ITV

Tag: brings

  • Mattel Toys brings ‘Robots’ to life

    MUMBAI: With the animated classic Robots creating waves in theatres nationwide, Mattel Toys have brought to life the ‘mechanical beings’ by launching the Robots line of toys and accessories.

    True to the characters from the movie, the Robots toy range will allow children to re-enact their favorite movie scenes from this animated classic. The toy range offers a full line of figures; play sets and accessories that will allow the imagination of kids go wild.

     
     
    The story of Robots revolves around the idea that there’s a heart beneath steel and every robot can shine no matter what. Rodney Copper Bottom chases after his own dream of working alongside famous inventor – Mr. Big Weld.
     
     
    From the Rodney Copper Bottom to the bunch of other bots in the Robot City, the toy range hosts some spectacular offerings. Some of the most exciting toys of this range are ‘Roboots.’ These cool boots are styled just like the pair sported by Rodney, the extra talented inventor in the film that have silly creaking, clanging and crashing sounds activated by running, stomping and kicking. Adding to the line of excitement is the ‘Wonderbot’, a flying machine invented by Rodney.
     
     
    Mattel Toys (I) Pvt Ltd vice president marketing Nanette D’Sa says, “Mattel Entertainment is all about adding new dimensions to a kid’s fantasy. The ‘reel’ life heroes of the Robots city have now been brought alive into the toy rooms of children. Mattel is dedicated to ensuring that everything we create, from dolls and games to high-tech toys, brings the characters to life in amazing new ways.”
    The movie Robots showcases geniuses, talent and action thus teaching. With our whole range of toys we are definitely sure that young boys will relive Rodney and the Robot City.

    Besides Roboots, and the Wonderbot Flying Top, the range also expands to Super City Play set, Robots 3.5 inch figure and seven inch figure assortments, a 14 inch ‘Build n Battle’ Rodney Copperbottom and a Robots Board Game.

    The Robots range will be available across all leading toy and departmental stores across the country.

  • FremantleMedia brings the Gameshow Catalogue to Mipcom

    MUMBAI: Following a surge in global interest for its gameshow titles, FremantleMedia will be bringing its Classic GameShow Catalogue to Mipcom this October.

    FremantleMedia’s extensive gameshow collection includes landmark shows, many of which have recently experienced an impressive revival with audiences worldwide.

    Launched on SBT in Brazil in June 2005, the local adaptation of Family Feud has been a huge success gaining daily audiences in excess of three million viewers. Meanwhile, in Australia, Network 9 has recently re-launched Sale of the Century, under the local name of Temptation. Consistently ranking No.1 in its timeslot with daily audiences in excess of one million viewers, Temptation regularly features among the highest rated programmes for Network 9.

    Back in the UK, airing as part of Ant and Dec’s Gameshow Marathon, The Price is Right gained an audience share of 44 per cent when the show aired on ITV1 in September followed by Take Your Pick with 9 million viewers.

    Blockbusters, Card Sharks, Let’s Make A Deal, Everybody’s Equal, Match Game, Going for Gold, Stop The Clock, Take Your Pick, 100% and To Tell The Truth all feature in FremantleMedia’s Classic Gameshow Catalogue.

    FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide will be representing available ancillary rights to these shows including home entertainment, merchandising, licensing, interactive and publishing rights.

    Widely regarded as one of the most perfectly constructed gameshows, Family Feud has been newly commissioned in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and other European territories. The gameshow format combines interesting questions, great humour, fascinating families and great prizes and has enjoyed success in 38 territories since its US launch in 1976, where it was the No. 1 rated syndicated gameshow from 1978 to 1984.

    Family Feud became part of FremantleMedia’s catalogue in 1997. Not only a massive ratings hit, it has also been honoured with many awards. Most recently the Mexican version 100 Mexicanos Dijeron, scooped the ‘Premio INTE, industria de la TV Espanol’ Award for Best Gameshow of the Year.

    Making a well deserved and long awaited come back, classic gameshow, Sale of the Century, promises to create a buzz down in Cannes. The Sale of the Century — now on air in Australia, India and with a special planned for the UK — is a game for all the family where every contestant can go home a winner. The show is played with three contestants who challenge each other to a battle of wits and accumulate cash over a series of rounds for correctly answering general knowledge questions.

    Card Sharks is the perfect gameshow for broadcasters looking for cross promotion opportunities. The aim of the game is for two couples to guess their way across a five card gameboard, predicting if each card is higher or lower than its predecessor. The first one to turn over the last card correctly wins the game and a chance to compete for the jackpot prize.

    Let’s Make A Deal is ‘the big deal’. Having sold to 14 territories and currently on air in India, Let’s Make A Deal has proved to be one of the most adaptable formats in the world. It has fabulous pedigree and works for any duration in any timeslot. Whenever it is transmitted, Let’s Make A Deal guarantees to take the players and the viewers on a spectacular roller-coaster ride of emotions and excitement from start to finish.

    FremantleMedia will also be bringing The Price Is Right – the longest running gameshow in the history of television — back to Cannes this October. First broadcast on NBC in the US in 1956, this perennial favourite is still on air in Australia, Portugal, Indonesia and the US and has now been broadcast in 26 territories. The successful roll out of this brand worldwide is testament to its enduring popularity, proving it to be a classic and timeless gameshow format.

    FremantleMedia senior vice president, production, worldwide entertainment Rob Clark said, “Gameshows are back and the interest in them is worldwide. FremantleMedia offers the world’s best: our perennial favourites have broad appeal, mixing traditional fun with modern day interactivity. They are incredibly flexible, working particularly well in primetime or as strips. The scheduling possibilities are endless as is the entertainment these shows provide.”
     

     

  • GRB brings a diverse array of shows to Mipcom

    MUMBAI: GRB Worldwide, the new venture from GRB Entertainment that was launched at Mip-TV earlier this year, comes to this year’s television event Mipcom next month at Cannes with a diverse slate of programming.
     
     

    The titles being offered by GRB Worldwide include the reality show The Agency. It looks at how the modelling industry works and the real relationships that exist between the agents and talent – both good and bad – by examining the business of operating one of the world’s largest and most successful modeling agencies, Wilhelmina. On the catwalk, at client meetings, on casting calls, egos can often run amok and with hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in play on every deal, the stakes are enormous.
     
     

    Another show is Full Force Nature. It consists of
    dramatic short stories showing all types of natural disasters, from a storm chaser caught in the eye of a hurricane to a snowboarder trapped in an avalanche. These stories include interviews and award winning footage. Meanwhile The Tornado Hunters is a journey through Tornado Alley where the weather conditions annually spin up over 1,000 of the world’s strongest and most dangerous tornadoes. Homeowners capture amazing and terrifying live up-close footage of encounters with tornadoes, providing gritty and horrific narration of the gripping moments before impact.

    Untold Stories From The E.R. was created for American broadcaster TLC. It demonstrates the true dramatic nature of emergency medicine practiced under pressure, where every moment can be a turning point. Viewers can see how a doctor’s personal blend of expertise, coolness under fire, and decision-making ability is challenged by unpredictable circumstances – and how character makes the ultimate difference.

    GRB Worldwide focusses on the financing, creation, and acquisition of both fiction and non-fiction programming for global distribution. GRB Worldwide is part of GRB Entertainment which produces and distributes non-fiction programmes.

  • NGC brings doc ‘Inside 9-11’ to Mipcom

    MUMBAI: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) will distribute the four-hour special Inside 9-11 at the television event Mipcom in Cannes next month.
     
     

    NGC states that in the US Inside 9-11 set record ratings and was seen by almost 18 million viewers over two nights when it aired last month.

    Inside 9-11 offers a perspective on that day four years ago. It goes beyond what’s been widely reported to reveal a clearer picture of events. With attention to detail and firsthand storytelling, Inside 9-11 traces the timeline that led up to the deadly attacks, spanning decades, and circling the globe to lay bare the roots of al Qaeda, and the transformation of Osama bin Laden from fundraiser to terrorist mastermind. The mini series deconstructs September 11th, tracking the movements of all four terrorist teams and patching together the ad hoc response of the US government.
     
     

    The other shows that NGC will be bringing to Mipcom include Megacities, Mircokillers, Bio-terror, Hunt of Hitler’s Secret Scientists, Living Edens and Triumph of Life.

  • TDSAT interim order brings Star back on Asianet

     MUMBAI: Following an interim order by the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), Star India has switched on the services of its bouquet of channels to Asianet Satellite Communications (ASC), the largest cable TV network in Kerala.
     
     

    “As per the interim order from TDSAT, which said that subject to signing of the agreement and a payment of Rs 5.5 million per month we have to switch Asianet on. Asianet have signed the agreement and made the payment, hence we have switched them on since last week, Star India’s spokesperson told indiantelevision.com.

    ASC chief executive officer Mahesh Kumar, confirmed the development.
     
     

    Star India had discontinued its services to ASC on 7 May 2005, alleging non-payment of dues. Since then the matter was with TDSAT. According to the Star spokesperson, the next hearing will be held in September.

  • Phillips brings Ambilight technology for TV sets to India

    Phillips brings Ambilight technology for TV sets to India

    MUMBAI: Phillips Electronics India is striving to up the ante in television technology to compete in an increasingly tough market. If last year, it introduced Pixel Plus 2 technology, it has now brought in ambient lighting (ambilight) technology for its plasma and LCD TV sets.

     

    The company states that the technology makes the viewing experience more intense by throwing a soft glow on the wall behind the screen to enhance perceived brightness, contrast and colour accuracy. Ambilight projects background lighting from the rear of the TV set onto the wall behind the set.

     

    Ambilight works by analysing the incoming TV signals and producing background lighting that matches the images displayed on the screen. There are four fixed preset and two special active preset modes. There is a relaxing mode and a dynamic mode that responds faster to the action on the screen.

     

    Speaking on the occasion Phillips Electronics India executive director and senior VP consumer electronics D. Shivakumar says that ambilight provides a cinema like viewing experience.

     

    On the occasion of the launch Phillips invited director Pradeep Sarkar who made Parineeta to speak. Abroad Phillips used Martin Scorcese who made The Aviator. Both these directors spoke on the use of light, shadow and colours.

     

    Sarkar said, “The ability to recreate the magic of the big screen on television makes it possible for cinema buffs to enjoy a true to life reproduction of various nuances including colour and light. It is critical that viewers are able to enjoy the full spectrum of the cinema as intended by the director.”

     

  • TDSAT brings relief to Bangalore subscribers

     BANGALORE / MUMBAI: A face-off over declarations that threatened to deny a section of Bangalore viewers access to the ongoing tri-nation cricket series in Sri Lanka has been resolved after intervention from the disputes tribunal.
     

    Bangalore’s ICE2 Network took its complaint to TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement Appelate Tribunal) after the signals for 14 channels – including Ten Sports which is broadcasting the cricket series – that form the One Alliance bouquet, were blocked. Incable, the One Alliance’s distributor in Bangalore, cut off signals to the ICE2 Network following a dispute over subscriber declarations.

    Speaking with Indiantelevison.com, ICE2 Network managing director TS Kamal Kumar says, “We’ve made a payment of Rs 250,000 within half an hour of the TDSAT decision yesterday. We were told that the signal would resume within 24 hours of payment.”
     
     

    One Alliance president Anuj Gandhi confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com saying that the signal had been cut as dues were outstanding. However, since the money was paid as had been directed by the tribunal, the signal would be restored.

    “We have declared 4,400 connections,” said Kamal, while rubbishing the figure of 8,500 that appeared in some sections of the local press. Kamal also refused to discuss the number of cable operators under his operation.

    ‘The signals are on, we are disputing the number of declarations,” confirmed Pratap Wadhwa of Incable Bangalore while not disclosing anything further in the matter.

    ICE2 provides cable services to Jayanagar, BTM Layout, Bommasandra, Madivala, Whitefield, Rajajinagar and some other areas in Bangalore.

    At every such mess up, DTH seems to be gaining numbers. Reportedly 8,000 people have opted for DTH connections in Bangalore over the last nine months.

  • Stanley Seating brings La-Z-Boy to India

    BANGALORE: The US-based Leather upholstery specialists Stanley Seating (SS) have partnered with La-Z-Boy Inc., USA (LZB) to bring their world famous reclines to India. SS will bring in bare CKD kits of six models sourced from LZB Thailand to India and tailor the upholstery to customer specifications.
     

     
    La-Z-Boy is a brand with a recall rate – 98 per cent, this equals Coca-Cola, claims a LZB official quoting the Gallops survey findings. On an average 15,000 recliners are sold daily worldwide and TV and La-Z-Boy have always been a good pair, with their recliners figuring in some o f the most popular TV shows in the USA including the Bing Croby Show, Frasier and Friends.
     
     
    LZB has been receiving the largest number of enquiries from customers as well as dealers from India, and this has prompted the tie-up with SS. Highly impressed with SS quality of work in India and also the variety of upholstery available with SS, LZB is considering manufacture of the recliners at SS .
    Popular personalities such as Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Cudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer all have their own La-Z-Boy designs named after them.

     
     
    SS has revenues of Rs 500 million plans to grow the market from the existing three to four thousand to around eight to ten thousand and bring in additional revenues of Rs 250 million this year. SS’s multi-channel distribution system exceeding 200 retail centers and showrooms and over a 100 dealers across India will be utilized to market the offerings from LZB, and SS Brand Manager Nagesh Manay hopes to grow this multi-channel distribution system by appointing more dealers and distributors.

    Stanley Seating boasts of an impressive clientele ranging from automobile giants like General Motors, Ford, Mitsubishi, Toyota Kirloskar, Volvo, Honda Siel, Mahindra & Mahindra to corporate clients such as General Electric, DELL, Wipro, 3M, Windsor Sheraton and the Leela Palace.

    A print media campaign is on the anvil as per SS founder and CEO Sunil Suresh, while TVC’s are also in the next nine to twelve month horizon. Creatives initially will be sourced out of the US.

  • Asianet brings new soap for primetime

    MUMBAI: Malayalam channel Asianet will launch Omanathinkal Pakshi on 24 January in the 7 pm slot. The Monday – Friday serial is the television adaptation based on a novel written by popular Malayalam novelist Joycee.
     Directed by Sudhish Shankar, Omanathinkal Pakshi revolves around the crusades of Jhancy, the only daughter of rich parents. The serial stars Sreevidhya, Sai Kumar, Lena, Beena Antony and Sitara Balakrishnan.

  • Color Chips brings 2D animation series on ETV

    MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based Color Chips India Ltd (CCIL), an integrated animation designs solution company, has sewed a deal with ETV Networks for airing the 2D animated television serial, Caper Town Cops.

    The deal, marking the entry of Caper Town Cops in India, envisages sharing of the revenue on a 50:50 basis. The animation series will run across the ETV Network in various languages channels such as Marathi, Gujrathi, Kannada, Oriya and Bengali.

    ETV Network has a one-time telecast rights of the series. Slotted for the primetime band, this series has 17 episodes and half hour serial is tentatively scheduled to go on air mid-feburary.

    The animation series chalks out a story about a toony, in coastal city with an old fashioned feel, all owned and neglected by Mayor Kickback.

    As the show marks its entry in India, it is distributed by Color Chips and produced by German based B KN International. The company holds the distribution rights for the animation series for Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Turkey, Vientnam, Fiji and amongst others.

    ETV gets the distinction of airing the series for the first time in India and the network will be dubbing the original English language series in Indian regional languages.

    The animation solution provider Color Chips holds the distribution and telecast rights of the property. Highlighting the reason behind selecting ETV Network, Colour Chips executive director Y. Suryanarayana said, “The network has better reach and vast viewership. Moreover, ETV network’s animation content has been doing well.”

    Suryanarayana further added that the company was looking for a prime time slot and the response from other networks had “not been encouraging.”

    With an eye to maximise revenues, Colour Chips also has plans to get into merchandising activity as it has the mandate to licence for this purpose the series characters.

    Pointing out that the merchandising activities would be kicked off after the telecast of the 2D series over ETV Network, Suryanarayana explained, “Although the process of merchandising is at a nascent stage in India, unlike foreign countries, we do see Pokemon and other cartoon charcaters doing well after being marketed well. So, there is some scope.”

    Attempts by indiantelevision.com to contact senior executives in ETV Network regarding the developments proved futile till the time of filing this report.