ITV

Tag: MTV

  • MTV to launch ‘Sound Check’ on 10 March

    MTV to launch ‘Sound Check’ on 10 March

    MUMBAI: To address the varying demands of young consumers in the present day, MTV is set to launch yet another ‘check point’ titled Sound Check on 10 March.

    Unlike countdown shows that the network is known for, this one adds a twist to it with a bunch of funny animated graphic characters (speakers) rather than a VJ, to offer expert comments coupled with crazy stunts.

    One character (a speaker) does the ‘snake’ dance to others tunes
    On the lines of fashion based show Style Check and gadget and gizmo focussed Tech Check, the latest addition to complete the trio will “review music albums from Bollywood and International artists for which we have devised our own unique currency,” MTV VP creative and content and GM Ashish Patil told Indiantelevision.com.

    All the speakers do the Mexican wave!

    Apart from the cliché trivia and information, these vignettes of five minutes each which will have five animated speakers, created by the in-house graphic team, will elaborately predict the fate of the selected album.

    On a five point rating scale, these guys will perform stunts to depict the success of an album by either shooting themselves in the head or teaming up to do the Mexican wave and other such bizarre behaviour.

    Stopppp…This speaker hates this song!

    Although MTV attempts to bring out its core proposition that is in sync with the youth funda – ‘Enjoy,’ Patil says that behind these comical characters are key MTV programming experts that will critically appraise the various music albums on parameters like rhythm, melody, lyrics etc. to determine what’s going to be hot!

    Tracking the changing needs of Indian youth, Patil says that extensive research points to the various touch points that youth connect with, including style and fashion, adventure, technology, cricket and even casual dating, therefore the network has attempted to bring their brand to each of these genres through an array of differentiated programming.

    Although, music is part of the core proposition of the channel, it currently supports 30 per cent of non-music content with Hero Honda Roadies, Lycra MTV Style Awards, GPL, Aila Tendulkar, Semi Girebaal and the likes…. As advocates in identifying youth trends, MTV will continue to deliver all these different genres, with wit and humour at the crux of it all!

  • MTV announces 250 layoffs worldwide

    MTV announces 250 layoffs worldwide

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks International announced the elimination of 250 jobs at the company as part of their restructuring process.

    The Viacom-owned operation said that this is part of a move to focus on high-growth businesses and markets and boost operating margins.

    The Viacom Brand Solutions (VBS) Europe and VBS UK divisions, charged with developing targeted opportunities for advertisers across the MTVNI portfolio; as well as the consumer products, program sales and digital media units will maintain their existing structures.

    The 250 layoffs include the restructuring that took place at MTV Networks Asia in Singapore at the end of last year. In Latin America, further regionalization is being planned, with some functions at the Miami headquarters relocating to Buenos Aires. Ad sales and affiliate sales will remain in Miami, while Buenos Aires will be home to production, programming and creative strategy.

    In Europe, meanwhile, a portion of the Emerging Markets/Middle East group in London will relocate to Budapest, Hungary and Warsaw. A new structure will also be put in place in London to devote more support to revenue-generating areas and its biggest business, MTV Networks U.K.

    Some MTVNI functions will be merged with MTVN U.K., while others will be restructured to its existing global MTV Networks U.S. base. 

    Speaking about the changes MTVNI president Bob Bakish said that “(these changes) will position us well for the next phase of our growth-increasing our operating margins through more efficient corporate structures, while also mobilizing our resources to build our multiplatform brand portfolios in priority markets and expand growing revenue areas such as ad sales, digital media and consumer products.”

  • Mobile content service firm Motricity gets $50 mn investment from Carl Icahn

    Mobile content service firm Motricity gets $50 mn investment from Carl Icahn

    MUMBAI: The US based Motricity, which provides mobile content services and solutions has announced the completion of $50 million in equity funding from Carl Icahn, through an affiliated company.

    It has also appointed Brett Icahn, an investment analyst with Icahn Associates and affiliated companies, to the Motricity board of directors.

    Motricity chairman and CEO Ryan Wuerch says, “Carl has proven himself as one of the leading investors of all time, with an incredible ability to identify top performing companies and drive shareholder value. This investment bolsters our balance sheet and positions us to continue to aggressively grow the business and consolidate the industry.”

    Over the past year, Motricity’s business has expanded substantially, quadrupling its customer base to include some of the leading wireless operators and media and entertainment companies, including Cingular, Alltel, Sprint, Tracfone, MTV, BET, NBC, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Turner and several others.

    icahn says, “Motricity has an excellent management team and leading technology. They are well positioned for dominance in mobile content, a sector for which we forecast strong growth in the coming years.”

    Motricity is provides mobile content services and solutions that enable consumers to receive the right content at the right time, every time. Its solutions create end user experiences and deliver mobile content offerings for partners such as MTV, BET, CBS, NBC, Turner, Cingular, Alltel, Sprint Nextel and Palm. Its mobile content delivery platform, Fuel, received the 2006 GSM Association Award for “Best Service Delivery Platform” and was also named 2005 Premium Mobile Content Platform of the Year by Frost and Sullivan.

  • Viacom partners with online global TV distribution platform Joost

    Viacom partners with online global TV distribution platform Joost

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom and broadcast-quality Internet television service Joost have announced that Viacom will be a key content partner.

    It will offer a range of brands and programming for free to consumers on the Joost distribution platform.

    Under the agreement, Viacom’s divisions – MTV, Bet and Paramount Pictures – will provide television and theatrical programming on the Joost platform. Founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis who were behind Skype, Joost is powered by an Internet platform that enables premium interactive video experiences while guaranteeing copyright protection for content owners and creators. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

    Joost will allow users to have free access to thousands of programs and channels not readily available on the Web. Through Joost, viewers can watch programming from many of Viacom’s brands on their computers through a customizable platform with advanced television viewing features such as links that lead to more information or related websites based on the content; and a variety of plug-in applications, such as instant messaging, message boards, and news tickers.

    Currently available in limited beta, Joost combines TV and the internet by offering viewers a TV-like experience. Joost is the first online, global TV distribution platform, bringing together advertisers, content owners and viewers in an interactive, community-driven environment, according to an official release.

    MTV will offer shows, both past and present, including Laguna Beach, Beavis and Butthead, Real World. Comedy Central will feature episodes from Stella, CCP’s and Freak Show. Nickelodeon, CMT: Country Music Television, MTV2, Logo, Spike TV, mtvU, and Gametrailers.com will also provide content.

    VH1’s offerings will include episodes of Flavour of Love, Surreal Life and I Love New York.

  • MTV, Adobe showcase mobile applications at 3GSM conference

    MTV, Adobe showcase mobile applications at 3GSM conference

    MUMBAI: At the 3GSM World Congress in Spain US broadcaster MTV Networks and Adobe Systems are previewing new mobile media applications featuring exclusive MTV Networks programming and leveraging Adobe Flash technology.

    The mobile media applications, available later this year, will deliver music, comedy and entertainment content from the MTV, VH1, Logo and Comedy Central brands directly to handsets that support Adobe FlashCast.

    The new FlashCast channels are the latest example of the ongoing alliance between Adobe and Viacom. Last year the two companies announced that Adobe would serve as the preferred technology provider for rich media authoring tools and interactive online video solutions for Viacom’s extensive array of television, motion picture and digital properties.

    In September, a number of new casual games based on franchises like Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and MTV’s Pimp My Ride were published as part of the Shockwave Minis launch using Adobe’s Flash Lite technology. Additionally, several of MTV Networks’ broadband channels – including COMEDYCENTRAL.com, MTV.com, VSPOT at VH1.com, LOADED at CMT.com, LogoOnline, and TurboNick at Nick.com – have since standardised on Flash technology to deliver streaming video.

    MTV Mobile Media senior VP Greg Clayman says, “The MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Logo FlashCast channels that we are jointly demonstrating at 3GSM are indicative of the rich experiences that can be created on the handset when the power of programming meets the power of technology. With FlashCast technology, we’re able to create innovative mobile experiences that allow our viewers to connect with the music, comedy and entertainment programming they love.”

    Adobe senior VP mobile and device solutions Al Ramadan says, “Viacom is at the forefront of defining great mobile experiences and we are excited that our partner is choosing Flash to make it happen.

    “The first results of our partnership can be seen in our booth at 3GSM demonstrating our commitment to working closely together in the future to advance the innovation of mobile experiences.”

    Adobe’s FlashCast is a client-server solution that delivers mobile data experiences. Building applications with FlashCast technology gives MTV another option to quickly and easily extend the reach of its premium programming to the handset, connecting viewers with their favorite content wherever they are. The MTV FlashCast channel, for instance, features artist interviews, features and breaking stories from MTV News, as well as news for the game community.

    The VH1 application features the Best Week Ever blog and VH1 news; the Logo channel features its popular NewNowNext blog as well as programming from the recently acquired 365 Gay, After Ellen and After Elton web sites; and the Comedy Central FlashCast application features jokes, Booty Call pick-up lines, What’s Your Sign horoscopes and more.

  • MTV goes digital for ‘Aila Tendulkar’

    MTV goes digital for ‘Aila Tendulkar’

    NEW DELHI: MTV India has decided to go digital in its marketing initiative for its new show Aila Tendulkar. No print ads, billboards or spots for this show. Riding the internet wave, the channel has looked at online banners and mobile content. The idea has been to capture viral circulation.

    Aila Tendulkar is hosted by Suresh Menon aka VJ Tendulkar. The show has been launched with the cricket season in mind, especially with the approaching Cricket World Cup. The show launches on Saturday, 17 February, at 7 pm but will go on well past the World Cup until June.

    Says MTV India VP marketing Aditya Swamy, “While the show is definitely in sync with the Cricket World Cup, we would also look at the post World Cup spillover and all the analysis and gossip that happens then.”

    The show format for Aila Tendulkar looks at a 5 to 7 minutes duration vignette and each vignette will have 3 to 4 cricket based gags/sketches. VJ Tendulkar is joined by Gag Chappel (Ashwin Mushran), the men in blue, Bowel Dravid (Kunal Kumar) and Kaurav Ganguly (Gaurav Gera). All this madness is of course monitored by VJ Cyrus Sahukar who cameos as the umpire.

    A day before the telecast of the show, 30-45 second vignettes will be available on the mobile and net. The channel claims to be experimenting with the idea that a preview of the show will be made available before the actual telecast.

    “In fact keeping in mind, its reach via digital formats, the show has also been produced to suit the medium. So no long shots, etc.”

    “The idea is to reach across to our target audience, which is metro youth and they are increasingly available on mobile and internet rather than on television. So we decided to market Aila Tendulkar across multiple platforms to get that ‘constantly on the move viewer’.

    All episodes of Aila Tendulkar would first break on mtvindia.com. Mobile users can simultaneously log on to wap.mtvindia.com from their GPRS-enabled phsones for the preview of these videos. MTV has tied up with Reliance, Hutch and Aitel for this service. The channel has also roped in Rediff, Google and Yahoo amongst others to feature these vignettes. Reliance mobile users can view the same on the MTV Zone on RWorld.

    The post CAS situation has led to many channels reviewing their consumer performance and looking at different modes of media branding. MTV does have an international ‘I want my MTV’ campaign for subscription based channels. Commenting on this, Swamy said, “While there were plans to adapt this campaign in India as well, for now, we are just looking at how things are shaping up here.”

    The channel has also partnered with CNBC TV18 for a series of vignettes called MTV Budget Fundas to be aired on both the channels. Says Swamy, “MTV is not just about fun and humour but also everything relevant to the youth. So if the budget affects the pocket money of the youth and how they spend it, we will showcase it.”

  • CNBC Universe gears up for Budget 2007

    CNBC Universe gears up for Budget 2007

    MUMBAI: CNBC Universe gears up for the Budget with a line of special programming on the theme ‘OPPORTUNITY ECONOMY?’ But the emphasis is clearly on wooing the youth and family as the network ties up with Star Plus and MTV for its budget specific programming.

    CNBC Awaaz ties up with Star Plus for Saas Bahu aur Budget where different stars from various soap families on Star Plus will join the anchors for an in-studio analysis of how the budget will affect each member of this fictional family. This show has been packaged as a dialogue between the various members of the families from popular tele-serials and tax experts.CNBC Awaaz and its editorial team will moderate this program

    CNBC-TV18 and MTV tie up to bring Budget Fundas which will be telecast on both channels. The series is supposed to connect the youth with the Union Budget.

    CNBC Awaaz budget coverage includes Aapke Sheher Main which will travel to five key cities across India taking stock of what investors expect. The Budget Express is a nationwide initiative tracking 32 cities. Both CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz will telecast the live uninterrupted coverage of the FM’s Budget Speech followed by a half hour interview with the FM.

    The programming on CNBC-TV18 will also have short segments and vignettes such as Tax Minute, CEO Bites, If I were FM…?, Budget Factoids and What the World Thinks.

    The theme of “Opportunity Economy?” will extend throughout the CNBC Universe including its web properties.

  • Viacom asks YouTube to remove unauthorized clips

    Viacom asks YouTube to remove unauthorized clips

    MUMBAI: YouTube, the online video sharing site from Google faces yet another controversy as Viacom asks the website to remove more than 100,000 unauthorized clips from its hugely popular video-sharing site.

    Viacom has been through several rounds of talks with YouTube and Google but has not managed a breakthrough as far as ‘filtering’ or ‘revenue sharing’ for clips and video is concerned.

    Viacom said in a statement that after several months of talks with the website “it has become clear that YouTube is unwilling to come to a fair market agreement that would make Viacom content available to YouTube users.”

    Viacom has repeatedly negotiated with YouTube and Google to deliver on several “filtering tools” to control unauthorized video from appearing on the site.

    Although the company is asking YouTube to take the clips down, it has not taken legal action.

    Under federal copyright law, online services such as YouTube are generally immune from liability as long as it responds to takedown requests. But the legal lines blur when another user posts the same video.

    YouTube said in a statement that it would comply with the request from Viacom and said that it cooperates “with all copyright holders to identify and promptly remove infringing content as soon as we are officially notified.”

    In November, YouTube had agreed to delete nearly 30,000 files after the Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers complained of copyright infringement.

    Some media companies such as CBS Corp. and General Electric Co., NBC Universal have made deals to allow YouTube to use video clips from their programming. But the site is yet to agree over ways to get compensated for the use of their copyrighted material.

    Universal Music Group had threatened legal action for copyright infringement and piracy of music videos. It later reached a licensing deal with them last year.

    Despite Viacom’s problems with YouTube, the company’s MTV Networks division reached a licensing deal last year with Google that allows the search company’s video service to use clips from MTV and its sibling networks under a revenue-sharing agreement.

  • MTV US using search for a video game concept to spread awareness of Aids menace

    MTV US using search for a video game concept to spread awareness of Aids menace

    MUMBAI: mtvU, which is US broadcaster MTV’s college network and the Kaiser Family Foundation have announced the “Change the Course of HIV Challenge.

    This is a competition offering college students digital tools to reduce the spread of HIV/Aids among young people in the US. The challenge asks gamers, activists or any student with a great idea to propose a viral, Web-based video game concept to help raise awareness about HIV/Aids among 15-24 year olds in the US and to promote personal action in response to the epidemic.

    The winning individual or team will work with mtvU and the Kaiser Family Foundation — which are committing $75,000 to the development and marketing of the game — to see their idea realised. mtvU GM Stephen Friedman, says, “No undergrad in school today has known a world without HIV/Aids and a new young person someplace in the world is infected every 15 seconds GM. Through this challenge, we hope to inspire college students to use the power of online gaming to engage their peers, re-awaken them to the magnitude of this deadly virus and effect prevention.”

    Kaiser Family Foundation VP and director, entertainment media partnerships Tina Hoff says, “The competition is designed to help us reach young people in a different and engaging way to help inform them about HIV/Aids and spur action. As HIV remains the great public health challenge of this generation, it’s essential to find new and creative ways to engage and inform young people about the epidemic.”

    The two parties are looking for innovative, interactive concepts for video games that will spread rapidly online. Proposed projects should raise awareness about HIV/Aids among young people in the US, identify ways to stop its spread, and address the silence, stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease.

  • MTV, Verizon Wireless launch live music series ‘MTV Live’

    MTV, Verizon Wireless launch live music series ‘MTV Live’

    MUMBAI: MTV and Verizon Wireless announced a new event series titled ‘MTV Live’ featuring live artist performances from the big names in music. The monthly series will be recorded in front of a live audience at the Hard Rock Café in New York and will be presented as a multi-platform program across MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Tr3s, MTV.com and on MTV Mobile on V CAST.

    ‘MTV Live’ powered by Verizon Wireless will premiere the first episode on 6 February at 11:30 pm with a commercial free performance by Fall Out Boy.

    Artists Nas, Akon, and Gym Class Heroes have been booked for future shows.
     
    ‘MTV Live’ will be specifically customized for each screen. In-show features will include a live text-to-screen element that will allow Verizon Wireless subscribers to submit comments and shout-outs from their cell phones that will appear as a crawl across the bottom of the screen in real-time during the show.

    Additionally, video footage shot on cell phones during the performance will be edited into several of the platform offerings. MTV Mobile on V CAST will feature exclusive performance content from each show and will also offer artist interview segments. “MTV Live” will be available online at http://www.mtvlive.mtv.com/.
     
    “MTV Live is a new way for us to connect music fans with their favorite artists by incorporating a wide variety of on-air, online and on-mobile elements throughout every show,” said MTV President Christina Norman. “This partnership with Verizon Wireless enables us to make the biggest footprint for the artists across multiple screens and really bring the live performance experience to our audience on different devices.”

    “MTV and Verizon Wireless are two powerful brands, with significant relationships in this rapidly changing music landscape,” says MTV senior vice president integrated marketing Tim Rosta. “This program will result in a strategic alliance that will amplify these relationships and bring new music to a larger audience.”