Category: English Entertainment

Mumbai: BBC chairman Richard Sharp has announced the appointment of Damon Buffini to the new role of deputy chair of the BBC board, in his capacity as BBC Commercial Board chair.

Buffini was a founding partner of the international investment firm Permira, where he was managing partner from 1997 to 2010. He has been the Royal National Theatre chair since 2015 and has held multiple non-executive directorships across various industries.

Buffini joined the BBC board as a non-executive director in November 2021 and was appointed chair of the BBC Commercial Board in March 2022. His appointment to deputy chair reflects the importance of the BBC’s commercial activity to the overall success of the organisation.

Talking about the appointment, Sharp said, “I am incredibly pleased that Buffini will take on the additional role of deputy chair of the BBC board, reflecting the integral part that the BBC’s commercial activity plays in the organisation’s overall success. As chair of the BBC Commercial Board, Buffini brings vast experience and expertise to the oversight of our commercial operations at a time when the BBC board is looking for significant and sustained commercial growth.”

Buffini has made three new non-executive director appointments to the BBC Commercial Board.

Gary Newman, Ian Griffiths, and Claire Hungate will all join the BBC Commercial Board as non-executive directors, following approval from the BBC board, with effect from 1 April 2023 for an initial term of three years.

Newman was Fox Television Group chairman & CEO, which included Fox Broadcasting and Twentieth Century Fox Television, until its acquisition by Disney. During his tenure at Fox, he oversaw the development and production of such shows as 24, Glee, Modern Family, Homeland, 911, and The Masked Singer.

Ian Griffiths was the deputy CEO and CFO of market intelligence agency Kantar from 2020 to 2022. Between 2008 and 2019, he served as ITV CFO & COO and was previously EMAP CFO.

Hungate has held the roles of Warner Bros. TV Production UK CEO, Shed Media COO, and Wall to Wall MD. Today, she is Team Liquid’s president and COO. This is an established esports organisation with a global audience reach of around 40 million.

Buffini stated, “The BBC’s commercial subsidiaries, already successful, have been tasked with a further step-change in performance. The appointment of three new non-executives, with spectacular industry experience, reinforces the Commercial Board’s commitment to support and challenge the executive in achieving these stretching goals.”

The new non-executive appointees join to replace non-executive directors Steve Morrison and Dame Elan Closs Stephens, whose full terms on the BBC Commercial Board are due to expire in March 2023.

He added, “I also want to record my sincere thanks to both Elan and Steve for their service. It has been a pleasure to work with them both; their commitment to the BBC’s commercial mission is deeply held, and they step down knowing that the BBC’s commercial activities are in excellent health.”

The BBC Commercial Board oversees the delivery of the BBC’s commercial activities. These are primarily made up of BBC Studios, a global company across production, distribution, licensing, channels, and streaming, and BBC Studioworks, which provides studios and post-production services to the UK’s broadcast and production industry.

Mumbai: Sony BBC Earth, one of India’s most loved factual entertainment channels is all set to premiere ‘Changing Planet’. The show takes viewers on a pictorial tour of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems and the escalating environmental threats encircling them. The two-part series captures six bellwether territories bringing to the fore remarkable changes that have unfolded over the past two years through visual storytelling.

Produced by BBC Studios natural history unit, ‘Changing Planet’ is a seven-year natural history project that has six presenters visit six of the planet’s most threatened ecosystems to meet the people fighting to restore the Earth’s delicate balance. It delves into stories that reverberate across continents, revealing the interconnectedness of our global environment. Each episode serves as a powerful reminder that the issues faced in one corner of the world have far-reaching implications elsewhere. The show aims to portray how innovative solutions implemented in diverse regions can address environmental challenges, transcending borders and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The first season takes viewers to the regions of Maldives, Iceland, Cambodia, Brazil, California, and Kenya. From the portrayal of the warming seas and the acidification of oceans in the Maldives leading to coral bleaching to the effects of global warming in Iceland causing temperatures to soar in the Arctic resulting in a meltdown, the series will unveil many more facts about these regions. It also covers the massive pressure on natural resources faced by Cambodia, with ever-expanding cities and devastating overexploitation of the natural world.

The second season revisits these territories exploring the ecological issues threatening the planet In Cambodia, episode two follows an expedition to reintroduce the critically endangered Siamese crocodile into the Cardamom Mountains which play a crucial role in restoring the Tonle Sap Lake ecosystem. Climate change in Maldives is posing a dire threat to the world’s coral causing leading coral scientists to shift their focus from academic research to practical measures like coral farming. A visit to the Zackenberg Research Station in Northeast Greenland offered critical insights into the extent of Arctic warming and its global effects.

‘Changing Planet’ promises to kindle viewers’ curiosity, awakening their sense of wonder and igniting a passion for preserving our planet’s natural treasures. Audiences must be prepared to be enthralled as the series unravels the mysteries of the world’s most critical ecosystems and the pressing need for global conservation efforts.

Sony Pictures Networks India’s Sony AATH chief marketing officer & business head – english cluster Tushar Shah:

“Changing Planet promises to captivate audiences with its compelling stories of resilience, adaptation, and conservation efforts across the globe. The concept of the series is unique as it examines select locations and highlights the changes observed by the team in those regions. We hope that our viewers find these stories insightful and inspirational.”

Changing Planet II executive producer Rosemary Edwards (This will be shared by Global team)

“Changing Planet has never been more relevant. There is a need to address the challenges of our warming seas, shrinking habitats, and melting arctic regions and the best way to reach the masses is by making them see the change. Through this show, we celebrate the inspiring work undertaken by champions of the natural world.”

Tune in to Sony BBC Earth on 31 July 2023, to watch ‘Changing Planet’ at 12:00 PM and 09:00 PM, Monday to Thursday!

Mumbai: Warner Bros. Discovery today announced its first-ever localised Tom and Jerry series, featuring the beloved cat and mouse duo as they take their rivalry through Singapore.

Produced locally in Asia, and in association with Warner Bros. Animation, the new series comprises 7×3-minute shorts and will premiere on Cartoon Network in Asia Pacific, before being rolled out internationally. A pilot episode giving a flavour of what’s to come will launch in August – further details will be announced soon.

Warner Bros. Discovery head of kids – Southeast Asia Christopher Ho said, “This series brings back the iconic music and classic animation style from the Hanna-Barbera 1950s era – but with a modern Singaporean twist. With distinctive landmarks, backdrops and atmosphere, the Asian city-state is the ideal location to create a humorous addition to the Tom and Jerry canon. Working with homegrown creative talent in Singapore and across Asia, this project grows the much-loved franchise in the region and beyond.”

Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios Senior Vice President of Series Vishnu Athreya, said, “Tom and Jerry are two of our most universally loved characters, proving that laughs can translate to any audience. The fans in Asia have long embraced these characters and it’s great to finally give them a version to call their own.”

The project is produced by Warner Bros. Discovery’s Carlene Tan. Vivek Bolar serves as Lead Director. The project is animated by Aum Animation Studios India, with stories and designs from Singapore-based Robot Playground Media and Chips and Toon Studios.

There are also plans to launch additional Tom and Jerry-branded consumer products to complement the series launch later this year.

Tom and Jerry is one of the leading franchises in the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio with a global social reach of 50 million and almost 30 billion minutes watched on the Warner Bros. Kids YouTube channel. There have been more than 500 episodes and 15 movies made so far in its 83-year history, securing seven Academy Awards along the way.

MUMBAI: Last week, Bob Iger’s statement that Disney was looking for an out – either totally through a sellout or a joint venture partner in Disney Star India sent tremors across the entire media ecosystem.

From the outside, Star India seems to be doing well with its general entertainment channels Star Plus lording over the space like a colossus. It has also been seeing its channels’ fortunes rise in some of the regional languages.

Yes, the sports business appears to be under pressure as the network refused to invest top dollar for digital rights of the IPL, ISL and several other important sports properties. And the recently concluded IPL was allegedly a millstone, reportedly not even recovering what was invested.  Or at least that was what was being claimed by the Reliance owned rival Viacom18 and Sports18 which is now led by former Star India CEO Uday Shankar.

At least one professional believes that there is a possibility that Iger and Ambani could get into bed for the complicated Indian market. And that’s Investment analyst Karan Taurani of Elara Capital. Predicts he in a newsletter Elara Diet Report released last week: “We believe there is also a likelihood of Viacom 18 (73 per cent  owned by RIL/TV18, 11 per cent TV ad market share)- the third largest broadcaster after Zee/Sony and Disney, becoming a strategic partner with Disney India as the former is aggressively seeking to make inroads in the media segment (TV via TV18/NW18; digital via Jio Cinema).”

Taurani also is pretty bullish on the continued sustainability of television as a business, despite all the soothsayers saying that it is headed south.  “As per our assessment, unit economics of the TV business is strong, led by healthy profitability margin (30-32 per cent  EBITDA for larger broadcasters core TV business, ex OTT losses),” he writes in the report. “We continue to believe that despite converging growth rate, linear TV medium is a key mode of mass campaigning for larger advertisers (FMCG contributes 45 per cent to TV ad revenue), given the reach/scale it has. Digital has the potential to grow, but unit economics are not yet proven. We, thus, prefer the linear TV business from a profitability standpoint and believe it will be a win-win for India despite tepid growth rates, as digital is an expensive medium. This may be a challenge to scale at mass – digital ARPU for a consumer with major OTT platforms subscriptions and data costs is around Rs 1,500, 4x higher than that of TV ARPU (Rs 350). “

Overall, his opinion is that an exit or strategic change in Disney Star India bodes well for the overall market with peers such as Zee, Sony, Viacom18 and Sun TV gaining. He explains: “This could enable a strategic shift in the ‘go to market’ strategy, in turn benefitting other players to gain market share. Disney India enjoys strong recall across genres such as urban GEC, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and sports, which together contribute 65 per cent  to India’s TV revenues. TV may become further consolidated post Z-Sony merger with top two players (Z-Sony and Disney India) commanding around a 60 per cent ad market share, leaving little or no potential for peers to gain (or spike) market share.”

If Taurani’s prediction of Reliance and Disney forging a marriage come true, it will be a homecoming of sorts for the savvy mover and shaker Uday Shankar. Already, he has been shopping aggressively at Disney Star India and has managed to recruit many senior  executives from there for his charge.

Mumbai: History TV18 has announced the launch of its new documentary ‘The Evacuation: Operation Ganga’ that tells the gripping tale of one of the largest evacuation operations of the 21st century, carried out by the Indian Government in Ukraine.

Narrated by media commentator and Defence Analyst Maroof Raza, the documentary presents first-hand accounts of Indian students stuck in war ravaged Ukraine, living in bunkers devoid of basic necessities, food and water, while their parents anxiously awaited their safe return. The film’s narrative juxtaposes the worsening situation in Ukraine and the ever present fear for life, with the unfolding of a massive rescue mission focused on a singular objective – to bring every Indian back home. With compelling footage, revelatory details, untold first-person accounts and unprecedented access, the ‘The Evacuation: Operation Ganga’ offers rare insight into the logistics of the mammoth operation and the Indian government’s remarkable efforts to create secure routes for stranded students. 

It has been over a year since the Ukraine-Russia conflict broke out and its reverberations and repercussions have been felt worldwide as hostilities escalated. For thousands of Indian students trapped in the active war zone, uncertainty and risk to life loomed large. ‘The Evacuation’ shines a light on the indomitable spirit of India and the Indian government’s unwavering resolve to ensure the safe return of every Indian citizen. At the helm of the humanitarian mission was the prime minister, Narendra Modi. Featuring on the documentary, the prime minister explains how ‘Operation Ganga’ was planned and what it meant to him and the country.

“In the heart of every Indian, there rests a profound faith: No matter the challenge, no matter how daunting the circumstance, they know their government stands with them and will bring them back home safely. This isn’t merely policy – it is our testament of humanity. This is a bond we have seen strengthen time and again, reflecting the indomitable spirit of our nation,” said Modi.

Sharing important insights, India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar adds an insider perspective of what transpired behind the scenes. Other esteemed figures from India’s foreign service, such as Rahul Shrivastava (Ambassador of India to Romania, Moldova & Albania), Nagma Mallick (Ambassador of India to the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Lithuania), Partha Satpathy (Former Ambassador of India to Ukraine), also shed light on the relentless efforts of Indian diplomats, to ensure that stranded individuals were taken care of, despite extreme weather conditions, visa norms and more. 

Speaking of India’s diplomatic efforts, Jaishankar said, “Our relentless efforts spanned across neighbouring countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and later Moldova, as we sought their cooperation for facilitating the evacuation process from Ukraine. Through diplomatic channels, the Prime Minister engaged with President Putin, securing a cease-fire during the evacuation period and obtaining designated routes for evacuation. While numerous countries struggled to evacuate their citizens with just a couple of flights, India successfully coordinated 90 flights to safely send back Indian students. Our nation’s important voice continues to play a pivotal role in shaping outcomes on the global stage.”

Special envoys and senior Ministers also feature in the documentary.  Hardeep Puri (Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas), Gen (Retd) VK Singh (Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation) and Kiren Rijiju (Minister of Earth Sciences) explain how India expedited border crossings in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, revealing the extraordinary collaboration of state machinery, Indian defence forces, private partners and the Indian diaspora, as never witnessed before.  

India’s Union Minister for Civil Aviation & Steel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, one of four ministers who travelled to Ukraine to oversee the evacuation, said in the film, “The Prime Minister convened a meeting to assess the situation on the ground and devise a strategy for the safe return of our students. His directive was clear: it was our responsibility to ensure the safe return of all Indian citizens, students and youth, and we were to stay until the last flight departed from Ukraine bound for India.”

From the days leading up to the conflict in February 2022, through the outbreak of the war and beyond, the documentary provides a blow-by-blow account of the operation.

‘The Evacuation – Operation Ganga’ is a History TV18 original, produced by Colosceum Media. The film premieres on History TV18 on Saturday, 17 June 2023 at 8pm.

Mumbai: The BBC and ITV will provide live television coverage of the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In total, all 64 matches from the tournament, which starts in Auckland on 20 July, will be broadcast in the UK on either the BBC or ITV, except for the Final, which will be shown across both BBC One and ITV1.

Alongside TV coverage, live audio commentary will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra, after securing rights to broadcast the tournament. Fans will be able to listen to 5 Live coverage on BBC Sounds, DAB radio, and the BBC Sport website.

Across BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, TV, radio, and online, the BBC will now look ahead to this summer’s competition in Australia and New Zealand, bringing audiences 2023 FIFA World Cup live coverage, entertainment, analysis, and discussion.

ITV will show coverage of half of the tournament’s matches across ITV1 and ITV4 with simulcast and catchup on ITVX. Match highlights will also be on ITVX as well as ITV’s social media platforms. And build-up programming will be shown on ITV4/ITVX ahead of the tournament.

The BBC and ITV have partnered with the EBU which is a European alliance of public service media organisations.

BBC Sport’s rights portfolio also includes Women’s Super League, the Olympic Games, The FA Cup, Wimbledon Championships, the Six Nations and the Premier League.

This new deal adds to ITV Sport’s portfolio of first-class events, which also includes Six Nations rugby, the Rugby World Cup, England Women’s qualifiers and friendlies, UEFA EURO 2024, the FA Cup, EFL highlights including the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One, Sky Bet League Two, Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy, La Liga, the Tour de France, the NFL, Heineken Champions Cup, Gallagher Premiership Rugby and, in motorsport, Extreme E, plus British Touring Car Championships and MotoGP, SailGP, plus major competitions in snooker and darts.

Mumbai: Vadnagar, located in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, stands as a captivating example of a city woven intricately into a rich urban tapestry, shaped and moulded over centuries. Its profound historical significance and enduring legacy have stood the test of time, evoking unparalleled admiration. Building upon this timeless allure, Warner Bros. Discovery is set to enthral audiences with the premier of the two-part docuseries, “Ananth Anaadih Vadnagar”, on 7 June.

In a collaborative effort with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Gujarat State Survey, and esteemed universities, the dedicated team behind the docuseries embarks on an extraordinary excavation journey. Their mission: to unearth and reveal remarkable archaeological evidence that will captivate audiences in this engrossing series. Guided by the seasoned host, Manoj Muntashir Shukla, the series weaves together the narrative of this eternal city across the ages, breathing life into its people, structures, and events through expert interviews and state-of-the-art 3D visual effects reconstructions.

Manoj Muntashir Shukla said, “The opportunity of hosting this docuseries has been a uniquely reassuring and a learning experience for me, and for that, I am truly grateful to Warner Bros. Discovery. This project marks my first collaboration with them. Despite Vadnagar’s widespread recognition, there were numerous fascinating aspects about the city that remained unknown to me, and I am confident that there will also be revelations for many people in India. The discoveries made in the docuseries took me by surprise and I cannot wait for viewers to explore this untold narrative and be equally surprised.

The captivating docuseries explores the enduring history of India’s fortified city where each episode delves into a specific era, beginning with Vadnagar’s evolution from a modest settlement to a prominent town during the Mauryan Era. The Indo-Greeks constructed imposing fortifications in the 1st Century BCE, while Buddhism thrived with the discovery of numerous monasteries. Vadnagar’s significance as a trade hub grew through coin mints, various industries and buzzing marketplaces prove the continued significance of Vadnagar as centre for commerce and trade in Gujarat during ancient and medieval periods. The series also reveals the settlement of Nagar Brahmins from the Hindukush, the amalgamation of faiths, and Vadnagar’s resilience in the face of arid conditions. It explores invasions, the rebuilding of the Hatkeshwar temple, and the city’s embrace of modernity under the Gaekwad Era. Recent excavations indicate Vadnagar’s existence predates the Mauryan era, further solidifying its remarkable 3000-year history.

Discovery South Asia head of factual and lifestyle cluster Sai Abhishek shared, “As pioneers in the history genre, we continue to lead the way with our unique content that resonates with audiences of all ages. Our ever-expanding roster of Indian Originals in the history genre is a testament to our commitment. Recognizing the vast potential of the subject, we are delighted to strengthen our collaboration with Manoj Muntashir Shukla, and the Archaeological Society of India. The intriguing history of Vadnagar, with its unexplored facets, holds even greater significance today and deserves to be explored by audiences in India and around the world.”

The two-part special series, “Ananth Anaadih Vadnagar,” premieres on 7 June, Wednesday at 9:00 pm on Discovery Channel and is available to stream on the discovery+ platform.