ITV

Category: GECs

  • Sahara One plans to raise up to $50 million

    Sahara One plans to raise up to $50 million

    MUMBAI: Sahara One Media & Entertainment Ltd has plans to raise up to $50 million in one or more tranches. The board, which met on 5 April, has given the green signal to offer and allot in foreign markets equity shares or other instruments like foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs).

    Sahara had bid around $176.25 million for the telecast rights to 25 one-day matches played by India at neutral venues for the next five years ($ 7.05 million per match). This means Sahara would have had to cough out $14.1 million for the two Indo-Pak Friendship Series matches to be held in Abu Dhabi later this month. But since Zee Telefilms bagged the rights, Sahara’s fund requirement would be less than $50 million in the immediate run.

    “It is just an enabling resolution for us to raise up to $50 million. If cricket rights would have come to us, our requirement to raise money would have been more immediate. We may raise the money in tranches. We haven’t decided when and how much money we are going to raise. All this will depend on how the business rolls out for us,” said an official in the company.

    Sahara has informed the BSE that its board has approved the issue, offer and allot in course of International offering, in one or more trenches and in foreign markets equity shares / preference shares / convertible debentures / convertible notes / FCCBs / secured premium notes (SPNs) and / or any securities convertible into equity shares at the option of the company and / or holder of the securities and / or securities linked to equity shares through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and / or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) up to a maximum amount of $ 50 million.”

    The board has also approved the calling of Extra Ordinary General Meeting of the company on 8 May to get the consent of shareholders.

  • Foxtel, Mark Burnett Productions sign deal

    Foxtel, Mark Burnett Productions sign deal

    MUMBAI: Mark Burnett Productions (MBP) which specialises in reality shows has signed an output deal with Australian pay TV platform Foxtel.

    Foxtel will be able to show shows like the second season of Rock Star.

    The deal also covers seasons two and three of the boxing based reality show The Contender and season six of The Apprentice.

    Foxtel will also assist MBP in the Australian audition process for contestants to participate in Rock Star 2. Foxtel executive director of television and marketing Brian Walsh says, “Mark Burnett is truly a giant of television and Foxtel will now be the home to his hit series Rock Star, The Contender and The Apprentice. This deal will continue Foxtel’s ongoing strategy to offer our subscribers an increasing choice of exclusive content that is only available on our platform.”

  • TWI to acquire independent production firm Darlow Smithson

    TWI to acquire independent production firm Darlow Smithson

    MUMBAI: Sports content producer and distributor TWI has acquired the London based factual independent production company Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP).
    TWI, will finance the acquisition entirely with capital from parent company IMG. The acquisition significantly expands TWI’s non-sports production output, enabling it to become a market leader in high quality factual programming, as part of its continuing growth strategy.

    For DSP, the agreement enhances its position as one of the top global factual production companies and gives access to new opportunities and new technologies.

    Key to the acquisition is DSP’s outstanding worldwide reputation as an innovative, factual programming leader, delivering ground-breaking documentaries, series and docu-dramas with a growing annual output of more than 100 hours and an annual turnover of £20 million. In a global peer poll just released, DSP has been named as one of the seven most notable companies in the world in non-fiction production, selected for its inspirational and trendsetting programmes.
    DSP’s programme portfolio includes multi episode returning series I Shouldn’t Be Alive (Channel 4, Discovery US), Seconds From Disaster (NGC/NGCI) and Channel 4 documentaries The Falling Man, Blitz: London’s Firestorm and The Somme. DSP’s Touching the Void was the UK’s most successful ever theatrical documentary.

    TWI senior VP production and business development Alastair Waddington said, “We are delighted to acquire such a prestigious company as Darlow Smithson Productions, whose reputation in the factual arena inspires admiration all over the world. The respect that DSP commands from global broadcasters and clients is reflected in its growing stature, increased turnover year on year and more than 25 international awards to date. DSP harnesses some of the industry’s most creative and technical talent, and we look forward to its continued success and growth, while maintaining its distinctive identity as a producer of top quality programming.”

    DSP executive chairman and creative director John Smithson said, “This is an exciting opportunity for us at the right time in the growth of our company. The Darlow Smithson name remains – same people, same creativity, same editorial standards. But going forward, it will bring much more. TWI and IMG Media will provide us with an extensive international structure to help us grow DSP, including areas like new media where it has significant experience, strengthening our relationships with clients and enhancing our creative development.”

    IMG chairman and CEO Ted Forstmann said, “IMG is already a major player in worldwide distribution, rights management and multi-platform exploitation including new media, and the acquisition of Darlow Smithson Productions will enhance the company’s global assets and help us achieve our growth ambitions. Going forward, we are prepared to invest in development and production of content, and intend to pursue additional innovative business partnerships in order to maximise those goals.”

  • Motorola makes TV shows available from DVR to mobile phone

    Motorola makes TV shows available from DVR to mobile phone

    MUMBAI: Expanding on the Follow Me TV experience of room-to-room media sharing, Motorola, Inc. will demonstrate a new technology that can move recorded shows from a Motorola digital video recorder (DVR) set-top directly to a Motorola mobile device like the next-generation RAZR V3x.

    This new ability to move content can expand Motorola’s existing whole-home video platform to meet the video needs of consumers anywhere and everywhere.

    A live demonstration of this new feature will be on display at both the CTIA Wireless 2006 and the 2006 National Show. The explosion of digital video technologies in recent years is leading the demand for ever-greater control over TV at home and on the go.

    Starting with a Motorola set-top, consumers can now create a multimedia network that sends content not only to other rooms in the home, but to mobile devices with storage-card capacity. In addition, Motorola mobile devices can be used to program a Motorola DVR remotely. No more worries about forgetting to record your favorite show – control your television wherever you are.

    “By combining the reliability and clarity of Motorola video products with the style of Motorola cell phones, we can deliver a truly personalized television experience. Consumers get the chance to enjoy seamless, mobile entertainment, and service providers get the opportunity to extend their reach beyond the home,” said Motorola corporate vice president and general manager of digital video solutions John Burke.

    The full Follow Me TV experience is enabled by Motorola DVR set-tops and the company’s OCAP software solution. This software solution includes powerful tools designed to offer home media networking using the Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA) standard.

  • MGM Channel to launch in India on Zee’s Dish TV

    MGM Channel to launch in India on Zee’s Dish TV

    MUMBAI: MGM Networks, a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., has announced a string of breakthrough distribution agreements in key Asian markets. The MGM Channel will roll out in India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

    Debuting this month, the MGM Channel will be available on Zee’s Dish TV platform.

    MGM Networks executive vice president Bruce Tuchman said, “We are very excited to begin our newest chapter in the booming Indian market with this launch. Having previously seeded demand in India through a co-owned, co-branded channel with Zee TV, we are now launching a wholly MGM-owned, exclusively MGM-branded network in order to more fully mine the opportunities abounding in this dynamic market.”

    In the Philippines, Sky Cable, the country’s largest MSO, has just commenced the roll out of The MGM Channel as part of its new digital “Platinum” package offering. In Vietnam and Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City Television and Phnom Penh Municipal Cable and Optical Television, respectively, have entered into distribution agreements with MGM Networks and recently introduced The MGM Channel to their customers.

    The MGM Channel’s launch into India and these new Southeast Asian markets are the latest milestones in an aggressive roll-out of the channel across Asia. Starting with its debut in South Korea in 2002, The MGM Channel followed up with a series of launches in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. MGM Networks also launched a second branded channel in South Korea, called MGM Plus, following the successful launch of its first Korean network.

    “Our success and growth in Asia mirrors our success and growth elsewhere around the world. Over the last five years, MGM has increased its channel interests from approximately 25 countries and territories in a handful of regions to over 110 across Europe, Latin American, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific Rim,” added Tuchman.

    In Southeast Asia/Greater China, The MGM Channel is produced and distributed by MGM Networks through a strategic alliance with CNBC Asia Pacific. In South Korea, the channel is operated through a joint venture with leading local media companies, Skylife and Taewon Entertainment.

  • TVHead licenses Tetris for interactive TV

    TVHead licenses Tetris for interactive TV

    MUMBAI: Capitalising on a truly global game phenomenon, TVHead has secured the worldwide interactive TV rights for Tetris – including cable, satellite and IPTV – through 2010. The games-on-demand television network will provide the game to cable and IPTV subscribers as part of its premium offerings.

    With its user-friendly interface and addictive appeal, Tetris is believed to be the world’s best selling electronic game, due to its wide availability on almost every modern computer and game system available.

    “Tetris is more than just a game… it’s a phenomenon with a level of consumer loyalty and awareness equal to top TV programs. Not only is Tetris the number one downloaded wireless game by a large margin, but it has also been incredibly successful on every other platform on which it has been introduced. We are thrilled at the opportunity to provide Tetris to TV audiences because television is the perfect casual games platform. By offering such a consumer-demanded blockbuster, TVHead enables operators to keep their game playing subscribers happy and in front of the TV,” said TVHead CEO and founder Sangita Verma

    TVHead will offer two versions of Tetris: Tetris Classic and Tetris Battle. In the classic Tetris puzzle game, players must clear horizontal rows to score points by creatively rotating and aligning falling blocks while the action accelerates with every move.

    Additionally, Tetris Classic will include high scores, multiplayer and advance play modes. Tetris Battle, a new multiplayer version currently in development, begins when a player submits his or her ‘best of’ game as a challenge to others. Competitors can then select to play against this game—being dealt the same pattern and speed of falling blocks—to see if they can best the score. Highest scores continue to move up the ranks with postings on leader boards and prizes for obtaining high-score benchmarks. Rankings span first local, then regional, and finally national status.

    TVHead is also working with Blue Planet Software Inc., the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for The Tetris Company, to create a consistent multi-platform game experience in which players are able to compete against each other using television and PCs.

  • PBS Kids Go! channel to launch in October 2006

    PBS Kids Go! channel to launch in October 2006

    MUMBAI: PBS will be launching a new 24-hour digital broadcast channel for early elementary school-age children, called the PBS Kids Go! channel in October 2006. The new channel, which follows the success of the PBS Kids Go! afternoon programming block on PBS member stations, will be entirely devoted to early elementary school kids, an audience with limited choices for media content that is educational and entertaining.

    The announcement was made by PBS Kids Next Generation Media senior vice president Lesli Rotenberg.

    “This age group is just entering school and is experiencing unique, first- time life events but they have limited educational entertainment choices that support this very important developmental stage. As an extension of the PBS Kids Go! block, the PBS Kids Go! Channel provides this inquisitive, curious and media savvy age group with fun, educationally based programming that fulfills our mission of empowering today’s ‘big’ kids to discover themselves, explore new relationships and embrace a love of learning,” said Rotenberg.

    Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, produced by WGBH Boston, premieres during PBS Kids Go! on PBS member stations’ national broadcast service beginning 29 May and will be a part of the PBS Kids Go! Channel in October.

    Other new additions to the PBS Kids Go! Channel will include:

    KidsWorld Sports, WishBone and Kratts’ Creatures in 2006, and Animalia in 2007. Each of these programs will also have a new companion internet site on pbskidsgo.org.

    Favorites from the current PBS Kids Go! programming line-up will also be a part of the channel including Maya & Miguel, Postcards from Buster, Arthur, CyberChase, Zoom and DragonFly TV. The PBS Kids Go! programming block launched in October 2004 and continues to be a success with early elementary school viewers. PBS has seen a 17 per cent increase in national viewership among 6 six to eight year olds, while remaining steady with preschoolers during the afternoon time period.

    Also new to the PBS Kids Go! Channel will be a Spanish language block called Vayan! (which means “go” in Spanish). The one-hour block will include existing PBS Kids Go! series, such as Maya & Miguel and CyberChase, in Spanish with English subtitles. With the addition of this block, not only is PBS continuing to serve the fastest growing segment of the US population but it is also providing tools for students who are learning Spanish as a second language. PBS’ daytime audience already exceeds the percentages of minority breakdowns that make up the US population — for example, Hispanics compose 12.5 per cent of PBS’ Daytime audience but only 9.8 per cent of the US population.

    The PBS Kids Go! Channel is part of the PBS Kids Next Generation Media initiative, the previously announced broad-based five year initiative that provides a framework for addressing the changing digital children’s media landscape and the way kids consume media today. Consistent with that mission, the PBS Kids Go! Channel will feature age-appropriate interactive content at pbskidsgo.org and on the Internet sites for the new broadcast series.

  • Zee Network to telecast Lakme, Wills fashion events

    Zee Network to telecast Lakme, Wills fashion events

    MUMBAI: Zee Network will telecast two of the prestigious fashion events in the country, Lakme Fashion Week and the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (Autumn – Winter) 2006 on its channels Zee TV, Zee Café & Zee Trendz.

    Speaking on the initiative Zee Café & Zee Trendz business head Neil Chakravarti said the programme packaging on each channel would differ as the channels target individual audiences.

    “We are showcasing collections & happenings from the recently concluded event on three of our channels, as we want to cater to individual audiences of each channel. Therefore, the content on Zee TV will have a different look-feel than the one on Zee Café or Zee Trendz,” he said.

    The telecast schedules are as mentioned below:

    Lakme Fashion Week:

    Zee TV on Sunday, 16 April from 6:30 pm to 8:30pm
    Zee Café from 10 April to 15 April, at 9:30pm
    Zee Trendz from 7 April to 9 April at 9:30pm

    Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week:

    Zee TV on Sunday, 9 April from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
    Zee Café on 22 April, at 9:00 pm
    Zee Trendz from 15 April to 20 April at 9:30 pm

  • ‘Lost’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ competing for intl TV Audience Awards

    ‘Lost’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ competing for intl TV Audience Awards

    CANNES: The Monte-Carlo TV Festival and Eurodata TV Worldwide have joined forces to allow viewers to reward programmes who delivered the highest ratings worldwide.

    The first edition of the International TV Audience Awards will be designated by viewers through the sum of the TV ratings across five continents. It will reward the programme delivering the highest
    ratings worldwide in 2005 in three categories: Drama Series, Comedy Series and Telenovela/ Soap Opera.

    Nominees were revealed on the occasion of the television event MipTV 2006 in Cannes, France during the Eurodata TV Worldwide’s cocktail party.

    Competing in the drama category are Lost, CSI and Without a Trace.

    The comedy series nominees are Desperate Housewives, Mr. Bean and Joey.The Telenovela” / Soap Opera nominees are The Bold and the Beautiful, RUBI and Pasión de Gavilanes.

    The nominees are pre-selected among the ten best imported fiction programmes in 51 countries, i.e. 2.5 billion potential viewers. The winners will be presented at the 46th Monte-Carlo Television Festival Awards on 1 July 2006 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

  • SCI FI UK signs first scripted drama deal

    SCI FI UK signs first scripted drama deal

    MUMBAI: The SCI FI channel in the U.K. has signed its first scripted drama production agreement, inking a deal with CHUM International and SpaceWorks for the 22-episode adventure series Ice Planet.

    The show was created by SpaceWorks and will be filmed on location in London and Canada.

    Set to debut this October, the series stars Michael Ironside as the head of a crew of scientists and soldiers on the maiden voyage of the spaceship Magellan after a vicious alien attack on Earth.

    SCI FI programming director Jon Farrar noted, “Epic in scope and inventive in storytelling, Ice Planet promises an original look and feel to sci-fi scripted drama and we’re really excited to be involved. This production deal furthers SCI FI’s commitment to providing viewers with the best the genre has to offer and allows us to play an integral role in the development of what we hope will be a hit franchise in the UK and around the world.”

    The production deal was arranged by Jon Helmrich of IBC representing CHUM International, which holds the exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the series.

    There are plans to create an Ice Planet video game that will be linked in character, story and action to the show. A mobile game will also roll out in time for the television premiere. Also, SCI FI has appointed former Sky One head of drama Sara Johnson to consult as executive producer on the show.