Tag: garners

World’s 1st Internet TV turns one; garners close to 15 mn viewers

MUMBAI: What is being claimed as the world’s first and only live Internet television network is celebrating its first anniversary. ManiaTV! asserts it has attracted close to 15 million viewers since its launch a year ago and become the online entertainment destination for college students and young adults seeking unique broadband entertainment.

Programming on ManiaTV! includes music, action sports, short films, animation, gaming, and more.

“The first 12 months have been all about generating traction with our audience, expanding our content channels, and building-out our infrastructure,” ManiaTV! chief marketing officer Peter Clemente was quoted in a company statement as saying. “But our goal is market dominance. And with world-class investors like Benchmark Capital, and a number of great strategic partnerships we’re about to announce, ManiaTV! is uniquely positioned to become the Viacom of Internet television.”

ManiaTV! first year milestones include:

    Securing first-round funding from Benchmark Capital.
    Building an audience of over 1.5 million viewers per month.
    Creating relationships with leading advertisers including Pepsi, Levi’s, US Navy, Dodge, Citibank, and more.
    Expanding its programming to include both live and video-on-demand channels.
    Launching over 30 original programs featuring exclusive content from the best up-and-coming artists, action sports athletes, and film makers in the country.
    Building a world-class management team including senior executives from Sony, Blender Magazine, and FuseTV.

September 20, 2005
‘Fame Gurukul’ garners 15 mn votes; 1 week contributing 3 mn

MUMBAI: Sony’s latest reality offering Fame Gurukul, pitched as a ‘daily reality drama’ has registered 15 millions votes since its launch on 27 June. What is interesting, is the fact that the biggest spike in votes came in this week ( 5 – 10 August) with three million votes .

Explains Sony EVP and business head Tarun Katial, “The increasing number of votes is due to the popularity of the contestants and their improving performance Also, since the show is half way through, the frenzy for the show is building up as it reaches its climax. True to its proposition it is making the contestants and the viewers do anything for ‘Fame’.”

The spike is specifically attributed to one of the seven contestants – Qazi Touqueer from Srinagar who has been in ‘danger zone’ five times in the past. Although, not such a great singer, Touqueer has emerged as one of the favourites as he is a natural entertainer. The three million votes essentially came in to save Touqueer from exiting the show.

Katial also stated that the kind of fanfare Fame Grukul was experiencing in terms of favouritism was not even experienced by Indian Idol.

Climaxing in October, Fame Gurukul still has to reach its peak. What will help boost votes further will probably be the tie up with the likes of Aaj Tak, Sify and Fame Adlabs for the show. Aaj Tak, which has a daily show around cinema from 7:30 to 8 pm, dedicates two-three minutes to Fame Gurukul, wherein the recap of the episodes are shown building on the tension. On the other hand, Sify which host and manages official website for Fame Gurukul – http://famegurukul.sify.com ensures regular updates from the show. Multiplex major Fame Adlabs is promoting the show on their premises and also airing promos of the show during movies.

August 13, 2005
MTV garners 75 awards at Promax & BDA design awards

MUMBAI: Its raining awards at MTV.

In the 25 edition of the Promax & BDA design awards that took place at Los Angeles on 4-6 June 2003, MTV Networks bagged a total of 75 awards, scoring eight Platinum, 16 Gold, 23 Silver, 18 Bronze awards and 10 honorable mentions.

According to a company release, the awards were presented to VH1, MTV and Nickelodeon channels in recognition of the creative excellence.

Recognised as the ultimate accolade for outstanding design contributions to the broadcast media industry, the 75 awards certainly sound like a cause for celebration at Viacom. In Asia, MTV Networks Asia won a Platinum award in the Non-News, In-House Logo Animation category for the 2002 Mandarin Music Honors Logo Animation. In the same category, the 2003 MTV Asia Awards Logo Animation collected an honorable mention.

The 2003 MTV Asia Awards Show Packaging also bagged an Honorable Mention in the Total Package Design, Topical On-Air category at this year’s awards. Nickelodeon Asia won Silver in the Funniest Promo category for Arm Pit Music.

MTV Networks Asia creative and content senior vice president David Flack commented: “Seventy-five awards is definitely a cause for celebration for MTV Networks worldwide. We at MTV Networks Asia, together with our creative teams worldwide continue to explore new grounds in the creative realm and serve up the very best to our ever-evolving target audiences in VH1, MTV and Nickelodeon across regional and local levels. MTV Network Asia provides a strong link to our target audiences through aesthetically exciting on- air programming, campaign designs and interactive on-the-ground, online and mobile platforms.”

List of the awards bagged by MTV:

Platinum Awards:

Silver Awards:

Bronze Awards:

June 24, 2003