ITV

Category: GECs

  • 325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe

    325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe

    MUMBAI: A study Leverkusen – Statistics for Europe show an annual 325 fires for every million television sets compared with just six in the US.

    The main reason for this is that TV housings on the old continent are still usually made from materials with little or no flame retardancy. In the US, materials with the V-0 classification are used, in compliance with the U.S. fire safety standard UL94.

    The risk of fire produced by televisions and IT equipment is now increasingly a focus of attention for the media and the public. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is also responding to the growing safety demands, with the IEC TC 108 – the standards committee with global responsibility for this area – currently laying down new requirements for flame retardance in TV sets.

    Bayer MaterialScience a polymer manufacturer says that the requirements can already be met by its FR grades, flame-retardant polycarbonate (PC) blends and special grades of the Bayer MaterialScience polycarbonate Makrolon®.

    Bayer Industry Services Michael Halfmann says, “One of the aims of IEC TC 108 is to protect TV sets more effectively from external ignition sources like a burning candle that has toppled over. Some 12 to 20 per cent of all TV fires do not originate in the set but from an external fire source. The new standard therefore specifies areas of a TV set that can be reached by the flame of a candle that has fallen over. The TV must not catch fire in these areas even if it is exposed to the flame for three minutes.

    ”Our flame-retardant PC/ABS blends and PC grades do not just conform to IEC standards. They can also be used without any problems as a housing material that conforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and RoHS EU directives.”

  • Raj TV Network plans to raise Rs 1 bn through IPO

    Raj TV Network plans to raise Rs 1 bn through IPO

    MUMBAI: Raj Television Network plans to raise Rs 1 billion through its initial public offering (IPO). The issue proceeds will be used for launching a niche youth channel, producing telefilms, distribution of TV channels in overseas markets, creating a studio facility, strengthening existing content, and exporting films.

    Post-IPO, the promoters’ holding will drop from 100 per cent to 72.5 per cent. The IPO will consist of a fresh issue of 22,70,700 shares (15 per cent) and an offer for sale of 12,97,550 shares (10 per cent). Raj TV Network is also reserving 2.5 per cent as ESOPs.

    “We expect to raise Rs 1 billion. The final value will, however, be determined through the book building process,” Raj TV Network senior vice president, corporate planning and strategy Sathya Prakash tells Indiantelevision.com.

    The company has earmarked Rs 106 million for launching a niche channel aimed at the youth while Rs 71.5 million will be for the studio and Rs 62.5 million towards telefilms. For beefing up content, Raj TV plans to spend Rs 90 million, Rs 50 million for export of films and Rs 37.5 million for distribution of TV channels in overseas markets.

    “We plan to produce five telefilms a year which could also be released on multiplexes. We will be launching our channels internationally. These channels will have a component of local content in each of the markets,” says Prakash.

    Raj Television Network has already filed the draft red herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to enter the capital market with an offer of 35,68,250 equity shares of face value of Rs 10 each. The book running lead manager to the issue is Vivro Financial Services (p).

    The company, which operates Tamil channels Raj TV and Raj Digital Plus, posted a revenue of Rs 320 million during 2005-06 fiscal and Rs 92 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2006. Pay-TV revenue accounts for 30-35 per cent of the company’s total earnings, says Prakash.

  • Viacom’s Q3 revenues up 7% to $2.66 billion

    Viacom’s Q3 revenues up 7% to $2.66 billion

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom Viacom has reported financial results for the third quarter ended 30 September, 2006.

    The company reported revenues and operating income of $2.66 billion and $655.5 million, respectively, for the quarter, compared with revenues and pro forma operating income of $2.48 billion and $744.5 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2005.

    The seven per cent growth in revenues was driven by a 10 per cent revenue increase in the cable networks segment. Operating income however declined 12 per cent versus 2005 pro forma operating income, as a 14 per cent gain in the cable networks segment operating income was more than offset by a decline in the Entertainment segment.

    Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone said, “Considering the short time that Philippe Dauman has been in place as CEO, I am truly impressed with our solid third quarter results, particularly the performance of our well-known cable brands. I am confident that you will see further operational success in the not too distant future. Viacom will continue to expand on its creative heritage and move rapidly to the forefront of emerging digital markets, keeping us on the path to outstanding long term financial performance and free cash flow generation.”

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “We achieved significant financial and operational progress in the third quarter and we remain on track to deliver on our goals for the full year. I see even greater opportunities to build for future growth as we harness Viacom’s powerful brands, popular content and unique connections with the audiences that are driving the digital revolution. Viacom is rich in the short-form content that is highly attractive to online consumers, underscored by our position as a leading entertainment content property on the Internet today with an aggregate 37 million monthly unique visitors in September.

    “We intend to continue to invest in our future and enhance profitability for the long term, as well as for the short term. We are making rapid progress and are intensifying our focus on continuing to grow our industry- leading flagship brands both here and in promising markets abroad, on accelerating the growth of our less-developed cable channels and underutilized content libraries, and on driving existing and newly created programming to audiences across every platform.

    “In addition to internal development, we will continue to apply a rigorous and selective approach to acquisitions that emphasizes coordination and execution and will add businesses in core areas that offer compelling experiences for our consumers.”

    Revenues increased by $182.3 million, or seven per cent to $2.66 billion. Cable networks segment revenues increased 10 per cent to $1.84 billion. Worldwide ad revenues at the Cable Networks segment increased by seven per cent to $1,090.1 million and affiliate fees climbed 12 per cent to $510.4 million. Cable networks segment acquisitions contributed $23.7 million of revenue growth, principally internationally, or 1.4 points of the segment’s total growth.

    The entertainment segment revenues were up one per cent or $11.9 million. DreamWorks and the distribution activities for DreamWorks Animation and DreamWorks live-action library films acquired on 31 January, 2006 contributed $279.2 million which was almost entirely offset by the box office success of War of the Worlds in the third quarter of last year. Films released in the current quarter included World Trade Center, The Last Kiss.

    The company reaffirms its full year 2006 guidance to deliver double digit revenue and operating income growth compared to 2005 revenues of $9.61 billion and 2005 pro forma operating income excluding unusual charges of $2.60 billion.

  • indya.com sets ‘web traffic record’ for Champions Trophy

    indya.com sets ‘web traffic record’ for Champions Trophy

    MUMBAI: Star India’s internet portal indya.com has registered over 1.1 billion hits and 234 million page views on its iccchampionstrophy.indya.com site since its 8 October 2006 launch.

    As the official internet partner of the International Cricket Council, indya.com was designated by the ICC to develop, host and market the official global web destination for the Champions Trophy, asserts an official release.

    The site attracted over three million unique users from around the world – the most from India itself, followed by users from the US, UK, Pakistan and Australia. The ICC Champions Trophy was held from 7 October to 5 November in four cities across India: Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mohali and Mumbai.

    “Cricket lovers throughout the world have counted upon indya.com to deliver the best online cricket experience available, and I believe that the results speak for themselves,” said Star India Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair.

    “The success we achieved makes icchampionstrophy.indya.com, Star India’s most successful web property to date and as the ICC Champions Trophy serves as a precursor to the 2007 Cricket World Cup, we anticipate an even larger response in the future,” he added.

    The website hosted country specific packages which were available at different price points, allowing internet subscribers to buy into a ‘match pack’ – a gateway to live clips, highlight packages, and expert comments of every match in the tournament. The site served over one million video and live-streaming requests.

    iccchampionstrophy.indya.com also offered a feature rich application called Matchcast that allowed users to access live scores, ball-by-ball updates of on-going matches, player and team backgrounds and a host of other information cricket enthusiasts would bowl their arm out for, adds the release.

    Sponsors on the site throughout the month long tournament included Lufthansa Airlines and Monster.com.

  • IMI seals Delhi unit in anti-piracy raid

    IMI seals Delhi unit in anti-piracy raid

    MUMBAI: The Indian Music Industry’s (IMI) anti-piracy team, in co-operation with the Censor Board of India had conducted a raid on 9 November and sealed a piracy unit in West Delhi. Operating under the name of Dugobs Replication Company, the raid on the establishment lead to seizure of goods valued at over Rs 200 million.

    IMI, represents the recording industry of India and is affiliated to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the world industry body.
    The piracy plant located at A – 25/ 2 Naraina Industrial area, phase I, as been hsealed and the establishment owner, Hiranand has been arrested.

    In total, over 90,000 CD’s and 10,00,000 inlay cards have been recovered along with equipment including a stamping and molding unit, a printing unit, a packing unit, a plant handling computer system and over 19 stampers, informs a statement.

    A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the accused and he is currently in police remand while further investigations are ongoing.

    Commenting on the raid, IMI deputy chief coordinator J N Saxena said, “This is an excellent piece of police work on information provided by IMI, and the police is now pursuing leads for facilitating further investigations. It is IMI’s constant endeavour to eradicate piracy, and together with judicial bodies and governmental agencies, we hope to one day seal all such nefarious establishments and bring to justice those who are guilty”.

    Elaborating further, IMI president VJ Lazarus added, “IMI has been working for the last ten years to control piracy and in the last four months itself, it has conducted raids on two of Delhi’s biggest CD plants- Deepak Arts CD plant and Dugobs Replication Company.”

    Deepak Arts CD plant was raided in July 2006 where goods worth over Rs 300 million were seized. The accused Deepak Malhotra, was arrested and placed in judicial custody for more than 40 days.

    IMI has constantly been demanding an optical disc law to be created in India to monitor CD plants. However, there has not been much success on this issue so far, adds the release.

    In Delhi, IPR is being flouted at every nook and corner in places, which include the Pallika Bazar, Chandni Chowk and Lala Lajpatrai market.

  • MTV Networks and Nexon announce ‘global online’ gaming partnership

    MTV Networks and Nexon announce ‘global online’ gaming partnership

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks and international game publisher Nexon have announced a partnership to create a new user experience for MTVN’S Neopets. one of the youth communities on the internet, and includes MTVN’s marketing of the launch of Nexon’s casual MMOG game titles in North America via its portfolio of television and online brands.

    The announcement was made by MTVN kids and family group executive vice president Stephen Youngwood and Nexon Japan CEO David Lee at the GSTAR 2006 Gameshow.
    Two of the first titles to be marketed under the alliance will be Maple Story and Kart Rider .

    This new service will provide users the ability to purchase premium level virtual items for customisation and personalisation, in addition to those currently available on the site. Nexon will also provide marketing and promotional support in Asia across its games portal for the new Neopets services.

    MTVN will also become a strategic marketing partner for the launch of Nexon’s first three games to be distributed in North America. Marketing campaigns will be run across a portfolio of MTVN television and online brands including MTV, MTV2, MTV U, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, The-N, Neopets.com, Shockwave.com, Addictinggames.com, Gametrailers.com and XFire.
    “We are delighted to establish this mutually beneficial partnership with one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms and the premier media partner in North America for Nexon’s wide ranging target audience. We are confident that through the alliance, Neopets will gain strong momentum in successfully serving its users with more value added services and that Nexon will be able to rapidly expand in the North American market,” said Lee.

    Neopets senior vice president and general manager Kyra Reppen added, “We are very excited about this opportunity to further widen the creative net for Neopets. This premium level experience will provide our members with an exciting new means to enhance their personal involvement with the site and represents a significant new business opportunity for our company in Asia, where Neopets will benefit tremendously from Nexon’s creative and marketing expertise.”

  • MTV ‘Hero Honda Roadies 4’ to kick off on 11 November

    MTV ‘Hero Honda Roadies 4’ to kick off on 11 November

    MUMBAI: MTV Hero Honda Roadies 4 is all set to kick off on 11 November at 7 pm. The final 13 MTV Hero Honda Roadies will come together accompanied by host, MTV VJ Rannvijay.

    Each episode will feature the experiences of the final 13 Roadies travelling across almost 8500 kms of sun, snow, rain and physical and mental stress, while complex challenges are thrown at them from every direction. With unexpected turns, twists and vote-outs at every stage, this season promises to be edgier and exhilarating, asserts an official release.

    Traversing the country on seven Hero Honda Karizmas, under challenging conditions with limited budgets and virtual isolation from their friends and family, the adventurers will undertake various tasks that test their endurance, energy and patience as they learn about India’s disparate environs and people.

    After getting through auditions held in Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata and Mumbai, seven guys and six girls have been chosen who had a penchant for adventure, and with distinctive personalities that set them apart.

    Each episode will have one Roadie voted out. With reel-life villain of Bollywood Gulshan Grover coming in at strategic intervals to make matters worse, backstabbing, flirtations, love affairs, lifelong friendships and betrayals… they’re all in a day’s journey for these young adventurers.

    Viewers will get to see every movement and reaction. The one Roadie who makes it to Gantok will win a cash prize of up to Rs. 5,00,000, adds the release.

    This years final 13 Roadies are:

    – KOLKATA:

    Raj Roy, 21 years old. He is a budding model and into body building, modelling and biking with an ability to switch personalities.

    Poonam Thacker, 19 years old. She has an adventure-loving spirit and bonds well with her buddies on the journey.

    Anthony Yeh, 20 years old. He’s a shy guy but has a naughty side to him because he loves to play pranks on his friends.

    – MUMBAI:

    Rishabh Dhir, 20 years old. A laidback, he likes playing his guitar and prides himself on his patience.

    – DELHI:

    Swati Ahuja, 18 years old. A positive thinker, while she lives in the present, she keeps one eye on the future thanks to her intuitive nature.

    Shaleen Malhotra, 18 years old. He is true biker at heart. A tough guy he adamantly believes he can never be wrong.

    Sonam Gupta, 20 yeasr old. She is a simple girl who wants her loved ones to be proud of her and believes in her friends.

    Roopali Anand, 20 years old. She describes herself as intelligent and beautiful, a naughty girl at heart, she loves instigating people till she touches a nerve.

    Ankit Mohan, 19 years old. He is a self-described hot and handsome hunk and aims for the spotlight.

    – CHANDIGARH:

    Amandeep Narang’s (aka Oorja), 20 years old. Though she has ordinary hobbies like DJing and dancing, but she takes weirdness to the extreme with her habit of calling spirits which has helped her in contacting people close to her.

    Gurbani (aka Bani) Judge, 18 years old. She is profound to the point of being ridiculous but not mild-mannered. Her ambition in life is to make a ton of money so that she can buy her mom a little beach house.

    Vishal Karwal, 21 years old. He is a straightforward guy whi claims that he can never backbite and hates people who do.

    Sahil Anand, 21 years old. An engineering student, he loves partying and counts on his smile to charm everyone.

  • ‘Semi Girebaal Returns’ to MTV

    ‘Semi Girebaal Returns’ to MTV

    MUMBAI: MTV is all set to launch the second season of Semi Girebaal. Semi Girebaal Returns would premiere on 12 November at 9:30 pm.

    Coming back with a completely different format, the new Semi Girebaal Returns will include a whole lot of new segments. Each episode will come with elements like celebrity chats and confessions – and this time with some real celebrities, shot in Semi’s new White House, asserts an official release.

    Semi is accompanied by her trusted hired help Atmaram, to ride beside her in her white car and also to enter into her mind and dream sequences. This time she is also coming outdoors with trips to the bazaar, charity auctions as well as the houses of celebrities to meet their cooks, cleaners and their pets – all sterilised for her.

    This season will even see Semi launch her own line of beauty products and merchandise on air. She is also giving out advice on matters of the heart, conducting poetry sessions titled semi literate and giving lifestyle tips like the art of crying.

    Season one of Rendezvous with Semi Girebaal received a good response when MTV VJ Cyrus Sahukar donned the avatar of Semi Girebaal and interviewed look-alikes of leading Indian celebrities in his, err… her tender manner, giving audiences mostly bakwaas information about the stars’ lives, loves and controversies.

    “You can run, but you cannot hide as the first lady of talk shows returns for the wackiest, craziest, zaniest season of interviews, gags and insanity on television. So pull out those white kerchiefs, pucker up for those air kisses and enjoy Semi Grebaal Returns,” says MTV India VP and GM creative and content Ashish Patil.

    Semi Girebaal Returns is presented by Sprite and associate sponsors Charlie Outlaw, Cadbury Éclair Crunch and Johnson and Johnson Stayfree, adds the release.

  • Mukta arts to take Whistling Woods to South Africa and Dubai

    Mukta arts to take Whistling Woods to South Africa and Dubai

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker Subhash Ghai is planning to set up Whistling Woods, a film and media arts institute, in South Africa and Dubai through joint ventures with local partners.

    “We see opportunity in Dubai and South Africa. We have signed an MoU with the provincial government of the Western Cape and are in talks with Dubai Media City,” says Mukta Arts CEO Ravi Gupta.

    Whistling Woods International Ltd, a subsidiary company, will jointly conduct a feasibility report for each of these markets. “The cost of setting up each institute will be close to Rs 1 billion. We would want to do it along with local partners,” adds Gupta.

    Ghai, has signed with Ibrahim Rasool, the premier of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, Republic of South Africa, a declaration of intent to work out a collaborative strategy for establishment of a film and media institute in Cape Town. “We expect to complete the feability study in three to four months. We will take a decision only after that,” says Gupta.

    Mukta Arts has already pumped in Rs 600 million to set up Asia’s biggest film, television, animation and media arts institute in Mumbai. The aim is to create a talent pool for the rapidly-growing Indian film and animation industry.

    Whistling Woods, which is offering two-year courses, has tied up with technology majors including nVidia, Apple, Sony, AMD, Belden, Nortel, Seneca, DigiDesign, Recreate Solutions, ToonBoom and Sennheiser.

    The institute provides specialisations in direction, ccreenwriting, editing, acting, business of film and television, cinematography, art and techniques of animation and sound recording and design.

  • Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    Buena Vista, BT sign video on demand deal in the UK

    MUMBAI: Buena Vista International Television (BVITV), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, and BT Plc, have announced that they have concluded a multi-year broadband video-on-demand rental agreement in the UK.

    This will make available, on-demand, a selection of upcoming, current and library movies from BVITV’s portfolio via BT’s upcoming next-generation TV service, BT Vision. This agreement is in line with The Walt Disney Company’s focus on the application of technology to enhance its content and expand its distribution, asserts an official release.
    Through this agreement, BT Vision’s customers will be able to purchase on-demand a selection of current and upcoming features from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. Titles include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Shaggy Dog and Scary Movie 4. The agreement also includes a range of library features, adds the release.

    BVITV EMEA executive vice president and managing director Tom Toumazis said, “As flexibility and choice of content become increasingly important factors to the entertainment consumer, we’re pleased to be working with BT to offer this strong selection of our movie titles to BT Vision’s customers across the UK, in a convenient range of ways on this exciting new digital service.”

    BT Vision CEO Dan Marks said, “We are delighted to announce this agreement with The Walt Disney Company. BT Vision’s film service will be immensely strengthened by our ability to offer current movies from one of the strongest studios and a great selection of titles from Disney’s magnificent catalogue. We look forward to working with Disney to develop and use innovative technology to continue providing our customers with choice, convenience and control over their movie-watching.”

    At launch, BT Vision customers will be able to enjoy a vast range of film, music and television programming available on-demand as well as interactive services and all the Freeview channels, all available on the TV, with no compulsory subscription. This combination, delivered on a software platform powered by Microsoft and through a set-top box made by Philips, will allow customers choice, control and convenience.

    BT Vision has already announced content deals with a range of entertainment companies including Dreamworks, i-concerts, Eagle Rock, BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music Group, National Geographic Channel,Universal,SONY BMG, Viacom and Turner Broadcasting; as well as with independents including Lionsgate, Entertainment Rights plc, NBD Television and Wall to Wall Television. BT Vision has also announced near-live FA Premier League matches from the 2007-2008 season, adds the release.

    This agreement was concluded by BVITV vice president Digital Media Damian Newton and executive director Sales UK and Ireland Catherine Powell, working with BT Vision’s director business affairs Mark Cranwell and head of film Bobbie Fox.