ITV

Tag: MBC

  • Something Special welcomes Jacob Han as head of productions, set to lead Unforgettable Duet series

    Something Special welcomes Jacob Han as head of productions, set to lead Unforgettable Duet series

    MUMBAI:  Something Special, the Seoul-based format powerhouse co-founded by Jin Woo Wang and InSoon Kim, has announced the appointment of Jacob (Jongbin) Han as its new head of productions. Han, a seasoned producer with a 12-year track record, is set to lead the full series production of Unforgettable Duet, a poignant and heartwarming show commissioned by MBN, with backing from the KOCCA Fund.

    Han, a former senior producer at MBC, brings a wealth of experience to Something Special, having been recognised as the Korean Producer Association’s best TV producer of the year in 2021. His career highlights include winning the best programme award from the Korea Communications Agency in 2020 for Mystery TV: Surprise and a best programme award at MBC in 2018. Before joining Something Special, Han led content operations at uhomes.com in the UK, overseeing social media content for five Asian markets.

    Unforgettable Duet is a deeply emotional unscripted series where dementia patients are reconnected with cherished memories through mementos and a powerful duet performance with a family member. The series, which was one of the highest-rated specials last year, returns this summer under Han’s direction.

    Hwang and Kim expressed their excitement, stating, “Something Special are pleased to celebrate our sixth year in business with Jacob Han as our new head of productions who will oversee several of our projects, starting with the wonderful Unforgettable Duet this summer. His vast international production experience, along with our recent investment will help propel Something Special to the next level.”

    Han echoed their sentiments, saying, “I am thrilled to join Jin, InSoon and the entire Something Special team as head of productions. Something Special has been a leader of Korean formats, breaking new ground by taking our formats onto the world stage. As my first project, I am honored to produce the full season of  Unforgettable Duet which was one of the highest rated specials last year.”

  • Shamoly Khera’s Bedazzle helps people to master the art of self-confidence

    Shamoly Khera’s Bedazzle helps people to master the art of self-confidence

    New Delhi: Shamoly Khera a multi-faceted speaker, a TV presenter, producer, public speaker and speaking coach who has made her mark in the Indian media and TV industry. Khera is coming up with her latest book titled ‘Bedazzle’ where she answers several mind boggling questions that we come across in our daily lives but never really work towards them to find an answer.

    Some of these questions include– ‘How one's childhood can have a deep impact on one's self-confidence?’, ‘What affects a person’s confidence adversely and why does that matter?’, ‘How do animals with lesser thinking capacity step out to hunt, deeply motivated, every single day, despite a previous failed attempt?’, ‘How a sportsperson performs repeatedly even after multiple failures?’, ‘Where does that confidence come from, despite of a past failure and what can we learn from this?’, and ‘Our environment can affect the way our confidence is built everyday?

    Answers to these critical questions have the potential to change one’s life. However, most people are so busy in their daily lives that they do not really focus on them and continue the way they are going.

    The book is published by Bloomsbury and is available in both Paperback and Kindle editions here. #BedazzleTheBook is also trending in the non-fiction pre-order lists.

    “I have always been intrigued by what makes a person more confident than the others – and often you will notice that confidence has a deeper correlation to success than talent. This book is an exploration of what one can do to achieve a level of eternal confidence, by being able to create a stream of constant infinite confidence within, through practical insights,” says Khera.

    Hailing from the field of medicine and with a special interest in neuroscience, Khera believes in backing every remark with apt research. “I believe in factual evidence and I avoid making a point until and unless strongly supported by relevant studies. Finding the missing link between a confident and an under-confident person, Bedazzle aims to stimulate the reader in understanding his own psyche of success. Each person’s disposition is different, and we all get affected by failures and success differently,” adds Khera.

    Bedazzle deconstructs the core aspects of subconscious motivation in all such scenarios and handpicks the triggers to understand confidence at a deeper level so that anyone can use it to their best advantage. The book reveals multiple action plans that can aid a person in developing and maintaining consistent confidence, awakening deep motivation in self and actualizing one’s full self-potential. Bedazzle unravels the perceptions of the human mind and how we can rewire our inner programming to reinforce positive perceptions.

    Bedazzle reveals the art and science of confidence in today’s world. The book puts a spotlight on how the human mind has the power to self-actualize its truest potential through self-evaluation, self awareness and reach heights of achievement. As they say that those who are truly awakened to their inner powers can truly Bedazzle.

    Khera penned the book during the lockdown. “This idea came to me sometime last year but it fully caught steam only in the months of lockdown. Lockdown has provided many writers and artists the perfect environment for brewing ideas and giving them shape –for only in such dedicated environments do novel ideas thrive!’

    She goes on to mention that self belief is most important for a person’s confidence. “Because what you believe about yourself to be true, turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, so believe carefully – and when you do, believe fully!’

    Khera has had an illustrious career and been the face of various television networks, such as Zee, TLC, Colors and MBC and has devised multiple shows that impacted across cultures and continents.

    Currently, she is the director at her content distribution house, One Take Media Co. With an unflinching passion for the field of neuroscience and performance psychology, she has founded 'Speak to Inspire Academy' – where she has coached hundreds of leaders to become impactful speakers and discover their authentic story.

  • Football Series ‘Supa Strikas’ from Moonbug to be launched in India

    Football Series ‘Supa Strikas’ from Moonbug to be launched in India

    MUMBAI: Moonbug, a global entertainment company that develops and distributes fun and safe content for kids, today announced its hit video series Supa Strikas will now be showcased in India. The series has been licenced to Disney India. 

    Supa Strikas is a beloved South African digital and linear sports brand that follows the leading football team as they journey across the globe and to outer space on a quest to win the prized Super League trophy.

    “Supa Strikas’ lessons of fun, sportsmanship, respect and teamwork are incredibly relatable for audiences from all backgrounds,” said Nicolas Eglau, Head of EMEA of Moonbug. “The program is already a top-viewed show on Disney Southeast Asia and Cartoon Network across Africa and will soon be available for viewers in India as well.”

    Supa Strikas, which debuted in 2009, is available in 27 languages and in over 100 countries worldwide. The show can be enjoyed across a variety of platforms, including: YouTube, Amazon, DisneyXD, Cartoon Network, ETV, MBC, TVP, Crave, Suria, Studio 23 and Zoom among others.

    Moonbug is an award-winning global entertainment company providing fun and safe content for children. Moonbug acquires, creates and distributes content for pre-school kids. The company, which is amongst the largest digital kids IP owners in the world, was co-founded by media veterans René Rechtman, CEO, and John Robson, COO, with main offices in London and Los Angeles.

    Moonbug’s IP includes global sensations Little Baby Bum, My Magic Pet Morphle, Supa Strikas, Go Buster, Playtime with Twinkle, Gecko’s Garage and many more. Moonbug shows are available on global platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Roku, Sky, Amazon Prime Video and many more.

  • Viu brings best of korean shows to india

    Viu brings best of korean shows to india

    MUMBAI: Viu, the premium video-on-demand service by Vuclip and PCCW today has launched popular Korean dramas for their viewers in India. After successfully rolling out Korean TV Shows in other Asian markets, Viu has now expanded its Korean content library to the young digital consumer in India. Viu continues to be a trendsetter in offering digital entertainment that popularizes the global phenomenon of Hallyu among the Indian millennials.

    Shows available on the service include hits like ‘Come Back Alive’, ‘Heirs’, ‘My Love From Another Star’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’, ‘Sweet Stranger and M’, ‘Doctors’, ‘Poet Warrior Youth’. The plan is to launch 20 more shows by March 2018. The entire library can be accessed at https://www.viu.com/ott/in/korean-en/korean_dramas.

    Speaking on the launch, Viu India, Country Head – Vishal Maheshwari said, “We have witnessed a very healthy uptake by young viewers, aged 18 to 24 years, who are watching Korean TV shows with English subtitles. The youth of India today are looking for world class TV shows. Korean TV shows deliver on all aspects from story to production which makes it such a success. The trend of watching Korean content is picking up rapidly across the country.“

    Viu has approximately 4,000 hours of the latest Korean drama and variety shows telecast from SBS, KBS, MBC and CJ E&M for all regions. All of this content can be accessed at https://www.viu.com or by downloading the Android app from Google Play or the iOS app from the Apple App Store.

  • Turner launches OH!K channel in Southeast Asia

    Turner launches OH!K channel in Southeast Asia

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific today signed a volume deal with Korea’s broadcaster MBC, locking in content for Oh!K, a new general entertainment channel.

    Commenting on the occasion Turner Asia Pacific president Ricky Ow said, “Oh!K combines the best in content with Turner’s proven history in curating some of the most successful channels in Asia Pacific. We are thrilled to partner with MBC and we are looking forward to introducing it to the region in the coming months.”
    Oh!K will have first pick of MBC content, including first-runs and exclusives soon after their initial transmission debut in Korea, with some shows airing within a week.

    MBC produces 1400 hours of quality content each year distributed in more than 100 countries. Current shows include drama series Diary of a Night Watchman, You Are My Destiny, Triangle and the long-running variety show Infinite Challenge and reality show Dad, Where Are We Going?

    MBC media business executive managing director Jung Woo Oh added, “We are very proud to be partnering with Turner to give viewers unparalleled access to some of the most engaging Korean TV content. The launch of Oh!K will allow an even bigger audience to enjoy MBC’s unique brand of storytelling, and we can’t wait to share our best shows with fans in Southeast Asia.”

    The launch of Oh!K launch follows Turner’s April announcement that it will assume full operational and programming control of WarnerTV, the English-language entertainment channel in Singapore.

     

  • Puthu Yugam goes Korean, network launches mobile apps

    Puthu Yugam goes Korean, network launches mobile apps

    MUMBAI: They were late entrants into a market that was dominated by the Marans’ Sun group. Nearing three years into its foray in broadcast television media space with a News channel  ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai TV’ (PT), besides running the successful Tamil magazine of the same name, the New Generation Media Corporation owned by the Sri Ramaswamy Memorial (SRM)  group had launched a general entertainment channel (GEC) Puthu Yugum (PY) on 23 October 2013.

     

    Targeting the Tamil youth during prime time, Puthu Yugum has brought in south Korean shows to its programming mix. On offer are dubbed versions of south Korean dramas acquired from broadcasters MBC and KBS such as Boys over Flowers (KBS2), The Greatest Love (MBC), Playful Kiss (MBC), Moon Embracing the Sun (MBC), Iris (KBS2), Pasta (MBC)and A Hundred Year Legacy (MBC).The shows originally broadcast in south Korea from 2009 onwards, are aired between 7 pm to 8 pm Monday to Thursday with repeats at 10:30 pm, along with a marathon run on Saturday at 9 pm on Puthu Yugam. Show rights are with the channel for approximately one to three years.

     

    “Since Puthu Yugam is from the SRM group that also runs the SRM University, our president Dr Sathyanaranan had an opportunity to observe the trend of the students. He noted that they are obsessed with Korean (K) series. He suggested us to bring them to Puthu Yugam.  K series has brought lot of young blood into the channel,” says New Gen Media Corporation CEO RBU Shyam Kumar.

     

    PY is also in talks with channels in Turkey, UK and US to acquire some of their shows. Shyam says that the culture, storytelling as well as sentiments which seem to match with those in Tamil culture, is appealing to the audience they cater to. This apart, he adds that several Tamil directors are inspired from Korean films and series.

     

    Nearly 25 fresh dubbing artists are being employed to lend their voices to the Korean characters. A specialist Sanjay Mohan, who has worked for Star Vijay and NGC, and is well versed with both Tamil and Korean languages, has been roped in to monitor the content translation.

     

    Advertisers such as Poomex, Head & Shoulders, White Tone, Harpic, Lizol 10X, Vodafone, Wheat naturals and Prestige have been brought onboard for the Korean shows. The channel refuses to declare the acquisition cost but says that although it differs from channel to channel, it is equivalent to acquiring a “mega show from a Hindi GEC for Tamil dubbing.”

     

    The two channel group also considers the digital space important. New Gen Media Corp convergence head K Manikandaboopathi says, “Digital is all about convenience.  Smartphones/apps are the way people seek information these days and the audience growth is unlimited. It’s an untapped market with unlimited potential. Positioning our brand via handsets and tabs is the way forward for us and has more option for audience engagement.”

      

    Manikandaboopathi says that rather than invest in advertising the app, cross promotion is done via Facebook, TV and the website. 74 per cent of app downloads are from India itself. The PT app has had 240,000 downloads on Android since its launch in November 2013 with about 1.25 lakh downloads happening during the recently concluded elections. The group has invested Rs 50 lakh on the PT live, PPY live, PT VOD, PY VOD and PT Tickr apps. Two of the group’s shows have special apps- Chinna Chinna Cinema (Puthu Yugam) and Nerpada Pesu (Puthiya Thalaimurai). Some of the apps are free while some are paid.

     

    However, the Korean dramas are not available on the apps, since the channel has not acquired the digital rights for them. The apps are the group’s way to reach out to younger audiences in India, between the age group of 18 to 40, specifically. 

     

    The company says that the PT application seems to have become quite popular, while, on the PY front, more work needs to be done as yet. It has had 30,000 downloads in six months. “We need to focus on increasing the visibility as this is mostly demanded by the non-resident Tamil diaspora. We have witnessed that the audience prefers catch-up TV via the app. So, a new and free video on demand app has just been launched last week on iOS and will soon launch on Android,” informs Manikandaboopathi.

     

    While the News channel has made a mark among Tamilians with its claims of having overtaken Sun News and Jaya News within 60 days of launch in August 2011, the GEC is yet to firm up against the big guns that rule the Tamil TV GEC roost – Sun TV, Star Vijay, Jaya TV and Kalaignar. The Sun Network and Jaya Networks are connected to the political heavyweights in the country – the DMK and AIADMK families respectively, while the Star Network has a major stake in Star Vijay. While PT claims to be the only News channel without any political affiliation, SRM Group founder TR Pachamuthu had contested the recent Lok Sabha elections under a BJP ticket, but lost to the AIADMK’s RP Marutharajaa.

  • Bollywood war breaks out over Middle Eastern skies

    Bollywood war breaks out over Middle Eastern skies

    MUMBAI: Very soon, Hindi film fans in the Middle East are going to be spoilt for choice. Here’s how.

    After launching Zee Aflam in 2008, Zee Entertainment Enterprises yesterday premiered the Dubai-based Zee Film Hindi, which boasts a repertoire of over 500 movie titles and up to 1,500 hours of entertainment every year. Zee Film Hindi has an operational office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and can be accessed through the Arabsat Badr-4 satellite on frequency 12111. What’s more, mid-October will see the Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) launch MBC Bollywood, a free-to-air channel available via Nilesat and catering to the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, with a portfolio of over 300 Hindi films – dubbed in Arabic or sub-titled.

    While this promises a visual feast for Bollywood fans, what cannot be ruled out is the severe competition it will spark.

    About Zee Film Hindi, Zee Entertainment president – Middle East, North Africa, Turkey & Pakistan Mukund Cairae says: “Since its inception, Zee has worked towards widening the reach of Indian cinema to audiences across the world. We started Zee Aflam five years ago to re-introduce Bollywood to the Arab world. The acceptance from the viewers has led to a huge growth of the genre itself. The launch of ‘Film Hindi’ is a testament to our efforts to continue to bridge and unify audiences in the Middle East, by building on the similarities with the Indian Subcontinent.”

    Cairae points out that  between Zee Aflam and Film Hindi, Zee plans to offer a variety of movies straddling Bollywood and Indie cinema.

    About MBC Bollywood, which is expected to give other Bollywood channels a run for their TRPs, a Dubai-based source says: “With the MBC group already capturing 80 per cent of the advertising market in the Middle East, the new entrant may impact the fortunes of  even Zee Aflam and B4U Aflam.”

    The latest addition to MBC’s existing bouquet of 10 channels, MBC Bollywood, promises to cater to the huge demand for Bollywood movies in the Middle East.

    “Zee Aflam is presently the number one bollywood movie channel in the Middle East, with an estimated $ 9 million per annum  advertising revenue. This will surely get impacted with MBC Bollywood,” the source said. And if reports are to be believed, MBC Bollywood may be one of the reasons why  UTV Movies Arabia could be going off-air by the end of this month.

    A trip down MBC lane

    Historically speaking, the satellite transmission for MBC first started from London in September 1991, making it the first-ever, independent Arabic satellite TV station, and a market leader – delivering news and quality, family entertainment programming to over 130 million Arabic speaking people around the world.

    The channel recently moved its headquarters to Dubai Media City, bringing production closer to its Arab viewers.

    The group’s channel bouquet reach out to nearly 300 million Arabs across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and South America.

    Among these figure: MBC1 (general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3 (children’s entertainment), MBC4 (entertainment for new Arab women), MBC Action (action series and movies), MBC Persia (24-hour movie channel dubbed in Persian), Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel), Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel) and MBC Drama (Arabic drama).

    The group also has two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music) and O3 Productions (a specialised documentary production unit).

    For all purposes, it is the Goliath of the middle east. Can the Davids measure up?

  • GlobeVISION forges IPTV distribution agreement with Korea’s CGN TV

    GlobeVISION forges IPTV distribution agreement with Korea’s CGN TV

    MUMBAI: The Los Angeles-headquartered digital media service provider GlobeVISION, Inc. has inked an agreement with CGN TV, Korea’s largest Christian programming broadcaster, to carry content from the network on GlobeVISION’s PIE Service, an on-demand Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service for Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians.

    The deal will bring CGN TV’s Christian-valued programs directly to Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians throughout North America when GlobeVISION’s PIE Service launches on 1 July.

    The PIE service will launch with thousands of Korean titles ranging from moves to television series to news and sports. It will quickly expand to include programming from all over Asia including China and India, states an official release.

    CGN TV is the latest in a string of high-profile content providers to jump onto the GlobeVISION bandwagon. Korea’s two largest private broadcasters (MBC and SBS), largest cable media group (CJ Media) and top movie studio (CJ Entertainment) have signed deals positioning GlobeVISION and the powerhouse distribution channel for Korean content in North America, adds the release.

    “We are pleased to be able to add these values-based programming options to GlobeVISION’s already announced lineup of news, culture, sports and entertainment,” said Edward Bach, founder and CEO/president of GlobeVISION. “GlobeVISION recognizes how important family and faith-based programming is, especially considering what a hot topic it has been in the U.S. lately.”

    The deal also forms a strategic marketing and promotion partnership to boost awareness of CGN TV’s subscription satellite service. CGN TV’s 24 hour satellite service currently beams Christian-themed programming, including culture, worship and educational programs into 123 countries.

  • DirecTV expands Intl programming platform with Korean language package

    DirecTV expands Intl programming platform with Korean language package

    MUMBAI: DirecTV is continuing to grow its international programming platform, WorldDirect, with the addition of three leading Korean-language networks – MBC, YTN, and Christian Television Systems (CTS).

    In addition, DirecTV also offers the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), a top-rated Korean network, which launched on the WorldDirect platform last year.

    SBS, MBC and YTN will be available as part of the new DirecTV KoreanDirect package, which is currently available to DirecTV customers nationwide for $26.99 per month. CTS will be available on an a la carte basis for $4.99 per month, according to an official release.

    DirecTV International VP Aaron McNally said, “DirecTV is offering the Korean community living in the United States not only the best Korean-language programming lineup, but also the leading English-language program offering as well. We are truly a one-stop shop for the best television viewing experience available. By partnering with the leading networks in Korea, DirecTV is able to provide a superior programming lineup compared to its competitors, and deliver a programming package that keeps the Korean community informed, entertained and connected to their homeland.”

    SBS, a top-rated Korean network, has designed its programming to feed the needs of all its viewers by providing content that is both informative and entertaining. MBC

    MBC is a top-rated, 24-hour Korean network. “M” stands for “Munwha” in Korean, which means “culture” in English. MBC offers programs such as news, sports, cultural programs, variety shows, drama, comedy and documentaries.

    YTN is the only 24-hour a day, comprehensive Korean news channel. The network, encompassing local branches and 100-plus foreign correspondents bringing news from over 50 major cities around the world, provides Korean-Americans with up-to-the-minute news and events coverage from Korea and around the world.

    Founded by the Korean Primary Christian Denomination, CTS is a gospel broadcasting channel serving Christian Koreans in the United States. For more information on how to receive KoreanDirect, customers should call (800) 378-3309.

    The DirecTV WorldDirect platform has launched 39 channels that deliver a wide variety of new programming in multiple foreign-languages, including Russian, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Italian and Ukrainian, to underserved ethnic markets throughout the United States.

    DirecTV customers will need to use a WorldDirect services satellite dish that is capable of receiving both international and English-language programming. In some markets, customers who subscribe to a local channels package will require a second smaller dish.

  • Endemol’s game shows sold worldwide

    Endemol’s game shows sold worldwide

    MUMBAI: Endemol International has announced several new deals on hit game show Deal or No Deal, the recently acquired Take It or Leave It property and 1 vs 100.

    Take It or Leave It from Intellygents has been sold to Telecinco in Spain where the first series is due to launch later this year. And in Italy, RAI has renewed the show for a second season following its successful run last summer. The format has also just gone to air on NL2 (TROS) in the Netherlands.

    In the Middle East, Deal or No Deal is heading to LBC following a previous run on MBC. LBC is launching a new prime time daily version this month. The format is also set to air in Denmark later this year on TV2. The format has now been sold to 45 countries worldwide including the U.S.

    In Asia, VTV in Vietnam acquired 1 vs. 100 for launch in May. The show also recently premiered in Norway where it is a prime time hit for TV2. 1 vs. 100 has now been sold to 12 countries with both weekly and daily versions on the air.