ITV

Category: Factual

  • Lifestyle channel FoodFood to go live on DD Free Dish starting 1 April

    Lifestyle channel FoodFood to go live on DD Free Dish starting 1 April

    Mumbai: Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s food and lifestyle channel FoodFood is set to go live on Prasar Bharati’s free-to-air DTH service DD Free Dish from 1 April.

    With this development, FoodFood becomes the only speciality channel to be made available on the largest DTH platform of the country reaching over 40 million households, said the statement. After consolidating its position in the primary and focus markets in India, FoodFood has become a popular choice of channel across International destinations and geographies, the statement added.

    “FoodFood has always been at the forefront of breaking barriers in the industry as the first 24×7 food lifestyle programming and now again being the first to reach rural audiences,” stated Sanjeev Kapoor. “I firmly believe that food is a universal language that breaks all barriers of cultures, races, and borders. With FoodFood, I want to reach as many people as possible looking for relevant content on food to make taste buds tantalised and possibly their lives brighter.”

    FoodFood is currently distributed through Tata Play and leading MSO’s across the country.

     

  • World Water Day: NatGeo teams up with NMCG for a film on Ganga conservation

    World Water Day: NatGeo teams up with NMCG for a film on Ganga conservation

    Mumbai: To mark the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March, National Geographic is set to premiere a documentary film titled “Ganga: The River from the Skies” at 8 p.m. The channel has collaborated with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to make this docu-film on Ganga conservation.

    Hosted by award-winning conservationist and filmmaker Mike Pandey, the film highlights the intricate network of people, organisations, and infrastructure that are working together towards the mission to rejuvenate and preserve the Ganga. 

    “My relationship with the Ganga as a conservationist has been lifelong. All the efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga, and the Ganga basin, and all it sustains are very close to my heart,” said Pandey. “For this very special film, I travelled from Sunderbans to Devprayag and the Himalayas to understand the ongoing conservation work. The message of this film is that each one of us needs to take ownership, and lend our shoulders to become part of the effort and feel responsible for the health and well-being of our rivers.”

    The relentless human and economic activity and the effects of climate change have impacted the clean and unbridled flow of Ganga and its tributaries. The channel has collaborated with NMCG to encourage viewers to bring about a behavioural change and ensure the long-term sustainability of various initiatives undertaken by the central government, said the statement. “The documentary will showcase the river’s beautiful voyage across the heart of India, while traversing a mosaic of cultures, traditions, and communities that share a unique relationship with it. The hour-long special will take viewers through one of the largest and most comprehensive river conservation programmes in the country,” it added.

    “At National Geographic, we strive to inspire people by bringing to them insightful stories that take them on an immersive journey,” said the channel’s spokesperson. “The Ganga has significant economic, environmental, cultural, and religious value in our country and by showcasing the incredible and extensive efforts of the NMCG to clean and rejuvenate our majestic river, we wanted to encourage everyone to do their part in making the Ganga thrive again.”

    “Our river Ganga is considered to be a lifeline of this country and plays many a role in each state that it traverses through. However, it is currently facing many threats and at National Mission for Clean Ganga, we have been consistently working towards changing the fate of the Ganga and other rivers and for this, contribution at an individual level by every citizen of India is extremely crucial,” commented NMCG director G Asok Kumar.  “We all can come together and create a difference by saving Ganga. Our association with National Geographic is an important step towards sharing the incredible story of river Ganga with viewers across the country and uniting them to collectively work towards a conservation mission.”

  • Travelxp 4K ties up with Magyar Telekom to expand Europe footprint

    Travelxp 4K ties up with Magyar Telekom to expand Europe footprint

    Mumbai: Travelxp 4K has announced its partnership with Hungarian telecom company Magyar Telekom to distribute the channel to viewers across Hungary.

    Travelxp 4K is one of the world’s leading travel channels. Earlier, its premium travel and lifestyle content was available only to Telekom 4K mini pay package viewers on channel number 74 since November 2021. “The channel’s shows have been fully localised keeping in line with its commitment to connect with audiences in their own language. Travelxp is already localised in 13 European languages and distributed in over 20 countries across Europe,” said the statement.

    “Magyar Telekom is a great platform for airing the premium HDR content of Travelxp 4K in HLG HDR, 10-bit REC 2100 color space and 50 frames,” said Travelxp managing director – Europe Sumant Bahl. “According to a study I came across recently, television is the most widely consumed type of media in Hungary, reaching 8.3 million viewers in 2021. Apart from showcasing the beauty of the world in stunning resolution, we are also excited about introducing the people in Hungary to the original and engaging content we create, which has been known to not only invoke wanderlust in viewers across the globe but also challenge their notions of the world and broaden their horizons.”

    “We are very pleased to extend our 4K channel line-up with a high-quality travel channel like Travelxp 4K,” said Magyar Telekom director of TV and entertainment Annamaria Rajki. “In 2021 first in Hungary Magyar Telekom launched a 4K mini pay package for the Telekom TV subscribers. Now our 4K portfolio, which contained sport and nature-oriented channels thus far, is enriched with a new genre and provides astonishing contents for travelers in those times people could hardly travel.”

    Travelxp is distributed in over 80+ countries, localised in over 15+ languages and has 1000+ hours of premium travel and lifestyle content. It is also one of the largest producers of travel content and a global innovation leader in 4K HDR technology. With a diverse programming mix, all Travelxp shows are original in-house productions filmed across 55+ countries with multi-cultural hosts from across the world.

  • HBO Max accelerates global footprint with 15 new European countries

    HBO Max accelerates global footprint with 15 new European countries

    Mumbai:  WarnerMedia’s streaming platform HBO Max is now available in 61 territories globally, after launching in 15 additional European countries. These new countries where HBO Max was launched on 8 March include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

    HBO Max launched in the US in May 2020 and is rapidly rolling out globally. In June 2021, it became available in 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean and in October 2021 it arrived in Europe, launching in the Nordics, Spain, and Andorra. The premium streaming platform continues its global expansion later this year, with launches set for Turkey, Greece, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. There are also plans for further expansion to Southeast Asia.

    HBO Max launches with attractive pricing and a promotion offering all customers in Central and Eastern Europe and Portugal more than 30 per cent off the monthly price for the lifetime of their subscription. In the Netherlands, it launches with two tiers, both at 50 per cent off the regular monthly subscription price for the life of the subscription. A monthly subscription to the standard tier (with HD 1080p, 4K, three concurrent streams, 30 downloads) is priced at €3.99 and a monthly subscription to the basic tier (with HD 720p, one concurrent stream, five downloads) at €2.99.

    “From today, HBO Max is streaming in 21 European countries with Central and Eastern Europe, Portugal and the Netherlands joining the Nordics, Spain and Andorra where we launched the platform last year,” said HBO Max EMEA general manager Christina Sulebakk. “Central and Eastern Europe is where it all began for our European business back in 1991 with our first linear channels and we’re pleased that today, more than 30 years later, we’re bringing fans in the region a completely new way to access all their favourite entertainment.”

    “In under 24 months we have built a scalable streaming business present in 61 territories and counting. International is going to continue to be an important part of our global growth story going forward,” commented HBO Max International head Johannes Larcher. “I am particularly proud that our presence in Central and Eastern Europe is further strengthened by today’s launch of HBO Max, and that we are doubling down on our strong commitment to fans, partners and employees across the region during this challenging time.”

    HBO Max is distributed as an app across devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Google Chromecast, Roku and a host of smart TVs. WarnerMedia has also launched an ad-supported version of HBO Max which offers the service to consumers at a lower price. The streaming platform is expected to foray into India this year.

  • HistoryTV18’s #RoadTrippinWithRnM returns with new season on Women’s Day

    HistoryTV18’s #RoadTrippinWithRnM returns with new season on Women’s Day

    Mumbai: HistoryTV18’s digital first series “#RoadTrippinWithRnM” is returning for its seventh season on International Women’s Day on 8 March. The show will be available to watch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

    In this new season, Rocky and Mayur will start off with the monuments and street food of Delhi before driving into Rajasthan, exploring its palaces, forts, and rich historical and cultural legacy, and food. The duo will interact with and celebrate inspirational women on the trip and share insights and perspectives on life, career, interests, travel and more, said the channel in a statement.

    “Mile upon mile of endless sand as far as the eye can see. Fiery hot foods, Grand palaces and haunted cities…Rajasthan holds many mysteries and has always been a delight to travellers from the world over,” said Rocky. “I look forward to the ultimate road trip because for a traveller, the journey is always more fascinating than the destination.”

    Mayur added, “I’m looking forward to the joy of the open road and ‘soaking’ in the magnificent desert landscapes, along with all the unexpected delights that come with a road trip. As always, we’ve packed wisely. We are setting out with large doses of curiosity and sanitizer as we seek to embrace Rajasthan without filters.”

    “’RoadTrippinWithRnM’ owes its incredible following and growing popularity to the sheer richness and diversity of the sights, sounds, flavours and experiences that it has showcased around India,” said HistoryTV18 president – content and communication Arun Thapar. “Each season’s journeys, locations, people and places are varied yet bound together by Rocky and Mayur’s friendship, inimitable humour and quirkiness. It’s a show that’s rich in facts, presented with a lot of joy. It celebrates the wonders, great and small, that lie all around if one chooses to see and feel. The series has connected and engaged millions of viewers, winning loyal fans and critical acclaim. And we can’t wait to find out where the next bend in the road leads.”

  • Travelxp launches food channel Foodxp in India

    Travelxp launches food channel Foodxp in India

    Mumbai: Travel channel and OTT platform Travelxp has announced the launch of its food channel Foodxp in India. The new channel was unveiled on 1 March.

    Foodxp was first launched in the UK on Sky in August 2019 to distribute food-based content. The channel emphasises diversified cuisines and talented upcoming Indian chefs.

    “Foodxp has gained huge popularity amongst Indians as well as the local residents of the UK,” said the statement. “Foodxp has become one of the top ten most viewed food channels in the UK and also received the award of ‘The Best Asian Food Channel’ in the UK in December 2021.”

    With more than 1,000+ episodes, the channel offers varied cuisines incorporating delicious dishes from Asia, Europe, America, and all across the world. One of the distinctive features of Foodxp involves real-time food creation, which means the recipes are made outright while shooting the episodes. This feature facilitates users to obtain real-time insights into the recipe.

    The team consists of some of the finest, talented, young as well as experienced chefs including Ajay Chopra, Harpal Sokhi, Vicky Ratnani, Neha Deepak Shah, Kiti Bhoutika, and so forth. The channel will be launched with shows comprising “Mix Masala by Chef Ajay Chopra,” “Food Fiesta by Chef Kriti Bhoutika,” “Kuch Teekha Kuch Meetha by Chef Neha Shah,” “The Royal Taste by Chef Mirvaan Vinayak,” and so on. 

    Travelxp is a 4K HDR travel channel reaching out to over 500 million+ viewers in over 50+ countries. “The channel strives to create and distribute high-quality content across all their channels. Foodxp is indicative of the kind of content viewers are looking for i.e., food adventures, how-to videos, luscious food recipes, and so forth,” said the statement.

    “With Foodxp, we bring what we are recognized globally for world class 100 per cent original programming which is relevant, experiential and informative for the viewers,” said Travelxp director Nisha Chothani. “We aim to make Foodxp the default destination for food just like Travelxp did with Travel.”

    “Food is the only thing that connects people from different cultures,” said Foodxp creative director Geetika Jain. “We launched Foodxp with a vision to promote Indian food and talent globally. The channel successfully provides an international platform to the brilliant upcoming Indian chefs. Each of the recipe is distinctive and curated by bringing together innovative recipes from across cultures.”

  • MNX partners with Tamil Nadu Tourism for new series ‘One For The Road’

    MNX partners with Tamil Nadu Tourism for new series ‘One For The Road’

    Mumbai: MNX has announced the launch of its maiden original series “One For The Road” in partnership with Tamil Nadu Tourism. Starting 25 February, the series will air every Friday at 8:30 p.m across Times Network channels – MNX, Movies Now, Romedy Now, MN+, Zoom, Times Now, Times Now World and Mirror Now.

    Featuring supermodel and actor Milind Soman, the six-episode travelogue series captures the serene and breath-taking beauty of Tamil Nadu.The series will see Soman riding a bike, covering the length and breadth of the state and visiting fascinating sights and off-beat destinations including Mudumalai National Park, Pollachi, Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Aliyar Dam, Madurai, Suruli Falls and Srivilliputhur Wildlife.

    One For the Road is presented by Tamil Nadu Tourism, Smart Tyre Partner – JK Tyres and Riding Partner – Royal Enfield. 

    “We are excited to launch MNX’s maiden original series, One For The Road in partnership with Tamil Nadu Tourism,” said Times Network chief operating officer and executive president Jagdish Mulchandani. “Tamil Nadu is culturally rich with home to some of the best tourism sites in the country. I am confident that the show will resonate with our viewers as it allows them to explore the State through a unique virtual experience, infused with breath-taking landscapes, timeless architecture and exotic wildlife.”

     

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by MNXMovies (@mnxmovies)

     

  • Nat Geo’s new show ‘She Builds’ spotlights Indian women entrepreneurs

    Nat Geo’s new show ‘She Builds’ spotlights Indian women entrepreneurs

    Mumbai: National Geographic has joined hands with Sequoia India to spotlight the inspiring journeys of Indian women entrepreneurs with its brand-new digital series – “She Builds.” Premiering on 22 February, the show will be released on National Geographic India’s social media platforms as well as on Disney+ Hotstar.

    The six-part series of short digital films will touch upon the lives of seven successful Indian female founders who are defying the odds by taking risks, dreaming big, and driving innovation in India. By spotlighting these role models, “She Builds” seeks to put entrepreneurship on the agenda for a wider group of women and girls, said the channel.

    The series, airing over two weeks, will feature entrepreneurs like Animall’s Neetu Yadav & Kirti Jangra (22 February), Mad Street Den’s Ashwini Asokan (24 February), Mamaearth Ghazal Alagh (26 February), Atlan’s Prukalpa Sankar (1 March), Heads Up For Tails’ Rashi Narang (3 March), and Byju’s Divya Gokulnath (5 March).

    The six-part series of short films have been produced in collaboration with Sequoia India, Sikhya Entertainment and directed by Vijayeta Kumar.

    “At National Geographic, it is our constant endeavour to bring stories that take our audiences on an immersive, inspiring and sympathetic journey,” said Disney Star head- network entertainment channels Kevin Vaz. “With ‘She Builds’ we are delighted to bring motivational stories of seven women entrepreneurs who have contributed in changing the narrative of women leadership in India.”

    “We understand that short-form content presented in an interesting manner is appreciated and preferred by our audiences, so we are bringing these stories in bite-size formats and premiering them on our highly engaged social media platforms,” Vaz further said.

    “At Sequoia India we have been privileged to meet ambitious and successful women entrepreneurs who challenge the status quo every day, building game-changing businesses to be the pioneering leaders they are. Their stories are inspiring, relatable, and incredibly uplifting. But they just don’t get told often enough,” commented Sequoia India and Southeast Asia CMO Gayatri Yadav.

    “As a filmmaker, I get immense creative satisfaction in telling stories that can inspire conversations and shape perceptions. With ‘She Builds,’ I am taking the opportunity to present the stories of seven exceptional women who are defining what it means to be a leader in 21st century India,” stated Sikhya Entertainment CEO and founder Guneet Monga. 

  • Baseline Ventures sends legal notice to Discovery Communications

    Baseline Ventures sends legal notice to Discovery Communications

    Mumbai: Baseline Ventures has filed a legal notice to Discovery Communications India for fulfilling a pending payment owed to it by the Volleyball Federation of India.

    Discovery Communications is set to enter a contract with the Volleyball Federation of India for the purpose of telecasting the recently announced Volleyball League on their Eurosports channels.

    According to a ruling dated 21 November 2020, an arbitral tribunal presided by retired justice K Kannan had directed the Volleyball Federation of India to pay a sum of Rs four crore with 12 per cent per annum in interest and a sum of Rs five lakh as costs to Baseline Ventures.

    In the legal notice, Baseline Ventures, IP owner of Prime Volleyball League, noted that the volleyball body failed to comply with the payment, resulting in the sports marketing and promotion company filing an execution petition before the Madras high court for a sum of Rs 4,53,86,509, along with future interest. The legal notice also mentioned that the revised payment has also not been paid.

    “Baseline is owed over Rs six crore by this body as decided by the courts. On hearing that Discovery Sport wants to broadcast this, we have made them a party to this sum as they are signing a contract with the same body. Discovery needs to be aware of the legal history of this agreement and the dues still owed to us,” said Prime Volleyball League CEO Joy Bhattacharjya.

    At the same time, the secretary-general of the Volleyball Federation of India Mohd Akram Khan also wrote to Discovery Communications India, noting that the inception of the Volleyball League set to be broadcasted on the channel by the name of EuroSports, was created by a small unrecognised faction of Volleyball Federation of India. The notice also added that the same faction had conducted a parallel election in the federation and was not approved by any constitutional authority and the status of the election is being decided by the Supreme Court.

    The ministry of youth affairs and sports have not renewed the recognition of the Volleyball Federation of India for the term 2020-24 and there are no office bearers of VFI in the records of the ministry, stated the legal notice. “The so-called ‘VFI’ is not recognized by the ministry of youth affairs and sport since 2020,” Bhattacharjya added.

    “We challenge this so-called VFI to provide evidence that FIVB, the world volleyball body, is actually supporting this event as claimed. If they cannot provide the same, they are cheating players and the public.” he further said.

  • Discovery to amp up linear programming with 5X hours of original content in 2022

    Discovery to amp up linear programming with 5X hours of original content in 2022

    Mumbai: Discovery Inc has virtually showcased its annual upfront presentation to advertisers and marketers in India, outlining its content strategy and programming lineup for 2022.

    In the presence of Megha Tata (MD- South Asia), Ruchir Jain (head of Eurosport India and distribution – South Asia), and Shaun Nanjappa (head of advertising sales- South Asia), the event saw Discovery reinstate its brand promise of bringing diverse content covering lifestyle, kids and sports genres, spanning across its linear brands like Discovery Channel, Discovery Kids, TLC and Eurosport.

    To amp up linear programming in India, Discovery will introduce five times hours of original content across factual entertainment, lifestyle and sports categories. Discovery Kids will introduce two times hours of content in the first half of 2022. This will include the launch of two new properties “Little Singham 3D” and “Baby Little Singham.”

    The year’s content slate comprises titles like “Into the Wild with Bear Grylls” featuring Vicky Kaushal, “Star vs Food: Season 2” starring Anil Kapoor, Janhavi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Nora Fatehi, Badshah and Zakir Khan, “Mission Frontline” featuring Sara Ali khan, Farhan Akhtar and Rohit Shetty, “Money Mafia: Season 1&2,” and “India’s Space Odyssey” – the documentary that looks at the 60-year journey of the space sector in India. The Indian version of the hit international franchise “Say Yes” to “The Dress! India” will also premiere on TLC.

    The event highlighted how Discovery Kids has diversified their offerings and built a roster of engaging content. One of its flagship properties, “Little Singham v/s Black Shadow” was pronounced as top show of 2021 demonstrating the popularity of the franchise. To further build on it, Discovery Kids will be expanding the franchise with two new properties “Little Singham” in 3D and “Baby Little Singham” as a treat for its young fans in 2022. With a renewed focus on experimentation, and diversification of business, the channel aims to add two times hours of content in the first half of 2022.

    Eurosport India also promises an extravaganza for all sports enthusiasts with sporting events that will further build on the cult appeal for MotoGP, along with AFC Women’s Asian Cup, PGA Tour, UCI Track Champions League, AEW, Tour de France, amongst others. With a renewed vision to embrace homegrown leagues and sports, Eurosport India will continue to focus on being the go-to-destination for passionate sports fans across the country.

    “over the previous year, Discovery India network has cemented its position as a leader, commanding close to 50 per cent category share in the infotainment category with nine out of top 10 shows of 2021 belonging to Discovery Channel. Pushing the envelope further in creating inspiring content, the network successfully emerged amongst the top four in terms of growth,” said the statement.

    “2021 proved to be a year of new milestones for Discovery Network, with the brand garnering 182 per cent higher reach than the English News Genre and 112 per cent higher than that of leading English GEC and English movie channels combined in terms of the weekly data. Adding further value and credibility, Eurosport also witnessed growth in viewership from Q1 within two years of its launch. The response thus encourages Discovery to take a leap ahead in its vision for 2022 by bringing five times hours of original content – the highest number of originals ever produced in the infotainment category across genres and formats,” it added.

    Reinstating Discovery Inc’s consistent efforts to be a partner of confidence to eminent stakeholders, the event offered a look-back at the key branded properties across categories like edtech, auto, finance, telecom, and more. From Discovery School Super League Powered by BYJU’s, to the association with Hershey’s Jolly Rancher Lollipops for Little Singham, to projects with the government, the network plans to create stronger synergies across short and long format content in the year ahead.

    Speaking at India Sales Upfront 2022, Discovery Inc MD South Asia Megha Tata said, “As a network, we are driven by creative solutions and committed to offer a holistic and integrated brand experience to the diverse stakeholders. With innovation at core, we aim to leverage the power of Discovery’s legacy to create ground-breaking stories and emerge as a brand of confidence to our partners. We’ve had a heady kickstart to 2022 and are set for a riveting content repertoire ahead. We hope to further amplify the momentum not only with offerings that are genre-binding and authentic but also create seamless synergies across touchpoints adding value to the ever-evolving appetite of our target demographic.”

    “Overwhelmed with the success of Discovery’s Virtual Upfront 2022, I would like to thank our partners and advertisers for their unwavering support in making Eurosport India a household name in no time,” remarked Discovery head of Eurosport India and distribution – South Asia Ruchir Jain. “Delving beyond the realms of mainstream sports has spiked our viewership by a whopping 158 per cent since Q1. Our upcoming line-up of sports has been liked by all the stakeholders and we are excited to bring it all on Eurosport in the coming months, making 2022 certainly look bright for us!”

    Discovery head of advertising sales – South Asia Shaun Nanjappa added, “As a network, Discovery in the past year has not only completed over 40 projects successfully but carved a niche for itself with constant support received from our stakeholders throughout. Our varied offerings across diverse genres and tailor-made 360-degree business solutions helped us strengthen our footprint in the infotainment category and we will continue to focus on making content the hero. We will continue to experiment as the trends change and come up with differentiated offerings through our partnerships that emerge as successful milestones for the brand as well as our stakeholders.”