ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • NBC signs drama series deal with filmmaker Spike Lee

    NBC signs drama series deal with filmmaker Spike Lee

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC has signed on filmmaker Spike Lee to develop a new drama series.

    NBC Entertainment senior VP, drama development Katie O’Connell says, “Spike Lee was one of the first people that I wanted to make a priority for the network. I wanted to be aggressive about bringing in a high-profile filmmaker who fits in so well with NBC’s traditional brand of challenging quality dramas.”

    Details of the untitled drama’s concept will be announced later.

    Lee’s first critical breakthrough came when he directed the comedy She’s Gotta Have It in 1986. Shortly after, he followed up with an explovie drama Do the Right Thing which explored inner-city racial themes

  • Malaysia’s Astro eyes significant FM presence in India

    Malaysia’s Astro eyes significant FM presence in India

    MUMBAI: South East Asia’s leading media group Astro All Asia Networks plc is eyeing a major expansion of its activities in India. It is currently in advanced discussions with strategic partners on various initiatives, including participation in a nationwide consortium of FM radio networks.

    Speaking to reporters after Astro’s third AGM at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Group CEO Ralph Marshall said, “We expect to finalise partnership arrangements in the coming months. Appropriate announcements will be made in due course.” Added Marshall, “We expect that we would have a 20 per cent interest in a nationwide radio licence as soon as we receive the approvals.”

    Astro already manages two FM radio stations in Kolkata. Astro’s direct FM operations in India are managed through AMSI (Airtime Marketing & Sales India). Astro, working with its local Indian partners Power107.8 FM and Aamar 106.2 FM, provide studio facilities and airtime sales and marketing services to the two FM radio stations in Kolkata.

    Additionally, Marshall mentioned that Astro also wants to create content for distribution in both India and China.

    A key part of Marshall’s interaction with the media yesterday was devoted to Astro’s plans to invest $135.8 million over the next three to five years to build up its business in Indonesia. The pay-TV operator is to take a 20 per cent stake in a joint venture in Indonesia, known as PT Direct Vision (PTDV). Terms and conditions of the joint venture are expected to be finalised in six to eight weeks, reports Malaysia’s Business Times. Astro also expects to introduce more services, including pay and premium programming, in Malaysia and Brunei once it has access to MEASAT’s new satellite transponder capacity on Measat-3.

    “We will have a significant number of new services for our customers in Malaysia and Brunei once we have access to new satellite transponder capacity on Measat-3. Malaysia remains a growth market for us and content is key to driving future growth and customer retention. Our programming team has lined up a suite of local and international programmes of various genres and languages. In this regard, we are pleased to have received confirmation from satellite owner and operator Measat Global of a new launch slot for M3 between 28 November 2006 and 26 January 2007,” said Rohana Rozhan CEO Astro TV.

    The company will soon also launch Astro MAX, its next generation set-top box that incorporates an 80GB integrated hard disk drive.

    “Outside Malaysia, the Group is focused on expanding our distribution platforms and content development, particularly multi-lingual, multi-ethnic content, for the regional markets,” said Marshall.

    It was just last month that Astro and Prannoy Roy’s NDTV jointly announced the launch of a 24 hour news, infotainment and lifestyle channel called Astro Awani in Djakarta, Indonesia. The language of the channel is primarily Bahasa Indonesia. Astro Awani is the first channel launched by NDTV outside of India.

    With this launch Astro Awani became the first news channel in Astro’s bouquet, and is being distributed throughout Indonesia on PT Direct Vision’s platform, that is currently licensing the ‘Astro’ trademark.

    Astro Awani is the first channel launched by NDTV generating news that is not India-related and is specifically for viewers of that country. NDTV will be launching a similar channel with Astro in Malaysia by this year-end.

  • CNN-IBN to air lifestyle show ‘Living It Up’

    CNN-IBN to air lifestyle show ‘Living It Up’

    MUMBAI: News Broadcaster CNN-IBN is expanding its feature programme line-up with a new weekly show exploring the art of healthy living. The half-hour weekly show Living It Up, anchored by Jotica Sehgal, will kick off on 8 July at 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm.

    Living It Up will have a reality segment The Weight Loss Challenge wherein four dieticians will team up with four overweight people and over seven weeks they will be challenged to loose as much weight. The team, which looses the most weight, will be the winning team. To add some excitement, participants and viewers will be given voting powers, according to an official release.

    CNN-IBN managing editor Rajdeep Sardesai says, “The hectic lifestyle that has become a part of our daily routine today is definitely a sign of progress but it takes a toll on our body, mind and soul. Through this programme we are aiming to share little nuggets of information to counter difficult times, manage problems, balance lives and endeavor to get the best out of life. At CNN-IBN, quality programming is a promise that we would like to deliver on a constant basis and Living It Up is a step in that direction.”

    Each week, the programme will showcase health, fitness and beauty solutions and the show will also highlight how preventive measures, healthy lifestyle and healthy food. Targeting the discerning viewers, Living It Up will also present capsules on fitness, beauty, parenting, spirituality and alternate therapy.

  • Dic Entertainment & Thomopoulos Productions form JV

    Dic Entertainment & Thomopoulos Productions form JV

    MUMBAI: DIC Entertainment and Thomopoulos Productions have joined forces to launch Promise Media Productions, a new venture focused on developing, marketing and distributing properties for children and families under the positive value-based Promise Media brand for both the faith-based and secular markets.

    The announcement was made by Thomopoulos Productions president Tony Thomopoulos and DIC Entertainment chairman and CEO Andy Heyward.

    Promise Media Productions will develop original live-action and animated Promise Media-branded content, as well as acquire properties with strong brand recognition for distribution across film, television, home entertainment, new media and consumer products platforms. In addition to developing comprehensive licensing and merchandising campaigns, it will build an online community to reach an audience interested in positive value entertainment that will serve as an information and entertainment destination.

    The Promise Media-branded content will incorporate virtues such as faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance to create product that ranges from an animated version of Black Beauty to a classic remake of Ben Hur and an original live-action theatrical production Angel Flight For Life. The programming will avoid all gratuitous sex and violence and will offer parents a safe environment to entertain and inform their children.

    “The multi-billion dollar market for positive values entertainment continues to rapidly grow, and Andy and I recognised a tremendous opportunity in this underserved marketplace to create and deliver high-quality product that resonates with faith-based values. DIC has built a solid reputation in the brand management of family and children’s properties, and I look forward to working with Andy and his team to develop unique entertaining and inspirational family fare,” said Thomopoulous.

    “We know there is a vast demand for content that showcases positive values and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, and we plan to apply our entertainment and consumer products’ expertise to promote positive values for kids. Tony is a respected industry veteran whose patina of quality and stature of his career is unparalleled, and we plan to set the gold standard in this market with the Promise Media label,” added Heyward.

    Promise Media Productions is currently forming an Advisory Board which will comprise leading media experts and educators who can develop program guidelines that ensure positive values are incorporated into the content. The board will include clinical psychologist, author and leadership consultant, Dr. Henry Cloud.

    Promise Media Productions is currently in development on a slate of animated and live-action projects for theatrical, home entertainment and television. By returning to the literary roots of Lew Wallace’s original novel, Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ is an animated film that revitalises the classic story of one man’s journey from loss and betrayal to forgiveness and salvation.

    Angel, Flight for Life is a feature film based on a true story of how a loving father, restricted by his financial limitations and reeling from a devastating loss, must rely on the generosity and ingenuity of his small town community to provide the miracle that will save his gravely ill daughter and renew his faith.

    The live-action children’s DVD series, Zakland, produced in association with Jay Silverman Productions, showcases the multi-talented Zak Norman, an award winning musical performer and writer. Zakland entertains, inspires and encourages young viewers to explore the world through the magic of their imaginations.

    Based on the illustrated children’s book, Sophie and Sam, by Tori Cloud and rooted in the principles of the bestselling book, Boundaries, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, The Animated Adventures of Sophie and Sam delivers fun, often comical, lessons on how to set and keep boundaries.

    The Jammies of Harmonyville, a television series produced in association with Believe Entertainment, is an innovative series that utilizes original music and CGI animation to teach valuable life lessons while introducing young audiences to a wide range of musical style.

    The animated comedy adventure, Noah’s Hope, stars Noah, a hip, nineteen-year-old scientist, and his animal friends, who are concerned about environmental issues such as global warming, deforestation, pollution, etc.

    Black Beauty, an animated version of Anna Sewell’s classic novel, encompasses its universal and timeless message that all animals deserve to be treated with consideration and respect.

  • NDTV revenue up Rs 640 million for Q1 ended 30 June

    NDTV revenue up Rs 640 million for Q1 ended 30 June

    MUMBAI: News Delhi Television (NDTV)’s revenue rose 54 per cent to Rs 640 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2006, up from Rs 415 million a year ago.

    The company’s net profit (PAT) and before employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) has increased to Rs 27 million as against Rs 2.3 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The operating profit for the quarter stood at Rs 81.7 million, up 92 per cent from Rs 42.6 million.

    “The network’s market leadership is well reflected in the first quarter’s robust topline growth. The company has added 75 first time advertisers and 175 new brands this quarter, taking the total brand and advertising universe to 2261,” the company said in a release.

    During this quarter, the company has launched Astro Awani, a 24 hour news channel in Indonesia, in partnership with Astro, a leading South East Asia media group. It is the first channel launched by NDTV generating news that is not India-related and is specifically for viewers of that country. NDTV plans to launch a similar channel with Astro in Malaysia by this year end.

    “Our news network’s leadership in an environment of increasing competition reflects the strength and credibility of the NDTV brand and the trust our viewers place in us. Going forward, we remain focused on becoming a composite media house and will continue to pioneer new areas of media work,” NDTV Ltd chairman Dr Prannoy Roy said.

  • BBC DG Thompson & Apple’s Jobs top UK’s media power list

    BBC DG Thompson & Apple’s Jobs top UK’s media power list

    MUMBAI: BBC DG Mark Thompson has topped the Guardian’s list of the most powerful figures in the UK media once again.

    Three people in the top 10 come from technology companies, including Apple head Steve Jobs who is at number two. Jobs rises four places in this year’s list, keeping News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch in the third spot for the second year in a row.

    The Guardian notes that Thompson has recently been in the news for his £619,000 salary and also for his radical restructuring of the corporation. This year’s list was dominated by the digital media revolution. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are in fourth place.

    As far as Google is concerned Guardian notes, “So ubiquitous has Google become that it is hard to imagine what we ever did without it. The ultimate convenience research tool, its founders Brin and Page are in the midst of transforming it from a search engine into a technology giant.”

    Rising from 19 to five on the list is Channel 4’s CEO Andy Duncan, who the paper notes, “ has overseen an unprecedented year of growth and ambition”.

    Jonathan Ross who hosts film shows for the BBC is at number 19.

  • Satyam Computer Services joins hands with a UK consultancy to focus in M&E space

    Satyam Computer Services joins hands with a UK consultancy to focus in M&E space

    MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based Satyam Computer Services Ltd. has recruited The Publishing Practice, Ltd. (TPP), a specialist UK consultancy in the media and entertainment industry, to spearhead the development of a new Consulting Group for its global Media and Entertainment practice. 

    The move will enable Satyam to combine an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the publishing business with the technical breadth and scale of Satyam’s billion-dollar global services organization. 

    According to an official release, TPP’s experienced consultancy group — including Mike Abell, Sharon Duckworth and Stephen Ryden-Lloyd — will join Satyam’s global Media and Entertainment practice to provide strategic consulting services and project-based delivery work for the publishing, online, broadcast, music and related industries. 

    The new group’s consultancy services will complement Satyam’s existing application delivery-based services to include new digital and online consulting — ranging across content acquisition, publishing, production and supply chain.
    Satyam and TPP have already established a track record working with customers on joint projects, since they formed an alliance in 2005. TPP’s customers include Blackwell, Elsevier, Financial Times, Harcourt Education, LexisNexis, London Business School, Reed Business Information and Sweet & Maxwell. 

    Satyam’s global media and entertainment practice senior VP Kevin English says, “We believe that the in-depth industry
    knowledge that Satyam acquire with the new addition of this senior consulting team will provide a real competitive advantage for us in our media and entertainment business — both here in Europe and in the US. The initial reaction from our customers has been most encouraging.”

    The Publishing Practice co-founder and director of Mike Abell adds, “In an environment in which media companies are challenged to deliver more through ever more diverse and complex channels of communication, the new Satyam Media and Entertainment group will be able to provide a very cost-effective solution in end-to-end programmes of work, from consulting, through delivery to an extensive support and maintenance capability.”

  • Tata-Sky approaches TDSAT against Zee over bouquet pricing

    Tata-Sky approaches TDSAT against Zee over bouquet pricing

    MUMBAI:There seems to be no end to the thrust and parry going on over the DTH airwaves. Close on the heels of Dish TV wresting a favourable decision against Star India, Tata Sky has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement And Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) — against what it terms as Zee’s exhorbitatnt terms for providing its network channels to its still-in-the-pipeline DTH service.

    The petition by Tata Sky before the appellate tribunal makes Zee Turner Ltd, Zee Telefilms Ltd,Turner International India and Dish’s managing company ASC Enterprises LTD as party to the case.

    The Tata Sky petition alleges that the Zee Group has denied supply of Zee Turner bouquet of channels to the former’s yet-to-be-launched DTH service under reasonable terms.

    The petitioner has sought “to obtain appropriate direction for the signals of the channels,” alleging that respondent Zee Turner has quoted unreasonable terms for supply of its signals to Tata Sky.

    Contacted by Indiantelevision.com, a senior executive at Dish TV today refrained from commenting on the issue, saying, “We have yet not received any direction from TDSAT.”

    The disputes tribunal has given the respondents three days from the day they receive an official intimation to file its replies.The next date of hearing is 25 July 2006.

    As per regulatory norms, all content should be made available to all delivery platforms on a non-discriminatory basis.

    Last week, the tribunal had delivered a verdict laying down benchmark rate for channel prices for DTH platforms, while directing Star to make available its channels to Dish TV.

    Main respondent Zee Turner is a 74:26 distribution joint venture between Zee Telefilms and Time Warner company Turner International India.

    The cable pricing of the two Zee-Turner bouquets is Rs 83.65 plus service tax. Zee-Turner’s bouquet one comprises Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Movies, Zee English, CNN, Cartoon Network, CNBC, Trendz, Reality TV, Zee Marathi, Zee Punjabi, Zee Bangla and Zee Gujarati and is priced at Rs 58.85 per subscriber/per month. The second bouquet carries HBO, Vh1, Pogo, Zee Business and Awaaz, which is available at Rs 25 per subscriber/per month.

    Tata Sky’s complaint before TDSAT is that Zee is seeking the same pricing terms for supplying its channels to its DTH service as is its cable rates.

    In what manner TDSAT responds to the Tata Sky complaint will be watched with close interest. After all, in its earlier order in favour of Dish TV, TDSAT, while directing the sector regulator to set a benchmark for channel prices for DTH services, said that Star channels should be made available to Dish TV at half the price at which they are available to cable operators.

    The tribunal’s reasoning in the earlier case was that DTH is an addressable system where loss of revenue down the value chain is negligible, if not zero.

  • Mainland China exports of CCTV DVRs to reach US$139 million in 2006

    Mainland China exports of CCTV DVRs to reach US$139 million in 2006

    MUMBAI: Mainland China exports of CCTV (closed-circuit TV) digital video recorders are expected to reach US$139 million in 2006, up 70 per cent from last year.

    A new report released, “China Sourcing Report CCTV Digital Video Recorders,” indicates that buyers sourcing CCTV digital video recorders from Greater China and South Korea can expect increased supply and lower price quotes in the coming months. These findings are based on in-depth manufacturer interviews, factory visits and surveys, states an official release.

    Report publisher Mark Saunderson says, “The worldwide security boom has makers expanding production capacity and predicting big export increases this year – some larger makers are even setting up overseas offices to sell own-brand products.”

    Among surveyed manufacturers:

    – 29 per cent say exports will increase by more than 100 per cent;
    – 17 per cent expect increases of between 50 and 100 per cent;
    – 52 per cent foresee increases of up to 50 per cent and;
    – 2 per cent expect a decrease in exports.

    Manufacturers forecast huge capacity growth, price declines for CCTV DVRs.
    Buyers can expect greater supply, with 100 per cent of surveyed Greater China and South Korea manufacturers of CCTV digital video recorders planning to increase production capacity:

    – 40 per cent of suppliers plan to increase capacity by 100 per cent or more;
    – 7 per cent plan increases of between 50 and 100 per cent and;
    – 53 per cent plan to increase capacity by up to 50 per cent.

    Manufacturers cited fierce competition as a key factor in their expectations of lower prices in the coming year. More than half of surveyed makers project declines:

    – 62 per cent say prices will likely decline in the next 12 months;
    – 25 per cent foresee stable prices and;
    – 13 per cent expect price increases.

    The 122-page “China Sourcing Report CCTV Digital Video Recorders” report includes detailed profiles of 47 Greater China and South Korea manufacturers and features a product gallery with 126 top-selling export models. It also includes production and pricing forecasts as well as in-depth reports on major supply centers, adds the release.

  • Star to decide on uplinking plan by next weekend

    Star to decide on uplinking plan by next weekend

    The recent decision taken by the government to allow broadcasters to uplink directly from India seems to have caught the fancy of almost all the television channels and most of them might be thinking about uplinking form India.

    Not to be left behind, officials at Star will be meeting through next week to decide about uplinking from India. According to a Star spokesperson, if the policy is there, they would definitely take a look at it. He also said that they might take some decision regarding this issue by next weekend.

    Asked whether Star’s content partner for Star News, NDTV, would be applying for an uplinking license, because it might be left behind in terms of live coverage of news by rival news channel Zee News, the spokesperson said that NDTV is using VSNL’s uplinking facilities and the time difference between uplinking directly form India and from Hong Kong is hardly be 2 to 3 minutes.

    It can be mentioned that Star has its own uplinking hub in Clearwater Bay – Hong Kong form where it uplinks all its channels. This gives the group economies of scale as it uplinks its entire bouquet from there.