ITV

Blog

  • MTS Allstream partners with SPTV International for MTS Video On Demand library

    MTS Allstream partners with SPTV International for MTS Video On Demand library

    MUMBAI:MTS Allstream signs on Sony Pictures Television International to further expand MTS Video On Demand library Stock Symbol: MBT

    Canada based communication solutions provider MTS Allstream has inked a a multi-year distribution deal with Sony Pictures Television Canada.

    In a bid to expanding the quality and selection of its MTS Video On Demand movie library, MTS Allstream air titles such as Rent, Zathura, The Legend of Zorro, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and The Fog, as well as MGM’s Into the Blue.

    “MTS has always been committed to delivering the best choice and the best value to its customers,” said MTS Allstream Inc president consumer markets Kelvin Shepherd.

    “By signing this agreement with Sony Pictures Television Canada, we can now give MTS TV customers more choice from an expanded MTS Video On Demand library. With new MTS TV features being rolled out on an ongoing basis, MTS TV continues to be recognized as one of the best digital television services in North America.”

    “We’re very pleased to partner with MTS TV and to bring this huge catalogue of television entertainment to more than 50,000 MTS TV subscribers in Winnipeg,” said Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) senior VP, pay television Mike Wald.

    “MTS TV is widely recognized as setting the standard for quality of service and delivering choice and flexibility to customers, and we’re proud to be part of the exciting growth of MTS Video On Demand.”

    With MTS Video On Demand, customers can use their remote control to order from a great selection of movie titles and other programs with the ability to watch them as many times as they want, whenever they want within a 24-hour
    period.

  • Islamic TV channel Al Resalah launched in Saudi Arabia

    Islamic TV channel Al Resalah launched in Saudi Arabia

    MUMBAI: A 24-hour Arabic Islamic channel Al Resalah (The Message) is launched in Saudi Arabia. The channel, which aims to counter the misconception about Islam, was unveiled by prince Al Waleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company.

    Al Resalah’s supreme advisory committee comprises some of the renowned Islamic scholars, Shoura Council members and heads of Islamic organisations. The funding for the non-profitable channel has come from the personal contribution of Prince Al Waleed.

    Al Resalah, transmitted through Arabsat and Nilesat, will broadcast a variety of programmes including educational, drama, songs, and game shows purely in the Islamic context. The channel will air open-minded viewpoints and the true message of Islam and its teachings.

    “Islam is being hijacked and defamed by a group of deviants, who operate in the name of religion in several parts of the world. Al Resalah targets the new knowledgeable young generation and open-minded Arab audience to counteract the negative image of Islam, being portrayed in other societies of the world,” Prince Al Waleed has been quoted in media reports as saying.

  • Ford targets automobile enthusiasts with new reality TV show

    Ford targets automobile enthusiasts with new reality TV show

    MUMBAI: Ford Motor Company has announced its plans to produce a TV competition on the theme of designing a dream car. As per the concept, the reality show participants will work on developing a concept car with Ford designers.

    Ford officials have been quoted in media reports as saying that the TV show will be shopped around in the hope of landing on a major TV network.

    The company also launched a promotional video of the show. Ad agency J. Walter Thompson has designed the video.
    The automobile major is one of two principal sponsors of the Fox’s American Idol reality show.

  • China celebrates 80th birthday of cartoon & animation industry

    China celebrates 80th birthday of cartoon & animation industry

    MUMBAI: The second edition of the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival was kicked off in China on Thursday. The highlight of the festival is the 80th birthday celebrations of China’s cartoon and animation industry.

    The week-long festival has chosen “cartoon and animation make life wonderful” as its theme. The event is co-sponsored by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Zhejiang provincial government.

    Eminent cartoon producers from France, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong and Croatia are participating in the festival.

    The festival will take a look at the progress made by China international cartoon and animation industry, apart from debating on the prospect the industry. A competition on cartoon and animation works in China will also be held.

  • Set Discovery promotes Gurjeev Singh Kapoor to SVP, sales & marketing

    Set Discovery promotes Gurjeev Singh Kapoor to SVP, sales & marketing

    MUMBAI: Set Discovery Pvt. Ltd., which distributes a bouquet channels under the brand name One Alliance, has promoted Gurjeev Singh Kapoor to the position of SVP, sales & marketing.

    In his new position, Kapoor will look after the company’s India sales and marketing operations. He will also take up the additional responsibility of international marketing.

    Based out of Mumbai, Kapoor will be reporting to Set Discovery President Anuj Gandhi.

    Set Discovery has also promoted about 17 executives in the junior and middle level management categories, across the country. “We have promoted people across the board. There are senior managers who have become AVPs and managers who have been assigned as senior managers,” informs Gandhi.

    Kapoor has earlier worked with ESPN and Zee International before joining Discovery Communications. He moved to Set Discovery in April 2002, when the joint venture between Sony Entertainment Television and Discovery Communications was formed.

    SET Discovery distributes channels including Sony Entertainment Television, Max, Discovery, Ten Sports, Discovery Travel and Living, MTV, Sab TV, AXN, NDTV India, NDTV 24×7, NDTV Profit, Nick, Animal Planet and Animax channels through the One Alliance brand.

  • Indiagames to develop mobile game on NBC’s hit comedy ‘The Office’

    Indiagames to develop mobile game on NBC’s hit comedy ‘The Office’

    MUMBAI: Mobile entertainment content provider Indiagames has clinched a deal with US broadcaster major NBC. The company has announced that it is publishing a mobile phone game based on the channel’s hit comedy series The Office in a licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.

    Indiagames will launch this initiative with The Office Games, a mobile game that will bring petty behavior and zero productivity to the mobile handset. Developed solely in-house, the game will feature groundbreaking cubical game-play that will allow players to participate in a variety of different mini-games including Wastekeball, Paper-Football (Hateball), Table-Top Golf, Office Paper War and more, states an official release.

    “We are thrilled to bring the fun, smart humor and the resulting awkward silence of The Office to mobile phones,” says Indiagames CEO Vishal Gondal.

    “I’m convinced that this suite of addictive casual games will lead to diminished productivity in offices across North America,” said Universal Mobile Entertainment senior vice president Jeremy Laws. “I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to NBC’s hit comedy series.”

    The Office takes a painfully funny look at the interactions of the desk jockeys at Dunder Mifflin paper-supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Golden Globe winner Steve Carell stars as unctuous regional manager Michael Scott who hosts the documentary crew on a tour of the workplace.

  • BNS Hong Kong to source content for Thailand’s True IPTV service

    BNS Hong Kong to source content for Thailand’s True IPTV service

    MUMBAI: Hong Kong based IPTV solution provider Broadband Network Systems Ltd (BNS) will source and aggregate digital television channels for the Thailand-based True Corporation’s IPTV platform. As per the deal, BNS is working with True IPTV to acquire key lifestyle content for its IPTV platform.

    The scope of the service provided by BNS includes sourcing and aggregating digital television channels from around the world for distribution over True’s broadcast services.

    True Corporation Public Company Limited has over 400,000 broadband subscribers and has launched Thailand’s first IPTV service, True IPTV, in early April 2006 with 10 channels across entertainment, music, lifestyle, kids and news categories, states an official release.

    “Working with an experienced content aggregator like BNS will enable us to secure the sought-after content needed to expand our services quickly,” says Broadband Broadcast and Multimedia GM at True Corporation Plc Paisit Vatjanapagorn.

    Director of Strategy and Content at BNS, Alita Wong says, “Offering compelling and unique content is one of the most important aspects of a successful IPTV service. We are excited to work with True Corporation and look forward to delivering a differentiated content mix which drives subscriptions.”

  • Discovery Travel & Living food series with Anthony Bourdain starts 1 May

    Discovery Travel & Living food series with Anthony Bourdain starts 1 May

    MUMBAI: The gastronomic Indiana Jones comes to India. This May, Discovery Travel & Living’s premieres the Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations series. Not for the faint hearted, Bourdain’s travel experiences — the good, the bad and the ugly — are presented as he travels the world with his peculiar, raw and unfiltered edge. It will air from 1 to 5 May at 9 pm.

    Bourdain is a best-selling author, reluctant food celebrity, fearless traveler, culinary adventurer whose no holds barred point of view will always reflect that experience. He is known for travelling the world seeking the authentic experiences and food that flavour the world’s cultures.

    “This is not a food show — it’s about people, cultures and places as seen through the eyes of a chef and the prism of food,” says Discovery Networks India VP- Lifestyle Aditya Tripathi.

    Apart from being positive for the restaurant business, Bourdain says the series has helped people become more educated and adventurous when it comes to food. Says Bourdain. “Food is maybe the fastest, easiest and best way ‘in’ to an unfamiliar place and culture. Once you’ve sat down with people and eaten their food, their whole world opens up to you in ways that wouldn’t ordinarily happen. Food, after all, is the purest expression of a country, of a culture, a region and a personality.”

    Anthony Bourdain was quoted in a media report on the title, No Reservations as saying,”It means that there are things I want to do, there are things I want to see, there are things I want to experience before the time that I can’t do those things. No reservations, meaning we’re going all the way, baby. No fear. My whole life, cooking has been about control. Traveling and eating are about letting things happen.”

    Bourdain is now executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, NYC. He is the author of two novels, Gone Bamboo and Bone in the Throat and his first non-fiction work, Kitchen Confidential takes the reader into the kitchens to reveal the seamy side of the hospitality industry.

  • Pond’s Sapno ki Rajkumari Contest

    Pond’s Sapno ki Rajkumari Contest

    Lucky winners will relish the magnificence of royalty & revel in an unmatched luxury by winning the grand prize of becoming Pond’s Sapno ki Rajkumari. Each Pond’s Sapno ki Rajkumari will experience the grandeur of a princess’s life for a day.

    A specially organised gilded carriage will carry her to a majestic palace. Royal attendants will adorn her with designer clothes and accessories. And what’s more? A Royal couple will coronate the Pond’s Sapno ki Rajkumari with an exclusively crafted diamond crown. There are also other exquisite prizes which include jewellery sets, royal diamond earrings and gold pendants.

    Buy Pond’s talc available in four exciting variants and engage in this royal pursuit. This offer is applicable with Pond’s dream flower talc, Pond’s magic talc, Pond’s sandal talc and Pond’s oil control talc. The dream run will also continue through various regional contests in your cities and towns. This activity is supported by other exciting offers available exclusively in Hindustan Lever Limited super value stores.

    About Pond’s:

    Pond’s has two product ranges, which fall in the area of advanced skin creams and talcum powders. The summer range includes attractive and trusted Talcum Powder portfolio of Pond’s Dream flower talc, Pond’s Magic and Ponds Sandal talc. Pond’s Talcum Powder has been a trusted beauty product for Indian women since 1956. Last year Pond’s launched an all-new Oil Control Range with Pond’s Oil Control Talc & Cream with Orange Peel extracts & vitamin C. The Skincare range also comprises Moisturizing Cold Cream, launched in India in the year 1947, and the all-new Ponds body Lotion with Triple Vitamins.
    Under the Pond’s umbrella we also have our Pond’s Daily Face Wash that cleans your skin gently.

    Pond’s is a leading global brand with its presence is USA, Mexico, Japan, China Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, Spain, Colombo, Malaysia, Australia, Korea etc.

  • Zee consolidated net skids 30% at Rs 2.21 billion in FY06

    Zee consolidated net skids 30% at Rs 2.21 billion in FY06

    MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms has posted a 30 per cent fall in consolidated net profit at Rs 2.21 billion for the fiscal ended 31 March 2006, as against Rs 3.17 billion a year ago.

    Total income, however, rose to Rs 14.87 billion, up from Rs 13.3 billion.
    For the last quarter of the fiscal, the company has reported a 27.2 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 675.5 million, as compared to Rs 925.7 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

    Total income, however, rose 10 per cent to Rs 4.1 billion, up from Rs 3.8 billion. The operating profit stood at Rs 761 million, after expensing of initial investments in new activities viz. Zee Telugu, Zee Smile, Zee Sports and others, amounting to Rs 525 million (13.2 per cent of consolidated revenues). As a result, consolidated operating profits of continuing businesses were Rs 1.28 billion. These are higher by 4.8 per cent as compared to the corresponding quarter last year. “The growth rate is subdued mainly due to investments in marketing focused on long-term buildup of mainline channels,” Zee said in an official release.
    On a standalone basis, Zee Telefilms has posted a 54.39 per cent fall in net profit to Rs 740.00 million for the year ended 31 March 2006 as compared to Rs 1.62 billion a year ago. Total Income has increased to Rs 8.84 billion, up from Rs 6.93 billion.

    For the quarter ended 31 March 2006, the company reported a net loss of Rs 132.5 million as compared to a net profit of Rs 370.40 million a year ago. Total income, though, has increased to Rs 2.66 billion, up from Rs 1.75 billion during the period.

    “The business of Zee Sports channel started on 8 June 2005. Zee Sports Ltd is re-organised in ZTL during current quarter and content gathering and space selling activity is retained in Zee Sports through an agency arrangement. Hence the standalone results of the company for current quarter and year are not comparable, said the company.

    Commenting on the results, ZTL chairman Subhash Chandra said, ““We are pleased to report the continuing uptrend in advertising revenues and the strong recovery in our market position. You are aware of the hike in advertisement rates announced by Zee Network, which we are confident would start reflecting in FY2007 revenues.”

    “The Board has also given approval for the hiving off of Zee’s direct consumer business. All DishTV operations would now be under a single corporate entity, bringing strategic clarity to this high growth business. This shall complete the restructuring agenda we had set for ourselves to create four focused, pure play, listed companies ready to exploit the vast emerging opportunities in each line of business. Subject to necessary approvals, this would result in streamlined operations in each area to build long-term shareholder value. It would also clear the ground for acquisitions and strategic or financial partners in the de-merged businesses, apart from unlocking shareholder value,” said Chandra.

    Commenting on the results, ZTL CEO Pradeep Guha said, “While general entertainment (GE) as a genre has posted a 5 per cent decline in time spent, Zee TV has increased its viewership share from 16 per cent to 22 per cent along with a significant growth in time spent. Even within prime time Zee TV is the only channel to have grown, by 21 per cent, while its main competitors have dipped between 7 per cent and 12 per cent. Zee TV now conclusively occupies the second place in the pecking order of GE channels. With an average of 180 GRPs, we are fully 30 per cent higher than the number three GE channel, which continues to be behind Zee Cinema as well.”

    “The cinema space has shown a decline except however for Zee Cinema, which has grown 7 per cent, with a channel share of 37 per cent. Recently we won the BCCI Cricket Rights for the one-day internationals to be held in non-ICC countries.This further strengthens the long term business prospects of the company,” Guha added.

    The Board of Directors in its meeting held today, has taken on record the unaudited consolidated financial results of Zee Telefilms Limited and its subsidiaries for the quarter ended 31 March, 2006.

    REVENUE STREAMS:
    Zee’s advertising revenues increased to Rs 1.96 billion, a 11.7 per cent growth as compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. “This growth in advertising revenues was a result of higher average rates on most of the network channels,” the company said.

    Overall subscription revenues at Rs 1.76 billion registered an increase of 5 per cent over the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Domestic pay revenues stood at Rs 717 million. Other sales and services grew to Rs 253 million. “From 2Q FY2006, we are recording the net income component of the trading of set top boxes as part of other income”, the company said in the release.

    EXPENDITURE:
    Overall, the cost of goods and operations went up 44.8 per cent compared to a year-ago period, mainly due to investments made in new channels like Zee Sports, Zee Smile, Zee Telugu and Zee Jagran.

    Personnel costs were 6.5 per cent higher than corresponding period last year. Other costs, particularly marketing expenses have increased by 24.4 per cent. As a result, total expenses were higher by 35 per cent.

    From FY2006, the Company has accelerated its investments in the development and expansion of its network. “This has taken two directions. One, substantial marketing and content improvement initiatives have been put through and second, a number of new channels have been launched, to fill out our content offerings,” states the company.

    “As a result, Zee is in a phase in which the initial investments have been made and expensed fully, while the corresponding revenue build-up is to be realized in the next several quarters. The immediate impact is lowering of operating profits, which we hope to recover in successive quarters through increasing revenues and progressive reduction in costs,” the company adds.

    Zee’s Q4 segment-wise revenues are indicated in the table below:

    OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

    Cable Network
    Zee is looking forward to reinvention of its cable TV business and augmenting revenues. “The cable business is poised to pursue new technology opportunities with renewed focus including ‘triple play’ offerings, digitisation of cable, broadband and other similar initiatives that form the frontiers of cable today. Firm business plans are being given shape and field launch is due to commence shortly. There is more visibility now on the path of transition in the cable business towards digitalization. The recent regulatory and legal developments look set to lead to a roadmap for digitisation initially in the metros,” the company said.

    Direct Consumer Services business
    The DTH subscriber numbers have crossed 900,000 and are growing at the rate of about 2,500 per day. “We are poised to execute market expansion strategies which would lead to a ramp up of subscription from the urban markets, based on value added services not presently available on cable,” the company said.

    At the Bombay Stock Exchange today, the Zee scrip opened at Rs 241.50 and closed at Rs 246.65, after touching a high of Rs 253 and a low of Rs 242.50.