Category: TV Channels

Pix to launch ‘Inside the Actors Studio’ on 16 July

MUMBAI: Pix will be launching the Hollywood talk show Inside the Actors Studio (ITAS) on 16 July. The show will be aired every Sunday at 7 pm.

Pix has acquired 47 episodes of this series. Some of the guests interviewed include: Will Smith, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant, Charlize Ttheron, Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Al Pacino.
Inside the Actors Studio has been on air in the US for more than 11 years and is now broadcast in over 125 countries.

From its origin, Inside the Actors Studio has followed an interesting format in which the show is taped in front of an audience made up of students from the Actors Studio’s Master of Fine Arts program.

The interviewees share intimate and personal experiences that influenced their choice of career and what it is that continues to fascinate them about showbiz. The interview then concludes with a standardised questionnaire of 10 questions that requires candid answers, leading to hilarious and sometimes touching moments on the show.

The channel has also weaved an ITAS contest wherein viewers will have a chance to win Pix goodies. Contestants can SMS ‘JL’ to 2525 and win DVDs of Hollywood movies.

The show has won nominations for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Non-fiction Series, 11 Emmy award nominations, the Cable Ace Award as best talk show and The New York Festival Award for the world’s best talk/entertainment.

July 11, 2006
ABC Asia Pacific to launch as Australia Network on 7 August

MUMBAI: Starting 7 August, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Asia Pacific will be called the Australia Network, offering news, documentaries, drama and lifestyle programs. In its new avatar, the network will bring some new programmes but with same spirit and zeal across Asia.

In India, the channel will be distributed by Global Broadcast News (GBN). In a recent interview to Indiantelevision.com, GBN joint managing director Sameer Manchanda disclosed, “We have just signed up to be the Indian agent of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, an infotainment channel with large doses of news and travel shows.”

Featuring live coverage from around the region, it will be produced exclusively for Australia Network by the ABC TV news and current affairs division.

The channel will air a brand new current affairs programmes Focus on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 PM Evening bulletins will feature three times per night at 5 PM, 7 PM and 9 PM, with exclusive reports from the four new correspondents in the region reporting from Delhi, Beijing, South Pacific and Jakarta in addition to ABC correspondents from around the world.

Adelaide based actor Margot Politis will host Study English, which has been designed specifically to help students prepare for study overseas or improve their career prospects. Politis is also the host of the ABC Education programme Like It Is.

Business English will focus on helping people improve their career prospects by learning the worlds global language of business.

The dramas are uniquely Australian, created, written and produced in Australia. The Australia Networks will bring in a daily soap Home & Away. It will air at 5:30 PM

There will be a special one hour recap of all Home & Away every Sunday at 6 PM The network will showcase more Aussie drama such as hospital drama All Saints; the award winning police series Blue Heelers; Love My Way with Claudia Karvan; Travel favourite Getaway and many more.

The Network will be carrying coverage ranging from horse racing (The Melbourne Cup), to V8 Supercars to surfing and of course rugby International Rugby Union featuring the International Test Matches between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, France and Ireland as well as the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups, National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Rules Football (AFL).

July 11, 2006
Disney to broaden mobile distribution channel in Southern Europe via Buongiorno

MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has inked a mobile content agreement with Buongiorno, a company in the field of multimedia content for telephony and digital channels. This move supports Disney‘s strategy to make its highly creative and engaging content available to consumers in a wide variety of ways.

Under the terms of the deal, Buongiorno will make Disney mobile content such as screensavers, wallpapers, ringtones and games available to consumers across Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Content includes Mickey Mouse and Friends (e.g. Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck), Disney Classics (e.g. Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Finding Nemo and The Lion King.

“This agreement with Buongiorno gives consumers another means to access Disney‘s popular mobile content in southern Europe. Buongiorno‘s expertise and local market reach will help consumers find Disney mobile content anytime and anywhere, and we are pleased to add them to our network of distributors,” said WDIG Europe vice president of mobile Sunil Gunderia.

“We are delighted to be associated with a leading entertainment company like Disney to help bring their properties to market. Disney content will allow Buongiorno to offer several million customers in southern Europe a unique experience of entertainment on the move. We are looking forward to widening our collaboration to new markets, exploiting Buongiorno and its consumer brand Blinko‘s global network,” said Buongiorno Group head of global products Matteo Montan.

According to Informa, an international provider of specialist information and services, the fast-growing mobile entertainment market will be worth $42.8 billion by 2010, of which $11.2 billion will be generated from mobile games.

Disney content will become part of Buongiorno‘s portfolio of over 300,000 services and licensed contents, marketed to a potential target of more than one billion wired and wireless telephone users globally, through a multi-channel strategy that includes direct distribution through the brand Blinko as well as through partnerships with telecom companies and the most important media groups.

All of Disney‘s mobile content will be managed by Buongiorno through B!3A, its proprietary technology platform conceived to design, build, manage and provide high quality services to leading businesses and to mobile consumers globally. B!3A provides a full-blown set of components that allow performing all the main tasks to create a complete digital content marketplace embracing content acquisition, presentation, delivery, reporting, billing and CRM.

July 11, 2006
Disney to broaden mobile distribution channel in Southern Europe via Buongiorno

MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) has inked a mobile content agreement with Buongiorno, a company in the field of multimedia content for telephony and digital channels. This move supports Disney’s strategy to make its highly creative and engaging content available to consumers in a wide variety of ways.

Under the terms of the deal, Buongiorno will make Disney mobile content such as screensavers, wallpapers, ringtones and games available to consumers across Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Content includes Mickey Mouse and Friends (e.g. Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck), Disney Classics (e.g. Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Finding Nemo and The Lion King.

“This agreement with Buongiorno gives consumers another means to access Disney’s popular mobile content in southern Europe. Buongiorno’s expertise and local market reach will help consumers find Disney mobile content anytime and anywhere, and we are pleased to add them to our network of distributors,” said WDIG Europe vice president of mobile Sunil Gunderia.

“We are delighted to be associated with a leading entertainment company like Disney to help bring their properties to market. Disney content will allow Buongiorno to offer several million customers in southern Europe a unique experience of entertainment on the move. We are looking forward to widening our collaboration to new markets, exploiting Buongiorno and its consumer brand Blinko’s global network,” said Buongiorno Group head of global products Matteo Montan.

According to Informa, an international provider of specialist information and services, the fast-growing mobile entertainment market will be worth $42.8 billion by 2010, of which $11.2 billion will be generated from mobile games.

Disney content will become part of Buongiorno’s portfolio of over 300,000 services and licensed contents, marketed to a potential target of more than one billion wired and wireless telephone users globally, through a multi-channel strategy that includes direct distribution through the brand Blinko as well as through partnerships with telecom companies and the most important media groups.

All of Disney’s mobile content will be managed by Buongiorno through B!3A, its proprietary technology platform conceived to design, build, manage and provide high quality services to leading businesses and to mobile consumers globally. B!3A provides a full-blown set of components that allow performing all the main tasks to create a complete digital content marketplace embracing content acquisition, presentation, delivery, reporting, billing and CRM.

July 11, 2006
Disney’s ‘Pirates’ creates new box office records

MUMBAI: Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest opened on 7 July to a record $132 million in its first three days at the North American box-office, shattering the record previously held by Sony’s Spider-Man, which opened to $114.8 million.

The movie has set new benchmarks as it is the biggest opening weekend in Hollywood history and also the biggest opening day on Friday with collections of $55.5 million.

In India, the film will hit the big screens on 21 July.

It is also bigger than the four day opening weekend record holders – X-Men: The Last Stand, (grossed $122.9 million) and Spider-Man 2, (grossed $115.8 million in four days last summer).

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is also the first film in history to cross the $100 million mark in just two days and is Disney’s biggest opening, surpassing The Incredibles, which had garnered $70.5 million in three days.

The movie also led the way in the UK with a $25 million debut and grossed $9 million from South Korea and $8.2 million from Australia.

Buena Vista (the theatrical distribution arm of Walt Disney) attributes the success of Dead Man’s Chest to the mass appeal it had with male and female audiences of all ages.

Dead Man’s Chest reunites the cast and crew of the Curse of the Black Pearl including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, director Gore Verbinski, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl opened in 2003 to $46.6 million over the weekend and $70.6 million over five days, leading to a huge $305.4 million mark domestically (US and Canada) and $654 million worldwide.

July 11, 2006
Film & Television Producers Guild opposes proposed Broadcast Bill

MUMBAI: Media bodies are now waking up to condem on the draft of Broadcast Bill prepared by the information and broadcasting (I&B). After the Indian Broadcast Federation (IBF) has opposed the cross-media holding restrictions and the so-called Draconian clauses in the bill.

The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd has expressed its concerns about recent reports in the media that the government of India is planning to present a Broadcast Bill in the monsoon session of parliament.

In an according to an official release issued, the Guild feels that the proposals are retrograde in nature, restrictive and definitely regressive.

The Guild fears that if this bill is passed, anybody will have the right to complain to competent authorities and they will have the right to intervene. This will hamper the smooth functioning of media components and can lead to unnecessary government control of media.

The Bill also talks of imposing restriction on cross-media holding which is against the spirit of free enterprise. Also, extremely important problems of Copyright Theft and Piracy which together threaten to cripple the industry have not been addressed at all in the bill.

The Guild which represents all major stakeholders in the Filmed Content space would like to play a more active role in this and should definitely be consulted before any such Bill is finalized/passed, informs the release.

July 11, 2006
Distraction promotes Richardson to acquisition manager

MUMBAI: Distraction Formats acquisitions and sales coordinator Nina Richardson has been promoted to acquisitions manager. This was announced by Distraction CEO and president Michel Rodrigue.

Richardson joined the Distraction team in 2004 from the VTR Group, a Soho based post production house.

In addition to continued work with Distraction’s sales team to source and sign new properties, Richardson will now be spearheading the growth of the format broker’s acquisitions department and developing structures in line with its expanding sales department.

She will also be in charge of sourcing new formats to complement Distraction’s current catalogue, which includes scripted comedies, prime-time entertainment formats and ready-to-air footage.

Rodrigue said, “Over the past two years, Nina has been implicated in all aspects of Distraction’s business and has acquired a thorough knowledge of the industry. Her skills and flair will definitely contribute to the continued growth and development of the company.”

July 11, 2006
Sahara One to launch new weekend chat show on 15 July

MUMBAI: Sahara One Television will be launching a new chat show – Mrs Punjabi – on 15 July. The half hour show will be aired on Saturdays and Sundays at 7.30 pm, just before the 8 pm movie on the channel.

In the first episode, the show, whose anchor’s name is being kept under wraps by the channel will have Shahrukh Khan, Mallika Sherawat and Mahesh Bhatt together on Indian television for the first time.

The show feasts on hot gossips as Mrs Punjabi unveils the secrets and buried facts about her special guests, behind the scenes of latest Bollywood blockbusters, star party circuits and much more. Touted as a light hearted show that promises to unburden your woes, the show seems more on the likes of Kandy Floss on Sony, which is being hosted by Archana Pooran Singh.

“Humor makes friends, wins enemies and this show will make viewers unwind and laugh at issues that would otherwise end up as stressful experiences,” said Sahara One Television COO Purnendu Bose.

Mrs. Punjabi is a typical Page 3 wannabe aunty with huge assets and flashy make up and low-necklines and an even lower IQ.

July 11, 2006
Zee unveils state-of-the-art digital studio in UAE

MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms International has opened a state-of-the-art digital studio in Sharjah, UAE. The studio been launched with the purpose of telecasting locally-produced programmes in the region.

UNI has quoted Zee Telefilms International regional MD Yogesh Radhakrishnan as saying that, the system would complement the network’s increasing emphasis on Arab viewership and indigenous content as exemplified by its Arab-oriented channel Zee Arabiya.

The six million dollar high-end studio and post-production facilities located at the ISO certified Airport Free Zone will serve several purposes, including support to the new, Arabic based and youth-focused channel Zee Arabiya, as per the report.

July 11, 2006
Ram Jethmalani talk on ‘Spirituaity and management’ on Sanskar TV

Mumbai July 11, 2006: This Sunday watch Mr. Ram Jethmalani, former Law Minister- Union of India speaking on “Spirituality and Management” at 01:40 pm on Sanskar TV. A versatile Lawyer still full of enthusiasm shares with the youth of India experiences of his life and what he thinks should be the purpose of life for the youth.
He shares his life in India beginning at Ulhasnagar, after partition ,with only Rs. 10 in his pocket. He interprets the Bhagavad Gita as only how Ram Jethmalani could do it. He has his opinions on leadership, not sparing even Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Nehru. He advises the youth on Management and that creation of wealth is no crime. The youth should learn that there are no failures and every adversity is an opportunity to move up in life. In the end he advises the youth that to rise in life you have to earn the trust of the people and that can be earned only by honesty and integrity.
Watch all this and more on Sanskar TV on Sunday July 16 at 1.40 PM.

Some of the administrative heads to appear and educate the populace about the relationship and dependency between spiritualism and administration are Vithal Kamat – CMD The orchid and Deena Mehta, a Chartered Accountant and MBA.

Sanskar TV is a spirituality channel that imparts insight into humanity and goodwill. It is a free to air channel on Thaicom – 3.

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July 11, 2006