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  • Subhash Chandra meets US senators on Capitol Hill

    Subhash Chandra meets US senators on Capitol Hill

    MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra has said that, the passing of the US-India civil nuclear deal is pivotal to sustain India’s burgeoning economy and its special energy needs.

    Addressing lawmakers from both houses of the US Congress at a reception held on the Capitol Hill, Chandra made a “compelling” case as to why the nuclear deal was important in the larger economic interests of both the countries and to furthering bilateral relations.

    The reception, hosted by New York hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, was held on 17 May. The guest list included Hillary Clinton and Atlanta hotelier Mike Patel.

    According to an official release from Zee, Chandra pointed out that if India continues to consume traditional energy resources at current pace, it could soon adversely impact international oil and energy prices and cripple the economies of many developing countries. Such a scenario could hit the US economy as well global economic growth and result in the US having to spend an additional $500 billion annually in sustaining higher energy costs. The US-India civil nuclear deal, he said, would also spawn many business opportunities in India for several US energy companies.

    While the presence of large numbers of senators and representatives reaffirmed wide bi-partisan support for the civil nuclear deal in both houses of the Congress, the lobbying efforts are far from over. Some lawmakers said they were watching the developments closely and hoped whatever reservations they had about the deal would be dealt with positively during such interactions with business leaders from both countries and their colleagues on the Capitol, adds the release.

    The lawmakers made their points in support of the deal and largely acknowledged that the civil nuclear deal will help both India and the US prosper, sustaining the global economy its growth. They called on their colleagues, many of whom have traveled to India on several occasions before and after President Bush’s historic India visit, to support the nuclear cooperation agreement.

    Among the notable senators at the reception were: John Kerry, Joe Biden, Charles Schumer, Hillary Clinton, John Cornyn and Lamar Alexander. The House of Representatives was represented, among others, by Joseph Crowley, Joe Wilson, Roy Blunt Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and many more.

  • TDSAT rules in favour of ESPN in dues dispute with ICC

    TDSAT rules in favour of ESPN in dues dispute with ICC

    MUMBAI: ESPN Software India has won its case against Pune’s biggest MSO Intermedia Cable Communication (ICC) for recovery of dues that go back to December 2004.

    In what is being described as a landmark judgment, the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which was hearing the case on a complaint filed by the sports broadcaster late last month, has directed ICC to clear of its pending dues even in the absence of any written contract.

    The dues under dispute cover the the period 5 December 2004 to 8 June 2005 when the operator was provided signals even though the agreement between the two companies had expired as of 5 December 2003.

    TDSAT has ruled that since the signals were continued beyond the date of termination of the agreement, the subscription fee for the period be kept at the old rate of Rs 32 per subscriber. This amounted to a monthly subscription of Rs 1,272,000 per month that was owed to ESPN for the period under dispute.

    The Tribunal has directed ICC to pay ESPN Rs 7,221,000 in three equal monthly installments payable on 1 June, 1 July and 1 August respectively. In its order, TDSAT indicated that since the MSO had argued that it was facing a a problem of recovery of money from the ground, a point not denied by ESPN, it was giving the operator three months to clear the dues.

    Any further delays would make ICC liable to pay additional interest at 12 per cent per annum, the Tribunal has ruled.

    Commenting on the development, ESPN’s CFO Vijay Rajput said, “This is a landmark judgment. This judgment will act as a precedent wherever the cable operators arm twist broadcasters under the pretext of negotiations.”

    During the course of the hearing, an interesting point that came up was that the relations between the two parties turned sour following the alleged disconnection of signals by ESPN for four days in January 2004 at the time of the India–Australia cricket series followed by another disconnection in June 2004 for two days at the time of the Euro Soccer Football matches. ICC had claimed that the two signal disruptions were done despite excess subscription amounts having been made to ESPN.

    The MSO argued that it paid subscription w.e.f 5 December 2003 at the old rate despite not being able to collect the amounts from the ground. The crux of its argument was however that since no fresh agreement was entered into after the expiry of the contract on 5 December 2003, ESPN was therefore not entitled to make any claim for the period 5 December 2004 to 5 June 2005.

    ICC in its counter affidavit had stated, “The Tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain this petition; that the service contract dated 5 December 2003 provides for arbitration, and that ESPN even though a company incorporated in India is in reality foreign controlled, as such, it has no right/locus standi to enter into agreement with any of the companies in India without permission from the government of India”.

    Responding to the objections raised by the MSO, the Tribunal stated that it had the jurisdiction to adjudicate on this matter.

  • Star One in truce with cable operators in Mumbai

    Star One in truce with cable operators in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Star One will be back on prime band location in cable networks across Mumbai following an agreement with operators. The channel was pushed into a higher frequency since January as Star India was asking for an increase in payout from cable TV operators.

    “As part of the truce, Star has withdrawn its demand of a 10 per cent increase in paying subscribers from us. We have agreed to carry the channel on a better location in our networks,” says Cable Operators and Distributors Association (CODA) vice president Ravi Singh.

    Star was blamed by the association of distributors and last mile operators in Mumbai for forcing the second bouquet comprising channels like Star One and Walt Disney on cable operators.

    Opposition was also against Tata Sky, in which Star is a 20 per cent joint venture partner, for approaching housing societies with the proposal of offering residents a central dish antenna through which it could connect individual installations and offer direct-to-home (DTH) service.

    A few days back, the Star group of channels were back on the cable networks in Kolkata. Manthan Cable Network and Indian Cable Net (which was bought out by Siticable) had in April blacked out the Star channels opposing a seven per cent rate hike. Claiming outstandings of over Rs 20 million, Star, in fact, had switched off Manthan.

    Following this the last mile operators had blacked out carriage of the Star channels, led by the Forum of Cable Operators and Cable Operators Sanjukta, two association bodies of the last mile operators in the city.

  • Benoit Runel appointed MD of BKN New Media













    MUMBAI: Global animation company BKN International AG, involved in distribution and marketing of animated children‘s television programmes and related consumer products, has appointed Benoit Runel as managing director of the company‘s largest operating subsidiary, BKN New Media Ltd in Great Britain.


    Runel will oversee all sales and marketing for the company in the UK, Germany, Benelux, Scandinavia, North America and emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

    He is further charged with overseeing all development and pre-production activities in the London – based studio as well as with securing and managing all co-productions with international partners.


    With over 16 years experience in the television and children industry, Runel joins BKN from Jetix Europe where, as part of the senior management team he oversaw all programming and related on-air strategies for the group‘s 12 channels. He brought content and new Intellectual Properties to Jetix Europe and US through a number of successful co-productions and acquisition deals.


    Prior to joining Jetix, Runel served seven years at TF1, the French free-TV giant where he built a library of 2000 hours of kids‘ programming.


    “We are really pleased to have the contributions of such a talented individual as Benoit. His track record in children‘s programming acquisitions, productions and sales both at Jetix Europe and TF1 in France over 15 years makes him a perfect candidate to lead this division,” said BKN group chief executive officer Allen Bohbot.


    “BKN is in a very exciting development stage. The products including Legend of the Dragon, Dork Hunters from Outer Space, Zorro: Generation Z and the new classic collection including Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, A Christmas Carol and Robin Hood, to name a few, for direct-to-DVD release are really strong and I look forward to expanding on these activities. This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” added Runel.

  • TV18 to launch home shopping network, receives funding from SAIF

    TV18 to launch home shopping network, receives funding from SAIF

    MUMBAI: Television Eighteen is entering the home shopping network (HSN) space which is already occupied by Subhash Chandra’s Asian Sky Shop and Hinduja’s Shop 24×7.

    The company has secured initial funding from SB Asia Infrastructure Fund (SAIF) Partners to launch an integrated HSN. Though TV18 CEO Haresh Chawla refused to divulge the amount, market sources put the investment of the Asian private equity fund at around Rs 30-40 million.

    TV18 will be putting up a national “virtual platform” network which “will bring forth products and services that have been evaluated by a team of experts.” According to a company statement, the shopping network “will leverage the TV18 network of five channels (CNBC-TV18, CNN-IBN, Awaaz, Channel 7 and SAW) and six internet properties (moneycontrol.com, ibnlive.com, poweryourtrade.com, commoditiescontrol.com, yatra.in and Jobstreet India). Collectively, the HSN will have a pool of more than 70 million adults to tap into – people who are very loyal to the TV18 brands and are decision makers with the ability to spend.”

    The organised shopping market is is estimated to become a $30-35 billion opportunity by 2010. “With a changing socio-economic environment, higher disposable incomes, willingness to spend and availability of cheap credit, the share of organised shopping is all set to increase in the consumer’s wallet. Studies estimate that the spending population is expected to increase from 280 million in 2002 to 686 million in 2010. Nearly 75 million sq.ft. of mall space is estimated to become available in India by 2007,” TV18 said.

    However, the ‘spender’ or ‘spending population’ is not easily accessible at a single point. Poor infrastructure, absence of quality locations and complex taxation issues confront sellers, TV18 said. Additional complications arise on account of the mind-boggling availability of choice. With hundreds of brands hitting the shelves every day, making the right choice takes up a significant amount of time of the spender in the transaction process, thus delaying buying decisions.

    “TV18 believes that the time is ripe for a shopping enabler that integrates our media offering with a fulfillment capability. With an existing franchise of over 70 million adults that TV18s media properties reach out too, and the potential universe of affluent middle class Indian’s, it is only a matter of time before TV18 attains a dominant position in this space,” said Chawla.

    “For the first time, by simply picking up the phone, clicking online, calling on their mobile, or simply ‘sms’ing their requests, people will be able to access and buy products and services that exactly meet their requirements. Our ability to build value and give value back to our viewers is what will differentiate us from the rest”.

  • MTV India forays into films; spoofs ‘Dhoom’

    MTV India forays into films; spoofs ‘Dhoom’

    MUMBAI: Spoofy! That’s how MTV India can be best described. After the latest spoof on Star World’s Rendezvous With Simi Garewal that gave birth to Rendezvous With Semi Girebaal on the small screen, MTV is now eyeing the big screen.

    The plan this time round is to spoof big banner movies and their first movie is titled – Ghoom. No prizes for guessing that it’s a spoof on Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) Dhoom, which starred Abhishekh Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra, Esha Deol and Rimi Sen.

    MTV India plans to make two more films this year. Spoofs, a la Scary Movie and Hotshots!

    Ghoom, which will be released theatrically on 2 June, comes at a time when YRF is busy with its schedule for Dhoom 2, which is slated to release in October this year.
    Coca Cola has been roped in as the presenting sponsor of Ghoom, which will be a one hour film. Inspired by the success of the show on MTV called Fully Faltoo, MTV India has produced the film under the MTV Fully Faltoo Films banner. The company is touting Ghoom as a blockbuster movie and has tied up with the Inox chain of multiplexes for distributing and screening the film. The movie will be released across Inox theatres in four cities – Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Kolkata and will be later aired on MTV on 17 June.

    The star cast includes Sumeet Raghavan (of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai fame) as Inspector Vijay Dikshit essaying the role of Abhishekh Bachchan; Ajay Gehi (Maqbool) as The Fool will portray the character of Uday Chopra and Gaurav Chopra as Balbir will play John Abraham’s character. The female brigade comprises Benika Deepak as Tweety Dikshit (Rimi Sen’s character) and Purbi Joshi will play Esha Deol’s character of Dilbaara.

    MTV Networks India vice president and general manger creative and content Ashish Patil says, “This is one of MTV’s biggest initiatives for 2006. It’s the next level of comedy with a full-on, Fully Faltoo, full length feature film. It is guaranteed to make your head go ghoom, ghoom, ghoom. Watch it at your own risk!”

    The channel is also planning to have a premiere of Ghoom at the Inox theatre in Mumbai on 31 May. What’s more, plans are also underway to launch the DVD of Ghoom for which the channel is in talks with a couple of players.

    Coca Cola, on the other hand, is spinning a contest around the movie wherein winners will get a chance to meet Aishwarya Rai. With its latest ‘Thande Ka Tadka’ summer campaign already underway, the soft drink major had recently also tied up with Aamir Khan starrer Rang De Basanti.

    Coca Cola India Ltd vice president marketing Vikas Gupta says, “Coca Cola, this summer, is constantly on the look out for exciting opportunities to add its ‘Thande Ka Tadka.’ Being in association with MTV’s Ghoom is part of the same endeavour. The first-of-its-kind initiative on television, it is all about using wit and humour to capture the imagination of the youth. After all, what is life without a twist or shall we say tadka.”

    Inox vice president marketing Shrikant Hazare said, “Ghoom is an unprecedented initiative that is sure to create excitement in theatres. We are glad to partner with MTV on this.”

    Like is true of any movie promotion and marketing activity, MTV India will also be going the whole hog to promote Ghoom. MTV has planned an extensive 360 degree push with print, television, outdoor, radio, online, mobile and viral marketing. Promos will also run across Inox multiplexes in the four cities.

    Apart from this, the channel will also be supporting the film on-air across its key properties like Piddhu The Great (a spoof on cricketer turned commentator Navjot Singh Siddhu) amongst others. The trailers of Ghoom will break on MTV this week, followed by trailers on AXN and Zee Cinema. The music video and a show on the making of the film will start airing sometime next week.

    Besides Coca Cola and Inox, MTV has also roped in Nokia and Parle Hide and Seek as associate sponsors and 93.5 Red FM as radio partner.

  • Star Group and PCCW to jointly explore IPTV pay-TV business

    Star Group and PCCW to jointly explore IPTV pay-TV business

    Bomanbridge Media, Vietnam’s VTV, Sonia Fleck, SkyVision, Secuoya, Earth Touch, PeacepointMUMBAI: Star Group and Richard Li’s Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) will be working together to explore the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) pay-TV opportunities in various markets.

    PCCW is the parent company of Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) and it’s broadband network serves all major business areas and 95 percent of Hong Kong households – one of the highest such percentages in the world.

    Leveraging PCCW’s expertise in building and operating an IPTV business and Star’s strength and experience in content creation and distribution and the pay-TV business, the two companies will look into opportunities to work with platform operators and media companies in Asia for the rollout of IPTV services.

    PCCW’s now TV is the world leader in IPTV with more than 550,000 users, subscribing to the service since its launch in August 2003 and representing over 25 per cent of homes so far in Hong Kong. now TV carries over 110 TV and audio channels including 17 channels provided by Star and its joint ventures.

    PCCW executive director Alex Arena said, “PCCW has a wealth of experience in quickly implementing and operating a successful IPTV pay-TV business. Telecom and broadband companies from around the world visit us regularly, to explore how PCCW can share its experience with them. We are delighted to work together with Star to develop these opportunities.”

    Star CEO Michelle Guthrie said, “We are excited to expand our working relationship with now TV, a tremendous partner of ours in Hong Kong, to explore opportunities across Asia. It is clear that IPTV will be an exciting distribution platform in the future. Today’s announcement underscores our efforts to help unlock its full potential, enabling Star to deliver content to more people across the region.”

    The Star/PCCW cooperation will involve full pay-TV operations and will be in addition to worldwide technical and IT solutions provided by Cascade Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of PCCW. Cascade has built and installed end-to-end technical IPTV solutions in countries as far afield as Thailand and Morocco. Ongoing discussions are in progress with a number of other overseas operators.

  • Benoit Runel appointed MD of BKN New Media

    Benoit Runel appointed MD of BKN New Media

    MUMBAI: Global animation company BKN International AG, involved in distribution and marketing of animated children’s television programmes and related consumer products, has appointed Benoit Runel as managing director of the company’s largest operating subsidiary, BKN New Media Ltd in Great Britain.

    Runel will oversee all sales and marketing for the company in the UK, Germany, Benelux, Scandinavia, North America and emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
    He is further charged with overseeing all development and pre-production activities in the London – based studio as well as with securing and managing all co-productions with international partners.

    With over 16 years experience in the television and children industry, Runel joins BKN from Jetix Europe where, as part of the senior management team he oversaw all programming and related on-air strategies for the group’s 12 channels. He brought content and new Intellectual Properties to Jetix Europe and US through a number of successful co-productions and acquisition deals.

    Prior to joining Jetix, Runel served seven years at TF1, the French free-TV giant where he built a library of 2000 hours of kids’ programming.

    “We are really pleased to have the contributions of such a talented individual as Benoit. His track record in children’s programming acquisitions, productions and sales both at Jetix Europe and TF1 in France over 15 years makes him a perfect candidate to lead this division,” said BKN group chief executive officer Allen Bohbot.

    “BKN is in a very exciting development stage. The products including Legend of the Dragon, Dork Hunters from Outer Space, Zorro: Generation Z and the new classic collection including Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, A Christmas Carol and Robin Hood, to name a few, for direct-to-DVD release are really strong and I look forward to expanding on these activities. This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” added Runel.

  • Star Group and PCCW to jointly explore IPTV pay-TV business

    MUMBAI: Star Group and Richard Li‘s Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) will be working together to explore the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) pay-TV opportunities in various markets.


    PCCW is the parent company of Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) and it‘s broadband network serves all major business areas and 95 percent of Hong Kong households – one of the highest such percentages in the world.


    Leveraging PCCW’s expertise in building and operating an IPTV business and Star’s strength and experience in content creation and distribution and the pay-TV business, the two companies will look into opportunities to work with platform operators and media companies in Asia for the rollout of IPTV services.


    PCCW‘s now TV is the world leader in IPTV with more than 550,000 users, subscribing to the service since its launch in August 2003 and representing over 25 per cent of homes so far in Hong Kong. now TV carries over 110 TV and audio channels including 17 channels provided by Star and its joint ventures.


    PCCW executive director Alex Arena said, “PCCW has a wealth of experience in quickly implementing and operating a successful IPTV pay-TV business. Telecom and broadband companies from around the world visit us regularly, to explore how PCCW can share its experience with them. We are delighted to work together with Star to develop these opportunities.”


    Star CEO Michelle Guthrie said, “We are excited to expand our working relationship with now TV, a tremendous partner of ours in Hong Kong, to explore opportunities across Asia. It is clear that IPTV will be an exciting distribution platform in the future. Today’s announcement underscores our efforts to help unlock its full potential, enabling Star to deliver content to more people across the region.”


    The Star/PCCW cooperation will involve full pay-TV operations and will be in addition to worldwide technical and IT solutions provided by Cascade Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of PCCW. Cascade has built and installed end-to-end technical IPTV solutions in countries as far afield as Thailand and Morocco. Ongoing discussions are in progress with a number of other overseas operators.

  • Vijay TV announces on-ground event ‘Iruvar’

    Vijay TV announces on-ground event ‘Iruvar’

    MUMBAI: Iruvar, Vijay TV’s latest offering in the event block, will present music industry veterans S P Balasubramaniam and Malaysia Vasudevan on one platforum.

    The event will be held on 28 April 2006 at 6:30 at YMCA Grounds, Royapettah, Chennai.

    The event will also present other popular playback singers Chitra and Madhu Balakrishnan.

    There will also be dance performances by the John Britto Dance Company.