ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • Kiefer Sutherland indicates plans to make ‘24’ into a movie

    Kiefer Sutherland indicates plans to make ‘24’ into a movie

    MUMBAI: The action packed show 24 which airs in India on AXN and in the US on Fox is going to make the transition to the big screen.

    In an interview to the BBC, the star of the show Kiefer Sutherland said, “We’re working on the film. We are really excited about it.”

    On BBC One’s film show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Sutherland spoke about his Golden Globe award-winning role as counter terrorist agent Jack Bauer in the show. Each season of the show takes place in a 24 hour period. Each episode represents an hour in Bauer’s life.

    Filming will start next year. The shoot, he says, will take place in London and Prague.

  • Patricia Field tells CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’ what the devil wears

    Patricia Field tells CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’ what the devil wears

    Airtimes: Indian Standard Times

    Saturday, May 6 at 0500am and 2030hrs

    Sunday, May 7 at 0600am and 1830hrs

    This weekend on CNN’s TALK ASIA, American designer Patricia Field shares with Lorraine Hahn on what it’s like to style for the trend-setting series “Sex and the City.” She also talks about her 40th anniversary in the fashion business, how fashion “doesn’t cost a dime” and offers simple tips for the everyday wear.

    Loud but chic, Field’s early designs had wide appeal and her reputation for “fashion forward” made her popular among celebrities and fashionistas. Style is “a unique way of appearing to the rest of the world. It’s something to do with originality and synonymous with signature…that belongs to an individual person”, the designer explains.

    The popularity of television series, “Sex and the City,” also projected Field onto the international stage. “We were like “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! This is unbelievable!” she recalls of the series’ success. The stylist adds, “Sex and the City empowered or helped women feel their power. I want all the women to be powerful and whatever I could do to push that. I’m happy.”

    Tune into TALK ASIA for the latest update on Field, including her work on the upcoming film release of “The Devil Wears Prada” and other big screen projects. The designer also offers fashion tips for those rich and famous, as well as those on a shoe-string budget.

    AIRTIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

    For more program information and details on upcoming guests on TALK ASIA visit

    http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/talkasia/

  • Disney completes Pixar acquisition

    Disney completes Pixar acquisition

    MUMBAI: Advancing its strategy of developing outstanding creative content, The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of animation company Pixar. In the all-stock transaction, 2.3 Disney shares will be issued for each Pixar share.

    Former Pixar president Dr. Ed Catmull will serve as president of the new Pixar and Disney animation studios, reporting to Iger and The Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.

    In addition, former Pixar executive vice president John Lasseter, will be chief creative officer of the animation studios, as well as principal creative advisor at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he will provide his expertise in the design of new attractions for Disney theme parks around the world. Lasseter will report directly to Iger.

    Former Pixar chairman and CEO Steve Jobs has joined Disney’s board of directors as a non-independent member. With the addition of Jobs, 11 of Disney’s 14 Directors are independent.

    “For the last 15 years, Disney and Pixar have shared one of the most successful partnerships in entertainment history. From Toy Story through The Incredibles, the success of these animated films was due to the creativity, innovation and immense talent of the phenomenal Pixar team, led by Steve, Ed and John. We also fully recognize that Pixar’s extraordinary record of achievement is in large measure due to its vibrant creative culture, which is something we respect and admire and are committed to supporting and fostering in every way possible. As we begin the next chapter, all of us at Disney are pleased to welcome the incredibly talented Pixar team to our company to continue to create quality entertainment for audiences to enjoy around the world,” said Iger.

  • AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    MUMBAI: American Internet service provider AOL and Clearwire Corporation announced an agreement to offer American consumers in select markets “AOL High Speed – Powered by Clearwire.”

    Consumers will now be able to access the AOL service with high-speed wireless broadband access for $25.90 per month.

    AOL president access business Joe Redling says, “Clearwire’s wireless high-speed service brings a differentiated offering to AOL members moving to broadband. This innovative approach to broadband access offers consumers additional levels of freedom and flexibility in how and where they experience AOL’s content and services – and stands to be a promising feature for new consumer segments.”

    Clearwire’s co-president and chief strategy officer Ben Wolff says, “This truly complementary relationship offers customers access to AOL’s premium safety and security features and content with a simple, fast wireless connection.

    “Clearwire’s reliable wireless broadband service combined with AOL’s wide array of content and services, presents an appealing option for online users to leverage the power of the Internet.”

    Key features of the AOL High Speed powered by Clearwire include:

    – Wireless High Speed: In addition to high speed, wireless access offers mobility, freedom and flexibility.

    – Fast and Easy Setup: Plug-and-play installation makes establishing a wireless Internet connection quick and easy.

    – Customer Service: Help that’s available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.

    – Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identity theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.

    – Content: AOL-exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and music are all more enjoyable than ever.

    – Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.

    This service connects to the Internet using licensed spectrum and eliminates the confines of traditional cable or phone wiring. A small wireless modem makes connectivity easily portable and movable within the Clearwire coverage area, allowing customers to use the service throughout their home, office or favourite local coffee house.

  • CNN to examine sleep and dreams

    CNN to examine sleep and dreams

    MUMBAI: News channel CNN delves deep into the realm of sleep and dreams this month. The documentary CNN Presents Sleep airs on 13 May at 11 30 am and 7 30 pm and on 14 May at 11 30 am. The programme will be hosted by CNN’s senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

    Sleep reveals what sleep deprivation can do and its links to accidents. Dr. Gupta then explores various sleep disorders including ‘Parasomnia’, a condition where the mind is asleep but the body continues to move.

    Using the latest scientific techniques, Sleep sees researchers debate whether dreams are random or if they pose any significant influence on waking life. Dr. Gupta examines the meaning of dreams in past and present cultures.

  • Intel and NDS to collaborate on protected WiMax-based TV multicast

    Intel and NDS to collaborate on protected WiMax-based TV multicast

    MUMBAI: Intel Corporation and NDS Group plc., have announced a trial system to demonstrate the TV and video services for fixed WiMax technology.

    Using the WiMax IEEE 802.16-2004 standard and the soon to be ratified IEEE 802.16e, Intel and NDS will also collaborate on industry and market development activities. The companies will engage in demonstrations to service providers and the industry to show how WiMax can offer more than broadband access with pay-TV services.

    The pre-WiMax implementation takes place at Intel’s Wireless Competence Center in Kista, Sweden and demonstrates the first system to show WiMax TV services including live TV, VOD and integrated electronic program guide (EPG) delivery to an Intel Centrino mobile technology based notebook over 802.16-2004 and 802.11.

    The current demonstration uses fixed pre-WiMax equipment to deliver content to the customer premises equipment (CPE) and then WiFi to send content to the notebook. Companies intend to enhance the system to support 802.16e standard in the future and to make sure that security requirements protect the interests of content providers in an aim to demonstrate pay TV services delivery over mobile WiMax to Intel based PDA and notebook devices.

    NDS VideoGuard conditional access protects the business and content of the service provider and:-

    >Prevents the valuable TV channel offering from being received by subscribers who have not paid for it.

    >Protects content delivery efficiently using content entitlements, authorizations and tier packaging.

    >Enables content purchasing scenarios (e.g. Pay-Per-View)
    >Supports Video-On-Demand by enabling secure content purchasing, protecting content delivery sessions, and enabling content business scenarios like DRM.

    Intel Wireless Competence Center director Anders Huge said, “Demonstrating multicast TV to notebook computers articulates the way forward for mobile computing – extending the range of services offered by WiMAX to include broadband internet access, VOIP and video. Intel Centrino mobile technology based notebooks are great entertainment devices and offer consumers the ability to take their home entertainment experience on the go.”

    NDS vice president product marketing Yossi Deutsch added, “We are happy to work with a major force behind WiMax technology and getting a clear message out that it is not only about broadband access but rather a full range of lucrative services, enhancing the very model behind WiMax future deployments.”

  • Bertelsmann reports strong growth in first-quarter revenues

    Bertelsmann reports strong growth in first-quarter revenues

    MUMBAI: International media company Bertelsmann recorded considerable growth in its revenue and operating results for the first quarter of 2006.

    Consolidated revenues rose by 17.3 per cent to €4.5 billion, versus €3.8 billion in the first three months of 2005. Bertelsmann achieved growth both in its European core markets and in the US.

    An essential contributor to this positive performance were the acquisitions made in 2005, which were not yet consolidated in the first quarter of 2005. Adjusted for portfolio and currency effects, revenue was up by 4.5 per cent. Operating EBIT grew by 35.2 per cent to €215 million (2005: €159 million), an increase that is attributable to positive business performance in the divisions. Bertelsmann confirms its forecast of a significant year-on-year improvement in revenue and result for fiscal year 2006.

    Bertelsmann’s CFO Thomas Rabe said, “Bertelsmann got off to an excellent start this year. The record first-quarter results continue the positive business development of 2005. Building on this strong foundation, Bertelsmann is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. We will pursue outside opportunities and continue to rely on healthy core businesses, systematic acquisitions and expansion to new markets.”

    Net income nearly doubled year on year, reaching €90 million after €48 million in the first quarter of 2005. Investments during the first quarter of 2006 amounted to €309 million (2005: €200 million). Economic debt at 31 March 2006 was €3.9 billion as expected (31 December 2005: €3.9 billion). The number of employees increased to 89,409 (31 December 2005: 88,516).

  • Microsoft India launches Electronic Programming Guide

    Microsoft India launches Electronic Programming Guide

    BANGALORE/MUMBAI: Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd has launched an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) for users of Windows XP Media Centre PCs. Making its debut in India, EPG is an on screen interactive guide to television programs,

    This new concept will allow viewers to navigate, select, explore and record shows across more than 80 channels in the country, at their own convenience.

    The service can be integrated into the Windows XP Media Center PCs and will be available to users free of cost. It has the capacity to automatically download and update every time the user is connected to the internet.

    The Microsoft Windows XP Media Center PC functions as a PC, TV, Radio, DVD player & Media Player. EPG adds to this functionality, as it serves as an electronic search engine that informs the user of what is playing on which channel and when, for a period of 15 days. Moreover, this time limit can be upgraded on a day-to-day basis, states an official release.

    Windows Client Business Group director Rishi Srivastava said, “TV as an entertainment medium provides limitless choices to the consumer today. Presently, their TV consuming time is undirected and cluttered. We believe that the Electronic Programming Guide will help consumers take control of their entertainment experience by helping them watch their favourite program any time, any where.”

    EPG caters to the diverse needs of the viewer by allowing him to locate his favourite shows by simply punching in key words like the name of the program, movie, actors, time, day and date. Besides this, the guide also provides viewers with relevant information like a short description of the program including the start time, plot, duration, censorship classification and genre. In order to make the guide easier to scan, it is possible to hide channels that are not included in their TV service package or the ones that they do not watch regularly.

    Combined with the DVR (digital video recording) capabilities of Windows XP Media Center, viewers can search for and record not just a single episode but also an entire series. With the help of this easy to use device, users can even create their own collection of favourite movies, soaps and serials.

    Along with these facilities it also comes with conflict resolution feature. In case, two programs are to be recorded, which are scheduled simultaneously, the EPG will resolve the conflict by automatically searching for the repeat telecast of either of the two programs over the next few days thus, recording them separately with much ease.

    Srivastava adds, “We believe that Windows XP Media Center combined with the electronic programming guide will be a huge success in India. Consider this, for Rs 30,000 a consumer can now buy a PC that also provides an unmatched TV viewing experience.”

    For the benefit of the user, microsoft has also agreed to launch an awareness campaign comprising of advertisements and activities to promote this one of a kind concept, which they hope will spiral demand. The company will also partner with additional OEMs, content partners, and other companies in the digital entertainment industry to catalyse the growth of this segment.

    Currently Windows XP Media Center PCs from HP, HCL and Sahara are available at more than 300 reseller outlets across 30 cities in the country for a price range starting from Rs 30,000.

  • BSkyB to share EPL TV rights with Setanta; total bids hit £ 1.7 billion

    BSkyB to share EPL TV rights with Setanta; total bids hit £ 1.7 billion

    MUMBAI: A move that was forced by a tough European competition commissioner has ultimately yielded a veritable bonanza for Britain’s top soccer clubs. And broken the monopoly Rupert Murdock’s DTH operator BSkyB enjoyed over English Premier Leagus (EPL), home to such clubs as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

    BSkyB has won the telecast rights to four of the six EPL packaged that were up for grabs for three years starting from 2007. But it has had to cough up a staggering £ 1.314 billion for the privelege. The six broadcast packages generated £ 1.706 billion ($3.16 billion) in total, with Irish pay-TV operator Setanta’s £ 392 million bid winning it the rights to the two remaining packages. The bidding was for 138 games in all.

    BSkyB will be paying nearly twice as much per game (£4.8 million as against £2.5 million) and losing the 14-year stranglehold it has had on top flight soccer in the UK in the bargain.

    The upside for Sky is that it has been able to cherry pick the best four of the six packages on offer. It has won the coveted “A” package of matches, which are played late on Sunday afternoons. It also has the rights for early afternoon Saturday and Sunday matches, as well as a group to be played midweek and on bank holidays. Additionally, with Setanta a broadcaster that is already available on its platform, it will still be able to offer its subscribers the “total football” promise that has been the underpinning of its success.

    As far as Britain’s soccer bosses are concerned, there is more to come from its EPL property since the rights it has auctioned were for just the UK territory. According to media reports, the sale of remaining rights – overseas, near-live, highlights, mobile – could swell the final figure to as high as £ 2.5 billion.

    The biggest loser from all this, however, could well be the viewer, which would negate the logic that was behind the European competition commissioner’s insistence that the Premier League end Sky’s monopoly on live television rights in the first place – introduce more choice for viewers. The £1.7 billion tab that Sky and Setanta have toted up between them will ultimately mean that fans will ultimately pay more to watch matches in the UK.

  • MTV greenlights global show ‘Meet Or Delete’

    MTV greenlights global show ‘Meet Or Delete’

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster MTV and mtvU have greenlit Meet or Delete. This is the first MTV series to premiere to a global audience and roll out on every MTV platform.

    The series, developed in collaboration with Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) PC business as a core component of its new global marketing campaign, follows college students as they size each other up and decide if they’d like to meet, based solely on the contents of their hard drives.

    The show will roll out internationally and utilise virtually every MTV asset, including mtvU, mtvU.com, MTV, MTV.com MTV2, broadband channels mtvU Uber and MTV Overdrive, MTV wireless, the MTV Store and even the massive MTV 44 1/2 high definition TV in Times Square.

    The first episode will premiere on mtvU Uber at mtvU.com on 10 May and subsequently debut across MTV’s global network, including local channels in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Five more episodes will follow in the fall. In addition, each of the local MTV channels outside the US will air another four locally produced episodes of Meet or Delete on-air, online and on wireless handsets.

    As a complement to the programming and marketing campaign, MTV and mtvU are launching 14 regionalised Meet or Delete online hubs with episodes from around the globe, unseen footage, interactive games, free music downloads, updates on previous cast members, casting calls and more. The global hub will launch on 10 May and be available at www.meetordelete.com. Meet or Delete will also hit college campuses and other hot spots across the US this summer as part of mtvU’s upcoming VJ search.

    MTV president and COO Michael Wolf says,”PCs have become the emotional hard drive of our global audience, making the premise of Meet or Delete relevant everywhere in the world. We are thrilled to collaborate with HP on this groundbreaking project – a milestone in our drive to deliver great content, worldwide, on every device – and it’s a prime example of the innovative programs we are developing for top global companies.”

    HP senior VP global marketing for the personal systems group Satjiv Chahil says, “We are delighted to join with MTV, working together at the forefront of the entertainment industry to meet the emerging demand for more personal, digital content that is always available, always connected.

    “HP is the one company with the digital expertise to simplify the entire digital entertainment experience, making access to personal content – through any medium, using any device, at any time – a reality.”

    MTVu GM v says, “College students are the first adopters of emerging media and technologies, which enables mtvU to serve as a creative laboratory for new types of on-air, online and wireless short form programming. Meet or Delete offers a fascinating look at the degree to which students now live their lives online, and we look forward to working with HP to tell this story on a global stage.”

    Meet or Delete offers a new twist on getting to know someone, be it for dating, identifying your next roommate or picking a new band member. In the pilot episode, Amanda Alpert of the University of South Carolina Columbia is given unlimited access to the computers of three potential dates she’s never met.

    With the opportunity to explore the deepest reaches of the guys’ hard drives, from a remote location and with nothing else to go on, she checks their e-mail, music playlists, pictures, recently visited websites, video files, IMs with their friends, etc. The guys watch in horror as she goes deeper and deeper into their digital persona, finding info and files they never planned to share with anyone.

    The pilot episode premieres on mtvU and the network’s all-access broadband channel, mtvU Uber at mtvU.com, on 10 May. Meet or Delete is executive produced by Eric Conte.

    HP’s new PC marketing campaign, themed The Computer is Personal Again focusses on the highly individual and personal relationships people have with their computers. The worldwide campaign includes traditional, web and viral marketing elements, such as the Meet or Delete series and online community, that will be rolled out across key countries in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia over the next six months. The deal with MTV was brokered and will be managed on a global level by Zenith Optimedia and CBS Viacom Plus.