ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • MTV Networks completes acquisition of Harmonix Music Systems

    MTV Networks completes acquisition of Harmonix Music Systems

    MUMBAI:MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc., has announced, that on 27 October 2006, it closed its $175 million acquisition of Harmonix Music Systems.

    Harmonix Music Systems is the developer of the PlayStation 2 hit Guitar Hero and other music gaming titles. The Company has announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire Harmonix on 22 September 2006.

    In addition, Harmonix shareholders may be eligible for incremental earn-out payments through 2008, to the extent that financial results exceed specific targets, asserts an official release.

    Harmonix is a videogame development company based in Cambridge, MA. The company specializes in music-based games and design innovation.

    Harmonix will join MTV Networks’ Music and LOGO Enterprises unit, led by executive vice president Jeff Yapp, as stated in the release.

  • JumpTV to offer 3 Sahara channels

    JumpTV to offer 3 Sahara channels

    MUMBAI: Jump TV, a global player in the delivery of international television over the internet, has added three more channels to its basket of Indian channels. The online television platform player will be offering general entertainment channel SaharaOne TV, movie channel Filmy and a news channel Sahara Samay. 

    Recently, SaharaOne Media and Entertainment had entered into a long term deal with New York based broadcast distribution outfit GloboSat Entertainment in order to help the company launch its channel services at various countries.

    Sahara One, Sahara Samay and Sahara Filmy will be priced individually at US$9.95 per month when launched commercially and will likely become part of a future bundle of South Asian channels, according to an official release. 

    JumpTV, at present, offers other Indian channels such as Sony, India TV, Amitra TV, Kairali TV, People TV, Punjab Today and Balle Balle.

    JumpTV International president and chief executive officer Kaleil Isaza Tuzman said, “Hindi is the fifth most spoken language in the world. The addition of these channels makes it easier for the millions of Hindi speaking people living outside South Asia to remain connected to the television programming they know and love from home.”

    JumpTV Asia-Pacific group general manager Kevin Foong said, “JumpTV remains focused on securing the global IP rights to top channels in key regions worldwide. The potential for adding more subscribers by making Sahara programming available online is exciting and provides the partners in this agreement an opportunity to profit through a revenue sharing structure.”

    GloboSat president and CEO Sudhir Vaishnav said, “With our state-of-the-art production and broadcast facilities in New York and Toronto, we are able to create local content as per market needs. Our strategic partnerships with DTH, cable, broadband, IPTV, mobile and other platforms spanning across North and South America, Europe and the UK help our broadcast partners to build international presence faster.”

  • Disney’s ‘My School Rocks’ gears up for National roll out in November

    MUMBAI: Following the global success and drawing inspiration from Disney Channel‘s original movie High School Musical, Disney in India is set to introduce a country wide interschool group-dance competition ‘My School Rocks.‘


    Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director – programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Disney Channel programming reflects real kids‘ lives, their aspirations and dreams. ‘My School Rocks‘ is all about encouraging kids to express themselves while learning the value of teamwork. As in the movie High School Musical, this contest is about believing in yourself and following your dreams.”


     


     



    The last date for schools to register with the Disney Channel is 10 November. Participating schools will choreograph a dance sequence on the High School Musical hit song ‘Ho ek hi aim‘ and appear for auditions at select locations in cities across India. Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan would then shortlist five finalists from the entries received. Disney Channel will air vignettes of these five performances in December and the final winner will be decided based on audience polls by Disney Channel viewers and Saroj Khan‘s evaluation of the teams, informs an official release.


    The winning group will star in a special music video, which will be choreographed by the Khan that will premiere on Disney Channel on 25 December 2006.


    Nachiket added, “High School Musical has created rating highs across the globe. Its popularity among Indian audiences symbolizes the popularity of Disney Channel‘s contemporary and universally relevant content. ‘My School Rocks‘ contest is an effort, in the context of the movie, to provide Disney Channel viewers delightful moments to be enjoyed with the peer group and the entire family.”


    Audition dates across select cities in India include:
    – Amritsar: 9 November
    – Kolkata and Delhi: 15 and 16 November
    – Mumbai: 16 and 17 November
    – Ahmedabad: 17 November


    Khan and Nachiket today visited the Father Agnel School, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi to congratulate the school on being the first to register in this all-India event.


    Saroj Khan said, “Being associated with kids through a Disney Channel event is definitely a very different experience. I am extremely excited about this dance contest and am looking forward to meeting and dancing with a lot of kids! The uniqueness of the event is in its philosophy of self-expression and that‘s a beautiful thing to teach our kids today.”


    The foot tapping music of High School Musical was rendered in Hindi by industry stalwarts Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Kamath, Shweta Pandit, Neuman Pinto, and directed by John Stewart, programmed by DJ G and John Stewart. The on-ground events include the ‘My School Rocks‘ school contact program across 650 schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Amritsar where principals and art teachers are being briefed about the contest. They are being presented with the ‘My School Rocks‘ kit complete with the VCD, lyric sheets, dance moves etc.


    My School Rocks is being presented by Cadbury Bournvita in association with Reynolds Pens, Nippo Batteries, Candyman Cofitino, Peppy and Pizza Corner.

  • TV18 Q2 net profit at Rs 160 million, up 44% YOY

    TV18 Q2 net profit at Rs 160 million, up 44% YOY

    MUMBAI: The Raghav Bahl promoted Television Eighteen has posted its consolidated net profit at Rs 160.45 million up 44 per cent year on year (YoY) for the second quarter ended 30 September, as against Rs 111.55 million in the year-ago period.

    The company’s revenue has also witnessed a jump of 70 per cent YoY to record at Rs. 530.08 million. Revenue from news operations rose to Rs 476.92 million, from Rs 295.31 million a year ago.

    The TV18’s Internet business rose over 200 per cent YoY, according to an official release. The reveunes from the internet and software operations has gone up from Rs 17 million during the corresponding period a year ago to Rs 53.16 million this quarter. It is also worth noting that the internet business had crossed $1 million during the first quarter of this fiancial year.

    The company’s operating profit surged to Rs 249.04 million, up from Rs 172.68 million. The operating margin dipped to 47 per cent largely on account of the consolidation of CNBC Awaaz revenues and costs in P&L. 

    The consolidated revenues including CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, moneycontrol.com and commoditiescontrol.com. The current quarter’s revenue/cost strictly is ‘not’ comparable with the same quarter in the previous year, since revenue/cost of Awaaz are being included from this quarter onwards. The TV18 consolidated revenue includes revenues from CNN-IBN, IBN7 and other Web18 Portals.

    Following the meeting of the board of directors Television Eighteen MD Raghav Bahl said: “This has been an exceptionally good quarter for us. As a Network, we have doubled revenues – while our listed entity has posted a 70 per cent year-on-year growth. We have successfully concluded our scheme of demerger, and set 24 November as the record date – this will unlock an enormous amount of value for our shareholders, who will now enjoy the fruits of ownership in all our businesses, including CNN-IBN, IBN7, Home Shopping Network and Studio18. With several exciting forays in news broadcasting, internet portals, motion pictures and other multi-media platforms on the anvil, our shareholders can continue to look forward to a period of sustained growth.”

  • Cartoon Network & Pogo toons shake a leg with kids

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network and Pogo hosted a ‘Fun Day Out‘ for Mumbai kids giving them an opportunity to meet their favourite toon stars including Johnny Bravo, Noddy, Dexter, Dee Dee, Popeye and Scooby Doo on 29 October 2006.


    Aimed at engaging viewers in activities beyond the scope of television the ‘Cartoon Network and Pogo Fun Day Out‘ had the adorable cartoon characters render a local flavour to the event as they danced to popular chartbusters, urging the kids to also join in with them.


     


     


    In addition to catering to the kids, games were also organised for the entire family. On-stage games such as ‘Dance Like Noddy‘ and ‘Pogo Trivia‘, tested the skills and knowledge of not only the children, but also the elders. Special Cartoon Network and Pogo games were also organised beyond the stage including puzzles like ‘Back Where They Belong‘, ‘Knock Down The Villian‘, ‘Play Smarter‘ and ‘Tiny TV Play Area,‘ informs an official release.


    Kids also got a chance to show off their beyblading skills with ‘Beyblade‘ games. While other games like the ‘M.A.D (Music, Art and Dance) Fan Club‘ allowed kids to scribble and draw their messages on a large canvas.


    The gala day came to an end with 20 lucky kids hogging the opportunity to shake hands with Bob the Builder, Scooby and Noddy while the winners of the various games pocketed Cartoon Network and Pogo goodies as prizes

  • Inox Q2 records 58% net profit at Rs 69.6 million

    Inox Q2 records 58% net profit at Rs 69.6 million

    MUMBAI: Inox Leisure Ltd has reported 42 per cent year on year (YoY) growth in revenues at Rs 399.6 million for the second quarter ended 30 September 2006 versus Rs 282.4 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

    According to an official release, for the half year, the growth registered at 58 per cent from Rs 508 million crores to Rs 804.9 million.

    The profit after tax for the quarter amounted to Rs 69.6 million, as compared to Rs 56.4 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year – an increase of 23 per cent.

    For the half year, profit after tax grew from Rs 97.2 million to Rs 153.3 million – an impressive 58 per cent.

    This quarter has seen Inox launch its Nagpur property taking its tally up to 44 screens in 12 multiplexes across 11 cities. Inox has another 21 properties in different stages of implementation, which it expects to operationalise by March 2009. This will help Inox take its total count to 33 properties across 21 cities, 130 screens and 37000 seats by March 2009, informs the release.
    In addition to the above, in September, INOX also entered into a definitive agreement for an all share swap deal with Calcutta Cinema Private Limited (CCPL) for acquiring CCPL & its brand of multiplexes – ‘89 Cinemas’ and merging the latter’s operations with Inox Leisure Limited. CCPL operates 2 properties as at present and has another 7 properties under different stages of implementation.

    Inox Leisure Ltd Deepal Asher said, “We have been able to maintain our industry leadership position in revenues and profitability, due to better footfalls and pricing at our existing multiplexes as well as the addition of new properties to our portfolio. We expect to maintain the momentum of growth going forward, with another seven properties expected to open by March 2007, in cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Bharuch, Vijaywada, Lucknow, Faridabad and Jaipur. We have also been helped with a good spate of releases, and expect this trend of a continuous flow of big budget and good quality content to continue.”

  • Americans increasingly watching TV online

    Americans increasingly watching TV online

    MUMBAI: One out of every ten online consumers in the US watches television broadcasts online, according to the latest Consumer Internet Barometer. The Barometer, produced by The Conference Board and custom research company TNS covers 10,000 households across the US.

    Online viewers say that personal convenience and avoiding commercials are the top reasons for watching TV broadcasts online. Only a small percentage of consumers claim that their traditional television viewing has decreased, while three out of every four online viewers report no change in their viewing habits.

    Many Consumers Use the Internet for Entertainment on a Daily Basis Today, more than two-thirds of online consumers log on daily for entertainment purposes and an additional 16 per cent log on for entertainment several times a week. One in ten online consumers are watching TV broadcasts via the Internet, and about one-third of these households consist of multiple viewers.

    The Conference Board Consumer Research Center director Lynn Franco says, “Although online television viewing is not a widespread phenomenon the proportion of users is likely to increase over time given consumers’ penchant for entertainment.”

    TNS senior VP Edye Twer says, “As we have learned through our ongoing research, those content providers who communicate the value, context and capabilities of online programming will be positioned to grab the greatest share of the growing market for online entertainment.

    “Additionally, this is representative of a larger trend toward, ‘anytime, anywhere’ viewing that includes the use of digital video recorders, video
    on demand and portable video players, such as the iPod.”

    News is the Most Widely Viewed TV Content Online : More than three out of five online TV viewers cite personal convenience as the major reason for watching TV broadcasts online. Another reason for viewing online is the ability to avoid commercials. Other reasons are portability and a preference for computer viewing.

    Online viewers tend to watch news broadcasts more often than other types of broadcasts, with more than 62 per cent logging on for news content. Close to 50 per cent go online for entertainment viewing. Catching up on missed content, previews, sports, and watching entire episodes of shows are also among the top draws cited by more than a quarter of viewers.

    Few Consumers Are Willing to Pay for Online Television Downloads: The most popular methods for viewing TV broadcasts online are streaming and free download, cited by 53 per cent and 49 per cent of viewers, respectively. Very few consumers are willing to pay per download or enroll in subscription services.

  • E! Networks fires two TV crew members following Brad Pitt complaint

    E! Networks fires two TV crew members following Brad Pitt complaint

    MUMBAI: US entertainment channel E! Networks has fired two members of its television crew following a complaint by Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt.

    Media reports state that Brad Pitt’s staff claimed that a television producer and cameraman trespassed at his Hollywood Hills home while the actor and his family were not home. 

    Pitt and Anjelina Jolie are in Pune shooting for the film A Mighty Heart. A producer and cameraman apparently walked onto the actor’s property in the Hollywood Hills. E! Networks says that it never instructed them to do so. It has however let go off the two crew members.

    In a statement the channel says, “E! Networks did not instruct or authorise anyone working on its program to improperly intrude onto private property, and the individuals involved have been terminated.

    “While neither Mr. Pitt nor his family were at the property when the incident took place, the network in no way condones or encourages such behaviour and would like to offer its most sincere apologies to Mr. Pitt and his family.”

  • Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    Rainbow Media in representation deal with Zonemedia for Voom HD

    MUMBAI: On the heels of the luanch of the channel Vom HD launch at the recently concluded television trade eevnt in Mipcom, France Rainbow HD Holdings, a subsidiary of Rainbow Media has broadened the global channel’s reach with a new distribution agreement.

    Rainbow has tapped Zonemedia to sell the channel throughout much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

    Voom HD offers the international marketplace a lineup of high-definition (HD) programmes selected from Voom HD Networks’ 15 thematic HD channels in the US. Its content includes signature programming from Equator HD ( places and people), Gallery HD ( stories from the art world), Gameplay HD (video gaming in HD), Rave HD, (live music in 5.1 surround sound), Rush HD (adventure sports), Treasure HD (people with a passion for collecting) and Ultra HD (fashion and luxury lifestyle).

    Rainbow Media senior VP business development Glenn Oakley says, “As we strategized the best possible distribution for Voom HD, Zonemedia emerged as a particularly solid choice because of its strong track record in successfully delivering third-party channels throughout the world. Voom HD’s vast array of quality high-definition programming has great appeal to the international marketplace, and we believe Zonemedia will exploit this to the fullest.”

    TVOOM HD is already set for a November 1 launch in Scandinavia through a deal made by distribution company NonStop Television with Canal Digital. Today’s news opens the channel for business throughout even more of the world, with carriage deals already in the works for possible announcement over the next few months.

    In addition to its impending launch in Scandinavia, three Voom branded channels have been launched in Canada, operated by High Fidelity TV: Treasure HD, Equator HD and Rush HD. Korea’s SkyHD recently deployed a daily primetime Voom HD branded programming block this past September.

    Since launching its global expansion initiative at Mipcom last year, Rainbow Media has also sold over 1,000 hours of programming from its Voom HD, WE tv, Mag Rack and sportskool brands to broadcasters around the world, including India, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, UK and Australia.

  • Bangladesh Cricket Board to sell six-year rights

    Bangladesh Cricket Board to sell six-year rights

    MUMBAI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has issued a tender to sell marketing rights including those for television and the Internet for six years until 2012.

    ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is the incumbent. Its rights had expired last year. Speaking to indiantelevision.com this afternoon ESS India MD R.C. Venkateish says that the channel is certainly interested in renewing the rights. 

    The tender is expected to fetch about $40 million adds a Reuters report. Bangladesh is expected to play around 40 tests and over 100 one-day internationals during this period.