on June 22nd at 6:30 a.m. IST with a repeat telecast on the same day at 10 p.m., on HBO Defined, 100 per cent ad-free.

  • Zee Cafe brings a storm of new and old shows this June

    Zee Cafe brings a storm of new and old shows this June

    MUMBAI: The viewers have a lot to look forward to in the month of June. Zee Cafe’s June line-up consists of the best mix of drama, mystery, fiction, action and sitcoms which promise to provide all the home entertainment that one requires.

     

    Zee Cafe is all set to strike you with its 73 Days of Greys and The Big Bang Hour! With the new season of Greys Anatomy starting 2ndJune, the channel will begin with season 9 & 10 along with the all new season 11; and starting 5th June, the channel will have a special hour dedicated to The Big Bang Theory season 1-8.

     

    The Indian discerning viewers will be able to enjoy the popular shows- Pretty Little Liars season 6, starting 12th June and Mistresses season 3 which will be premiering on 28th June; both, to be aired along with the US.

     

    In addition to the innovative presentation of shows, Zee Cafe will be airing the season 8(finale) of Desperate Housewives starting 9th June, Reign season 2 will begin starting 10th June and the season finale of Perception from 21st June.

     

    The Sunday Brunch Special will showcase the young sensation Justin Beiber’s Never Say Never on 28th June, 10:00 am, which beautifully captures the essence of his on-stage mixes with a few of his home videos highlighting the important moments of the singer’s life.

     

    Zee Cafe will continue to entertain its viewers with their favorite ongoing shows – Ground Floor season 2, American Idol season 14 and House of Cards season 3.

  • Star Movies to air Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

    Star Movies to air Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

    MUMBAI: Every action has its consequences. For a long time, the human race has taken for granted its dominance as a sentient being. They have always assumed that nature and everything in it belongs to him and him alone and that they can experiment with it as they please. But sometimes, reality begs to differ.

     

    Ten years after the planet is ravaged due to a plague that is wiping out humanity, a group of scientists in San Francisco struggle to stay alive in the aftermath, while apes with genetically enhanced intelligence, have started to build a civilization of their own. What happens next is what Star Movies is bringing for its viewers with the television premiere of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

     

    It’s not a just a blockbuster movie, it’s a struggle. A gut-wrenching pendulum of survival that makes you think – what would you do if your freedom was at stake? What will you do if the safety of your family was threatened? Find out the ultimate rush for freedom, the most basic instinct of any species – to survive. Witness the biggest fight known to man on Star Movies, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on 31st May at 1pm and 9pm!

     

    At Star Movies, we don’t believe in just watching the fight unfold but become a part of it, and the marketing campaign for the premiere will give an opportunity to the viewers to pick a side and proclaim their allegiance. You can either join the human army or the ape army on the day of the premiere and witness the epic saga unfold.

     

    A sequel to ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’, the film recounts the ape empire’s conflicts with a sustaining human rebellion. This American sci-fi film epic received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects and its third installment is set to be released in July 2017.

     

    Starring Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Kirk Acevedo, this film is thrilling and exciting and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout its duration.

     

    It’s time to pick a side. It’s time to watch the most epic battle for survival with the television premiere of the ‘Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes’ on 31st May at 1pm and 9pm, only On STAR MOVIES!

  • Viacom renews distribution agreement with Mediacom

    Viacom renews distribution agreement with Mediacom

    MUMBAI: Viacom has renewed its distribution agreement with Mediacom Communications for carriage of its media networks across Mediacom’s subscriber base.

     

    In addition to continued carriage of 19 Viacom cable networks and Epix, Mediacom subscribers will have access to additional programming across devices, including a substantial increase in free VOD and expanded TV Everywhere functionality that allows viewers to watch Viacom programming both in- and out-of-home.

     

    “We appreciate Viacom’s willingness to enter into a reasonable agreement that takes into consideration our consumers’ sensitivity to pricing and the alternative ways content is consumed today. Viacom has long been an innovator in the content space. We look forward to providing our customers with the very best that Viacom has to offer,” said Mediacom founder, chairman and CEO Rocco B. Commisso.

     

    “We are pleased to have reached a comprehensive deal with Mediacom that delivers strong value for our brands and provides even better ways for Mediacom customers to enjoy their favorite Viacom content. Mediacom has been an outstanding partner for many years, and we look forward to continuing to grow our businesses together,” added Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman.

  • Pastry chef Christina Tosi becomes first female judge on ‘Masterchef US’

    Pastry chef Christina Tosi becomes first female judge on ‘Masterchef US’

    MUMBAI: Culinary TV reality series MasterChef US has got on board pastry chef, owner and founder of New York City’s Milk Bar Christina Tosi, as the new judge on the panel. Creating history, Tosi will make her debut on the show as the franchise’s first ever-female judge.

    Tosi will also be the judge on Masterchef Junior.

    MasterChef US is all set to go on air in India starting 21 May and will be telecast every Thursday at 10 pm on Star World Premiere HD.

     The MasterChef franchise, which has seen only award winning male chef’s till date, will now welcome the first lady to grace the judging panel. Tosi has replaced Italian restaurateur and wine maker Joe Bastianich, who exited the show last year after a stint of five seasons. Tosi is all set to give a serious twist to baking and pastry challenges in the series while joining judges Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot in their quest to find America’s MasterChef.

     MasterChef US is the American version of the world famous culinary franchise MasterChef. The series conducts a nationwide search for the best home cooks in the country and through a series of tough challenges and elimination rounds, picks one of them as America’s ultimate culinary master.

  • Emily Skopov acquires film & TV rights to Emilia Cruz detective novels

    Emily Skopov acquires film & TV rights to Emilia Cruz detective novels

    MUMBAI: Screenwriter and director Emily Skopov has acquired the film and television rights to the Detective Emilia Cruz series by mystery author Carmen Amato.

     

    The series, which includes the novels Cliff Diver, Hat Dance and Diablo Nights, as well as a collection of short stories, features Cruz as the first and only female police detective in Acapulco.

     

    “Emilia is a fascinating, multidimensional character with a complex backstory. This female-driven crime series, with such an inherently dramatic setting that features glamorous resorts against the local culture of poverty and violence presents an amazing opportunity for film and episodic television adaptations,” Skopov said.

     

    Currently working with producers Michael Keyes of Something Kreative, and Zack Stentz to set up production on Three Rivers, a Pittsburgh-set gritty true-crime thriller co-written with Eddie Richey, Skopov is best known for her work on such TV fare as Xena: Warrior Princess, SyFy’s Farscape, and the indie feature Novel Romance.

     

    Having been approached by two other film producers, Amato ultimately chose to work with Skopov in large part due to their shared view that the time is right for an entertainment franchise that puts Latino characters center stage in substantial, complex and diverse roles that transcend simplistic categorizations. 

     

    While writing the first novel, Cliff Diver, Amato found herself inspired by envisioning her “dream cast” of Latino actors breathing life into her creations.  While she’s currently keeping that fantasy casting list to herself, she and Skopov are quick to point out that the talent pool to fill these roles is deep, and includes many performers who don’t often get the opportunity to play fully realized human beings, nor to be part of a project that showcases a spectrum of Latino individuals and lifestyles.

     

    With iconic Acapulco as the series’ backdrop and plotting that parallels today’s headlines, Skopov believes the Emilia Cruz franchise will attract English-language viewers in the United States and gain a large Spanish-language fan base in both the US and Latin America for the dubbed or sub-titled version. To support the franchise, the foreign language rights to the Emilia Cruz books are currently available. The fourth novel in the series, King Peso, is due out in late 2015.

  • Discovery Turbo launches new series ‘Lost Treasure Hunters’

    Discovery Turbo launches new series ‘Lost Treasure Hunters’

    MUMBAI: Discovery Turbo is back with Lost Treasure Hunters, which will be aired on weekdays at 8 pm. The series will showcase great treasure of the past, which are still waiting to be found.

     

    The thrilling show, which combines exploration and excitement, will feature an elite team of experienced prospectors, miners, and gemologists, who are in search for an adventure.

     

    In the series, prospector Sam Speerstra and his team of treasure hunters investigate clues left by ancient civilizations, and then go in search of long lost riches. Their work begins in ancient Indian cities that are believed to have been the source of some of the world’s most valuable diamonds, including the Hope diamond.

     

    Speerstra along with his team scour the ancient diamond mines of Golconda region, which have been sunk beneath the surface of the water. But when there’s treasure, there’s always danger involved, and the team must face some challenging, perilous obstacles, ranging from venomous killer snakes and crocodiles, to extreme weather.

     

    As the legends of the Golconda diamond mines have endured for hundreds of years; however, no one knows where the mines are. As locals and team members continued to find diamonds, it was evident the legends were true and that with their skill, technique and ingenuity, they would soon uncover the location of the mines. Discovery Turbo’s Lost Treasure Hunters aims to find out.

  • Zee World lines up three new shows

    Zee World lines up three new shows

    MUMBAI:  Zee World is all set to pep up its programming line up with the launch of three new shows. Come 18 May and the channel will premiere Breaking Free, Destiny and Eternal Love in the daily 6 – 8 pm slot.

     

    Zee TV South Africa CEO Harish Goyal said, “We are excited to introduce you to our new characters as they go through all the drama and action that you have come to expect from our brand. Zee World prides itself in delivering the best in entertainment for you and your family. To deliver on our promise, the channel brings you your favourite series in seasons ensuring that you experience the best of our award winning shows.”

     

    The series will offer diverse content, reflecting the channel’s efforts in providing relatable entertainment.

     

    Breaking Free, which will be aired from Monday to Friday at 8 pm, is a story of a young girl called Sugni, who attempts to change the age old tradition, which the corrupt society will never let go off.

     

    On the other hand, the channel’s second new show Destiny revolves around a family that depicts the mindset of most of the middle and upper class families of the society. It shows the psychology of individuals who believe that the society can be run and governed by men only. It will be aired from Monday to Friday at 7 pm.

     

    The third show, Eternal Love is a story of three individuals, Sahiba, Ranveer and Daljeet with a number of twists and turns in their lives. They find themselves in a completely new world where love becomes the driving forces. The show will be aired from Monday to Friday at 6 pm.

  • ‘Doctor Who’ to air on FX from 15 May

    ‘Doctor Who’ to air on FX from 15 May

    MUMBAI: Come 15 May, and FX is all set to invade Indian television screens with one of the greatest science fiction series Doctor Who.

     

    It may be recalled that Indiantelevision.com has reported last month that the channel was all set to launch the cult show in India.

     

    Doctor Who will be aired every Monday to Friday at 9 pm on FX.

     

    Produced by the BBC Wales, Doctor Whois the longest running sci-fi TV show in the world. A significant part of British popular culture, the iconic series follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord – a time-travelling humanoid alien. He explores the universe in his Tardis, a sentient time-travelling space ship. Along with a succession of companions, the Doctor combats a variety of foes while working to save civilizations and help people in need.

     

    Doctor Who executive producer Brian Minchin says, “We are delighted that Doctor Who is going to hit the screens of FX. We’re hugely proud of the show and the Doctor’s adventures in time and space. Hold on tight – there are thrills and wonders ahead! 51 years ago, the very first episode of Doctor Who was directed by Waris Hussein, born in Lucknow. I like to think we’ve finally come full circle with the new modern series launching in India on FX.”

     

    Doctor Who has a phenomenal following millions fans across the globe winning 98 television awards. Until 2015, the series even holds the Guinness World Record for the largest simulcast of a TV drama – 98 countries across six continents. Over the recent years, Doctor Who has won over five million fans on Facebook, 1.2 million followers on Twitter, and in November 2014, the YouTube channel bagged a new subscriber every 41 seconds.

     

    To give the show an apt promotional platform, FX has created an integrated marketing campaign reiterating the channel’s tagline- The Edge of Entertainment. Reaching out to all the ‘edge seekers’, FX India has also made a music video complete with original composition, zany graphics and footage that has been specially created to announce the show’s launch and the impending arrival of the Doctor.

     

    Commenting on the cult fan-following and Doctor Who’s travel to India, an official spokesperson from Star India said, “We are very excited to be associating with BBC and bringing a cult show such as Doctor Who to Indian audiences. The show has garnered tremendous popularity internationally, and we believe that the unique concept along with a strong integrated marketing campaign at FX will make it big in India too. We are already receiving a great response from fans post the announcement, and anticipate much more.”