ITV

Tag: Brunei

  • UTV, Sun in talks for Tamil kids channel

    UTV, Sun in talks for Tamil kids channel

    MUMBAI: UTV is in talks with Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Network to jointly launch a Tamil language kids channel.

    As per the discussions conducted thus far, UTV will look after the programming and marketing of the channel while the distribution of the channel will be handled by Sun, which runs a cable network in Tamil Nadu called SCV.

    UTV, along with promoter Ronnie Screwvala, already runs a Hindi kids channel, Hungama TV. United Home Entertainment is the company that owns and operates Hungama TV.

    The talks between UTV and Sun Network are, however, at a preliminary stage, sources say. “Nothing has been finalised and the talks are still inconclusive. UTV wants to launch kids’ channels in Tamil and Telugu languages,” a source added.

    When contacted, Screwvala said the company was in talks with more than one company. “It is too premature at this stage to talk of anything definite,” he added, refusing to divulge the name of any single company he was in negotiations with.

    Hungama TV is also in talks for roping in an overseas strategic investor. The channel is distributed by Star India as part of its bouquet which includes the two Walt Disney channels and Star One.

    The extension of the Hungama TV business is reflected in the joint venture deal with Malaysia’s Astro All Asia Network for setting up kids channels in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and later Singapore. UTV will have the option to invest up to 20 per cent stake in the joint venture company within three years.

    The capital employed in Hungama TV is Rs 600 million with UTV having pumped in Rs 430 million so far.

    Sun Network, a dominant player in the south, which has channels in the general entertainment, movies and music space, does not operate any kids channel. Disney is the only player to have kids’ channels with dubbed versions in Tamil and Telugu languages. There is no dedicated Malayalam language kids channel. 

  • Entries open for Animation Super Pitch 2002

    Entries open for Animation Super Pitch 2002

    Announcing entries open, Asia Animation Super Pitch 2002 has said that for the first time in the region animation content creators will get a chance to reach a panel of at least 10 commissioning editors and broadcasters at the same time this year.

    Organised by Asia Image and Canada’s BANFF Television Festival, the session will be moderated by industry veteran Pat Ferns. Five finalists will be given five minutes to pitch their best ideas to the panel of commissioning editors and broadcasters; each pitch will be followed by a five-minute Q&A session. The winning pitch will receive a cash prize towards the programme’s production.

    Asia Animation Super Pitch is open to all animation studios and production houses whose primary base is in any of the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, North Korea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

    Only official Asia Image/BANFF Television Festival entry forms will be accepted. An entry fee of $100 entitles three entries but separate forms must be used for each entry. A single entry costs $50.

    The last date for receiving entries is 31 October. A pre-selection process will take place between November 1-5 and finalists will be contacted by 15 November.

    Those selected must be prepared to pitch projects in person at Asia Animation 2002 on the morning of 5 December, Thursday at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore. Projects must be pitched in English. All presenters of shortlisted pitches will be offered two complimentary passes, worth $600, to Asia Animation 2002

  • Disney Channel launches in Indonesia

    Disney Channel launches in Indonesia

    The arrival of the Big Mouse in India may be delayed but it is setting up shop in other parts of the region. AsiaNet-ABC Cable Networks Group today announced plans to launch the Disney Channel in Indonesia beginning this month. The channel will launch on cable via PT Broadband Multimedia’s Kabelvision and on DTH through PT Matahari Lintas Cakrawala’s Indovision Digital. The announcement was made by David Hulbert, president of Walt Disney Television International.

    “Asia is an important region for the growth of Disney Channels throughout the world,” an official release quoted Hulbert as saying. “Launching the channel into Indonesia is another major step in expanding our presence throughout the region,” he added.

    The agreements were signed in Jakarta in June and the channel will be made available this month on the basic tier of both platforms.

    “With this launch, our Disney Channel Asia feed has expanded into six countries in just over two years,” says Jon Niermann, managing director for branded television – Asia Pacific for Walt Disney Television International. “After launching in South Korea in April, we’re very pleased to bring the magic of Disney into more homes in the region with the addition of Indonesia.”

    Disney Channel Asia is headed by managing director Raymund Miranda and is now available in Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. Launched in January 2000, it is a multi-language feed with both dubbing and subtitling in Mandarin, a Korean feed with subtitling, and a main feed in English. The Indonesian feed will launch in English with plans to dub into Bahasa Indonesia in the future. From launch, Disney Channel will reach 70 per cent of Pay TV households throughout Indonesia, the release says.

    The Asia feed is one of three feeds dedicated to the Asia market, the two others being Taiwan and Australia. There are 15 Disney Channels worldwide now covering 54 countries.

    ABC Cable Networks Group is based in Burbank, California and manages The Walt Disney Company’s interest in global television businesses, including the wholly-owned international Disney Channels and the company’s majority interest in the international Fox Kids channels. ABC Cable Networks Group also manages the Disney-branded and Fox Kids-branded kids programming on television platforms around the world.

    Walt Disney Television International – Asia Pacific is responsible for the consolidated international free and pay television activities of the Walt Disney Company and ABC Inc. in the region. These activities include program sales (Buena Vista International Television), production and the development and management of Disney Channels and other international broadcasting investments in Asia Pacific.

    The Disney Channel is currently available on pay TV in eight Asia-Pacific markets: Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Disney branded programs are broadcast on local free-to-air networks in 12 countries around the region, reaching a total audience of 300 million in Asia-Pacific, the release says. 

  • Disney Channel to debut on DTH service in Korea 1 June

    Disney Channel to debut on DTH service in Korea 1 June

    Mickey Mouse is coming to Korea. Come 1 June, viewers in Seoul will be able to tune into the antics of Disney’s rodent on television. The Disney Channel will be carried on Korean DTH service provider, Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (KDB) on channel 654 under the “Skylife” brandname.

    KDB president & CEO Hyeon-Dew Kang, and Walt Disney Television International managing director for branded television – Asia Pacific – Jon Niermann had earlier signed an agreement sealing the deal on 9 April.

    Making the announcement of the 1 June debut, Walt Disney Television International president David Hulbert said: “Korea is a market that shows tremendous potential for growth in the cable and satellite industry. This is an important step in expanding our presence throughout the region.”

    The Korean Broadcasting Commission granted Disney Channel approval as a foreign re-transmission channel early this year. Negotiations between KDB and Disney began in the middle of 2001 and culminated in an agreement recently. On 1 March 2002, KDB launched its Skylife service with a ceremony held in Seoul which was attended by Korean President Kim Dae Jung. Disney Channel has offered KDB customers a “preview” channel since 26 March. With Disney launching, KDB expects Skylife to reach 500,000 Korean households by December 2002.

    Disney Channel Asia, which is headed by managing director Raymund Miranda, is now available in five countries around the region: Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. It was launched in January 2000 and is a multi-language feed with both dubbing and subtitling in Mandarin, and a main feed in English. The Korean feed will be broadcast in English with Korean subtitles.

    The Asian television service is available in seven countries in the Asia Pacific region: Australia, Korea, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines. The Korean feed will be broadcast in English with Korean subtitles.

    Disney branded programs are broadcast on local free-to-air networks in 12 countries around the region, reaching a total audience of 300 million in the Asia-Pacific.

    In India Disney programming is watched on Sony Entertainment Television, Eenadu TV, and Doordarshan. Disney which normally takes time to enter a new country, has been studying a foray into India with its 24-hour service for the past three to four years but has held back because its cable TV networks are not truly addressable. It has recently applied to the country’s foreign investment promotion board for clearance to get into broadcasting activities.

  • Two new categories in this year’s Asian Television Awards

    Two new categories in this year’s Asian Television Awards

    A record number of over 1,200 entries have been received this year for the Asian Television awards out of which 78 programmes and 34 performances have been shortlisted for the final awards ceremony. The awards will be presented on 4 December 2001 during a live televised ceremony hosted by MediaCorp Television. The annual ceremony is part of a broader television industry week, which also includes the Asia Television Forum and Conference, and the one-day Strategic Summit held in Singapore.

    Two new categories have been added this year. One of the categories added is for the best Station / Channel of the Year.

    The Broadcaster of the Year award was based on the number of awards won by a company’s stations, regardless of how many there are. Earlier on, during television’s infancy, when there were fewer channels and less network consolidation, only parent broadcasters were recognised rather than individual stations.

    Since the television industry has evolved and grown rapidly, the number of services controlled by single broadcasters too, have grown significantly. This has put broadcasters who do not have multiple services at a disadvantage in the Broadcaster of the Year category, hence the new category of Station / Channel of the Year has been introduced, which will allow all channels to compete on the same basis, regardless of whether they are part of multi-channel broadcasters or not.

    Another new category addition this year is Best Youth Programme as young audiences in Asia are an increasingly important consideration in media buying and scheduling decisions.

    The category, Best Wildlife programme, has been changed to Best Natural History or Wildlife programme.

    The total number of categories for the Asian Television Awards 2001 has gone up to 26 with the two new additions

    Countries participating in this event are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

    A number of Indian programmes have been shortlisted in the programmes category for the finals on 4 December where the best programmes in Asia will be showcased.

    These include: 

    Best current affairs programme – Hard Talk (India) produced by United Television for BBC.

    Best childrens programme – Shakalala Boom Boom produced by UTV Software Communications Ltd for national broadcaster Doordarshan.

    Best News/Current affairs special – Vote 2000 produced by New Delhi Television India for Star News. 

    Best Infortainment Programme- Kumbh Mela produced by MTV India Pvt.Ltd. and Wheels, Series-7 produced by Miditech (P) Ltd for BBC. 

    Most Imaginative programme – Hospital produced by Miditech for BBC.

    In the performance categories of Asian TV Awards the following Indians have been shortlisted: 

    Best Current Affairs or Magazine Programme Presenter – Karan Thapar from United Television and Niret Alva of Miditech.

    Best Light Entertainment Presenter / Performer – “Apro Dikhra” Cyrus Broacha of MTV India Pvt. Ltd.