ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Nickelodeon & Produce for Kids campaign encourage kids to lead healthier lifestyles

    Nickelodeon & Produce for Kids campaign encourage kids to lead healthier lifestyles

    MUMBAI: Kids channel Nickelodeon, has partnered with Produce for Kids to kick off a health campaign which will run till 5 November. Produce for Kids is an organization that educates kids on the benefits of healthy eating.

    The campaign will use promotional programs in produce departments across the US featuring Nick Jr.’s Dora the Explorer and messaging surrounding the network’s health and wellness campaign Let’s Just Play encouraging kids to “Eat Smarter” and “Play Harder.” In addition, retailers will provide support for the program through advertising in circulars.

    Point-of-sale materials will be featured in produce sections that encourage kids to take their own personal steps towards living healthier lifestyles. Kids will also be encouraged to join the Produce for Kids’ Healthy Kids Club as well as sign up for the Nickelodeon network’s Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, which empowers kids with the tools they need to live healthier lifestyles.

    The campaign will also be cross promoted on Nickelodeon’s Let’s Just Play web site (http://www.nick.com/letsjustplay) and the Produce for Kids web site (http://www.produceforkids.org/). Both sites will encourage kids to sign up for the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge and Produce for Kids’ ‘Healthy Kids Club’.

    Produce for Kids’ ‘Healthy Kids Club’ provides kids with activities and nutritional tips that will aid them in choosing healthier food options. ‘Healthy Kids Club’ members will be able to earn points and track their progress toward healthy living through an online scorecard at http://www.produceforkids.org/healthykids. The Grand Prize winner will receive a free bicycle and a $750 grant in their name for their school’s athletic department or local Boys and Girls Club, informs an official release.

    “The Nickelodeon partnership with Produce for Kids allows us to expand the company’s health and wellness resources on a local level in stores all over the country,” said Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group senior vice president public affairs Jean Margaret Smith. “It raises awareness about the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables when kids and families are actually making food choices in the supermarket. And it aligns with our commitment through the ‘Let’s Just Play’ campaign to provide community resources and tools for kids to make healthy lifestyle choices.”

    “We are very excited to enter into this partnership with Nickelodeon,” said Shuman Produce president and Produce for Kids founder John Shuman. “With incredible retail partners and sponsors on-board, we believe the partnership with Nickelodeon, and its Dora the Explorer and ‘Let’s Just Play’ brands, will strengthen the Produce for Kids program as we continue to boost the awareness of healthy eating with kids and parents nationwide.”

  • Chandra exhorts industry to sink differences

    Chandra exhorts industry to sink differences

    NEW DELHI: While exhorting broadcasting industry to sink differences for collective benefit, Zee Telefilms chairman and maverick media entrepreneur Subhash Chandra today posed several issues before the government and sector regulator, including level playing field vis-à-vis telecom companies.

    “Let us all work together for long term benefits as blaming each other will not help. Let us work in partnership,” Chandra appealed to various constituents of the industry while delivering a keynote address at the India Broadband Digital Networks Forum organized here by Indiantelevision.com and Media Partners Asia. 

    Citing the example of CAS, Chandra wondered if all the stakeholders felt that addressability is good for the industry, how come it hasn’t yet become a reality in India.

    “Simply because vested interests (including broadcasters and cable fraternity) worked against CAS’ implementation since 2003,” Chandra said.

    Though he sought a more liberal regulatory regime both in terms of pricing and policies in the presence of I&B secretary and Trai chief , he agreed with both of them that comparison of the Indian market with the likes of US and UK is uncalled for as the former has its own needs and peculiarities.

    “If we had followed the American model, it would have needed investments worth $ 150-200 billion to bring the cable TV market to a level it now enjoys in terms of penetration, revenue and employment generation in India,” Chandra said.

    Earlier, information and broadcasting secretary SK Arora in his keynote address made a fervent pitch for digitalization of broadcasting services, which is imperative to keep pace with global trends and changing business models of media companies.

    “In terms of size and magnitude, the potential of the Indian broadcasting industry remains…and it’s quite a challenge to identify the impact that emerging technologies would have on business models of companies,” Arora said.

    Pointing out that India needs to design its own “solutions” keeping in mind the socio-economic scenario (read good services at low prices), Arora said regulations would be guided by the principle that “consumer is king.”

    According to the government official, in the 11th Five-Year Plan, the work on which is presently underway, the government is attempting to address the issue of digitalisation through “public-private partnership.”

    “We are encouraging and nudging them (the industry players) to move towards digitalisation,” Arora said, adding the first phase of it is expected to be completed by 2010 coinciding with Delhi playing host to the Commonwealth Games.

    Concurring with Arora, Telecom Regulatory of India (Trai) chief Nripendra Misra said arrival of digital technology, which gives more choice to consumers, and rapid convergence of services like telecom, infotech and broadcasting were two major trends of the television industry.

    However, Misra admitted that unregulated growth and lack of addressability had thrown up its own problems for the broadcast and cable industry.

    In such a scenario, DTH and CAS will have far-reaching impact on the industry, Misra said.

    Unfazed by widespread criticism of some pricing diktats of Trai earlier, Misra said that the regulator’s endeavour is to spread level playing field for all and formulate policies that are based to encourage efficiency, financing, development and equality.

    Though he admitted various legal lacunae is hampering a move towards unified licencing (whereby one single licence would enable delivery of telecom and broadcast services) at present, he envisaged in future cable networks might provide telecom services and give competition to telecom companies.

    “Convergence is being seen as an opportunity (in India)…but any development globally has to be seen in the Indian context,” Misra said, adding Trai will be coming out soon with a consultation paper on IPTV again.

    Meanwhile, at the start of the event, Indiantelevision.com founder and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari and MPA executive director Vivek Couto gave a snapshot of the Indian broadcast industry and the trends that have emerged over the last few years increasingly leading towards convergence.

    The morning session was attended by industry luminaries and senior government officials, including John Malone-controlled Liberty Media board member Shane O’ Neil.

  • BBC World launches on Dish TV

    BBC World launches on Dish TV

    MUMBAI: BBC World has been launched on DTH platform Dish TV. The channel is now available to all of Dish TV’s 1.5 million subscribers and is available on the ‘Dish Welcome’ package.

    BBC World claims to reach around 15 million homes across India via cable TV and this new deal brings the channel’s total distribution to 16.5 million Indian homes.

    BBC World, South Asia head of distribution and business development Amit Upadhyay says, “India is a fast-growing market for multi-channel television and a key market for BBC World. We are delighted to be part of this Dish TV offer as it brings BBC World to a new and dynamic audience.

    “The channel is highly regarded in India and has a loyal following. We are pleased to be providing new viewers with our award-winning journalism and news reporting.”

    Dish TV business head Jawahar Goel says, “In the last year and a half, Dish TV has emerged as one of the fastest growing digital platforms in the country. Our association with BCC World is in line with our commitment to provide the best of infotainmentnews and information programming available, in India or abroad, to our subscribers. We are sure that Dish TV subscribers would be happy to access BCC World in India shortly”.

  • BBC searches for best young band in the world

    BBC searches for best young band in the world

    MUMBAI: BBC World Service has launched The Next Big Thing. This is a competition to find the best young group or solo artist on the planet. The contest is open to anyone as long as they are 18 or under, unsigned and performing original music.

    Music by the entrants will be played on World Service throughout the autumn and a winner will be chosen by listeners and music industry experts in December during a one-hour special broadcast.

    Producer Ben Williams says the aim of the competition is to give a helping hand to young artists who may not have access to the music industry. “There’s fantastic musical talent all over the world but many people struggle to get that first break, and that’s where we come in. We are looking for brilliant new music – the quality of the recording isn’t important.”

    The contest will be run with the help of the BBC’s language services, meaning the final shortlist of six acts could include songs in any language, giving it a truly global feel.

    Artists who are interested in entering the competition should send one track to the World Service by 3 November 2006. CDs and tapes should be sent to The Next Big Thing, Bush House, London. MP3s can be emailed to the BBC at thenextbigthing@bbc.co.uk.

    The contest is part of a special season of programmes from World Service Generation Next, which explores the world through the eyes of the next generation – their passions, concerns and interests.

  • TBS creates funny user video site

    TBS creates funny user video site

    MUMBAI: TViTrue, which positions itself as the first user-created online ad platform has partnered with US broadcaster TBS.

    ViTrue will create an online community, Funny or Not? This will enable TBS viewers and enthusiasts to create, produce and upload their own funny videos using ViTrue’s platform and tools. Funny or Not? will be available to viewers at tbs.com from next month.

    TBS says that it is embracing the digital world by bringing its ‘very funny’ programming to the internet in unique ways and providing viewers with comedy content in many forms. Funny or Not? is TBS’s first entrance into the user-generated content space. ViTrue’s technology will allow the TBS audience to fully become part of the TBS experience and engage with TBS at a previously unimagined level, through full-featured user-generated content creation that respects—and is truly a part of—the TBS brand.

    TBS and TNT senior VP branding and network strategy Jennifer Dorian says, “As TBS continues to build its online presence, especially in terms of broadband entertainment, we are focusing on ways to engage our audience of comedy lovers in new and exciting ways.

    “ViTrue provides us with an engaging technology platform that enables viewers to interact with our brand in a compelling way, while also being in line with TBS’s views regarding the protection of copyrighted material online.”

    TBS says that it has a strong, loyal television audience and its website is attracting a growing following, as evident by the recent response to veryfunnyads.com, which is receiving an overwhelming response from TBS viewers. TBS’s contemporary attitude and funny programming has made it a leading cable network brand that has both benefited from and continues to drive innovative and out-of-the box marketing.

    ViTrue founder and CEO Reggie Bradford says, “ViTrue provides TBS with a one stop shop for user created video, through which the network can connect directly with its audience and have them participate in creating the next generation of original comedic content.

    “Our ready-made platform will allow TBS’s Funny or Not? plans to be realized quickly and efficiently, while also ensuring the protection of copyright owners.”

  • Nick US introduces interactivitity for preschoolers

    Nick US introduces interactivitity for preschoolers

    MUMBAI: American Pre-schoolers will “just press play.” Noggin, the commercial-free, educational preschool network from US kids firm Nickelodeon, is introducing a new form of interactive viewing for preschoolers, on its new, original, live-action series, The Upside Down Show.

    Starring comedy duo, The Umbilical Brothers (David Collins and Shane Dundas), the 13-episode half-hour preschool series developed by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organisation behind Sesame Street and Dragon Tales, will debut on Noggin on 16 October.

    Set in a fantastical living room with more doors than walls, The Upside Down Show stars David and Shane, two brothers who live with their fun-loving sidekick Puppet, their invisible pet fly Fido, and the Shmuzzies, adorable fluff balls who speak “Shmuzzish” and love to rhyme. Each episode begins as the brothers “hand” an imaginary remote control to the viewers at home so they can “control” the duo’s physical motion by fast forwarding, rewinding or pausing their movement.

    Breaking ‘the fourth wall’ of the television set, the brothers encourage their audience to participate in their antics and accompany them on their excursions. Every week, the duo embarks on a journey to explore new infinite worlds like the Very Hairy Room, Wind Room or Puppy Room, and everyday destinations like the beach, the airport or the movies. But Shane and David need help from their friends and viewers at home, as they don’t know where their destination is or how to get there!

    They take detours through magical doors in their apartment which allow the brothers — and the preschoolers playing along — to investigate the world around them.

    Nick says that The Upside Down Show provides a fresh new way for preschoolers to interact by learning critical thinking skills, rich vocabulary and relational concepts and life skills through pretend play. The series elevates the concept of imaginative play to a new platform in which children build valuable reasoning skills, develop creative problem solving abilities and enhance their understanding of and joy in the world around them.

    The remote control featured on the series becomes a fun tool to help children learn unique vocabulary and relational concepts, as well as to play along with these completely original, imaginary stories.

    The following preschool platforms will also kick off the launch of The Upside Down Show:

    Noggin.com is also streaming a ‘sneak peek’ clip from the premiere episode.

    Nickelodeon Preschool Television executive creative director Brown Johnson says, “David and Shane may be the two funniest men on the planet. They are silly, spontaneous, ridiculous, amazing and on the perfect wavelength for preschoolers.

    “The Brothers make ordinary things extraordinary — from taking a trip to the art museum or the beach to visiting wacky places like the sticky room, the no-room room, or the sandwich room, where they achieve ‘total sandwich.’ They make me laugh every time!”

    Sesame Workshop executive VP, creative director Liz Nealon says, “We’re very excited about the debut of The Upside Down Show, which is very different than other preschool shows. Pairing the irresistible antics of the Umbilical Brothers with the Workshop’s understanding that young children learn best through imaginative play has created a special kind of alchemy.

    “We’ve worked hard to make sure that this offbeat and funny show also serves up serious school readiness – teaching and reinforcing cognitive thinking and language skills, and fostering a sense of mastery and self-confidence, all while keeping kids laughing and engaged.”

    In the first episode Art Museum Shane creates an artistic masterpiece to hang on the refrigerator, until he and David discover they don’t actually have a refrigerator! At the suggestion of their neighbor Mrs. Foil and with help from Puppet and their pet fly Fido, The Brothers look for an art museum to hang the piece of art. Along the way, Shane and David get stuck in the Sticky Room, lost in the Fog Room, and meet a young talented finger painter in the Museum of Finger Painting. The Brothers introduce “Pause,” “Rewind,” “Fast Forward” and “Instant Replay” buttons on the imaginary remote, and the viewers at home press the “Humongous” and “Minute” buttons to help Shane and David reach their final destination.

    In the second episode Farm Shane and David have a band called The Talking Airheads, which features Shane on guitar; David on drums and a cowbell; Fido the fly on trumpet; and The Shmuzzies on the Marimba. But the band faces a setback when David’s cowbell — which happens to be attached to an imaginary cow named Clarabelle – disappears! On their journey to find the cow, The Brothers spend time in the Great Big Bell Room, fish for the cowbell in the Boat Out At Sea Room and go for a ride in the Bicycle Room. Viewers help Shane and David along by pressing the “Seesaw” and “Steady’ buttons on the remote control.

    Noggins’s site will feature a variety of content to complement the premiere of The Upside Down Show, including an online game where preschoolers can personalize an imaginary play experience with Shane and David by creating their own interactive video. The site will also feature downloadable clips from the series and several activities including The Upside Down Show printables, crafts, E-cards and more. Nick Jr.’s award-winning website (www.nickjr.com) will also launch The Upside Down Show interactive game and activities, in addition to featuring a dedicated playlist of clips from series on Nick Jr. Video.

  • The big cat leaps on Animal Planet this month

    The big cat leaps on Animal Planet this month

    MUMBAI: In conjunction with World Animal Day, Animal Planet celebrates the beauty and diversity of the big cats of the wild.

    The channel says that these endangered species around the world face the possible threat of extinction. For one week, viewers can leap into the lives of the stealthiest predators on the planet during this special programming event. Viewers will learn about the hidden feline beneath these ferocious creatures, and find out how our efforts at conservation could keep them alive for our future generations.

    Action Big Cat Week airs till 6 October at 8 pm and will repeat next day at 3 pm.

    Wild cats the channel says continue to amaze researchers, wildlife documentary filmmakers and viewers around the world with their incredible abilities and ever-changing behaviours. Animal Planet showcases these magnificent beasts as they hunt prey, battle threats and develop relationships in some of the most dangerous communities in the world.

    The special shares stories of crisis, tragedy, success, compassion and strength while bringing exclusive looks at the most exciting feline predators in the world directly into viewers’ homes.

    A team employs remote-control buggy cameras, buried periscopes and state-of-the-art night vision technology to truly enter the lion’s den in the one-hour programme Lion – Spy In The Den. When a lion charges, the viewers charge with it; when it rests, viewers lie alongside. In what is a new achievement for lion specialists the show is able to examine the fragile alliances between pride males and their relationships with neighboring rivals.

    Leopard Hunters explores the magnificent and mysterious cats of Sri Lanka in . Yala National Park is the jewel of Sri Lanka. Ancient temples and Buddhist dagbas – ruins of a lost civilisation – remain scattered throughout the wild jungles. The stretches of golden sands along the coast and miles of steamy jungle make the park one of the most beautiful sights on the island. This untouched wilderness is home to herds of elephant, buffalo, sloth bears, crocodiles, jungle cats and elusive leopards.

    It is the leopards of Yala National Park that have fascinated two young men. Ravi – a newly qualified doctor – and Jehan – a businessman – were so captivated by the leopards that they have dedicated the last three years of their lives to studying them. The special reveals their unique and amazing behavior and brings the leopards of Yala to the screen as never before.

    Return of the Cheetah airs tonight 3 October 2006
    Wildlife expert Peter Gros heads to Namibia for a week’s assignment at the Cheetah Conservation Fund – a uniquely ambitious project aimed at safeguarding the world’s fastest sprinter. In an action-packed visit, Peter teams up with Namibia’s “Cheetah Lady,” Dr. Laurie Marker, and finds out how science, diplomacy and a dash of imagination can turn a situation of despair into one of hope.
    Alphonse Roy’s Great Cats of India airs on 4 October 2006. Roy captures documentary portraits of all of India’s four great cats – lion, tiger, leopard and the ever-elusive snow leopard. Viewers follow Alphonse throughout the whole filmmaking process, from the often-arduous journeys to remote locations, to setting up specialized field equipment and, of course, the actual filming. Along the way viewers meet the many friends and colleagues that Alphonse has worked with over the years to help with his task, from local feudal overlords to leading scientific experts and conservation officers.

  • Zee Telefilms to launch Marathi news channel ’24 Tas’

    Zee Telefilms to launch Marathi news channel ’24 Tas’

    MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Ltd. chairman Subhash Chandra is giving his news business a big push. His latest plan of action: to launch a Marathi news channel by the end of this year.

    Zee News Ltd (ZNL), the company which houses the news and regional channels, plans to invest Rs 1 billion over three years for this venture. 24 Tas (24 hours), as such, will become the first channel in the Marathi news space.

    “We plan to launch the Marathi news channel by December-end. Our projected investment for this is Rs 1 billion over a three-year period. We are putting the equipment in place,” says Zee News Ltd. director Laxmi Goel.

    More local language news channels are on the agenda. Goel had earlier told Indiantelevision.com that the company would launch news channels in the southern languages. Zee already runs a Bengali news channel through a joint venture with Akash Bangla.

    ZNL, will also be appointing a chief executive officer soon, said Goel. The company is also planning to launch a Tamil and a Malayalam channel to cover up all the southern language states.

    The company expects to post a 33 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years to touch revenue of Rs 8.7 billion by FY 2011, up from Rs 2.01 billion in FY 2005-06. ZNL’s operating margins, which stood at 16 per cent, are expected to expand to around 30 per cent during this period.

    ZNL has a networth of Rs 1.7 billion. The capital employed (as of 1 April 2006) is Rs 2.31 billion with loan funds standing at Rs 612 million.

    Chandra’s expansive news plans include the recent acquisition of a majority stake in United News of India (UNI), a news wire agency, which will give him access to a widely spread out infrastructure.

  • Industry gets together to discuss Broadband Issues

    Industry gets together to discuss Broadband Issues

    New Delhi: The stage is set for a high powered seminar on broadband and IPTV which commences in New Delhi’ India Habitat Centre today. Organised by indiantelevision.com and Media Partners Asia, Hong Kong, and titled The India Broadband Digital Networks forum – Delivering the Digital Home, the seminar will feature high profile speakers such as I&B secretary SK Arora, Trai chairman Nripendra Misra, Zee TV chairman Subhash Chandra, Liberty Global director Shane O Niel, who will kick off the morning’s proceedings with their keynotes, followed by a panel discussion. The purpose of the session: to try to get a perspective from government on which way broadcasting, cable TV, broadband, IPTV, internet regulation is headed, apart from a view from industry leaders how they see the Indian market panning out.

    The afternoon session has Siticable head JS Kohli, Tata Sky boss Vikram Kaushik, Ortel Communications Jagi Mangat Panda, HSBC Securities MD and global media investment banking head Sandeep Pahwa, Comverse CBO Raghav Sahgal, NDS Asiapac operations director David Godfrey, Scientific Atlanta VP and international business GM Ken Klaer. Their focus will be to come to an understanding on why strategically digital is the way to go forward, and how each of them is dealing with this imperative to consolidate and converge.

    The last session has got Zee TV vice chairman Jawahar Goel, Star India’s revenue director Paritosh Joshi, Hathway boss K Jayaraman, HFCL Infotel CEO Surendra Lunia, Bharati Televentures technology Veep TV Sriram, HomeCable CEO Vikki Choudhry, Tandberg Television IPTV business development director Alan Delaney, Indusind Media executive director Ashok Mansukhani. The goal: to get a reality check on whether that strategic imperative is going to be achieved, what is hampering the move and how the impediments will be cleared.

    Says Indiantelevision.com CEO Anil Wanvari: “Cable TV, satellite TV, broadband, and telco operators are all keen to understand what the lay of the land will be like, how each of them can work together or independently, the business models which will be successful. We hope through this seminar to get to some of those answers.”

    The India Broadband Digital Networks Forum has Tandberg Televison, NDS, Scientific Atlanta, NDS and Comverse as the industry sponsors, with CNN IBN being the Support Sponsor, NDTV the telecast partner, CMCG as the PR partner and Cable Quest, Satellite@ Internet India and Satellite & Cable TV as the print partners.

  • Animax ropes in Supriya Bambawale as marketing manager in India

    Animax ropes in Supriya Bambawale as marketing manager in India

    MUMBAI: SPE Networks’ Japanese anime channel Animax has appointed Supriya Bambawale as marketing manager in India.

    In this capacity, Bambawale will oversee the functions of programming, marketing and creative services, as well as conquering new markets to expand the channel’s reach.

    Animax seeks to adopt mature content combined with edgy animation, essentially recreating its appeal to attract young adult viewers.

    Bambawale’s experience at DQ Entertainment and Buena Vista Television India provides her knowledge to spearhead the move forward for Animax, identifying programmes and marketing initiatives that will connect and interact with today’s youth.