ITV

Category: Factual

  • Discovery India launches travelogue promoting Uttar Pradesh

    Discovery India launches travelogue promoting Uttar Pradesh

    Mumbai: Discovery Communications India, in association with the Uttar Pradesh government, is all set to launch an exclusive travelogue “Heritage Trails, One District, One Product.” 

    Releasing on Discovery channel and discovery+ on 25 September, the documentary highlights the states’ rich culture, diversity, and the plan to ensure livelihood to the MSME sectors and accelerate economic development under ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) – a vital scheme set up by the government to preserve the indigenous crafts and artisans and boost the MSME economy.

    “When we speak of culture and legacy, the one word that comes to mind is India. Being a diverse and secular country, every part of India including Uttar Pradesh oozes tradition in numerous forms and it is important to protect it in every way possible,” said Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. “Our association with the Discovery for ODOP initiative is a step towards spreading awareness, protecting, and propagating the rich heritage of our country and generating self-employment.”

    The documentary is hosted by popular TV actor Gaurav Chopra who takes the audience to cities like Agra and Varanasi and gives them an immersive experience as he learns about and makes the products with the local artisans, and understands how these crafts are related to their livelihood and welfare. The documentary will reveal the true indigenous side of Uttar Pradesh while elaborating on the government’s efforts to promote and rescale its local crafts and products that give the state its identity. It also highlights crafts like Gulabi Meenakari and Marble Inlay work that is exclusive to the state.

    “We at Discovery, are delighted to partner with the government of Uttar Pradesh for this one-of-a-kind documentary which beautifully captures encouraging stories and puts a spotlight on the state’s art and rich culture,” said Discovery Inc managing director for South Asia Megha Tata. “We can’t emphasise enough on this commendable programme by the government which not just provides livelihood to the district but also showcases India’s culture and art forms in the global market. Hoping our viewers find it equally enlightening and empowering.”

    Viewers can watch the documentary on Discovery Turbo and Discovery Science as well. 

  • Emerald Media, Mayfield India sell stakes in Amagi

    Emerald Media, Mayfield India sell stakes in Amagi

    Mumbai: KKR’s pan-Asian media investment platform Emerald Media and Mayfield India on Saturday announced they have sold their stake in Amagi, a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV.

    Accel, Avataar, Norwest Venture Partners, along with existing Amagi investor Premji Invest have collectively invested well over $100 million to pick up the stake held by Emerald Media and Mayfield India, said the statement.

    “Emerald Media and Mayfield India were early investors in Amagi. They invested at a time when cloud technology in broadcast media was in its infancy,” commented Amagi co-founder and CEO Baskar Subramanian.

    Amagi is one of the largest cloud deployments in the world with distribution in 40 countries across cable, connected TV and OTT. The company supports over 800 channels on its platform including playout and redundancies. It has developed deep technical integration with ad-supported platforms such as The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV, Plex, Redbox, Stirr, Vizio, Xumo and other top 30 OTT platforms, providing one of the most comprehensive distribution coverage for content owners to reach their audiences in the US, LatAm, Europe, and Asia.

    “Our journey of partnering with Baskar, Srividhya and Srinivasan in bringing alive their vision of becoming one of the fastest-growing media SaaS companies in the world has been an enriching one,” said Emerald Media managing director Rajesh Kamat. “Amagi has today catapulted to international success with a global footprint and a robust growth trajectory on the back of its bold and pioneering technology innovation along with their ability to foresee the needs of the industry.”

    “Mayfield being the first institutional investor in Amagi in 2013, we have observed this company grow from an India-focused technology and services player to a truly global and dominant SaaS enterprise on the back of their unique and homegrown IP stack. We wish all three founders and the incoming investors all the best in the years to come,” said Mayfield India managing partner Vikram Godse.

    Amagi has a state-of-the-art cloud broadcast operations center that can support 1000+ live linear channels. The company clients include A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, CuriosityStream, Discovery Networks, Fox Networks, Fremantle, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, Tegna, Vice Media, and Warner Media among others.

  • Discovery India launches premium clothing line with Myntra

    Discovery India launches premium clothing line with Myntra

    Mumbai: Discovery Communications India has announced the launch of its unique blueprint of clothing line – Discovery Adventures X Roadster Life Co, in collaboration with its licensing agent in India Black White Orange. Tailored to the needs of the Indian market, the full range of products is available on Myntra.

    The collaboration aims at providing quality and functional products for modern-day men and women, celebrating the beauty of the outdoors, and inspiring activities that enrich people’s lives, said the statement.

    Discovery’s product line includes approximately over 100 unique style items ranging from jackets, knitwear, sweatshirts, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and trousers in a variety of bold and seasonal colours. Combining innovative technology with design excellence to create a perfect balance between aesthetic and performance, the products capture versatile features like being hyper stretch, water-resistant, easily packable and convertible, along with key design style elements, including the Discovery logo and collaboration labels.  

    Discovery Inc, SVP- international licensing, Ian Woods said, “The launch of Discovery Adventures X Roadster Life Co represents a milestone for us in the Indian market, with branded apparel now available for the first time. At the core of Discovery’s DNA is the spirit of adventure, exploration and innovation, and we are proud to partner with Myntra, one of India’s leading fashion and lifestyle destinations, to bring this brand ethos to life in a range of quality products that are relevant and on-trend for consumers.  

    “It’s a proud moment for Myntra to kick off this association with Discovery for one of the leading jeanswear brands in the country, Roadster Life Co, the brand ethos of which revolve around building great experiences, memories and stories that resonate with younger consumers and thus has become a favourite across India,” commented Myntra CXO and chief – Myntra fashion brands, Manohar Kamath. “Passion for outdoors is common to the DNA for both Roadster Life co and Discovery Adventures, making it a great opportunity to leverage synergies and offer a compelling lifestyle range to customers.”

    Black White Orange Brands Pvt Ltd, co-founder & COO Mitali Desai stated, “Adventure-wear has been a major white space category for us, and we’re extremely excited to partner with Myntra to launch the stylish yet comfortable Discovery Adventures X Roadster Life Co range. Discovery is known for its minimalistic yet classy artwork and we are sure that the adventure enthusiasts will enjoy browsing through and shopping for this stunning collection.” 

  • Discovery India ties up with UN India and WWF India to launch #StopTheMelt campaign

    Mumbai: Real life entertainment channel Discovery India on Saturday launched its #StopTheMelt campaign in partnership with UN India and WWF India to urge people to do their bit to slow down global warming.

    The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ and the channel hopes to throw light on the ailing state of the planet on the occasion. So, for the first time, it has also decided to change its logo to deepen understanding of the impact of global warming, and to encourage people to take action today for a better tomorrow.

    A special film was also released in partnership with UN India and WWF India to raise awareness and rekindle hope within every individual with simple yet impactful call to action like tree plantation, avoiding plastics usage et al.

    Speaking about the campaign, Discovery Inc- South Asia, managing director, Megha Tata said, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to driving awareness about the need for reduction of human impact on the environment. We are proud to extend our partnership with UN India and WWF India, two most powerful and recognized forces working relentlessly towards environment conservation. As leaders in real-life entertainment, it is also our responsibility to continue drawing attention towards important issues beyond this day alone.”

    The campaign is backed by captivating creatives across Discovery Network social media platforms which symbolises the harsh effects of Global Warming. Several celebrities including Malaika Arora, Suresh Raina, Rana Daggubati, Dia Mirza, Pratik Gandhi, Neeraj Pandey (Filmmaker), Shital Bhatia (Film producer), Sania Mirza and environmentalist Ivan Carter, Nigel Marven among many others have lent their support to champion the cause of self-reflection to re-analyse habits and save the environment.

    UN resident coordinator in India, Renata Dessallien said, “2020 was a year of reckoning – a global pandemic that’s wreaked havoc in every part of the world, and a climate crisis that continues to deepen. This year, as we enter the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, we must vigorously renew our commitment to tackle climate change head-on through collective action – plant more trees, change our diet, say no to plastic and pledge to re-use, reduce and recycle.”

    Sharing his thoughts, WWF India, secretary general & CEO, Ravi Singh said, “The focus is to invest our efforts to conserve, protect and restore our ecosystems, which is the solution to a sustainable future. WWF India has always taken pride to partner with Discovery India for campaigns driving the message to conserve nature and to secure a better future by putting both the health of people and our planet first.”

    To drive a deeper engagement with audiences, Discovery Channel will also air a five hour-long gripping slate of content specially curated for World Environment Day, including Wild Karnataka, The Story of Plastic, Jeremy Wade – Mighty Ganga, Great Global Clean-up, and India 2050 on 5 June from 12 Noon to 5 PM.

  • Discovery lines up special shows on World Environment Day

    Mumbai: A special lineup of shows will be unveiled from 12 pm to 5 pm on Discovery Plus and Discovery Channel for Indian audiences on 5 June to mark World Environment Day. The popular host of Jeremy Wade’s Mighty Rivers, will also provide a special feature on the increasing pollution levels of the Amazon, Ganges, Yangtze, Mississippi, Danube, and the Zambezi river networks that will be an added attraction on the channels.

    Wild Karnataka

    Karnataka is the home to some of the richest wild places on the planet and boasts of rich biodiversity, most of it still unknown to the public. The film also appreciates the efforts of people, the government, and the forest department who are committed to saving nature for future generations to marvel at.

    The movie spotlights the state government’s initiative called The Tiger Foundation of Karnataka Forest Department (TFKFD), as a crusade to save the majestic tigers and elephants found more abundantly here than anywhere else in India. The money raised through the show was donated to the TFKFD. The documentary sends a message of hope, not just across India but the whole world. Leading film stars lent their voice over for the narrative in the documentary in different languages. Sir David Attenborough narrates the English segment; Rajkumar Rao does the voice-over in Hindi, Prakash Raj in Telugu and Tamil, and Rishab Shetty in Kannada.

    The Story of Plastics

    The documentary focuses on the timeline of the growing plastic pollution crisis. It exposes the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the fallaciously recommended solution of plastic recycling. It also highlights the excessive environmental damage that it causes along with the human rights abuse that occurs in the industry throughout the production of plastic products.

    India 2050

    This documentary gives us a glimpse into the potential damage climatic change can bring upon us in the future if we do not take responsible steps to safeguard our environment today. The documentary feature articulates the potential danger of uncontrolled environmental degradation and serves as a much-needed wake-up call. This world environment day, India 2050 will urge every Indian to take the first step to become a responsible citizen.

    Jeremy Wade’s Mighty River Monsters

    In this new, six-part series, Jeremy sets out to examine and explore some of the planet’s largest waterways with the same immersive style that made Jeremy Wade’s Mighty River Monsters a global success. He’ll be taking the pulse of the Amazon, the Ganges, the Yangtze, the Mississippi, the Danube, and the Zambezi to understand how exploitation and pollution contribute to the ruin of rivers that were once the lifeblood of communities and home to majestic freshwater giants.

    Great Global Clean-up

    The show focuses on people from across the world who got together in clean-up drives in parks and beaches at an event called the “Great Global Clean-up”. It features Zac Efron and Zach King with local superstars and people from across the world who lent a helping hand to clean as much waste as possible, setting a target to collect a hundred billion pieces of trash from public places across the world.

  • Discovery partners with Ellen DeGeneres to produce natural history content

    Discovery partners with Ellen DeGeneres to produce natural history content

    MUMBAI: Multiple Emmy Award winner and renowned talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has joined the Discovery family, where she will collaborate on a slate of content. Exclusive to Discovery in the natural history space, DeGeneres will develop and produce a variety of specials, series, and documentaries that will bring her unique charm, passion and wit both in front of and behind the camera.

     

    The exciting line-up will highlight the many wonders of the natural world and the incredible wildlife who inhabit it for both Discovery Channel and its subscription streaming service discovery+, launched earlier this year.

    “Ellen’s dedication to the environment and her love for all animals, including the most endangered creatures who call our planet home, is unmatched… We welcome Ellen and her team to the Discovery family as she brings her humour, her voice, and her ability to inspire to these important passion projects,” says Discovery and Factual chief brand officer Nancy Daniels.

     “I’m so excited to partner with Discovery. I’ll get to discover all kinds of things about incredible animals. For instance, did you know the Ring-Tailed Lemur’s tail is longer than its body? I think that’s his tail. I hope that’s his tail. I have so much to discover with Discovery,” quips Ellen DeGeneres.

     From Discovery and the BBC Natural History Unit, Endangered follows the effort of dedicated wildlife conservationists across the globe as they work to compile the latest version of The Red List – the most comprehensive record of the state of the world’s wildlife that has ever been created. In addition to serving as an executive producer, DeGeneres also narrates the documentary, the first time she has done so on a project. Endangered is the BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s first non-BBC commission and launches on discovery+ on Earth Day, 22 April 2021.

     The slate will be executive produced by Jeff Kleeman, president of Ellen’s AVGP company, and Howard Swartz, SVP Documentaries and Specials, Discovery.

  • Sony BBC Earth launches Young Earth Champions with Bhumi Pednekar

    Sony BBC Earth launches Young Earth Champions with Bhumi Pednekar

    MUMBAI: Being indoors has made us realise just how energising it is to be outdoors and has given us another reason to be a lot more compassionate towards our planet. The year gone by also made us take notice of the sweeping environmental crisis, pushing us to work towards building a better tomorrow for the next generation. There is a dire need to elevate the voices of the youth and drive them towards a positive call for action as their small steps today can make a big difference in the future.

    In line with this belief, Sony BBC Earth is launching its IP Young Earth Champions in partnership with actor Bhumi Pednekar, who is a strong advocate of environmental conservation through her flagship initiative – Climate Warrior. Together, via this nationwide contest for all climate-conscious students, Sony BBC Earth and Bhumi Pednekar are presenting a platform that not only recognises and rewards innovative ideas but also inspires the young minds of India to think about a better and a more sustainable future.

    Backed with an intent to inspire kids to be catalysts for conservation early on, the contest will be open for fifth to ninth standard kids who have to send in entries for the most innovative ideas that will make our cities and communities more sustainable. Bhumi Pednekar, along with an expert, will judge this initiative and select one lucky Young Earth Champion who will be featured on the channel. Not only that, the top ten winners will get to virtually interact with Pednekar and have an invigorating conversation on doing our bit in preserving the Earth and co-existing with it.

    For more details on the initiative, log on to www.sonybbcearth/youngearthchampions

    Sony Pictures Networks India English cluster business head Tushar Shah said, “It gives us immense pleasure to join hands with climate warrior Bhumi Pednekar for Young Earth Champions and together present a platform for the young minds to voice their innovative ideas for a sustainable future. Through positive and insightful storytelling, Sony BBC Earth has always aimed at creating awareness about the importance of safeguarding the natural world and environment. This initiative is just another step towards educating young minds about the power they have to bring about that change; thereby encouraging them to work towards a better tomorrow.”

    Pednekar added, “Climate change is upon us, and it's real. Through my initiative of 'Climate Warrior', I diligently try to highlight the seriousness of the crisis and its repercussions. I am glad that Sony BBC Earth echoes the same beliefs and with Young Earth Champions is offering a great platform to trigger exchange of creative ideas among kids, who have the power to bring about change. I am looking forward to an encouraging participation from incredible, young talents and a stimulating discussion about a sustainable future.”

  • Discovery Channel’s Feelin Alive returns to take viewers on another epic ride

    Discovery Channel’s Feelin Alive returns to take viewers on another epic ride

    MUMBAI: After a long time of being cooped up at home, a lot us are craving that feeling of exhilaration that comes from participating in extreme adventure sports. The adrenaline rush, the sheer excitement, the butterflies in the stomach before taking the plunge are all hallmarks of what great adventures look like. Discovery Channel is all set to bring back the thrill of extreme sports with an exciting new season of its adventure reality series Feelin Alive season two, this time, helmed by two very dynamic and talented hosts – Amol Parashar and Cyrus Sahukar.

    Presented by Mi 10T pro and in partnership with Audible, White Hat Jr, Renault, Amul, Ather energy, and Behrouz Biryani, Feelin Alive season two premieres on 28 December, 2020 on Discovery Channel, Discovery HD, TLC and TLC HD.

    Shot in one of the most beautiful locations in India, Manali, the four-part series will see hosts Amol Parashar and Cyrus Sahukar as they go around discovering the unknown and overcoming their fears. Training under experts, the duo will set out to perform some extreme sports including slacklining at Jagat Sukh, canyoning at Jogini Falls, snowboarding at Solang Valley, and ATV off-roading. This action-packed season is sure to make the viewers feel alive.

    Amol Parashar said, “It was an amazing experience. I have never felt such thrill in my life! Manali is such a beautiful place, but this time, it was more than just the beauty of this place that I got to savour. That thrill of trying something new for the first time was priceless. To be honest, it was a bit nerve wracking for me before I tried these extreme sports. But once I got into it, I was loving every moment of it. I am grateful to Discovery Channel for such an awesome show, which I not only enjoyed shooting, but one that also helped me overcome my fears.”

    Cyrus Sahukar said, “I thoroughly enjoyed myself while shooting for Feelin Alive season two. It was a fun and a very beautiful experience being in Manali. I feel, trying new things really helps you overcome your fears. I would watch people doing all these things and being all cool, on Discovery Channel in fact, but never had the courage to do this on my own, until now. And boy am I glad to have had the opportunity. This is going to be one experience I will remember for the rest of my life.”

    Discovery Communications India south Asia MD Megha Tata said, “Discovery has been synonymous with real life entertainment in India and shows like Feelin Alive further enhance that offering. We are delighted to bring back the extreme adventure show Feelin Alive, and collaborate with Mi 10T Pro to drive synergies and accompany the new hosts, Cyrus Sahukar and Amol Parashar on this adventurous journey. We are also happy to associate with some of the leading brands for this show.”

    “We are extremely delighted to partner with Discovery India and embark on an adventurous journey with Feelin Alive, one of their renowned and thrilling shows. Today smartphones define not only the way we plan and execute our travels but also how we document them. Owing to the unprecedented advancement in technology, smartphones have definitely ousted traditional cameras, especially for travel photography,” said Mi India MD Manu Kumar Jain. “Allowing users to create and share visual content using smartphones, the Mi 10T Pro which has been featured in this show, is an epitome of technology and creativity and is a perfect companion for all power users.”

  • National Geographic India returns with new edition of Extreme Tech

    National Geographic India returns with new edition of Extreme Tech

    MUMBAI: The latest edition of National Geographic India’s Extreme Tech is all set to bring forth an extreme engineering feat that aims to change the narrative of the freight transport system in India. Premiering Extreme Tech: The Freight Corridor on 19 December 2020 at 7 pm, the channel will offer a glimpse into the new age Indian Railways transportation system and delve into the efforts of introducing a pioneering solution – dedicated freight corridors – that can become a model of infrastructural development.

    The documentary brings to light the journey of Indian Railways, which is one of the world’s largest rail networks by size, and touches upon the numerous challenges currently faced by our freight transport. It highlights the need for path-breaking innovation and demonstrates the profound impact envisioned for the dedicated freight corridors that can make India’s freight movement fast, cost effective and reliable. Taking the viewer across various sites where construction is underway, the documentary concentrates on understanding the process and the long-term positive impact it will have on Indian businesses, trade, economy and India’s GDP in the coming years. From running a dedicated freight corridor, managing freight traffic efficiently to slashing the carbon footprint by more than 4.5X the documentary showcases the way ahead for India’s future-ready transport system.          

    “At National Geographic India, we endeavour to bring inspirational stories of our nation’s growth and development, through insightful and ground-breaking storytelling. With this edition of Extreme Tech, which focuses on highlighting the magnificence of modern engineering, we took the opportunity to enlighten our viewers on an engineering marvel that can change the very landscape of the Indian freight transport system,” said a National Geographic India spokesperson

    “DFC is a project that will make India stand out in the world market; cementing our place as a manufacturing hub. We are creating a truly futuristic design with a sustainable and green model that has the potential to expand its capacity to keep up with India’s ever-growing freight demands. DFC will pave the way for a robust, world class ecosystem in infrastructure” said DFCCIL MD Ravindra Kumar Jain. 

  • Discovery Plus brings India: The Forgotten Army

    Discovery Plus brings India: The Forgotten Army

    MUMBAI Discovery Plus an aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app, has announced the digital premiere of India: The Forgotten Army. Commemorating the 102 anniversary of the end of World War 1, the gripping documentary traces and documents the courage of Indian soldiers, shipped to distant shores to live and fight in deplorable conditions during the First World War, featuring expert insights by Dr. Shashi Tharoor. The film is an adaptation of the book World War Sikh: Memoirs Of An Indian Cavalryman 1913-45 by Rana TS Chhina; and also uses first-person accounts to tell the story of the war and the circumstances that Indian cavalrymen faced, as revealed in the letters they wrote to their families, more than a hundred years ago.

    India: The Forgotten Army looks at the crucial yet unnoticed role played by the Indian soldiers during World War I with expert inputs of notable personalities, including Dr. Shashi Tharoor- former minister of external affairs, India, Tony McClenaghan- Military Hostorian, England and Dr.Santanu Das- Professor of English Literature, King’s College London amongst others.The documentary brings to light the extraordinary contribution of the Indian soldiers in the war, bringing to the fore many overlooked sacrifices.

    Dr. Shashi Tharoor said, “It is not widely appreciated that World War I also involved soldiers from faraway lands that had little to do with Europe’s bitter traditional hatreds. Of the 1.3 million Indian troops who served in the conflict, you hear very little. As many as 74,187 Indian soldiers died during the war and another 67,000 were wounded. Their stories, and their heroism, have long been omitted from popular histories of the war, or relegated to the footnotes.” He adds, “These men were undoubtedly heroes: pitchforked into battle in unfamiliar lands, in climatic conditions they were neither used to nor prepared for, fighting an enemy of whom they had no knowledge, risking their lives every day for little more than pride. Yet they were destined to remain largely unknown once the war was over: neglected by the British, for whom they fought, and ignored by their own country, since they were fighting a colonial war.History had orphaned them. This film is a valuable contribution to their overdue rehabilitation”

    “The brave feats by Indians during the First World War had so far, gone unnoticed. We are humbled to be able to shine a light on their tales of courage and sacrifice with  the release of India: The Forgotten Army on Discovery Plus. Our users have repeatedly expressed their interest in knowing more about the storied past of our brave soldiers and this release reaffirms our brand’s commitment to listen to our users,” said Discovery  digital (South Asia)  business head  Issac John. “At Discovery Plus, we aim to bring meaningful and relevant content for our passionate users. It is our constant effort to offer world class documentaries to discerning Indian fans who are looking for such content which not only entertains but also encourages and inspires them.”

    India: The Forgotten Army brings together military and history experts and takes the viewers to the battle sites with animations and footages. Adapted from the book World War Sikh: Memoirs Of An Indian Cavalryman 1913-45 by Rana TS Chhina, India: The Forgotten Army is now streaming on Discovery Plus.