ITV

Category: Kids

  • Disney’s Robert Iger unveils redesigned Disney.com at Consumer Electronics Show

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert Iger unveiled the newly redesigned and enhanced Disney.com web site at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.

    The site will be launched later this month, informs an official release.

    “We are witnessing an explosion of media and Disney is both reaping the benefits of that explosion and acting as a catalyst by taking a technology-friendly approach,” said Iger, noting that the company was the first to offer movies and TV shows for download on iTunes last year.

    Taking advantage of the growth of broadband and new web tools, Disney.com is an interactive experience that offers personalization and community-building amidst a broad array of Disney entertainment, products and services.

    Disney Xtreme Digital (Disney XD), the broadband centerpiece of the new site, will allow guests to personalize their favorite Disney content as well as watch and share with others videos, including television shows and shorts; chat with friends, listen to music; create playlists; and enjoy an array of games.

    Disney.com guests will also be able to access premium content through Disney XD, such as the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean Online multiplayer game, which is set to launch in 2007, adds the release.

    “Disney.com is the digital doorway into Disney and both a destination and a portal into a vibrant, rich online entertainment experience for children, parents and people genuinely interested in Disney,” Iger said.

     

  • Cartoon Network crowns video gaming champ at ‘Toonami: Game On’ competition

    Cartoon Network crowns video gaming champ at ‘Toonami: Game On’ competition

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network’s video gaming championship ‘Toonami: Game On,’ in which kids from across Mumbai competed for the state championship title, awarded 13 year old Nimish Parab from St. Francis High School with a Microsoft Xbox 360 console and a Cartoon Network trophy, at an event held in the city on 7 January.

    The championship gained the participation of over 2000 kids who won invites to the championship through on-air contests and school contact programmes.

    Children were invited in three batches at 9 am, 11.30 am and 2 pm. At a given point in time, 100 kids competed against each other across 50 Xbox 360 consoles and tested their skills at PGR, the racing game. Each round was followed by eliminations and winners of each batch competed with the winners of the previous batch., informs an official release.

    ‘Toonami: Game On Video Gaming Championship’ was aimed at taking Cartoon Network’s revamped and rejuvenated franchise – Toonami – beyond the realms of television and hence provided kids with an opportunity to personally experience the shows aired on the action block.

     

  • Cartoon Network crowns video gaming champ at ‘Toonami: Game On’ competition















    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network‘s video gaming championship ‘Toonami: Game On,‘ in which kids from across Mumbai competed for the state championship title, awarded 13 year old Nimish Parab from St. Francis High School with a Microsoft Xbox 360 console and a Cartoon Network trophy, at an event held in the city on 7 January.


    The championship gained the participation of over 2000 kids who won invites to the championship through on-air contests and school contact programmes.











    Children were invited in three batches at 9 am, 11.30 am and 2 pm. At a given point in time, 100 kids competed against each other across 50 Xbox 360 consoles and tested their skills at PGR, the racing game. Each round was followed by eliminations and winners of each batch competed with the winners of the previous batch., informs an official release.


    ‘Toonami: Game On Video Gaming Championship‘ was aimed at taking Cartoon Network‘s revamped and rejuvenated franchise – Toonami – beyond the realms of television and hence provided kids with an opportunity to personally experience the shows aired on the action block.

  • Mattel Children’s Foundation Intl. Grants Program awards grants worth more than $1 mn















    MUMBAI: As part of its commitment to children and families around the world, the Mattel Children‘s Foundation has awarded 42 grants in 38 countries totaling more than $1 million under its International Grants Program, including 21 grants totaling $525,000 in Europe in 2006.


    The Mattel Children‘s Foundation International Grants Program awards grants to charitable organizations that directly assist children in need and support Mattel‘s philanthropic priorities of building literacy and educational opportunities, supporting children‘s well being and building girls‘ self-esteem and empowerment, informs an official release.



    “The Mattel Children‘s Foundation is pleased that we can bring joy to children in need throughout Europe and around the world,” said Mattel Children‘s Foundation and Mattel philanthropy programs Executive Director Deidre Lind.


    “It is our philanthropic mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in need and we believe it is especially important to support organizations that directly serve children through our grant funding.”


    The Foundation also partners with nonprofit organizations. Mattel has partnered with Special Olympics, Save the Children, the Mattel Children‘s Hospital at UCLA, the National Association of Children‘s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF), adds the release.


    The Mattel Children‘s Foundation is funded exclusively by cash donations from Mattel, Inc.

     

  • Australia Network kicks starts 2007 with week long kid’s based programming

    Australia Network kicks starts 2007 with week long kid’s based programming

    MUMBAI: Australia Network is set to open its broadcasting schedule for the year 2007 with a new Kids Week season focusing on children and families.

    Slated to run from 13 January to 21 January, the season will look at issues affecting mothers and fathers, sons and daughters as they experience tragedy, face great adversity and tackle and overcome some of lifes biggest, most heartbreaking challenges.

    An official statement issued says that the schedule of dramas and documentaries about kids (not necessarily programmes for kids) has been described by Australia Network as mirroring the daily life of families across the globe.

    Among the season’s highlights is Maternity Unit, a documentary about the maternity unit at Sydney’s Canterbury Hospital, where 80 per cent of the mothers were born outside Australia. The program looks at cultural diversity and explores how families from different cultures welcome new life to the world.

    Born With Two Mothers is a look at two childless couples one black, one white – anxiously awaiting the outcome of their latest efforts to conceive using IVF. Only one couple will succeed but even before the baby is born, serious concerns surface among the medical staff regarding the transfer of the embryos. When a black baby is born to the white mother the medical staffs worst fears are realised. The program follows both couples as they lay claim to the same child.

    Closing off the Kids Week season From Russia With Love looks at what happens when two Western couples adopt Russian orphans.

    Australia Network chief executive Ian Carroll says, “We’ve decided to start our 2007 schedule with Kids Week because children and families are a subject of universal interest for all our viewers.

    “Our week-long exploration of the family brings the best programmes on this subject to Australia Network viewers across Asia, India and the Pacific, taking them on a journey from despair to joy through every emotion in-between.”

     

  • Australia Network kicks starts 2007 with week long kid’s based programming













    MUMBAI: Australia Network is set to open its broadcasting schedule for the year 2007 with a new Kids Week season focusing on children and families.


    Slated to run from 13 January to 21 January, the season will look at issues affecting mothers and fathers, sons and daughters as they experience tragedy, face great adversity and tackle and overcome some of lifes biggest, most heartbreaking challenges.


    An official statement issued says that the schedule of dramas and documentaries about kids (not necessarily programmes for kids) has been described by Australia Network as mirroring the daily life of families across the globe.



    Among the season‘s highlights is Maternity Unit, a documentary about the maternity unit at Sydney‘s Canterbury Hospital, where 80 per cent of the mothers were born outside Australia. The program looks at cultural diversity and explores how families from different cultures welcome new life to the world.


    Born With Two Mothers is a look at two childless couples one black, one white – anxiously awaiting the outcome of their latest efforts to conceive using IVF. Only one couple will succeed but even before the baby is born, serious concerns surface among the medical staff regarding the transfer of the embryos. When a black baby is born to the white mother the medical staffs worst fears are realised. The program follows both couples as they lay claim to the same child.


    Closing off the Kids Week season From Russia With Love looks at what happens when two Western couples adopt Russian orphans.


    Australia Network chief executive Ian Carroll says, “We‘ve decided to start our 2007 schedule with Kids Week because children and families are a subject of universal interest for all our viewers.


    “Our week-long exploration of the family brings the best programmes on this subject to Australia Network viewers across Asia, India and the Pacific, taking them on a journey from despair to joy through every emotion in-between

  • Mattel Children’s Foundation Intl. Grants Program awards grants worth more than $1 mn

    Mattel Children’s Foundation Intl. Grants Program awards grants worth more than $1 mn

    MUMBAI: As part of its commitment to children and families around the world, the Mattel Children’s Foundation has awarded 42 grants in 38 countries totaling more than $1 million under its International Grants Program, including 21 grants totaling $525,000 in Europe in 2006.

    The Mattel Children’s Foundation International Grants Program awards grants to charitable organizations that directly assist children in need and support Mattel’s philanthropic priorities of building literacy and educational opportunities, supporting children’s well being and building girls’ self-esteem and empowerment, informs an official release.

    “The Mattel Children’s Foundation is pleased that we can bring joy to children in need throughout Europe and around the world,” said Mattel Children’s Foundation and Mattel philanthropy programs Executive Director Deidre Lind.

    “It is our philanthropic mission to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in need and we believe it is especially important to support organizations that directly serve children through our grant funding.”

    The Foundation also partners with nonprofit organizations. Mattel has partnered with Special Olympics, Save the Children, the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF), adds the release.

    The Mattel Children’s Foundation is funded exclusively by cash donations from Mattel, Inc.

     

  • Mumbai school wins Disney Channel’s My School Rocks competition

    MUMBAI: Five cities and two months later, St Xavier’s High School, Vile Parle, Mumbai is the winner of the My School Rocks contest organized by Disney Channel.

    St Xavier’s emerged winners after beating 240 other schools including five semi finalists. In every city the performances were recorded and reviewed by noted Bollywood dance choreographer Saroj Khan. The winning group stars in a special music video which was choreographed by Saroj Khan and will be aired on Disney Channel.

    My School Rocks is the biggest-ever interschool group-dance competition held across India. The contest draws inspiration from this year’s sensational Disney Channel original movie, ‘High School Musical’ which continues to be a rage across the globe.

    650 schools from five cities including Amritsar, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad participated in this mega interschool group dance competition. The kids choreographed their own dance sequence on the High School Musical hit song ‘Ho ek hi aim’. Saroj Khan pronounced five schools with the best dancing talent as semi finalists. Vignettes of these five semi finalists’ performances were aired for audience poll via various voting mechanisms on Disney Channel.

     

  • Mumbai school wins Disney Channel’s My School Rocks competition















    MUMBAI: Five cities and two months later, St Xavier’s High School, Vile Parle, Mumbai is the winner of the My School Rocks contest organized by Disney Channel.


    St Xavier’s emerged winners after beating 240 other schools including five semi finalists. In every city the performances were recorded and reviewed by noted Bollywood dance choreographer Saroj Khan. The winning group stars in a special music video which was choreographed by Saroj Khan and will be aired on Disney Channel.My School Rocks is the biggest-ever interschool group-dance competition held across India. The contest draws inspiration from this year’s sensational Disney Channel original movie, ‘High School Musical’ which continues to be a rage across the globe.



    650 schools from five cities including Amritsar, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad participated in this mega interschool group dance competition. The kids choreographed their own dance sequence on the High School Musical hit song ‘Ho ek hi aim’. Saroj Khan pronounced five schools with the best dancing talent as semi finalists. Vignettes of these five semi finalists’ performances were aired for audience poll via various voting mechanisms on Disney Channel.

     

  • Hungama TV names board of directors for this year

    Hungama TV names board of directors for this year

    MUMBAI: The former UTV owned kids channel Hungama TV made its first official announcement today following its acquisition by the Walt Disney Company. Hungama TV announced their annual selection of their board of directors called the Captains Club which includes ten children from across key cities who act both as a network of local information systems as well as official spokespersons for the channel.

    Representing Hungama TV was VP programming and production Aparna Bhosle who has recently joined the Disney bandwagon and will report Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain. Hungama TV however, appears to be scouting for a head. Bhosle declined to divulge details of the same.

    After coming under the Disney banner, gradual changes are likely to be expected in the acquired channel. However, both parties say that the positioning of the channel will remain the same. On the programming front, the first fruits of these changes are visible as Toon Disney’s Power Rangers series has been added to Hungama’s portfolio of shows, as of 1 January.

    In addition, driver properties on Hungama TV like Doreamon and Shinchan are likely to be pushed further with the support of Disney’s Consumer Products Division with merchandising activities on the anvil.

    When queried by Indiantelevision.com about the occurrence of a conflict of interest as being a natural outcome following the buy out, Bhosle said Hungama TV compliments the offerings of the Disney pair and so far there have been no such demands to implement any such adjustments.

    Kicking off the New Year, Hungama TV has been swift in getting down to business by taking the opinions of the newly appointed board of directors to plan for the year ahead. This board will meet on a quarterly basis to discuss business, an area in which they will be trained by industry experts from each of their local centers. They will also spearhead all local activities of the channel in each of their cities.

    What appears to be a glaring demand among these kids is the need for more live action content. Primarily governed by ‘tweens’, this board will act as a critique for the channel and keep them abreast of the growing competition.

    On speaking to the Captains some of them freely spoke of the changes they would like to see implemented on the channel. Being given priority is the live action show Hero, which the kids see as unrealistic and far fetched.

    Instead, they have suggested a more practical approach based on science rather than imagination. In additions, they also proposed that more on-ground activities need to be executed to drive kids to the channel. They will be required to put into perspective “What children want to see on television across the nation.” This is a culmination of a three month long event titled Parle G Hungama TV Captains Hunt 2006- 2007.

    Bhosle of course said that considering their suggestions has helped the channel in the past and that changes in live action content such as Hero are likely to be seen, as the core focus for the channel is the belief in “kid’s empowerment.”