News Broadcasting

Animation & Visual Effects seminar discusses industry challenges

Published

20 years ago

June 21, 2006

SINGAPORE: There’s an animated atmosphere here at the third day of BroadcastAsia 2006. Besides sessions on the new broadcasting technologies, Day 3 saw a special session on animation called – Animation and Visual Effects seminar.

The speakers for the morning session comprised Crest Animation Studios CEO A K Madhavan, Blackmagic Design Singapore director of creative services Peter Barber, Rhythm & Hues USA visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer and Intense Animation Studio managing director Tony Sealy. Throwing light on the success of Crest Animation Studios in the last four years or so in the space, Madhavan said, “We began as a production house for TV commercials 14 years ago, and then moved on to providing post production facility. Four years back, we decided to get into animation; acquired an American company – Rich Animation and I think we have done a fairly decent job.”

What’s more, Crest has progressed from providing animation content on the television platform, to the DVD platform and now is moving on to the theatrical space. One of it’s 3D show, Arthur, is going to release in the US next month as a DVD feature. The company has also signed a deal with renowned French producer Marathon for a new 3D animated series and it’s DVD feature Casper is also due to launch. Crest also inked a deal with Lion’s Gate International for Silvester and the Magic Pebble, which will hit the screens in the summer of 2008.
“One needs to understand the sensibilities, likes and dislikes of various markets to create a show for them. There is a lot of background research that goes behind making shows for various international markets,” Madhavan said.

When queried as to whether the company was doing enough more for the local Indian market, he said, “We are providing some amount of content locally but the market has not yet developed. Apart from that, the budgets are very low and the animation industry still hasn’t got the push. But, I see the Indian animation industry exploding in the next 10 years’ time.”

Over the last three years, Crest Animation Studios has delivered over 126 series to broadcasters like PBS, Fox and Cartoon Network. Some of the series that Madhavan spoke about were – Jakers, Pet Alien and Bratz.

Rhythm & Hues’ Westenhofer explained in detail the process of the making of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. “It was a huge challenge especially where hybrid characters like the Centaurs were concerned. We extensively used pre-visualisation in this. It took us six months of motion capture, which included eight weeks of horse capture as every creature has it’s own unique fighting style,” he said.

“With all the new technology coming in, it becomes imperative for filmmakers to know what the tools are. Digital photography is going to change the paradigm of how we do things,” he added.

Intense Animation Studio managing director Tony Sealy, whose company has conceptualised -11 – an animation soccer comedy show for broadband television, threw light on the various challenges that the animation industry faces in Singapore.

“Originally, Intense Animation Studio was intended to be a creative agency, but there was a serious lack of talent in Singapore. So, I first opened a training center and we were the first company in Singapore to teach Maya. We also conduct seminars and workshops to teach people more about computer animation,” Sealy said.

The show 11 was pitched to M2B World, which is a leader in broadband media entertainment business, and a major provider of interactive entertainment-on-demand, education-on-demand and e-commerce streaming over broadband channels, internet portals, and 3G devices. “With M2B, we had a far wider reach over broadband on-demand, 3G and internet. Broadband TV provides a great diversity of delivery,” Sealy said.

Pointing out the difficulties that the animation industry in Singapore faces, Sealy said, “One needs to address the lack of private investment in the creative projects and educate the investors about the scope of animation. We also need to lift the training standards and address the current subsidies for training and internships. Apart from this, studios must develop their own IP.”

Related Topics:A K Madhavan Animation & Visual Effects Jakers Pet Alien

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.