ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Better Call Saul goes desi on Zee Café

    Better Call Saul goes desi on Zee Café

    Mumbai: Zee Café, a pioneer in bringing foreign language content to Hindi-speaking audiences, continues to set new benchmarks with its programming choices. Following the overwhelming success of the Hindi-dubbed version of the critically acclaimed series “Breaking Bad” last August, the channel will delight fans again with the premiere of its highly anticipated prequel, “Better Call Saul,” starting 1 April, 10 pm onwards.

    The announcement of “Better Call Saul” in Hindi has sent waves of excitement across social media platforms ever since the teaser has dropped. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to experience the transformation of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) into the iconic character Saul Goodman in their native language. The series has already sparked discussions, comments, and numerous fan-made videos, indicating the fervent anticipation among viewers.

    “Better Call Saul” serves as a prequel to the groundbreaking series “Breaking Bad,” delving into the evolution of Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer, into the shrewd and morally complex attorney Saul Goodman. Set within the same universe as “Breaking Bad,” the show offers a deep dive into Jimmy’s journey, his encounters with ethical dilemmas, and his eventual embrace of his alter ego. With a rich tapestry of characters and intricately woven storytelling, “Better Call Saul” has garnered acclaim for its depth and seamless connection to its predecessor.

    The addition of “Better Call Saul” to Zee Café’s lineup reinforces the channel’s commitment to offering diverse and compelling content to its audience. By catering to the preferences of both “Breaking Bad” enthusiasts and newcomers alike, the channel aims to captivate viewers with the allure of powerful characters and gripping narratives.

    Don’t miss the chance to witness the saga unfold in Hindi exclusively on Zee Café, as “Better Call Saul” promises to be a riveting addition to the channel’s repertoire.

  • Colors Kannada unveils new fiction series ‘Chukki Taare’

    Colors Kannada unveils new fiction series ‘Chukki Taare’

    Mumbai: Colors Kannada, a frontrunner in the Kannada GEC market, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest fiction series, “Chukki Taare,” set to premiere on 18 March at 6 PM, airing Monday through Saturday exclusively on Colors Kannada.

    Presented by Sparsh Masala as special partner, “Chukki Taare” revolves around the endearing friendship between Chukki and Ibbani, two young girls from vastly different backgrounds. Despite societal and familial barriers, their bond blossoms into a heartwarming tale of innocence, friendship, and the pursuit of freedom.

    Colors Kannada business head Prashanth Nayak expressed his excitement, stating, “We present this complete family entertainment show to our viewers with utmost pride. Colors Kannada has always brought interesting stories based on family values and bonding, be it Kendasampige (siblings), Bhagyalakshmi (mother in-law and daughter in-law), Ramachari (an ideal man), Shree Gowri (Mother-son) and Karimani (father-daughter), we have always been successful in covering a gamut of emotions. We are now adding a new emotion to our list, that is friendship. Friendship is beyond barriers of caste, creed, status, and other systemic structures. After Kinnari, we are back with a heartwarming story that is based on children. We are very confident that our audiences will embrace the beautiful bond of Chukki-Taare just like our unbreakable bond with our audiences.”

    Chukki, a spirited child unaware of her ailment, is lovingly shielded by her father, Mallikarjuna, from the harsh realities of life. Meanwhile, Ibbani, born into a wealthy family, finds herself ensnared in the expectations of her ambitious aunt, Yashodha Desai. As their paths intertwine, Chukki and Ibbani embark on a journey of self-discovery and companionship.

    Featuring a stellar cast including renowned playback singer Naveen Sajju in his acting debut, along with seasoned television personalities such as Jayashree, Vishal Hegade, Radha Ramachandra, and others, “Chukki Taare” promises to captivate audiences with its poignant storytelling and compelling performances.

  • Viacom18 revamps leadership amid Disney merger

    Viacom18 revamps leadership amid Disney merger

    Mumbai: In a recent restructuring move, Kiran Mani, CEO of Viacom18’s digital arm, is poised to spearhead the brand’s digital and sports ventures, while Kevin Vaz, CEO-Broadcast, will take charge of content clusters across TV and digital platforms, as reported by various media outlets.

    This organisational shift follows the merger of Viacom18 and Star India through a joint venture announced on 28 February, which was initiated by Reliance Industries in collaboration with Disney. According to internal communications, Mani will extend his leadership to include Viacom18’s linear sports channels alongside his role as CEO of the digital division. With a background of 13 years at Google before joining Viacom18 last year, Mani will now oversee Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayraj, within this new organisational structure.

    Kevin Vaz, who joined Viacom18 in July last year following his departure from Disney Star in April, is also a key figure in this leadership transition. He will take on responsibility for the entire content business. Both Mani and Vaz will function as Co-CEOs within the media company.

    In tandem with these changes, Reliance and its affiliates will hold a 63.16 per cent stake in the joint venture, while Disney will maintain a 36.84 per cent stake, as per the terms of the deal. This consolidation will position the nation’s leading media company to operate two streaming services and approximately 120 television channels.

  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Prathap C Reddy & Amitabh Kant honoured at the Business Today MindRush & Best CEO Awards

    Sunil Bharti Mittal, Prathap C Reddy & Amitabh Kant honoured at the Business Today MindRush & Best CEO Awards

    Mumbai: Like every year, the Business Today MindRush and Best CEO Awards, a much-awaited event for India, recently concluded with much pomp and fervour, with the who’s who of India Inc. in attendance. Hosted by the India Today Group, the event serves as a pivotal platform for industry stalwarts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to converge, exchange ideas, and recognise outstanding achievements in business leadership.

    The annual event, known for its robust discussions on emerging trends and challenges in the business landscape, witnessed the captains of India Inc. across sectors coming together to share insights and experiences. This year’s BT MindRush was no exception. There were several thought-provoking sessions at the event. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, said that the time had come for the Indian private sector to shed some of its inhibitions and to accept global challenges, which were “low-hanging fruit for them”.

    In another session, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that the country could not only grow on the back of services. “It has to grow in manufacturing, services, sustainable urbanisation, and also agricultural productivity,” he said. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise executive vice chairperson Preetha Reddy said there was an urgent need to transform healthcare into a fundamental right, aligning it with education, while Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, in a message for young Indian entrepreneurs, said that India was a country of possibilities and opportunities. Federal Bank MD & CEO Shyam Srinivasan said that India was witnessing a Cinderella moment in terms of banking and economy, while ITC Ltd chairman & MD Sanjiv Puri, highlighted the resilience of India, adding that consumer demand should be back in a couple of quarters.

    The highlight of the event was the felicitation of this year’s awardees of the prestigious BT-PwC India’s Best CEOs ranking, where a distinguished panel of industry experts picked the winners awards after a rigorous process.

    This year, telecom tycoon Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, was honoured as the “Business Icon of the Year”, symbolising resilience and visionary leadership in the face of challenges. The jury also picked India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant as the “Impact Leader of the Year”, a special award underscoring his significant contributions to the country’s economic growth and global stature. Another distinguished awardee was healthcare pioneer Dr Prathap C Reddy. The visionary founder chairman of Apollo Hospitals was honoured with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his unparalleled dedication to healthcare and innovation.

    Winners were recognised across diverse sectors of Indian business, including infrastructure, healthcare, consumer goods, IT, energy, and more. The awardees included Kushal N Desai, CMD of APAR Industries, Satyanarayana Chava, founder & CEO of Laurus Labs, and Sunil Vachani, executive chairman of Dixon Technologies (India), among others. Meanwhile, Satish Pai, MD of Hindalco Industries, won in the category of super large companies; Sanjiv Puri, CMD of ITC Ltd for large companies; and Abhyuday Jindal, MD of Jindal Stainless, in the mid-sized category.

    The event also celebrated emerging companies and leaders who are shaping the future of the Indian business landscape. Naresh Jalan, MD of Ramkrishna Forgings, and Pradeep Gaur, CMD of RVNL, were among the distinguished awardees. Business leaders were also recognised for demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities and resilience. Patanjali G. Keswani, CMD of Lemon Tree Hotels, won the “Resilient CEO” award, while K.P. Ramasamy, Chairman of KPR Mill, received the award for “Glocal CEO”.

    Exemplary achievements in deal-making and disruptive innovation were recognised, with LTIMindtree CEO & MD Debashis Chatterjee, receiving the “Best Deal” award, while OfBusiness co-founder & CEO Asish Mohapatra won in the “Unicorn” category.

    India Today group chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie also spoke on the occasion, outlining that while India had made progress on many fronts, there was more work to be done in moving from a regulatory mindset to that of facilitation. He lauded the efforts of the winners in creating enterprises that India can be proud of.

    The special issue of Business Today on India’s Best CEOs was also unveiled at the event.

  • LG UltraGear Skyesports Champion series ends with 100,000 peak viewers

    LG UltraGear Skyesports Champion series ends with 100,000 peak viewers

    Mumbai: The LG UltraGear Skyesports champions series (SCS) 2024, an Rs 10,00,000 open-for-all BGMI esports tournament has concluded with WSB Gaming registering a thrilling first-place finish. The month-long tournament which happened across several qualifier stages and a semifinals saw the top 16 teams battling it out in the Grand Finals from March 5 to 10 for the prestigious title. With top-notch BGMI action being livestreamed exclusively on YouTube, the tournament amassed a peak concurrent viewership of more than 100,000.

    LG UltraGear was the title partner for the Skyesports Champions Series 2024. The tournament was powered by AMD with EliteHubs and Zebronics joining as the e-commerce and gaming peripherals partners, respectively.

    The Grand Finals was an intense affair with numerous teams competing until the final match for the title. Ultimately, however, it was the aggressive prowess of WSB Gaming, a team that made it through the Quarterfinals and the Semifinals, which earned them the title. The team amassed 261 points, narrowly edging out fan favorites iQOOSoul to take the coveted title of champions.

    In a post-match interview, WSB Gaming’s Zeref, said, “It’s exhilarating to take first place in the Skyesports Champions Series. I feel really great to have won by defeating the teams who have taught us.”

    The SCS was a crucial tournament for teams as they weren’t just fighting for the title, but also for points in the Skyesports Leaderboard. The official Skyesports Leaderboard System amalgamates the performance of teams in official Skyesports IPs and serves as the criterion for invites into future tournaments. Skyesports’ next tournament, the Skyesports Mobile Open, will feature top teams invited directly from the leaderboard.

    Commenting on the thrilling conclusion to the LG UltraGear Skyesports Champions Series, Skyesports founder and CEO Shiva Nandy said, “Congratulations to WSB Gaming for their amazing victory in the tournament. With the SCS, we are thrilled to have given an opportunity to all players to go pro through our open qualifiers and also bring high-quality BGMI esports action live for fans. Our added stake with the Skyesports Leaderboard, engaging with fans on social media, close matches, and also strong numbers from our regional Tamil language stream all contributed to driving viewership for the tournament, bringing in a peak viewership of more than 100,000 viewers. I would like to thank our partners LG UltraGear, AMD, EliteHubs, and Zebronics without whom this tournament wouldn’t have been possible.”

    The overall standings of the LG UltraGear Skyesports Champions Series 2024 Finals are as follows:

    •    WSB Gaming
    •    iQOO Soul
    •    Blind Esports
    •    Team Tamilas
    •    Revenant Esports
    •    Orangutan
    •    Hydra
    •    Medal Esports
    •    Entity
    •    Chemin Esports
    •    WindGod Esports
    •    Aerobotz Esports
    •    Team XSpark
    •    Dragon Esports
    •    CS Esports
    •    Reckoning Esports

    Registrations are currently open for the Skyesports Mobile Open, the next tournament in the 2024 Skyesports BGMI roadmap. 

  • News18 Tamil Nadu unveils ‘My Vote My Right’ campaign to encourage youth participation in elections

    News18 Tamil Nadu unveils ‘My Vote My Right’ campaign to encourage youth participation in elections

    Mumbai: News18 Tamil Nadu is proud to announce the launch of, ‘My Vote My Right‘, a remarkable initiative aimed to encourage first-time voters to make informed decisions and exercise their democratic rights. This initiative underlines the importance of every vote and encourages young citizens to pledge commitment to the democratic process.

    ‘My Vote My Right’ campaign will commence on 11 March, with a special event at Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai, and will cover 40 constituencies of Tamil Nadu over the course of 40 days. The campaign will have 2-minute snippets airing five times a day and 30 minutes of digital coverage every day.

    Under the initiative, a specialised van will visit different colleges under these constituencies and administer the oath of ‘My Vote My Right’ upon the students and first-time voters. The goal of the campaign is to reach 5 lakh people and educate them about the power of their vote and how it can impact our society and to take an oath that their vote is their right. The campaign will conclude with a grand event where the Managing Editor – South News18 and Tamil Nadu Editor, Mr Karthigaichelvan, will hand over 500,000 oath sheets collected from students to the Election Commission.

    The flag-off event for the campaign will feature esteemed guests, including Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo; IAS, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Dr. J Radhakrishnan; former chief election commissioner Gopalaswami. 

  • Zee News’ ‘Madam Sir’ goes on air; aims to elevate women’s stories to prime time prominence

    Zee News’ ‘Madam Sir’ goes on air; aims to elevate women’s stories to prime time prominence

    Mumbai: In a momentous stride to amplify women’s voices and achievements, Zee News announced the launch of its latest prime-time show, ‘Madam Sir.’ Premiered from 8 March 2024, at 7 PM, this prime time show marks a significant step towards empowering women and promoting gender equality in media representation.

    By dedicating prime time to ‘Madam Sir,’ a meticulously crafted program designed to spotlight women’s voices and triumphs, Zee News is bridging a crucial gap in media representation. The show not only celebrates women’s successes but also challenges stereotypes and biases, presenting a more inclusive portrayal of their contributions. Rather than confining women to conventional roles, ‘Madam Sir’ celebrates their resilience, and diversity by showcasing their talents and achievements from diverse backgrounds. This concerted effort offers an authentic and empowering depiction of women in society.

    By prioritising ‘appointment viewership’, Zee News also showcases its commitment to reaching a wide audience and driving substantial impact. This strategic move sets a precedent for inclusivity, women’s empowerment, and a more diverse media ecosystem.

    Moreover, the show’s emphasis on valuing and recognizing women’s voices underscores its dedication to fostering a media landscape that resonates with all viewers, contributing significantly to broader societal representation and empowerment.

    Emphasizing the core purpose of the show, Zee Media Corporation Ltd, CEO Abhay Ojha stated, “As a media organization, we recognize the power of storytelling in shaping perceptions and driving societal change.’Madam Sir’ is more than just a show; it’s a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices and achievements of women, challenging stereotypes, and fostering a more equitable and representative media landscape. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire audiences, spark meaningful conversations, and pave the way for greater gender equality.”

    ‘Madam Sir’ not only reshapes prime time programming but also redefines the narrative of women’s representation, signaling a transformative shift towards inclusivity and empowerment in media.

  • Bollywood celebs boost India’s first International Stand-Up Paddling Championship

    Bollywood celebs boost India’s first International Stand-Up Paddling Championship

    Mumbai: World’s best stand-up Paddlers, including the world number two Spanish duo of Fernando Perez (Men’s) and Esperanza Barreras (Women’s) along with Bianca Toncelli, reigning SUP Junior Champion, and reigning national champion Sekar Patchai are all set to showcase a thrilling competition at the country’s first-ever International Stand-Up Paddling event, India Paddle Festival.

    The three-day stand-up paddling extravaganza is sanctioned by The Association of PaddleSurf Professionals World Tour (APP) – the official professional world championship tour for the sport of stand-up paddling. The India Paddle Festival will be hosted at the pristine Sasihithulu beach in Mangalore from 8 to 10 March 2024 while India’s first international stand-up paddling competition is being organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation and is presented by Karnataka Government.

    Bollywood celebrities – Suniel Shetty, Shilpa Shetty and Pooja Hegde have come on board as the Ambassadors and Festival Hyper Booster for the India Paddle Festival. The event has also received strong support from the country’s top athletes like Indian cricketer KL Rahul and reigning world no.1 men’s doubles shuttler Chirag Shetty.

    The inaugural India Paddle Festival will see a total of 45 stand-up paddlers from across the world competing in four categories – Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Junior U-16 Boys, and Girls.

    The India Paddle Festival will be a mix of sports, cultural and entertainment, the details which were announced at a press conference held in the city on 8 March, which was attended by APP World Tour CEO Tristan Boxford, Surfing Swami Foundation chairman Dhananjaya Shetty.

    Ambassador of the event, Bollywood superstar Suniel Shetty said, “Big shout to Team Mantra (Mantra Surf Club), all the officials, and Goodwill Ambassador KL Rahul, and for bringing the fastest growing water sport to our shores. This is a great step, looking forward to many such events in Namma Mangaluru, the very best spot in the country for surfing and other water sports. Best wishes to all the athletes, participants, and organizers for making this event a great success.” – https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4LLW9bsUit/?igsh=cGl2enJhaXo4eG1o

    Event ambassador and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty said, “Congratulations to the Mantra team on hosting the first ever International Stand-Up Paddle Championship in India. This is the 1st step towards promoting the world’s fastest-growing water sport here in Namma Mangaluru, and it is a matter of great pride that it is happening in our city.”

    Bollywood actress Pooja Hegde, festival hyper booster, said “I am very happy to say that India’s first international Stand-up Paddle Festival is happening in our city, my city Mangaluru. It is genuinely a matter of immense pride and honour. Good luck to all the contestants and I hope they enjoy the yummy Mangalorean food and the untouched beauties of Mangaluru that are our beaches.” –

    Speaking on the event, APP World Tour CEO Tristan Boxford said, “It’s amazing to be here at the India Paddle Festival in Mangalore, India’s first ever International Stand-up Paddling event. We already have established ourselves across Europe, Americas, Asia, the Pacific and Middle East, and now we are looking at India as the next big growth market for the sport. We have been discussing with Surfing Swami and Mantra Surf School for many years now about the opportunity to bring something here and finally we are embarking on this adventure together.”

    He further added, “Sasihisthilu is such a beautiful beach and a venue for Stand-up Paddling. And I hope to witness some intense competition over the weekend. We’ve got athletes from Denmark, Hungary, Spain, Korea, Indonesia, all over the world to Thailand. We also have some top-class athletes like, Christian Anderson (Denmark) and world no. 2, Fernando Perez from Spain while on the women’s side, world no. 2 Esperanza Barreras is one of the fastest women in the world.”

    Day one commenced with a Yoga session, followed by a Community/Pro SUP Paddle session. The main event on the same day will be the Juniors Race, scheduled for the evening. The crowd will be entertained with the screening of It Is This, In Search of the Storm and Powerstar, which is part of the film festival that will be conducted on all three days of the event. The heats and finals of the technical races for both men and women will be held on Day 2. The main attraction of the India Paddle Festival, the sprint races, will be held on the final day along with the finals of the community race.

    The Association of PaddleSurf Professionals World Tour (APP) announced its entry in India with the country’s first-ever International Stand-Up Paddling championship last month. The India Paddle Festival will be the first step in an exciting new development journey for the organization as a significant growth of the sport in the region over the coming years. Presented by Karnataka Tourism, organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation, the India Paddle Festival will welcome a selection of top athletes from the APP World Tour, as well as other aspiring professionals from the region.

     

  • The Golf Foundation concludes its fourteenth Invitational Fundraiser Tournament in Mumbai

    The Golf Foundation concludes its fourteenth Invitational Fundraiser Tournament in Mumbai

    Mumbai: The Golf Foundation (TGF) concluded its highly anticipated fourteenth Invitational Fundraiser Tournament at the prestigious Willingdon Sports Club in Mumbai marking yet another successful event in its commitment to nurturing young golf talent from underprivileged backgrounds.

    The tournaments, held in support of TGF’s noble cause, witnessed an enthusiastic participation of golf enthusiasts who came together to contribute towards fostering promising golf talent across India.

    Distinguished guests graced the occasion, including the esteemed presence of iconic former cricketer Kapil Dev, Miss Supranational India 2024 Sonal Kukreja and more noteworthy guests.

    Reflecting on the success of the event, multiple-time national golf champion, Asian Games gold medallist, and Arjuna awardee Golfer Amit Luthra reiterated TGF’s unwavering commitment to empowering young individuals through golf. “The Golf Foundation strongly believes in the transformative power of golf in the lives of young individuals. Reflecting on the success of the event, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all participants and supporters for their invaluable contribution to our cause. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for young golfers from underprivileged backgrounds.”,

    Talking about the event, The Golf Foundation supporter Kapil Dev said, “The commitment shown by The Golf Foundation towards nurturing golf talent is commendable. By providing opportunities and support to young golfers, they are not just shaping athletes but also inspiring future champions. I am proud to be associated with such a noble cause.”

  • Star Movies and Disney+ Hotstar bring you the 96 Oscars live in India

    Star Movies and Disney+ Hotstar bring you the 96 Oscars live in India

    Mumbai: Get ready to witness the glitz and glam of Hollywood’s biggest night as Star Movies and Disney+ Hotstar bring to you Live the 96 Oscars ceremony straight from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Set your alarms for March 11 at 4 AM IST as we bring the magic of the Oscars® directly to your screens. Star Movies will also have a repeat telecast at 8:30 PM IST.

    Last year, Indian cinema made history at the Oscars as ‘Naatu Naatu’ from the movie RRR won an award for Music (Original Song) and the documentary, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ clinched an award under the category Documentary Short Film. This time around, the excitement continues as ‘To Kill A Tiger’ earns an Oscar nomination for the ‘Documentary Feature Film’ category, keeping Indian fans on the edge of their seats.

    “Bringing the Oscars to Disney Star isn’t just about celebrating cinematic excellence; it’s about honouring the power of storytelling that transcends borders, cultures, and languages,” shares Gaurav Banerjee, Head – Content, Disney+ Hotstar & HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star. “At both Star Movies and Disney+ Hotstar, we are dedicated to providing the best of global content for our viewers with access to the most prestigious events in the film industry. Live streaming the Oscars on March 11 represents the epitome of cinematic excellence, and we are excited to bring this iconic event to audiences across India.”