ITV

Tag: BBC

  • 100 women on the BBC

    100 women on the BBC

    MUMBAI: Women will be better represented in the BBC’s global output in future, the BBC pledged as it launched a new season of programming, 100 Women.

    The season will turn the spotlight onto women’s lives around the world, and kick start a drive to feature more women’s voices and women’s stories on the BBC’s global news channels – BBC World News, BBC.com and BBC World Service.

    The 100 Women season of special reports, programmes and discussion will run during October 2013. It will culminate in a global conference where 100 women from around the world will assemble at new broadcasting house in London to discuss some of the crucial issues facing women today.

    Editor of the 100 Women season Fiona Crack said: “We’re determined to make sure we are hearing women’s voices and telling women’s stories on all of the BBC’s global news channels. This season is a chance for us to look at the big picture and take stock of where we are with women’s rights around the world.”

    “More women than ever are finishing school, getting jobs and making their way in politics and in business. But violence remains a real threat to millions of girls and women around the world. And what about the demands of balancing work and family life? We want to look both at how things are changing, and into the future to see where these trends may take us,” she added

    Controller of Language Services Liliane Landor said: “This season comes in direct response to our audience’s feedback. Women have told us they want to hear themselves and their experiences better reflected and represented on the World Service.”

    Starting from 1 October 2013, content will run on TV, radio and online, including: Katty Kay will report on how more US families now depend on women’s wages, Anne Soy will report on Uganda’s Nobel prize-winning midwife and the changes in maternal mortality in the country. With rape reporting doubling in the last year in India, authorities are looking at more ways to make women safer, including female police patrols in Delhi, Rupa Jha will look at how effective changes have been. While Karishma Vaswani will ask how this will change women’s lives and job opportunities with a moratorium on domestic workers being introduced from 2016 in Indosenia. Shaimaa Khalil will go home to Cairo to see what girls and women could learn from their sisters in Kurdistan about curbing the practice. VladSokhin will examine the extreme levels of violence against women in Papua New Guinea. Mishal Husain will interview Pakistani school girl, Malala Yusufzai in her first broadcast interview since surviving being shot in the head by the Taliban last October.

    The 100 women conference will be streamed on a live event page on the BBC News website and broadcast live in English on BBC World News TV and World Service radio, as well as by many of its 27 global languages services.

  • BBC to boost business coverage with new programmes

    BBC to boost business coverage with new programmes

    MUMBAI: BBC World News and BBC.com plan to boost their business coverage in the upcoming months with new coverage and analysis to give audiences the story behind the headlines at a time of vast economic change.

    Starting this month the BBC will premiere a fresh line up of programmes and online features from London, Johannesburg, Singapore and around the world. From Talking Business with Linda Yueh to Escape from the Boardroom, Africa Business Report to Young and Jobless, BBC World News and BBC.com will deliver the latest on today’s business world to audiences around the globe.

    A world-renowned economist, each week Linda will sit down with big thinkers and news makers to talk about the latest business stories and economic trends; and what they mean not just for companies, but for consumers around the world. Linda will draw on her skill at cutting through the figures and get behind the headlines to make sense of a complex world. Clever discussions, distinctive news packages, and Linda’s analysis will make this show a must-watch for viewers around the globe.

    On the new line-up, Linda Yueh said: “With the vast changes in the global economy, understanding what lies behind the headlines matters more than ever. As part of a wider push to increase coverage of global business and the world economy on the BBC, I am delighted to host a new global business programme that will highlight the key trends that are re-shaping our world. Talking Business with Linda Yueh will focus on what these changes mean for our everyday lives through insightful discussions and interviews with key personalities.”

    Based in Singapore, Linda will travel extensively to cover the main global economics and business news stories. Prior to joining the BBC she was the Economics Editor for Bloomberg Television.

    Also on 5 October, BBC World News will launch Africa Business Report, a new weekly business TV programme, fronted by well-known presenter Lerato Mbele, covering key business stories and trends from across Africa. Africa Business Report will be produced by the BBC‘s new Africa Business unit from its production centre in Johannesburg and will report from across Africa showcasing the latest business trends across the continent, through a mixture of on the ground reports and high profile interviews.

    BBC Global News controller of English Richard Porter said: “Our role as a global broadcaster is to help the audience understand the constantly evolving economic landscape around them. Through in-depth analysis and background explanations, our new business programming on BBC World News and BBC.com takes our audience behind the headlines to get to the root of the stories that shape today’s economy both at home and around the world.”

  • Festive fervour on Life OK

    Festive fervour on Life OK

    MUMBAI: The festive season is already upon us and Life OK, Star Plus’s sister channel, is going all out to meet the celebratory mood head on. The channel, which plans to aggressively invest in content in the coming months, has a set of brand new shows up its sleeve, promising viewers a never-before-seen experience.

    As we all are aware, in this January when LC1 got added to the measurement, everybody crashed. In April, when digitisation phase II happened, the channel was down to 110GRPs. If we further break it down, from January onwards the ratings have increased in both the categories – men and women. For men, the viewership ratings witnessed a rise by 50 per cent and a similar rise of 25 per cent for women.

    The recently launched Ek Boond Ishq – BBC Worldwide’s first daily fiction series in India – offers a flavour of the kind of programming to follow on the channel.

    This tale of a girl who realises she is about to tie the knot in a prison cell, is telecast every week, Monday to Friday, at 8:30pm. One wonders however if airing such a show at a time slot when most other GECs boast strong programming, poses a risk more than an opportunity for the channel?

    “Definitely not!” shoots Life OK general manager Ajit Thakur, confident their modest attempt at providing quality entertainment will be appreciated.

    “What sells more is content. If the content is good, viewers will come anyway and watch the show,” he adds.

    Another show the channel has lined up as part of its festival bouquet is Katha Mahadev Putra Bal Ganesh Ki, a spin-off of its flagship property Mahadev, which airs on 14 September. The 16-episode series to be telecast every Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 pm, showcases the adventures of Lord Ganesh as a child, and is part of Life OK’s larger mission to replicate the success of Star Plus.

    It’s a show targeted at the entire family, particularly kids. “It’s a finite show. No other GEC has original content at this particular time slot. So we thought of taking advantage of that and occupying the slot. We not only aim to target women but also children with this show,” explains Thakur.

    Adding to the fresh batch of programming is Shakuntalam Telefilms’ edgy thriller titled Rakshak, which launches end of this month. To be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 pm, it goes without saying the limited series faces tough competition from the likes of Crime Petrol (Sony), Comedy Nights with Kapil Repeats (Colors), Star Verdict Repeats (Star Plus), Fear Files (Zee TV), Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chashma Repeats on Saturdays and Lapataganj – Ek Baar Phir on Sundays.

    Yet another feather in the channel’s programming cap is the new reality series, SOL Productions’ The Bachelorette India featuring Bollywood actor Mallika Sherawat. As reported by this website earlier, the non-fiction show will see 30 eligible bachelors battling it out to win the sex siren’s heart… and hand.

    With the concept derived from an earlier show named Swayamvar on NDTV Imagine, comparisons between the two are inevitable. Especially since the likes of Rakhi Sawant (who ended up separating from her partner post the series) and Rahul Mahajan, who participated in Swayamvar. The Bachelorette India is not the first of the channel’s trysts with reality shows. An earlier attempt, Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki, failed badly at winning the hearts of its audience.

    While the channel has pinned high hopes on these programs, whether they will succeed is a separate story altogether. Says a highly placed media planner (name withheld on request): “I don’t think the channel is doing something new in terms of content. Viewers have already seen all this. It depends on the channel how they modify and show it to audiences. If viewers are interested, it might be a green signal for them. Talking about the upcoming shows, one will have to wait and see how they fare as it is too early to predict.”

    Many other media planners though agreed the channel has been innovating and launching new shows time and again to sustain viewership and maintain numbers.

    All said, it’s now up to the viewers to decide whether they like Life OK’s bag of goodies…

  • Bill Condon and Ian McKellen reunite for a new Sherlock flick

    Bill Condon and Ian McKellen reunite for a new Sherlock flick

    MUMBAI: The acclaimed director is all set to recreate a new Sherlock Holmes movie in which McKellen will play a retired Holmes. The movie titled A Slight Trick of the Mind is based on a novel by Mitch Cullin and the screenplay is adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher.

     

    Condon and McKellen were previously seen together in Gods and Monsters. The finance is done by Icon UK’s production department called AI and BBC is co-financing. AI is also co-producing. The shooting is set to begin sometime next April in UK.

     

    Anne Carey is producing via Archer Gray Productions. King’s Speech producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of See-Saw Films, Icon/AI Film’s Aviv Giladi, and Len Blavatnik, whose Access Industries owns the Icon UK group, are exec producing as is BBC Films’ Christine Langan.

     

    International sales are being handled by FilmNation. Condon is repped by WME, Anonymous Content, Wayne Alexander and Robert Nau. McKellen is repped by Chris Andrews at CAA and Paul Lyon-Maris at Independent Talent Group.

  • Legendary David Frost is no more

    Legendary David Frost is no more

    MUMBAI: Sir David Frost, the veteran broadcaster and writer, died of a suspected heart attack while traveling aboard the Queen Elizabeth where he was delivering a speech on Saturday night, according to the BBC. He was 74.

     

    Frost’s long career spanned journalism, heavy-hitting TV interviews, game show hosting and comedy writing. He notably conducted a series of televised sit-downs with former president Richard Nixon in 1977. They were the basis of a 2006 play by Peter Morgan, which was then adapted as Ron Howard’s 2008 film, Frost/Nixon.

     

    Michael Sheen played Frost and the film was nominated for five Oscars. In the early 1960s, Frost hosted the satirical program That Was The Week That Was on the BBC and also featured on an American version for NBC from 1964-1965. In 1968, he helped launch London Weekend Television, which is now part of ITV.

     

    His other on-air TV credits included The Frost Report, The David Frost Show, Through The Keyhole, Breakfast With Frost and, more recently, Frost Over The World for Al Jazeera English.

  • New commissions for Travel Channel & Food Network U.K

    New commissions for Travel Channel & Food Network U.K

    MUMBAI: Scripps Networks International has commissioned new programming across Travel Channel and Food Network U.K., alongside announcing the launch of Food Network HD in Turkey.

     

    There are two new commissions for travel channel: Luxury Uncovered and Man Vs World (working title). Luxury Uncovered is hosted by Jenny Powell. She will go behind the scenes to reveal the secrets of service specialists worldwide, from first-class flights to world-renowned resorts.

     

    Man Vs World features Rob Bell, an engineer, triathlete and adventurer. He puts all of these qualities to the test in a series of unique travel challenges. Bell was recently seen on BBC’s Engineering Greats.

     

    Food Network’s new commission is Jenny Morris Cooks the Riviera. The series explores the tastes of the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on French and Italian cuisine.

     

    Scripps UK & EMEA senior VP of content and marketing Nick Thorogood said, “It’s fantastic to create original, dynamic programming relevant to so many of the territories we broadcast to and to showcase both new and established talent.”

     

    Scripps UK & EMEA VP of commissioning and original content Sue Walton added, “Yet again we have pushed our original programming to the limit. Glamour, danger and fantastic food equaling top-notch entertainment for all to enjoy across our channels.”

     

    Additionally, Scripps Networks International is bringing Food Network HD to Turkey for the first time. The channel will be fully versioned by August. Through an agreement with D-Smart, Food Network HD will be available to 700,000 subscribers in Turkey.

     

    “It’s great to see Scripps further expand its global footprint in such an important international territory,” said Scripps EMEA managing director Jon Sichel. “Food Network’s unique lifestyle programming will be an excellent addition to D?Smart’s channel lineup.”
     

  • ‘Monty Python’ star Michael Palin cast in BBC War Drama

    ‘Monty Python’ star Michael Palin cast in BBC War Drama

    MUMBAI: British comedian, actor, writer and presenter Michael Palin will star in TV movie The Wipers Times, a World War I drama to air on BBC2. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

    The drama details the story of how a squad of British soldiers in the trenches produced and published their own satirical magazine during the First World War.

    The movie is co-written by Ian Hislop, a regular on satirical British TV show Have I Got News For You, and also the editor of Private Eye, the UK‘s weekly paper which takes a humorous and often barbed look at the political scene and the media.

    Palin will join Ben Chaplin, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Emilia Fox in the drama also written by Nick Newman and directed by Andy De Emmony.

    The movie is produced by Oscar winning producer David Parfitt through his banner Trademark Films and is backed by BBC, Northern Ireland Screen Fund (supported by Invest NI and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund), Goldcrest Films and Content Media.

    The Wipers Times combined dark humor and satirical swipes at allies and enemies and was set up an abandoned printing press discovered in the ruins of Ypres, Belgium.

    Palin‘s more than 40-year career on television and movies includes being a founding member of legendary comedy collective Monty Python, featuring in such classics as Monty Python‘s Flying Circus, The Holy Grailand Life of Brian.

  • BBC Weather app hits a million downloads in two weeks

    BBC Weather app hits a million downloads in two weeks

    MUMBAI: The BBC Weather app for iOS and Android devices has reached the milestone of a million downloads.

    Taking just two weeks to hit the landmark figure, the application is said to have driven mobile traffic to BBC Weather up from 20 per cent to 25 per cent post-launch.The broadcaster reported a 47 per cent increase in mobile access on the weekend of the apps launch, compared to the previous weekend, and the hourly forecast feature accounted for 84 per cent of those users.

    Both the Android and iOS builds of the BBC Weather app offer many of the same features, though the former version includes the option to create a homescreen widget and NFC support.

    The BBC also revealed that the app is most commonly used between 6.00 am and 9.00 am in the morning.

  • BBC launches Fresh Online for short form docs

    BBC launches Fresh Online for short form docs

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC‘s channel BBC Three has announced the launch of a new initiative to find aspiring directors of the future with the creation of Fresh Online – a BBC online space which will showcase the country‘s best short-form documentaries.

    Fresh Online will invite aspiring factual filmmakers to produce and submit their short films, which will then be showcased on a new Fresh Online website due to go live later this year.

    The website will provide a platform for aspiring filmmakers to get their work seen, while also becoming the ‘go to‘ place for BBC Three audiences interested in documentaries. A collaboration between BBC Three, BBC Documentaries and BBC Learning, Fresh Online will sit alongside the fresh new directors scheme already run by BBC Three.

    BBC Three controller Zai Bennett said, “I‘m thrilled with the success of documentaries on BBC Three – from Bafta-winning ‘Our War‘ and the ‘Body Image‘ season to the recent success of ‘The Call Centre‘, the channel is committed to delivering documentaries on a diverse range of topics specifically for a younger audience.”

    “The Fresh directors scheme for up-and-coming filmmakers has played a vital role in BBC Three‘s factual offering, and now we‘ll be extending that with Fresh Online aimed at finding the directors of the future,” he added.

    BBC commissioning editor for documentaries Charlotte Moore said, “Fresh Online is a chance for us to find raw talent and the next generation of filmmakers. We‘re looking for people who have stories to tell and something to say about the age we‘re living in. Free from the pressures of schedules, budgets and viewing figures, it‘s a chance to experiment, to create short films and to become part of a community of documentary makers in this country. It could be your first step on the road to an Oscar! We‘re looking for films between two and 10 minutes long which give an insight into what‘s really important for young people in today‘s Britain.”

  • CBeebies programming block to launch on BesTV New Media in China

    CBeebies programming block to launch on BesTV New Media in China

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC‘s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has announced a deal with Chinese new media company BesTV to launch a CBeebies branded block on their multi screen platform.

    The deal, announced at the opening day of the Shanghai TV Festival, is the first collaboration between a UK kids content provider and BesTV New Media.

    Commencing this year, the deal will see over 20 million of BesTV‘s new media subscribers, who have access to CBeebies‘ preschool programmes like ‘Teletubbies‘, ‘Sarah And Duck‘, ‘Baby Jake‘ and ‘Andy‘s Wild Adventures‘ as a VOD service. Young learners and parents will be able to enjoy CBeebies programmes via BesTV‘s multi-screen service – through IPTV, Connect TV, OTT, tablets, and mobile.

    This will be the first launch of CBeebies as a brand in China. BBC Worldwide VP and GM Greater China Pierre Cheung said, “We have a long term relationship with BesTV, who have been acquiring our BBC documentaries and drama since 2008. We are extremely excited to work with them again to launch the CBeebies brand, and look forward to working with them to promote our award-winning preschool brand in China.”

    BesTV New Media VP Zhangyue said, “Family subscribers are our target users, and the deal with BBC Worldwide to provide CBeebies branded programmes on BesTV is important to us. It gives our viewers and subscribers opportunities where families can come together in front of the TV to spend quality time together.”

    “CBeebies provides a range of pre-school programming designed to encourage learning through play in a consistently safe environment – attributes that we at BesTV agree and believe in as well. With this deal, we have upped the ante on our international preschool offering,” he adds.