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Tag: Alpha Bangla

  • Alpha Bangla institutes Bangla music awards

    Alpha Bangla institutes Bangla music awards

    MUMBAI: As a tribute to Bengali music, Zee’s Bangla entertainment channel Alpha Bangla has instituted a music award property Alpha Sangeet Puraskar. The first edition of the awards was held in Kolkota on 13 February.

    A jury panel comprising of columnist Swapan Mullick, musician Nondon Bagchi, film director Haranath Chakraborty and producer Mahendra Soni gave the final verdict on the winners based on public opinion, informs an official release.

    There were 17 categories of nominees out of which legendary V.Balsara bagged the best instrumentalist award. Best music director award for non film was bagged by Nachiketa Chakroborty for the album Ei Agune Haat Rakho while the award in the film category went to Hotath Neerar’s music director Janyo Bikram Ghosh.

    Best male singer in the film category was won by Babul Supriyo
    for the film Shakti and best female singer award in this category went to Jojo for the movie Sagar Kinare. Saregama India’s Jhar Hote Pari Lopamudra won the best music video award.

    In the Rabindra Sangit category, best male singer went to Srikanto Acharya for his album Jiban Chhabi and the best female singer was bagged by Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta for Cheena Phagun.

    The major draw of the evening was the felicitation of Ramkumar Chattopadhyay and Nirmala Mishra with the Alpha Sangeet Sarbottam Sambordhana (Life Time Achievement Award) for their contribution to Bangla music.

    The channel will telecast the award function on 20 February at 8:30 pm.

  • Tara exits general entertainment; to launch news, music channels

    Tara exits general entertainment; to launch news, music channels

    MUMBAI: Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide is set to launch news and music channels on 21 February as its general entertainment channel Tara Bangla has decided to call it quits.

    Tara News will replace Tara Bangla on the distribution space and will be uplinked from its existing VSNL facility. Tara Muzik, on the other hand, will temporarily uplink from Bangkok till it obtains the uplinking permission from the information and broadcasting ministry.

    “We were already airing eight hours of news and current affairs programming on Tara Bangla. The experience will help us to launch a 24-hour news channel. There is a wide interest in news and there is no specific channel to cater to this growing audience,” says Tara executive vice president and Tara News head Dr. Amit Chakraborty.

    The exit of Broadcast Worldwide from the general entertainment space comes in the wake of stiff competition from rival channels like ETV Bangla, Alpha Bangla and Doordarshan’s regional channel. Sun Network is also planning to launch Surjo in this segment.

    “Soaps have become a costly proposition in the Bangla market. One episode costs us Rs 50,000 on an average. With this money, we can easily produce about five to six episodes of non-fiction progamming,” says Chakraborty.

    Broadcast Worldwide’s decision is also aided by the fact that it had more success with its non-fiction programming. “Our core strength has been non-fiction programming. During the last five years, the channel has got its highest TRPs from non-fiction programmes,” says Chakraborty.

    Tara News will have hourly news bulletins throughout the day, punctuated by current affairs and other news-based programmes. Each news bulletin will be of thirty minutes duration. The focus will be on live programming with a daily dose of six to seven live current affairs shows. The channel will dish out live reports from the stock market.

    The news channel segment in West Bengal is being eyed by major broadcasters. Star and Sahara are finalising their plans to enter the Bangla news market.

    Tara Muzik will primarily be a music channel but will also air movies and telefilms. Broadcast Worldwide has acquired 50 movies and has a library of 100 telefilms. “We also have access to 350 movies and are producing eight telefilms a month,” says Chakraborty.

    The music channel, to be headed by Dr. Chhanda Guha, will also air live music contests and concerts. But this can happen only after the channel obtains clearance to uplink from India.

    Tara has three studios in Kolkata, two of which will be utilised for the news channel. Tara will also be formally launching Radio Tara and the Tara Music label on 21 February.

  • Alpha Bangla celebrates Bangla music festival

    Alpha Bangla celebrates Bangla music festival

    MUMBAI: Alpha Bangla gifted to its viewers a musical extravaganza, Dui Bangla Simanaheen on 26 December. The musical show had artists playing from the two Banglas (West Bengal & Bangladesh) thus breaking all shackles of earthly barriers and bringing people closer to each other.

    The show started with a mind-blowing performance by Tanmoy Bose and his band Taal Tantra. The most interesting part of Taal Tantra was a ‘jugal-bandi’ between a dhak (a traditional bengali drum) and an African thumba. Next on stage was the Princess of Rabindra-sangeet Indrani Sen. Her melodious voice left the viewers dumbstruck and swaying, Informs a company release.

    Speaking on this occasion, Alpha bangle head J.K.Ray says, “The overwhelming response to this event is encouraging for us to come forth with more of these events. We feel entertaining our viewers by encouraging Bangla talent serves a stronger purpose than mere entertainment. This is the reason why we as a channel, seek greater involvement of our viewers.”

    The artists of Bangladesh did steal part of the show. Abdul Quddus Boati came on to the stage, in traditional Baul attire and set feet tapping with his traditional yet contemporary folk songs. The next artist was the folk maestro from West Bengal… the one and only Swapan Basu, who left audiences awestruck by his passionate rendition of “Sunecho Nandalal…” which he sang in two different voices.

    The next two artists were perhaps the most awaited ones of the evening. Baby Nazneen who’s popularly known as Black Diamond in Bangladesh did justice to her title. Last but not the least, James with his band Nagar Baul came on stage. His Bengali trance left the audience high on their seats, adds the release.

    The SMS contest that Alpha Bangla had organised for its viewers on the theme Dui Bangla Simanaheen got tremendous response and pulled a crowd of more than 3000 to watch the show, claims the channel.

  • Sun TV, Astro Malaysia in $ 25 million JV; to launch Bengali channel

    Sun TV, Astro Malaysia in $ 25 million JV; to launch Bengali channel

    MUMBAI: Sun TV and Malaysia’s Astro All Asia Network have entered into a $ 25 million agreement for the establishment of a joint venture to originate, aggregate and distribute television programming and channels for a global audience.

    Both parties in the $ 25 million (Rs 1125 million) JV aim to collaborate in content creation for filmed and other entertainment products in Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Bengali for distribution to international markets, informs an official release.

    The agreement proposes to launch a Bengali channel for distribution in India, South East Asia and other markets within the Bengali diaspora. In India at least, the Sun-Astro combine will face stiff competition in a market that already has five channels fighting for viewer attention — ntional broadcaster Doordarshan’s DD Bangla, ETV bangla, Alpha Bangla, Tara Bangla and ATN.

    The cooperation shall also include a Tamil language channel to be developed by the JV exclusively for distribution on the Astro Direct-To-Home satellite multi-channel television platform in Malaysia and other South East Asian markets, adds the release.

    Astro chairman Dato’ Haji Badri bin Haji Masri has been quoted in the release as saying, “We are very excited with the opportunities provided by this collaboration. This partnership presents us with an excellent channel for the exchange of cultural and intellectual assets between India and Malaysia. We look forward to contribute in creating and aggregating Indian-language original programmes and help promote the export of Indian creative assets globally.”

    Sun Network chairman and MD Kalanithi Maran said: “We believe that this association between Sun TV & Astro presents a unique opportunity to leverage the strengths of two major media players of the region. This venture will help to better address the needs of television viewers of various Indian languages worldwide.”

    An indication of how significant the deal is as far as Malaysia is concerned can be gauged from the fact that the signing ceremony was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Yab Dato’ Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi.

    Sun TV content reaches more than 100 million Indian-speaking viewers, covering Asia, North America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and recently, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the release informs. Astro is a cross-media operator specialising in the origination, aggregation and distribution of content across multiple platforms. It is the sole provider of Direct-To-Home satellite multi-channel television services in Malaysia, and houses television program production facilities as well.

  • Alpha Bangla lines up musical events

    Alpha Bangla lines up musical events

    MUMBAI: Alpha Bangla has lined-up an international concert, Concert for Peace by acclaimed music bands from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

    The concert is scheduled for 25 December at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. The event will air on 1 January at 7.30 pm.

    The music bands Euphoria, Miles of Bangladesh and Junoon of Pakistan would perform to celebrate the festive season with peace and music.

    According to an official release, the channel is all set to celebrate the festive season with a host of events  peace and music being the keywords.

    Alpha Bangla would be hosting yet another event, a cultural exchange Dui Bahgla- Shemanaheen which means without borders. The cultural exchange would take place between West Bengal and Bangladesh.

    The cultural event would be held on 26 December at Swabhumi.The Shemanaheen, cultural exchange will be seen on Alpha Bangla on 2 January at 7.30 pm.

    According to the official communiqué, the channel also organises an evening in January with Manna Dey as the great signer enthralls the audiences, along with Lopamudra, Arijit Ghosh and others.

    Alpha Bangla, business head J K Ray was quoted in the release as saying, “The New Year will see a spate of happenings on the channel as we bring for our viewers, Poush Parbon – the harvest festival with songs, dances and fashion. The success of Alpha Gaurab has spurred us to introduce the Alpha Sangeet Purashkar’05.”
     

  • Bangla channels’ programming blitz for Durga puja

    Bangla channels’ programming blitz for Durga puja

    Programming-wise Bangla channels have taken up an aggressive stance, churning out a great amount of content, to get the maximum out of this year‘s Durga puja festival. A major part of the programming content has been devoted to on-ground activities with an increased participation of local groups like puja committees. Participation of celebrities in both outdoor and indoor shows is one thing the channels have ensured to get the maximum eyeballs.

    Live programmes, contests, cultural programmes and celebrity shows figure in Bangla television‘s pooja schedule this year.

    A look at how Bangla channels are covering this year‘s puja celebrations:

    Alpha Bangla

    Festivities will begin on Alpha Bangla from Saat Sakal (breakfast show) daily at 8 am. At 8 am from Shashthi (19 October) to Dashami (23 October), Durga and her family along with Narad and Urvashi will leave all pandals and land up in the Saat Sakal set to share their feelings about the pujas this year, their experience on earth this year.

    Following Saat Sakal is Sharadiya Katha Sharadiya Gaan daily (Monday to Saturday) at 10 am. Sharadiya Katha will include interviews of different people who specifically work during the pujas and also an insight into the different folk arts of Bengal. The Sharadiya Gaan segment will feature all the popular Puja songs of pre-1975. The channel‘s daily game shows Dhanni Meye and Hau Mau Khau have been given a puja special look and feel.

    Apart from this the Alpha Bangla team will move around with the Asian Paints Sarad Samman jury and telecast it on the channel on 22 October and 23 October at 5 pm. The channel will showcase the Pratidin Puja Perfect competition from 19 October to 22 October 2004 at 11 pm. The best puja will be appreciated with a grand prize. Daily at 11 pm, the channel will air Puja Parikrama.

    On 23 October and 24 October, Saat Range Pujor Alpha will showcase different games at different pandals participated by the public and the celebrities. The show will also provide an insight into the history and tradition of puja.

    Aakash Bangla

    Pujor Sera Sundari is a beauty contest conducted in various puja pandals. The channel will air the four episode-long show at 8 pm from 20 October to 23 October. There will be another segment in this programme pujo Parikrama through which the channel will cover the puja celebrations.

    One of the most popular shows on Aakash Ei To Sujog has been given a new festive look. The pujo special Ei To Sujog is slotted for 1 pm, Monday – Friday. Celebrity anchors like Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Arjun Chakraborty, Parambrata, Rudraneel anchor these episodes and the participants will include famous women from different walks of life. The Aaakash Bangla show Bhalobashi Tai Gai which highlights the different facets of Puja from the ‘Strotro path‘ to ‘sindoor khela‘ is scheduled from 18 October to 22 October at 5:35 pm.

    Pujo Dhunuchi contest from 20 October to 22 October will be a dance contest that will take place in different Puja mandaps. From each mandap, one best dancer will be chosen. Puja SMS contest from 18 October to 22 october will have viewers sending SMS related to Puja and the best message will be awarded with a prize. Pujo Dhaak contest from 20 October to 22 October is meant to energise the Dhaakis in different Puja mandaps. A competition will take place and three winners will be selected from the contenders at different Puja mandaps. Pujor Best Caption from 20 October to 22 October is a caption contest revolving different range of products. Thre best caption will be given an award.

    Aakash Bangla is planning to telecast four films, which depict the essence of Durga pooja, from 20 October to 23 October at 2:45 pm. An interactive show Abasanar will feature inmates of the new housing complexes, which have come up in and around Kolkotta. The Bengali residential apartments, ABASANS, will be visited, the residents will be asked to participate in different games and win fabulous prizes.

    The channel is telecast the award show Sharad Samman where several awards would be announced covering the various facets of excellence revolving around the Puja. The best puja committees of Kolkata and suburbs will feature the Akash Bangla Sharad Swikriti 2004. On the eve of Nabami, the channel will declare the winners.

    Tara Bangla

    The channel will telecast an interactive show titled Subhechha Online from 9 am to 9:30. Through this show, viewers can send puja greetings live on air from Tara‘s studios to friends and relatives abroad. From 9:30 to 10 am, the channel will telecast new releases by renowned singers for the Pujas in the show Pujor Gaan.

    From 19 October to 23 October, Tara will air the show Pujor Boithoko Adda participated by writers, actors, singers and painters. The show Pujoy Ghuri Bidesh at 2 pm introduces the viewers to various foreign tourist destinations.

    The show Mayer era Baper Bari is a contest amongst the best puja of various multi-storied apartment buildings within the city. The best pandal will be chosen. The programme will air on Tara from 20 October to 22 October at 2:30 pm. To select the best dance institution in the state, Tara is conducting a contest titled Tara Nat Mandir during Durga Puja. The channel will telecast the show from 20 October to 22 October at 9 pm.

    During the celebrations, Tara plans to show telefilms based on works of famous writers from 20 October to 23 October at 3:30 pm with a repeat midnight. The schedule: On 20 October, Nemai Bhattacharjee‘s Kanta, on 21 October, Buddhadeb Guha‘s Abhilasha, On 22 October Nabanita Deb Sen‘s Rup Kathar Jibon and on 23 October Ringo‘s Daman.

    ETV Bangla

    ETV Bangla plans to celebrate the puja with a stress on live events. The channel claims that the theme of the entire programming is live.

    “ETV Bangla wants to make the people to celebrate the Puja sitting at home as it plans to capture each and every rituals of the Puja and the happenings in their locality and the festive mood,” offers a channel official.

    Some of the shows ETV Bangla has lined up: On 20 October the Saptami day, from 6:05 to 6:30 am, the channel will telecast Kalabou snan which is a ritual that includes the washing of a banana tree, ideally in Ganga. From 20 October to 22 October, ETV Bangla will telecast Puja-live Parikrama at first half-an hour and in six breaks of the telefilm from 10 pm to 1 am. On 21 October from 11:05 to 12 noon, the channel will telecast a puja update programme.

    On 22 October, which is the Nabami day, ETV Bangla will telecast Hom, Samarpan, Dakhinanto Pujo and Pushpanjali from 11:30 pm to 12:30 pm. On 23 October, from 11:05 am to 12 noon, ETV Bangla will air the rest of the pujo clubs parikrama roundup and sindhoor khela-live. From 9:30 pm to 10 pm, the channel will telecast the Bisarjan curtain raiser.

    ETV Bangla will telecast the bisarjan live on 24 October from 9:30 pm to 12:30 am. The channel will present celebrities including Sharmila Tagore, Rakhi Guljar. Saumitra Chattopadhyay, Sunil Ganguly and Ramkumar Chattopadhyay during the live telecast. The prominent anchors the channel has roped in for Durga puja include Ranjan Ghosal, Joyobroto Chatterjee, Dwijen Banerjee, Biplab Ketan, Mir and Kanchan Mullick.

  • Alpha Bangla initiates Alpha Gaurab awards

    Alpha Bangla initiates Alpha Gaurab awards

    MUMBAI: Zee’s Bengali presence Alpha Bangla is celebrating the successful completion of its five years with the awards ceremony Alpha Bangla – Alpha Gaurab. The function is aimed at felicitating the talents of the Bengali TV industry.

    The channel will also pay tribute to the stalwarts of the industry by giving the Alpha ‘sarbottam sambordhana’ (Lifetime achievement award) to Ruma Guha Thakurta, Amala Shankar, Geeta De, Shirshendu Mukherjee and Tapas Sen.

    Alpha Bangla is reaching out to its viewers through the Alpha Gaurab initiatives as viewers have been given the responsibility to elect the winners in 17 different categories. For this, one lakh forms have been distributed extensively through cable operators through Zee Turner across West Bengal, Playwin booths and distributors of the sponsors.

    The event will be held on 26 September at Science City and the channel will telecast the ceremony on 3 October from 7:30 pm onwards, informs an official release. According the release, an interesting highlight will be the presence of all the characters of Alpha Bangla in their respective character get-ups.

    The juries for the grand process include Soumya Bandopadhyay (Pratidin), Gautam Bhattacharya (Anandabazar Patrika), renowned actors Arindam Ganguly and Satabdi Roy, Samaresh Majumdar (author) and Arindam Chakraborty (Zee News executive producer), adds the release.

    The different award categories are:

    Alpha Shrestho Dharabahik, Alpha Shrestho Purush, Alpha Shretsho Naari, Alpha Shrestho Dampatti, Alpha Shrestho Maa, Alpha Shrestho Pita, Alpha Shresthto Koutuk Charitra, Alpha Shrestho Khalo Charitra, Alpha Shreshto Paribar, Alpha Shresthto Santan, Alpha Shrestho Anchor, Alpha Shrestho Pratibha, Alpha Shreshto Parsho Bhumika (Nari), Alpha Shreshto Parsho Bhumika (Purush), Alpha Shreshto Shirso Sangeet, Alpha Sarbopriyo Anushtan, Alpha Chotoder Priyo Anushtan.

  • Alpha Bangla to showcase vintage Bengali movies

    Alpha Bangla to showcase vintage Bengali movies

    MUMBAI: Alpha Bangla will bring the creations of world-class Bengali film directors for its viewers. The Sera Paanch Parichalok (Five Favourite Directors) film festival (20- 24 September) will feature works by Ritwik Ghatak, Nabyendu Chatterjee, Asit Sen, Mrinal Sen and Rituparno Ghosh.

    According to an official release, the films which will be telecast for the festival are: 20 September – Ajantrik, Director: Ritwik Ghatak; 21September: Kharij (The case is shut), Director: Mrinal Sen; 22 September: Mansur Mian’r Ghora, Director: Nabyendu Chatterjee; 23 September: Deep Jwele Jai, Director: Asit Sen; 24 September: Dahan (Crossfire), Director: Rituparno Ghosh.

    Kharij & Dahan are national award winning films. Kharij has won the Cannes film festival award, Chicago International film festival award & the Bronze Hugo award, adds the release.

  • Zee-Turner switches off channels on RPG network

    Zee-Turner switches off channels on RPG network

    NEW DELHI: Zee-Turner, the distribution joint venture of Zee Telefilms and Turner International India Pvt. Ltd, has switched off its bouquet of channels on the RPG Network in Kolkata.

    The move comes in the wake of “unfair business practices,” and large outstanding from the network, which is to the tune of over Rs 70 million, Zee Turner said.

    As a result of this action, Kolkata households connected through RPG Network will not be able to watch channels such as Alpha Bangla, Cartoon Network, Pogo – the popular kid’s channel, Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee English and CNBC-TV 18.

    According to Zee Turner COO Siddharth Jain said, “We have been holding talks with RPG Network for a long time in the hope of settling the issue amicably. We have been forced to take such an action owing to the large outstanding from their end.”

    Jain also alleged that some cheques issued by the RPG Network had not been honoured by the banks concerned. “This only goes to show a complete lack of effort from the RPG management to resolve the problem,” Jain added.

    RPG could not be contacted for comments on the issue, though it is not a new for an MSO to be switched off by broadcast networks on issues relating to payment of subscription money.

    RPG Netcom, part of RPG Enterprises, is a premier multi-system operator (MSO) in Kolkata, providing cable TV services in the city and its adjoining districts, covering several cable operators. RPG Netcom is also the sole distributor of Star Network channels in Kolkata.

    “We regret the inconvenience caused to our viewers. It is unfortunate, and an irony that our viewers, who make their payments on time, have to suffer due to non-payments by the MSO. This also despite the fact that cable operators on their part make their timely payments,” Jain said in a statement.

    The Zee-Turner bouquet offers the largest number of channels popular in almost every genre in India that include the flagship channels Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee News, Zee English, Zee MGM, Zee Music, Trendz, Cartoon Network, POGO, CNN International, CNBC-TV 18, Reality TV, ETC, ETC Punjabi and the regional Alpha channels that include Alpha Marathi, Alpha Punjabi, Alpha Bangla, Alpha Gujarati.

    Zee-Turner Ltd. is a joint venture company that manages distribution and trade marketing for Zee Telefilms and Turner International bouquet of channels, as well as the third party channels such as CNBC-TV 18 and Reality TV in India and South Asia. Headquartered in New Delhi, Zee-Turner boasts of a combined viewership of more than 30 million households with an equal spread through the country.

  • Alpha Bangla celebrates monsoon with recipe contest

    Alpha Bangla celebrates monsoon with recipe contest

    MUMBAI: The Bengali channel from Zee’s bouquet Alpha Bangla has celebrated the monsoon with the event Ilishe Parbon on 28 August at Kolkata.

    The recipe contest was an effort to tap Bengali’s love for the fish variety ilish or halsa.

    Six participants for the recipe contest were selected from over 3000 entries. Chef Subrata Debnath had a difficult time deciding the winner. It was a tough fight between innovative recipes like fruity ilish, pudina ilish and ilsih macher patisapta with the latter emerging as the winner, informed an official release.

    Bengalis are heavily involved in their love for Ilish or hilsa even in this age of changing trends. Bengalis often engage in mock fights claiming that the padma ilish is tastier than the Ganges variety, added the release.