ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Arqiva to supply BBC with digital transmission services

    Arqiva to supply BBC with digital transmission services

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has selected Arqiva as its preferred supplier for a range of new digital transmission services.

    Subject to agreement of final terms and other matters, the BBC hopes that it will soon be able to sign a contract with Arqiva for the design, deployment, and operation of a new high-powered digital terrestrial television (DTT) network for the BBC which will come into service as part of the UK’s digital switchover programme.

    This will replace both the BBC’s analogue television network and the current low-powered DTT network.

    In so doing, the BBC will be able to increase the coverage of its DTT services so that they substantially replicate the coverage of analogue television.

    These transmission services will become operational during 2008 and will continue until 2031. Arqiva will also be responsible for building and operating additional transmitters to expand the coverage of the BBC’s DAB digital radio network. At least 10 and potentially a further 160 new transmitters will come into service starting in 2007.

    This expansion in DAB transmission will make BBC DAB services available to listeners in a number of parts of the UK. The exact locations of the transmitters are still to be agreed and the BBC hopes to confirm the precise details in due course.

    The selection of Arqiva follows a rigorous procurement process conducted throughout 2005 and early 2006. The selection of Arqiva as the BBC’s preferred supplier has been approved by the BBC Governors.

    BBC controller of distribution Richard Waghorn said, “This represents one of the major steps in our preparations for digital switchover. It will mean that everybody who currently receives a good analogue service will receive the BBC’s digital services through their aerial after switchover.

    “Subject to finalising our discussions with Arqiva, we hope soon to be able to sign a contract with Arqiva which will also secure true value for money for the future provision of these transmission services.”

  • Singer Celine Dion to make appearance on NBC’s show ‘Deal Or No Deal’

    Singer Celine Dion to make appearance on NBC’s show ‘Deal Or No Deal’

    MUMBAI: Superstar singer Celine Dion will make a special guest appearance on the special 90-minute season finale of US broadcaster NBC’s reality show Deal or No Deal.

    The show raises the stakes as the top prize money increases from one to five million dollars on 5 June. During the finale high school guidance counselor Casey Bell of Temecula, California is the lucky contestant. She will be surprised with a chance to become a millionaire five times over when the new stakes are revealed. Does she have the nerves of steel needed when she is confronted with life-altering financial decisions in a highly pressured environment?

    She gets a little help from her family, friends and a surprise guest when she serenades the banker with a song by her all-time favorite musical artist, Celine Dion. Dion joins Bell’s support team live via satellite from Las Vegas and helps Bell during crucial decision making moments when host Howie Mandel asks the all-important question, “deal, or no deal?”

    A Deal or No Deal aficionado, Dion watches the show with her family. She says, “Around our house, Deal or No Deal rules! My son Rene-Charles is a very enthusiastic ‘at home’ contestant, and my husband and I are right there with him! It was a thrill for me to participate and give encouragement to the contestant on the show.”

    Hosted by Howie Mandel Deal or No Deal sees contestants play for a large cash prize in a high-energy match of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Each night, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant faces 26 sealed briefcases containing anything from a penny to one million dollars. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one — his to keep, if he chooses, until its unsealing at game’s end.

  • Zoom ropes in former Channel [V] hand Suresh Bala as COO

    Zoom ropes in former Channel [V] hand Suresh Bala as COO

    MUMBAI:The Times Group’s non-fiction entertainment and lifestyle channel Zoom has roped in a former Channel [V] programming professional Suresh Bala as its new chief operating officer.

    With Suresh Bala coming in, the outgoing COO Upen Roop Rai has moved on to head Integrated Marketing Solutions Group (IMSG) and Indiatimes as the director, informs an official release.
    Bala will report to Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd’s executive president Arun Arora. He is expected to take over his responsibilities within a week or two.

    Prior to this, for the past three years, Bala was in Canada, and before that he was in the programming function of Channel [V].

    Interestingly, Rai came from Times Group’s internet division where he was the marketing head. His last day as Zoom COO would be 1 June.

    While, overseeing Zoom, Rai continued to handle Indiatimes.com in Delhi. He was completely responsible for revenue, marketing and sales. Integrated Marketing Solutions is also something he was handling.

    Under Rai’s guidance, Zoom has added various franchisees to mark its positioning of an Indian lifestyle channel. Commenting on his move to IMSG and Indiatimes, Rai said, “The experience at Zoom has been a great one. I was sent here for a year and it has been a great year. I am already looking forward to my focus responsibilities at IMSG and Indiatimes.”

  • BBC’s online, radio stations go interactive with Fifa Cup

    BBC’s online, radio stations go interactive with Fifa Cup

    MUMBAI: The referee has booked your favourite player, your team has lost a crucial match and a star player has shaved off his famous locks.

    UK pubcaster The BBC has announced an interactive initiative across online and radio. World Cup Have Your Say will give football fans across the world an opportunity to have a global rant on the Fifa World Cup everyday from 9 June 2006 to 9 July 2006.

    World Cup Have Your Say will give supporters across the globe opportunities to share their opinions on everything ranging from offside decisions and goal celebrations, team selections and refereeing to the best players and bad haircuts.

    The occasional big name will pop up to give their personal view on the tournament and listeners itching to speak to them can do so. Ay bbcnews.com/worldhaveyoursay visitors can listen live.

    The BBC will also provide daily, international coverage of the World Cup in 33 languages including Hindi. BBC Hindi reporter Manak Gupta is travelling to Germany to bring special reports on all 32 teams and their fans. BBC Hindi World Cup reports will be heard for six weeks on India’s main national broadcaster All India Radio’s Gold 106.4 FM and Rajdhani 666 MW.

    These reports will also be relayed by All India Radio’s 65 other major stations at 0705 local time starting 31 May until 10 July.

    Mumbai based partner station Go 92.5 FM will also carry BBC Hindi’s coverage of the tournament. Manak’s reports will be available in text and audio online at bbchindi.com and bbcnews.com

    BBC Vietnamese reporter Hong Thanh will be in Germany for a week bringing the excitement of the games for reports on air and online. Listeners can also expect daily bulletins rounding up each match as well as stories from around the tournament.

    bbcvietnamese.com is hosting an online special where football fans can talk about anything to do with the World Cup or football in general such as match fixing and bribery which is said to be affecting the Vietnamese’s national team, and why are millions of young Vietnamese, including women, appearing to love European and Brazilian teams more than their own?

    Visitors can also find out about the teams taking part in the tournament, read features on young football talents and enter competitions.

  • Rogers and adidas Canada to bring Fifa to Toronto

    Rogers and adidas Canada to bring Fifa to Toronto

    MUMBAI: Rogers Communications Inc. and Adidas Canada will host a free 2006 World Cup soccer celebration on 9 July at the Rogers Centre.

    Soccer fans in Toronto have been invited to take part in an interactive soccer experience and watch the final game of the 2006 Fifa World Cup live on the Rogers Centre’s video board

    “Toronto’s Community Safety Secretariat thanks Rogers and Adidas Canada for providing us with such a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the 2006 Fifa World Cup. It’s a good chance to have a fun-filled day, it’s free, and what better way to celebrate the final game of the world’s most popular sport then watching it on the big screen at the Rogers Centre,” said mayor David Miller.

    On Sunday 9 July, the Rogers Centre will be the place to be for soccer fans. The doors will open at 10 am with a variety of activities on the field for the whole family to enjoy, such as kicking cages, a penalty shot game and human foosball.

    “The people of Toronto have been extremely supportive to Rogers over the years, and we are excited to give something back to them this summer. We are pleased to give them a special way to experience the world’s biggest sporting event for free at the Rogers Centre,” said Rogers Media president and CEO Tony Viner.

    “Adidas has a long-standing relationship with the Fifa World Cup. We understand soccer fans’ connection to this event and we want to help Torontonians experience the world’s single largest sporting event in a unique way. The 2006 World Cup Celebration will be a fun-filled day, topped-off with the final game of the Fifa World Cup airing live on the Rogers Centre’s video board,” said Adidas Canada president Jim Gabel.

    Rogers and Adidas Canada have set aside 15,000 tickets to be distributed to community organisations across Toronto, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto, Child Find, and Kiwanis Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs.

    Tickets for this event will be available to the public on 9 June (first day of the 2006 Fifa World Cup) at all participating Rogers Video stores in the GTA. Tickets are free of charge and will also be available at the Rogers Centre on 9 July.

  • DD’s DTH to expand bouquet to 50 channels in June

    DD’s DTH to expand bouquet to 50 channels in June

    MUMBAI: DD Direct Plus, the direct-to-home (DTH) service of Prasar Bharati, will undergo its first phase of expansion in June this year. As per the plans, the number of TV channels on the DTH platform are being ramped up from 33 to 50 while the radio channels will go up from 12 to 20.

    “DD Direct Plus will increase its strength from 33 channels to 50 channels by the end of June this year. The new channels joining the DTH platform will be from Hindi as well as the regional markets,” Doordarshan director general Navin Kumar tells indiantelevision.com. He, however, did not name the new channels which were hopping on to the DTH offering.

    The private broadcasters joining the DD Direct Plus bouquet will be paying Prasar Bharati annual fees of Rs 10 million, according to Kumar. “Prasar Bharati charges the private broadcasters part of DD Direct Plus annual fees of Rs 10 million and this is applicable to even the new channels joining the DTH platform,” Kumar says.

    In the second phase of expansion, DD Direct Plus will add up a further 50 channels to take the total DTH bouquet to 100 by the end of the year.

    What about offering FM radio stations? There is no development yet on DD Direct Plus’ plan to sign FM radio stations, Kumar says. Under the present policy, FM radio stations can operate only within a particular geographical area and cannot have a pan-India presence. This had come as a stumbling block for Prasar Bharati when it planned to offer space to private FM channels in DD Direct Plus.

  • TV Today announces 29 May launch of Dilli Aaj Tak

    TV Today announces 29 May launch of Dilli Aaj Tak

    MUMBAI: The Aroon Purie promoted TV Today Network has officially announced the launch of its fourth 24-hour news channel, targeting the local Delhi/NCR audience, for 29 May 2006.

    The announcement confirms a report put out earlier by Indiantelevision.com. The network has named the NCR channel –‘Dilli Aaj Tak’, which will cover all aspects of life in Delhi and the National capital region. The positioning of the channel is ‘Aap Ka Shahar, Aap Tak’. The look and feel is stylish and vibrant, and the content is led by utility in the capital region.

    TV Today Network CEO G Krishnan says, “We have consolidated our position of being India’s No. 1 news network through our three very differently positioned news channels. Getting into the regional news space was the next logical step for us, and what better market to enter than Delhi? Delhi’s rising consumerism, booming economy and rapidly improving infrastructure, among other things, have made it a city to reckon with at a global scale – the need exists for a credible news channel that can cover life in the capital.”

    TV Today Network chairman and MD Aroon Purie says “The media industry in general and the television industry in particular has been booming; news space has seen an exponential increase in the number of players. In this clutter, consumers look for credible sources of information, and TV Today Network is committed to provide just that.”

  • Star News launches news bulletin ‘Satyameva Jayate’ at 9 pm

    Star News launches news bulletin ‘Satyameva Jayate’ at 9 pm

    MUMBAI: Evening news is at the forefront of every news network’s image. Keeping this in mind, the Hindi news channel Star News is, for the first time, launching a news bulletin Satyameva Jayate — Let truth prevail!.

    So far, the channel has largely concentrated on launching news based shows. But starting from 29 May, the channel brings in Satyameva Jayate, which will take a definitive stance on the major news events of the day, positioning itself as the Page 1 story of Star News.

    This half hour bulletin, to air on weekdays from 9 pm, will be anchored by Gaurav Banerjee who will interact with a host of reporters.

    The channel says that this bulletin will be presented with interactive format aided by appropriate background history, graphics, stills, strong anchor bytes, powerful visuals and opinion points.

    The channel is set out to create ‘appointment viewing’ with this news bulletin, following an aggressive and direct approach in presenting the various layers of meaning of a particular news story through the show Satyameva Jayate.

    Post this news bulletin, the channel will air its cricket property Operation Vijay at 9:30 pm.

    Says Media Content & Communications Services CEO & editor Uday Shankar, “Satyameva Jayate will focus on the big stories of the day in politics, civic issues, investigations and sports amongst others and break through the code of obfuscation with a style that is direct and uncompromising.”

    In the recent past, Star News has innovated with Pehli Khabar – a 5 am to 8 am first look at news events – and Yeh Bharat Desh Hai Mera – a show on human-interest issues.

  • US Justice Dept. clears Intelsat-PanAmSat merger

    US Justice Dept. clears Intelsat-PanAmSat merger

    MUMBAI: PanAmSat Holding Corporation has announced that the United States Department of Justice is closing its antitrust investigation of the company’s proposed merger with satellite provider, Intelsat Ltd. The Justice Department is not seeking any conditions and is not otherwise commenting on, the proposed merger.

    The transaction, in which Intelsat is to acquire PanAmSat for $3.2 billion in August, remains under review by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), states an official release.

    “PanAmSat today has worked hard to become one of the world’s leading providers of standard and high-definition television signals, with a highly reliable satellite fleet, top-notch service and a professional style of management,” said PanAmSat CEO Joe Wright. “We’ve reached the point where this merger with Intelsat makes a lot of sense for our shareholders, customers and employees. You won’t be able to match the combined quality of these two companies. We look forward to our new relationship with Dave McGlade, his management team and his employees.”

    Commenting on the same, Intelsat Chief Executive David McGlade said, “With the Justice Department’s decision not to challenge our transaction, we are moving full speed ahead with our integration planning and preparations.

    “We will be finalizing our financing over the next few weeks and should be in a position to close soon after receiving FCC approval.”

    Intelsat and PanAmSat announced their merger agreement on 29 August 2005. Under the agreement, Intelsat will acquire PanAmSat for $25 per share in cash, or $3.2 billion. In addition, approximately $3.2 billion in debt of PanAmSat and its subsidiaries will remain outstanding or be refinanced. Closing of the transaction is subject, among other things, to the receipt of financing by Intelsat and to obtaining regulatory approval from the FCC, adds the release.

    In addition, all other regulatory approvals required prior to closing have been obtained.

  • Stage set for launch of Thaicom 5, Satmex 6 satellites

    Stage set for launch of Thaicom 5, Satmex 6 satellites

    MUMBAI: It is all systems go for the latest Ariane 5 mission carrying the Satmex 6 and Thaicom 5 satellites.

    Mission control in Kourou, French Guiana, has set the launch window for the Ariane 5 ECA and its two satellites early on Sunday, 28 May from 02:09 am to 02:54 am (Indian Standard Time).

    The rocket was cleared for launch following the successful completion of systems checks, after which Arianespace decided to start the final countdown for its mission.

    With the Thaicom 5 and Satmex 6 satellites on board, the Ariane 5 flight carries a combined payload weight totalling nearly 8,200 kg for its mission to geostationary transfer orbit.

    Thaicom 5 carries a mixed payload of 14 Ku-band transponders and 25 C-band transponders will be located at an orbital position of 78.5 degrees east longitude.

    As the name suggests, Satmex 6 will have Mexico and North America under its footprint.