Category: TV Channels

  • Ek Main Aur…ties up with ‘Corporate’; Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs set to roll

    Ek Main Aur…ties up with ‘Corporate’; Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs set to roll

    MUMBAI: Zee TV’s music talent hunt show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Ek Main Aur Ek Tu has tied up with Percept Groups P9 Integrated Pvt Ltd. to promote the film, Corporate. Director of the film Madhur Bhandarkar was a guest on the show this week.

    Meanwhile, the auditions for the next series Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs will be held tomorrow (17 June) in Lucknow at the Ravindralaya Auditorium and in Delhi at the National Science Centre. The audition in Mumbai will be at the Russian Culture Centre on 18 June. This contest is open to children between the ages 8 to 15 years. The series is expected to go on air next month.

    As a part of the tie up with P9, Corporate will be extensively promoted on the channel. Besides this, the biggest draw of the alliance is that the film’s lead actress Bipasha Basu will be a guest at the grand finale of Ek Main Aur Ek Tu in Dubai. Kay Kay Menon, the lead actor in the film, is also expected to be present. The finale will be held on 24 June.

    Director Gajendrra Siingh said, “All along the series, we have had promotional tie ups with many Hindi films and to be associated with a director like Madhur Bhandarkar, who is known to be a trendsetter in his craft, is a privilege.”

    Zee TV vice president marketing Tarun Mehra said, “It is a pleasure to be associated with the movie. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’s performance has surpassed our expectations and at this stage, we are proud to associate ourselves with a promising movie like Corporate.”

    This week, Bhandarkar along with the film’s music director Shamir Tandon, witnessed the two final jodis, Ujjaini and Aishwarya and Banjyotsana and Sharib, perform to a live orchestra. Both left the sets impressed with the young talented jodis sing to the tune of string instruments.Says Bhandarkar, “We had lots of fun during the semi-final in Mumbai, and we look forward to seeing the participants yet again in the finals. We have an interesting surprise in store for the winners.”

    Tandon said, “It is awesome that people as young as them are getting an opportunity to showcase their talent to billions of people via television. I am envious of them.”

    P9 general manager marketing Maneesh Mathur says, “Today, a film has a very short shelf life, so marketing of a film is as important as the content of the film. Corporate will get a lot of visibility because it will be promoted across the Zee Network and Sa Re Ga Ma… will deliver higher ratings because of the celebrities. We are confident that this tie up will benefit both Zee and Sahara One Motion Pictures.”

    The finale of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Ek Main Aur Ek Tu is expected to have performances by the finalists and the ousted jodis. The winners of the contest will receive a music contract worth Rs 50 lakh, and will also receive a grand surprise from Bipasha Basu and Madhur Bhandarkar at the event.

    Today, the jodis are performing in Delhi at the Talkatora Stadium with Hariharan as the judge. The jodis will perform in Kolkatta on 18 June at the Nazrul Manch with Leslie Lewis and singer Usha Uthup as the judges. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005 winners Debojit and Vineet are to be the hosts at both these events respectively. The show in Delhi will be aired on 22 June and the Kolkatta show will be aired on 23 June at 10 pm.

    Viewers can watch the finale of Ek Main Aur Ek Tu on Zee TV, on Saturday, 24 June, 8 pm onwards.

  • Argent Networks launches convergent billing and mediation for IPTV

    Argent Networks launches convergent billing and mediation for IPTV

    MUMBAI: New Zealand technology and telecommunications solutions company, Argent Networks announced that it was launching a new application for Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) billing and mediation as part of its leading ArgentEclipse Convergent Billing and CRM solution.

    Argent Networks provides solutions for the voice, data, video and mobile sectors of the global telecommunications market.

    This means that IPTV manufacturers and service providers who use ArgentEclipse get a host of added features such as provisioning, CRM/CTI, pre-paid and post-paid billing options, as well as automatic EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) updating for the complete range of IPTV services. 

    ArgentEclipse now also provides event-based billing for IPTV applications including video on demand, pay-per view, video broadcasting, gaming, content and IPTV telephony services, as per an official release.

    Argent Networks CEO Chris Jones says the ArgentEclipse suite of products is the ideal solution for new and existing broadband, cable and TV operators wishing to get into the burgeoning global IPTV market.

    “Worldwide demand for IPTV is expected to be huge as broadband is now available to more than 100 million households. Given that many of the biggest telecommunications providers are investing in IPTV for both their residential and business markets, our product is exactly what they need. With ArgentEclipse’s modular and fully convergent CRM and billing products, IPTV operators can now expand their offerings to subscribers, giving them one simple, easy bill for all telephony, data and now video offerings.”

    Jones also says that the ArgentEclipse IPTV solution provides IPTV manufacturers and service providers with a far more comprehensive suite of applications than has been available before.

    “This means that IPTV manufacturers and service providers who use ArgentEclipse get a host of added features such as provisioning, CRM/CTI, pre-paid and post-paid billing options, as well as automatic EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) updating for the complete range of IPTV services.”

    In addition, Jones says that IPTV subscribers will be provided with options for self- provisioning and subscription to new services, access to online EPG, PVR (personal video recorder) support, online payment and customer services options.

  • AOL extends open AIM initiative

    AOL extends open AIM initiative

    MUMBAI: American Online Limited (AOL) has extended its Open AIM initiative (http://developer.aim.com) to include support for AIM Bots, location-based services and PC-to-PC voice calling. The update also includes support for developers working on the Mac OS X, Linux, and Pocket PC platforms or with the Java language.

    Launched in March of this year, the Open AIM initiative empowers companies, communities and independent developers to build customized plugins, communications clients and mash-ups that access AOL’s global instant messaging network, states an official release.

    “Already, more than 45,000 developers are working with the AIM Software Development Kit (SDK) to bring their creativity and ingenuity to the 43 million Americans in the AIM community,” says AOL’s vice president for Instant Messaging Marcien Jenckes. “Today, we are extremely pleased to add AIM Bots as well as voice and location services to the Open AIM toolkit, and to invite developers on the Mac, Linux and Pocket PC platforms to get involved.”

    The latest update include:

    — AOL has added support for AIM(r) Bots to the Open AIM initiative. With the new Open AIM Bots program, one click can turn any AIM screen name into a bot. AIM Bot sample code has been added to the updated Open AIM SDK in both C++ and Java.

    AIM Bots are dedicated, opt-in Screen Names that help developers, marketers and individuals create new connections and establish strong bonds with contacts in the AIM community. In addition, AIM Bots can support audio calls, file transfers and picture sharing. For example, an AIM Bot could be created to let users send pictures or podcasts to their blogs.

    AIM Bots respond automatically to instant messages they receive and can maintain IM conversations with multiple users – reaching up to 10,000 people per day – before encountering limits. To prevent IM spam, AIM Bots cannot initiate IMs without permission.

    — AOL’s new AIM Location services are now part of the Open AIM SDK. The new application program interfaces (APIs) – with sample code – have been added to the SDK to let developers build location services into clients, plugins and, in the coming weeks, web sites.

    — AOL is also giving developers the ability to add AIM Talk’s PC-to-PC voice functionality and multi-party voice chat into their custom AIM clients. For the first time, developers can integrate robust audio features based on the open source sipXtapi SIP stack, from sipfoundry.org, into their applications with a single turnkey solution.

    — Finally, AOL has also added Open AIM support for developers working on the Mac OS X, Linux, and Pocket PC platforms, as well as support for the Java language. For complete documentation and to learn more about these Open AIM initiatives, visit http://developer.aim.com/.

    The recent open AIM projects include:

    — Bandalong Entertainment Inc., an interactive media company, formed an agreement with AOL to release an AIM(r) enabled version of their imstar service, which is now built on the Open AIM platform. imstar is the only lifelike, 3-D avatar-based instant messaging program for teens.

    — Doppelganger, designer of the world’s first virtual nightclub, introduced a virtual lounge for music audiences that seamlessly integrates the AIM service. AIM users can log on to a customised version of the AIM client and experience real time communications in Doppelganger’s The Lounge featuring the Pussycat Dolls (http://www.pcdmusiclounge.com).

    — Super Computer International, Inc., (http://www.supercomputerinc.com) announced an agreement with AOL to create a customized version of the AIM service called PlayLinc that will optimize the instant messaging (IM) experience for online gamers.

    — WebEx Communications, Inc., (http://www.webex.com) the leading provider of on-demand collaborative business applications, teamed with AOL in February of this year to announce the creation of a secure, feature-rich version of the popular AIM service for businesses and at-work instant messaging users.

  • HBO US takes podcast route to push new shows

    HBO US takes podcast route to push new shows

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster HBO has announced that two shows Entourage and Deadwood are back again.

    Fans can go ‘on location’ for footage, cast interviews and other original features via www.HBO.com/podcasts or Apple’s iTunes Music Store – all for free.

    Viewers will also be able to go behind-the-scenes of HBO’s new comedy series Lucky Louie. It stars Louis C.K. as head of a blue collar family. Then there is Dane Cook’s Tourgasm, a docu-style comedy series that follows the rising stand-up comic during his college tour last spring.

    These new editions join the other HBO podcasts already existing. These include video and audio clips for The Sopranos, Rome, Big Love, Real Time with Bill Maher as well as select HBO Films, documentaries, sports shows, and HBO Latino’s Habla y Habla and El Perro y El Gato.

    HBO VP, marketing and strategic partnerships Steve Pamon says, “The additional content for iPods give fans more exposure to their favorite HBO programs, characters and actors as well as introduces them to our newest shows.

    “We launched the site several months ago and have already seen incredible success, most recently hitting the 1 million download milestone for Real Time with Bill Maher.”

    Fans can visit the HBO.com site or the ‘HBO Room’ on iTunes for the latest mix of free video and audio clips that will role over time:

    For Entourage HBO is offering recaps from seasons one and two. These revisit important moments and reconnects fans with major characters. There will also be an insiders scoop on the series. There will also be clips from the new season. There are similar features for Deadwood.

  • NDTV, Astro launches Astro c in Indonesia

    NDTV, Astro launches Astro c in Indonesia

    MUMBAI: NDTV and Astro jointly announced the launch of a 24 hour news, infotainment and lifestyle channel called Astro Awani in Djakarta, Indonesia. The language of the channel is primarily Bahasa Indonesia. Astro Awani is the first channel launched by NDTV outside of India.

    With this launch Astro Awani becomes the first news channel in Astro’s bouquet, and will be distributed throughout Indonesia on PT Direct Vision’s platform, that is currently licensing the ‘Astro’ trademark. Astro is expected to complete its 20 per cent investment in PT Direct Vision soon, states an official release.

    “Astro Awani has been launched to provide incisive, up-to-the-minute news, lifestyle, debate, current affairs and infotainment to discerning viewers in Indonesia. By partnering with NDTV, we’ve ensured that we bring nothing less than the best practices in news gathering and infotainment programming to our viewers,” says PT Direct Vision CEO Nelia Sutrisno.

    Commenting on the launch, Prannoy Roy of NDTV said, “This is a landmark for NDTV. For India’s media industry this is the first time that an Indian company has launched a news and infotainment channel outside India in partnership with an international media company. We regard this as one our most exciting new ventures and look forward to launching many more channels outside India in the future.”

    Astro Awani fills the need for an information-based channel in Indonesia. Aimed at urban educated viewers around Indonesia, the channel is in the local Indonesian language – Bahasa Indonesia. The content is made up of news bulletins, current affairs shows, lifestyle programming and documentaries, adds the release.

  • Kerala’s first digital movie to release in 80 theatres

    Kerala’s first digital movie to release in 80 theatres

    MUMBAI: Malayalam cinema is making its full-fledged foray into the digital cinema space. The Kerala-based production house Emil and Eric Digital Private Limited (EEDPL) is gearing up to release its maiden production Moonnaamathoraal (The Third Man) through the satellite digital delivery system across the state.

    “Moonnaamathoraal is a digital movie shot using the High Definition technology (HD) technology. The movie will be delivered to the theatres through satellite and will be exhibited using the digital projector system. We have rented about 150 theatres in Kerala to set up the required digital infrastructure for a five year period, says Emil & Eric Productions promoter Martin Joseph.

    EEDPL is releasing Moonnaamathoraal in 80 of these 150 theatres on 30 June. The company has tied up with the Mumbai-based United Film Organizers (UFO) to set up the digital infrastructure for the project in the theatres. The system include the digital server, the Hughes Escorts Communications Limited (HECL) powered satellite delivery solutions through Vsat and the Panasonic 3 chip/single chip DLP projection system.

    UFO has invested in the range of Rs 130 million to Rs 150 million in Kerala for the project. The company has installed the digital systems on a refundable deposit of Rs 2,25,000 per theatre.

    As the company’s national revenue model goes, UFO charges the exhibitor Rs 250 per show for the first week, Rs 200 per show for the second week, Rs 150 per show for the third week and Rs 100 per show for the fourth week. The charges made on the distributor are, Rs 175 per show for the first week, Rs 100 per show for the second week, Rs 50 per show for the third week and Rs 45 per show for the fourth week.

    For Moonnamathoraal, EEDPL will be donning the triple roles of the producer, distributor and exhibitor. The Jayaram-starrer, directed by Chennai-based ad man V K Prakash, is made on a budget of about Rs 5 million. “We have spent Rs 5 million on this project, which, on the analogue system, would have required Rs 7.5 million to complete. For the total project, we have spent about Rs 9 million,” says Joseph, adding that EEDPL’s next digital venture Aanachandam will go the floor on 24 June.

    Aanachandam, again a Jayaram starrer, will be directed by veteran Jayaraj.

    Last year, UFO Moviez, the digital cinema network launched by Valuable Media Pvt Ltd, unveiled its digital project to set up 500 digital movie halls by 2006 March at an investment of Rs 800 million and then scale it up progressively to 2000 cinema halls across the country at a total investment of Rs 3 billion. However, the company fell short of its 2006 target due to the shortage of digital projects, according to UFO senior manager Mukesh Sherigar.

    “We couldn’t meet the target in these circumstances, but now we are well on track. We have installed the digital system in about 300 theatres across the country as of now,” he says.

  • Adlabs to foray into production of Hollywood movies

    Adlabs to foray into production of Hollywood movies

    MUMBAI: Anil Ambani-controlled Adlabs Films Ltd is entering into production of Hollywood movies through AshoK Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group.

    “We will be making Hollywood movies only with Hyde Park Entertainment. The first co-financed movie will start production in the next 2-3 months. We are finalising the investment details. We are also working out other movie projects,” says Adlabs Films chairman and managing director Manmohan Shetty.

    The signing of the co-production, film financing deal with Hyde Park Entertainment Group comes after Adlabs Films has set up offices in UK and US. Though distribution of Bollywood movies will form the primary business activity, the overseas operations will also explore opportunities in film production and post-production activities.

    Adlabs plans to distribute 18-24 films overseas this year and has some of the biggest films lined up for release in the coming months, like Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish, Sajid Nadiadwala’s Jaanemann, Ravi Chopra’s Babul and Mani Ratnam’s Guru.

    Hyde Park Entertainment, a production, financing and international sales company privately held by American film producer Amritraj, is planning to establish a foothold in India and is in talks to form a joint venture with an Indian animation company.

  • TV18 to bring internet biz under Web 18

    TV18 to bring internet biz under Web 18

    MUMBAI: Television Eighteen is consolidating its internet businesses under a single holding company, Web 18.

    Web 18 will undertake activities of acquisitions of other internet businesses and websites, in exchange for cash stock or other valid consideration, including the website. TV18 will hold its EGM on 29 June to also allow Web 18 to raise funds from strategic and financial investors via private placement or public listing or in any other manner in one or more tranches. The TV18 Group, however, will retain control and at least 51 per cent of the voting rights of Web 18.

    Web 18 will reserve up to a maximum of 10 per cent of its shareholding to run a stock option plan for its employees and other key personnel.

    TV18 has been acquiring internet properties to create a bouquet. The company recently acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Indian arm of Jobstreet.com. Eariler in the year, it had invested in Yatra Online where other investors included Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital and Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) – Promod Haque’s leading venture capital firm.

    The company also manages online platforms which include moneycontrol.com, commoditiescontrol.com, poweryourtrade.com and ibnlive.com. 

  • Fame Multiplexes launches mobile ticketing in three cities

    Fame Multiplexes launches mobile ticketing in three cities

    MUMBAI: Fame Multiplexes has launched ‘M-ticket’ service in Mumbai, Pimpri (Pune) and Kolkata that allows booking of tickets from the mobile phone.

    People can now book movie tickets of any Fame Multiplexes by a voice-recognition service and pay through their credit card. This service has been powered by OnMobile and is available for Hutch, Airtel and Idea subscribers in the above mentioned cities.

    Shringar Cinemas Limited managing director Shravan Shroff said that going forward Fame would introducing more services to enhance the movie viewing experience.

  • Sifymax to offer Fiffa World Cup updates in five languages

    Sifymax to offer Fiffa World Cup updates in five languages

    MUMBAI: Broadband portal Sifymax is providing World Cup updates in five different languages – Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

    This initiative is an attempt to enhance the reach and the accessibility to the Fifa World Cup available in “our national language and other south based languages”, according to an official release.

    Besides providing Fifa updates on sify home page www.sify.com, the language channels have also been linked to the city channels namely, www.sifymax.com, www.bangalorelive.in and www.samachar.com.

    Sify Limited VP Surya Mantha said: “Further to providing exclusive highlights and special video footages on FIFA World cup 2006, we are excited to go that extra mile to give more privilege to football lovers by providing them updates in 5 different languages. This includes our national language further enhancing the accessibility of the game nationwide.