ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Discovery US to pay tribute to late host Steve Irwin

    Discovery US to pay tribute to late host Steve Irwin

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster Discovery will pay tribute to the late host Steve Irwin. Irwin the channel acknowledges was instrumental in building Animal Planet into a global brand.

    Irwin hosted Crocodile Hunter on Animal Planet. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com Irwin died a few days ago in Australia while filming a segment for a TV show on the Great Barrier Reef. He died from a stingray barb.

    Animal Planet in the US is airing special tribute programming. This will highlight Irwin’s background, including his early days as the Croc Hunter, and his passion for wildlife and his family. On 10 September, Animal Planet US plans to air an all-day marathon tribute featuring the Best of the Croc Hunter. Animal Planet International in markets around the world will provide the same programming.

    To honour Irwin Discovery will rename the garden space in front of its world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Steve Irwin Memorial Garden.

    Discovery founder and chairman, John Hendricks said, “Steve was a larger than life force. He brought joy and learning about the natural world to millions and millions of people across the globe. He was a true friend to all of us at Discovery Communications. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin as well as to the incredible staff and many friends Steve leaves behind.”

    Discovery CEO and president Judith McHale said, “I don’t think we will ever get over the loss of Steve Irwin, a human being of enormous feeling and irrepressible enthusiasm and dedication to everything he touched.”

    Discovery International president Dawn McCall, said, “Rarely has the world embraced an animal enthusiast and conservationist as they did Steve Irwin. Steve’s passion for animals and leadership in conservation awareness leaves a powerful and lasting legacy across the globe.”

  • Optimystix to outsource formats at Mipcom this year

    Optimystix to outsource formats at Mipcom this year

    MUMBAI: Format specialist Optimystix plans to go a step further this year by selling its indigenously developed format to production houses in France and US.

    The production boutique hopes the deal will be finalised at Mipcom this year.

    Format shows are currently in vogue in the Indian television market, with every broadcaster having one or more reality format shows running.

    Optimystix co-founder Sanjiv Sharma says, “We were the first production house in India to buy international formats and market them to Indian broadcasters. But this year at Mipcom, we will not only buy formats but also outsource indigenously developed formats to production houses in France and USA.”

    “There are six ideas that our creative team is working on and by March end next year, we will have eight international properties in our kitty,” adds Sharma.
    Optimystix was the first production company in India to tie up with two international format owners to exclusively market their formats in India. Both tie-ups were announced at Mipcom in October 2005.

    One was Zodiak Television, which is a leading international TV-format distributor based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Kam Ya Zyaada, which launched on Zee Television on 12 December 2005, was based on a format owned by Zodiak TV, and adapted for India by Optimystix.

    Optimystix will once again be adapting a “Zodiak Format” (Stars on the Stage), which will be launched on Star early next year. “In this show, a trained singer would train a celebrity. For instance, Sunidhi Chauhan will train Ronit Roy and both of them will perform together. The pair will be judged according to its format. Besides this particular format, two other formats will be locked quickly,” informs Sharma.

    The other format owner was Sparks network. But as Sanjiv puts forward. “With Sparks’s network, it was not a tie-up. Rather it was getting on board with 12 independent producers from Europe and one from South America. Optimystix, was the only Asian company in its network.”

    Some of the formats Optimystix has adapted for the Indian market include Khul Ja Sim Sim (Let’s make a deal) on Star Plus, Kismey Kitnaa Hai Dam (Night fever) on Star Plus, Indian Idol (Pop Idol) on Sony, Dum Dum Dum on Nick and Bum Bum Bum Gir Pade Hum on Pogo.

  • BBC launches online Hindi magazine, Dev Anand is the guest editor

    BBC launches online Hindi magazine, Dev Anand is the guest editor

    MUMBAI: BBC World’s hindi website, bbchindi.com has launched its first internet magazine, BBC Patrika, with actor and film maker Dev Anand as their special guest editor. Incorporating all the regular features that used to be part of the website’s Entertainment index, BBC Patrika will also carry a range of original material, including stories, poetry and interviews.

    Editor of bbchindi.com Salma Zaidi explains, “We want to attract new users to our online site, and with BBC Patrika, we can widen scope to include features and thought-provoking articles which, we hope, will engage users looking for something more than just Bollywood and fashion.”

    “bbchindi.com will invite well-known names to write for BBC Patrika, and to ensure it constantly feels fresh and lively, we will have a new guest editor every three months,” adds Zaidi.

    Commenting on Dev Anand addition to magazine as the special guest editor, Salma Zaidi says,”Dev Anand is a perfect example. He is an acclaimed living legend with decades of expertise entertaining and informing the public. He also has a keen eye for the issues concerning Hindi-speakers across the world.”

    Taking on his new role, a elated Dev Anand says, “My association with the BBC goes a long way. I was first interviewed by the BBC in the fifties. When bbchindi.com approached me to be a guest editor for BBC Patrika, I was pleasantly surprised.”

    “I have played innumerable roles in my lifetime, but never that of an Editor. There is something that is common between BBC and myself. I have never copied anyone and in that regard I am ‘exclusive’. And so is the BBC. Apart from this, I have always accepted challenges and I feel BBC Hindi Online has also been doing this all the time,” added Anand.

    BBC Hindi programmes are produced from studios in London and New Delhi and are set in a rolling format, with news, current affairs and features.

    The interactive morning and evening programmes, Aaj Ke Din and Aaj Kal bring the BBC Hindi listeners news, analysis and interviews on a range of issues, from current affairs and careers to showbiz and sports.

    BBC Hindi is available on short-wave and medium-wave radio transmitters and via cable television. Hindi-speakers across the world can access BBC Hindi programmes in text and in audio at the 24/7 site bbchindi.com

  • Delhi Police cracks down on Zee TV outdoor campaign

    Delhi Police cracks down on Zee TV outdoor campaign

    MUMBAI: Delhi Police has asked Zee TV to remove promotional hoardings of its upcoming soap Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan saying the copy used was demeaning to women.

    Reportedly, the police has written a letter to the channel, drawing its attention to the advertisement which carries punchlines such as “Bete ek fayda, betiyan ek ghata”, “Beta apna dhan, betiyan paraya dhan”.

    “The advertisement smacks of gender bias and is demeaning to women. We have asked them to remove the hoardings put up at several places in the capital immediately,” a PTI report quotes Delhi Police.

    The soap was earlier in the news with Zee accusing Star of not only lifting the title of the show, but also the format for an upcoming Star One soap. Star in its turn countered the charges claiming early registration of the theme and the title in various copyright bodies.

    Zee TV has scheduled the launch of the soap for 25 September. Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan is produced by Dheeraj Kumar’s Creative Eye.

  • Nat Geo builds an online Wall against Terror

    Nat Geo builds an online Wall against Terror

    MUMBAI: In an effort to get Indian viewers more involved with its programming on terrorism the National Geographic Channel (NGC) has creating a unique microsite to increase interactivity with the viewers, encourage them to come forward with their views and get in depth information on the series Nat Geo Investigates: Terrorism. The series is airing till 22 September 2006 at 10 pm.

    The micro-site is called Wall against Terror. It includes a special forum called ‘India’s Voice’. This is a blog where viewers can share their ideas and thoughts about the issue of terrorism.

    The microsite also includes sections like ‘What’s Your Slogan?’, ‘Do Your Bit’ and ‘Send A Postcard’. ‘What’s Your Slogan’ invite’s viewers to post their slogan against terror, while ‘Do Your Bit’ looks at giving tips to citizens on how to deal with terrorism in day-to-day life. Through ‘Send A Postcard’, one can inform his or her friends about the series and the campaign against terrorism.

    Besides the above, the Nat Geo Investigates micro-site provides in depth information on the series and interesting factoids on some of the deadliest terror attacks in recent times.

    NGC India VP -marketing, Rajesh Sheshadri, said, “With a strong message like ‘India, Fight Back’, we are promoting this series not only on-air but also through radio, internet and various innovative on-ground activities. This series is a landmark event not only for us, but all our viewers and partners as it touches a topic which is pertinent to all. With only few days into the activity, we are getting tremendous response to the series and to our blog India’s Voice. It shows that people are now ready to be involved in the fight against terrorism, by being more alert and aware”.

    The micro-site, ‘Wall Against Terror’ can be accessed through the National Geographic Channel’s website www.nationalgeographic.co.in or directly www.designmechanics.in/natgeo/

  • Eros International in 2-year output deal with K Sera Sera

    Eros International in 2-year output deal with K Sera Sera

    MUMBAI: London-headquartered media and entertainment group Eros International that owns and distributes Bollywood content globally has announced a long-term output deal with the Mumbai-based production house K Sera Sera to co-produce and exclusively handle global distribution of its forthcoming films.

    Indiantelevision.com was the first to report that K Sera Sera and Eros were in negotiations for an output deal.

    “We have signed an MoU for a broadbased two-year output deal. We are working out the details,” says K Sera Sera managing director Parag Sanghvi. The deal is “for assignment of some of its rights for some of its forthcoming film projects.” Definitive agreement for assignment of the rights shall be entered between the parties at a later date.

    The deal gives Eros access to K Sera Sera’s entire output over a long term period, which is guaranteed to be at least 10 films. Projects in the pipeline include Nanhe starring Bobby Deol, Dombivili Fast directed by Abbas Mastan, and three Salman Khan films, including Partner directed by David Dhawan, informs an official release.

    With this deal, Eros expects to increase its presence in India through co-productions and the acquisition of distribution rights to include music publishing and more significantly, Indian cinema distribution, which accounts for over 50 per cent of the revenues of the Indian film industry.

    Says Eros chairman & CEO Kishore Lulla, “This deal demonstrates our content consolidation strategy as outlined at the time of our flotation. We are confident that collaborating with a successful production house like K Sera Sera will help accelerate our growth from co-productions and ensure a steady flow of content through our pipeline.”

    Adds Sanghvi, “We are delighted to be associated with Eros who have been pioneers in the Bollywood distribution and entertainment space for over three decades. This output deal allows us to focus on our core competency of film production.”

    Eros’s latest Bollywood venture has been Omkara, a Bollywood adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. As per the official release, the movie grossed box office revenues of $6.7 million in its first week of worldwide release in August 2006.

  • Calls for firmer IP laws featured in IPO seminar

    Calls for firmer IP laws featured in IPO seminar

    MUMBAI:In a bid to broaden the effectiveness of government when dealing with intellectual property rights (IPR) cases involving the Philippines cable and satellite TV industry, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa), with support from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Philippine Cable TV Association (PCTA), recently staged a high level legal training seminar in Makati City.

    The seminar, specifically designed to support IPO and NTC officers, brought together pay-TV industry experts, including cable operators, content creators and program distributors, along with IPR experts from law firm Quisumbing Torres, states an official release.

    Participants from both the government and the private sector highlighted the importance of building strong IPR protection to spur industry growth and boost its contribution to national progress.

    “This is the first of a series of seminars that IP Philippines will undertake in partnership with the NTC and the pay-TV industry through Casbaa and the PCTA. The objective is to advance our common goal of curbing IP violations,” said IP Philippines deputy director General Pacifico Avenido.

    The training session came on the heels of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the IPO and the NTC, which transfers the investigation and resolution of pay-TV industry IP cases to the IPO.

    “As soon as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the MoA are approved, the cases pending at the NTC will be transferred to the IPO”, said Avenido.

    “Thus, there’s an urgent need for our Bureau of Legal Affairs hearing lawyers to be trained comprehensively on pay-TV industry IP issues and the technical processes in broadcasting relevant to understanding the issues.”

    Meanwhile, John Medeiros, the Casbaa VP for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, expressed industry appreciation for the government’s efforts to address the worsening problem of pay-TV piracy.

    “We thank the IPO and the NTC for co-sponsoring this seminar, a truly positive step that demonstrates the value of cooperation between the government and the pay-TV industry,” said Mr Medeiros.

    PCTA president Allan Dungao echoed Casbaa’s call for the government of the Philippines to fortify the industry’s anti-piracy cause.

    “Industry estimates place pay-TV signal theft losses at billions of pesos. With the support of the NTC, the IPO, the different legislative bodies and local government units, laws and ordinances have been passed rendering signal theft a crime punishable with imprisonment. More intervention through further government legislation is required, particularly in addressing program piracy in the Philippines,” said Mr Dungao.

    Star TV Philippines VP, Liza Latinazo, with Tim Bautista, the COO of pay-TV channel distributor Cable Boss, joined Mr. Dungao on a panel of industry speakers during the training.

    As a follow-up, the IPO, NTC, Casbaa and the PCTA are planning a follow-up IP law seminar open to industry and public sector groups in October as part of the IPO’s IP Protect educational lecture series, adds the release.

  • Zee Sports-MSO tussle to deny cricket to Mumbaikars

    Zee Sports-MSO tussle to deny cricket to Mumbaikars

    MUMBAI: Looks like cricket fans in Mumbai will be unable to watch the India-Australia match on Saturday with Zee Sports and the major Mumbai multi-system operators (MSOs) continuing to take a hard stance.

    Even Incablenet’s plea filed in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) for restoration of signals was rejected today.

    “Since Incablenet was unwilling to sign the subscription agreement, TDSAT rejected the operator’s plea for interim relief. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for 19 September by which time if an agreement has not been reached between the two parties, then the court will take a decision,” Zee Turner said in a release.

    Incablenet’s argument was that Zee Sports had not served a 21-day notice before blacking out the signals, as required by a regulation prescribed by the Telecom regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The MSO also wanted restoration of the signals as the disconnection was patently illegal.

    “Zee Turner also offered a bulk discount to Incablenet but this was also rejected by the MSO,” the company said.

    The TDSAT has asked Zee Turner to file its reply on Monday following which the next hearing of the case would be on Tuesday.

    “We cannot allow our signals on any of the networks that have not signed the subscription agreement with us, especially since a majority of the country has already signed and is watching the tri-series. Zee Sports has been a pay channel since June 2005 and we have spent a substantial amount of money in acquiring the rights of the DLF Cup tri-series. We have the right to demand subscription fees,” says Zee Turner CEO Arun Poddar.

    “The operators that have already signed the agreement will continue to get the signals for Zee Sports,” Poddar adds. The sports channel, for instance, is on Seven Star, which operates in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

    Zee Sports was made available to viewers in Mumbai for the India-West Indies cricket match yesterday but was once again blacked out from the major cable networks in the evening.

    Sources say the cable operators were willing to sign up for a 10 per cent declaration of Zee Turner’s first bouquet. But this was not acceptable to Zee Turner, the company which distributes a bouquet of channels including Zee Sports.

    Zee Sports has the exclusive telecast rights for the DLF Cup between India, Australia and West Indies. The tri-series will last till 24 September.

  • BBC expands ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show

    BBC expands ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ show

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC will expand its dance based reality show Strictly Come Dancing. The new season of the show kicks off on BBC One next month. Two extra weeks have been added to the show along with two more celebrities than last year. 14 stars will be paired with internationally renowned professional dancers in what is termed as the hottest competition of 2006. In India Sony airs a local version of the show.

    The participants will include former Spice Girl Emma Bunton who is now a solo singer, actress Georgina Bouzova and cricketer Mark Ramprakash. Bunton will be dancing with Darren Bennett.

    Bruce Forsyth and his co-host Tess Daly will once again return to present the show. Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli also return to judge the competitors’ performances.

    Forsyth said, “The whole nation seems to have taken Strictly Come Dancing to its heart in a way that we could never have believed it would happen. I can’t wait to get back on screen with this wonderful show. Here’s to a great fourth series!”

    “With a line-up like this, the new series is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Where else could you see a Spice Girl dancing alongside Jimmy Tarbuck?” adds Daly.

    In a change to last year’s format, week one will witness boys dancing to stay in the competition whilst the girls entertain with a group Mambo. In the second week, the female celebrities will fight to stay in the competition, whilst the men kick back with a group West Coast Swing. From week three all couples will compete against each other performing either jive or tango.

    The couples will be judged on the basis of public as well as studio voting, with the lowest-scoring couple leaving the competition.

    As in previous series, all the proceeds from viewer voting will go towards BBC Children in Need which last year raised over £1.5 million.

    Also returning is the daily sister show Strictly Come Dancing – It Takes Two with Claudia Winkleman on BBC Two. It features footage from rehearsals and training as well as interviews with the judges and the contestants. All the latest news and gossips on the training and the show can be found on the website, bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing.