ITV

Category: English Entertainment

  • Star World looks to tantalise viewers with Criss Angel’s freaky illusion

    Star World looks to tantalise viewers with Criss Angel’s freaky illusion

    MUMBAI: In a bid to add further excitement to its programming lineup, English general entertainment channel Star World will air the show Criss Angel: Mindfreak every Tuesday at 8 30 pm from 18 July.

    From levitating ordinary American citizens, to literally dangling by his skin from a helicopter one thousand feet above the Valley of Fire in Las Vegas, magician Criss Angel brings his talents to the streets of America, live, unstaged and without the use of any camera tricks.

    Each episode captures the creative genius at work, preparing and training for his often death-defying feats. The 16 episodes will have several elements – reality, focusing on Angel’s street demonstrations and the way people are mentally affected; surreality, a look into Angel’s mind’s eye as he contemplates his upcoming feats; and behind-the-scene glimpses – a candid and captivating look into the trials and tribulations that Criss and his team face from the moment he conceives of impossible, death-defying stunts to the actual performances of those stunts.

    In the first episode, Criss Angel takes on levitation. He executes maneuvers, such as levitating up an escalator while not touching any part of it, and grabbing people off the street and completely levitating them off the ground. The other mind-blowing demonstrations this season include Burned Alive, Bullet Catch (which will have Angel catching a bullet in a cup held by his mouth), and Body Suspension (featuring Angel suspended from a helicopter by four fish hooks through his skin while being flown over the Nevada desert).

    Special celebrity guests, such as rock group Korn’s Jonathan Davis (who also co-produced the show’s theme music), Rob Zombie, Amazing Jonathan, Mandy Moore, Penn & Teller and Lance Burton will take part in the series.

    In the US, A&E Network will pick up the show for a third season.

  • Discovery US manages double digit ratings increase

    Discovery US manages double digit ratings increase

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Discovery has announced that it managed to achieve double-digit ratings gains in households and average primetime audience in both the second quarter of 2006 and June 2006.

    For the quarter, Discovery garnered a year-over-year primetime household ratings increase of 13 per cent (0.9) and the network delivered an average primetime audience of 1,143,000 viewers (P2+), also representing a 13 per cent increase over the year-ago timeslot average.

    The performance was helped by the return of the show Deadliest Catch, averaging nearly 2.6 million viewers over its second-season run. Mythbusters averaged 1.3 million viewers P2+. New shows Perfect Disaster and Future Weapons also contributed to the ratings gains.

    The debut of Egypt’s New Tomb Revealed on 4 June and Krakatoa: Volcano Od Destruction on 11 June each logged significant increases in households (1.8 household rating; Egypt; 1.8 household rating, Krakatoa) and total viewers (2.3 million P2+ each for the two shows.)

  • AXN to roll out Sci-Fi, Crime Networks in Central Europe

    AXN to roll out Sci-Fi, Crime Networks in Central Europe

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has announced plans to launch two new thematic channels in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary: AXN Sci-Fi and AXN Crime.

    The ad-supported channels will be dubbed into local languages in their markets and will also feature locally produced interstitial material. Both will deliver series on weekdays and movies on weekends, and both new networks will be overseen by AXN Central Europe GM Stephen White.

    White says, “These new thematic channels build on the success story of AXN in Central Europe since its launch in 2003 and the move is supported by research and feedback from AXN’s viewers which shows that there is a great demand for high quality sci-fi and crime programming. AXN is the first in the Central European region to dedicate channels to these popular genres.”

    AXN Crime will offer up the SPTI series The Shield and the David Caruso police detective drama Michael Hayes, among others, while AXN SCI-FI’s key offerings will include Star Trek: Enterprise, Andromeda, Sliders, Charlie Jade, Battlestar Galactica and Trucks.

  • HBO Mobile and Cingular Wireless bring ‘Entourage’ to wireless p

    HBO Mobile and Cingular Wireless bring ‘Entourage’ to wireless p

    MUMBAI: Cingular and HBO have launched mini-episodes of the Entourage series available only to Cingular Video customers who subscribe to HBO Mobile. In an industry first, the Entourage made-for-mobile episodes are true extensions of the program fans enjoy on HBO. They are written by the same writers and producers, and have the same characters and actors.

    “Our relationship with HBO is all about learning how to take successful programs from television and bring them to the mobile phone. We’re excited to launch these episodes as an important first step in the creation of true broadcast quality entertainment for the mobile phone. Along with the highlights we provide from the TV broadcast each week, these episodes give Entourage fans a rich experience they can get nowhere else,” said Cingular Wireless vice president marketing John Burbank.

    The premise of the made-for-mobile Entourage story is: Johnny Drama makes a “cellivision” show. Customers can view a series of short vignettes based on this premise as they continue to enjoy the adventures of the friends from Queens on the Hollywood road to fame and fortune. “The episodes are short and funny — just the kind of entertainment mobile customers want,” said Burbank.

    In another first, Cingular Video subscribers can also enjoy full-length episodes from the first season of Entourage, plus episodes from Sex And The City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Dane Cook’s Tourgasm. These episodes have been segmented into chapters so Cingular subscribers can relive their favourite moments and share them with their friends. Cingular Video uses the power of 3G phones as well as Cingular’s new high- speed 3G wireless broadband network, which is currently available in 18 major markets encompassing 54 communities. The company expects service to be available in most major markets by the end of the year. To access Cingular Video, consumers need to purchase a 3G phone and sign up for the Media Net Unlimited package, which includes Cingular Video. Premium content, such as HBO, is optional and customers are charged an additional subscription fee for access.

    Some HBO Mobile content on Cingular Video is for mature audiences only. Cingular’s recently launched Parental Controls feature provides content and purchase blockers on phones so parents can restrict access to content that may be inappropriate for younger viewers.

  • Pix to launch ‘Inside the Actors Studio’ on 16 July

    Pix to launch ‘Inside the Actors Studio’ on 16 July

    MUMBAI: Pix will be launching the Hollywood talk show Inside the Actors Studio (ITAS) on 16 July. The show will be aired every Sunday at 7 pm.

    Pix has acquired 47 episodes of this series. Some of the guests interviewed include: Will Smith, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant, Charlize Ttheron, Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Al Pacino.
    Inside the Actors Studio has been on air in the US for more than 11 years and is now broadcast in over 125 countries.

    From its origin, Inside the Actors Studio has followed an interesting format in which the show is taped in front of an audience made up of students from the Actors Studio’s Master of Fine Arts program.

    The interviewees share intimate and personal experiences that influenced their choice of career and what it is that continues to fascinate them about showbiz. The interview then concludes with a standardised questionnaire of 10 questions that requires candid answers, leading to hilarious and sometimes touching moments on the show.

    The channel has also weaved an ITAS contest wherein viewers will have a chance to win Pix goodies. Contestants can SMS ‘JL’ to 2525 and win DVDs of Hollywood movies.

    The show has won nominations for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Non-fiction Series, 11 Emmy award nominations, the Cable Ace Award as best talk show and The New York Festival Award for the world’s best talk/entertainment.

  • Discovery most watched channel in Asia among movers & shakers: Pax survey

    Discovery most watched channel in Asia among movers & shakers: Pax survey

    MUMBAI: Discovery is the number one regional cable and satellite channel in Asia for the ninth consecutive year for past month, past week and yesterday viewership, according to the latest quarterly Pan-Asian Cross Media Study (Pax) conducted by Synovate.

    The survey is conducted across eleven key markets including India, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. It measures the media habits of Asia’s wealthiest urban individuals aged 25-64 covering a universe of 14 million viewers.

    In the survey, Discovery takes the lead position as the most watched regional TV channel amongst Business Decision Makers (BDMs), Professional, Manager, Executive, Business Men (PMEBs) and high net worth individuals. The channel also reaches 30 per cent of the top management viewers on a weekly basis.

    In addition, Discovery attracts the most viewers during primetime amongst all regional channels, has the highest frequent viewers and catches the most audience from 12 pm to 6 am.

    Discovery Asia senior VP marketing and communications Kevin Dickie said, “These results attest to the value cable subscribers place on Discovery Channel, recognising it as a network that continues to deliver high quality real-world entertainment for the ninth consecutive year.

    “We are committed to provide the most compelling factual and lifestyle content that appeals to our target audience, and remain a strong proposition for both our affiliate partners and advertisers.”From a network perspective, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Travel & Living have increased Discovery Networks Asia’s share of the market by 2.7 per cent , with each channel increasing reach by two per cent in tracked markets. Moreover, all three channels rank within the top 10 amongst high net worth individuals, females and frequent viewers.

  • Star World’s new reality show searches for a swimsuit model

    Star World’s new reality show searches for a swimsuit model

    MUMBAI: 12 girls, six weeks of exotic shoots. The aim is to feature on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s annual Swimsuit Issue.

    These are the key ingredients of a reality show Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search . This will air on English general entertainment channel Star World every Tuesday at 10 pm from 11 July.

    With a combination of beauty, athleticism and personality, one of the 12 will win a million-dollar modelling contract, and a glamorous appearance in the best-selling issue of any magazine in the world. The show will have lots of sunshine, slick bodies and exotic shoots.

    This is also the first model competition where the viewer gets to vote for the final winner. The six-part series focusses on what it takes to become a successful swimsuit model aside from the eye candy. The 12 finalists will live in Los Angeles where they will be widely tested on their physical fitness, mental endurance and modelling skills. Whoever doesn’t have what it takes, gets kicked off the show – two by two every week.

    When only two are left, they are flown off to a luscious location to shoot a spread for Sports Illustrated. Nobody knows who will win… until viewers vote for their favourite photo spread in the series finale.

    Charged with the task of whittling down the field of hopeful models is a three-judge panel, including former Sports Illustrated model Roshumba Williams, Next Model Management president Joel Wilkenfeld and Sports Illustrated swimsuit editor Jule Campbell.

  • WWE reports decline in 4Q revenue, operating income

    WWE reports decline in 4Q revenue, operating income

    MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter ended 30 April 2006. Revenues totaled $114.3 million as compared to $118.3 million in the prior year quarter and operating income was $15.1 million as compared to $22.5 million in the prior year quarter.

    In India, viewers can catch WWE action on Ten Sports.

    WWE reported net income of $10.6 million as compared to $16.1 million in the prior year quarter. WWE CEO Linda McMahon says, “Our fourth quarter operating results capped off a very successful year as we generated $400 million in revenues in fiscal 2006, reflecting strong performances by our home video, licensing and digital media businesses.

    “In the fourth quarter, we continued to make strategic investments in key areas such as our digital business initiative and global marketing campaigns. Our WrestleMania 22 results in the fourth quarter continue to demonstrate the power of both that event and of the overall WWE brand and their respective places in pop culture. Also, we are relaunching the ECWbrand via weekly television performances on the Sci Fi Channel and through a distinct touring group performing in smaller venues. This type of performance gives our fans a different wrestling experience. Raw, SmackDown and ECW now represent a portfolio of WWE brands for fans of all ages and interests to enjoy.”

    Revenues from live and televised entertainment businesses were $92.3 million for the current quarter as compared to $102.2 million in the prior year quarter, a decrease of 10 per cent primarily reflecting the absence of domestic cable ad revenues.

    Pay Per View (PPV) revenues were $35.4 million as compared to $34.6 million in the prior year quarter. There were four PPV events produced in the current quarter as compared to three events in the prior year quarter. International events generated approximately $13 million in the current quarter as compared to $16.0 million in the prior year quarter.

    The current quarter included a highly successful 16 event European tour as well as several events in emerging territories, including the Philippines and Thailand. Although the emerging territories yield lower revenues as compared to other international markets, WWE says that these tours, combined with its TV presence, establish our brand presence which allows it to develop the other businesses such as licensing, PPV and home video sales.

  • New WWE magazine to launch on 11 July

    New WWE magazine to launch on 11 July

    MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will launch a new men’s lifestyle magazine on 11 July. The new WWE Magazine will focus on the lifestyles of WWE superstars and divas, their activities outside the ring, and what they like in movies, music, gadgets, fashion and other items of interest to young men in their twenties.

    “This is a complete rebirth of our publishing division. We’ve been planning on giving our audience a look behind the curtain for years and now is the perfect time to do it. The new WWE Magazine is what our fans won’t see on TV,” said World Wrestling Entertainment executive vice president global media Shane McMahon.

    A significant marketing blitz is planned for the magazine’s launch, with WWE using its television, live event and online assets to promote the new venture.

    WWE hired two publishing industry veterans to fold its preexisting magazines RAW and SmackDown into one new title.

    Bob Lee, the new vice president and publisher of WWE’s Magazine Group, is overseeing all distribution, marketing, and advertising sales. Prior to joining WWE, Lee served as publisher of Sync Magazine, where he launched the first men’s tech-tainment magazine. Previously, he was publisher of Gear Magazine and has worked at Discover, Elle and US Weekly.

    Lee says he was attracted to WWE because of the connection between the WWE superstars and WWE fans. “The connection is unmatched in any other property. Our fans are the ultimate consumers of goods which are affiliated with our superstars. The new WWE Magazine is designed to attract a larger segment of the WWE fan base, and to appeal to a wide range of advertisers that target readers of lad titles and other men’s lifestyle magazines. The agencies to which we’ve spoken have been very receptive to the new look and broader appeal of our magazine,” he said.

    Tony Romando, the new vice president and editor-in-chief for WWE’s Magazine Group, has built his career on successful magazine launches, including Jane and FHM and has been involved in the rebranding of magazines like Rolling Stone and Men’s Fitness.

    “I’m looking forward to the launch of WWE magazine as much as anything I’ve done in my career. One of the things that drew me to WWE was the company’s tremendous media presence, and how it uses that presence to create a 360 -degree approach to marketing,” said Romando.

  • AXN to unveil action award winners on Sunday

    AXN to unveil action award winners on Sunday

    MUMBAI: One of AXN’s initiatives for the year is the AXN Action Awards. This seeks to reward work done by Bollywood’s action stars. The show which will be hosted by Dino Morea airs on 9 July at 8 pm.

    With Bollywood always having action as a part of a formula that is served along with drama and romance, it is only recently that there are blockbuster pure adrenaline racing action movies, a la Hollywood, breaking away from the sugary romances and the family dramas.

    Morea will go on the sets of each of the action stars to felicitate them with their new prized possession. The award categories include: Best Action Movie, Best Action Director, Best Action Sequence in a Movie, Best Action Actor and Best Action Actor in a Negative Role

    As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the channel received over 200,000 votes for different action categories in the first ever Indian Action Awards.

    SPE Networks South Asia director of marketing and sales, Rohit Bhandari says, “Indian cinema produces some of the best action heroes in the world. So how could AXN resist helping our viewers to felicitate the brawniest stars of them all? Thums Up and AXN are both brands that symbolize adventure, endurance and extreme challenge. The AXN Action Awards will be a never before seen comprehensive look at the action heroes, the movies and the people behind them!”

    The AXN Action Awards is presented by Thums Up with associate sponsorship by Mahindra Scorpio & Sony Ericsson K750i. The retail partner for the event is Inox, the multiplex chain.