ITV

Blog

  • Zee fixes share swap ratio for Dish TV

    Zee fixes share swap ratio for Dish TV

    MUMBAI: Zee Telefilms Ltd. (ZTL) today said its shareholders will get 23 shares of ASC Enterprises Ltd (ASCE) for every 10 shares held.

    The ZTL board has also approved a demerger scheme for spinning off its direct consumer business into ASCE, a company promoted by Subhash Chandra’s Essel Group for direct-to-home (DTH) business. Siticable (without its cable business) and its wholly owned subsidiary New Era Entertainment Network Ltd. (NEENL) will merge with ASCE, integrating all DishTV operations under this company.

    In the first stage, Siticable will, thus, hive off its cable TV business into Wire and Wireless India Ltd (WWIL). The residual Siticable and NEENL, which handles marketing and distribution of the DTH business, will then merge with ASCE.

    The paid-up equity capital of ASCE will increase to Rs 1.66 billion after merger, up from the current base of around Rs 411 million. The company plans to bring back the capital base to the pre-merger level by cancelling three of every four shares held in ASCE. “As a result of the merger, ASCE’s capital base will get bloated. We want to compress the base,” said Essel Group CEO, corporate strategy and finance. Rajiv Garg.

    The share exchange ratio is based on the recommendation of independent valuers M/s Deloitte Haskin & Sells.
    ZTL shareholders will receive shares on a proportionate basis in ASCE as consideration. As per the independent valuation, ZTL shareholders will get 230 shares of ASCE of Re 1 each for every 100 shares in ZTL. This would result in a 57 per cent shareholding in ASCE for the shareholders of ZTL,” the company said in a release. The appointed date for the Scheme of Arrangement will be with retrospective effect from 1 April.

    The scheme of arrangement will require approval of the Stock Exchange, shareholders and creditors of Zee and from Bombay High Court. ASCEL will be listed on all stock exchanges where ZTL is listed, the release added

    Commenting on the board’s decision to hive off Zee’s direct consumer business, ZTL chairman Subhash Chandra said, “All Dish TV 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.”

    Zee has sent an application to the Stock Exchange on the restructuring plans for the news, content and cable business. “An application will soon be made to the High Court,” the release said.

  • Optimystix inks co-production deal with Belgium’s Kanakna Productions for ‘India Celebrity Express’

    Optimystix inks co-production deal with Belgium’s Kanakna Productions for ‘India Celebrity Express’

    MUMBAI: Optimystix Entertainment has been roped in as the Indian producer for India Celebrity Express designed for the Dutch market.

    Belgium based Kanakna Productions is expected to license the show in several countries this year. The co-production agreement is just the first in a row of productions of India Celebrity Express for several countries, informs an official release.

    “This is a new business opportunity for Optimystix. We get a chance to prove to the rest of the world that Indian producers can match the required international standards for TV production. We expect more co-production opportunities for Optimystix through our partnership with Sparks Network,” says Optimystix Entertainment partner and founder Sanjiv Sharma.

    The show features celebrities in a race through India, from the sources of Ganges to the tropical beaches of Kerala. The celebrities in the show are given Rs 100 a day to survive meaning that they have to find means of transportation as well as lodging through the route.

    “This is what Sparks Network is all about. We have gathered some of the top producers from all around the world in this network and by collaborating we give each other formats and production opportunities. It’s a great crowd of very talented producers that just love to work together,” says Sparks Network president Nicola Soderlund.

    Sparks Network seeks to promote the interests of its 14 member production companies from all over the world. Optimystix is the first production house in Asia to join the network.

  • Cartoon Network to air ‘Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia’ on 30 April

    Cartoon Network to air ‘Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia’ on 30 April

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network will be airing Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia on 30 April at 12 noon. In the movie Barbie stars as the beautiful fairy Elina who transforms into a mermaid. The movie brings to life a never-before-seen fairytale set under the sea.

    Barbie as Fairy Elina travels with her trusted friend Bibble to a magical underwater world called Mermaidia. The adventure begins when she learns that the Evil Laverna has kidnapped their mer-friend Prince Nalu. Elina and the brave mermaid Nori set off to save Prince Nalu and prevent Laverna from poisoning the water.

    The movie will be repeated on Cartoon Network on the same day at 9 pm.

  • Worldspace unveils new satellite radio receiver Diva II

    Worldspace unveils new satellite radio receiver Diva II

    BANGALORE: Worldspace Satellite Radio has launched a new satellite radio receiver – the Diva II. The company promises enhanced sound quality and features to ensure a truly enriched satellite radio experience to the listeners with the launch.

    The Diva II is available in Elegant Black or Chic Silver and has a suggested retail price at Rs. 4,790 with a special introductory offer price of Rs. 2,499 only. Subscription packages are available in three options – Rs. 1000 for six months, Rs. 1800 for 12 months, and Rs. 3250 for 24 months, said an official release.

    The new satellite radio receiver is a stand-alone system that is also compatible with most music systems, presenting listeners an opportunity to tune in to over 40 radio channels playing the widest range of music, entertainment and news in uncluttered and distinctive programming formats, the release adds.

  • Ten Sports partners with MindShare for Pepsi movie festival

    Ten Sports partners with MindShare for Pepsi movie festival

    MUMBAI: Ten Sports is now going the movies way. The channel will air five greatest sports movies of recent times during April and May.

    As part of its philosophy to bring wholesome sports entertainment to its viewers, Ten Sports will become the first sports channel in the country to telecast sports-based feature films.

    The new programme Pepsi Playtime TV – The Sports Movie Festival, has been developed along with Pepsi and MindShare, to provide complete sports entertainment to viewers.

    The festival begins on 28 April with the telecast of Remember the Titans, starring Oscar winner Denzil Washington, Will Patton and Wood Harris. Each week the movies will premiere on Friday at 8 pm, followed by a repeat on Sunday at 10:30 am.

    The other movies lined up apart from Remember the Titans are He Got Game (5 May), Color of Money (12 May), The Air up There (19 May) and The Rookie (27 May).

    Taj Television Limited CEO Chris McDonald said, “At Ten Sports, we have always tried to be innovators in our programming mix. Sports and movies are two passions of the Indian sub-continent and we are very pleased to be able to offer this powerful combination to millions of homes across India.”

    On behalf of Pepsi, MindShare Delhi general manager Sundar Raman said, “Our understanding shows affinity in viewership between the two genres of sports and movies. Pepsi is known to connect with youth in a unique and differential manner using movies and sports as platform. In Ten Sports we found an ideal partner to bring these two together. The Pepsi Playtime movies on Ten Sports is a unique way of leveraging Pepsi TV campaign by bringing these two large platform together with like minded partners.”

  • Zee rejig: 2 companies to merge with ASC Enterprise

    Zee rejig: 2 companies to merge with ASC Enterprise

    NEW DELHI: Two companies related to the consumer service business of the Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group’s DTH platform are poised to be merged with ASC Enterprise Ltd, which holds a DTH licence.

    The companies to be merged with ASC Enterprise are Cornersoft Entertainment Co Pvt Ltd and New Era Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

    This is part of the restructuring announced by Zee Telefilms late March to de-merge its various businesses into separate companies to unlock shareholders’ value and conform to varying regulatory needs.

    The direct consumer business is marked by division of activities between the DTH license holder ASC Enterprises Limited and subsidiaries of Siti Cable, the cable arm of Zee Telefilms. This led to lack of clarity in structure, inefficiencies in tax and diffused strategic focus, the Zee management felt.

    The merger proposal, which got the in-principle okay of the Zee board, is likely to be formalised at a board meet of the company on 27 April. ASC Enterprise’s DTH service is marketed under the brand name Dish TV.

    Started in 2004, Cornersoft Entertainment created the 7575 interactive platform for Zee family of channels and other Essel group companies. The interaction happens on the Essel short code 7575, which during the final countdown to Sa Re Ga Ma 2005 Challenge show on Zee TV received almost 5 million SMSs per day. Such massive interaction took it ahead of the popular Times group-owned 8888 platform.

    The 7575 platform has tied up with all the GSM and CDMA phone operators with a powerful national penetration of 98.5 per cent.

    The mission of Cornersoft Entertainment is to integrate, connect and extend high quality and engaging content, applications and services to customers. It’s positioning will help Dish TV market a range of value added services that it plans to offer to its subscribers over a period of time.

    The 7575 service is also a pioneer in integrating TV-SMS, a technology solution that provides live interaction capabilities to play and interact while watching a particular show. Over a period of time, other value added services like ring tones download have also been introduced.

    On the other hand, New Era Entertainment markets the Dish TV services in the country. Launched in October 2003, Dish TV has close to one million subscribers and is presently said to be adding approximately 3000 subscribers every day as awareness about such a service increases in India.

    The Zee Telefilms stock on the Bombay Stock Exchange closed Wednesday at Rs 241.5, down by Rs 2.35, after opening at Rs 243.85. At the National Stock Exchange, the scrip closed at Rs 241.7, down by Rs 2.30 from the last day’s close of Rs 244.

  • History Channel to hype entertainment quotient

    History Channel to hype entertainment quotient

    NEW DELHI: Come live the entertainment story with Martin Sheen, Omar Sharif, Daniel Craig and Peter O’Toole. This is The History Channel’s (THC) new mantra for India.
    The only international television network devoted exclusively to historical programming, today announced its plans for pursuing a new strategic direction in India by making a well-defined shift to entertainment.

    The channel also outlined its extensive plans to take forward this move to aggressively drive viewership and advertising revenues. Starting 6 May, viewers in India will get to experience an enhanced and extended offering of the same.

    “This year we are looking at making the channel stronger and more relevant to our viewers and advertisers by enhancing our offering,” The History Channel managing director India Nikhil Mirchandani said at a press conference today.

    The new strategic direction of the channel stems from its need to continuously stay relevant to its viewers. The History Channel with its new tagline ‘Live The Story’ is going to be all about bringing alive a viewing experience that will be unique, inspirational and above all entertaining.

    According to the company, the shift to entertainment ensures that THC remains true to its unique theme of History while becoming more entertaining and engaging through riveting programmes that will be showcased in hitherto unseen formats.

    Commenting on the new programming that will be visible on the channel from May, company’s senior vice-president programming Joy Bhattacharjya said, “We have a spectacular line-up of programmes from May onwards. We are moving onward and adding to our well-researched and entertaining documentaries and serials a whole new line up of the most interesting stories.”

    The new fare from history will include mini-series, re-enactments and also films. Martin Sheen, Omar Sharif and Daniel Craig will enact some of the most popular and interesting characters and stories through history.

    “It is what I call the Devdas effect – where we will inform in an entertaining format and allow viewers to live the stories that are historically relevant,” Bhattacharjya added.

    The film Devdas made a couple of years back by Sanjay Leela Bhansali in true Bollywood style of lavish sets, grandeur and oodles of melodrama re-told to Gen-X successfully a wasted love story set amidst the 1920s-1940s of West Bengal, torn by class conflict, through the lead protagonists, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit.

    The programming on The History Channel will deal with events and personalities that are historically significant in an entertaining manner. From Rome to Hitler to Helen of Troy to Spartacus, the channel will explore the wide gamut of history without being restricted by formats.

    The new strategy will also be evident in the vibrant on-air graphic elements, which will reinforce the power and passion of history presented in an entertaining format. To promote the new look and feel, the channel will also roll out an on-air brand campaign that will communicate the spirit of channel.

    Facts and fiction will mesh together. For example, film Marilyn and Me will be accompanied by the biography of the sex goddess. Every month will have a distinctive theme.

    The month of May will be identified through the theme of war and will showcase never-seen before films and series such as Hitler and Haven. June will be dedicated to the theme of Rome and the key films, mini-series and factual series will revolve around this theme.

    Some of the best series from the AETN international library, Crusades, Gold and Barbarians will be presented to Indian audiences by The History Channel in the special format of a Limited Edition Series.

    Speaking on the new strategic positioning of the channel, Rajesh Sheshadri, vice-president marketing said, “We are looking at an exponential increase in viewership by 2008. This increase in viewership is a function of first, our distinct positioning whereby we are the only channel on History.”

    He added, “Second, the fact that we will debut familiar titles in entertaining formats; and third, versioning wherein the channel is also investing in providing its Hindi-speaking viewers with high quality versioned programming that will enhance their viewing experience and allow them to enjoy internationally acclaimed programmes.”

    The channel is also planning innovative and integrated marketing initiatives to ensure the channel’s success in India.

    Reaching more than 200 million viewers in 70 countries, versioned in 20 languages, The History Channel is the only international television network devoted exclusively to historical programming. A division of A&E Television Networks, it is marketed internationally by AETN International.

    In India, the channel began broadcasting in November 2003 and claims to be available to 45 million C&S households. The History Channel comes to India through an affiliation between AETN international and NGC Network (India) Pvt. Ltd.

  • Time Warner Telecom expands fiber network arm

    Time Warner Telecom expands fiber network arm

    MUMBAI: Time Warner Telecom Inc., one of the leading providers of managed voice and data networking solutions for businesses in the US, has announced the expansion of its 180-mile Dallas fiber network into Frisco, one of the fastest growing cities in North Texas.

    Time Warner Telecom extends its local networks into suburban office parks and downtown commercial areas to meet customer demand for an alternative fiber facilities-based choice for communications services. This Sonet network is similar to the company’s 43 other networks across the country that deliver national business-class voice and data solutions, locally and nationally, states an official release.

    “Customer demand typically includes the need for business continuity, diverse routing, data storage, metro Ethernet and a variety of next generation services that only fiber, facilities-based carriers, like Time Warner Telecom and larger incumbents, can offer,” says Time Warner Telecom’s vice president and general manager in Dallas John Schuchart.

    “This network extension also connects Frisco businesses to our 800-mile fiber ring that runs between Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, as well as to our national network of 20,000 route miles of fiber and 10 Gbps IP backbone,” adds Schuchart. “Time Warner Telecom offers communications solutions that enable businesses to converge their networks, reduce their total communications costs and improve their operating efficiencies.”

  • GlobeVISION forges IPTV distribution agreement with Korea’s CGN TV

    GlobeVISION forges IPTV distribution agreement with Korea’s CGN TV

    MUMBAI: The Los Angeles-headquartered digital media service provider GlobeVISION, Inc. has inked an agreement with CGN TV, Korea’s largest Christian programming broadcaster, to carry content from the network on GlobeVISION’s PIE Service, an on-demand Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service for Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians.

    The deal will bring CGN TV’s Christian-valued programs directly to Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians throughout North America when GlobeVISION’s PIE Service launches on 1 July.

    The PIE service will launch with thousands of Korean titles ranging from moves to television series to news and sports. It will quickly expand to include programming from all over Asia including China and India, states an official release.

    CGN TV is the latest in a string of high-profile content providers to jump onto the GlobeVISION bandwagon. Korea’s two largest private broadcasters (MBC and SBS), largest cable media group (CJ Media) and top movie studio (CJ Entertainment) have signed deals positioning GlobeVISION and the powerhouse distribution channel for Korean content in North America, adds the release.

    “We are pleased to be able to add these values-based programming options to GlobeVISION’s already announced lineup of news, culture, sports and entertainment,” said Edward Bach, founder and CEO/president of GlobeVISION. “GlobeVISION recognizes how important family and faith-based programming is, especially considering what a hot topic it has been in the U.S. lately.”

    The deal also forms a strategic marketing and promotion partnership to boost awareness of CGN TV’s subscription satellite service. CGN TV’s 24 hour satellite service currently beams Christian-themed programming, including culture, worship and educational programs into 123 countries.

  • Zee Telefilms to be named Zee Entertainment Enterprises; ASC Enterprises becomes Dish TV

    Zee Telefilms to be named Zee Entertainment Enterprises; ASC Enterprises becomes Dish TV

    MUMBAI: One part of the process set in motion late last month by the Subhash Chandra promoted Zee Telefilms board to split its broadcasting business into three entities — news operations, broadcast & content creation, and Siti Cable — has been completed with the nomenclature of the new entities finalised.

    Zee Telefilms will henceforth be named as Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel). Included under its ambit are flagship Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Cafe, Zee Studio, Zee Trendz, Zee Sports and Zee Smile.

    On the other hand, ASC Enterprises Ltd, under which comes the group’s direct-to-home (DTH) businesses, will now be renamed as Dish TV Ltd. ASC Enterprise’s DTH service is marketed under the brand name Dish TV.

    Last month, the company’s board had approved of splitting of its broadcasting business into three entities — news operations, broadcast and content creation, and Siti Cable.

    There is no change of name for the news operations company which remains Zee News Ltd. Under Zee News comes not just the news channels but the regional channels as well.

    The reason for including the regional channels into Zee News Ltd is because of the heavy news component that forms an intrinsic part of all these channels. It was in order to comply with the news uplinking guidelines that effective October 2005, newsgathering activities of ZTL were transferred to Zee News Limited.

    The news channels include Zee News, Zee Biz and the recently launched Bangla news channel Chobbees Ghanta. The regional channels are Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Punjabi, Zee Gujarati, with the newest addition being Zee Telugu. Expected to launch next month is the sixth regional channel in the stable Zee Kannada.

    As regards the restructuring on the cable side, it has already been announced that the cable business of Siti Cable, a 100 per cent subsidiary of ZTL (now Zeel), and the cable related business of ZTL would be de-merged into Wire and Wireless (India) Limited (WWIL), a new company incorporated for the purpose.