ITV

Tag: Animal Planet

  • Animal Planet to showcase ‘Great Savannah Race’

    Animal Planet to showcase ‘Great Savannah Race’

    MUMBAI: The great wildebeest migration in East Africa is an annual feature. For over a million years, 1.4 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras and gazelles undertake a dramatic journey from the vast open plains of the Serengeti to the champagne coloured hills of Kenya’s Masai Mara.

    Animal Planet uses cutting edge technology to show this natural wonder. The event will be presented as a wildlife reality show, following the million-plus participants as they run the frantic 800-kilometer Great Savannah Race. The three part series will air on 17, 18 and 19 July at 8 pm.

    Why do the animals carry out this yearly migration? Is it the wind that guides them? Or a sixth sense which leads them in search of rain-ripened grass? And, who will survive the journey and cross the finish line first? The show filmed in high-definition sets out to answer all these questions. The journey begins in Tanzania with veterinarian Patrick Garcia and scientists Anja Brinch Jensen and Sophie Grange.

    Their first goal is to fit 10 animals (seven wildebeests and three zebras) with collars so they can be tracked throughout the epic journey via satellite. The collars, equipped with miniature Global Positioning System (GPS) monitors, satellite transmitters and a VHF radio system, allows the participants to be located within a radius of 1 meter. With the help of Technical Coordinator Sébastien Lafont, the scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the great migration which will help them preserve the fragile equilibrium of the eco-system.

    The long and dangerous trek is fraught with danger. More than 250,000 animals will die along the way from sheer exhaustion, and the migration is relentlessly tracked by Africa’s great predators – lions, cheetahs, hyenas, vultures and crocodiles – waiting for an opportunity to strike weak prey. Most dramatic of all is the moment when the migration arrives at the crocodile infested Mara River, which must be crossed in order to reach the rich grazing. As the bravest takes the initial plunge into the swirling currents, thousands follow – many to inevitable death.

    The series follows the daily trials and tribulations of the 10 main characters, all of whom have been earmarked by the scientists as those most likely to complete the journey. Who amongst the main competitors is predicted to win the race? The young male bursting with energy; the old, yet experienced veteran or the female and her newborn calf?

    For the first time, The Great Savannah Race follows the vast migration from the start to the finish line, capturing all the drama, mystery, intrigue, tragedy and heroic deeds of this truly epic saga.

  • Animal Planet goes on a safari every Sunday

    Animal Planet goes on a safari every Sunday

    MUMBAI: Animal Planet has announced a new initiative Safari Sunday. This will air every Sunday from 7 am to 7 pm. The aim is to give viewers a chance to catch up one shows that they may have missed during the week. Animal Planet says that it is unique in offering the viewers a rare perspective of the animal world, an interplay of human-animal relationships that appeal to audiences across age groups.

    A wide range of animals are tracked and environments explored in programs and are devised to offer viewers something new and unexpected each Sunday. By presenting this new package, the channel will not only be able to communicate the strong programming and diversity of the channel but will also draw higher viewership on Sundays.
    Some of the shows that will air under this initiative are:

    One Planet at 7 am – Countless species of wild animals – many unknown and uncategorized – are in danger of being driven to extinction by human development. Hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness are being slashed and stamped out of existence for short-lived commercial purposes. But spreading this message above the crowd are Animal Planet’s wildlife experts, using their voices to support the worthy cause of conserving wildlife and the wilderness they inhabit.

    Around The World With Tippi at 9 am – Last year, Animal Planet told the story of eleven-year-old Tippi, a remarkable French girl who was brought up in Namibia and who, as a child developed a unique passion for wild animals. From a very early age, Tippi was able to bond with all kinds of wild animals including elephants, jaguars, monkeys, giraffes and even serpents. Animal Planet followed Tippi as she returned to Africa after two years away and met conservationists engaged in the preservation of local wildlife.

    Now, Animal Planet catches up with Tippi and chronicles her adventures to other parts of the world to meet people who work closely with animals. Viewers join Tippi as she interacts with koalas and whale sharks in Australia, wolves in Canada and lions in Africa.

    Most Extreme at 9:30 am – This series is a countdown of the top ten animals with powers that put people to shame. So who are the fastest, or strongest, or greediest animals? Which are the highest jumpers or the smartest? Each episode sets up the challenge and then finds the most extraordinary solutions in the animal kingdom. It shows why each of The Most Extreme animals really are the best of the best and puts human achievements into perspective.

    TV With Teeth at 10:30 am – This show has intimate wildlife encounters – the ultimate experience of wildlife on the edge with a presenter that isn’t afraid to go there.

  • FremantleMedia dishes up dramas and factuals at DISCOP

    FremantleMedia dishes up dramas and factuals at DISCOP

    MUMBAI: Fremantle International Distribution (FID) will be bringing big budget drama and factual series, along with comedy and romance to DISCOP in Budapest this month.Headlining FID’s slate for DISCOP 2006 will be the new hit drama series Falcon Beach from Insight Productions and Original Pictures, in conjunction with Global Television and ABC Family USA. Described as “sexy, edgy and full of energy” by executive producer Kim Todd, Falcon Beach centres around the lives and loves of the town’s young men and women, as they decide the paths their futures will take.

    Falcon Beach, which premiered on ABC Family on 5 June, features a hot young cast full of beauty and brawn and compelling storylines.

    FID’s flagship factual series Prehistoric Park will also be available for buyers to view in Budapest. Created by Impossible Pictures, producers of the worldwide hit Walking With Dinosaurs, Prehistoric Park is fronted by natural history expert Nigel Marven and is co-produced by ITV (UK), Animal Planet (US), M6 (France) and ProSieben (Germany). As co-financiers, FID has acquired the international distribution rights (excluding France and Germany). FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide will handle the licensing rights to the series including merchandising and publishing rights and Fremantle Home Entertainment will handle DVD.

    Harnessing the latest in CGI technology, Prehistoric Park features stunning scenery from some of the most beautiful places on earth, from history and today. Marven steps back in time to try and save creatures like the mammoth, the sabre tooth cat and the dinosaurs – extinction doesn’t have to be forever. Each episode focuses on a different prehistoric theme.

    FID will also be unveiling the second series of Jimmy’s Farm at DISCOP. Having given up academia in favour of pig farming, Jimmy Doherty weathered the trials and triumphs over a year on his new farm. With a little business advice and financial help from his mate British chef Jamie Oliver, Jimmy sets out to renovate a crumbling farm and realises his dream of breeding rare pigs. This documentary series from BBC Television is full of laddish charm – in series two Jimmy’s hands are full with not only pigs, but bulls, chickens and bees to boot. The second series of Jimmy’s Farm was a ratings winner for BBC2, attracting an average audience of 3.3 million viewers, consistently performing above the channel’s primetime average in 2006.

    Ready to woo a whole new legion of fans is Martha. It’s Martha Stewart as we know and love her – and as we’ve never seen her before. The daily one-hour programme offers a new and different format and is a recipe for daytime success. Cooking, crafting and cavorting with celebrity friends in front of a live studio audience; with this new interactive approach to lifestyle programming, Martha is going to be more accessible than ever to her legions of loyal fans. The show presents inspiring ideas from cooking and entertaining, to decorating, and home renovating. Launched in September 2005 in the US on NBC, Martha is fast becoming the doyenne of daytime and is on the move internationally, with 10 countries worldwide having already added the informative and entertaining programme to their schedules.

    From Crackerjack comes Comedy Inc. – a mix of sharp, fast-paced humour and irreverence, featuring sketch, TV and movie parody, non-existent cable shows, ads for products that don’t exist and characters that will become fixtures of popular culture for years to come. Whether it’s Big Brother, The Sopranos, Lord of The Rings, Tom Cruise or Michael Jackson, nothing and no one is safe! The world seen through the eyes of the Comedy Inc. team is often just a step away from reality… viewed with an hilarious twist.

    Also on offer as either tape or format will be Bianca – Road to Happiness. This German telenovela from Grundy UFA in association with teamWorx is a modern fairytale about a woman beginning a new life after suffering for many years for a crime she did not commit. Bianca Berger now eagerly embraces each day as if it was her last and finds her place, her job, and the man of her dreams – but nothing is as simple as it seems. With regular audiences above the three million mark, Bianca – Road to Happiness was ZDF’s highest rated daytime series during 2005.

    FremantleMedia Enterprises CEO David Ellender said, “We have an exciting programming slate for buyers at DISCOP this year, with a range of programming options that will run the gamut of scheduling needs across Eastern Europe.”

  • Animal Planet celebrates World Environment Day on 5 June

    Animal Planet celebrates World Environment Day on 5 June

    Plans Dedicated Full-Day Programming

    New Delhi, June 1st, 2006: Why are so many plants and animals changing their age-old habits? Why are the sandhill cranes migrating from their temperate zones later than normal and returning earlier than expected? Why have the golden toad of Monteverdi and other species disappeared from the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica? To answers these questions and show viewers how they can contribute towards the cause of environment conservation, Animal Planet will present twelve engaging programmes on June 5, the World Environment Day, highlighting global wildlife and environment issues.

    The special 12-hour programming line-up will air on June 5 on Animal Planet from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

    Animals like tiger, panda and dolphin are in danger of extinction across the world. Under threat of fire, habitat destruction, hunting and poaching, environment changes, many other species are becoming endangered. Highlighting the tiger poaching in India, the channel will air an India-specific programme- Tiger Zero. Wildlife conservationist Valmik Thapar, the narrator of programme will raise concern over the dwindling tiger population. The temperature in the Arctic region has been rising by as much as one and a half degrees centigrade per decade. The ice cover is reducing posing a threat to the polar bears, seals and penguins living in the region. Animal Planet through its programmes will raise concern over the vanishing population of these animals.

    THE PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
    Return of the Pandas 12 noon
    A part of cooperative agreement between the Chinese government, Animal Planet and National Zoo have bought two pandas to the United States to save this endangered species.

    Elephant Rescue 1:00 pm
    The programme follows the daily joys and troubles of two extraordinary women who have put Thailand on the map of world elephant conservation. Soraida Salwala and Sangduen Chailert used all their money to open the Elephant Nature Park, which now houses more than 35 rescued elephants.

    Jane Goodall’s Return to Gombe 2:00 pm
    This programme talks about Jane Goodall’s conservation work and follows her search for the vanquished frodo. Also see her groundbreaking research, thoughts, beliefs and emotions that she has invested in both wild chimpanzees and protecting primates worldwide.

    Warnings from the Wild 3:00 pm
    The programme highlights the terrifying truth about global warming and its impact on species. By observing changing animal behaviour, scientists try to understand the ongoing global climatic and ecological changing conditions specially those resulting from the human influence in our environment.

    Saving Uganda’s Wildlife 4:00 pm
    Gladys Kalema, chief vet of Uganda Wildlife Authority, is responsible for caring for all of Uganda’s wildlife. From the highly endangered mountain Gorillas in the tranquil Bwindi forest, to the placid Ugandan Kob grazing on the Savannah, Gladys has quite a challenge on her hands. Viewers follow Gladys as she goes about her job, doing anything from darting infected giraffes thundering across the tropical plains to removing snares that cripple chimps in Budongo Forest.

    Wolf: Return to the Wild 5:00 pm
    Wolf haven is a private wolf sanctuary that provides captive breeding and “wilding” conditioning for Mexican Gray wolves. Relocation of wild wolves from wilderness areas is not as difficult as attempting to introduce wolves raised in captivity back to the wild. Viewers will be introduced to this challenge of relocation of Mexican Gray wolves.

    Gorilla Gorilla 6:00 pm
    Gorilla numbers worldwide have been decimated by man’s greed and cruelty and environmental damage caused by incessant African wars, poaching and the rape of the landscape by big businesses. This programme tells the story of a major project to create new gorilla groups by rescuing local orphaned African gorillas, and then by relocating young gorillas reared in England in their natural African habitat.

    Return of the Cheetah 7:00 pm
    Wildlife expert Peter Gros heads to Namibia for an assignment at the Cheetah Conservation Fund – a uniquely ambitious project aimed at safeguarding the world’s fastest sprinter. In an action-packed visit, Peter teams up with Namibia’s ‘Cheetah Lady’, Dr. Laurie Marker, and finds out how science, diplomacy, and a dash of imagination can turn a situation of despair into one of hope.

    The Temple of the Tigers 8:00 pm
    In a small, isolated monastery in northern Thailand, a handful of simple, peace-loving Buddhist monks perform their daily duties – praying, collecting alms and feeding their 10 wild Bengal tigers. The Temple of the Tigers is the remarkable story of a group of 10 monks who have taken on the task of protecting the endangered animals by offering them a home within the walls of their temple.

    Tiger Zero 9:00 pm
    The programme reveals the root cause behind India’s tiger crisis.

    Hunt for the Rarest Whale 10:00 pm
    Nan Hauser has been tracking these prehistoric mammals for a decade, understanding, observing and setting up the world’s first sanctuary off the Cook Islands. Viewers follow the personal quest of Nan, as she journeys to some of the last unspoiled places on Earth. On a mission to unlock new clues to the behaviour of whales and dolphins, her groundbreaking work and dedication to saving the whales of Oceania has shown that one individual can make a difference in helping to stem the tide.

    This World: Tiger Traffic 11:00 pm
    From Siberia to the jungles of Cambodia, army veterans from Chechnya, Afghanistan and Vietnam are taking up arms to protect the tiger. American undercover agent-turned-conservationist Steve Galster recruits army veterans and trains anti-poaching patrols in military tactics. This programme follows Galster and his men as they mastermind a sting to catch a prominent Korean animal dealer, discover a dead tigress in a sadistic snare and secretly film traders selling tiger bones and teeth in a Myanmar market.

    About Animal Planet
    Animal Planet grabs you. The world’s leading animal entertainment brand, Animal Planet reaches 185 million subscribers in 160 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East with programming customized in 24 languages. Offering intrigue, adventure, humour, relationships, life and death, Animal Planet is the only television network on the planet dedicated to people’s fascination with animals. First launched outside of the United States in Europe in 1997, Animal Planet is a joint venture between Discovery Communications and BBC Worldwide in all international regions except the United Kingdom and Italy.

    For further information, please contact:

     

    Praveen Gujjari
    Hanmer&Partners
    Tel: 011- 29214793/94, 98911-36123
    E-mail: praveen@hanmerpr.com

  • 14 more TV channels apply for downlink okay

    14 more TV channels apply for downlink okay

    NEW DELHI: Fourteen more TV channels have applied for downlinking permission in India taking the total number to 55 as the deadline shutters down on 11 May.

    According to information posted on the website of the information and broadcasting ministry as of 11 May 1.10 a.m., the likes of ESPN, Star Sports, Reality TV, BBC World, Fashion TV and God TV were amongst those seeking landing rights in India.

    The government had stated all TV channels wishing to be downlinked into India will have to apply for landing rights after fulfilling various norms by 11 May 2006.

    The government had also clarified that from 11 May, all TV channels uplinking from outside India and having applied for registration with the government by that date could be carried on cable networks for the next six months or till the time government decides on their applications.

    The TV channels that have applied, according to the I&B ministry website, till 10 May include TV5 Monde, ESPN, Star Sports, BBC World, Fashion TV (that has applied under the entertainment category), Voyages Television, Miracle Net TV (entertainment), God TV(entertainment), Reality TV (entertainment), ABC Asia Pacific, Zee Arabia, Goal TV-1, Goal TV-2, MGM.

    The channels that sought landing rights earlier include Star Utsav, Star Plus, Star World, Star Gold, Star One, Star Movies, Channel V, Deutsche Welle TV, Angel TV, Hallmark Channel, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Star Vijay, Sony TV, SET Max, Animax, SET Pix, SAB(Sony), AXN, National Geographic Channel, The History Channel, MTV, Nick,Vh 1, MTV2, Ten Sports, Channel News Asia, B4U Music, B4U Movies, Discovery, Discovery Travel & Living, Animal Planet, Zee Studio, Zee Café, Zee Trendz, CNN International, HBO, POGO, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

    The ministry has informed TV channels that those who have obtained uplinking permission from India before 2 December, 2005 are not required to file with the government for downlinking.

    These channels will also not be required to pay an initial fee of Rs. 500,000 on grant of permission agreement or the annual downlinking fee of Rs. 100,000 per channel.

    However, those TV channels obtaining uplink permission from the government after 2 December, 2005 are required to submit some additional information relating to downlink okay, but are exempt from any processing and annual fee.

  • Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin to feature India this month

    Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin to feature India this month

    MUMBAI: This month charismatic adventure seeker and host of The Jeff Corwin Experience on Animal Planet is turning his attention to India.

    Corwin faces off against venomous cobras and stalks big cats on the subcontinent in an episode that will air on 30 May at 10 pm.

    In the episode, Corwin will provide information to the viewers on each species he encounters. The episode also shows him bargaining with shopkeepers, sharing tea with herdsmen and taking a death defying ride.

  • Animal Planet’s contest looks to unearth talent

    Animal Planet’s contest looks to unearth talent

    MUMBAI: This is a piece of news that should interest aspiring filmmakers who are passionate about animals.

    Animal Planet is searching for the next great wildlife filmmaker globally. The four-part reality series Unearthed will follow six contestants on an intensive training course as they learn the essential skills and realities of creating a natural history documentary.

    The budding directors and animal enthusiasts will carry out their challenges at the award-winning Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa in July 2006, competing to ultimately have their film chosen the winner.

    Industry experts and wildlife filmmakers Lyndal Davies and Andrew Barron will guide the contestants through their tasks on the course. The tutors will provide invaluable inside knowledge to help the students each shoot and edit their own short wildlife film.
    An international panel of experts will judge the final documentaries, and the winner will have his or her film broadcast on Animal Planet in 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

    To apply for one of the six places on this amazing course all participants have to do is to go to www.animalplanet.co.uk/unearthed and download the application form and send it in by 5 May, 2006 to the following address:

    Animal Planet – Unearthed
    Discovery Networks India
    9/1 B Qutab Institutional Area
    Aruna Asaf Ali Marg
    New Delhi-110 067, India

  • Animal Planet Intl announces new programming initiatives

    Animal Planet Intl announces new programming initiatives

    MUMBAI: A search for the next great wildlife filmmaker, an eco-reality series with WWF and a three-part natural history documentary are among the new programming initiatives recently announced by Animal Planet International.

    One show is called Unearthed. It will follow six contestants on a training course as they learn the skills of natural history filmmaking from Lyndal Davies and Andrew Barron. It will be filmed at the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa this July and launches on Animal Planet throughout Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa early next year. Animal Planet International will also broadcast the winning documentary, to be judged by a panel of experts.

    Meanwhile Planet Action is being co-produced with WWF. It launches next month on Animal Planet in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The series follows an international team of amateur environmentalists as they are immersed in six different conservation projects. “Animal Planet entertains people by celebrating animals, and we can think of no better way to celebrate animals than by doing our part to help protect them,” said Gibson.

    The documentary Great Savannah Race follows 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra as they fight for survival over 500 miles of plains and grassland. The series was filmed over a period of 18 months, and rolls out on Animal Planet International this summer.

  • Actor Sean Astin to lend voice for Animal Planet’s ‘Meerkat Manor’

    Actor Sean Astin to lend voice for Animal Planet’s ‘Meerkat Manor’

    MUMBAI: Actor Sean Astin Lord of the Rings, 24 tries to embody two new character traits — small and furry.

    He lends his talents to narrate Meerkat Manor, Animal Planet US’ new 13-part docu-drama. The show premieres in June 2006.

    With all the love, squabbling, self-sacrifice and rivalry found in any family, a group of Meerkats struggles to survive in Africa’s Kalahari Desert.

    The show was filmed over the course of a 10-year Cambridge University study, and explains to viewers the context of the behaviour they have recorded. There will be family feuds, secret love affairs and backstabbing .

    Animal Planet US GM Maureen Smith says, “It’s like a soap-opera, and I mean that in a good way. Meerkats are very social creatures, so you find yourself really pulling for certain characters. It’s compelling reality television”.

    With cameras recording their every move, the show introduces viewers to the Whiskers, a family of Meerkats, revealing their personalities over the course of the series.

  • Animal Planet teams with WWF for eco-reality series ‘Planet Action’

    Animal Planet teams with WWF for eco-reality series ‘Planet Action’

    MUMBAI: Around the globe, pollution, global warming, deforestation, fishing practices, all play a part in endangering the world’s wildlife. Most often, the danger comes as a result of human behaviour. In a mission to show viewers how they can help the conservation cause, Animal Planet and WWF, the global conservation organisation, present Planet Action – an eco-reality series which takes on these crises in a brand new way.

    Starting 2 April, the six-episode series Planet Action will air on Animal Planet every Sunday at 9 pm. The series will premiere globally on Animal Planet.

    The series takes an unique approach in addressing some of the current
    issues facing wildlife and eco-systems today. The series follows an
    international team of seven enthusiastic amateur environmentalists as they are immersed in six different conservation projects. Working under the pressure of strict deadlines and tight budgets in remote locations, the team must work together to accomplish each mission.

    Over six weeks, we see conservation in action as the team tackles projects to make a real difference. The journeys range from saving endangered leatherback turtles in Panama to planting 100 trees in the heart of Borneo’s rainforest to help the orangutans fight for survival.

    Animal Planet Brand Director Raja Balasubramanian said, “Animal Planet has presented many entertaining programmes, both from India and abroad, to increase the understanding on wildlife extinction and environment deterioration. Planet Action is an eco-reality programme that, besides informing, will entertain viewers by presenting them all the emotion and drama of a group of amateur environmentalists tasked with real-life challenges.”

    The diverse group of participants from Venezuela, Vietnam, Sweden,
    Australia, Brazil, UK and USA came together to pursue a common cause. WWF experts are on hand as ‘mentors’ during each challenge, as the team learns firsthand about the realities of conservation while at the same time coping with extreme conditions, unfamiliar cultures and the pressures of protecting wildlife.

    Can the team put personal issues aside and cooperate as a group to undertake these important challenges? Planet Action captures all the emotion and drama as tempers fray and moods swing while the team works together towards their ultimate goal – protecting the future of the animals with whom we share the planet.

    WWF-India SG and CEO Ravi Singh said, “Planet Action is a great example of active media partnership to showcase the tough work of conservation to the world. I am hopeful that more and more people will be sensitised about the threats to the environment and to it’s species and the urgent need to conserve the same.”

    WWF-India is the largest and one of the most experienced conservation organizations in the country. And, with almost five million supporters distributed throughout five continents, WWF has a global network active in over 90 countries and has played a major role in the evolution of the international conservation movement. Their mission is to stop the degradation of the planet and to help people live in harmony with nature.