ITV

Tag: Disney

  • Mumbai school wins Disney Channel’s My School Rocks competition

    MUMBAI: Five cities and two months later, St Xavier’s High School, Vile Parle, Mumbai is the winner of the My School Rocks contest organized by Disney Channel.

    St Xavier’s emerged winners after beating 240 other schools including five semi finalists. In every city the performances were recorded and reviewed by noted Bollywood dance choreographer Saroj Khan. The winning group stars in a special music video which was choreographed by Saroj Khan and will be aired on Disney Channel.

    My School Rocks is the biggest-ever interschool group-dance competition held across India. The contest draws inspiration from this year’s sensational Disney Channel original movie, ‘High School Musical’ which continues to be a rage across the globe.

    650 schools from five cities including Amritsar, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad participated in this mega interschool group dance competition. The kids choreographed their own dance sequence on the High School Musical hit song ‘Ho ek hi aim’. Saroj Khan pronounced five schools with the best dancing talent as semi finalists. Vignettes of these five semi finalists’ performances were aired for audience poll via various voting mechanisms on Disney Channel.

     

  • Disney to unveil redesigned website with interactive features

    Disney to unveil redesigned website with interactive features

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company is set to unveil a redesigned version of its website Disney.com on 8 January. The new website will include features like social networking, chatting options and video clips.

    Redesigning the site appears to have been an important concern for CEO Robert Iger, who will launch the site. Keeping in mind its young target group the site will incorporate parental controls.

    With multiple interactive features, the company also plans to offer a broadband tool titled Disney Xtreme Digital to allow users to create customised profile pages on the site.

    What’s more, the redesigned site hopes to increase advertising opportunities, including video clips and sponsors. In addition, Disney also will sell subscription-based products through the site.

  • IOL Broadband to soft launch IPTV services on BSNL network in Mumbai

    IOL Broadband to soft launch IPTV services on BSNL network in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: IOL Broadband Ltd is set to soft launch its IPTV services on the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) network in Bangalore on 14 January.

    The company, which has a non exclusive tie up with BSNL for setting up the content delivery network, has already started trial runs in Bangalore. “We are also looking at launching in Kolkata, Chennai and Bhopal,” says IOL Broadband executive director Oberai.

    IOL is yet to make a commercial launch of its IPTV services in MUmbai, the first city where it kickstarted operations on the MTNL network. “We will make a commercial launch when we are able to offer 100 TV channels. We are currently offering 40 channels and have signed up with Star,” says Oberai.

    The company has also signed a revenue share agreement for its IPTV service with Anytime, a consortium of major Hollywood Studios comprising Disney, Fox, Warner, and Universal which will provide access to Hollywood movies.

    Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL), which is the holding company of the Times Group, has picked up a small stake in IOL Broadband for Rs 50 million.

  • Disney to amend voting bylaws for election of directors

    Disney to amend voting bylaws for election of directors

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Disney has agreed that it will amend its bylaws to provide for a majority vote standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections.

    The bylaw will provide that in uncontested elections director nominees must be elected by the majority of votes cast at the annual meeting of shareholders. Incumbent directors who fail to receive a majority of votes — and who would otherwise remain in office until a successor is elected under Delaware law — would be required to offer a letter of resignation for consideration by the Board which shall be required to act promptly. Plurality voting will continue to apply if the number of nominees exceeds the number of open director positions. The Company will adopt the bylaw in time to apply to the Company’s 2008 annual meeting,

    In 2005, the company was among the first to adopt a policy calling for directors who receive more “withhold” than “for” votes in an uncontested election to submit their resignation. That policy was adopted in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. This year, the Company received a shareholder proposal from the Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund requesting that the Board initiate a process to amend the bylaws to require majority voting. The Board determined that the step was an appropriate one and agreed to amend the bylaws.

    In pursuit of its commitment to corporate governance, the Disney Board has taken several actions in the last several years. These include the adoption of an “anti-greenmail” provision; updating its executive compensation plans to stress pay for performance; setting annual terms for all Board members; eliminating the “poison pill;” requiring directors to each own a minimum of $100,000 in Disney stock; establishing regular executive sessions of non-management directors; limiting the number of other public company boards on which a director may serve; and both reducing the size of the board from 16 members in 2002 to 13 and increasing the number of independent directors.

  • Disney to launch second local product ‘Dhoom Machaao Dhoom’

    Disney to launch second local product ‘Dhoom Machaao Dhoom’

    MUMBAI: As part of their five ‘local production’ roll out strategy, Disney has announced the launch of its second home grown production, Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, to premiere on 8 January in Disney Channel.

    This is Disney’s first original daily show for the tweens and the creative is handled by Show M, a joint venture between Ravina Raj Kohli’s production house Sundail.

    As opposed to the first attempt with Vicky Aur Vetaal, the channel is beefing up its localisation plan by introducing the second product as a ‘daily’ (Monday to Thursday 7:30 pm). The third original live-action production is expected in April next year.

    Specifically, eyeing live-action as a potent mechanism and the way ahead for Disney Channel, Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director Nachiket Pantvaidya believes that the channel requires a blend of local faces to be incorporated into the live action being introduced.

    As reported earlier, an emerging trend in kids television viewing suggests that the space is now inviting a large number of older girls (10 – 14 year old) as opposed to a previously a male dominated viewership attracted to action and cartoon based themes. In this respect, the channel is clearly trying to capitalize on these findings.

    With Dhoom Machaao Dhoom Disney Channel promises that it will now churn out 30 hours of locally produced content per week, moving towards its target of 130 hours. This is an important step towards building the channel’s viewership.

    The show is based on two core ideas – music and dance, which seems to have got reckoning from Indian kids following Disney’s interschool on ground activity, an adaptation the High School Musical, My School Rocks. Although, the theme seems to have a strong American resemblance, Dhoom Machaao Dhoom tells the story of four young girls who have teamed up to form a band. However, it will tackle issues often faced by teenagers like personality clashes, friendships and family influences.

    Kohli is of the opinion that the show has the potential to go beyond from being just a show, but rather to become a revolution! She believes kids programming should not merely cater to kids but to families at large. The challenge would be to drive kids from being ‘default watchers’ on GEC’s, movies and sports channels to come to kids channels.

    The marketing campaign for the daily show is, for the first time resorting to print, in addition to the expected multi media activity on outdoor, television, radio and internet.

    Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’s Shreya Ghoshal voice will feature in the show along with musician Shantanu Moitra’s. The pilot episode also includes a special performance by new kid on the block Sanchita, the winner of Lil’ Champ’s contest on Zee TV.

    “Following the success of the first local production ‘Vicky Aur Vetaal’ earlier this year, Disney Channel seeks to further strengthen its already robust connection with kids and their families with this cool and contemporary show”, says Pantvaidya. “We are a committed local player in the kid’s entertainment space and ‘Dhoom Machaao Dhoom’ is our next strong bid to showcase all that Disney Channel stands for.”

  • ‘No child’s play’ for Disney in India

    ‘No child’s play’ for Disney in India

    MUMBAI: Kid’s television behemoth Disney is approaching its second anniversary in India on 17 December and with this, the channel is signing off 2006 with a lot of aggression. In the last two years Disney Channel and Toon Disney have contributed to competition in the kid’s television landscape in India, thus provoking the pioneers Cartoon Network and its sibling Pogo to spruce up their offerings.

    In this respect, the most strategic move made by Disney this year was its acquisition of kids GEC channel Hungama TV. UTV recently bid farewell to what it calls its ‘little baby’ and in that same breadth Disney opened its doors to the channel and took control. This consolidation will mark the beginning of a new era for Disney, but will inevitably kindle fierce competition in this space.

    Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director production and programming Nachiket Pantvaidya affirms that this landmark will only lay the foundation and provide a spring board for the company’s future plans in India. However, he declined to divulge on the positioning and integration of the new addition into the Disney portfolio.

    While Disney was bold enough to select India as the first market in the TV business outside the US to introduce original local production with Vicky Aur Vetaal, the next home grown entity is likely to be announced next month.

    Pantvaidya expects that the next year will convert kid’s viewership habits from a ratio of 23:77 kids’ channels versus GEC/sports to a 60:40 ratio of the same. He added that Disney currently cornered the bulk of market share as individually Disney Channel held 18.9 per cent, Southern star Toon Disney 8 per cent and new comer Hungama TV 22 – 23 per cent (Market:HSM, Period:average for November 2006).

    As reported earlier, the two Turner players plan to enter the local movie production space as well as put in place a theme park experience next year with Planet Pogo and Cartoon Network Townsville. At the same time rumours are rife in the industry of a new player from the BBC plethora, while Nick is also showing potential of bringing some action to the fore. Commenting on the capability for growth of the category Pantvaidya says that the revenue monetization of the market should be in proportion to its viewership. “Currently, it is highly under monetized from an ad sales point of view. The question is, will the ad pie expand?”

    Additionally, Pantvaidya outlines an emerging trend among kids television viewing which is inviting a large number of older girls (10 – 14 year old) as opposed to a previously a male dominated scenario that was attracted to action and cartoon based themes.

    In eyeing the ‘tween’ category, he sees the biggest challenge in 2007, as being “to create programming that will resonate culturally with older kids (10-14).”

    Presently, the channel has lined up a slew of festive programming with the TV premiere of The Incredibles on Christmas Eve on Disney Channel at 11 am (with a repeat at 7 pm). While on 25 December, Micky’s Once upon a Christmas will air at 12 noon and a special episode of Mickey Mouse Club House: Mickey Saves Santa in the preschool segment on Disney Channel.

  • Disney & Excel Home Videos kick off DVD Film Carnival with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean – 2’

    Disney & Excel Home Videos kick off DVD Film Carnival with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean – 2’

    MUMBAI: Disney and Excel Home Videos kicked off a DVD Film Carnival on 11 December, that will continue through the festive season till 31 December, at select book and DVD stores across the country. The special event opened with the DVD launch of Pirates of the Caribbean – 2.

    M.N Kapasi inaugurates the carnival
    The Pirates of the Caribbean – 2 was released a week earlier in India as opposed to its worldwide DVD debut. Says, Excel Home Videos managing director MN Kapasi, “The incredible success of the movie has prompted us to raise the number of DVDs by 50 per cent as compared to the prequel. The DVD will also be available at a specially discounted price during the launch period. The Disney DVD Carnival, a first of its kind in India, will also feature a host of Hollywood films of various genres.”

    The DVD bonanza, a prelude to the festive season, will also feature over 50 movies from various genres at discounts such as three DVDs at the price of two and will include blockbusters like Air-Force One, Bruce Almighty, Pretty Woman, Cold Mountain, Sea Biscuit, Honey- I Shrunk the Kids, Enemy of the State, Mary Poppins, The Rock, Shall We Dance, The Parent Trap, The Horse Whisperer, The Recruit, Dangerous Minds, Crimson Tide, End Of Days, Dick Tracy, Gone In 60 Seconds, National Treasure, among others.

    The carnival is underway at stores across the country including Planet M, Crossword, Landmark, Rhythm House and Music World among others, informs an official release.

    Events like these showcase the increasing focus of companies on the home entertainment turf in India, which is an evidence of the growing demand and increased hardware penetration in the country. The revenues from home entertainment abroad compete with the theatre earnings there; this scenario may soon be a reality in India, adds the release.

  • Disney Channel launches in Papua New Guinea

    Disney Channel launches in Papua New Guinea

    MUMBAI: Disney Channel has been launched in Papua New Guinea on HiTron, television and data service provider.

    Commenting on their entry in a new market, Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) vice president and channel manager Laura E. Wendt, “Disney Channel has been the channel of choice for kids and families across the region. We are excited that our fun, quality programming can now extend its reach to Papua New Guinea through this platform and we look forward to extending that to other forms of media.”

    HiTron’s managing director Lindsay Jorgensen said, “We’re pleased to have the strong family entertainment brand of Disney Channel on our channel line-up and we are confident families in Papua New Guinea will enjoy Disney’s quality shows.”

    The Disney Channel will form part of HiTron’s range of channel offerings on its basic tier. HiTron Limited is now also the distributor of the channel to other cable TV platforms in the market.

  • Disney unveils ‘Hannah Montana’ merchandise in US

    Disney unveils ‘Hannah Montana’ merchandise in US

    MUMBAI: Disney Consumer Products has unveiled a new line of products inspired by Hannah Montana in an assortment of apparel, home décor, stationery, games, electronics, and personal care items.

    The first items will be launched this month including a collection of apparel, handbags and accessories available at Macy’s department stores in the US. Especially designed for tween girls (sizes 7 – 16), the new line features lifestyle sportswear pieces incorporating key fashion trends and style direction taken from lead character Miley Stewart’s duality (by day girl next door, by night pop star princess). The prices for the products will range from $20-$39 SRP, informs an official release.

    “Hannah Montana has resonated with kids and tweens with its relatable stories, sense of humour and its charming characters,” said Disney Consumer Products TV Licensing vice president Lisa Avent. “This new line of merchandise will extend the series beyond TV into a full lifestyle brand offering many ways for tween girls to celebrate their sense of style – be it casual or glamorous pop star.”

    Also available this month is an assortment of stationery and self-expression items including posters, bookmarks, greeting cards, gift wrap and party goods at retailers nationwide such as Wal-Mart and Party City.

    A series of junior novels launched earlier this year and will also expand in the spring. In 2007, Hannah Montana fans can look for a new line of cosmetics at Club Libby Lu. In addition, a collection of Hannah Montana fashion dolls will also be available at retailers nationwide. Home décor, consumer electronics, video games and toys will launch later in the year, while apparel and accessories will expand to other retailers including Dillard’s, adds the release.

    Hannah Montana is a live-action comedy series that follows typical tween Miley Stewart, who lives with her older brother and widowed dad, a songwriter. But unbeknownst to her friends and classmates, Miley has a secret double life – she is the world famous pop star Hannah Montana. Combining a stage persona with creative costuming, Miley discovers she can have the best of both worlds – the fame and fortune of a well-known singer and the fun of middle school with her best friends Lilly and Oliver, whom she has entrusted with her secret identity.

  • MarketWatch names Disney’s Iger as ‘CEO of the Year’

    MarketWatch names Disney’s Iger as ‘CEO of the Year’

    MUMBAI: MarketWatch.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company and a provider of business news, financial information and analytical tools, has announced that Robert A. Iger, president and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, has been selected as its “CEO of the Year” for 2006.

    Iger, who was appointed to the post of chief executive on 1 October 2005, was selected by MarketWatch senior editors from a field of five candidates nominated by MarketWatch journalists. The other candidates were Ginger Graham of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lawrence Kellner of Continental Airlines Inc., Steve Sanger of General Mills Inc., and Jeffrey Sprecher of IntercontinentalExchange.

    An official release issued stated that Iger was selected based on four criteria: performance for customers over the last year, performance for shareholders, performance for employees and corporate governance initiatives.

    “All of our finalists had outstanding years and the debate over who should win was brisk,” said, MarketWatch.com editor-in-chief David Callaway. “But Bob Iger stood above the rest. Not just for how he helped boost Disney’s share price after several tough years, but for how he mended fences with dissident partners, reformed the management culture, and presided over the $7 billion buyout of Pixar, which arguably returned Disney to its animation roots.”

    Iger’s award will be presented at a ceremony hosted by MarketWatch and Dow Jones editors and executives early in 2007. Past winners include Meg Whitman of eBay, Raymond Mason of Legg Mason and Ed Zander of Motorola, adds the release.

    Separately, MarketWatch announced that Ramesh Pandey of XeChem International Inc. has been named “CEO of the Year” for 2006 by MarketWatch users. Besides participating in a poll, MarketWatch users actively tapped social networking sites, message boards and other viral online tools to encourage voting for their favourite nominees.