ITV

Tag: goes

  • ‘Planet Cook’ goes online

    MUMBAI: Fans of the hit culinary adventure format, Planet Cook, will now be able to interact with their favourite brand 24/7, with the launch of the brand’s latest platform, www.planetcook.com.

    Planet Cook creator and producer, Platinum Films, and brand manager, FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW) have appointed Akiko Design to create and develop a ground-breaking website to support the brand using 3D modelling, Flash movies and a wide range of interactive elements to appeal to the brand’s core target audience. The website went live on 19 September.

    Based around a tropical island, www.planetcook.com allows visitors to explore every aspect of the island, during which time they can download their favourite recipes from the TV programme, watch natural world video clips called ‘Info-bites’ and view the latest pictures and recipe creations submitted to the Cadet Camp Gallery.

    In addition, a wide range of fun and interactive elements have been integrated into the website, including dancing yetis, talking venus fly traps, jokes, flying taste buds, specially created food-themed games and even burping clams.

    FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide international brand manager Andrew Piller said, “Our goal is to make the Planet Cook website a benchmark in the online space both for children and their parents alike. In the future, we envisage ww.planetcook.com to be a one-stop-shop for Planet Cook fans to have a huge amount of fun in a safe environment, but also a unique and comprehensive information source for parents to go to gather nutritional hints and tips and learn more about the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle for their families.”

    Platinum Films CEO Nigel Stone added, “The Planet Cook website is simply unlike anything else for children on the web. We are really delighted with how well the brand has translated online and we are confident that fans will find it the perfect place to continue interacting with their favourite show off-air.”

    The Planet Cook website will be a part of an integrated global brand programme managed by FLW.

    Planet Cook is a unique, live-action cookery adventure show for children where mealtime disappointments are a thing of the past. Set on a tropical island, each episode sees Captain Cook guide three young Cook Cadets as they create a meal against the clock. Each recipe is inspired by the natural world – from leaf-eating dinosaurs to volcanoes – which gives Captain Cook the inspiration to create delicious dishes like ‘Erupting Volcano Surprise’. All recipes have been analysed by independent, qualified nutritionists to fit within the context of a balanced, healthy diet.

    Planet Cook already has a first class broadcast platform in the UK and a local version of the show is currently airing on German public broadcaster, ZDF. In addition, a tape deal has been struck with ABC in Australia for 52 episodes of the UK show.

  • Discovery Travel And Living goes on a beautification drive

    MUMBAI: Have you ever wondered how celebrities manage to look so flawless? With perfect pouts, mesmerising eyes it is easy to think that only stars with makeup artistes can look so good.

    That according to Discovery Travel And Living is not the case. The channel has announced the launch of a new show Beautification with Ruby And Millie. This airs every Wednesday at 9 pm.
     

    Viewers will get to experience a perfect pairing when it comes to beauty know how with PR person and make up fan Millie Kendall and makeup artiste Ruby Hammer. Being preened by a pro is one thing but recreating the look when one is in control of the brush is quite different.

    In each episode Hammer works her make up magic with a different woman.
     
     

    Hammer shows the woman how to get the glamorous look for a special event. More importantly the womaqn is shown how she can achieve that look on her own. Hammer also reveals the beauty secrets of the stars and shares how one can recreate their glamorous red carpet looks.

    Kendall meanwhile hits salons to find out the hottest new treatments from Hollywood. It could be a tequila massage or a relaxing facial. With a different team of assistants in each episode they look at everything from home wax kits and hair straighteners to brightening creams and eyelash curlers.

  • Nick US goes mobile through Verizon tie up

    MUMBAI: Kids entertainment brand Nickelodeon in the US is seeking to leverage the mobile platform.

    It has announced the launch of Nick Mobile through a deal with Verizon Wireless.
     
     

    The deal brings Nickelodeon video content to Verizon Wireless’ V Cast wireless phones. Music videos from Nick Jr. favourites Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, The Backyardigans and LazyTown will be the first available content on Nick Mobile, with Nickelodeon television programming scheduled to roll out later this year.

    Eight Nick Jr. Videos which are one to three minutes long, are available at launch on Verizon Wireless’ V Cast wireless broadband multimedia service. Nickelodeon plans to release three new Nick Jr. videos each week.

    Nickelodeon Online senior VP and GM Mike Skagerlind says, “Nickelodeon is everywhere kids are, which includes cell phones. The relationship with Verizon Wireless allows us to offer content through its V Cast service, providing a new way for our audience to watch their favorite characters, and further extending the Nick and Nick Jr. experience for kids beyond the home. It gives parents another way to engage and play with their kids when they are on-the-go.”

    V Cast from Verizon Wireless claims to be the first wireless broadband consumer service in the US. It allows customers to view crystal clear short content on demand and videos because it runs on Verizon Wireless’ Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network – the only widely available wide-area wireless broadband network in the US.

     

  • Dish TV goes mobile, Zee dons new look

    NEW DELHI: It’s action time at the Subhash Chandra-controlled Zee Telefilms. The network not only has gone in for a complete makeover, including logos, but has also introduced the concept of mobile DTH service through its 20 per cent owned service, Dish TV.
     

    India’s first Direct-to-Home (DTH) service late last week unveiled a dish that can be installed on moving vehicles for TV viewing on the move. This is aimed at tapping long-distance bus and tour operators in the country.

    A similar experiment is being tried out by Indian pubcaster Doordarshan through mobile digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) in Chennai.
     
     
     

    With a consumer base of over 200,000, as claimed by Dish TV, the DTH service provider is pushing aggressively to press home some early advantage as it becomes imminent that Space TV, a joint venture between the Tatas and Star, would get a nod for a DTH service sooner or later.

    Now for the news of the makeover. After almost 13 years of existence, Zee Network has decided to sport a new look, which also includes renaming of the three English channels.

    So, from 27 march midnight Zee English is Zee Café, ZMZ is Zee Studios and MX is Zee Select. Comedy channel Smile TV is now Zee Smile and Trendz is Zee Trendz. All channels under the Alpha brand will be now under Zee brand.

    The channels’ new, crisp and contemporary logos are part of a game plan to get a new image. In addition, Zee TV will have brand new on-air packaging and promotions as well.

    According to a statement from Zee, the regional Alpha channels will be called Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla, Zee Gujarati, Zee Punjabi and Zee Telugu. The re-branding exercise is being undertaken in a phased manner. Initially, the old and the new logos will be displayed together on the TV screens for the convenience of viewers. Gradually, the old logos will be phased out.

    The statement quoted Zee Telefilms CEO Pradeep Guha as saying, “This re-branding exercise is the first step in weaving a thread of common identity between our many diverse brands. And, while each brand is a distinct entity of its own, now it is also an unmistakable member of the Zee family. Also, the re-branding is aimed at adding the extra zing and edge, which reinvents the spirit of the brand and brings it closer to our younger audience cohorts.”

    Zee Telefilms, launched in October 1992, reaches more than 120 countries and has access to more than 500 million viewers globally. Zee Network has created strong brand equity for itself over the past years and is currently the largest media franchise serving the South Asian diaspora.

  • Movie star Samuel L. Jackson goes anime

    MUMBAI: Actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction will join forces with Japan’s largest TV network, Fuji Television and with Japanese anime studio Gonzo.

    Jackson will voice and produce an animated action-adventure series Afro Samurai.
     
     

    In the US the show will air on Viacom’s male oriented network Spike TV. Afro Samurai is the tale of a black samurai futuristic, yet feudal Japan who is on a mission to avenge the wrongful death of his father.

    Jackson stars as Afro a warrior who travels a solitary path encountering a myriad of enemies, friends and challenges beyond imagination. The series, produced in Japanese animation, blends samurai style with hip-hop, creating a kind of action that American audiences have never seen before.

    Spike TV executive VP development and production Kevin Kay said, “With Samuel L. Jackson involved with this project combined with the talents of Gonzo, the leader in producing cutting-edge Japanese animation, and featuring a funky, hip-hop soundtrack — this project was irresistible for us. Afro Samurai is already generating great buzz for its animation and captivating storyline.”