ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • BBC to make big screen wildlife film on ‘The Meerkats’

    BBC to make big screen wildlife film on ‘The Meerkats’

    MUMBAI: BBC Films will collaborate with the BBC Natural History Unit to produce their first ever feature film together, The Meerkats.

    The film is set to start principal photography this month in the Kalahari Desert. The Weinstein Company are co-financing the project, and will distribute the film internationally.

    The Meerkats is directed by James Honeyborne, with Joe Oppenheimer and Trevor Ingman as producers. BBC Natural History Unit head Neil Nightingale and BBC Films head David M Thompson will serve as executive producers with co-president of production, Michael Cole and director of development and production Rhodri Thomas overseeing the project on behalf of The Weinstein Company.

    The BBC Natural History Unit has been involved in feature films emanating from their own television series – Blue Planet and the forthcoming Planet Earth. But this is the first time such a project has been produced as a feature film right from the outset, asserts an official release.

    The Meerkats is a revealing look at one family’s daily struggle for survival in the harshest environment on earth. But what makes these natives of the African plains even more remarkable is a family dynamic which bears an uncanny resemblance to our own.

    Whether they are going through the routines of daily life or locked in a very real battle to stay alive, The Meerkats is a look at how one family’s connection to each other and their surroundings stands as a model of resilience and fortitude.

    Talking about the film Thompson said, “This is a tremendously exciting collaboration. The Natural History Unit is the best in the world at what they do and we’re really thrilled to be working with them at last. The film has huge emotional appeal and will really travel internationally. It’s a great story, with a fantastic team behind it, and we hope this will be the start of a great partnership for the future.”

    Nightingale added, “I am very excited about the potential of this film project, combining the talents of the BBC Natural History Unit and BBC Films. With a strong and emotional story, featuring some of the most charismatic of wildlife characters, this film will appeal to a very broad cinema audience, in Britain and around the world.”

    BBC Films is the feature film-making arm of the BBC, developing, producing and financing an average of eight feature films each year.

  • Carl D. Folta is Viacom executive VP, corporate communications

    Carl D. Folta is Viacom executive VP, corporate communications

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has appointed Carl D. Folta as executive VP, corporate communications.

    Folta, who will serve as Viacom’s chief communications strategist and spokesperson, will report to Viacom senior executive VP and chief administrative officer Thomas E. Dooley. Folta, most recently served as executive vice president, office of the chairman.

    In his new role, he will be responsible for Viacom’s overall communications activities, both internally and externally, as well as the coordination of communications at the Company’s operations, including MTV Networks, Bet Networks, the Paramount Motion Picture Group and Famous Music. Folta will have oversight for all financial communications, and will direct the Company’s media relations activities for industry issues and public affairs, including regulatory, legislative and legal matters.

    Additionally, he will be responsible for managing corporate events and overseeing the Company’s philanthropy activities and public affairs programs, including Know HIV/Aids, the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning cross- platform public education partnership with CBS and Kaiser Family Foundation, which he initiated in 2003.

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “Carl is a consummate communications professional who understands the strategic and financial complexities of our businesses and the industry. I know he will make a big contribution to Viacom in the future as we continue to expand and embrace the opportunities of the digital age. I am also pleased that I will have the opportunity to continue to work with Carole and that Viacom will continue to benefit from her knowledge, experience and talent as she moves to her new role at MTV Networks.”

    Dooley said, “Carl is a highly effective leader and a seasoned communications councelor with more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of the public relations field, including financial and investor communications. I couldn’t be more pleased to be teaming up with him again.”

  • NDTV launches opt-out tech for Delhi with ‘Fight for Delhi’

    NDTV launches opt-out tech for Delhi with ‘Fight for Delhi’

    MUMBAI: After launching the opt-out technology in south-only and Kolkata-only shows, NDTV has announced to use its opt-out technology to launch a special show for Delhi.

    NDTV 24X7’s Delhi viewers will now have a 30-minute show dedicated to the news that affects the capital. Using its opt-out technology, starting 6 November. The channel will broadcast Fight for Delhi at 7.30 pm on weeknights. While the capital watches this show, the rest of the country will watch NDTV 24X7’s national beam.

    Fight For Delhi will bring the people of Delhi face-to-face with their elected representatives so they can get an immediate response to their concerns, states an official release.

    “It’s a problem-solving show that forces bureaucrats, ministers, anyone who’s in charge to commit on air, to making the change that people want. And we will follow up on the promises that they’re made. It’s a show that campaigns for Delhi and its people,” says NDTV 24X7 managing editor Sonia Singh.

    “Sheila Dikshit, has committed to meeting voters once a week on this show. Our viewers will share their issues with her, and she will appoint a person to help them out by a fixed date,” comments NDTV chairman Prannoy Roy.

    The statement issued by the company stated that NDTV’s opt-out program in South India, ‘Southern Edition’, generated a huge response in the four states it airs every night at 7 pm. Viewers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu watch their own local news on this show, while the rest of the country receives NDTV 24X7’s national beam. Once a week, southern viewers also get their own edition of “The Big Fight”, an NDTV hallmark. With the use of the opt-out technology, viewers in Kolkata also watched city-specific programming during Durga Puja.

    Opt-out technology, developed by NDTV, enables geographical areas to receive an independent video signal. It’s based on automatic satellite transmission without any manual intervention. There are individual boxes that are programmed to receive and switch frequency at the desired time to shift out of the regular feed and again switch back to the main feed when the opt-out is over.

  • BBC Worldwide sells two kids shows across the globe

    BBC Worldwide sells two kids shows across the globe

    MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced a string of international sales for two of its key children’s programmes – The Secret Show and Charlie and Lola.

    The commercial arm of the BBC has licensed new animation show The Secret Show to broadcasters in France, Hong Kong, Finland, Russia and the Middle East – bringing the total to 13. It will also start airing on Virgin transatlantic flights from 1 December 2006.

    Aimed at 7-12 year olds, The Secret Show is about secret people doing secret things. Special agents Victor Volt and Anita Knight work for U.Z.Z, protecting the world against the evil forces of T.H.E.M. Managed by a boss whose name is quite literally ‘Changed Daily’, and assisted on their madcap missions by insane scientist Professor Professor, Victor and Anita manage to save the world – or large parts of it – once or sometimes even twice a week.

    Charlie and Lola which is based on the books by Lauren Child, has just been licensed to 3 new broadcasters – IRIB in Iran, TVB in Hong Kong and Playhouse Disney in Spain. The pre-school animation, which is a mix of 2D CelAction animation, paper cutout, fabric design, real textures, photomontage and archive footage, has now been sold to 33 countries.

    Snow Queen was sold to Al Jazeera’s children’s channel and World of Peter Rabbit & Friends and Tale of Peter Rabbit & Beatrix Potter were sold to Momo TV in Taiwan.

  • NBC gives the game of ‘The Office’ a Flash make-over

    NBC gives the game of ‘The Office’ a Flash make-over

    MUMBAI: Mobile games are closing the gap to traditional computer games with the launch of a new technology that enables richer mobile experience.

    US broadcaster NBC has announced that The Office Games has produced a flash-enhanced game for its series of six mini-games, based on Verizon Wireless’ new Flash Lite for Brew technology.

    NBC says that the new The Office Games feature cleaner graphics, enhanced sound and quicker relay times and can be played on select Get It Now-enabled phones. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Indiagames had developed NBC’s The Office Games to be played at the office or at home.

    With shorter play times, Verizon Wireless says that its customers will find the intuitive array of games easy to navigate and simple to play — which is good for a break, after a stressful meeting or on an awkward phone call. The games feature the characters from the television series participating in a selection of cubical game-play including Wasteketball, Paper-Football (Hateball), Table-Top Golf, Office Paper War, Chair-Racing and more.

    Indiagames VP US Sean Malatesta says, “We are proud to bring the comedy of The Office to Verizon Wireless using the incredible Flash Lite technology. It truly has been a great partnership indeed. These games are so addictive — and the new graphics make them even more fun!” .

    Indiagames is striving to bring high-quality CG games to mobile. With increased mobile phone screen sizes, Indiagames has begun to rollout a series of graphically driven games, similar to desktop games, but made for mobile. The new high-resolution graphics for NBC’s The Office Games are closer to those seen in traditional video games — with clean transitions during score updates and between games. Similarly, the maneuverability has been enhanced to capitalize on player reaction times.

  • Al Jazeera Intl to go live from 15 November; no govt ok yet for India feed

    Al Jazeera Intl to go live from 15 November; no govt ok yet for India feed

    MUMBAI: After a number of delays, Doha-based Al-Jazeera Network has set the launch of its English news and current affairs channel AL Jazeera International for 15 November.

    The launch of the channel had earlier being deferred from April to September on account of series of constructions and technical glitches at its four centres in London, Doha, Kuala Lumpur and Washington.

    The Indian feed continues to remain in the realm of uncertainities.

    The English offshoot of the often controversial (at least to Western eyes) Al Jazeera Arabic language channel will kick off its inaugural broadcast from its headquarters at 12 GMT. The announcement of the launch coincides with the 10-year anniversary of Al Jazeera.

    To be beamed off Pas10, Al Jazeera International has already set up shop in India with a bureau headed by Anmol Saxena, who has been in the business of television for some years now.

    The Indian operation has been dogged by delays in government permission, which has also resulted in other aspects of the business of TV not being put in place.

    For example, though Al Jazeera is said to be negotiating with a senior distribution personnel in India for the channel talks haven’t been finalised as government permission is yet to come as of today, according to information available with Indiantelevision.com.

    In all probability, the distribution activity would be outsourced in India to a company that is headed by a person who has done similar work in various media organisation.

    Meanwhile on 15 November, the international channel will provide 12 hours of live news plus interview programmes and in-depth features and analysis from the world’s hot spots over a 24 hour day.

    According to an official release, the channel will be positioned to reverse the information flow from South to North and to provide a voice to under-reported regions around the world.

    With broadcast centres strategically placed in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, and supporting bureaux worldwide, Al Jazeera International aims to be a new force in the global English speaking media with the ability to seek out and cover different perspectives of news through on-the-ground reporting wherever news is made.

    Al Jazeera Network director general Wadah Khanfar said: “We are extremely proud of what Al Jazeera has achieved over the past ten years. Al Jazeera today is an international media organisation. Al Jazeera International will build on the pioneering spirit of Al Jazeera and will carry our media model, based in the South, to the entire world.”

    He added: “The launching of the English Channel offers the chance to reach out to a new audience that is used to hearing the name of “Al Jazeera” without being able to watch it or to understand its language. The new channel will provide the same ground-breaking news and impartial and balanced journalism to the English speaking world.”

    “It has been a fantastic endeavour to build this TV channel over the last two years with the support of the Al Jazeera network. Everyone involved in the project deserves credit,” said Al Jazeera International MD Nigel Parsons, adding, “We will extend the Al Jazeera spirit into the English-speaking world.”

    Al Jazeera’s English language website, aljazeera.net/english is being re-launched with the launch of the English language channel to reflect the channel’s look and feel and editorial content.

    It will showcase Al Jazeera International’s agenda setting editorial mission and will provide constantly updated coverage of news events from around the world, along with in-depth analysis and background.

    It will provide RSS feeds, live streams and downloadable clips from the channel, as well as interactive discussions and polling. Programme and presenter information as well as weather reports, live business data and sport will also be available via the website, informs the statement.

  • TV18’s Sanjay Chaudhuri sells 100,000 shares to Bahl

    TV18’s Sanjay Chaudhuri sells 100,000 shares to Bahl

    MUMBAI: The Raghav Bhal promoted Television Eighteen Ltd has transferred 175,000 shares as a block deal to Network18 Fincap Pvt Ltd (previously known as SGA Finance and Management Services Private Limited) for Rs 120 million.

    This brings to 2,243,225 the total number of shares transferred to Network18 Fincap from Bahl’s personal holding. Recently, Network 18 Fincap had acquired 200,000 equity shares from Bahl for Rs 12.84 million.

    “Pursuant to the sanction to the scheme of arrangement by the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Delhi, Network 18 Fincap Pvt Ltd has acquired 175,000 shares from Bahl,” a statement TV18 posted on the BSE declared.

    Further, the company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that TV18 co-promoter Sanjay Ray Chaudhuri had sold 100,000 shares to Bahl in a block deal on 21 October.

    Assuming the transaction was done at the price the scrip was trading at on 21 October — Rs 685 — Chaudhuri would have received about Rs 61 million in the share sale.

    The TV18 scrip opened at Rs 700 and touched an intra-day high of Rs 793 before closing at Rs 776.

  • Turner to launch broadband network in the US in January

    Turner to launch broadband network in the US in January

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) is further expanding its portfolio of consumer businesses on emerging platforms.

    It will launch Super Deluxe, an online comedy channel combined with interactive online-community tools, will launch on broadband in January 2007. Super Deluxe will be ad-supported, making the network entirely free to consumers, and will integrate advertising in different ways.

    Turner Entertainment Group president Mark Lazarus says, “Super Deluxe is not only the latest innovation from Turner Broadcasting, which pioneered such concepts as the basic cable network and the 24-hour news channel, but also the most recent addition to the company’s growing broadband network portfolio that includes CNN Pipeline and GameTap, among others. Its combination of original content and extensive online community tools will make it an ideal destination for young adults eager for this type of material in a dynamic interactive environment.”

    Drew Reifenberger will be Super Deluxe senior VP, GM. He said, “Today, the online comedy experience is largely comprised of random clips and homemade movies contained within a generic experience. Super Deluxe is focused on original, ‘television-quality’ programming, presented with a distinct editorial voice and in a highly interactive and social environment. It will deliver an experience more akin to watching your favorite TV show with friends – hanging out and sharing a laugh.”

    Super Deluxe will offer original comedy from both established and rising comedy stars, developed exclusively for the network and celebrating the artists’ creative spirit, providing comedic talents a forum to showcase and share their own inspired concepts and performances. Each artist will have his/her own personalised area featuring exclusive content, a blog and opportunities to promote appearances and projects or further customize their part of the network.

    Original programming will range from short films and sketches to episodic series and more. In addition to being available online, Super Deluxe content will be available via cable VOD, wireless devices and personal media players.

    Programming is just the beginning, however. Super Deluxe’s community tools will allow fans to interact with artists and each other, adding an extra dimension of value for the consumer. Through these tools, fans can express their own sense of humuor and interact with artists and others by creating their own profiles, uploading their own videos, rating and sharing content, making comments, sending messages and more. Fans can even join or create groups with other artists and users to share and discuss their favorite humorous topics, comedians or anything else that strikes their interest.

  • CBS lets viewers test their CSI: Q on the mobile

    CBS lets viewers test their CSI: Q on the mobile

    MUMBAI: From today 1 November viewers of US broadcaster CBS’ drama CSI: NY can use their mobile phone to play CSI: Q.

    This is an interactive, live text-messaging game in which audiences test their crime-solving skills by predicting the outcome of the episode, with an eye on winning $10,000. This marks the first time that CBS has applied an interactive text messaging component, previously used on reality programmes and game shows, to one of its prime time dramas. In India the CSI franchise airs on AXN.

    CSI creator and CSI: NY executive producer Anthony Zuiker, who also created the CSI board game, Senses, came up with the idea for CSI: Qand is formulating the questions.

    He says, “CSI: Q invites viewers to watch CSI: NY in an interactive fashion with a level of game play to track the ‘criminal,’ ‘science,’ and ‘intent’ (motive) of the story. Our goal is to use the mobile phone in an unprecedented fashion to drive viewership back to the television while at the same time enhancing the viewing experience for the CSI fan.”

    During the CSI: NY episodes being broadcast on CBS on 1, 8, 15 November, an on-air promo will run with one question that asks viewers to predict what will happen at the end of that night’s episode. Viewers will send their responses via text message to 38383 and will be entered into the drawing to win the weekly prize of $10,000. Additionally, viewers can enter for free by going to the CSI: NY site through CBS.com (where the Official Rules are also posted).

    Each weekly winner will be announced on-air during the following week’s episode of CSI: NY. The questions will differ for the Eastern, Pacific and Hawaiian time zones.

    CSI: NY is about forensic investigators who use high-tech science to follow the evidence and solve crimes in the Big Apple. The show stars Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Carmine Giovinazzo, Hill Harper, Eddie Cahill and Anna Belknap.

  • Zee Muzic to launch ‘Wild 10’ on 4 November

    Zee Muzic to launch ‘Wild 10’ on 4 November

    MUMBAI: Zee Muzic is set to kick off a one-hour theme based show Wild 10 on 4 November at 7 pm.

    Hosted by Rohit Roy, every Saturday Wild 10 will play 10 of the hottest tracks of the week and pick five from each of the various segments such as – DJ’s pick, regional hits, viewer’s choice, old is gold – retro and international.

    The show promises to take viewers through the wild side of fashion, parties, destinations and more. Every episode will see Rohit in different avatars, from a Bartender to a DJ or even a biker. The end of every episode will show Rohit doing something ‘Wild’ as part of his signature Wild 10 style, informs an official release.

    Zee Muzic business head Irshwin Balvani said, “Wild 10 is a make-you-feel-good show. It makes for a perfect weekend viewing as it has lots of music and entertainment and of course Rohit Roy who unveils his wild side.”