ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Get shaken & stirred on Discovery Travel & Living new series Cocktail Kings

    Get shaken & stirred on Discovery Travel & Living new series Cocktail Kings

    MUMBAI: Aiming to break away from the routine family dramas and soaps, the lifestyle channel Discovery Travel & Living has been showcasing a variety of shows to spearhead the emerging trend of contemporary alternative television.

    Starting today and to be aired every Thursday at 10 30pm, the new series Cocktail Kings introduces two professional cocktail makers, Colin Asare-Appiah and Dimitri Lezinska as they travel to cities across Europe and the USA where they meet the locals, see the sights, uncover the best things to do and the best places to be seen doing them.

    A 13 episodes series, it focuses on different locations from Colin’s home turf in London and Dimitri’s in Paris, to Milan, Berlin, Athens, other cities across Europe, then over to the US to New York, Miami, San Francisco and Seattle.

    Spending two days at each location, Colin and Dimitri experience the more unusual activities each city offers, apart from seeking out the most stylish bars, restaurants and hotels.

    Once completely saturated in the culture and personality of each city, Colin and Dimitri each then create a brand new cocktail based upon their experiences. Of the two, the cocktail that best reflects the city’s style will be placed on the cocktail list at one of the city’s coolest bars – where a cocktail-making session will take place.

    Committed to providing content that gets viewers to escape from the day-to-day grind of everyday life, Cocktail Kings is all set to woo the discerning viewer.

  • Star offers to shake hands with Dish TV

    Star offers to shake hands with Dish TV

    NEW DELHI: Star and Dish TV move towards a consensus by shaking hands even as the launch of Tata Sky’s DTH service is imminent.

    A day before the Supreme Court is to hear a case on channel pricing, Star today delivered to Dish TV, country’s first pay DTH platform, the integrated receiver decoder boxes that would enable the DTH operator to access Star channels for redistribution purpose.

    Some formalities are yet to be completed, both the companies said.

    Dish TV CEO Sunil Khanna added, “It might take a couple of days for us to start beaming the Star channels on the platform as the boxes need to be tested.”

    As per a directive of the disputes tribunal TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal), Star has offered its channels to Dish TV at Rs 27 per subscriber a month. Dish would also not pay any minimum guarantee money to Star.

    A spokesperson for Star India said that in deference to TDSAT directive an offer was made to Dish TV despite the latter moving the Supreme Court on the tribunal order.

    Not clear at the moment is what would happen to a Supreme Court case, which was filed by Dish TV some time back. Dish had petitioned that instead of Rs 27, the Star channels should come to it cheaper as Star had offered its channels to Dish some years back at one-fourth the price paid by cable ops.

    The price of Rs 27 fixed by TDSAT for Star bouquet of channels is 50 per cent of Rs 54 that a cable operator presently pays.

    Dish TV sources said the Supreme Court case is likely to continue, but is unlikely to have much of a bearing on the present truce called by Dish and Star. The apex court will be hearing the Dish TV petition on 4 August.

    Dish TV has been waging a legal battle for over a year to get Star and Sony-Discovery channels on its platform. The Sony-Discovery One Alliance recently signed up with Dish TV.

    Meanwhile, Dish’s Khanna said that a price revision of the monthly subscription would be decided in a few days time. “In all probability, Star Plus and other popular channels would be part of Dish TV’s basic tier of service, which also includes other mass general entertainment channels like Zee TV, Sony and HBO.”

  • Time Warner to offer AOL service free-of-cost

    Time Warner to offer AOL service free-of-cost

    MUMBAI: What is perceived as a last ditch attempt to save its sinking internet business initiative AOL, Time Warner has decided to switch the service to free-to-access mode from September.

    With this move, AOL will attempt to transform itself into a full-fledged online media business venture, banking purely on advertising revenue and competing directly with rivals in this space Google, Yahoo and MSN. Approximately $2 billion subscriber revenue, which the company will miss now with the move, is expected to be made up in advertising.

    Time Warner will be implementing the free service in September this year. Former customers will be able to reactivate their accounts for free when the effort takes effect in September. According to industry estimates, AOL has lost a third of its subscribers since 2002.

    This is the next logical step for AOL to capitalize further on the explosive rise in broadband usage and online advertising. With its robust and rapidly expanding advertising operation, we expect to put AOL back on a growth path,” Time Warner president Jeff Bewkes has been quoted in media reports as saying.

  • Alfred Haber closes distribution deals for ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in major territories

    Alfred Haber closes distribution deals for ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in major territories

    MUMBAI: Alfred Haber Distribution, Inc. (AHDI), the US-based independent distributor of U.S. network reality series and specials, has announced that, it has concluded deals in major territories for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2006.

    The broadcasters AHDI has roped in Star TV for Southeast Asia, Ten Network for Australia, Global TV for Canada, Televisa for Mexico and FOX for Japan.

    The one-hour 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network in December 2006, began as an Internet event in 1996 and, due to its overwhelming success, was picked-up for broadcast rights by CBS in 2001.

    This year, the show moves from New York to the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles for the first time, and features top models Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Karolina Kurkova, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Selita Ebanks, as well as some very special guests, informs an official release.

    This year’s fashion spectacular will feature dazzling runway segments, musical performances, red carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world’s most celebrated fashion show, adds the release.

  • BSkyB launches Sky+ remote record service enabled by weComm technology

    BSkyB launches Sky+ remote record service enabled by weComm technology

    MUMBAI: BSkyB, the UK’s leading provider of pay-TV services, has launched its Sky+ remote record service using weComm’s wave platform. It enables customers to maximise the value of their content by providing sophisticated, personalised services for mobile devices.

    Sky customers will be able to set their Sky+ to record their favourite shows using a mobile phone – either by sending a text message or with Sky by mobile. If they have downloaded the Sky by mobile application they can view Sky’s seven-day TV guide on their phone and select programmes to record. The guide they see on their phone looks similar to Sky’s light blue on-screen guide and enables people to browse listings and view programme details on the move.

    Sky by mobile is available on a large range of handsets, including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and the RIM Blackberry, according to an official release.

    weComm COO Oliver Sturrock commented: “This is the first time that TV viewers will be able to remotely record their favourite programmes using a mobile phone from anywhere in the world.

    “We started working with Sky two years ago. We are constantly looking at ways to improve our technology to adapt to theirs and, ultimately, their subscribers’ needs. The launch of the Remote Record for Sky+ is a good example of how our collaboration with Sky is meeting those needs.

    “Our technology has proven to be very reliable for building applications designed for the mass market and we are now seeing tremendous demand, particularly from the media industry.”

    This is the third phase of weComm’s collaboration with Sky. The first generation of Sky by mobile was launched in June 2005 and provided the latest news stories and videos from Sky Sports and Sky News, up to the minute sports events scores and personalised services to users. It also allows viewers to place bets on sporting events through their Skybet account.

    In January 2006, weComm developed the second phase of the technology allowing viewers to subscribe to and watch Sky TV channels live on their handsets – Sky Mobile TV.

  • Mobile2win rolls out ‘Anthony Kaun Hai’ game on mobile

    Mobile2win rolls out ‘Anthony Kaun Hai’ game on mobile

    MUMBAI: Mobile2win has announced the launch of Anthony Kaun Hai (AKH) mobile game. They have launched the game in an exclusive tie-up with Nikhil Panchamiya, the producer of the film. The game has been developed in-house using the latest Java technology.

    Mobile2win India country head Rajiv Hiranandani said, “Indian consumers are looking for entertainment at their fingertips and mobile2win has recognised that and has thus brought AKH to the consumers. The growth of Bollywood related content is only going to increase with the increased cellular penetration levels into smaller cities and we are well positioned to tap into that.”

    Panchamiya added, “We are very optimistic with this tie-up with Mobile2Win. The mobile phone has become an extra entertainment channel for today’s youth and we are very keen to explore this further with the Mobile2Win partnership.”

    The Anthony Kaun Hai mobile game and content can be downloaded onto any GPRS enabled handsets via the Mobile2Win zone through major mobile operators like Airtel, Hutch, BPL, Idea, Spice, Reliance, BSNL, MTNL, Tata etc covering all circles across the country. This content has also been made available to leading media entities for downloads to their consumers.

    Anthony Kaun Hai game has been devised keeping in mind the new generation of mobile users. As in the movie, Champ (Arshad Warsi) has a visitor, who’s carrying a nasty looking gun. Master Madan (Sanjay Dutt) has come to put a bullet in Champ’s head. If Champ doesn’t act fast, he’ll end up with a hole in his head. The game’s aim is to help Champ escape and quickly. There are 10 levels. Arshad starts at the top floor of the hotel and ends when he manages to slip out of the lobby. There are more walls in the higher levels. Each level is a different floor of the hotel.

    Every few times Master Madan makes a move, a blurb appears containing one of his dialogues from the movie appears such as Anthony Kaun Hai? Champ will respond accordingly depending on the text, which appears. When Madan says, Anthony kaun hai?, he replies “Main Nahi.”

    Alternatively, a pop up can appear. Champ’s pop up will show a picture of a scared Arshad Warsi accompanied by text.

  • Ziff Davis in online, print media pact with Microsoft

    Ziff Davis in online, print media pact with Microsoft

    MUMBAI:The New York-headquartered gaming magazine and online publisher Ziff Davis has announced an integrated media collaboration with Microsoft. Ziff Davis will serve as the independent editorial voice for Microsoft’s Games for Windows initiative. As part of the strategic relationship, Ziff Davis is launching a new magazine called Games for Windows: The Official Magazine and a companion website on the 1UP Network.

    Microsoft will drive traffic and readership to the magazine and to the 1UP Network, and will promote the Games for Windows magazine as part of their Games for Windows marketing efforts. The magazine and integrated online components will launch in Fall 2006, informs an official release.

    Ziff Davis’ online integration will include a Games for Windows website on the 1UP network. The website will host editorial features, social networking, and blogs, as well as game demos, patches, downloads, trailers and original video content from FileFront.com and GameVideos.com. In addition, Ziff Davis will collaborate with Microsoft in the area of online and interactive content for Games for Windows. Microsoft’s website, GamesForWindows.com, will also link to the 1UP Network for users who want additional content, adds the release.

    “We believe Ziff Davis Game Group is the ideal industry partner for Microsoft as we advance the Windows platform and Games for Windows initiative,” says Rich Wickham, director of Games for Windows at Microsoft. “We value Ziff Davis’ innovation in integrating diverse media together and wanted that creative force driving the official Games for Windows magazine
    and website on the 1UP Network.”

    The collaboration with Ziff Davis Game Group represents a significant step in Microsoft’s larger marketing push for the Games for Windows brand: the magazine shares the same “Games for Windows” branding that will appear on game packaging and in leading retailers throughout the U.S. beginning this Fall.

    “We share Microsoft’s passion for expanding the Windows gaming market,” says Ziff Davis Game Group president Scott McCarthy. “This alliance will enable us to reach a wider audience than ever before, both in print and online, and it affirms Microsoft’s commitment to gaming on the Windows platform. We’re looking forward to working with Microsoft.”

  • MTV Networks’ MtvU to acquire online student newspaper network Y2M

    MTV Networks’ MtvU to acquire online student newspaper network Y2M

    MUMBAI: MtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network and a division of Viacom Inc., has announced an agreement to acquire Boston-based Y2M, the parent company of an online advertising network of 450 campus newspaper websites.

    Adding Y2M to MtvU and to MTV Networks’ overall portfolio is another step in MTVN’s strategy to super-serve its audiences with relevant and innovative content, and to be a leader in the digital space.

    Following MTVN’s recent purchases of XFire, Gametrailers, IFilm and Neopets, this acquisition demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to being a premier multi- platform media company across every screen consumers use.

    The network reaches over five million college students via 450 online campus papers — the most powerful local media brand on campus — which serve as definitive on-campus information hubs, providing local news, sports, weather, event listings and much more.

    “This acquisition is in line with our business strategy of moving
    forward in the digital space and continually expanding our online portfolio of music, gaming, news and entertainment,” MTVN chairman and CEO Judy McGrath says. “Bringing MtvU and Y2M together is another avenue for us to be everywhere our audiences are, deepening our relationship with them and connecting them across every platform and device, all the time.”

    According to an official release, MtvU and Y2M will together create stronger multi-platform offerings, giving advertisers the most effective and comprehensive methods to connect with college students on-air, online, on the handset, in print and on campus. MtvU’s national advertisers will benefit from an increased ability to develop targeted, localized campaigns, and Y2M’s advertisers can capitalize on MtvU’s industry-leading expertise in emerging media platforms such as broadband video and mobile phones.

    Additionally, the combination of Y2M and MtvU will provide editors of student papers in the College Publisher network the ability to easily include rich media and a whole suite of new features on their online sites without impacting the editorial or design independence of each paper’s staff. New features that will become available to affiliates include enhanced community functionality, a vast library of emerging music, and the means to create university-specific online networks. MtvU will also offer the student papers access to the network’s base of more than 120 top-tier advertisers, enabling new ad sales and revenue sharing opportunities.

    “MtvU and Y2M complement each other perfectly — as the definitive college television and online student paper networks — and together, these two mediums are powerful connectors to college students across every touch point,” MTV president Christina Norman. “We can now provide new, innovative, turn-key methods for our advertisers to reach this powerful demographic and continue to find new ways to super-serve the college market.”

    “Student publications are the lifeblood of college campuses, and we’re looking forward to supporting them with new tools and advertising opportunities — empowering them to expand their offerings and audience, as well as improve their financial performance,” said MtvU GM Stephen Friedman. “Y2M’s unmatched network and stellar team are a welcome addition to MtvU and together we’ll unlock a myriad of new opportunities for college students and universities nationwide.”

    “The combination of Y2M and MtvU will advance the mission of college newspapers across the country and enhance their commercial opportunities with regional and national advertisers. Together, this will strengthen our ability to serve the unique needs of our 450 university newspaper partners, the 7,000 student journalists who rely on our publishing and hosting technology, and the two million registered online subscribers in the College Publisher network,” said Y2M president and co-founder John Fees, “We are extremely optimistic about the potential this holds for our college newspaper partners, Y2M and MtvU.”

    MtvU has grown rapidly since launching in early 2004, increasing distribution more than 35 per cent and tripling the size of its advertiser base.

    The network has also proliferated on multiple platforms, becoming the first MTV Networks channel distributed in its entirety on broadband and increasing on campus events to more than 300 a year. This transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2006.

  • Sky, Netgear in broadband partnership in the UK

    Sky, Netgear in broadband partnership in the UK

    MUMBAI: Netgear which provides branded networking products, and UK pay TV platform Sky have announced a deal.

    Netgear’s wireless router technology provided free to all subscribers to Sky’s new broadband internet access service. Sky Broadband can cut household bills by hundreds of pounds a year whilst bringing customers the benefits of both super-fast broadband and wireless connectivity via a customised NETGEAR router, known as the Sky Broadband Box.

    Aiming to provide great-value, fast, easy broadband connectivity for millions of Sky customers, Sky Broadband is available immediately with a choice of products including up to 2Mb download speeds with no monthly subscription. Sky Broadband also offers a choice of other quality products with download speeds of up to 16Mb. Monthly download usage ranges from 2GB to unlimited.

    The launch of Sky Broadband comes as Sky seeks to take advantage of the UK’s accelerating demand for broadband connectivity, which, according to the Broadband Stakeholder Group, will double over next four years with household penetration exceeding 80% by 2010.

    Netgear UK and Ireland country manager Mark Power says, “Netgear too wants to be at the forefront of this growing opportunity. This collaboration with Sky – one of the UK’s highest-profile, premier content providers – should help secure exactly that.

    “With an existing base of more than eight million customers and an offering that clearly spells great flexibility, quality, and value, Sky promises to be a major force in future broadband adoption and integration. Adding free wireless connectivity to this mix makes it more compelling still.”

    Sky’s director of product strategy and management Brian Sullivan says, “Sky is committed to delivering the content that our customers want and they in turn trust us to deliver products and services that work at the touch of a button. Utilising some of the most reliable, cutting-edge wireless technology available today, our agreement with NETGEAR fits this strategy perfectly.”

    The launch of Sky Broadband was made possible by Sky’s network, which already covers 28 per cent of UK households. The network is rolling out fast across the UK and is expected to pass more homes than the entire cable industry by early next year, reaching 70% of all UK households by the end of 2007.

    Sky digital customers who are not covered by Sky’s broadband network can enjoy Sky Broadband Connect, which features all of the benefits of Sky Broadband Mid for a £17 monthly subscription. As the Sky network rolls out across the UK, newly covered Sky Connect customers will be offered the Base, Mid or Max products as their area gets

  • Verizon looks to break down the barriers of mobile music further

    Verizon looks to break down the barriers of mobile music further

    MUMBAI: US wireless communications service provider Verizon Wireless continues its attempts to break down barriers in the world of mobile music

    It recently launched mobile music phone Chocolate by LG. In conjunction with this the company has announeced that its customers have everything they need to have a V Cast music experience. This includes access to more than 1.3 million songs, a full line of music accessories that includes a 2GB microSDTM card that can hold up to 1,000 songs, the elimination of the V Cast VPak monthly charge for its V CAST Music customers and the ability to play their mp3 files with V Cast Music.

    Verizon Wireless’ V Cast is an over-the-air mobile music download service. With the new Chocolate phone customers can browse, preview, download and play high-quality digital music from the V Cast music catalogue that boasts more than 1.3 million songs from thousands of artists from top labels and independent providers.

    In an effort to give its customers unfettered access to the best mobile music service in the nation, Verizon Wireless has eliminated the need for customers to subscribe to the V Cast VPak for $15 per month to use V Cast Music. Now, anyone with a V CAST Music-enabled phone can pay-as-they-go to download songs on their phone for $1.99 per song plus airtime, download songs to their Windows XP® PC for as little as $0.99 and transfer their existing compatible digital music collection to their V CAST Music-enabled phone or memory card for free from their PC. Purchases from the phone include two copies of every song – one for the phone and one for the Windows XP PC. In addition, V Cast Music customers with Chocolates can listen to their existing mp3 files, a new functionality enabled by new V CAST Music software on the phone.

    Verizon Wireless VP marketing and digital media John Harrobin said, “Verizon Wireless is launching the next phase of V CAST Music with the exclusive launch of Chocolate by LG that marries breakthrough industrial design and music functionality with the best of a wireless phone. With the new V Cast Music pay-as-you-go pricing structure, Verizon Wireless’ millions of customers with V Cast music-enabled phones can now call their music whenever the urge strikes, giving them easy access to mobile music.”

    Verizon adds that the new Chocolate by LG phone and V CAST Music haschanged the mobile music landscape, offering music customers the ability to personalise their music – either by selecting full-track downloads, ring tones, Ringback Tones, music videos and more – and play their music for others. Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music runs on Verizon Wireless’ broadband network.

    With the launch of Chocolate and enhancements to V CAST Music, artists can reach a larger, targeted and more engaged audience than ever before with traditional media, such as television and radio. Artists including the Fugees, Shakira, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Sean Paul and Nelly Furtado have selected Verizon Wireless to give their fans unprecedented exclusives because they recognize that mobile music can bring their music to fans quickly and offers a unique opportunity to promote their music.

    For example, in March 2006, Verizon Wireless unveiled the simultaneous world premiere of the full-length song, music video, ring tone, Ringback Tone, wallpaper and behind-the-scenes footage of the video shoot for “Hips Don’t Lie,” the song that marked the unique collaboration of global artists Shakira and Wyclef Jean. The “Hips Don’t Lie” single and other content became available for purchase exclusively on V CAST – two months prior to being sold at any Web retailer, music store or other music distribution channel. Immediately after the Verizon Wireless exclusive of “Hips Don’t Lie” was over, the single jumped to number one and continues to break records.

    Harrobin adds, “V Cast Music lets artists get their music in the palms of their fans’ hands quickly – while driving traditional music sales rather than cannibalizing them – and lets their fans choose the ways they want to personalize their music experience. With the combination of artist exclusives, true mobile music players such as Chocolate, and the immediacy of V CAST Music, we are now way beyond ring tones and Ringback Tones on phones.”