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  • Jaitley issues warning on titillating programming

    Jaitley issues warning on titillating programming

    Indian information and broadcasting minister Arun Jaitley issued a stern warning to TV channels which are banking on nudity and semi-nudity or provocative programming to attract audiences and generate viewership.

    “People have protested about how some organisations are taking advantage of liberal norms in India. Why should you have a stripper in a airconditioner ad which was shown recently on television? Why should a condom commercial be so erotic and put on television for all to see,” he asked. “If fashion is to be marketed in terms of transparent clothing, and every decency violated on TV screens, I don’t know if we can allow that. The cable and satellite industry has to morally police itself. Also advertisers. There are issues which affect our sensibilities. I don’t think Indian society is prepared for this. We want a liberal regime. Hard censorship is abhorrent to any democracy. But if industry is not interested then we may have to step in.”

    Jaitley was speaking while addressing a gathering organised by FICCI on what Indian entertainment should be doing to ensure rapid growth in the new millennium on 30 March.

    Jaitley was pretty caustic about his ministry’s position on this issue. Should the government step in when we have control devices such as child locks, he was asked. Should it not be the responsibility of the parent or adult?

    He responded icicly: “The industry has absolutely no responsibility does it? TV censorship in India is not in the form of pre-censorship. It is like the green channel in the Customs where the onus is on you to declare honestly. But if we allow some channels which are not comlying honestly than five others will get in and take advantage of our liberal attitude. ”

    Going by Jaitley’s statements it is quite likely that the government may shortly come out with a ban against the Michael Adam promoted Fashion Television, which is generating high viewerships in India mainly because of scantily clad models. Jaitley had banned Russian channel TB6 last year because it showed pornographic films and had ordered Indian cable networks to stop carrying it on their networks. Most Indian cable TV operators have complied since.

  • Funky Formats to showcase five new shows at MIPTV

    Funky Formats to showcase five new shows at MIPTV

    MUMBAI: Funky Formats will showcase five new entertainment formats at the television event MIPTV in Cannes, France. The event runs from 2 to 6 April.

    This will be headlined by the show Telenovela Star, which will air on Caracol in Colombia later this year. The format sees a telenovela running in parallel with a daily reality show. Funky is sharing rights with Caracol Television.

    Be My Boss is a reality series that encourages young people to pursue their dream jobs, with candidates tracking down and pitching to their ideal CEO. On the game show end, ATM is being billed by the company as the first quiz to have an ATM machine dispensing cash right in the studio.

    Banks and credit card providers have already signed up to sponsor in some territories. Meanwhile, The Trade Show is a location-based game where contestants are provided with everyday items which they must trade up with local citizens to form a ‘value chain’.

    Rounding out the slate is Alien Nation, a reality sitcom where families allow cameras into their homes. The twist is that all the action is being watched by aliens. First, the aliens find the humans weird, but over time they develop human traits and emotions.

  • Dic Entertainment debuts new animated TV series ‘Horseland’ at MipTV

    Dic Entertainment debuts new animated TV series ‘Horseland’ at MipTV

    MUMBAI: Dic Entertainment (Dic) will debut an all-new, adventure-driven animated series, Horseland, at MipTV 2006. The announcement was made by Dic Entertainment chairman and CEO Andy Heyward.

    Horseland, which is currently in production on 26 half-hour episodes, is based on the world’s premiere web community for horse lovers, www.horseland.com, on which kids can interactively buy, sell, breed and train virtual horses, and compete with themselves and each other.

    Featuring CGI and traditional animation, Dic will also debut the series in the US this August as part of the new CBS branded kids programming block, CBS’s Secret Saturday Morning Slumber Party.

    Dic currently plans to synchronise the interaction between the Horseland series and the website for maximum synergy with each character having their own personal page on the site, allowing users to interact with the characters and animals from the series. Additionally, players will be able to watch past episodes as streaming video and may submit story ideas. Dic is currently also developing a unique entertainment and consumer products program for the property that will incorporate Dic’s signature “360 Degree” approach to brand building.

    “Our goal is to tap into girl’s love of horses, the outdoors and adventure with this new television series that will extend the experience beyond the web community. We are thrilled to launch Horseland at MIP-TV, and look forward to working with our broadcast partners to make it a global success,” said Heyward.

    Horseland is set in the greatest stable ever, where kids and their horses compete and have adventures, and the horses and other animals can talk to each other – about the humans! In this new series, virtual reality horses come together with action adventure storylines.

    The episodes follow the relationships of five girls and two boys who have become fast friends trough their love of horses. Each episode features themes that deal with issues such as compassion, honesty, cooperation—both human and equine. But, like all friends, they occasionally have conflicts too.

    Each character owns a unique horse, and the horses and stable dogs can talk to each other. All of the horses will be rendered very faithfully to their breeds, with precise, accurate depictions of training, grooming, riding and competition.

  • Sky confirms HDTV launch in May

    Sky confirms HDTV launch in May

    MUMBAI: Sky has confirmed that the first installations of BSkyB’s new high-definition service, Sky HD, are scheduled to begin in May, in time for a raft of major sporting events. The announcement comes a day after the BBC confirmed it would start its HDTV trial in time for the World Cup.

    Customers will have to acquire the Sky HD box for £299, with a monthly charge of £10 in addition to their Sky digital subscription, currently between £15 and £42.50 a month.

    Sky’s director of product strategy and management Brian Sullivan commented, “Sky is just weeks away from an exciting new era that will transform the television viewing experience. Sky HD customers will be able to enjoy stunning picture and sound quality from the widest range of HD channels in the UK and Ireland. We’re delighted that the BBC has said that its HD coverage of the World Cup will be available to all customers with a Sky HD box as a non-subscription channel.”

    The initial Sky HD line-up will consist of seven channels, which includes Sky Sports HD with live Barclays Premiership football, Guinness Premiership Rugby coverage, Coca-Cola League, Carling Cup football matches and England’s home tests and one day cricket internationals.

    Sky Movies HD and Sky Box Office HD also includes movies like Kill Bill: Vol 1, Spider-Man 2 and Big Fish; Sky One, providing 24 and Rescue Me, among others, in HD.

    The HD package will also have arts programming including remastered footage of Jimi Hendrix’s performance at the Isle of Wight Festival, Sky One shows including 24, and Discovery and National Geographic programmes. Other BBC programmes to feature in its trial include natural history series Planet Earth and Galapagos, and forthcoming drama documentary Hannibal.

    The date of transmission has not been announced. HDTV provides a sharper, clearer and more colourful image than standard TV. BBC will make its HD World Cup coverage available to all viewers with a Sky HD box on a non-subscription channel.

    BBC announced this week that the coverage forms part of an HDTV trial and will be an extra stream alongside conventional analogue and digital broadcasts.

    Cable company Telewest launched the UK’s first high-definition television service earlier this month, though the service is currently limited to programmes made by BBC Worldwide. Sky estimates that 2.1 million HD TVs will have been sold in the UK by the end of the 2006, compared with 700,000 at the end of 2005

  • Convergence Committee says content should be brought under Broadcasting Bill

    Convergence Committee says content should be brought under Broadcasting Bill

    The Sub-Group on Convergence headed by senior legal professional Fali Nariman, in its interim report, has recommended that so far as content of information is concerned, it is to be dealt with in the new Broadcasting Bill. Since Webcasting was not covered in the existing IT Bill of 1999, it suggests that the proposed Broadcasting Bill willl have to be revised to reflect advances and developnment of technology and internet which has made Webcasting possible.

    It has recommended that the structural framework of the 1885 Indian Telegraph Act be retained as the New Telecom Policy has said that carriage of information should be left as open as possible. Any act should be enabling and it has suggested that a new Telecommunications Act be drawn up for the convergence era while the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 be repealed.

    The sub-group has obtained views from consumers, industry, bulk users, security agencies and private telecom players during discussions with Department of Telecommunications. At the end of it all, the subgroup has defined who has the power to establish and maintain telecom, the obligations of service providers, the right of way, message interception, and dispute settlements.

    The report claims to have been influenced by the major events taken place following the announcement of New Telecom Policy NTP, 1999 which includes the firm resolve of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to introduce a Broadcasting Bill in the next session of Parliament. The Bill will be on the lines of the Broadcasting Bill of 1997 which had lapsed on account of dissolution of Lok Sabha. Substantial ammendments will be made in the new bill to cover the entire content aspect of broadcasting including provisions for setting up of a seperate regulatory Authority.

  • Kids’ channels line up hot fanfare as summer beckons

    Kids’ channels line up hot fanfare as summer beckons

    MUMBAI: Summer is just around the corner and no doubt kids’ channels have a lot of programming goodies up their sleeves. Movies, live action, animation, contests and much more… it’s all there on Cartoon Network, Pogo, Hungama TV, Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Nick.

    What’s more… comedy seems to be the flavour for the holidays with Pogo, Hungama TV and Nick introducing special comedy shows for the summer.

    Pogo started its summer special programming with Pogo Funny Side-Up, featuring new episodes of Takeshi’s Castle, voiced by some of the winners of the Great Indian Laughter Challenge show.

    Pogo will also launch another new original, live-action production on Pogo following our two summer launches last year, M.A.D. and Bam! Bam! Bam!… Gir Pade Hum.

    On the other hand, Cartoon Network will see the launch of more Indian animation shows and a network premiere of a Beyblade full length movie – Beyblade, The Movie: Fierce Battle in Cartoon Network Theatre.

    Other highlights include, Beylade Marathon – 3…2…1 Hojaye Shuru, which will air every Sunday from 4 – 8 pm. Apart from that, Raja Hindustani – a special one hour block of Indian animation – began on the channel from 16 April and airs every Sunday at 11 am.

    Also new episodes of Tom & Jerry Tales will be aired on Sundays at 10 am. The new series in the Toonami block include Pokemon: Advanced, Beyblade G Revolution and a new show called One Piece. Yet another new show in the Half Ticket Express block called Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs will also be aired in summer.

    Turner International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman Misra said, “Summer is an important time for Cartoon Network and Pogo. We have some of the best programming mix lined up for Indian kids during these holiday months. New original productions, new family shows and blockbuster movies will mark their debut during the April – July period.”

    Homegrown kids channel Hungama TV too has a robust summer lineup in store for kids. The channel has acquired a couple of Japanese animation shows.

    In March, the channel already launched Dragon and FiFi & the Flower Tots in the pre-school band. The preschool band has now been renamed Toon Toon Toon.

    The other two bands that the channel will introduce are the Toon Blast band and a two and a half hour comedy band called Ha Ha Ha Hungama.

    The Toon Blast band will air new seasons of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Sonix X. In addition Hungama TV will launch the anime version of one of the most successful Japanese merchandise Amdriver, which has a futuristic storyline of a fight of good v/s evil. Yu-Gi-Oh! will air at 5 pm, Amdriver at 5.30 pm and Sonic X at 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

    The Ha Ha Ha Hungama band will tickle the funny bone with a new show Kochikame at 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday. “This show is the longest running hilarious slapstick comedy in Japan about an inefficient cop who is good in his heart but otherwise is good for nothing,” informs Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta.

    Another show called Peep and the Big Wide World will also be launched in this band and will air at 3 pm from Monday to Friday. This is a series featuring three birds – a chicken called Peep, a robin called Chirp and a duck called Quack. The story revolves around close friends and their fun and exploration in their neighborhood. Apart from unique humor it also imbibes a positive attitude and inquiry skills that promise to provide inspirational programming for kids.

    “We have always managed to get the best of content for our audience. The shows that are due to launch in April have truly delightful visual appeal offering kids a 360-degree entertainment parameter that will definitely make their vacation a roll-a- costar ride at home,” says Mehta.

    And that’s not all… Hungama TV is also planning a large scale ground event to coincide with a big show launch. But the channel is keeping it tightly under wraps for now at least!

    Coming to Disney Channel, one thing to look out for here is the Oscar-winning ‘fishy’ movie Finding Nemo. The channel will premier the movie in Hindi on 25 June. The film follows the comedic and eventful journeys of two fish – Marlin and his son Nemo. Disney Channel will go the whole hog to promote Finding Nemo including a watch-and-win contest around movie trivia, which will be aired during breaks. Viewers can send in their entries through SMS and IVRS to win cool Nemo merchandise.

    Apart from that, the channel will also air the first Indian animation movie – Hanuman, to which it recently acquired the telecast rights for three years from Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd. Hanuman will launch in May on Disney Channel as an eight episode series and will be aired at 9 am on weekends.

    What’s more, the channel will build a 360 degree multi media campaign around all new episodes of That’s So Raven!. On 15 April, Hatim – the saga of a strong and courageous Prince of Yemen will launch on Disney Channel at 6 pm on weekdays.

    Apart from that, the preschool content destination, Playhouse Disney is being further strengthened with the launch of Mickey Mouse Club House. The show will launch on 6 May at 8.30 am on weekends.

    The Walt Disney Television International (India) director programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya says, “This summer we have an exciting line-up of content for kids. We believe in showcasing a mix of the best local kid’s content and the best international content from the Disney stable. Hits like Hanuman, Finding Nemo and That’s So Raven will draw older kids to Disney Channel.”

    Live action, preschool programming and comedy will rule the roost on Nick. The first in line is a live action comedy show called Drake & Josh. The show revolves around a pair of diametrically opposite step-brothers and will premiere as part of an April Fool’s Day stunt on 1 April.

    Another new show Avatar will be launched in May. This new animated show is about a 12 year old boy who is master of all four elements and must stop the ruthless Fire Nation from conquering the world.

    Nick has also acquired a couple of preschool shows called Peppa Pig and Dougie in Disguise, which will also launch in May. While Peppa Pig revolves around a family of pigs, the Spanish acquisition Dougie in Disguise is about an ordinary kid who plays with sticker albums that come to life through his imagination. Apart from these, Nick has also lined up another new preschool show in June.

    “Summer vacations will be huge on Nick with an enormous programming bonanza rolling out. Starting 1 April, we’re premiering a show called Drake & Josh, which is a live action comedy and also showing a Nick Dhoom double bill on weekends featuring a whole hour of top shows,” says Nick India vice president and general manager Hema Govindan.

    Speaking on the preschool shows Govindan adds, “Preschool is doing very well and becoming a focus for us so we’re expanding our Nick Jr. preschool block. We’re also doing Monday Marathons of hit shows like Kenan & Kel and SpongeBob SquarePants, which means eight hours at a stretch of these shows.”

  • Zee sets 1 May deadline for DTO

    Zee sets 1 May deadline for DTO

    Zee Telefilms is expected to launch its direct to operator (DTO) bouquet on 1 May. It was earlier slated to introduce the bouquet last year but could not meet its set deadline.

    The management has announced that it has achieved a good response from the marketplace for its new channels – Zee Movies and Zee English.

    It claims the sale of 1,100 decoders for Zee English and Zee Movies. Already 550 agreements have been signed. This figure excludes 140 decoders which have been distributed to 70 odd SitiCable MSOs. Zee sources claim to have signed on seven sub-operators of the rival cable network In CableNet in Mumbai for the two channels. More cable ops are being negotiated with and Zee claims to have achieved a penetration of 2.6 million cable homes. Zee English and Zee Movies have set a target of seven million cable TV homes and are confident of reaching the astronomical figure within three to six months.

    The advantage Zee possesses is the lower-priced Philips’ decoders. The sale price of Rs 12,500 stands just a couple of thousands above the deposit price of HBO’s decoders which stands at Rs 10,000. Zee is also offering decoders at a deposit of Rs 2,000. Zee has placed an order for 40,000 decoders for its seven channel bouquet. According to senior level sources the Philips boxes have been selected because they can be upgradeable easily for convergence.

  • VC fund to support ‘Business Baazigar’ winner

    VC fund to support ‘Business Baazigar’ winner

    MUMBAI: A venture capital (VC) fund with a corpus of Rs 200 million will support the compelling business ideas from contestants of a reality show on Hindi general entertainment channel Zee TV.

    Business Baazigar, which will decide the fate of budding entrepreneurs through 24 episodes, will finance the business project of the winner of the show through the VC fund. The extent of funding will be decided by the jury comprising Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra, Passionfunds CEO Mahesh Murthy and Prof. Anil Gupta of Indian Institute of Management.

    “Subhash Chandra has tied up a VC fund, the size of which is Rs 200 million. It is floated by a consortium, but we can’t disclose the promoters. The fund will support the winner of Business Baazigar, the amount of which will be decided by the jury,” said 25 FPS managing director Alankar Jain, the producer of the show.

    Will the winner have the power to negotiate with the VCs on the amount of equity it wants to dilute and at what value? “Yes. This will also be shown on the final episode of Business Baazigar,” said Jain.

    Can the contestants negotiate with other VCS who will have access to the business ideas as the episodes progress? “There is a lock-in period during which period they can’t start approach other VCS,” Jain said.

    The VC fund may also extend seed funding to other contestants apart from the winner. “Based on the viability of the project, the fund may decided to finance some innovative ideas and support it at the seed level,” said Jain.

    Business Baazigar will have 50 finalists which will be further scaled down to 20 contestants. They will be put through grueling tasks that will test their business acumen and team spirit.

    Audiences will be allowed to SMS their preferences in the final episode so that they can predict the winner. “But there is no voting system and the winner will be decided by the jury,” said Jain.

    Business Baazigar debuts on 31 March, airing one-hour episodes on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm.

  • Narayan Kumar to head Disruption Practice at TBWAIndia

    MUMBAI: TBWAIndia has promoted the agency’s executive creative director Narayan Kumar to a new role as executive director and Disruption Practice head.
     
     
    Disruption is TBWA’s strategic tool that has been making waves across the world, notching up remarkable successes for TBWA as well as its clients.
     
     
    TBWAIndia chairman and managing director K George John said, “Narayan’s appointment as head of the Disruption Practice for India is a reiteration of our commitment to the process here in India. Disruption is what drives TBWA. It helps our clients get a larger share of the future. Disruption will be the force that will help TBWA and our clients leap-frog in India also.”
     
     
    Kumar added, “Let the results do the talking. Right now, we need to evangelise it among our people and our clients. In India, the response to Disruption from clients like Standard Chartered, Nutrine, Pedigree, Moser Baer, Twinings and Bajaj Allianz has been quite phenomenal, but we can take this a lot further still.”

     

  • Digikore to represent Fido Dido in India

    MUMBAI: Digikore Studios Limited, a player in the animation, licensing and distribution business, has been appointed as the licensing agent for the popular character “Fido Dido” for the Indian market.

    Digikore will seek licensing opportunities for “Fido Dido” in various categories including accessories, apparels, domestic and linens, food, gift and novelties, health and beauty aids, houseware and home furnishings, publishing, stationery and paper goods, toys and games.

    Digikore Studios director operations Abhishek More said, “The introduction of Fido Dido provides an exciting new outlet for manufacturers, retailers, service organisations and content providers to enhance and extend their brand to the fast growing teen / young adult segment in India. Fido Dido is an international icon and can contribute significantly to make teen / young adult brands popular.”
    Fido Dido, a gawky, cornball, very successful licensed character, began its life as an illustration in unillustrious fashion – as a sketch on a cocktail napkin. It was in a bar after work that Honest Entertainment LLC president and creative director Joanna Ferrone and Susan Rose first sketched Fido Dido.

    Ferrone said, “We see great potential for Fido Dido in India. Over the last few years we have seen immense growth in the Indian retail sector and are sure that Fido Dido will definitely help companies licensing him to reach out to the teen / young adult market effectively. Licensing is relatively a new concept in India, but most companies in the US license characters to help push sales. With the speed at which the Indian retail market is growing and the increasing competition in the market, it’s not going to be long that many Indian companies will be licensing characters to get that extra push in sales.”

    “Digikore will play a crucial role in helping Honest Entertainment successfully license Fido Dido to leading brands in India. Digikore is a full service licensing resource, which takes clients through every step of the licensing and marketing process and helps them fully realise the tangible benefits of leveraging a brand name,” More added.