ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Dic Entertainment & Thomopoulos Productions form JV

    Dic Entertainment & Thomopoulos Productions form JV

    MUMBAI: DIC Entertainment and Thomopoulos Productions have joined forces to launch Promise Media Productions, a new venture focused on developing, marketing and distributing properties for children and families under the positive value-based Promise Media brand for both the faith-based and secular markets.

    The announcement was made by Thomopoulos Productions president Tony Thomopoulos and DIC Entertainment chairman and CEO Andy Heyward.

    Promise Media Productions will develop original live-action and animated Promise Media-branded content, as well as acquire properties with strong brand recognition for distribution across film, television, home entertainment, new media and consumer products platforms. In addition to developing comprehensive licensing and merchandising campaigns, it will build an online community to reach an audience interested in positive value entertainment that will serve as an information and entertainment destination.

    The Promise Media-branded content will incorporate virtues such as faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance to create product that ranges from an animated version of Black Beauty to a classic remake of Ben Hur and an original live-action theatrical production Angel Flight For Life. The programming will avoid all gratuitous sex and violence and will offer parents a safe environment to entertain and inform their children.

    “The multi-billion dollar market for positive values entertainment continues to rapidly grow, and Andy and I recognised a tremendous opportunity in this underserved marketplace to create and deliver high-quality product that resonates with faith-based values. DIC has built a solid reputation in the brand management of family and children’s properties, and I look forward to working with Andy and his team to develop unique entertaining and inspirational family fare,” said Thomopoulous.

    “We know there is a vast demand for content that showcases positive values and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, and we plan to apply our entertainment and consumer products’ expertise to promote positive values for kids. Tony is a respected industry veteran whose patina of quality and stature of his career is unparalleled, and we plan to set the gold standard in this market with the Promise Media label,” added Heyward.

    Promise Media Productions is currently forming an Advisory Board which will comprise leading media experts and educators who can develop program guidelines that ensure positive values are incorporated into the content. The board will include clinical psychologist, author and leadership consultant, Dr. Henry Cloud.

    Promise Media Productions is currently in development on a slate of animated and live-action projects for theatrical, home entertainment and television. By returning to the literary roots of Lew Wallace’s original novel, Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ is an animated film that revitalises the classic story of one man’s journey from loss and betrayal to forgiveness and salvation.

    Angel, Flight for Life is a feature film based on a true story of how a loving father, restricted by his financial limitations and reeling from a devastating loss, must rely on the generosity and ingenuity of his small town community to provide the miracle that will save his gravely ill daughter and renew his faith.

    The live-action children’s DVD series, Zakland, produced in association with Jay Silverman Productions, showcases the multi-talented Zak Norman, an award winning musical performer and writer. Zakland entertains, inspires and encourages young viewers to explore the world through the magic of their imaginations.

    Based on the illustrated children’s book, Sophie and Sam, by Tori Cloud and rooted in the principles of the bestselling book, Boundaries, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, The Animated Adventures of Sophie and Sam delivers fun, often comical, lessons on how to set and keep boundaries.

    The Jammies of Harmonyville, a television series produced in association with Believe Entertainment, is an innovative series that utilizes original music and CGI animation to teach valuable life lessons while introducing young audiences to a wide range of musical style.

    The animated comedy adventure, Noah’s Hope, stars Noah, a hip, nineteen-year-old scientist, and his animal friends, who are concerned about environmental issues such as global warming, deforestation, pollution, etc.

    Black Beauty, an animated version of Anna Sewell’s classic novel, encompasses its universal and timeless message that all animals deserve to be treated with consideration and respect.

  • NDTV revenue up Rs 640 million for Q1 ended 30 June

    NDTV revenue up Rs 640 million for Q1 ended 30 June

    MUMBAI: News Delhi Television (NDTV)’s revenue rose 54 per cent to Rs 640 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2006, up from Rs 415 million a year ago.

    The company’s net profit (PAT) and before employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) has increased to Rs 27 million as against Rs 2.3 million in the same quarter of the previous year. The operating profit for the quarter stood at Rs 81.7 million, up 92 per cent from Rs 42.6 million.

    “The network’s market leadership is well reflected in the first quarter’s robust topline growth. The company has added 75 first time advertisers and 175 new brands this quarter, taking the total brand and advertising universe to 2261,” the company said in a release.

    During this quarter, the company has launched Astro Awani, a 24 hour news channel in Indonesia, in partnership with Astro, a leading South East Asia media group. It is the first channel launched by NDTV generating news that is not India-related and is specifically for viewers of that country. NDTV plans to launch a similar channel with Astro in Malaysia by this year end.

    “Our news network’s leadership in an environment of increasing competition reflects the strength and credibility of the NDTV brand and the trust our viewers place in us. Going forward, we remain focused on becoming a composite media house and will continue to pioneer new areas of media work,” NDTV Ltd chairman Dr Prannoy Roy said.

  • BBC DG Thompson & Apple’s Jobs top UK’s media power list

    BBC DG Thompson & Apple’s Jobs top UK’s media power list

    MUMBAI: BBC DG Mark Thompson has topped the Guardian’s list of the most powerful figures in the UK media once again.

    Three people in the top 10 come from technology companies, including Apple head Steve Jobs who is at number two. Jobs rises four places in this year’s list, keeping News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch in the third spot for the second year in a row.

    The Guardian notes that Thompson has recently been in the news for his £619,000 salary and also for his radical restructuring of the corporation. This year’s list was dominated by the digital media revolution. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are in fourth place.

    As far as Google is concerned Guardian notes, “So ubiquitous has Google become that it is hard to imagine what we ever did without it. The ultimate convenience research tool, its founders Brin and Page are in the midst of transforming it from a search engine into a technology giant.”

    Rising from 19 to five on the list is Channel 4’s CEO Andy Duncan, who the paper notes, “ has overseen an unprecedented year of growth and ambition”.

    Jonathan Ross who hosts film shows for the BBC is at number 19.

  • Satyam Computer Services joins hands with a UK consultancy to focus in M&E space

    Satyam Computer Services joins hands with a UK consultancy to focus in M&E space

    MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based Satyam Computer Services Ltd. has recruited The Publishing Practice, Ltd. (TPP), a specialist UK consultancy in the media and entertainment industry, to spearhead the development of a new Consulting Group for its global Media and Entertainment practice. 

    The move will enable Satyam to combine an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the publishing business with the technical breadth and scale of Satyam’s billion-dollar global services organization. 

    According to an official release, TPP’s experienced consultancy group — including Mike Abell, Sharon Duckworth and Stephen Ryden-Lloyd — will join Satyam’s global Media and Entertainment practice to provide strategic consulting services and project-based delivery work for the publishing, online, broadcast, music and related industries. 

    The new group’s consultancy services will complement Satyam’s existing application delivery-based services to include new digital and online consulting — ranging across content acquisition, publishing, production and supply chain.
    Satyam and TPP have already established a track record working with customers on joint projects, since they formed an alliance in 2005. TPP’s customers include Blackwell, Elsevier, Financial Times, Harcourt Education, LexisNexis, London Business School, Reed Business Information and Sweet & Maxwell. 

    Satyam’s global media and entertainment practice senior VP Kevin English says, “We believe that the in-depth industry
    knowledge that Satyam acquire with the new addition of this senior consulting team will provide a real competitive advantage for us in our media and entertainment business — both here in Europe and in the US. The initial reaction from our customers has been most encouraging.”

    The Publishing Practice co-founder and director of Mike Abell adds, “In an environment in which media companies are challenged to deliver more through ever more diverse and complex channels of communication, the new Satyam Media and Entertainment group will be able to provide a very cost-effective solution in end-to-end programmes of work, from consulting, through delivery to an extensive support and maintenance capability.”

  • Tata-Sky approaches TDSAT against Zee over bouquet pricing

    Tata-Sky approaches TDSAT against Zee over bouquet pricing

    MUMBAI:There seems to be no end to the thrust and parry going on over the DTH airwaves. Close on the heels of Dish TV wresting a favourable decision against Star India, Tata Sky has moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement And Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) — against what it terms as Zee’s exhorbitatnt terms for providing its network channels to its still-in-the-pipeline DTH service.

    The petition by Tata Sky before the appellate tribunal makes Zee Turner Ltd, Zee Telefilms Ltd,Turner International India and Dish’s managing company ASC Enterprises LTD as party to the case.

    The Tata Sky petition alleges that the Zee Group has denied supply of Zee Turner bouquet of channels to the former’s yet-to-be-launched DTH service under reasonable terms.

    The petitioner has sought “to obtain appropriate direction for the signals of the channels,” alleging that respondent Zee Turner has quoted unreasonable terms for supply of its signals to Tata Sky.

    Contacted by Indiantelevision.com, a senior executive at Dish TV today refrained from commenting on the issue, saying, “We have yet not received any direction from TDSAT.”

    The disputes tribunal has given the respondents three days from the day they receive an official intimation to file its replies.The next date of hearing is 25 July 2006.

    As per regulatory norms, all content should be made available to all delivery platforms on a non-discriminatory basis.

    Last week, the tribunal had delivered a verdict laying down benchmark rate for channel prices for DTH platforms, while directing Star to make available its channels to Dish TV.

    Main respondent Zee Turner is a 74:26 distribution joint venture between Zee Telefilms and Time Warner company Turner International India.

    The cable pricing of the two Zee-Turner bouquets is Rs 83.65 plus service tax. Zee-Turner’s bouquet one comprises Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Movies, Zee English, CNN, Cartoon Network, CNBC, Trendz, Reality TV, Zee Marathi, Zee Punjabi, Zee Bangla and Zee Gujarati and is priced at Rs 58.85 per subscriber/per month. The second bouquet carries HBO, Vh1, Pogo, Zee Business and Awaaz, which is available at Rs 25 per subscriber/per month.

    Tata Sky’s complaint before TDSAT is that Zee is seeking the same pricing terms for supplying its channels to its DTH service as is its cable rates.

    In what manner TDSAT responds to the Tata Sky complaint will be watched with close interest. After all, in its earlier order in favour of Dish TV, TDSAT, while directing the sector regulator to set a benchmark for channel prices for DTH services, said that Star channels should be made available to Dish TV at half the price at which they are available to cable operators.

    The tribunal’s reasoning in the earlier case was that DTH is an addressable system where loss of revenue down the value chain is negligible, if not zero.

  • Sahara One’s music channel named Hit; Ganapathy is ntwk distribution head

    Sahara One’s music channel named Hit; Ganapathy is ntwk distribution head

    MUMBAI: Sahara One Media & Entertainment Limited’s new music channel has been christened Hit. The company has also appointed Sameer Ganapathy as head of distribution for the Sahara One Television Network, which includes Sahara One, Filmy and also the proposed music channel – Hit.

    Ganapathy, who will report to Sahara One CEO Shantonu Aditya, steps into Rakesh Lamba’s shoes, who had quit the company late last year. He comes on board from SET Discovery where he was assistant vice president distribution for the western region. Prior to that he was with Discovery for four years as regional manager distribution (west).

    Aditya said, “I am delighted to welcome Sameer to our company. Sameer has over 10 years of experience in distribution and has an excellent track record. With his joining the company, Sahara One will now focus on distribution in a major way and am sure the results will be seen soon.”

    Ganapathy added, “I am very happy to join Sahara One and take on this responsibility. Sahara One is run professionally and has a great team. I look forward to taking up this challenge and working in an excellent environment.”

  • Mainland China exports of CCTV DVRs to reach US$139 million in 2006

    Mainland China exports of CCTV DVRs to reach US$139 million in 2006

    MUMBAI: Mainland China exports of CCTV (closed-circuit TV) digital video recorders are expected to reach US$139 million in 2006, up 70 per cent from last year.

    A new report released, “China Sourcing Report CCTV Digital Video Recorders,” indicates that buyers sourcing CCTV digital video recorders from Greater China and South Korea can expect increased supply and lower price quotes in the coming months. These findings are based on in-depth manufacturer interviews, factory visits and surveys, states an official release.

    Report publisher Mark Saunderson says, “The worldwide security boom has makers expanding production capacity and predicting big export increases this year – some larger makers are even setting up overseas offices to sell own-brand products.”

    Among surveyed manufacturers:

    – 29 per cent say exports will increase by more than 100 per cent;
    – 17 per cent expect increases of between 50 and 100 per cent;
    – 52 per cent foresee increases of up to 50 per cent and;
    – 2 per cent expect a decrease in exports.

    Manufacturers forecast huge capacity growth, price declines for CCTV DVRs.
    Buyers can expect greater supply, with 100 per cent of surveyed Greater China and South Korea manufacturers of CCTV digital video recorders planning to increase production capacity:

    – 40 per cent of suppliers plan to increase capacity by 100 per cent or more;
    – 7 per cent plan increases of between 50 and 100 per cent and;
    – 53 per cent plan to increase capacity by up to 50 per cent.

    Manufacturers cited fierce competition as a key factor in their expectations of lower prices in the coming year. More than half of surveyed makers project declines:

    – 62 per cent say prices will likely decline in the next 12 months;
    – 25 per cent foresee stable prices and;
    – 13 per cent expect price increases.

    The 122-page “China Sourcing Report CCTV Digital Video Recorders” report includes detailed profiles of 47 Greater China and South Korea manufacturers and features a product gallery with 126 top-selling export models. It also includes production and pricing forecasts as well as in-depth reports on major supply centers, adds the release.

  • Star to decide on uplinking plan by next weekend

    Star to decide on uplinking plan by next weekend

    The recent decision taken by the government to allow broadcasters to uplink directly from India seems to have caught the fancy of almost all the television channels and most of them might be thinking about uplinking form India.

    Not to be left behind, officials at Star will be meeting through next week to decide about uplinking from India. According to a Star spokesperson, if the policy is there, they would definitely take a look at it. He also said that they might take some decision regarding this issue by next weekend.

    Asked whether Star’s content partner for Star News, NDTV, would be applying for an uplinking license, because it might be left behind in terms of live coverage of news by rival news channel Zee News, the spokesperson said that NDTV is using VSNL’s uplinking facilities and the time difference between uplinking directly form India and from Hong Kong is hardly be 2 to 3 minutes.

    It can be mentioned that Star has its own uplinking hub in Clearwater Bay – Hong Kong form where it uplinks all its channels. This gives the group economies of scale as it uplinks its entire bouquet from there.

  • Red FM’s Valentine’s special ‘Date with Dino’

    Red FM’s Valentine’s special ‘Date with Dino’

    Valentine’s round the corner and as part of the celebrations RED FM, India’s most popular FM station, is bringing to its listeners a Valentines’ Week Bajaate Raho style.

    Red FM gives Mumbai girls 2 fun options for Valentine’s Day :

    “Date with Dino” As part of a weeklong programming initiative, RED FM will give-away – ‘a date with one of the sexiest men in Mumbai – Delicious Dino Morea’.

    This Valentines don’t stick at home watching those old romantic films on television or try to jostle for space in overcrowded malls. Just tune into Red FM 93.5 from 7th February 2006 and write a four-line poem proposing to the delicious Dino Morea. If he likes a poem, the girl gets a Valentine’s Day Date with Dino. And even if you don’t make it to the lucky three, your poem still gets aired on Red FM 93.5 and who knows, someone else might just ask you for that magic date.

    THE RED FM LOVE TEST
    How loyal is your love? This will be the Red Fm’s Love Test.
    Red FM 93.5 will run promos inviting listeners to take part in this test – all they have to do is nominate their Boyfriend or Husband. RED FM will call up their Boyfriend / Husband – LIVE ON AIR

    Watch out – Dangerous Mamla Hai ! RED FM will do this all day on the 14th of FEB – ONE BOUQUET PER HOUR.

    Says, Abe Thomas, COO – RED FM, ” These are two very ‘bajaate Raho Ideas’ that Mumbai has come to expect from RED FM. RED FM, 93.5 is differentiating itself from the other stations on the basis of its “we play only hit music” promise and a youthful attitude that stimulates the people of the city on issues that concern them.”

  • Import duty on foreign content in effect in Sri Lanka; local broadcasters hit

    Import duty on foreign content in effect in Sri Lanka; local broadcasters hit

    MUMBAI: In a conscious move to boost the island nation’s slipping local entertainment industry, the Sri Lankan government has introduced strict finance regulations on foreign content.

    As per the regulations made by the president under section 8 of the Finance Act, No.11 of 2006, effective 16 July, all imports of Bollywood and Hollywood movies and television content are taxed in the country.

    As per the new regulation, for every 30 minutes or part there of tele-drama or film if dubbed in the Sri Lankan native language Sinhala or Tamil will bear an import duty of Rs 90,000. For every 30 minutes or part there of tele-drama or film not falling within the above category will have to pay Rs 75,000 in tax.

    The media tax also covers television commercials made abroad for local companies. This regulation mainly targets local firms, which have been outsourcing their promotional work to Indian advertising firms. Commercials are being charged Rs 1,000,000. This is for any number of telecasts, during the period of one year, commencing on the date of issue of the Certificate of Clearance.

    Programmes with Tamil language content are exempt from the tax as Sri Lanka produces very little Tamil programming. The tax would also not apply to documentaries, educational dramas, movies screened in theatres and children’s entertainment.

    News wire AFP has quoted market watchers as saying that, the local television stations air more than 1,500 movies, mainly English, Tamil and Hindu, each year. English content on local stations is limited to about four movies, four dramas, music programmes, adventure series, cartoons and a few sitcoms per week. Though native Hindi speakers are virtually non-existent in Sri Lanka, subtitled programmes made in Bollywood are hugely popular on local television and easily attract sponsors — unlike local productions which hardly draw any viewers.

    President Mahinda Rajapakse, who also handles the finance portfolio, has been quoted in media reports as saying that, the money would be used to develop the local film industry. According to industry sources indiantelevision.com spoke to, the government move would put a virtual ban on the import of foreign content.

    “The government wants to nurture the local entertainment industry. At present, foreign content enjoys a clear majority in local channels. For example, out of the 57 films aired on Sri Lankan TV each week, nearly 50 are foreign language ones. This is a matter of grave concern for the government as well as the local industry,” says a Tamil Nadu-based television producer, who put his plans to sell content to Sri Lankan TV on hold due to the new regulation.

    The local Sri Lankan television players agree that the business will take a hit due to the almost “impossible” taxes. They are not buying Rajapakse’s contention that the move would boost the local entertainment industry. “The only way the local industry can achieve growth is by learning from the foreign players. Before competing with the foreign players, it needs to get itself updated with the global standards of production and storytelling. Now, if the government thinks otherwise, it will only narrow down the opportunities of growth for the local broadcast industry,” states Maharaja Television (MTV) CEO Mohan Nair.

    From the Indian perspective, the new regulation will see the demand for Indian content hitting a low volume.

    The ruling has forced Zee TV, which was about to kick off a content syndication deal with a Sri Lankan TV broadcaster, to stall the process. “We were about to sell a television soap in Sri Lanka. However, now we are told by our client in Sri Lanka that there was a virtual ban in effect in the country, and the deal has been delayed,” says a Zee source close to the developments.

    However, Star India sounds least concerned by the developments. “We had completed our deals for certain television soaps such as Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kasauti Zindagi Kay two years back. It will take three more years for the Sri Lankan versions of these soaps to catch up with the present storyline. So, at present, this is not a matter of concern for us,” says Star India EVP Marketing & Communication Ajay Vidyasagar.

    MTV’s Nair argues that the local broadcasters have been making attempts to nurture local talent by devoting a certain portion of their content to locally produced shows. In the case of MTV, the broadcaster has two joint ventures in effect with the Chennai-headquartered Radaan Mediaworks and the Mumbai-based Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network Ltd (SABTNL). Vasudha, a Sinhalese soap produced by the MTV-Radaan venture Talent Factory, has been on air since the last one year. Talent Factory is now all set to launch a new soap Kaavya in August, according to Nair.

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com, SABTNL vice chairman Markand Adhikari said the company was not affected by the new regulation, since it was producing only local content. According to Adhikari, SABTNL’s JV with MTV, Broadcast Media, is presently telecasting five hours of locally produced content per week. “We are planning to take it up to seven hours,” Adhikari says.

    Nair meanwhile, is hopeful that the government will show the inclination to understand the real picture. “At present we are weighing options for our future course of action. We haven’t called off any foreign deals as yet. Both Indian and American media companies have taken up this issue and they are supporting us in this cause. We are hopeful that, the government would understand the situation and give us justice,” says Nair.