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Showcases over 10,000 awe-inspiring feats in 18 easy- to-understand-sections describing the highest levels of human endurance and seemingly impossible achievements
New Delhi, 8th June 2006 – Limca Book of Records marking the beginning of an all-new year of Indian records was launched at a special ceremony. With 18 refreshing & informative sections, the record book celebrates over 10,000 remarkable achievements of Indians from around the world. The book was unveiled amidst a felicitation ceremony by Atul Singh, President and CEO of Coca-Cola India and Vijaya Ghose, Editor – Limca Book of Records for the “People of the Year” including Shri Satish Gujral, India’s world-renowned painter, sculptor, muralist, graphic designer and architect, ace aviator and industrialist Dr. Vijaypat Singhania Chairman Emeritus of Raymond Ltd and J.N Kaul- President of SOS Villages, a renowned NGO providing shelter to orphaned and homeless children. Also present were record holders, Shaurya Chakra winner Cdr. Uday K. Sondhi (the only Indian to be cleared to fly a helicopter with an artificial leg), and Nishant Kasibhatla (has the unmatched ability to memorize 200 binary numbers in just 3 minutes 21 seconds and recall them in 5 minutes without any mistake). The 17th avatar of the Limca Book Of Records incorporates achievements across 18 ‘buzzing’ fields like Medical Science, Radio, television, Entertainment, Transport etc. showcasing records made and broken across India giving out a wealth of information to readers of all age groups. There are interviews with 10 leading personalities – Shuba Mudgal, Ekta Kapoor etc. The book also features SOS villages, Bajaj Group of Companies, LIC and BHEL as part of its “Doing India Proud” section. Other “People Of The Year” in the 2006 edition include Dr V. Shantha, Magsaysay award winner and Chairperson of Cancer Institute and Joshna Chinnappa, first Indian to win U-19 British Junior Squash title and the youngest national women’s champion. Speaking on the occasion Atul Singh, President and CEO Coca-Cola India said, “We at Coca-Cola India are proud to launch the all-new and invigorated Limca Book of Records 2006. This book goes beyond just paying tribute to Indians who have the drive to excel; it in fact inspires us to believe that nothing is impossible. The record book is clearly a succinct summarization of India at her best.” According to Vijaya Ghose, Editor of the Limca Book of Records, “Limca Book of Records has since its inception in 1990, been a book with the aim to seek out, encourage and applaud efforts of Indians conquering the impossible. Over the years we have diversified our sections, changed the records, added new types of entries and changed the look of book time and again. Today, the book has truly become the most trusted and the most valued infotainment source, read as much for its authenticity as for its presentation of rare and little-known facts. About Limca Book of Records Limca Book of Records is an extension of the Limca brand. Launched in India in 1990, it is the second book of records in the world after Guinness Book of Records. The book aims to identify people who have the spirit to excel and follow their goal with single-minded passion. It lays emphasis on unique achievements of our countrymen and is a salute to all those people who want to do something different and be remembered for their distinctive deeds. Being the first of its kind, this book was an instant hit with people from all generations. The book divides records into easy sections like Agriculture, Education, Business, Sports, Nature, Adventure, etc. In its efforts to recognize the best in all fields, starting 1992, the book selected outstanding achievers in their chosen field. Called ‘People of the Year’, it included stalwarts like Ameen Sayani, Koneru Humpy, Chandrababu Naidu, Prannoy Roy, Bachendri Pal. The People of the Year for 2005 included Dr Naresh Trehan, Mike Pandey, Lt. Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Sheila Dixit and Navin Gulia. While this year’s list includes – Satish Gujral, J. N Kaul, Dr. V. Shantha, Dr. Vijaypat Singhania and Joshna Chinnapa About Coca-Cola The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most-valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world’s top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day
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Category: GECs
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New 2006 edition of Limca Book of Records unveiled
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CAS: IBF to push for level playing field
NEW DELHI: The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) has decided to exhort the government to mandate all other addressable systems in the country like DTH and IPTV, for example, as was being done with CAS or conditional access system.
This suggestion was one of the many that were discussed today by the board of IBF, an apex body of broadcasting companies operating in India, during a debate to help formulate a stand on the issue of CAS, which can be taken to the government by 7 April.
Another issue that the IBF would note down in a communication to the information and broadcasting ministry, which is holding meetings with industry stakeholders to finalise a rollout plan for CAS, is the pricing of such addressable services.Though the exact words are still to be formalized, IBF sources told Indiantelevision.com it was suggested that the government should be petitioned to follow a recommendation of the sector regulator on the pricing mechanism of addressable systems like CAS, DTH and IPTV with an aim to provide a level playing field to broadcasters vis-à-vis the cable fraternity.
In a set of recommendations on addressable systems made in 2004, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had suggested that since addressable services depend on offering a choice to consumers, unlike non-addressable system like present-day cable TV services, pricing should be allowed to be formulated by market forces and not mandated.Another issue that is likely to find its way in the letter for the government involves the free-to-air bouquet of channels and its pricing.
The IBF board feels that since the scenario has undergone a change from the time CAS was mooted in 2003 when the free-to-air (FTA )bouquet was to comprise 30 channels and priced at Rs. 72 (exclusive of taxes), more channels should now be added to the FTA package for consumers in a CAS-enabled regime.
The argument in favour of increasing the number of channels to at least 50 is backed by the fact that the subscription-free DTH service of Doordarshan will also carry more than 50 FTA channels from May. This was announced by DD today at a press conference.
The IBF board is also likely to express its reservation against providing a la carte pricing of channels as it might be against consumer interest.
Though such a line of thought had been forwarded by the broadcasting industry in the US to the American regulator, the Federal Communications Commission recently put out a statement saying that the earlier report on a la carte pricing was lopsided and individual pricing of TV channels actually works to the benefit of consumers. This too is being contested by broadcasters in the US.
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Nat Geo Intl to bring ‘Korea to the World’
CANNES: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and Korean Broadcasting Institute (KBI) have announce the first co-production partnership to cultivate local filmmaking talent.
The partnership will facilitate the production of quality made-in-Korea documentaries for global viewers. It will provide $1.2 million in filmmaking funds for 4 one-hour films, titled Korea to the World.
NGCI CEO David Haslingden says, “We are proud to be the first international factual network to partner with KBI and are delighted to expand NGCI’s presence in Asia. We want to develop and bring Korean talent to the notice of our global audience in 162 countries and in 27 languages worldwide”.
KBI president Gyun Yu says, “We are excited to establish this partnership with NGCI. As a renowned international television network, NGCI, provides the perfect platform for Korean documentaries to reach viewers globally”.
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Zee Jagran to launch pilgrimage show ‘Jahan Jahan Ram Charan Chali Jahin’
MUMBAI: Zee Jagran will launch a pilgrimage-based show Jahan Jahan Ram Charan Chali Jahin on the occasion of Ram Navmi, on 6 April.
According to an official release, the pilgrimage will have none other than Shri Arun Govil as the guide. The pilgrimage covers two countries, 10 states, 72 districts and 250 places. The program will be anchored by veteran actor Arun Govil.
Jahan Jahan Ram Charan Chali Jahin gives its viewers a unique chance to explore and know in detail, about all the places visited by Shri Ram during his journeys – first with Rishi Vishwamitra and Rishi Vasishta as a child, and then the famous 14 years spent in exile. They can experience the divinity of all the places blessed by the footsteps of Shri Ram but lost and forgotten over a period of time, states an official release.
Viewers will discover places like ‘Makhauda’ a small village 20 Kms from Ayodhya where Raja Dashrath performed the Putrayesthi Yagna, and where the Havan Kund in which this yagna was performed is still present, the release adds.
Says Zee Jagran channel head Anil Anand, “A sense of divine history discovery & exploration, an intrinsic urge to understand one’s roots and an opportunity to be at one with God will make viewers respond to this program.” He further states that “The Channel has spared no cost to make this program special and meaningful for its viewers. The program has been shot – on location – all 250 of them; many of these places are inaccessible by modern means of transport. We have also specially composed over 400 Chaupies which will feature in the program. The title song has been very soulfully given voice by Shri Pankaj Awasthi. The program also gives travel advice to its viewers, should they want to visit any of these places. To involve and reward the viewers, we have an interactive format wherein viewers can win special gifts by sending answers to questions asked by Shri Arun Govil during the program.”
The program is being promoted heavily on the Zee Network and other TV Channels, apart from viewer contacts being made through van activities across North Indian States.
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Star News to enter Japan via SKY PerfecTV
NEW DELHI: Star News is all set to storm the Japan market by launching its services there later this month.
Confirming the development, Star News CEO Uday Shankar told Indiantelevision.com, “The news channel will be available in Japan from this month and would be on a pay platform.”
According to Shankar, international distribution of the channel is being handled by News Corp, one of the shareholders in MCCS that is the managing company for Star News and its present Bengali sibling Star Ananda.
News Corp feels that the Hindi news channel would have viewership in Japan, though limited. Star News, one of the most widely distributed Indian news channel, has international footprints in South East Asia, Central Asia,
Middle East, the UK, the USA and Australia.In Japan, Star News is likely to be on SKY PerfecTV, a leading multi-channel digital satellite television platform.
Meanwhile MCCS, a 74:26 joint venture between Kolkata-based ABP TV and Hong Kong-headquartered Star Group, continues to explore the possibilities of expanding its portfolio base in India.
Pointing out that talks on launching new products is an “ongoing process” between the two shareholders of the company, Shankar said, “Both ABP and Star are committed to make the requisite investment as and when the needs arise.”
Asked whether MCCS would make more Indian language forays in 2006, Shankar did not rule out the possibility. “Some projects are being actively discussed and such ventures take time to materialise. But I am also not saying we would not launch any channel (in 2006).”
A few days ago, Star News completed three years of operation under a new regime after the divorce from its long-standing content partner, NDTV, which has gone ahead since then to launch its own news channels.
In February this year, Shankar completed two years at MCCS. Prior to this assignment, he was news director of Aaj Tak, the country’s most successful Hindi news channel in terms of market share.
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Zone Vision’s Club channel launches in Korea
MUMBAI: Club Channel, owned and operated by Zone Vision Networks Ltd, launched in Korea on 3 April.
The Club Channel will air 24-hours a day, seven days a week, initially to one million cable subscribers. Series such as the popular Globe Trekker, Saturday Kitchen, Fashion File and the ‘Uncovered’ series, will be among the titles included in the 60 per cent of acquired content for the channel.
The remaining 40 per cent of content for the channel will be produced locally. One of the MSO’s which Club Channel will launch on is CJ, one of Korea’s leading producers and distributors of entertainment products and services in Korea.
Zone Vision general manager Asia Pacific Alan Hodges said, “Asia continues to be a key growth area for Zone Vision, and we are delighted that our next channel launch will be in Korea. Club Channel has such an eclectic mix of programming, we are sure that its shows will appeal to the broad spectrum of viewers in Korea.”
Club Channel Korea managing director of programming and strategy Ki-Myung Kim added, “Club Channel Korea has unlimited potential to fascinate young generations who love clubbing, party, and leading new cultural trends. This channel will build up club maniacs and grow with them to be the best lifestyle channel specializing in Clubbing & Party. Based on this unlimited potential of channel style, we are expecting the number of subscribers to increase considerably over the next 12 months.”
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Paul Aiello appointed Star Group president
MUMBAI: Star Group has announced the appointment of Paul Aiello as its president. Aiello will report to Star Group CEO Michelle Guthrie.
In this newly created role, Aiello will be responsible for developing strategic and business directions for the company while overseeing corporate functions including business development, strategy and implementation, Star ventures, government affairs and corporate communications, according to an official release.
Commenting on Aiello’s appointment, Guthrie said, “As Star continues to expand its operations and look towards diversified growth opportunities in Asia, the need for an experienced and gifted executive with Paul’s background became apparent. Together with Steve Askew who oversees our operations across the region, we now have in place a highly formidable team to lead the company into its next phase of robust development.”
Aiello, 41, joins Star from Morgan Stanley where he worked for more than nine years. He joined the company as VP in 1997 and subsequently advanced his career to executive director, mergers and acquisitions of Asia Pacific; COO of Asia Pacific investment banking and finally, MD and head of telecom, media and technology group, Asia Pacific in 2000.
He holds a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.
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Endemol’s game shows sold worldwide
MUMBAI: Endemol International has announced several new deals on hit game show Deal or No Deal, the recently acquired Take It or Leave It property and 1 vs 100.
Take It or Leave It from Intellygents has been sold to Telecinco in Spain where the first series is due to launch later this year. And in Italy, RAI has renewed the show for a second season following its successful run last summer. The format has also just gone to air on NL2 (TROS) in the Netherlands.
In the Middle East, Deal or No Deal is heading to LBC following a previous run on MBC. LBC is launching a new prime time daily version this month. The format is also set to air in Denmark later this year on TV2. The format has now been sold to 45 countries worldwide including the U.S.
In Asia, VTV in Vietnam acquired 1 vs. 100 for launch in May. The show also recently premiered in Norway where it is a prime time hit for TV2. 1 vs. 100 has now been sold to 12 countries with both weekly and daily versions on the air.
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Reality TV lines up shows for animal lovers
MUMBAI: Reality TV has announced that it will air a host of shows this month like Campus Vets, Raising Rover, Dr G, Eye for An Eye and Matchmaker. The first two shows are dedicated to animals.
Reality TV – Asia marketing manager Flecka Picardo says, “It has been Reality TV’s conscious attempt to provide meaningful, real life entertainment filled programmes tour Indian viewers. We are confident that these new programmes will further strengthen the position of the channel in India and will be appreciated by our viewers.”
Campus Vets tells the stories of student veterinarians a veterinary school in Canada. This series showcases Canada’s young vets in training, as they pursue demanding careers of immense responsibility. Shot at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Teaching Hospital – a 24-hour facility – the young vets discover that learning to save the lives of animals is the challenge of a lifetime. Campus Vets chronicles moments where animal owner and are bound together in a race against time.
American forensic pathologist Dr. Jan Garavaglia, takes viewers on an unprecedented look behind-the scenes at the world of science, mystery and justice in Dr G: Medical Examiner. Each programme features examinations of several deaths, including actual autopsies and exploring the investigative process.
Caising Rover is a programme showing the rise in social status of dogs in a critical and engaging way. It explores the high-end dog designer business and looks at how this new class of canines is being indulged in ways once unimaginable.Eye for an Eye offers a twist on popular courtroom drama. It captures the essence of justice and puts punishment front and centre. Reality TV says that the show is a non-traditional, no-nonsense, no-holds-barred spectacle of trial and punishment. Eye for an Eye features Judge Extreme Akim, sentencing his litigants to “paybacks”. The programme promises to be witness to a diverse mix of cases all unravelling in the courtroom followed by consummation in a real world punishment phase.
Matchmaker is all about friends hooking up friends on dates. It starts by tracking down someone special, facilitating a pre-date makeover or even sending them to a dominatrix if the matchmaker thinks their friend needs to be more assertive.
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Discovery Travel & Living redefines primetime with new Theme Weeks series
MUMBAI: Entertainment via television is competitive and viewer-driven. Last season’s strategy of Theme Week series on weekdays prime time has worked for the lifestyle channel Discovery Travel & Living. The channel’s current quarterly plan for April to June will continue to focus on promoting appointment viewing in the Monday to Friday 9 pm time slot.
Accepting the truism that weekday viewing differs from weekend viewing, the channel first introduced the concept of Theme Weeks in January this year. During the week, people have more consistent and routine living patterns: They get up, go to work, come home, eat and watch TV. And, tapping these viewers by appointment with its Q1 Theme-Week strategy, Discovery Travel & Living will present thirteen new captivating themes in the next three months.
Starting today (3 April), the channel will present the best and latest of lifestyle programming, offering viewers a better understanding and control over their television viewing. London Week is the first to be aired as part of the Theme Week series from 3 to 7 April.Here, viewers follow the hidden trails into London’s most renowned historic and cultural destinations. Starting with a journey deep inside the world’s most luxurious department store, Harrods, to the never before tour into Madame Tussad’s Wax Museum. Get a glimpse of London as a secret destination for high rollers and big spenders, where millions are won and lost in minutes. It’s London like you’ve never known before.
Discovery Networks India vice president – Lifestyle Aditya Tripathi said, “Discovery Travel & Living has witnessed a considerable surge in viewership in the first three months of 2006 reflecting viewers’ endorsement of the concept of theme weeks. The strategy has also allowed us to successfully communicate the channel’s diverse programming.”
Apart from London Week being aired this week, the Theme Weeks line-up from 10 April to 23 June includes the following:Miami Ink Week from 10 to 14 April: Miami Ink is a specialised tattoo shop on South Beach, Miami. This reality series showcases the ordeals of four friends and their apprentice as they try to build a thriving business based on their extraordinary art.
American Casino Week from 17 to 21 April: This series chronicles the high pressure, high stakes world of brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta and their crack management staff tasked with running the day-to-day operations of their ultra-exclusive Green Valley Ranch Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fashion Week from 24 to 28 April: The week is all about high-end designers and models. Filled with attitude and visual treat, this series will have viewers hooked to their television sets.
Jeremy Clarkson Meets The Neighbour Week from 1 to 5 May: Armed with little more than his prejudices, Jeremy heads off to continental Europe to discover some surprising insights about fellow nationals – as well as his own neighbouring Brits. His liking for some and strong dislike for others is worth watching as he indulges in friendly banters. The series is at its cynical and sarcastic best.
King of The Road Week from 8 to 12 May: This series is all about the mean beasts on the road. From Harley Davidson to Mustang, the week will uncover some of over-the-top muscle machine.
15 to 19 May will feature the Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen Week: The mother of all reality shows, Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen is about famous chef Gordon Ramsay and his no-nonsensical and at times brutal training of contesting trainees in inculcating culinary perfection.
France Week from 22 to 26 May will take viewers from Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, from Moulin Rouge to Bordeaux and all through France and the historic landmarks of the country.
Viva Las Vegas Week from 29 May to 2 June: The series encapsulates the lifestyle of the rich and famous and where they go to party.
5 to 9 June features the Faking It Week: It tells the stories of real people who take on the challenge of transforming themselves into someone entirely different. Our “Faker” is plucked from their natural habitat and given three to four weeks to master an alien skill well enough to fool a group of industry judges. It is a nail-biting journey as our hero tries to survive and compete in a foreign world.
Anthony Bourdain Week from 12 to 16 June: The Indiana Jones of the culinary world is at your doorstep. Travel with Anthony Bourdain as he visits countries, meets people, learns new recipes while mastering the art of cooking them.
And, from 19 to 23 June the channel will air the Celebrity Week: Be it Madonna’s Hollywood hideaway or Paula Abdul’s private retreat or joining Jennifer Lopez for a Cuban cuisine meal, Celebrity Week will provide viewers with the passport to the life of these icons.
With these series, Discovery Travel & Living will offer an eclectic mix of lifestyle programming to help viewers filter the clutter of prime time television to make the best use of their leisure time.