ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Total Sports Asia, Mountain Dew launch adventure reality show

    Total Sports Asia, Mountain Dew launch adventure reality show

    MUMBAI: Mountain Dew, the drink that celebrates the adventurous pulse of the youth, has launched an adventure reality show with Mountain Dew Himalayan Challenge 2006.

    Mountain Dew has partnered with Uttaranchal Tourism and associated with co-sponsors – Ten Sports, Mentos, Hercules TI and Weekender. The event is being managed by Total Sports & Entertainment India.

    The event will see 10 teams of 3 contestants each, pitted against each other amidst the mighty range of Himalayas to win prize money worth Rs 200,000 . The Challenge will comprise of teams participating in adventure sports such as rock-climbing, rappelling, GPS navigated cross-country, white-water rafting and mountain biking.

    The event will air over five episodes on Ten Sports, from May to June 2006. Besides this, the event will be promoted through heavy activation in press and outdoors to create awareness and build participation.

    Pepsi India executive VP, marketing – flavours Pratik Pota says, “The Mountain Dew Himalayan Challenge 2006 is designed for all adventure enthusiasts who dare to challenge and showcase their competitive streak. The event exemplifies Mountain Dew’s daring imagery and we are positive that this will help strengthen Mountain Dew’s association with adventure sports as well as enhance consumer connect in India”.

    Total Sports Asia director business development Shail Kapri says, “We are proud to associate with Mountain Dew and launch the mega ‘Mountain Dew Himalayan Challenge 2006’ in India. Adventure sports is fast gaining popularity in India and the event is a reflection of the adventurous spirit that has caught the attention of the youth. We are positive that such initiatives will give a boost to the competitive sport segment in India”.

    The event will be held in Auli and Rishikesh from 23 to 25 April. On the first day, the teams will compete across rock-climbing, rappelling and cross-country in Auli. On the 25th, they will raft down from Kaudiyala to Laxman Jhoola in Rishikesh, followed by mountain biking through Rajaji National Park till end at Rishikesh Barrage. The prize presentation ceremony will take place on the eve of 25 April, which will also see the winners of the ‘Runner-Up Trophy’ and the ‘Mentos Trophy’ for the ‘quick thinking’ team.

    To participate in the event consumers can fill entry forms, available at any of the 52 Weekender stores across the country. They can also log on to www.dewdares.com and enter the challenge. The last date for entries is 18 April. The teams will be selected from across 40 cities and will comprise of 3 members each. The nationwide selection will be on the basis of various parameters such as fitness, health, past experience etc. Entry is open to all above 18 years of age and is free of cost.

  • Baby TV to launch in Indonesia next month

    Baby TV to launch in Indonesia next month

    MUMBAI: Baby TV and Dori Media International have signed an agreement with Indovision, Indonesia’s first Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) provider, to launch Baby TV, the television channel dedicated to infants and toddlers.

    Baby TV is the first television channel designed especially for children under 3 years old. Broadcasting 24 hours and free of commercials or ads, Baby TV is geared towards learning, activity, fun and parent-child interaction. The channel is produced in collaboration with leading child psychologists and infant development experts and is a unique service for parents and grandparents.

    Baby TV is already available on over 25 different platforms in 15 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and is expected to be launched in Indonesia in Bahasa Indonesia language in May 2006.

    The agreement is for a period of 10 years during which, Indovision will pay Baby TV and DMI a consideration from any income derived from the channel.

    DMG president and CEO Nadav Palti says, “Although our business continues to be focused on Telenovela, our relationship with Indovision, the largest DTH operator in Indonesia, following the successful launch of our TV channel Televiva Vision 2 has given us a unique position to partner with other channels looking to enter the Asian market. Baby TV is a successful channel which is quickly establishing itself in the global market and Indovision, being the largest DTH operator in Indonesia is the natural partner. Baby TV offers a very unique service and we believe it will be very popular with parents and families in Indonesia.”

    Dori Media Group is an international entertainment group active in the production, distribution and broadcasting of Telenovela. The group owns and sells high-loyalty TV content and branded merchandise attracting a wide variety of audiences in over 45 countries. In Israel, Dori Media Group owns and operates the Viva dedicated TV channels and Darset Productions production company.

  • Tivo announces winner of ambassador competition in the US

    Tivo announces winner of ambassador competition in the US

    MUMBAI: TiVo, which creates television services for digital video recorders (DVR), has announced the winner of a contest to crown the top TiVo enthusiast in the US.

    As the winner of the Tivo Ambassador contest, San Diego resident Matt Ward will enjoy $50,000 in cash and prizes — including a new Mini Cooper convertible — and a once in a lifetime opportunity to help spread the word about the joys of owning a Tivo DVR.

    Tivo VP consumer marketing Katie Ho says, “We have seen an unprecedented loyalty and passion for TiVo since the company’s inception. Through this contest we have heard from a growing fan base eager to share how TiVo has transformed the way they watch TV. With the Tivo ambassador contest, we wanted to put our top enthusiasts in the spotlight — and honour their contribution to the TiVolution.”

    Ward, who is currently working on his first children’s novel, won the award through a clever and humorous depiction of how Tivo has transformed the way he watches television. His winning video shows Ward running for the office of the TiVo Ambassador, and features a TiVo DVR as a valued real-life member of the family. Viewers see the box playing board games with the kids, consuming milk and cookies, and snuggled beside Ward on the sofa.

    He says, “It is amazing to be named the Tivo Ambassador and to win these prizes. But it’s also really nice to be honoured by this organization, whose product I am so passionate about. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect — my earnings will allow me to continue work on a children’s novel, a project that has been a dream of mine for many years.”

    The contest, announced in September 2005, was open to all Tivo Rewards members who had earned 25,000 points in the programme by referring friends to the TiVo(R) service prior to the contest start date. Those vying for the top spot submitted personal essays and creative videos showcasing their passion for Tivo. In just over a year and a half, more than 350,000 TiVo subscribers have enrolled in the company’s rewards programme.

    The programme grants points redeemable for great rewards to Tivo owners who refer new subscribers. As the TiVo Ambassador, Ward will gather with legions of fans throughout the year to spread the word about the celebrated ability of Tivo to deliver the best way to watch television.

  • GSN’s doc series ‘Anything To Win’ features the competitive world of daytime soaps

    GSN’s doc series ‘Anything To Win’ features the competitive world of daytime soaps

    MUMBAI: On Easter Sunday, 16 April, US broadcaster GSN, which deals with games will air the special Anything To Win: Soap Operas Wars.

    The channel notes that soap operas are legendary for going to extremes and creating the most outlandish storylines with their characters, doing anything from afflicting them with amnesia to bringing them back from the dead. This is never more evident than during “Sweeps” when, in an effort to boost ratings, soap producers pull out all the stops.

    GSN’s special gives viewers a glimpse into this competitive world, focussing specifically on a ground breaking stunt orchestrated by the producers and writers of Days of Our Lives where they unleashed a serial killer on to the town of Salem and, when it was all over, half of the beloved cast was dead.

    Soap Opera Digest editor Stephanie Sloane said, “Soap operas are misunderstood and underappreciated. As any actor who has joined a soap after doing prime time or films will tell you, there isn’t a more demanding job in the business. Daytime is filled with talented performers whose fans are fiercely loyal, and storylines that are complicated and compelling. It’s no wonder so many prime time shows draw talent and plots from the genre”.

  • Vijay TV schedules auditions for ‘Airtel Super Singer’

    Vijay TV schedules auditions for ‘Airtel Super Singer’

    MUMBAI: There is an opportunity for talented Chennaities to walk in to the video booths at Chennai and register their voice to compete in the upcoming Vijay TV talent hunt initiative, the Airtel Super Singer.

    The video booths are located different locations at Chennai on the following dates: Abirami Mega Mall – April 11 to 14, Udayam Theatre – April 11 to 14, Spencer Plaza – April 12 to 14, Satyam Cineplex – April 13 to 14.

    Interested candidates can also register through the Vijay TV Super Singer vans which would be stationed across Chennai, informs a channel communiqué.

    In case a person is not short-listed, they can still try their luck on the day of the Chennai zonal audition that is scheduled on 16 April at the Chennai Convention Center, Nandambakkam. The judges for the Chennai audition would be music director Iman, noted playback singers S.P. Shailaja and Malathi.

    Auditions are restricted to the first 600 registrations only on a first come first serve basis. One can give any number of auditions and if not selected in the Chennai zone, he or she can audition in Madurai, which is to be held on 23 April. The Madurai audition that was originally scheduled on 8 April has been postponed to 23 April due to the heightened election campaign in the region.

    The show will be on air from 28 April, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm. The winner of Airtel Supersinger gets to sing in a Harris Jeyaraj Movie

  • Kannada film industry doyen Dr. Rajkumar is no more

    Kannada film industry doyen Dr. Rajkumar is no more

    BANGALORE: A sad day indeed in the annals of the film industry, especially for the Kannada Film industry. The biggest and one of the first superstars of the Kannada Film industry has bid adieu. He was 77.

    Dr Rajkumar, who complained of breathlessness about a month ago, had been admitted to M S Ramaiah Hospital. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest today as per the initial reports that have come in. The thespian, a winner of the Padma Bhushan along with a host of other awards and citations has encouraged the use of Kannada language in the state.

    Though very well known in South India, he came to national light when he was kidnapped and kept in custody for 109 days by notorious sandal wood smuggler the late Veerappan in 2000.

    The city of Bangalore has literally come to a standstill, following the demise. Crowds have been thronging to his residence along with a number of top Bangalore based politicians.

  • Animal Planet Intl announces new programming initiatives

    Animal Planet Intl announces new programming initiatives

    MUMBAI: A search for the next great wildlife filmmaker, an eco-reality series with WWF and a three-part natural history documentary are among the new programming initiatives recently announced by Animal Planet International.

    One show is called Unearthed. It will follow six contestants on a training course as they learn the skills of natural history filmmaking from Lyndal Davies and Andrew Barron. It will be filmed at the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa this July and launches on Animal Planet throughout Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa early next year. Animal Planet International will also broadcast the winning documentary, to be judged by a panel of experts.

    Meanwhile Planet Action is being co-produced with WWF. It launches next month on Animal Planet in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The series follows an international team of amateur environmentalists as they are immersed in six different conservation projects. “Animal Planet entertains people by celebrating animals, and we can think of no better way to celebrate animals than by doing our part to help protect them,” said Gibson.

    The documentary Great Savannah Race follows 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra as they fight for survival over 500 miles of plains and grassland. The series was filmed over a period of 18 months, and rolls out on Animal Planet International this summer.

  • Focus Features to distribute Iraq doc globally

    Focus Features to distribute Iraq doc globally

    MUMBAI: Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to Patricia Foulkrod’s documentary feature The Ground Truth: After the Killing Ends.

    The film tells the stories of a half-dozen Americans – men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq — as it charts recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to
    reintegrate with families and communities. The conflict in Iraq is a prelude for the even more challenging battles fought by the soldiers returning home — with personal demons, an uncomprehending public, and an indifferent government.

    As these battles take shape, each soldier becomes a new kind of hero, bearing witness and giving support to other veterans, and learning to fearlessly wield the most powerful weapon of all — the truth.

    Focus Features president James Schamus said, “Patricia has made a searing film, one with exclusive footage that will stun audiences. These soldiers are patriotic Americans articulating stories that must be heard, and we think filmgoers around the world are ready to watch and listen.”

    Foulkrod said, “This film has been made from the soldiers’ point of view, and it captures their shattered lives and broken hearts. My intent was to give them a voice, and to inspire viewers to reach out to all soldiers and their families.”

    Focus Features made the most critically acclaimed film of last year Brokeback Mountain.

  • Online video services to see explosive growth in US: IDC

    Online video services to see explosive growth in US: IDC

    MUMBAI: Internet video services are on the brink of becoming a mainstream phenomenon in the United States.

    According to a new forecast from IDC, internet video services will generate over $1.7 billion in revenues by 2010, an increase of more than $1.5 billion from 2005 totals. Much of this growth will be fueled by a surge in the amount of premium content made available online. However, IDC cautioned that the market’s potential could be dampened by key technical and legal hurdles.

    The market for internet video services began its dramatic acceleration in 2005 as content owners, once unwilling to offer their products online, started to experiment with digital distribution as a way to complement and enhance their existing business models and to stem illegal P2P file sharing and piracy. In particular, the television networks’ decision to offer episodes from new shows as well as old sparked significant interest in internet video. Television content, which is available in ample amounts and is ideally suited for the PC, is expected to be an integral component to revenue growth throughout the forecast period.

    IDC’s Consumer Markets associate research analyst Josh Martin says, “The internet video market has a huge upside. With that upside, however, comes the risk to content owners of cannibalizing existing revenue streams. In order to properly take advantage of this emerging market, content owners to aggregators to consumer electronics manufacturers must understand the challenges the market faces and how to overcome them.”

    The key drivers for the adoption of internet video include the expansion of premium content offerings online and the emergence of home networking solutions that allow consumers to more easily view Internet content on their televisions. As services become increasingly common, content owners will leverage internet video to complement their existing revenue streams and to generate additional revenue from archived content and new content created specifically for the service.

    IDC expects that content owners will migrate toward three basic service types. Advertising-based services will remain the dominant type of internet video service, although its share of total market revenue will decline as a la carte services, buoyed by consumer familiarity with iTunes, grow dramatically over the next 2-3 years. Subscription-based services will experience steady growth throughout the forecast period, enhanced somewhat by the emergence of home networking solutions that make subscriptions more appealing to consumers.

    In order to sustain the momentum gathered in 2005 and maximise opportunities for success, content owners and service providers will need to overcome several important problems, including licensing issues, inadequate video search, competitive challenges, and the issue of how to move content beyond the PC. IDC believes that companies involved from the creation to distribution of content will have to partner with others across the value chain to create appealing, flexible services that will evolve into viable businesses.

  • Alan Perris is US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences COO

    Alan Perris is US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences COO

    MUMBAI: The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Atas) in the US has named television executive Alan Perris as its COO.

    Perris will be based at the Academy’s North Hollywood headquarters. He will oversee day-to-day staff activities as well as serve as the staff liaison to the Academy and its Foundation, headed by Foundation Chairman Steve Mosko.

    Atas chairman and CEO Dick Askin says, “Alan was selected after a comprehensive search and review process. Our paths have crossed frequently over the past 15 years and I believe that Alan’s wealth of experience should be of great value to our Academy in advancing the many exciting initiatives we have for the future.”

    Perris said, “The Academy, which awards the highest honours for excellence in television, is one of the most prestigious organisations in the entertainment business. It is an honour to be able to work with the top professionals in the television industry.”

    Perris has more than 30 years of experience in the television industry. Most recently, he served as executive VP of business development at Entertainment Media Works, which operates StarStyle.com. Previously, he was senior VP of first run programming at both Sony and Warner Bros.’ Telepictures division and President at two station group production companies, Scripps-Howard and Post-Newsweek