ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • TV Today mulls business channel, Bloomberg tie-up

    TV Today mulls business channel, Bloomberg tie-up

    MUMBAI: The Aroon Purie-controlled TV Today Network is exploring starting a business news channel in association with American financial and business news major Bloomberg.

    The tie-up can involve Bloomberg picking up an equity stake in the proposed business channel. Even if an equity deal doesn’t happen, the tie-up would certainly be a licencing and co-branding one on the lines that Time Warner inked with the TV18 group for the English news channel CNN IBN in 2005 as and when it’s concluded.

    When contacted, TV Today declined to comment.

    Unofficially, though, the Delhi-headquartered TV Today attempted to play down the developments, saying such reports were “speculative at the moment.” Insiders, however, insisted work on a business channel has started.

    The network has earmarked between Rs 350 million to Rs 400 million for operating a new business news channel, company sources said.

    The Indian news network is targeting to launch the business channel in the first quarter of 2007, if not earlier. However, the deal is subject to regulatory and government clearances.

    Last year, Bloomberg had applied to India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for a proposed television software venture, which will produce and distribute business and financial news television programmes in English to local television channels.

    Bloomberg’s TV channel that was available in India till a couple of months back is off air as it hasn’t yet applied for landing rights, a new rule that’s being pursued by the Indian government to monitor TV channels uplinked from outside India.

    Interestingly, TV Today Network floated a subsidiary company, christened TV Today Network (Business) Ltd, during the last financial year ended 31 March 2006. The development was communicated to capital markets and investment experts some time ago.

    “Consolidated financial results (for FY 2006) include the results of 100 per cent subsidiary TV Today Network (Business) Limited, which was formed during the current year and is yet to commence business. Accordingly, figures of corresponding period/year are not applicable,” the company had said in a statement. The stock market buzz signifies that TV Today is likely to launch the business channel through this subsidiary company.

    In an interview given to Indiantelevision.com in 2004, Purie had expressed the possibility of starting a business news channel.

    Presently, TV Today operates Hindi market leader Aaj Tak, its English sibling Headlines Today, a Hindi version of Headlines Today called Tez and Dilli Aaj Tak. TV Today scrip closed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Wednesday at Rs 76.75 after opening the day at Rs 76.75.

  • AOL co-founder Case apologies for Warner merger

    AOL co-founder Case apologies for Warner merger

    MUMBAI: The co founder of US internet service provider AOL Steve Case has apologised for merging his company in 2001 with Time Warner.

    The merger proved to be a disaster and the company lost $200 billion of its value. The entity was called AOL Time Warner but then embaressed executives at Time Warner decided to drop AOL from the company’s name a few years down the line.

    In an interview on US pubcaster PBS with Charlie Rose Case expressed frustration that the merger did not develop in the manner that had been hoped for. He however, still belives that it was a good idea.

  • News Corp to acquire a stake in Turkish TV station

    News Corp to acquire a stake in Turkish TV station

    MUMBAI: In a bid to expand its presence in the smaller European markets US media conglomerate News Corp has bought a majority stake in a Turkish broadcaster.

    The company will spend $98 million to buy TGRT. Media reports state that News Corp’s subsidiary Fox is working with Ahmet Ertegun, a Turkish citizen who founded and is the chairman of Atlantic Records, to buy the channel from Turkish firm Ilhas Yahin Holding.

    Reports add that the alliance with Ertegun may help Murdoch to by-pass Turkish regulations barring foreigners from owning more than 25 per cent of a media company.

    News Corp will compete with Turkish broadcasters including market leader Dogan Yayin for a share of an ad market that grew more than 30 per cent last year.

  • UN signs contract with Teletrax for global news, video monitoring

    UN signs contract with Teletrax for global news, video monitoring

    MUMBAI: The United Nations has announced an agreement with global media intelligence company Teletrax. Teletrax will monitor output of all its broadcast video products. UNTV, a service of the Department of Public Information, provides live daily news feeds and edited features to news agencies and individual broadcasters across the world.

    As part of the multi-year agreement, the United Nations will utilise Teletrax’s suite of video watermarking, monitoring and near real-time reporting services to monitor broadcast output of all video products including UNifeed, its global news distribution service, as well as its television series, UN in Action, 21st Century and Year in Review. Teletrax’s reporting technology will provide detailed analysis on which stories, spots and programs are aired by broadcasters throughout the world.

    UN chief of the radio and television service Susan Farkas says, “Many international organizations rely on the UN for information on a multitude of global issues, and often we are the only source of news and information coming from some countries.

    “The tracking information we receive through Teletrax’s reporting tools assists us in assessing which stories and formats are most used by broadcasters. It enables us to adjust our production priorities to ensure that broadcasters have access to the most relevant material to meet their needs.”

    Teletrax president Andy Nobbs says, “The UN is one of the most highly regarded world organisations, and we are honoured that Teletrax has been chosen to monitor the output of all its video products, information sources relied upon by so many different audiences across the globe.

    “Our ability to provide intelligence on which topics are in high-demand lends invaluable support to publicising international issues, solidifying Teletrax as a trusted partner for high-caliber news and governmental organizations.”

    Teletrax provides broadcast television intelligence to video content providers such as entertainment companies, news organisations, TV syndicators and the advertising industry. The company currently maintains a proprietary network of detectors that monitor the television broadcasts of more than 1,250 channels from 50 nations, including the top 150 markets in the US, representing more than 90 per cent of all US television households. Its international network comprises monitoring stations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, South and Central America and Canada.

    Launched in 2002 as a service developed by a joint venture between Philips and Medialink, with an underlying technology that is patent protected both by Philips and Digimarc Corp. (Nasdaq: DMRC), Teletrax delivers online reports of individual broadcast airings in near real-time to each client’s custom-designed portal or in data file transfers. Each client’s broadcast activity is updated dynamically, 24 hours a day, enabling clients to respond immediately to reported results such as changes in end-user preferences or detections of unauthorized use.

    Entertainment, news and media organisations that have also contracted to use Teletrax for the tracking of news video, advertising or promotional content include BBC, ABC, NBC, Reuters Television and Medialink. A number of other companies are also in active trials with the Teletrax service.

  • PlayFirst releases ‘SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash’ for the Macintosh

    PlayFirst releases ‘SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash’ for the Macintosh

    MUMBAI: PlayFirst, a publisher of casual games announced the Macintosh-compatible version of the chart-topping SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash — the popular casual game combining Nickelodeon’s star from Bikini Bottom and the gameplay of the original Diner Dash.

    Already a hit with the PC audience on PlayFirst.com and Nick Arcade, SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash features the same classic game mechanic and fast-paced fun of the original game with the characters from the Emmy-nominated series and sponge-worthy storylines.

    PlayFirst’s Diner Dash has become one of the most popular games on the web with more than 100 million plays worldwide. The original hit game follows Flo as she grows her fledgling diner into a five-star restaurant, satisfying customers of all types along the way.

    Launched in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has been the most watched animated series for kids on television for the past six years. SpongeBob SquarePants is consistently one of the top rated kids’ shows on television. More than 60 million viewers tune into the show each month.

    SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash is free to try for 60 minutes or purchase for $19.95. It can be downloaded on a Mac or PC version from www.playfirst.com/game/spongebobdash. The PC version is also available for download on www.nickarcade.com.

  • Pogo Amazing Kids Awards get interactive this year

    Pogo Amazing Kids Awards get interactive this year

    MUMBAI: It’s time for the third edition of the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards (PAKA) and this time the fun and frolic around the awards is set to double. Unlike its previous two editions, this time round apart from airing the awards on Pogo in December, the channel will also weave programming around it.

    “We will be presenting PAKA in a serialised format this year comprising 19 episodes over a period of seven weeks, which will showcase the kids who are shortlisted in the award categories,” says Turner International India vice president advertising sales and networks (India and South Asia) Monica Tata.

    What’s more, for the first time, the show will also weave interactivity around it wherein viewers can SMS and vote in for their favourite kids in various categories. The call of voting for Paka will start from 15 September and will end of 31 October. The awards will be held in December.

    The series will begin airing on 4 November. The first eight episodes will be non-category specific, profiling episodes, with the viewer getting to see five amazing kids every episode. The ninth episode will be a re-cap and episodes 10 – 17 will have the top three kids’ pitched against each other vying for the top rung by impressing the jury, viewers and thereby getting their votes. Episode 18 will again be a re-cap and also the curtain raiser to the finals. Winners will be announced in the 19th episode.

    The winners will get a child benefit policy worth Rs 500,000 and will also get a change to be on Pogo through 2007. Derek O’Brien’s company will manage the entire selection and search process for PAKA 2006.

    The search for the 40 kids from eight categories (five kids per category) of arts, sports, music, singing, dance, genius, leadership and entertainment will begin on 1 August and end on 20 August. These 40 kids will further be shortlisted to 24 (three per category).

    Tata added, “Having the distinction of being the country’s only televised kids’ awards, as also a unique platform that acknowledges India’s wealth of budding talent and kids’ choices, Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 aims to raise the benchmark for children’s awards in the country through audience polls and a panel of illustrious judges whose combined feedback would determine which amazing Indian kid bags each of the eight coveted titles. Right from the solicitation phase up to the grand finale, every phase of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 will truly reflect Pogo’s promise of being a channel that Indian kids can call their own.”

    PAKA is divided into two sections – Pogo Voice Awards and Pogo Kids Awards. The Pogo Kids Awards segment will recognize exceptional talent and brilliance and reward them for their extraordinary talents in multiple areas.

    The channel has tied up with Bata as their on-ground partners, wherein kids can avail of the entry forms from any of the 850 Bata outlets across the country. Forms can also be downloaded from www.Pogo.tv and information can also be found by sending an SMS to 8558.

    Apart from that there are two presenting sponsors (Horlicks and Parle G) and six associates sponsors (Kellogg’s, Big Babol, Kissan, Reynolds, Munch and Ganuchi Shoes).

    To promote PAKA 2006, Pogo will kick off an integrated media campaign comprising outdoor, print, internet and school contact programmes. Mailers will be sent out to 200,000 kids across India and school contact programmes will be held in approximately 3000 schools.

  • Herb Granath is US Academy of TV arts and sciences chairman

    Herb Granath is US Academy of TV arts and sciences chairman

    MUMBAI: The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Natas) in the US has elected Herbert Granath as its chairman.

    Granath says, “I am honoured to take on this leadership position in this preeminent organization that plays a key role in fostering and recognising excellence in the television industry. It is a dynamic time for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as we strive to represent a changing television industry that has come to include not only a growing number of television networks but also those who distribute video content via ever-expanding platforms including the Internet, cell phones and handheld devices.

    Granath is among other things the co-chairman of Crown Media Holdings, which owns and operates The Hallmark Channel in the US. Granath also serves as Media and Entertainment Holdings Chairman and CEO. The investment company specialises in worldwide media properties. He also acts as senior programming consultant for Telenet, a cable company in Belgium.

  • Emmy Awards to salute TV icon Dick Clark

    Emmy Awards to salute TV icon Dick Clark

    MUMBAI: US television industry icon Dick Clark will be at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Conan O’Brien, on 27 August 2006. Clark among other activities produces the Golden Globe Awards.

    Clark began his entertainment career at the age of 17 at WRUN Radio in Utica, New York. After graduating from Syracuse University with a bachelor of science in business administration, he became a news anchorman at television station WKTV. In 1952, he moved to Philadelphia to work for WFIL Radio and Television. Four years later, he became the host of the local television station’s show, Bandstand.

    In 1957, Clark founded Dick Clark Productions and convinced ABC to carry the show nationwide. Within weeks American Bandstand was the US’ highest-rated daytime show. American Bandstand holds the record as television’s longest running music/variety programme.

    It has earned many awards and honours, including two Emmy awards. The show also served as the foundation upon which Clark rose to national fame and built a multi-faceted entertainment company which produces shows like So You Think You Can Dance, The American Music Awards and The Golden Globe Awards.

    Since his breakthrough with American Bandstand Clark has gone on to host many special broadcasts including the annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve specials, the Bloopers series and specials, and numerous retrospective specials centered around his history-making American Bandstand television series. Clark is also well known for his live behind-the-scenes interviews at events like the Golden Globe Awards.

  • Motorola to extend portfolio of ‘video anywhere’ solutions with acquisition

    Motorola to extend portfolio of ‘video anywhere’ solutions with acquisition

    MUMBAI: Motorola will acquire the American firm Broadbus Technologies. It provides technology solutions for Television On-Demand (TOD).

    Broadbus Technologies’ carrier-class technology solutions enable the distribution of on-demand content to consumers through multiple devices. The company’s innovative solid-state server architecture is based on the intelligent configuration and management of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). As a result, the platform can use less space and power than traditional hard-disk based technology, while providing performance, reliability and scalability improvements for video ingest, streaming, and storage.

    With the acquisition, Motorola will extend its video delivery platform with new content management and distribution capabilities that address growing market opportunities such as mobile video, video-on-demand (VOD), time-shifted TV, network-based digital video recording (nDVR), on-demand ad insertion (ODAI) and switched digital video (SDV).

    Motorola connected home solutions president Dan Moloney says, “Today, consumers expect to access video entertainment on the different devices they have, inside and outside of their home, in varying formats – and to have it available upon request. The addition of Broadbus Technologies will bring Motorola’s video delivery platform one step closer to enabling this vision of seamless mobility by providing us with field-proven content management and delivery solutions.

    “Service providers will be able to take advantage of a complete end-to-end seamless video experience enabled by Motorola technology to extend their customer relationships.”

  • ESS announces executive appointments; Vijay Rajput made COO

    ESS announces executive appointments; Vijay Rajput made COO

    MUMBAI: ESPN Software India, today announced the appointment of Vijay Rajput as COO, Sricharan Iyengar as vice president and business head of the consumer business group and emerging technologies and Rajesh Kaul as vice president, affiliate sales.

    Commenting on the the executive changes, ESPN managing director RC Venkateish said, “These senior management appointments will help us focus our efforts on key growth areas, both for the present and the future and positions us to effectively evolve our organization to maximize new opportunities.”

    Vijay Rajput joined ESS as director finance in 1997. In his new role Rajput will be responsible for handling the finance, administration, HR and legal divisions at ESPN in addition to playing a pivotal role in the strategic management of the company. Rajput has considerable management expertise as he has an industry experience of nearly two decades.

    Iyengar, associated with ESS since 2000, was earlier overseeing the marketing & distribution functions of ESPN & STAR Sports across South Asia. While continuing to handle consumer marketing and direct to consumer services of DTH/Broadband and IPTV, Iyengar will lead the company’s thrust into the emerging technologies of mobile, wireless and internet.

    “We realise there is a big business opportunity on the emerging technologies. As a leading sports broadcaster, we will have to be omnipresent on all the delivery platforms. We will also have to plan for content on new media. This will require proper focus,” Iyengar says.

    Rajesh Kaul, who was earlier reporting to Iyengar, is given independent charge of affiliate sales. Matters relating to multi-system operators (MSOs) and cable TV operators will, thus, be handled by him.

    ESS recently tied up with mobile phone operator Airtel to offer voice-based update system during the Fifa World Cup. “Wireless can become a big platform. We tied up with Airtel during the football World Cup. We will see how this service evolves. CDMA mobile operators like Reliance Infocomm can offer video clips. We will have to create products for these new media vehicles,” Iyengar says.

    Value-added services on mobile phones is still evolving. “Sports and news will drive the mobile business. When we sort out the bandwidth issue, video-based applications will become popular,” he adds.