ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Cartoon Network to set up interactive Internet sites

    Cartoon Network to set up interactive Internet sites

    Cartoon Network plans regional websites in different regions across the Asia Pacific. The network will launch a site for Australia by mid year. Other sites planned are for India in English, Taiwan in Mandarin and so on.

    Turner International’s Hema Govindan said that the key difference between the TV channel and the site will be new, interactive elements introduced via the World Premier Tool.

    “For instance, hypothetically speaking, in a chat room, Johnny Bravo will have a dialogue with people visiting our website. It will also be specific to the country the website is being built for. The cultural cues will be very , very different. The characters we champion, the interactive elements will be different.” Govindan said that the net could consider regional sites in Indian languages at a later stage, similar to it’s channel strategy.

    She added that the channel penetration’s was 10 million at present, and plans were to extend penetration beyond urban India. “The tune in will only come with more localisation and customisation. We are also looking at initiatives like Get Tooned, when we actually animated five Indian kids and put them on air as interstentials.”

    The channel has featured five kids in Australia and New Zealand, five in South East Asia, 5 in Taiwan and five in India. Research has shown that Indian kids would like to see winners. Because of that, the channel plans to showcase more Indian kids as winners in cartoon form in the new future.

  • ESS brings English Premier League & Spanish Football League on weekends

    ESS brings English Premier League & Spanish Football League on weekends

    MUMBAI: Espn Star Sports will telecast live and exclusive top soccer action from the English Premier League and the Spanish Football league this weekend. The network will showcase its proprietary properties Premiership Saturday and Super Sunday showcasing taction from the world’s best football leagues.

    Liverpool will host Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday which will be the match of the weekend with both clubs looking for three points after indifferent starts to the season. Liverpool fresh from mid week victory at home over Newcastle will look at three much needed points this weekend. Londoners Fulham will host Champions Chelsea who thwarted Liverpool’s challenge last weekend. The Blues are third on the table with only Manchester United and surprisingly Portsmouth leading them.

    Manchester United will also be in action on Saturday as they visit the newly promoted Reading who have shown grit and work man ship like qualities to be sixth on the table early in the season. United can not afford slip ups after they were defeated by old rivals Arsenal last weekend. The Gunners also take to field against lowly Sheffield United who are still looking to register their first win in the Premiership. All eyes will be on the return of Thierry Henry and if Arsene Wenger partners him with Adebayor up front.

    In the Primera Liga, Defending Champions Barcelona, host Valencia with the two powerhouses of soccer tied at nine points from three games. Though very early in the season, victory will certainly give the winner a psychological edge in the Spanish league. The Real Madrid Galacticos will tune themselves to face Real Betis late on Saturday.
    English Premiere League

    23 Sep 06 Liverpool Vs Tottenham Hotspur (L) 5:10 ESPN
    23 Sep 06 Fulham Vs Chelsea (L) 7:25 ESPN
    23 Sep 06 Arsenal Vs Sheffield United (L) 7:25 STAR Sports
    23 Sep 06 Reading Vs Manchester United (L) 9:40 STAR Sports
    23 Sep 06 Manchester City Vs West Ham United (S) 10:00 ESPN
    24 Sep 06 Newcastle United Vs Everton (L) 8:25 ESPN
    Spanish Football League
    24 Sep 06 Real Betis Vs Real Madrid (L) 01:25 ESPN
    25 Sep 06 Barcelona Vs Valencia (L) 00:25 ESPN

  • Live action from the English Premier League and Spanish Football League on ESPN Star Sports

    MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports, Asia’s leading sports broadcaster, will telecast live and exclusive top soccer action from the English Premier League and the Spanish Football league this weekend. The leading sports network will showcase its proprietary properties Premiership Saturday and Super Sunday showcasing top class action from the world’s best football leagues.

    On Sunday, Manchester United host archrivals Newcastle United on what is being billed as the game of the week. Newcastle United has never recorded a Premier League victory at Old Trafford, but the fixture has by no means been a walk in the park for Manchester United over the years. In the past, out of three matches, the Red Devils have recorded two victories while drawing once.

    And, with Chelsea yet to find their best form, the signs are that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will have to be in top gear all season if they are to end a three-year wait to win the league. At present, Chelsea leads the field with 15 points while Portsmouth and Man United have 13 each.

    In other matches, on Saturday, Liverpool takes on the Bolton Wanderers; Arsenal plays with Charlton Athletic while Chelsea is matched against Aston Villa. On Sunday, Portsmouth plays Tottenham Hotspur with the race heating up for the top spot in the League. The Gunners’s coach Wenger, who celebrated 10 years with the club last Thursday, will use all the tricks up his sleeve to improve Arsenal’s current standing of ninth in the table. After their 3-0 win over Sheffield United, all of a sudden Arsenal looked like world beaters again, in stark contrast to the languid displays they produced in their previous home games in the Premiership against Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

    In the Primera Liga, reigning double Spanish champions Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga despite being held to a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp by Valencia. They now play Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday in what is expected to be a ‘walk in the park’ for them. Real Madrid will be looking to build on their midweek success and create some gap between title rivals Barcelona and Valencia.

    Catch all the action Live and exclusive on ESPN Star Sports this weekend

    English Premier League

     

    Date Fixture Time Channel
    30-Sep-06 Bolton Wanderers Vs Liverpool (L 17:10 ESPN
    30-Sep-06 Charlton Athletic Vs Arsenal (L) 19:25 ESPN
    30-Sep-06 Chelsea Vs Aston Villa (L) 19:25 STAR Sports
    30-Sep-06 Everton Vs Manchester City (S) 22:00 ESPN
    01-Oct-06 Manchester United Vs Newcastle United (L) 19:24 ESPN
    01-Oct-06 West Ham United Vs Reading (S) 23:30 STAR Sports

    Spanish Football League

    Date Fixture Time Channel
    01-Oct-06 Athletic Club Bilbao Vs Barcelona (L) 01:25 ESPN
    01-Oct-06 Real Madrid Vs Atletico Madrid (L) 21:25 STAR Sports
    02-Oct-06 Valencia Vs Gimnastic (L) 00:25 ESPN

    India Time. Schedule subject to change; L: LIVE. S: Same day delayed. T: Taped

  • NGC-science ministry film project ‘Science Safari’ unveiled

    NGC-science ministry film project ‘Science Safari’ unveiled

    NEW DELHI: India’s ministry of science and technology and the National Geographic Channel today unveiled the Science Safari, a film that showcases Indian science and technology through the Nat Geo perspective, which encourages viewers to ‘think again’.

    The film is a part of the year long campaign announced by the ministry and the NGC earlier this year.

    The 48-minute film produced by All Time Productions in close association with National Geographic Channel is an eclectic mix of scientific achievements across India and presents various innovations made by well known Indian scientists and some unknown inventors in an interesting travelogue format.

    The film will premiere on the National Geographic Channel on 26 September at 9 pm. and will be telecast four times during the first month and subsequently once every month in the following one year.

    The film will also be telecast on Doordarshan. Both Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Geographic Channel will promote the film extensively with the film being telecast in Hindi and English initially and then later being dubbed in other Indian regional languages to reach out to a wider audience pan India .

    A year-long 360-degree campaign encompassing both on-air and off-air initiatives to promote the film will be also launched.

    On air promotion initiatives will include programme promos on National Geographic Channel and The History Channel pre and post the premiere of the film and telecast of a special compilation of the channel’s best science and technology programming .

    The channel will also run informative scrollers, factoids, vignettes and 15 short films throughout the year on Indian science and technology.

    An extensive school outreach programme will also be initiated to generate further interest about Indian Science and Technology through this film.

    Specially commissioned Science Safari audio visual merchandise including DVD sets, CD sets, t-shirts and bags will be given out to school children during screening of the film in various public and private schools.

    “India is making great strides in the field of science and technology today, innovation and creativity are the most important assets for our future. Through this programme, we want to create more awareness amongst the people of our country, especially children about our achievements in this field and to encourage the spirit of scientific inquiry,” commented Kapil Sibal, minister for science, technology and earth sciences.

    Speaking at an event today, NGC India MD Nikhil Mirchandani said it is a constant endeavour to make viewers ‘think again’ about the world.

    “Science Safari is an extension of this philosophy. Through this initiative we look forward to stimulate the intellect of our viewers and encourage them to expand their thought horizons beyond the cognitive by exploring new frontiers of science and technology from an Indian perspective,” he added.

  • Vuico and B2’s combined mobile video technology feeds live entertainment events to mobile devices worldwide

    Vuico and B2’s combined mobile video technology feeds live entertainment events to mobile devices worldwide

    MUMBAI: Vuico Inc. and B2 Networks announced a strategic alliance to deliver live events and highlights to cell phones and mobile devices via B2 Networks worldwide broadband and mobile network.

    B2 will use Vuico technology as a core component coupled with other B2 technologies to broadcast live events to the customer base of the revolutionary broadband network.

    Vuico and B2’s combined Mobile Video Technology will serve as a platform to broadcast more than 2,000 events during the next 6 months.

    Live events will be broadcast worldwide from B2 Networks system of arenas, stadiums and entertainment venues. Additional future product innovations are being developed by the alliance.

    “B2 Networks is the leader in the global broadband broadcasting market for TV and direct to home broadcasting. With this new mobile video alliance, Vuico and B2 Networks are taking the delivery of live content to cell phones and mobile devices around the world,” said Vuico President and CEOVui Le.

    The new alliance brings unprecedented capability for consumers to watch sports and entertainment from major stadiums and venues on mobile and wireless devices.

    “With Vuico’s mobile video technology coupled with B2 technology delivering our live events and programming, B2 Networks can now offer live mobile TV to the cell phones of our customers. Our partners, whether they are arenas, stadiums, local venues, clubs, schools or churches can leverage our end-to-end systems to reach their constituents,” said B2 Networks Owner and CEO Greg P Bell.

    The combined technologies have already been deployed to recently broadcast the World Professional Fighting Championship from Las Vegas and live entertainment from The Palm in Las Vegas to viewers on three continents.

  • Apple unveils new iPod shuffle

    Apple unveils new iPod shuffle

    MUMBAI: Apple has introduced the new iPod shuffle, nearly half the size of the original, it claims to be the world’s smallest digital music player. It is half a cubic inch in volume, weighs just half an ounce and features a all-new aluminum design and a built-in clip.

    The new iPod shuffle contains one gigabyte of flash memory which holds up to 240 songs, and is more affordable than ever at Rs. 5,600.

    “It’s hard to believe the new iPod is a real music player when you first see it,” said Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs. “But it is real, and holds up to 240 songs in an incredibly compact and wearable design that weighs just half an ounce.”

    iPod shuffle is based on Apple’s popular shuffle feature which lets users enjoy their songs in random order. Or listeners can simply flip a switch to listen to their songs in order, such as when listening to a new album. iPod shuffle features up to 12 hours of battery life.

    Users connect the new iPod shuffle to their Mac or PC with the included dock, and iTunes’ innovative AutoFill feature automatically syncs the perfect number of songs from their music library. Seamless integration with iTunes 7 and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) allows customers to choose from a selection of over 3.5 million songs from the digital music store.
    The new iPod nano models are now available through Apple authorized resellers across the country for Rs. 5,600 (INR).

  • MGM, G4 TV network, Berliner Film team with Mel Brooks on animated series

    MGM, G4 TV network, Berliner Film team with Mel Brooks on animated series

    MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) is teaming with the G4 television network, Brooksfilms Limited, and Berliner Film Companie GmbH (Berliner) on the US release of a new original television series based on the classic Mel Brooks comedy Spaceballs.

    G4, which is now available in 59 million cable and satellite homes nationwide, has exclusively licensed the first run of Spaceballs: The Animated Series for the US market. The series will be produced by Berliner in association with Brooksfilms. Already in production, Berliner will produce 13 half-hour episodes, which will debut on G4 in Fall 2007.

    MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., will officially launch the property at the upcoming MIPCOM international television festival in Cannes, France (9-13 October).

    Spaceballs: The Animated Series brings together a talented team of comedy specialists. Brooks, who over the past 40 years has created classics as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and both versions of The Producers, co-wrote the Spaceballs pilot with Thomas Meehan. Meehan will oversee all writing for the first 13 episodes. Brooks will also lend his voice to two of the characters in the show, President Skroob and Yogurt.

    MGM Worldwide Television Distribution Group President Jim Packer, said, “This series has all the elements of a great comedy show. Mel Brooks has one of the top comedy minds in the business and the Berliner team has an impressive track record for producing quality animation. On the heels of retooling our worldwide television distribution group, MGM will be an active player in bringing first-run series to the marketplace and Spaceballs is a good example of the programming partnerships we can create with this vast library.”

    G4 President Neal Tiles added, “As the go-to network for men 18-34, irreverent humor is one of the benchmarks of our programming philosophy, as is animation. Mel Brooks’ classic movies Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles are just as relevant to our young male audience today as they were when they were first released. His brand of humor will resonate well with our viewers.

    In the pilot episode of Spaceballs: The Animated Series, the storyline will be similar to that of the movie, which was released theatrically in 1987. The evil Dark Helmet kidnaps Princess Vespa of the Planet Druidia. His dastardly plan to blackmail her father, King Roland, into giving up his planet’s air to replenish the polluted Planet Spaceball, run by the fiendish President Skroob (to be voiced by Brooks). Princess Vespa’s dad hires Lone Starr and Barf to rescue the princess. After a battle with Dark Helmet, they rescue the princess and Planet Druidia. From there, they launch on a series of wild adventures across the Galaxy.

  • Essel targets January 2007 launch of digital venture; plans web portal

    Essel targets January 2007 launch of digital venture; plans web portal

    MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group will unveil a set of digital initiatives under the banner of its newly-formed digital arm Digital Media Convergence Ltd (DMCL) by January 2007, including a web portal.

    The plan is to explore new media platforms such as mobile and IPTV and the online space in a full-fledged manner to distribute various formats of digitised content.

    “We will be unveiling our initiatives in three months time. We are going to create various in-house formats and shows. Apart from this, we are speaking to various foreign players as well to acquire internationally acclaimed formats. We are sending a special programming delegation for the upcoming Mipcom session. Though the stress is on delivering fresh content, we are keen on the Zee digital library as well,” says DMCL CEO Abhijeet Saxena.

    DMCL will concentrate on acquiring, digitising and making available content on various delivery platforms. “Apart from our library products, we are keenly looking at providing our services to all the content owners who want to distribute their content in these platforms. The company will also be exploring the interactivity segment to tap the potential this space offers to the maximum,” Saxena adds.

    To enrich its platforms, DMCL will be creating special interest content, apart from making use of the Zee Network library on a selective basis. DMCL has already initiated talks with various Indian as well as international companies to acquire programming formats and various genres of content.

    According to Saxena, the company is thinking beyond mobisodes and other existing mobile value added services (VAS). He says the plan is to launch multiple formats of shows, targeting various segments of the consumer.

    “We have thought about the viability of the services from a consumer point of view and the practicalities of making it a popular medium. Hence, we will offer various price rates depending on the duration and uniqueness of the formats. For example, we are working on multiple formats for movies, not just abridged versions. To market these multiple segments, we have classified the services into premium and mass oriented,” Saxena offers.

    DMCL expects to contribute to the mobile VAS in a significant manner with the initiatives. “The existing mobile VAS market size comes about $500 million and this space is expected to reach $10 billion by 2010. DMCL expects to be a major contributor to the expansion,” says Saxena.

    DMCL has recently roped in Intel and IBM for its back-end technology support. The company has already brought most of the telecom operators on board for the initiative.

  • Nick scores hat trick with new shows on board













    MUMBAI: Kids TV channel Nick has launched three new shows in different time bands. Two of the shows rolled out this month specifically cater to pre-schoolers.


    The new shows which include Fetch the Vet, Kiri the Clown and Ninja Hattori promises to give kids a wide variety of humour, music and learning from the best in the world.


    Fetch the Vet is a pre-school show about Tom Fetch, a veterinarian who runs a clinic in a small country town. Tom is the first person the townsfolk go to for any pet-related problem and he‘s happy to give them his attention and affection. This show will be telecast at 1pm from Monday to Saturday.


    Kiri the Clown is a colourful animation show based on the book series. Kiri travels from town to town with Pip‘lett the Parrot, Rabitus the Cat and Laura the Ballerina who perform in a little circus and are best pals. The gags, magic, songs, dances and slap stick humour in the show have been designed for pre-schoolers. It will be telecast at 10.30am from Monday to Saturday.



    The third show Ninja Hattori is a story about Ken, an ordinary boy who befriends a little ninja called Hattori who‘s anything but normal! He has the powers of a supreme ninja so that he can speed like a rocket, sleep on the ceiling and know martial arts at the back of his fast hand! This show will be telecast at 6.30pm from Monday to Friday.


    The bevy of new shows the channel has been launching since the beginning of the year – ten in all – seems to have borne fruit with the channel showing an over 500 per cent rise in TVR and doubling its reach over the same period last year. The new shows are expected to take the channel even higher, states an official release.


    Nick launched in India in 1999 as a multi-genre kids‘ TV channel and today claims to be viewed in over 23 million households in the country. Its content for 2-14 year olds includes animated series, live-action shows, comedy, popular game shows (including the locally produced Dum Duma Dum and Gili Gili Gappa), hosted shows and live-action-cum-animation series, J Bole Toh Jadoo

  • CNN-IBN reaffirms the numnero uno slot

    New Delhi, September 4, 2006: CNN-IBN, has reinforced and consolidated on its No. 1 position in the English news genre. The latest TAM report indicates that CNN-IBN has achieved a leadership position across the day in all markets, taking a lead ahead of its competitors. As per the latest TAM report (Week 34, August 20 – August 26, 2006) available, CNN-IBN leads with a market share of 37% (TG Male 25+ All India).

     

    Source – TAM, Target Audience – Male 25+
    MARKETS: All Markets
    Week 34, August 20 – August 26, 2006

    Day part Channel Channel share
    0700 – 2400 CNN-IBN 37%
    NDTV 24×7 33%

     

     

     

     

    Highlighting the success Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-chief, CNN-IBN said “It is a moment of pride and delight for all of us and it just accentuates the faith that the viewers have in our content. We consider this success as an encouragement to take the process of newsgathering a step higher. It’s the commitment to good journalism that will always count, and that’s where we always try to measure ourselves against,”

     

    About CNN-IBN

     

    TV18 and Time Warner have joined hands to bring CNN-IBN, India’s first and very own world-class English news channel, headed by one of the most credible faces of news journalism, Rajdeep Sardesai. CNN-IBN brings news as well as feature programs. With editorial and network resources across every nook and corner of India and the globe, CNN-IBN is committed to bring to the discerning Indian viewer only the best of television journalism.

    For further information please contact:
    Parul Bhasin/ Namrata Bhalla PR Pundit, New Delhi
    Tel: 93502 65351 / 9873313613