ITV

Tag: ISC

  • World Rally Championship global TV audience up 44 per cent

    World Rally Championship global TV audience up 44 per cent

    MUMBAI: International Sportsworld Communicators (ISC), the global media and commercial rights holder for the Fia World Rally Championship (WRC) has announced the latest TV audience statistics and data.

    It shows that the worldwide television audience of the WRC has increased 44 per cent in three years. In India viewers can catch WRC action on ten Sports.

    WRC worldwide audience figures have grown by 44 per cent from 2002 to 2005. In the same time frame, the reach of WRC has also developed significantly with new broadcasters tapping into previously untouched territories and new programming, resulting in a 158 per cent increase in the total number of hours of coverage from 1,780 in 2002 to 4,610 in 2005.

    Year on year, WRC has seen a 3.7 per cent increase in its worldwide audience to 802 million during 2005. WRCs site www.wrc.com has seen a 25 per cent increase in average monthly visitors from 323,728 in 2004 to 403,027 in 2005, peaking at 590,000 during Wales Rally GB.

    The total number of dedicated WRC broadcasts has increased by almost 27 per cent during last year, with 6,696 dedicated WRC broadcasts in 2005 in comparison to 5,281 the year before.

    The introduction of Rally World in 2005, a new rally magazine programme, contributed to a 31 per cent increase in the average number of broadcasts per rally since April 2005.

    Coverage in Japan saw a 36.4 per cent increase from 17.1 million viewers in 2004 to 23.3 million by the end of 2005 as TV coverage increased on existing networks.

    Other key TV markets also saw a rise in audience viewing figures since 2004 with Spain boasting a 34.8 per cent increase as a result of new programming on existing networks and France improving by 18.5 per cent as a result of increased programming on France 2 and M6.

    Figures in Scandinavian TV markets showed similar increases during 2005, as a result of additional programming and consistent broadcast schedules. Norways audience figures increased by over 50 per cent, Swedens by 10 per cent, Finlands by 1.5 per cent and Denmarks increased by over 100 per cent.

  • Cinema workshop & appreciation course begins in Pune

    Cinema workshop & appreciation course begins in Pune

    MUMBAI: ‘Understanding Cinema’ — a workshop and film appreciation programme jointly orgainsed by the Indira School of Communication (ISC) and Aashay Film Club, began in Pune today.

    The workshop and film appreciation programme was jointly inaugurated by music director and film critic Bhaskar Chandavarkar, Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari and Indira School of Communication director Shashidhar Nanjundaiah.

    The programme includes seven days of conceptual learning and three days of hands-on training in making a short film.

    ‘Understanding Cinema’ will showcase a bouquet of Indian and international films in various genres and ranging from the first film ever made to the latest ones, informs a press release.

    The speakers over the 10 days include filmmakers writer-director Vinta Nanda, director-producer Sumitra Bhave, film academician, script writer and director Anil Zankar, actor and former dircetor of Film and Television Insititue of India (FTII) Dr Mohan Agashe and film academician Samar Nakhate to name a few.

    Chandavarkar said, “Cinema is a cultural experience, and that culture and cinema are mutually interdependent in shaping each other. He said workshops like this would help general publics broaden their horizons in understanding the medium of film.”

    Nanjundaiah said that the programme will provide an effective alternative to other film appreciation courses, and add value in that participants would have hands-on experience in making a short film. Understanding Cinema would recognize milestone films in traditional and non-traditional, art and commercial cinema.

    He added that the distinction between so-called art and commercial cinema was diminishing, but that critics and scholars need to pay more attention to that changing nuance.

    On the other hand, Wanvari elaborated on the changing scenario in television industry and pointed at the enormous possibilities of fusion between television and cinema. He expressed confidence that workshops such as this would ensure such possibilities.

    The official release states that the participants will also have the opportunity to watch landmark films each day, such as Singin in the Rain, Pather Panchali, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, White Noise, Vastupurush, Sadgati, No Mans Land, and Osama.
     

  • Media seminar proposes self-evaluation amongst organisations

    Media seminar proposes self-evaluation amongst organisations

    MUMBAI: A seminar ‘Media as Vehicles of Change’ held in Pune on 16 and 17 September explored subjects covering the aspects of academia, social and corporate relevance relating to the contemporary media trends. The seminar was organised by Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and Indira School of Communication (ISC).

    In his keynote speech Dr Mohan Agashe, an eminent theatre and film personality, cited the example of mentally challenged children who paint very powerful images. He also foresaw a democratisation of the media through easy availability and wide penetration.

    One of the highlights of the seminar was a workshop on post-modern cinema. Renowned filmmaker Ashoke Vishwanathan took the audience through aspects of filmmaking in the postmodern era. Earlier in the day, indiantelevision.com CEO and editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari gave a presentation on content regulation on television, suggesting a model for the functioning of the proposed broadcast regulatory authority. Wanvari also stressed the need for self-censorship in television channels.

    Under the theme “The Future of the Media”, Xanadu Communication MD and ex-publisher of The Times of India Jaisurya Das forecast the future of the print media, among which the important ones were replacement of news by analysis and discussion, also the increase of colour in the print media. He decried the sale of editorial space in newspapers, but suggested that journalists cannot forget their new combination of functions of writing, packaging and marketing, informs an official release.

    Participating in the seminar, Idea cellular national GM marketing Manosh Sengupta spoke about the rise of SMS from being an accidental discovery 12 years ago to the birth of a new language, and new imperatives. According to Sengupta, the lack of privacy that this medium offers is nevertheless a cause for concern.

    The first day explored themes such as the ‘Changing face of media’, ‘Media representations in Society’ and ‘Media and Development’. Tam India director Sharan Sharma identified the trends in children’s television viewing, and elicited it through some startling statistics.

    Subroto Roy, a well-known, city-based journalist, revealed that media often withholds information from its audiences due to various imperatives stemming from source credibility. AMIC- India country manager Nandini Sahai argued for the need for community newspapers in rural areas, and narrated the success stories of such localised publications in Orissa, supported even by the state government. Meeta Parekh and Sudhanya Dasgupta Mukherjee, representatives of SEWA, Ahmedabad, illustrated a video news service by rural women, an innovative self-help initiative that has helped in empowerment of women in villages.

    Indira School of Communication, Pune director Shashidhar Nanjundaiah advocated the need to revamp the current method of communicating at higher levels of education: “Classes need to get more interactive and meaning oriented rather than message oriented.” Nitin Paranjape and Anita Borkar from Nasik-based Abhivyakti Media for Development stressed the need for people to free their minds by being creative as well as critical. “Realising that the power is within ourselves is a political change,” they argued.

    According to the release, the speakers ranged from media practitioners to academics and NGOs. ISC director Shashidhar Nanjundaiah explained the concept of the seminar and said, “Eclectic perspectives are needed for a balanced developed of this budding and ever-changing field. Our seminar is a platform for self-evaluation amongst media organisations and for critique from related institutions. Periodic stock-taking through such dipstick methods ensures that we know where the media are headed and what shape the changes effected by them will take.”

    The questions raised during the interactions with the speakers were a testament of the active thinking that the topics triggered among the audience, who were a blend of corporate professionals, academicians, NGOs and students. The seminar brought on the same platform perspectives from all these faculties of society and thus put forth a very balanced view of the change media is slated to bring in the future and how this change will affect our lives.

  • WRC appoints TNSSPORT for research

    WRC appoints TNSSPORT for research

    MUMBAI: Rights holders of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), International Sportsworld Communicators, have announced the start of a comprehensive research programme with TNSSPORT.

    This will easure all aspects of the Championship, from global television coverage to monitoring partner exposure.

    In India, AXN recently started showing WRC action. The WRC is a year-round white knuckle ride in some of the most exotic locations in the world, featuring the ultimate test of both driver and car against the elements.

    The research programme includes use of the TNSSPORTs latest brand exposure measurement technology, Sportsi. This will provide the most accurate form of brand exposure measurement available improving both the consistency and quality of data.

    ISC MD Simon Long was quoted in an official release saying, “Having looked hard at some competing research agencies and systems, we decided TNSSPORT offered us both a technical and product advantage. TNSSPORT provides an international network and advanced products such as Sportsi, which provide us with new insights into brand exposure measurement. Importantly, this will enable us to provide better information to our commercial partners.”

     

     

  • Rally championship action switches to ITV in UK

    Rally championship action switches to ITV in UK

    MUMBAI: The World Rally Championship (WRC) will move from Channel 4 to ITV1 in the UK. ISC, the TV and commercial rights holders to WRC has signed a new three-year agreement with ITV1.
     

    In India, AXN will start airing WRC action. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com during the course of the year, 16 races will take place in different locations such as Europe and Australia. The Monte Carlo race kicks off the championship from 23-25 January and will be aired on AXN on 30 January at 9 pm. Highlights of each race will air on the following Friday at the same time.

    Meanwhile, ITV1 will all 16 rallies in the 2004 WRC calendar with a comprehensive one hour programme on every Sunday afternoon of each event. In addition, ITV1 will broadcast a 30-minute magazine show previewing and reviewing each rally and extended coverage of Wales Rally GB.

    Explaining the decision behind the switching of broadcasters ISCs MD Simon Long had the following remarks to make in an official release. “Channel 4 has played a key role in raising the profile of WRC in the UK. During the past two years; their coverage has brought innovation and excitement to coverage of the sport. However ITV1s ability to give WRC a guaranteed regular Sunday afternoon slot – as part of its commitment to become the home of motorsport – is critical to grow our fan base and establish a mainstream appointment slot for WRC in the UK.”

    ITVs sport controller Brian Barwick added, “We are delighted to become the new home of the World Rally Championship. This will be a year-round white knuckle ride in some of the most exotic locations in the world, featuring the ultimate test of both driver and car against the elements. We hope by giving it a regular Sunday afternoon slot we can attract not only the committed rally fan, but also bring a wider audience to the sport.”

    Channel 4s David Kerr was not exactly unhappy to see WRC off the programme schedule. He said, “We have enjoyed our association with the WRC and have been able to introduce some of the innovations that have allowed us to revolutionise coverage of the sport on TV, including Virtual Spectator.

    ” However the irregularity of the sports calendar means that in an increasingly competitive television environment we are unable to continue guaranteeing the slots for it. We feel that the agreement is the best one for the sport and its fans and wish the WRC continued success in the future.”