ITV

Tag: Canada

  • Banff World Television Festival announces participants for Master Class series

    Banff World Television Festival announces participants for Master Class series

    MUMBAI: The Banff World Television Festival organisers have announced participants for its Master Class Series.

    The event takes place in Banff, Canada from 10-13 June 2007.

    The lineup will include Mike Clattenburg who wrote, directed and produced the comedy series The Trailer Park Boys, Greg Daniels who is an executive producer of The Office, Lifetime Entertainment Services president entertanment Susanne Daniels and Ben Silverman who is an executive producer of The Office, and Ugly Betty.

    Clattenburg and Daniels will participate in this year’s Master Class sessions, which focus on the development and production of TV’s most popular series and provide a framework for dialogue between the “Master” and the audience. Globe & Mail columnist John Doyle (in addition to taking part on a panel discussing TV criticism and its impact on the industry), will be interviewing Clattenburg for the latter’s Master Class appearance.

    Daniels and Silverman will be interviewed by New York Times reporter and best-selling author Bill Carter for the In Conversation… series at this year’s Festival. These one-hour forums are an opportunity for high profile television visionaries and creators to be interviewed one-on-one by equally engaging media personalities, in front of the Festival audience. These informal conversations draw out insights from participants and are among the most popular with delegates.

  • India’s favourite ‘Bhabhi’ back to reel life

    MUMBAI: Come Monday Jan 29, UTV produced serial ‘Bhabhi’ on Star Plus would see the come back of one of Indian Television’s favorite bhabhi, Saroj played by the adorable Dolly Sohi. Bhabhi is an unrequited love story set in a classical mould, a story of conflicting value systems in a contemporary consumerist society. The Bhabhi crew has two reasons to celebrate, one is to have Saroj aka Dolly back after a gap of more than a year & the completion of 1000 episodes this month.

    It was the unvarying love and remembrance by the UTV team, which kept in touch with Dolly that got her back with a bang. Confesses Dolly “I realized how much my team loved me and missed my nonattendance as a part of the caste, along with the numerous mails from my fans who have always bestowed me with colossal affection consistently even when I was in Canada”. Having got to spend a lot of time with her family Dolly took complete rest aboard in contrast to her demanding and hectic life in Mumbai.

    Having settled in Canada after martial bliss Dolly aka Saroj left the show, which was artistically portrayed through the occurrence of Saroj taking Samadhi parting from all the worldly materialistic tie-ups. Now her track that airs on Mon Jan 29 would begin from Reshma, Saroj’s mother-in-law who takes a pilgrimage to Vaishnodevi, where she stumbles upon an absolutely radiant Saroj (her very own daughter in law) who has given up all worldly processions and become a recluse.

    She is busy taking care of the poor and needy. Reshma is ecstatic, she tries talking to Saroj and begins requesting her to come back home to help sort the crisis in the Chopra family. Saroj in her new Avtaar of a Jogan appears to be unaffected by the course of events that are unfolding in the Chopra family. Will she be able to find solutions to the problems of the Chopra family to find watch Bhabhi Mon- Thurs 1.30 pm with repeat at 7 pm.

    On being solicited about one thing she missed the most about India she quickly responds without pondering, “After leaving India it was Bombay’s fast Life that I missed the most in Canada, a place where everything happens on the appointed time compared to the busy unscheduled dynamic Mumbai life” says Dolly who bunged watching the serial after she felt her absence in the serial who initially was ecstatic when the show being broadcasting from September 2006.

    Dolly’s parents especially her mother has been upbeat about this come back along with her UTV serial crew, which boosted her morale on giving her first shot with the same energy and enthusiasm post her protracted gap. With a lot of expectation from this Indian Bhabhi, Dolly promises to deliver her level best and cover up for all the emptiness that her fans must have encountered in the past one-year.

  • Hinduja TMT acquires US based BPO firm

    Hinduja TMT acquires US based BPO firm

    MUMBAI: Hinduja TMT Ltd (HTMT) has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a US based BPO company, AFFINA, for an undisclosed amount.

    According to an official statement, this acquisition will enable the HTMT to access a large and high quality client base, comprising many Fortune 500 companies, while enhancing the company’s onshore delivery capabilities in the US in specialized domains like consumer electronics, FMCG, retail, government and telecom.

    AFFINA, a BPO brand in the US, has annual revenues of USD 60 million, and operations in seven centers in the US and Canada. The company has a three – decade track record of serving globally recognized clients.

    This deal strengthens the company’s marketing presence in the US. The company will now be operating from 14 cities, seven of which are in North America, one each in Philippines and Mauritius and five in India.

    The integrated entity would have a customer base of over 65 customers and a total headcount of over 9,000 employees. This acquisition will nearly double the company’s combined revenues to over USD 130 million and catapult the company into the top five pure-play BPO companies in India, informs the release.

    Commenting on the acquisition, HTMT CEO Partha Sarkar said, “AFFINA is a strategic fit in the Company’s global vision, Through its experienced management team, diverse skills and wide-spread network of delivery centers, HTMT is now poised to ramp up its operations in the growing American market. This will be a happy marriage of domain expertise, CRM capabilities and management skills.”

  • ATN to broadcast Star Plus programmes in Canada

    ATN to broadcast Star Plus programmes in Canada

    MUMBAI: Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) has acquired exclusive rights to broadcast programming from Star India’s Hindi general entertainment channel Star Plus within the territorial boundaries of Canada.

    “We do not ever take our viewers for granted and for program quality and excellence Sky is the limit. We are ecstatic and proud as we look forward to the launching of Star Plus programming on our ATN Channel next month. The launch is planned to coincide with the festivities of Diwali and Eid,” says ATN president & CEO Shan Chandrasekar.

    ATN operates 13 television channels and has programming alliances with leading International Broadcasters.

  • DD to be available now in Canada, US

    DD to be available now in Canada, US

    NEW DELHI: Finally pubcaster Doordarshan will be available in the US and Canada.

    Prasar Bharati, which manages DD, has said that it has entered into agreements for the distribution of DD India channel in Canada and the US.

    Briefing fellow parliamentarians, information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said earlier in the week that a similar distribution agreement for the UK is under finalization.

    In the UK, DD is negotiating to be on the News Corp-controlled BSkyB’s pay platform.

    DD India carries news bulletins, features on topical events, entertainment programmes, feature films, music and dance shows, including children programmes in some regional languages.

    Dasmunsi said that the content medley of DD India is expected to serve the interests and needs of the Indian diaspora.

    A study on the reach and impact of DD India channel in Middle-East countries is also on the anvil.

    DD, AIR INITIATIVES ON REVENUE EARNINGS

    All India Radio (AIR) is charging tower rentals (including maintenance charges) for the infrastructures being offered to private broadcasters during Phase-II FM service as part of revenue generating prospects.

    The rentals for category A+, A, B, C and D cities are Rs. 1.3 million, Rs 0.8 million, Rs 0.4 million, Rs. 0.3 million and Rs. 0.18 million respectively.

    According to the I&B minister, Doordarshan has also decided to charge a carriage fee amounting to Rs. 10 million per annum from private channels that are interested in becoming part of the bouquet of channels carried on its DD Direct Plus subscription free DTH service.

    What’s more, AIR has introduced on line computerized booking system (Central Window Booking) at its Central Sales Unit, Mumbai, which has been linked to all its 15 Commercial Broadcasting Service (CBS) centres for all advertisers and clients.

    The minister said AIR is constantly devising new programming formats to suit local audiences. Local variation components of Vividh Bharati stations on AM frequencies are being increased to augment listenership and attract more
    advertisers.

    AIR has also introduced 1:1 bonus scheme for spot booking to attract more advertisers.

    For the fiscal ended 31 March 2006, AIR generated revenues of over Rs 1oo crore.

    Doordarshan too has taken various steps with a view to increase revenues, including opening marketing divisions in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore and setting up of Development Communication Division
    for securing business and catering to the publicity requirements of various government agencies and public sector undertakings.

    Cable operators have now been given the option to download signals either in analog or digital mode to improve the transmission quality as digitalization increases.

    DD’s commercial rate card is being constantly reviewed and revised to bring it in tune with market practices and the amount of bank guarantee to be submitted by accredited agencies increased from Rs 300,000 to Rs. 25 lakhs.

    Dasmunsi also said that an empowered committee, comprising Prasar Bharati CEO and other senior members of the board have been constituted for quick decisions in commercial matters and payment behaviour is regularly
    monitored.

    For FY06 DD’s total revenue earnings were over Rs. 10 billion.

  • Alfred Haber closes distribution deals for ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in major territories

    Alfred Haber closes distribution deals for ‘Victoria’s Secret’ in major territories

    MUMBAI: Alfred Haber Distribution, Inc. (AHDI), the US-based independent distributor of U.S. network reality series and specials, has announced that, it has concluded deals in major territories for Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2006.

    The broadcasters AHDI has roped in Star TV for Southeast Asia, Ten Network for Australia, Global TV for Canada, Televisa for Mexico and FOX for Japan.

    The one-hour 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network in December 2006, began as an Internet event in 1996 and, due to its overwhelming success, was picked-up for broadcast rights by CBS in 2001.

    This year, the show moves from New York to the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles for the first time, and features top models Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Karolina Kurkova, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Selita Ebanks, as well as some very special guests, informs an official release.

    This year’s fashion spectacular will feature dazzling runway segments, musical performances, red carpet interviews, model profiles and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the world’s most celebrated fashion show, adds the release.

  • Yahoo! & Microsoft to merge online chat services

    Yahoo! & Microsoft to merge online chat services

    MUMBAI: In a significant development that the web business space witnessed, Yahoo! and Microsoft announced limited public beta testing of interoperability between their instant messaging (IM) services.

    This would enable users of Windows Live Messenger, the Next Generation MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice to connect with each other.

    To be made available to their consumers in the coming months, this interoperability between the two global consumer IM providers is expected to form the world’s largest consumer IM community, approaching 350 million accounts, informs an official release.

    Consumers worldwide from Microsoft and Yahoo! will be able to join the limited public beta program and exchange instant messages across the free services, see their friends’ online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service at no cost.

    The new beta program will be rolled out in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada (English and French), China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and US (English and Spanish).

    Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger with voice users in the US and more than 15 international markets can register to participate in the IM interoperability beta by visiting Yahoo! at http://messenger.yahoo.com or Microsoft at http://ideas.live.com, adds the release.

    Microsoft’s Windows Live Platform corporate vice president Blake Irving comments about the landmark agreement, “This first-of-its-kind interoperability between consumer IM leaders Microsoft and Yahoo! gives our customers tremendous control, convenience and freedom in their Web communication experiences with Windows Live. We’re proud to deliver this latest advancement in IM services that empower people to communicate with virtually whomever they want, wherever they want and whenever they want.”

    “Interoperability between IM services has consistently topped our users’ wish lists, and through the collaborative efforts between Yahoo! and Microsoft we are delighted to provide our combined global users with the ultimate IM experience. A new era for staying connected with friends and family is here, and the bridge between Yahoo!’s and Microsoft’s IM communities is bringing people around the world closer together,” adds Yahoo! Communications, Community and Front Doors senior VP Brad Garlinghouse.

  • Corpus Inc. buys out Recreate Solutions for Rs 600 million

    Corpus Inc. buys out Recreate Solutions for Rs 600 million

    MUMBAI: US-based Corpus Inc. has acquired Recreate Solutions, a media and entertainment software outsourcing company floated by former Zee Telefilms employee Bhaskar Majumdar, for Rs 600 million.

    “It is a cash-and-stock deal. The acquisition price is around Rs 600 million,” says a source.

    The shareholders of Recreate Solutions will hold seven to eight per cent in Corpus, the source says. Insight Capital Partners, which had made two rounds of funding totalling $6 million, holds 75 per cent in Recreate Solutions while founder- promoter Majumdar has the balance 25 per cent.

    With the acquisition, Corpus will enjoy a footprint in Europe and India where Recreate Solutions has a wide range of clients. A provider of technology services to the telecom, banking and financial sector, Corpus will now be able to also offer to its big clients like Verizon solutions for IPTV and interactive TV.

    “The acquisition will help Corpus enter a new vertical. The company so far was doing backend work for telecom and financial companies. The acquisition will help them to offer front end skills like gaming, IPTV and ITV. The geographical areas are also complementary as they were strong in the US while we had a presence in Europe and India,” says Recreate Solutions CEO Majumdar.

    Corpus, which has several Fortune 100 clients and is eyeing a revenue of $100 million, will make the current facilities of Recreate Solutions as its main outsourcing hub, though it has a small base in Bangalore. With the acquisition of the Recreate Solutions’ team of 100, Corpus has now grown its worldwide team to 580.

    The acquisition will also help tap telecom operators in India who have IPTV and other convergence plans. Recreate Solutions was in talks with some of the operators but couldn’t make a breakthrough. “The interactive media industry is maturing across platforms. It is consolidating around companies that have viable cost structures and revenue streams that generate healthy margins. Outsourcing of non-core technology functions is a proven method to increase profitability. Recreate Solutions is focused on providing high quality outsourced solutions that add value to clients in our service segment: Digital Interactive Content. Under the Corpus banner we will now we able to take our solutions to Corpus’s Fortune 100 client base,” says Majumdar.

    Recreate Solutions has clients like Bell ExpressVu, Canada, Exit Games, YooMedia and CNBC in India. The company is also doing product development work for Espial, a company which specialises in browser solutions on the set top boxes

  • Scorcese film on Dylan takes grand prize at Banff World Television Awards

    Scorcese film on Dylan takes grand prize at Banff World Television Awards

    MUMBAI: As part of the Annual Banff World Television Festival being held this year from 11 to 14 June, the 27th Annual Banff World Television Awards have announced its winners. In the Grand Prize category, Martin Scorsese’s film, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan walked away with the award.

    The Banff International Jury met prior to the Festival to screen the 18 “Best-of” category winners to decide the Grand Prize winner. This category represents countries from around the world including Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    “The International Jury was proud to be able to choose a Grand Prize Winner from such an illustrious slate,” said Jury Chair, Loren Mawhinney. “All members of the jury felt privileged to be given both this responsibility and this opportunity to screen such wonderful television.”

    The NHK President’s Prize which recognizes excellence in the HDTV industry, was handed out to Queen of Trees. In addition, Y in Vyborg and The Rise and Fall of the Russian Oligarchs took home the Rockie Awards, which were the Special Jury Prizes. An official release stated that 2006 saw the largest number of entries submitted over the past five years. Awards were handed out in a variety of categories with 15 different countries taking home the honours.

    The list of the winners for the 27th Annual Banff World Television Award are as follows:

    Grand Prize
    No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
    Broadcaster: PBS, USA.

    Special Jury Prize
    Y in Vyborg
    Broadcaster: YLE Teema, Finland.

    Special Jury Prize
    The Rise and Fall of the Russian Oligarchs
    Broadcaster: ARTE, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Canada, The Netherlands, Finland.

    NHK President’s Prize
    The Queen of Trees
    Broadcaster: BBC TWO, Kenya, Japan, USA, UK, Germany.

    Category: Animation Program
    Jane and the Dragon: Shall We Dance
    Broadcaster: YTV, Canada, New Zealand.

    Category: Arts Documentary
    No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
    Broadcaster: PBS, USA.

    Category: Children’s Program
    Odd one out: Very normal, really
    Broadcaster: Z@ppelin Channel 3, The Netherlands.

    Category: Comedy
    Extras: Kate Winslet
    Broadcaster: BBC TWO, UK.

    Category: Continuing Series
    Life on Mars
    Broadcaster: BBC, UK.

    Category: Family & Youth Program
    The Hobart Shakespeareans
    Broadcaster: PBS, USA.

    Category: Feature Length Documentaries
    White Platoon, Baghdad 2004
    Broadcaster: France 2, France, Belgium.

    Category: History & Biography Program
    Speer und Er (Speer & Hitler): The Devil’s Architect
    Broadcaster: ARD, Germany.

    Category: Information – Current Affairs
    Mischief: A Dirty Weekend in Hospital
    Broadcaster: BBC THREE, UK.

    Category: Interactive
    ReGenesis II: Extended Reality Game
    Broadcaster: The Movie Network and Movie Central, Canada.

    Category: Lifestyle Programs
    Jamie’s School Dinners
    Broadcaster: Channel 4, UK.

    Category: Made for TV Movie
    Maria’s Last Journey
    Broadcaster: German Television 1 Channel, Germany.

    Category: Mini-Series
    Bleak House
    Broadcaster: BBC ONE, UK, USA.

    Category: Performance Program
    Enough Rope
    Broadcaster: SVT (Sveriges Television), Sweden.

    Category: Popular Science & Natural History Programs
    The Cyborg Revolution
    Broadcaster: NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), Japan.

    Category: Social & Political Documentary
    Children of Beslan
    Broadcaster: BBC TV, UK, USA.

    Category: Sports Program
    Viva Baseball
    Broadcaster: Spike TV, USA, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico.

    Category: Unscripted Entertainment Programs
    Young Black Farmers
    Broadcaster: Channel 4, UK.

  • CTV launches multi-channel broadband service

    CTV launches multi-channel broadband service

    MUMBAI: Canada’s private broadcaster CTV launches phase one of the CTV Broadband Network, an on-demand broadband service featuring four distinct broadband channels. 

    The CTV Broadband Network features a free, premium broadband video player that harnesses the latest in technology to deliver full length CTV programme ming in all forms from all genres at broadband speeds and enhanced resolution.

    The ad-supported broadband network was launched at CTV’s 2006 Fall Upfront in Toronto.

    The CTV Broadband Network is currently integrated into the CTV web site and can be found at www.ctv.ca. The network currently houses four channels. They are CTV Shows, a broadband channel featuring full length CTV prime time programme ming, CTV News and Docs, featuring comprehensive local, national, international and business news, all updated hourly, etalk on Broadband, Canada’s first and only broadband channel devoted exclusively to covering the Canadian and international entertainment industry and the Discovery Channel on CTV delivering entertaining science, nature and travel programme ming, informs an official release.

    Commenting on the launch of the new CTV broadband service, Bell Globemedia president and CEO and CTV CEO Ivan Fecan said: “Canadians are leaders in consuming media and the CTV Broadband Network is part one of CTV’s answer to their appetite to tap programme ming on emerging platforms and to provide a solution to the advertisers who want to reach them.”

    “CTV’s broadband network is a powerful 4-channel platform that immediately provides Canadians with the ability to access a roster of some of the top television shows in Canada and the best of news and current affairs,” said CTV VP digital media Kris Faibish. “For CTV, this is an opportunity to deliver award-winning original programme ming on demand.”

    Under phase one of the launch, the CTV Broadband Network will feature programme ming pulled from CTV’s original stable of award-winning and popular programme mes . Over the next several weeks, more and more programme ming will be loaded onto the channels with a view to launching phase 2 in Fall 2006,
    coinciding with the launch of CTV’s Fall 2006 Fall Season. 

    CTV Shows will a first look at key CTV programme mes , before they make their television premieres. In July, CTV broadband will launch Season 2 of Instant Star one day ahead of its television premiere and run episodes all summer in a one-day broadband pre-release. Immediately available now are episodes of Corner Gas (Seasons 3) Degrassi: The NextGeneration (Seasons 5) including Degrassi Webisodes, Instant Star (Season 1), Canadian Idol (Season 4) and Whistler (Season 1) launching on 26 June.

    CTV News and Documentaries will offer local, national and international news and other programme ming from the award winning CTV News Division.

    While, etalk on Broadband, the broadband channel will focus exclusively on the world of celebrity entertainment. This channel is an extension of Canada’s favourite entertainment brand etalk. While you may catch one minute of an A-lister on TV, you can catch the whole interview on broadband. programme ming here is focused on delivering entire interviews with key Canadian and international stars. Daily entertainment packages and stories from etalk and E2 can be found here.

    Discovery Channel on CTV will bring the best of Discovery programme ming from its acclaimed flagship programme Daily Planet, to the Extremely Wild and Ultimate series as well as the travel show, Valerie Pringle has Left the Building.