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  • Discovery US, Intl undergoes corporate retructuring

    Discovery US, Intl undergoes corporate retructuring

    MUMBAI: After taking over the reins of US broadcaster Discovery earlier this year its CEO David Zaslav is ringing in the changes at the senior management level.

    Some key people will leave. They are Discovery US president Billy Campbell. Discovery international president Dawn McCall, Animal Planet president and GM Maureen Smith, The Learning Channel president David Abraham and senior executive VP human resources Pandit Wright.

    Campbell and Smith’s positions have been eliminated. Media reports state that Animal Planet will now be consolidated with Discovery’s other family-centric networks under the heading Animal Planet Media and Discovery Kids Media, That group will be led by Marjorie Kaplan, who is being promoted to president and gm of the new unit. She was earlier Discovery Kids GM.

    The bad news does not stop there. Reports add that broader layoffs are expected. Zaslav had said that if the broadcaster is to invest more in new media and business, then it has to invest less in infrastructure. Therefore he is taking a long look at the firm’s traditional cost basis.

    Discovery has hired Joel Berman, former president of CBS Paramount Worldwide Television, and Tom Wolzien, a veteran media analyst as consultants. Reports add that the shakup is a sign that companies are having to adjust in the face of the advent of digital media.

    Zaslav in a staff memo says that the focus is to create a lean and aggressive organization that fosters a real performance culture. “The objective is to push authority and accountability down across the company.”

  • Hearings continue in Trai rulings validity case

    Hearings continue in Trai rulings validity case

    NEW DELHI: The hearing on the constitutional aspects of the ongoing case on whether Trai can at all fix tariffs for pay channels continued today.

    Set Discovery counsel Afpi Chinay argued that there is no law in the country that allows the operations of broadcasters to be regulated. Chinay said that neither the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indian act nor the Cable TV act has any provision for regulating the content providers, and the orders fixing tariff were thus automatically against the laws.

    This is a case of violation of freedom or speech and expression under Article 19 1 A of the Constitution, Chinay said. He challenged the proviso to section 21 K of the Trai act which originally said that the government could at a later date include any other service under the head of ‘telecom services’ but that would not include the broadcasters. He said that the amendment of the Act in 2000 gave the Trai the powers to regulate, but this did not apply to them as they were neither licensees nor service providers under the meaning of the Act.

    Chinay also challenged the Rules as amended on July 31, 2006, which gave the government the power to regulate and fix tariff.

    Chinay held that the Cable TV Act does not have this provision, and it says that though the government could control prices of the ‘basic tier’ only, that is, the free-to-air channels, it could not do the same for the pay channels.

    Chinay held that the rules cannot take over the Act under which they exist, hence the fixing of tariff under such rules were not acceptable.

    The hearing is to continue tomorrow. The original case had been filed by Star in 2005 and later, Sony joined issue, filing a separate appeal in 2006. The HC is hearing the range of cases under this new petition (No. 16913 of 2006), which is now being treated as the main petition.

    The contention of the broadcasters is that Trai or Cable TV act does not have regulatory powers whatever, so far as the pay channels are concerned, hence any order issued on this by Trai stands automatically struck down. Earlier, Soli Sorabjee had appeared for Sony and had placed his preliminary argument.

  • StarHub launches HDTV in Singapore

    StarHub launches HDTV in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Singapore, through pay TV platform StarHub, is the first country in Southeast Asia to launch High Definition Television (HDTV).

    This launch follows StarHub’s successful HDTV trial that kicked off with the 2006 Fifa World Cup on 10 June 2006 and ended at the close of the year. During this trial, 1000 StarHub Digital Cable customers enjoyed all 64 World Cup matches as well as quality programmes from Discovery and National Geographic Channel in full high-definition (HD) splendour.

    With HDTV, StarHub says that viewers can expect up to four times greater picture clarity. The 16:9 screen ratio will also provide a panoramic view that can be up to 33 per cent more than what they can enjoy on the standard 4:3 TV screen. As many HD programmes contain Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, viewers with a Dolby Digital Home Theatre system can also be treated to superior audio quality, not unlike the quality available at the cinemas.

    In addition to an enhanced audio and visual experience, customers using the HD set-top box will also enjoy all innovative features that users of StarHub’s digital set-top box currently have access to. These include the Onscreen TV Guide, Programme Alert, Auto-Tune, Video Mosaic, Info Bar, Quick Surf, Chat, access to Demand TV and complimentary FunZone games.

    StarHub president and CEO Terry Clontz says, “We are very excited about our HDTV launch, and are proud that we are the first operator in Southeast Asia to introduce the service.

    “StarHub is constantly enhancing its customers’ TV viewing experience. Our introductions of Digital Cable in 2004, Demand TV in 2005 and Smart TV in 2006 are examples of how we give customers more control over what they watch, and when they watch their favourite programmes. And who knows, maybe someday we can even give customers choice on where they can view their favourite programmes too. ”

    With StarHub’s launch of its HDTV service, a new content group named “HD Plus” will be introduced. HD Plus, with a subscription fee of $15 comprises two new HD channels – Discovery HD and National Geographic Channel (NGC) HD.

    Clontz adds, “Discovery and National Geographic Channel are longtime content partners of StarHub, and both are very well-known for their production of high-quality programmes. We know that our customers will be delighted with the quality of the content, and with the superior viewing experience that HDTV brings.”

    Discovery HD Channel showcases on the channel include science, world culture, natural history, wildlife, engineering, travel and lifestyle.

    Discovery Asia MD, executive VP Tom Keaveny says, “Discovery is once again happy to be pioneering HD. We were the first international HD channel to launch in Japan in 2005, and with this launch in Singapore, Discovery HD is now available in 15 international markets and over nine million households. Discovery is committed to providing our viewers with the highest quality content available and Discovery HD will deliver an audio and visual experience that is richer, deeper and more expansive than ever before”.

    NGC HD takes viewers into the heart of the action from science, the modern world and investigations to lost cultures and natural history, National Geographic Channel in high definition will bring viewers unique insights, groundbreaking new findings and unforgettable television experience.

    NGC International executive VP, group MD– Asia PacificWard Platt said, “Today is a heartwarming moment as we witness the launch of the brand new National Geographic Channel HD in Singapore. We congratulate Singapore and StarHub for being the most innovative country and the first operator in Southeast Asia to launch a commercial high-definition television service. Singapore viewers can now truly enjoy National Geographic Channel’s unsurpassed quality programming and compelling stories in stunning visuals and cinematic surround sound.”

    Consumers must subscribe to a minimum of three Basic Groups and HD Plus, and own StarHub’s HD set-top box and a HD-ready TV set in order to enjoy StarHub’s new HDTV service.

  • Discovery, British High Commission launch ‘Future Living 2020’ partnership

    Discovery, British High Commission launch ‘Future Living 2020’ partnership

    MUMBAI: Discovery and the British High Commission have annouced the launch of their partnership Future Living: 2020.

    The UK-sponsored Future Living is a six part TV series. This will showcase the challenges and opportunities of the future in areas of lifestyle, computing, health, sustainability and creativity.

    The series will be aired on Discovery in the first quarter of this year. The airing of the series on Discovery Channel will be accompanied by visits to India by UK scientists.

    British Trade and Industry Minister, Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling said, “I am pleased to launch the television initiative Future Living. The series will reach out to a wide audience, share ideas for innovation, and generate new prospects for research partnerships. I want the UK to be a key partner for India in science and innovation, to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. The UK is a major player in science, with many Nobel Prize winners. Our science budget has doubled from ?1.3 billion to ?3.5 billion in less than a decade.”

    Discovery India executive VP. MD Deepak Shourie said, “Future Living 2020, as the title clearly suggests, alludes to what the near future has in store for mankind.

    What this series shows us is that as scientists and researchers probe newer ways of improving and bolstering technology and its delivery mechanisms in various fields of endeavour, we can all look forward to a healthier, safer and more creative world. Discovery Channel is proud to partner with the British High Commission in bringing this exciting vision of mankind’s immediate future to its viewers across India.”

    Stressing on the India growth trajectory, Darling adds, “India is one of the great opportunities for business. With the economy growing at eight per cent, it is one we cannot afford to miss. That is why I am leading the largest ever business delegation to India – over 150 of our top business people, representing over 80 of our best-known companies.”

  • Discovery focusses on ‘Planet Earth’ with an in-depth portrait

    Discovery focusses on ‘Planet Earth’ with an in-depth portrait

    MUMBAI: One of infotainment channel Discovery’s biggest shows of the year focusses on Planet Earth. It kicks off on 1 February 2007 and airs every Thursday at 8 pm.

    The 11 part show took five years to make. It used 40 cameramen filming across 200 locations. The programmes were made over four years by producer Alastair Fothergill and his team, who were responsible for the successful Blue Planet.

    Filming involved visiting 62 countries. Each of the 11 episodes (except the first) focusses on one of the Earth’s natural habitats and examines its indigenous features, together with the breadth of fauna found there. Several animals and locations are shown that have hitherto never been filmed, using innovative camera technology.

    Previously unseen animal behaviour includes: wolves chasing caribou observed from above; snow leopard pursuing markhor in the Himalayas; grizzly bear cubs leaving their den for the first time; crab-eating macaques that swim underwater; and over a hundred sailfish hunting en masse.

    From mountains to rivers, the series will take viewers on a journey through the challenging seasons and the daily struggle for survival in Earth’s most extreme habitats. The show uses HD photography and unique filming techniques.

    Some sequences do have potentially disturbing content. Examples include a lone elephant being brought down by lions and a polar bear unsuccessfully attacking a walrus colony and subsequently being overcome by hunger and exhaustion. Fothergill was quoted in reports saying that he asked BBC in the UK for an appropriate warning before transmission in such cases.

    In describing the show Attenborough in the opening montage says, “A 100 years ago, there were one and a half billion people on Earth. Now, over six billion crowd our fragile planet. But even so, there are still places barely touched by humanity. This series will take you to the last wildernesses and show you the planet and its wildlife as you have never seen them before.”

  • BBC World invites entries for a show on Indian weddings

    BBC World invites entries for a show on Indian weddings

    MUMBAI: Looks like the big fat Indian wedding with its diverse facets is becoming a strong subject for channels. Last year Discovery’s lifestyle channel Travel and Living had kicked off its localisation plans with The Great Indian Wedding.Now news channel BBC World is inviting applications from soon-to-be-married Indian couples for its forthcoming programme on Indian weddings. The programme scheduled to air in the summer will focus on the business that Indian weddings generate, in addition to the traditions and mystique.

    BBC World will telecast the wedding of one Indian couple, across the world. Produced by Pulse Media, this programme will give a couple who are scheduled to get married in March, an opportunity to have their wedding featured on the channel. The short-listed entries will be chosen on the basis of their profiles and auditions will take place in Delhi.

    BBC World commissioning editor Narendhra Morar says, “With this innovative series we plan to exhibit an Indian wedding from a business perspective which we believe will be a revelation to audiences across the globe. From the bridal trousseau to the banqueting options and the wedding planners, Indian weddings provide a commercial opportunity across many industries. By showcasing a real wedding, we believe BBC World will be able to effectively capture the fascinating customs while at the same time accessing the financial intricacies of modern-day marriage in India”.

    The entries for BBC World’s wedding series auditions are open until 14 January 2007 for Indian couples getting married in March 2007. Filming will take place that month. Profiles and pictures of candidates can be emailed to bbcworld@pulsemedia.co.in or BBC World Audition, c/o Pulse media Pvt. LtdT 95A, CL House, 3rd Floor, Gulmohar Enclave, New Delhi 110049. BBC World will contact short-listed applicants on an individual basis.

  • Incablenet announces Rs 1500 STB scheme with free subscription for six months

    Incablenet announces Rs 1500 STB scheme with free subscription for six months

    MUMBAI: The price war is on. Hinduja-owned Incablenet announced its bouquet options to subscribers in the Cas (conditional access system) areas of Mumbai and Delhi, retaliating against rival offers from direct-to-home (DTH) service providers and other multi-system operators (MSOs).

    Subscribers can own their digital set-top box (STB) at Rs 1500 (plus taxes) and will be provided free cable TV subscription for six months on three bouquet packages. Incidentally, DTH operator Tata Sky has come out with an offer in Cas areas of free subscription for six months if customers book during the period 28 December-10 January.

    For those who want Incablenet’s Sitara (Star) package, 18 pay channels will be available including all the 12 Star India distributed channels. Besides CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN-IBN and BBC, customers will have the liberty to choose a single channel each from the Zee-Turner and SET-Discovery bouquets.

    In the Sona (Gold) package, Incablenet is offering 20 channels. This includes 13 Sony channels, CNN-IBN, CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz and two channels each from the Zee-Turner and Star bouquets.

    The Zabardast scheme has on offer 35 channels which include 33 Zee channels. Sunscribers can also choose a single channel each from the Sony and Star bouquets.

    Neither of the three packages have sports channels included in them. “We are offering consumers total choice from all the three distribution platorms. They can select a Star-loaded or Sony or Zee package. We have covered all the categories and consumers can plan their monthly cable bills,” said IndusInd Media and Communications Ltd director-in-charge Ravi Mansukhani.

    Wire & Wireless Ltd (WWIL) has on offer outright purchase of STBs for Rs 1800 inclusive of a one-year subscription for 33 channels. These include a load of Zee-Turner and SET-Discovery distributed channels like Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Smile, Zee News, Zee Trendz, Zee Jagran, Sony, Discovery, Animal Planet, Animax, Pix, Sab and MTV. Only Star Plus from the Star bouquet is being offered. BBC, CNBC TV18, CNBC Awaaz and Cartoon Network are also available in this package.

    “We have a complete package including the regional channels. In Mumbai we are offering Zee Marathi while in Delhi it is Zee Punjabi and in Kolkata Zee Bangla. ETV Urdu and ETV Telugu are also available while consumers have a choice to take any other ETV channel of their choice. For Mumbai, ETV Marathi is free,” said WWIL CEO Jagjit Kohli.

    Under the STB rental scheme, Incablenet is offering the Optimiser package at Rs 120 which will have the Star and Sony bouquets. For the second TV set, the subscription is Rs 55.

    In the Super Saver scheme, the Star, Sony and Zee bouquets are available at a price of Rs 190. The second TV set will be priced at Rs 100.

    Subscribers do not have to pay a deposit amount on the Rs 45 rental scheme, Mansukhani said.

    Hathway Cable & Datacom has not come out with an outright purchase scheme for the STBs. Neither has the MSO included the Zee-Turner channels in its packages. “We haven’t decided yet on the STB purchase scheme. As for the Zee channels, once we arrive at a settlement with them, we will be creating a new package,” said Hathway Cable & Datacom MD and CEO K Jayaraman.

  • Discovery’s ‘American Chopper’ to roar down under

    Discovery’s ‘American Chopper’ to roar down under

    MUMBAI: Tourism Australia and US broadcaster Discovery are partnering to bring Orange County Choppers’ Paul Teutul Sr and his sons Paul Jr and Mikey – the characters from the show American Chopper – to Australia in February 2007 to experience the best Australia has to offer.

    A down under-themed chopper will be designed for a special three-part installment of the series that will air on Discovery in more than 300 million households worldwide in the second quarter of 2007.

    The Teutuls’ two-week visit to Australia is part of Tourism Australia’s Global Programme. This is an initiative that is part of a three-year partnership between Tourism Australia and Discovery. Global Programmes is designed to showcase Australia’s unique lifestyle, people and culture to the world while giving visitors and global travellers a glimpse of what the country has to offer.

    For the uninitiated the show highlights the craft of building intricate, custom-made motorcycles in the Orange County Chopper garage, located about 80 miles from New York City. The series has built a global fan base documenting the real-life tirades and triumphs of the eccentric Teutul family as they manage the shop and struggle to meet seemingly impossible deadlines for building incredible customised choppers

  • Discovery to air a four part travelogue on ‘Chhattisgarh: The Tribal Planet’

    Discovery to air a four part travelogue on ‘Chhattisgarh: The Tribal Planet’

    MUMBAI: This year infotainment channel Discovery increased the number of hours devoted to India themed programming. Each week Discover India airs in a two hour block now instead of just one hour in the past.

    Now in its endeavour to present India’s cultural heritage and natural diversity, Discovery has produced a special four-part programme on Chhattisgarh. The travelogue Chhattisgarh: The Tribal Planet the channel says will present a journey of surprise and enchantment, uncovering the mystical, traditional place.An Indian commission, Chhattisgarh: The Tribal Planet will air on consecutive weekends (Saturday and Sunday), 9-10 December and 16-17 December at 10 pm.

    Discovery India executive VP, MD Deepak Shourie said, “Discovery Channel has showcased India’s diverse cultural and natural landscape through captivating programmes. Chhattisgarh: The Tribal Planet explores the state’s inimitable and unexplored attractions and will serve as a gateway for eco and ethno-tourists from across India.”

    The Honourable Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr Raman Singh said, “Chhattisgarh is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and attractive natural diversity offering an interesting blend of nature, ethnic, heritage, wild life and eco-tourism. The state is full of ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, rock paintings and hill plateaus.

    “Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer an alternate experience to tourists. I am delighted that travellers across India will be able to explore the state’s unique attractions on Discovery Channel – an ideal partner in our endeavour to showcase Chhattisgarh’s tourism potential.”

    Honorable Minister of Tourism and Chairman of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Brijmohan Agrawal said, “It is my firm belief that in the coming years Chhattisgarh will emerge as a leading tourist destination and will leave its mark on the international tourist map. I am confident that Discovery Channel’s programme Chhattisgarh: The Tribal Planet will help position the state as an attractive destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.”

    Presenting one of India’s least explored eco and ethno-tourist destinations, the show will take viewers through the state’s history, culture, architecture, wildlife and its varied tribes. Providing a holistic view of the state, the programme will cover Raipur, Kawardha, Bhoramdev, Kumhapura, Jagdalpur, Sirpur, Turturiya, Kanger National Park, Tirathgarh and Chitrakoot waterfalls, Bastar tribes, forests, tribal ‘Haats’ and villages and craft centers.

    Covering the Bastar region in southern Chhattisgarh, the first episode presents its large tribal population and abundant natural resources. Exploring the state’s traditions, this episode will take viewers through the weekly markets called ‘Haats’, local food, customs, dance and festivities. It will uncover the state’s handicrafts like terracotta at Nagarnar village through interactions with the artisans. The episode will also showcase the ancient temples at Barsur.

    The second episode highlights the heritage of the state in terms of its history and architecture – excavations at Sirpur, Laxman temple, Rajiv Lochan temple, Danteshwari temple, Bhoramdeo temple and Mainpat, a Tibetan settlement. The viewers can also witness Teejan Bai’s captivating performance at the Laxman Temple at Sirpur.

    The third segment is an ode to the artistic traditions of the state. It gives a glimpse into the crafts and costumes through interactions with tribals and artisans. Viewers will discover their culture, unique delicacies like the red ant chutney and interesting traditions like Ghotul. Viewers will also learn the rare craft of bell metal from master craftsman Jaidev Bhagel. Apart from the cultural aspect, the episode would also showcase the natural beauty of the state including the spectacular waterfalls at Chitrakoot.

    The final episode takes a look at the natural splendour of the state, showcasing its many national parks and flora and fauna. Viewers will get to see picture-postcard waterfalls at Tirathgarh and the verdant valley. They will get a taste of life in a jungle and a glimpse of its wildlife – leopard, deer and bison. Apart from the sanctuaries in Bharnawapara, Kanger and Udanti, viewers will also visit the megalithic rock site of Karkabhat with archaeologist A K Sharma.

  • Discovery’s ‘Planet Earth’ gets actress Sigourney Weaver to narrate

    Discovery’s ‘Planet Earth’ gets actress Sigourney Weaver to narrate

    MUMBAI: Actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver joins Discovery Channel as narrator for Planet Earth, slated to premiere in the US on the Discovery Channel on 25 March 2007.

    Planet Earth promises to amaze viewers with never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time, and unprecedented high definition production techniques. More than five years in the making, Planet Earth redefines blue-chip natural history filmmaking Planet Earth airs on consecutive Sundays from 25 March through 22 April 2007.

    The BBC produced show will include the first footage of the rarely seen snow leopard hunting in the Himalayas; lions hunting and killing elephants in the middle of the night; and the Blue Bird of Paradise performing a mating ritual, captured for the first time on film, informs an official release.

    70 camera operators spent over 2,000 days in the field visiting more than 200 locations to document nature’s greatest spectacles. Locations filmed for the first time include the Gobi Desert covered in snow; unique access to the Arctic island of Kong Karls Land — home to the world’s highest densities of polar bears; and the first high-quality aerial sequences of Mount Everest.

    Sigourney Weaver is an active conservationist. She serves as honorary chair to the board of trustees of The Dian Fosse Gorilla Fund and recently drew international attention during a United Nations press conference on the threat to ocean habitat posed by deep sea trawling.

    “The Planet Earth series is like a wonderful ride through our world,” said Weaver. “Whatever fascinates you the most…whether it be caves or deep sea, deserts or mountains, you’re in for such a treat. The camera work is so extraordinary and it’s as if you’re an animal living in that world…you become part of that world.”

    Bank of America is the presenting sponsor of the Planet Earth series.