ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Wage Board for journalists, non-journalists soon: Oscar Fernandes

    NEW DELHI: A wage board for newspaper and news industry employees will be constituted soon by the government.

    Labour minister Oscar Fernandes told mediapersons that ”The Wage Board will be constituted in a few days without any further delay.”

    ”The government has already approved the constitution of two wage boards, one for working journalists and the other for non-journalist newspaper employees,” the minister said.

    This had been approved in accordance with Section 9 and 13(C) of working journalists and other newspaper employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, he added.

    The minister was speaking on the sidelines of a meet relating to the forthcoming 41st Indian Labour Conference beginning on 27 April which is to be inaugurated by prime minister Manmohan Singh.

  • BBC Worldwide signs clips deal with CCTV

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced its first ever global clips deal with the Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV.

    The deal brokered by BBC Motion Gallery, the archive clips sales arm of BBC Worldwide, means that BBC Motion Gallery will distribute clip footage globally on behalf of CCTV furthering BBC Worldwide’s connections with the Chinese state broadcaster. Collections of clips from CCTV which are predominately HDTV footage can now be viewed online at BBC Motion Gallery’s online catalogue: www.bbcmotiongallery.com

    The new partnership bolsters BBC Motion Gallery’s position as the leading global force in archive content distribution, representing blue chip national broadcasters as well as specialist archives. Already the exclusive global representative for the CBS News archive, NHK in Japan and ABC in Australia, BBC Motion Gallery now offers more than 500,000 hours of film with 60,000 available online. Its archive covers more than 110 years of footage including news, history, music, wildlife and sport.

    BBC Motion Gallery’s MD Simon Gibbs said, “We are thrilled to represent this illustrious footage from CCTV. Today’s announcement extends and diversifies our online catalogue and offers our customers access to an unrivalled global library. Adding CCTV footage collection to BBC Motion Gallery is great news for our clients because it means they can now source, from a single online outlet, the best clips in multiple genres.”

    CCTV VP Hu En said, “We at CCTV see our high-definition archive as a valuable resource not just for people in China but for the whole international community, so we are delighted that we can expose it to a wider audience through BBC Motion Gallery.”

    BBC Worldwide has previously agreed TV sales deals with CCTV for the broadcast of the children’s series Charlie and Lola and Teletubbies. In addition in 2006, BBC Worldwide announced a co-production of the natural history series, Wild China which will be delivered in March 2008 to coincide with the Beijing Olympics.

    As well as being available through the online service, www.bbcmotiongallery.com, all the new content will be available via BBC Motion Gallery’s UK and international offices.

    BBC Motion Gallery offers media professionals access to the world’s most comprehensive collection of high-quality motion imagery for licensing worldwide. With more than 500,000 hours of footage, BBC Motion Gallery encompasses a wealth of content covering natural history, sport, news, locations, art, music, celebrities, historic events and more. BBC Motion Gallery is also the exclusive global representative of the CBS News Archive, and has global distribution deals with NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster and ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. BBC Motion Gallery operates from offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Paris, Toronto, Sydney and Tokyo.

  • CNN-IBN & Indian Express team up for UP election coverage

    MUMBAI: CNN-IBN and The Indian Express and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) have joined hands to cover state elections in Uttar Pradesh. Special month-long programming titled ‘Battle for U.P’ on CNN-IBN will include live debates amongst various party leaders and prominent authorities; exit poll projections after each phase of polling and post-poll surveys – providing a holistic account of the electoral activities taking place in various parts of the state.

    An editorial and marketing collaboration between the two news houses The Indian Express and CNN-IBN promises to provide the readers and viewers with the most up-to-date, comprehensive and precise news on all aspects of the election – from pre-polling, the actual ballot casting to post-poll results and developments, informs an official release.

    The scope of the partnership entails The Indian Express featuring tune-in advertisements on the ‘Battle for U.P.’ programming along with regular extensive poll coverage on the days after it is aired on CNN-IBN.

    In addition to daily news wheel stories the channel will also air a series of programmes dedicated solely to the elections. Some of them will include –

    *A half hour special debate show from Lucknow on – whether the state’s capital is being left out from the rest of the country when it comes to economic and social growth – featuring some of the city’s most recognisable faces. The show will air on CNN-IBN on 27 April at 8:30 pm

    *’Battle for U.P. exit poll special’ on CNN-IBN- will present the exit poll projections of that phase on 1 May.

    *Similarly, on 8 May – the day of the last phase of polling – a one-hour special at 9:30 pm on CNN-IBN will be aired analysing and predicting the exit poll results.
    *11 May will see live, day long special coverage of the UP ballot counting on CNN-IBN beginning from 7 am until at least 2 pm. Two more shows will follow in the evening.

    Introducing the campaign, CNN-IBN and IBN 7 editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “The UP elections are without a doubt one of the most important state assembly elections taking place in the country this year and CNN-IBN will be present on location to bring their viewers the most up-to-date news and comprehensive analyses as and when they happen.”

    Speaking on this significant alliance, CNN-IBN and IBN 7 director marketing and online projects Dilip Venkatraman said, “This coming together of the two biggest news brands to report on the U.P. elections is an all-encompassing approach that includes the best of both print and broadcast news. We are delighted to work together with The Indian Express on a property as important as this and hope for similar collaborations with them in the future.”

    “It is a great pleasure to collaborate with CNN-IBN in bringing our readers the latest on the U.P. state elections. I am confident that our partnership will provide the most current and inclusive coverage on the event(s) along with reliable analyses of the post-poll results,” said The Indian Express head corporate business development Gautam Mukherjea.

  • BBC wins third Banff World Television Festival Outstanding Achievement Award

    MUMBAI: The BBC has been named winner of this year’s BWTVF Outstanding Achievement Award, becoming the first broadcaster to win the prestigious global award three times.

    The award winner is chosen annually from the world’s broadcasters by the Banff Television Foundation Board of Governors for work over a period of time.

    The judges commended the BBC’s exceptional programmes including: Strictly Come Dancing, Planet Earth and Doctor Who, and for leading the development of digital television, radio and online services.

    “The Banff World Television Festival salutes the many outstanding achievements of the BBC,” says Jennifer Harkness, BWTVF Director of Content. “The BBC continues to lead the way with its outstanding television programming and brand.”

    Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, will accept the award on behalf of the BBC on Sunday 10 June. He will also be speaking at the closing session of nextMEDIA, BWTVF’s sister event.

    BBC departments who have previously received the award are the Natural History Unit in 1990 and Drama in 1998. Other winners have included America’s CBS and HBO and UK broadcaster Channel 4.

    Mark Thompson said today: “I am delighted to be accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award on behalf of everyone at the BBC.

    “It is an honour for our high quality and successful programming across several genres to be recognised by the Banff World Television Festival and celebrated before the international broadcasting community.

    “I am particularly pleased for the recognition of the BBC’s forward-looking role in innovating for new digital platforms and audiences across television, radio and online.”

  • Indian Merchant’s Chamber, CNBC UNIVERSE launch news ticker on IMC building

    MUMBAI: The Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) and CNBC Universe have collaborated to launch a news ticker on the IMC building in Churchgate. Reliance Indutries chairman Mukesh Ambani will dedicate the ticker into service.

    The news ticker will provide live news headlines from the world of business and markets, courtesy CNBC TV18 & CNBC AWAAZ, the two flagship television properties in the CNBC Universe.
    Ajay Chacko, head, marketing CNBC Universe said, “As India’s leading business platform, it’s our constant endeavor to deliver relevant and the latest content wherever our audiences are.

    Moreover, we believe that this ticker will provide a service to the business community in Mumbai. The location of the ticker is at the heart of India’s financial center and this truly symbolizes our dedication to service business audiences in our country”

    An IMC spokesperson added, “As this is the centenary year of the IMC, it was apt that we take initiatives that highlight and epitomize the commitment and sincerity with which the chamber has served the interest of the business community of the city for 100 years. The IMC-CNBC Universe ticker is another invaluable example of this everlasting effort and it truly marks a landmark moment for the chamber.”

  • BBC takes ‘Dirty Totten Cheater’ from Distraction Formats

    MUMBAI: Distraction Formats has announced that UK pubcaster the BBC has taken on Dirty Rotten Cheater, the interactive and comical game show format that involves strategies, tactics and a whole lot of cheating. In India a local version airs on Star.

    In the UK the show will be hosted by Brian Conley. It encompasses sincerity and deception in which contestants answer survey style questions in a quest to win the money. With one of the contestants secretly being fed the answers, the honest players must try and expose ‘The Cheater’ in order to take home any winnings. Filled with suspense as to who is being honest and who is cheating, the show climaxes with two final contestants competing for the highest prize.

    BBC international development executive David Morgenstern says, “Dirty Rotten Cheater is a classic gameshow format with a very strong structure. We’re going into development and preproduction very shortly. Brian loves the concept and we’re looking forward to turning Dirty Rotten Cheater into a great vehicle for his talents.

    Sarah Coursey, who brokered the deal at Distraction Formats commented; “We are obviously very happy to have placed Dirty Rotten Cheater with the BBC. Dirty Rotten Cheater is simply a strong, tried and tested format based on the universal theme of cheating. I’m very much looking forward to the BBC’s interpretation of it.”

  • GBN posts maiden net profit in Q4

    MUMBAI: : Global Broadcast News Limited (GBN) has announced a maiden net profit for the quarter ended 31 March 2007, within 15 months of launch of its channel CNN-IBN.

    The net profit stood at Rs 27.8 million while for the full fiscal net loss was at Rs 320.3 million. Says GBN joint managing director Sameer Manchanda, “The last quarter has seen GBN turn into black.”

    For the fourth quarter of 2006-07, gross revenues stood at Rs 290.7 million with income from operations accounting for Rs 279.8 million. During 2006-07, gross revenues were at Rs 799.4 million.

    Total expenditure for the entire fiscal stood at Rs 986.7 million with staff costs amounting to Rs 321 million and marketing, distribution and promotions to Rs 249.2 million.

    Out of Rs 1.05 billion raised through an initial public offering (IPO), the company has utilised Rs 645.9 million (till 31 March 2007).

    GBN’s share of loss based upon its holding in BK Fincap (BKF) is Rs 43.9 million during the quarter ended 31 March 2007. The company holds 49 per cent in BKF. Since August 2006. BKF holds 89.99 per cent shares in Jagaran TV Pvt Ltd (JTV).

    GBN shares rose seven per cent on the BSE to close today’s trading at Rs 618.90.

  • World Copyright Day – Give Journalists Rights to Control Their Work: IFJ

    NEW DELHI: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today said “Authors’ rights are essential to the quality of journalism and to the future of our profession. They provide vital income for a journalist and they help the defence of professional ethics,”.

    On April 23, which has been nominated by the United Nations World Copyright Day, the Federation gave a new call for lawmakers and governments to protect journalists’ rights to own and control their work.

    IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said “They play a crucial role in developing and maintaining a free press and democracy.”

    He regretted that publishers had in recent years sought to grab control of all rights of journalists in order to exploit new technologies that allow them to recycle and reuse the work of journalists across different platforms.

    The IFJ reiterated its demand for protection of these rights to ensure that journalists do not lose out in the rush to develop new media markets and also to highlight the link between rights protection and the sustainable creation of diverse high-quality media content that meets ethical standards.

    The IFJ has issued a checklist of guiding principles for authors’ rights protection:

    * All journalistic works – whether text, photo, audiovisual or other – must be protected and all creators of journalistic works must be recognised as authors whether freelances, employed, or work for hire or on contract.

    * All journalists must have full economic rights – based on an exclusive rights to authorise the making available, publication or broadcast of their work.

    * All journalists must have moral rights – the right to be named as the author and the right of integrity – and these rights must be unwaivable.

    * All forced legal transfer of authors’ rights of use (work-for-hire clauses and similar rules) must be abolished for staff and freelance authors alike.

    * All authors must be given protection against undue pressure to enter into unfair contacts following individual negotiations, and be guaranteed equitable remuneration.

    * All staff and freelances must also have the right of collective bargaining regarding authors rights of use (collective negotiations need not be subject to special protection)

    *Legislation that supports rights clearance through collective rights management societies and collective licensing should be upheld where it exists and introduced where it does not and is appropriate.

  • CNN launches a new feature show ‘The Spirit of…’

    MUMBAI: CNN has announced that it will launch a new monthly feature The Spirit Of… The 15-minute feature programme will be presented each month by CNN anchor Becky Anderson. She embarks on an intellectual journey, exploring the diverse fields of arts, culture, science, sports, business and philosophy to understand how such matters affect our lives. Each programme will introduce viewers to a key thinker or an outstanding leader to gain an insight into their work and careers.

    The first episode airs on 5 May at 6: 45 pm, 6 May at 1:45 pm. She goes forth in The Spirit Of…Adventure. Becky braves harsh conditions near the North Pole to undergo an intensive ‘Arctic Survival Course’. She ventures to the island of Spitsbergen in Norway to learn the vital skills needed to endure the Arctic wilderness and guiding her adventure, Becky gains insight from the world’s most famous mountaineer, Reinhold Messner.

    Once referred to as the ‘Michael Jordan of Mountaineering’, Messner was the first person to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and the first to ascend all fourteen ‘eight-thousanders’ (peaks over 8,000 metres above sea level). He talks about his experiences, whether it’s climbing the world’s highest peaks, skiing across Antarctica, or traversing the Gobi Desert. Messner explains during the course of the show what it is that makes man choose to push himself to the limit.

  • Zee News Ltd Q4 revenue up 47 % at Rs 690 million

    MUMBAI: Zee News Limited (ZNL) has posted a standalone fourth quarter revenue of Rs 690.3 million, representing a 47 per cent growth as compared to the proforma numbers for the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

    The operating profit for the quarter stood at Rs 8.5 million, after expensing of initial investments in new businesses, amounting to Rs 154 million. The corresponding quarter last fiscal, as per proforma numbers, showed a loss of Rs 44 million.

    Profit before tax for the quarter ended 31 March 2007 was Rs 21.2 million while net profit was Rs 13.1 million, the company stated in a release.

    Consolidated operating revenues for the fourth quarter stood at Rs 710.6 million while consolidated operating loss was Rs 9.2 million.

    For the fiscal ended 31 March 2007, ZNL’s revenues grew 41.5 per cent to Rs 2.36 billion.

    Commenting on the results Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra said, “ZNL has shown robust advertising and subscription growths of 37 per cent and 45 per cent respectively during the quarter While the existing businesses of the company have sustained the growth momentum, the new businesses are also showing encouraging viewership trends. This should stand us in good stead for the future. Digitalization should also enable our channels to garner good subscription revenues in future.”

    Added Zee News Ltd CEO Harish Doraiswamy, “We are pleased to report that excluding new business losses, our operating margins have improved from 18 per cent last year to 30 per cent this year.”

    Ad revenue grows 37 per cent

    ZNL’s advertising revenues increased to Rs 467.2 million, a 37 per cent growth as compared to the corresponding fourth quarter proforma numbers of last fiscal. “This growth in advertising revenues was a result of better yield and inventory utilization,” the company said.

    Subscription revenues grew 45 per cent at Rs 146.8 million. “Direct-to-home (DTH) services contributed significantly to the growth in subscription revenues,” Zee News said.