ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Balaji’s V Devarajan joins Adlabs Films as CFO

    Balaji’s V Devarajan joins Adlabs Films as CFO

    MUMBAI: Anil Ambani is busy poaching executives from rival media organisations. The latest to join Adlabs Films Ltd is Balaji Telefilms chief financial officer V Devarajan.

    “We are taking in Devarajan as our CFO. He willl be joining us soon,” says a senior executive in Adlabs Films.

    Devarajan joined Balaji Telefilms as CFO in 2002 and was responsible for putting in place processes that resulted in operational cost efficiencies.

    Devarajan’s resignation as Balaji CFO was effective 9 May and India’s leading soap factory moved swiftly to put in a replacement. Sandeep Jain takes over from the departing Devarajan as the new Balaji CFO with immediate effect.

    Adlabs is in a major expansion spree and is ramping up its film exhibition and production businesses. The company recently bought out the entire stake of Mukta Arts in a joint venture company for digital distribution of movies.

    Adlabs Films’ board recently approved the proposal for demerger of its FM radio business to a wholly owned subsidiary, Adlabs Radio Pvt Ltd. Adlabs plans to list the new entity on the stock exchange.

  • Filmy’s ‘Aaj Ki Fimly Khabar’ features Raveena Tandon

    Filmy’s ‘Aaj Ki Fimly Khabar’ features Raveena Tandon

    Astonished by a direct query about the incident where she poured wine on somebody’s head in a party, Raveena Tandon replied that the person was her husband’s ex-wife, she enjoyed doing it, and it was not at all impulsive. To enforce her point she said that she had decided two years back how she would react on seeing her husband’s ex-wife. Watch the entire episode of Aaj Ki Filmy Khabar (AKFK), India’s first authentic filmy news show, which airs this Wednesday, 10th May 2006 at 7:30 pm, only on FILMY.

    Raveena used this opportunity to reveal the true story & defend all allegations levied on her. The ex- wife was bad mouthing Raveena and her husband Anil Thadani, and taking undue advantage of her husband’s good and dignified nature. Why she did not take the legal route? Asked, Mayank. “I did not have proof, had I gone legal, the person would have been trapped badly. My objective was to publicly humiliate and teach her a lesson and not spoil her life,” said Raveena.

    On being asked why there is so much disparity between the life span of an actor vis-?-vis an actress she said, “an actor is accepted as a superstar at the age of 64 whereas actresses are written off as early as 30”. On her plans of getting back to mainstream cinema or television, Raveena said she is hearing scripts but still enjoys her sabbatical.

    Aaj Ki Filmy Khabar (AKFK) is India’s first authentic filmi news program aired Monday to Friday at 7:30pm, only on “FILMY”. Every Wednesday AKFK has a non-interrogative session hosted by Mayank Shekhar – a platform for a celebrity to express his or her opinion on any controversy – this week’s episode will feature Raveena Tandon.

  • Walt Disney 2Q earnings climb 19 per cen

    Walt Disney 2Q earnings climb 19 per cen

    MUMBAI: Riding on the strong ratings success of ABC Network and cable channels shows coupled with the increased attendance at its theme parks, The Walt Disney Company’s profits in the second quarter have risen by 19 per cent.

    The company’s net income rose to $733 million from $657 million. Sales advanced 2.5 per cent to $8.03 billion in the period ended 1 April. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter increased 19 per cent to $0.37, compared to $0.31 in the prior year quarter. For the six months period, diluted EPS increased 16 per cent to $0.74 compared to $0.64 in the prior year period.

    “Disney’s ongoing commitment to creative and operational excellence is evident in our strong second quarter results. At the same time, the strategic initiatives we pursued during the quarter help position us for future creative success, new opportunities to reach consumers with our products, and long term value creation for our shareholders,” said the Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A Iger.

    The company’s Media Networks revenues for the quarter increased 18 per cent to $3.6 billion and segment operating income increased 20 per cent to $969 million driven by strong performance at broadcasting.

    The operating income at Cable Networks increased $41 million to $ 809 million for the quarter primarily due to growth at ESPN, which was driven by higher affiliate revenues from increased contractual rates. This increase was partially offset by higher revenue deferrals at ESPN, investments in ESPN branded mobile phone service, increased programming and production expenses and higher administrative costs at ESPN. ABC’s hit dramas such as Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy also help boost the network’s revenues.

    Revenue deferrals at ESPN increased by $31 million versus the prior year quarter due to new programming commitments in an affiliate contract and higher affiliate rates. Revenue deferrals for the six month period increased $137 million as compared to the prior six month period. Cable Networks also experienced modest profit growth at the Disney Channel and ABC Family.

    Broadcasting

    Operating income at broadcasting increased $122 million to $160 million for the quarter primarily due to improved performance at the ABC Television Network and Television Production and Distribution, partially offset by investments in new initiatives at the Internet Group.

    The growth at ABC Television Network was due to increased primetime advertising revenues resulting from strong upfront sales and continued strength in ratings. Ad revenues also increased due to the Super Bowl and the timing of Bowl Championship Series games, although this increase was essentially offset by related programming and production expenses. The increase at television production and distribution was driven by higher third party license fees for Scrubs, as this series entered its fifth season of network television, and increased international sales of Touchstone Television dramas.

    Parks and Resorts

    Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased seven per cent to $2.3 billion and segment operating income increased 17 per cent to $214 million. Operating income growth at the resorts was due to increased theme park attendance, higher hotel guest spending and occupancy and strong sales at Disney Vacation Club.

    Studio Entertainment

    Studio Entertainment revenues for the quarter decreased 22 per cent to $1.8 billion and segment operating income decreased 39 per cent to $ 147 million. This was mainly because the company’s DVD releases have not sold well. “Lower segment operating income was due to a decline in worldwide home entertainment partially offset by increases in domestic theatrical motion pictures distribution and worldwide television distribution,” an official statement said.

    Consumer Products

    Consumer products revenues for the quarter decreased three per cent to $451 million and the operating income decreased eight per cent to $104 million. The decrease in operating income was driven by lower results at Buena Vista Games and Merchandise Licensing.

  • ‘Will & Grace’ series finale available on DVD soon

    ‘Will & Grace’ series finale available on DVD soon

    MUMBAI: An independent film entertainment studio Lionsgate and NBC Universal Television Distribution, will release a DVD of the Will & Grace Series Finale, twelve days after its premiere on 18 May 2006.

    It will be available from 30 May for the retail price of $9.98.

    Currently in its eighth season, the Will & Grace Series Finale DVD will contain special features including cast and crew interviews and a behind the scenes featurette produced exclusively for this release. The featurette and interviews will be filmed during the last weeks of production, following the cast from their first table-read of the script, through rehearsals and the final taping of the show.

    Starring Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes, Will & Grace averaged a 4.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 and 10.0 million viewers overall, during the 2004-2005 television season.

    “The final episode of Will and Grace marks the end of an era,” said Lionsgate president Steve Beeks. “While the show’s success can be measured in so many ways – awards, ratings, longevity, acclaim – it is really about the ability of the viewers to identify and relate to the characters that made us want to tune in each week. We are well aware that this final episode will become an instant must-have piece of television history, and we jumped at the opportunity to be able to bring it to DVD so soon after its television airing.”

    To date, Will & Grace has been nominated for 73 Emmys, 27 Golden Globes, 17 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards and 12 People’s Choice Awards. Among its fourteen Emmy wins, in 2000, the show won for outstanding comedy series. In 2002 and 2003, it had more Emmy nominations than any other comedy series.

    Plus, in 2005 Will & Grace was tied as one of the most-nominated series and also scored its highest number of Emmy nominations in a single year with 15.

    Will & Grace has also won eight GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) media awards, two TV guide awards and one directors guild award. Additionally, the show has been nominated for six American comedy awards, seven television critics association awards and five producers guild awards.

    The Chicago Tribune declared, “The show has always been funny, often as laugh-out-loud funny as anything else seen on TV.”

  • Tata Sky ties-up with Humax for set-top-boxes

    Tata Sky ties-up with Humax for set-top-boxes

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky Ltd, the joint venture between the Tata Group and Star, has inked a partnership with Humax to support the launch of its Direct-to-Home (DTH) service in mid 2006.

    Humax, a provider of digital satellite set-top boxes (STBs), will manufacture set-top boxes in India and also provide after-sales service and support network for Tata Sky customers.

    Tata Sky LTD CEO Vikram Kaushik said, “We are committed to building a state-of-the-art DTH operation in India and offer customers with the best satellite TV services available. Our DTH service will completely redefine the television viewing experience in India and our agreement with Humax takes us a step closer to our goal.”

    “We are excited to be a part of one of the largest DTH businesses in India. Our worldwide set-top box experience and expertise in the development of the most advanced digital television solutions will play a pivotal role in Tata Sky’s new business growth,” said Humax head of digital media business unit Dr. J U Kim.

    Tata Sky had recently joined hands with Thomson for STBs to support the launch of its DTH service and also teamed up with NDS Group Plc in order to deploy NDS solutions to support and provide range of digital and interactive TV services, ahead of launch.

  • BBC reveals interactive TV plans for Soccer World Cup ’06

    BBC reveals interactive TV plans for Soccer World Cup ’06

    MUMBAI: In conjunction with BBC Sport, BBCi announces its plans to offer interactive services for the Soccer World Cup 2006. These services will be available on all three major digital TV platforms (satellite, cable, terrestrial) both during and between game broadcasts.

    In an attempt to enhance the football fever during live games, digital cable and satellite viewers can enter an interactive application by simply pressing a red button, whenever a “BBCi” icon appears on-screen.

    This application will feature a menu bar along the top of the screen, with various options linked to the colour fasttext keys of their remote controls. According to the BBC, this service has been designed with step-by-step on-screen instructions.

    The red menu key will provide alternative audio streams:which allows viewers to choose between listening to commentators from BBC Radio Five Live or selecting a “No Commentary” option which allows them to listen to the sounds of the crowd.

    The green menu key will provide viewers with rolling highlights-enhanced with graphics-from the current game. In addition to this, the blue menu key will allow them to access a statistics menu with a review of updated facts and figures from the current game, such as possession, corners won, fouls conceded and results and tables.

    Finally, the yellow button will take viewers to an area, dubbed “Your Shout,” devoted to user-generated content, including text messages, emails and player ratings (viewers will be able to rate players via interactive TV, the Web and mobiles). The simultaneous group matches in the final group phase will also be accessible here.

    Viewers on UK’s free-to-air digital terrestrial platform, Freeview, will also have access to the above facilities.

    Between live broadcasts, the BBC will offer a service called “BBCi World Cup Zone.” Digital cable and satellite viewers will be able to access the service by first pressing the text button on their remote to reach the BBCi-bar (appears on the bottom of the screen); then press “Select” to enter the service.

    The service’s “homepage” will consist of a display with three mini-screens, providing a quick guide to what’s on currently and a schedule of upcoming games. Viewers will be able to scroll down to their preferred screen using the arrow keys on their remote and press “select” to watch it in full-screen mode.

    Viewers will also be able to access an interactive service devoted primarily to the England team. It will provide interviews with team manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, coverage of press conferences, video profiles of players, news and opinions on the World Cup and repeats of England games.

    In addition, viewers will be able to access 15-minute highlight reels of every game, and a reel dedicated to notable goals from the tournament. Also, Freeview viewers will be able to access the 15-minute game highlights, the goals round-up and a less comprehensive selection of content devoted to the England team.

    The BBC will also offer a show, called BBC World Cup Extra, on its interactive TV platform. The show will provide analysis and commentary, after every England game and other significant games.

  • Disney and Optus to launch Disney Connection in Australia

    Disney and Optus to launch Disney Connection in Australia

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Optus have signed an agreement to launch an interactive broadband service Disney Connection on the Optus broadband portal.

    The service will offer kids and families a broad range of media-rich Disney entertainment and learning activities. It will be available to Optus broadband customers in July 2006.

    The agreement marks the Australian launch of the popular Disney-branded internet channel, which is available in eight other countries, including the US, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Argentina.

    “We’re very pleased to work with Optus to make this high-quality broadband content available to Australian consumers,” said Walt Disney Internet Group International executive vice president and managing director Mark Handler.

    “Disney Connection provides unique, high-quality and differentiated online entertainment that kids and families can enjoy. We look forward to bringing more of our rich library of online interactive entertainment to this market,” he added.

    Disney Connection will offer Optus broadband customers a regularly-updated slate of interactive games and activities, as well as video, based on both classic and new Disney characters. Its Studio Showcase will provide video shorts from Disney, including Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney clips, cartoon shorts, music videos, and movie trailers.

    “As Australians increasingly embrace broadband, we are pleased to launch an interactive and educational entertainment destination designed especially to meet the needs of children and families,” said Optus Consumer group director products and delivery Chris Lane.

    “This is a cornerstone deal in Optus’ strategy of featuring the internet’s leading online brands and entertainment providers. It is another step in Optus’ vision of a digital future where PC and mobile phones become sources of everyday entertainment,” he added.

    Disney Connection content on the Optus broadband portal will be refreshed every other week. Kids and families will be able to personalise their site experience through the “My Disney” link by selecting their favourite theme – from Buzz Lightyear to Disney Princess – and choosing their preferred games and other content to appear on the Disney Connection home page.

    A separate mobile section will highlight Disney-branded mobile content available on the Optus Zoo WAP portal.

    In the Asia Pacific region, Disney.com has well-established, localized Internet sites in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Australia. WDIG launched its first broadband content service in Japan in 2003 with NTT FLET’s broadband network, reaching more than 7.9 million subscribers. In June 2005, it launched its first broadband service in Taiwan with Chungwa Telecom’s HiNet ADSL, the country’s leading broadband provider, with more than 3.5 million subscribers.

    WDIG has mobile content distribution in 13 markets in the Asia Pacific region, including Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, China, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Macau. In this region, more than 695 million mobile consumers have access to Disney-branded mobile content.

  • USA Network to take WWE to the next level with film based initiative

    USA Network to take WWE to the next level with film based initiative

    MUMBAI: American cable network USA Network is looking to build on its relationship with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

    The network is unveiling plans to develop and produce action movies aimed at the WWE audience.

    USA Network president Bonnie Hammer said, “The return of WWE to USA has been a knockout for both parties. We are looking forward to building and expanding on our audience as well as the Raw fan base with high impact, adrenaline-fueled, larger-than-life action just like they’ll find in the ring.”

    One film is called Hunting Rabbets. This features Jack and Bobby Rabbet, hard luck brothers who operate a failing repossession business. When Bobby neglects to pay their axes, a secret
    government agency confronts the Rabbets with an ultimatum: go to prison, or work off the debt.

    Now, as unofficial government employees, Jack and Bobby must use their repossession skills to search America for classified items the government cannot admit it has lost.

    Another film is called Crush. Bodyguards have to be tough, and Able ‘Crush’ Cross was one of the toughest. But the business of protection is a hard one. Forced out for not being a team player, Crush makes a living as bouncer at Los Angeles hot spots. However, Crush is pulled back into the bodyguard business when he is hired by a wealthy CEO who fears for the life of his daughter. This is an original film by Phoef Sutton (Analyze This, Boston Legal).

    In The Last Tough Guy, the protagonist Jack Cooper is one of the best stunt men in Hollywood. Unfortunately, his hard-drinking lifestyle and gruff demeanour have left him with few jobs and fewer friends. When Jack witnesses the death of his former mentor, producer Rudy Solomon, he goes to the police, who prove uncooperative.

    Reconnecting with his former flame (who happens to be Rudy’s estranged daughter), Jack decides to take matters into his own hands. As he tracks down Rudy’s killers and bring them to justice.

  • MTV Germany to continue broadcasting ‘Popetown’

    MTV Germany to continue broadcasting ‘Popetown’

    MUMBAI: MTV Germany has decided to broadcast the cartoon series Popetown in its entirety. Following the broadcast of the first episode last Wednesday, the remaining nine episodes will be broadcast from today – 10 May.

    A couple of years ago the BBC had pulled the plug on the show due to pressure from the Catholic community. The show is set in a fictional Vatican.

    MTV Germany programming director Elmar Giglinger says, “We have decided to broadcast all episodes of Popetown. Our decision is based on the reaction of the viewers, who were clearly in favour of the programme’s broadcast, as well as the FSF’s assessment that the submitted episodes of Popetown are legally unobjectionable.”

    Internet users were asked their opinion on Popetown in a recent poll, conducted by market research institute PhoneResearch on 3 and 4 May 2006. More than 94 per cent of those asked said that this type of series should be broadcast.

    Comments from ‘MTV News Mag Special – Popetown’, the live discussion programme which took place on 3 May, were also taken into account in the decision-making process. During the discussion, representatives from the Federation of German Catholic Youth, the FSF, the Junge Liberale (Young Liberals Organisation), the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, Cologne Conference (international film and television festival) and members of the music and entertainment communities voiced their opinions on Popetown, with nobody calling for a ban of the show.

    Viewers were also invited to take part in the live discussion both online and by telephone. The response was enormous. During the show, the Berlin MTV Studio switchboards were jammed and over 15,000 comments were submitted to the online forum at www.mtv.de/popetown, with the overwhelming majority of people supporting the broadcast of Popetown.

    In the run-up to the broadcast of MTV News Mag Special – Popetown, a random representative household sample of 1,004 people between the ages of 14 and 39 were asked their opinion on Popetown by PhoneResearch. Asked whether this type of series should be allowed to be shown on German television, 78 per cent answered “yes”, 16 per cent “no” and the rest were undecided. Ninety one per cent of those asked found the televised discussion and the network’s handling of criticism generally good.

  • Playhouse Disney launches ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’

    Playhouse Disney launches ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’

    MUMBAI: Playhouse Disney, the preschoolers block on Disney Channel has launched the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, a learning-focused series for tiny tots. The show is named after Disney’s favorite mascot.

    The show will be aired on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:30 am.

    The series has been created by producer Bobs Gannaway, producer and director of the Emmy Award-winning Disney’s Mickey Mouse Works. The series later evolved into Disney’s House of Mouse, that featured not just Mickey, but virtually all of the Disney animated characters.

    Although the character designs are referential to 1940s drawings, the show has 3D computer animation, a logical next step for the characters that have evolved, along with film technology, from black and white, to color and now to digitally rendered 3D.

    In order to ensure that each episode is entertaining and comprehensible to this core audience, Disney Channel writers and researchers visited preschools where they read story books based on the shows to students to see if they enjoyed it, if they understood the concepts and were engaged enough to participate.

    “The shows that have worked best with young kids are interactive ones, where the audience feels they’re playing along as opposed to just sitting back and watching. It’s always been Mickey’s way to connect one-to-one with kids, making him the perfect choice to further develop a close relationship with kids in a preschool learning environment,” said Walt Disney Television International (India) director programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya.

    “The show helps to broaden the definition of math skills to include not just counting, but learning shapes, patterns, colors and fractions. Early math skills are key to preschoolers’ development because if it is embedded right from the beginning, kids will embrace the subject. The wonderful thing is that kids of this age love to count and master skills. They don’t see it as a chore or a lesson, they’re really proud of being able tell you what’s bigger and what’s smaller, what’s near and what’s far. It’s not work to them, it’s really fun,” he added.

    Mickey Mouse Clubhouse will help define the series’ educational goals and have an age-appropriate curriculum with the help of the Sensational Six: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Daisy and Donald.