ITV

Category: GECs

  • The History Channel to hit Scandinavia on 1 February

    The History Channel to hit Scandinavia on 1 February

    MUMBAI: The History Channel UK, a joint venture between A&E Television Networks (AETN) and British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), has announced an agreement to distribute The History Channel to Scandinavia, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

    Through an agreement with Norway’s Canal Digital, the channel will debut in Scandinavia on 1 February 2007. Available to approximately one million households across the region at launch, the channel will be broadcast in English with local subtitles for each of the four countries.
    The channel in Scandinavia will be programmed by The History Channel UK, but will offer a separate schedule from the UK service. The network will air on channel 27 in Norway, Denmark and Finland, and on channel 28 in Sweden, informs an official release.

    The History Channel features award-winning programming that covers a variety of topics, including ancient history, contemporary history, military history and conflict, and technology and transport. Among the original series that air on the channel are Battle Stations, Engineering an Empire, MegaDisasters, and Digging for the Truth; specials include The Crusades: Crescent and The Cross, Titanic, French Revolution and Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids.

    The History Channel UK commercial director Ian McDonough said, “Scandinavia is a hugely important market for us and we are excited to be launching The History Channel with a partner as strong as Canal Digital. The Scandinavian people have a keen interest in history and the channel’s programmes offer the highest production value together with topics ranging from the Ice Age to the Digital Age.”

    “We are very pleased to launch The History Channel Scandinavia, and expand significantly our European footprint,” said International AETN Vice President Sean Cohan. “As the brand’s visibility in the region grows, we plan to offer viewers our award-winning content across platforms – via mobile, broadband and VOD. We also look forward to introducing our other channels, The History Channel HD, The Biography Channel, Crime and Investigation Network in Scandinavia in the near future.”

  • WWIL plans to raise up to $250 million

    WWIL plans to raise up to $250 million

    MUMBAI: Wire & Wireless India Ltd (WWIL), Zee Group’s demerged cable entity, plans to raise up to $250 million (approximately Rs 11250 million) for funding its expansion programme including digitalisation and acquisition of operators.

    The board which met on Monday considered all the fund raising options including issue of ADR (American depository receipt), GDR (global depository receipt), equity, debt, debentures, FCCB (foreign currency convertible bond), QIP (qualified institutional placement) and convertible warrants. The board has decided to convene a general meeting of the shareholders.

    “This is is just an enabling resolution and we plan to decide on the amount we are going to raise and how within 15 days,” says WWIL managing director Jagjit Kohli.

  • Sony beefs up 10 to 11 band with new soaps

    Sony beefs up 10 to 11 band with new soaps

    MUMBAI: Two new shows Durgesh Nandini and Jeete Hain Jiske Liye from the Sony stable will hit the small screen starting 5 February. The two soaps have been clubbed in the 10 to 11 pm band and will air from Monday to Thursday.

    While Durgesh Nandini replaces the recently concluded reality television series Bigg Boss slotted from 10 to 10:30 pm. The 10:30 to 11 pm slot was reserved for repeats of various shows on the channel. This slot will now air Jeete Hain Jiske Liye.

    According to the recently released TAM data for the last six months (15 July ’06 to 13 Jan ’07) – Sony is facing a long, hard climb at number three with its relative channel share at 12 to 13 per cent compared to Star Plus now at 40 per cent relative share and Zee hovering around 23 (Hindi GEC / TG CS 4+/ HSM Market).

    The two shows have been positioned to compete with Star’s K-sagas, especially the predominant players Star’s Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kyunki Saas Bhi Bahu Thi that airs within the same time band.

    Sony Entertainment Television chief creative director Sandiip Sikcand said, “It’s clear that Indian audiences will watch shows that bring out their best emotions. So Durgesh Nandini has a subtle tone of humour while Jeete Hain Jiske Liye is more intense. But both are essentially stories of women with grit and determination.”

    While the channel claims that its immediate focus is to spruce up this band, it has also revealed that it is planning to beef up its 9 to 10 prime time slot with new programming. Without giving out details, the channel is all set to look at a sitcom and even a game show.

    Sony Entertainment Television COO NP Singh says, “Around March-April 2006, we decided to take stock of our programming and come up with a healthy mix of fiction and non fiction programming. Reality series like Fear Factor, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Bigg Boss were results of that. While a third season of Indian Idols is already on the cards, we also wanted to get back to daily soaps.”

    While Durgesh Nandini is a comedy/drama loosely based on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel, SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta revealed that Jeete Hai Jiske Liye has been adapted from an international telenovella. Both of them have women as their main protagonists. No surprises there. But Jeete Hain Jiske Liye star cast includes Renuka Shahane who will make a return to television after a five-year gap. Her popularity among television viewers should prove to be a huge factor in roping viewership for the show.

    Talking about bringing back some of the old shows in an attempt to garner viewership Singh says, “We believe that old brands which we have invested in and have been successful should be revived and made best use of. We decided to go back to shows like Boogie Woogie, CID, Aahaat and now Karamchand.”

    Sony made cricket and entertainment synonymous and the network is all geared up for World Cup 2007. While Max, Sab and Pix will air matches and shows around it , the channel is determined to keep Set cricket free and provide more entertainment for those taking a break from the game.

  • Shilpa Shetty trots away with ‘Big Brother’ win

    Shilpa Shetty trots away with ‘Big Brother’ win

    MUMBAI: Bollywood contestant Shilpa Shetty emerged as the winner of Channel 4’s reality show Big Brother on Sunday. Following a heated controversy sparked by alleged racial comments hurled at Shetty by inmates of the Big Brother house, earned her a lions share of the public vote of 67 per cent.

    In the last leg of the show Shetty beat MJ’s big brother Jermaine Jackson and was reportedly paid in excess of 40,000 pounds for her participation. Touted as the ‘hot favourite’ by bookies, the win seemed to have been an expected outcome for the Bollywood star.

    The racial slurs did not only have repercussions for the professional careers of those in question, namely Jade Goody, but also cost the show the withdrawal of one its biggest sponsors Carphone Warehouse, which said it did notwant bto e associated with claims of racist bullying.

    Both the broadcaster Channel 4 and television regulator Ofcom were said to have received more than 21,000 complaints in support of Shetty. The matter was further taken to the House of Commons by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in response to NRI MP Keith Vaz statements.

    As opposed to this, the Indian adaptation of Endemol’s reality format Bigg Boss crowned Rahul Roy as victor awarding him Rs 5,000,000. However, Shilpa’s teary eyed incidents seemed to have over-shadowed the ‘drama’ in the celebrity enclosure back home.

  • Blackstone to invest $ 275 million in Ramoji

    Blackstone to invest $ 275 million in Ramoji

    MUMBAI: In the single-largest investment in Indian media, global private investment firm Blackstone Group has announced it will be pumping in $ 275 million (approximately Rs 12.38 billion) to acquire a stake in Ushodaya Enterprises Limited (UEL), the holding company that manages Ramoji Rao’s media assets.

    While yesterday’s announcement gave no details on the quantum of the stake that Blackstone would be taking in the south Indian media baron’s closely held company, media reports have put it at 26 per cent. This would put UEL’s enterprise valuation at $1.06 billion.

    In addition to the $ 275 million that UEL is raising from Blackstone, it is also taking $190 million of bank financing, bringing the total financing it expects to raise to $465 million. As part of the agreement, Blackstone will have representation on the Board of UEL.

    The transaction is subject to regulatory approval by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and the information and broadcasting ministry.

    UEL chairman Ramoji Rao stated, “We were impressed with Blackstone’s disciplined and highly rigorous investment process and the ability to combine this emphasis with a deep and genuine respect for the promoter’s interests and desire to add value. The company had access to several financing options, including an IPO; but we decided to go with Blackstone because we believe that at this stage of our growth we have an opportunity to create significant value by leveraging Blackstone’s outstanding experience and track record in the global media sector.”

    Akhil Gupta, chairman and managing director of Blackstone Advisors India Private Limited, stated, “We believe that the Indian media sector will be a key beneficiary of a secular trend in growth in personal consumption that is driving India’s economic expansion which in turn will spur advertising growth. Importantly, we believe that UEL is an ideal platform for Blackstone to play this highly attractive sector in India..”

    Kotak Investment Banking acted as the sole investment banking advisor to the transaction.

    UEL owns Eenadu, the third largest newspaper, and ETV, the fourth largest private television broadcasting network in the country. The parent company of UEL, Ramoji Group, owns the 1,600-acre Ramoji Film City, which is Asia’s largest studio, apart from diversified interests in hotels, foods and financial services.

    The Blackstone Group is a global private investment and advisory firm that has has raised a total of more than $75 billion for alternative asset investing since its formation of which over $30 billion has been for private equity investing

  • Sun TV net jumps to Rs 598 million

    Sun TV net jumps to Rs 598 million

    MUMBAI: Kalanidhi Maran’s Sun TV Ltd has announced a net profit of Rs 597.7 million for the quarter ended December 2006 as compared to Rs 399 million shown during the corresponding quarter in 2005.

    Revenues for the quarter increased to Rs 1250.2 million from Rs 948.1 crore shown in the year-ago quarter.

    The Sun TV board also anounced an interim dividend of 30 per cent or Rs 3 per share.

  • MTV US using search for a video game concept to spread awareness of Aids menace

    MTV US using search for a video game concept to spread awareness of Aids menace

    MUMBAI: mtvU, which is US broadcaster MTV’s college network and the Kaiser Family Foundation have announced the “Change the Course of HIV Challenge.

    This is a competition offering college students digital tools to reduce the spread of HIV/Aids among young people in the US. The challenge asks gamers, activists or any student with a great idea to propose a viral, Web-based video game concept to help raise awareness about HIV/Aids among 15-24 year olds in the US and to promote personal action in response to the epidemic.

    The winning individual or team will work with mtvU and the Kaiser Family Foundation — which are committing $75,000 to the development and marketing of the game — to see their idea realised. mtvU GM Stephen Friedman, says, “No undergrad in school today has known a world without HIV/Aids and a new young person someplace in the world is infected every 15 seconds GM. Through this challenge, we hope to inspire college students to use the power of online gaming to engage their peers, re-awaken them to the magnitude of this deadly virus and effect prevention.”

    Kaiser Family Foundation VP and director, entertainment media partnerships Tina Hoff says, “The competition is designed to help us reach young people in a different and engaging way to help inform them about HIV/Aids and spur action. As HIV remains the great public health challenge of this generation, it’s essential to find new and creative ways to engage and inform young people about the epidemic.”

    The two parties are looking for innovative, interactive concepts for video games that will spread rapidly online. Proposed projects should raise awareness about HIV/Aids among young people in the US, identify ways to stop its spread, and address the silence, stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease.

  • Star to form JV with Balaji for Telugu channel

    Star to form JV with Balaji for Telugu channel

    MUMBAI: Television content production house Balaji Telefilms Ltd. will get into broadcasting through a joint venture with Star Group. The two companies will be launching a Telugu channel with Star as a majority partner.

    “We will be partnering with Balaji for the Telugu channel. We will have majority stake in the joint venture,” Star India advertising, sales and distribution president Paritosh Joshi tells Indiantelevision.com.

    For the Bengali general entertainment channel, Star will continue its joint venture arrangement with the Ananda Bazar Group (ABP) but the corporate structure has not been frozen yet. In Media Content & Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd (MCCS), the company which owns and operates Bengali news channel Star Ananda, Star has a 26 per cent stake while ABP holds the balance 74 per cent.

    A separate joint venture for the Bengali general entertainment channel is being considered. Star has the flexibility of holding a higher stake in the JV while in news uplinking regulation restricts it to have a maximum 26 per cent stake.

    “The shareholders have been under discussion but nothing has been finalised as yet regarding the corporate structure for the Bengali general entertainment channel,” says Joshi.

    A two-hour entertainment band in the afternoons on Star Ananda is likely to be introduced in June. “The process has got slightly delayed but we are aiming to come up with the two-hour band in June. We will monitor its success and a full fledged Bengali entertainment channel could come up towards the end of the calendar year,” says Joshi.

    The Telugu channel is expected to be launched in August-September. “We have started work on the content strategy and are in the process of formalising the joint venture for the Telugu channel,” says Joshi.

    Balaji has the option of partnering with Star in the southern-language channels. This formed part of the agreement when Star acquired a stake in Balaji Telefilms. But it excludes Vijay TV as Star bought out UTV’s stake in the Tamil channel before the deal with Balaji was struck.

    Balaji has had to weigh several factors like its existing business with Sun TV Ltd. where it gets healthy revenues. In the last two quarters ended 31 December 2006, Balaji had revenues of Rs 158 million from the Sun network channels.

  • SPTI signs development agreement with Base Camp Films

    SPTI signs development agreement with Base Camp Films

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International’s (SPTI) international networks group is expanding its original production efforts by signing a format development and series production agreement with reality production house Base Camp Films.

    The announcement was made by Marie Jacobson, SPTI’s senior vice president, programming and production, international networks, and by Base Camp principals Brady Connell and Jim Jusko.
    SPTI’s international networks group has been acquiring rights to produce local-language versions of third party formats, mainly for its AXN and Sony Entertainment Television (Set) networks. AXN and Set have produced local-language versions of such international formats as The Amazing Race (on AXN Asia), Big Brother (on Set India as Bigg Boss), Pop Idol (Set India as Indian Idol and Set Latin America) and Strictly Come Dancing (Jhalak Dikhla Jaa on Set India).

    The agreement with Base Camp augments SPTI’s efforts to acquire and develop its own original formats as part of its overall growth strategy.

    “While we’ve found great success with such third party formats as Pop Idol, The Amazing Race and Strictly Come Dancing, SPTI’s international networks are continuously seeking out homegrown, commercial formats with multi-platform extensions which our networks can own and control,” said Jacobson. “Jim and Brady are just the guys to bolster our collective efforts to develop and adapt formats for our international web of channels.”

    Base Camp principals Connell and Jusko will executive produce projects developed under the deal and adapt formats developed or acquired overseas by SPTI for sale in the United States.

    “The opportunities and challenges in the international TV marketplace make it an exciting and growing business for us,” said two-time Emmy winner Connell (The Amazing Race, Survivor, Eco-Challenge). “Our relationship with SPTI has grown steadily over the years, and we share a strong belief in the value of international partnerships for the production of innovative high-value programming,” noted Jusko who, prior to forming Base Camp with Connell in 2002, brought key international partners to Disney’s Air Bud and Lions Gate’s Kiefer Sutherland starrer, Dead Heat.

    As part of the agreement, the first format in active development is Base Camp’s Six Degrees of X. Developed to be scalable for global, regional or local production, Six Degrees of X tests the theory that all people are somehow connected by only six degrees of separation, even today’s hottest celebrities and their most adoring fans.

    “Six Degrees of X is great TV and opens the door for compelling extensions in the web and mobile space,” added Jacobson. “We’re actively developing it out to pilot across our SPTI networks later this year.”

    SPTI is also fast-tracking the development of a groundbreaking cross-platform interactive ‘crimesolving’ project known as MyCrime. To be produced with Base Camp for SPTI’s international channels and networked with internet and wireless devices, MyCrime is set for global launch in mid 2007.

    Pamela Parker, SPTI’s vice president, business affairs and acquisitions, led negotiations on behalf of SPTI. The agreement was negotiated for Base Camp by United Talent Agency.

  • earthTV to launch in Korea next month

    earthTV to launch in Korea next month

    MUMBAI: Programming produced by earthTV, which operates a remote-controlled broadcast camera network will launch across Korea on JoongAng Broadcasting’s Q Channel, on 5 February 2007.

    earthTV programmes Motion Time Lapse, Earth Quiz and Best of The World Live will air 20 times daily across Q Channel’s broadcast schedule.

    Q Channel head Christina Lee says, “earthTV’s innovative programming is a perfect fit for the new Q Channel line-up which will feature world class documentary and factual programming. We look forward to developing a significant and lasting partnership with earthTV.” Q Channel has 7 million subscriber households in Korea.

    Launched in 2002, earthTV utilises its patented, remote-controlled camera technology to produce programming from its network of more than 70 remotely-controlled cameras around the world.

    earthTV’s president Thomas Hohenacker said, “earthTV is undergoing exceptional growth at this time, and our launch in Korea highlights our focus on growing earthTV across the Asia Pacific, and globally, during 2007.”

    Among other recent developments, earlier in January 2007, earthTV unveiled its new online platform www.earthTV.com and the site is already attracting huge web traffic worldwide.

    Programming produced by earthTV appears daily on more than 40 TV channels worldwide, as well as on mobile and online platforms.