Tag: National Geographic

  • National Geographic’s ‘BSF: India’s First Line of Defence’ highest rated show

    National Geographic’s ‘BSF: India’s First Line of Defence’ highest rated show

    MUMBAI: National Geographic Channel’s exclusive documentary, BSF: India’s First Line of Defence launched as the top-rated show in the week of its premiere. It is the highest rated show of the genre in the television universe (4+ All India) with 812 TVT, which is 22 per cent more viewership than the genre’s next rated show. With its spectacular visuals and moving storytelling, the documentary also appealed to premium audiences, retaining the #1 slot in Infotainment’s core TG (9 -40 A).

     The documentary salutes the spirit and never say die attitude of our soldiers. It brought viewers closer to the unflinching soldiers guarding the nation’s frontline. Even before the premiere, the appeal of the documentary insured that the digital promotions of the show engaged more than 2.2 mil users (reaching more than 20 mil users in total).  With the massive support that the campaign was getting, Nat Geo also created an online platform that enabled users to send messages to soldiers at the border.

     Fox Networks Group business head India Swati Mohan said, “The response to our documentary on the BSF has been overwhelming. We thank the Border Security Force for the all the support, and for making the entire production process an enriching experience for us. The film was an ode to the unsung heroes that guard our borders and it was made to instil a sense of pride in every Indian. The ratings are not only a testimony of the quality of production, but also the love and respect the country has for its real heroes. The appreciation we have received for this documentary reassures us on our commitment to bring to viewers extraordinary and path breaking documentaries that reiterate Nat Geo’s gold standards of iconic and visually stunning story-telling.”

  • Great success for FremantleMedia at Asian Television Awards

    Great success for FremantleMedia at Asian Television Awards

    SINGAPORE: Congratulations to FremantleMedia (FM) Asia and FremantleMedia India, which have each won an award in the highly prestigious 2015 Asian Television Awards.

     

    Held last night in a glittering ceremony in Singapore, the wins were for the ground-breaking pan-Asian entertainment series, Asia’s Got Talent, which was screened throughout Asia on broadcaster AXN; and for our Indian production Nat Geo Covershot: Maximum City for National Geographic.

     

    Nat Geo Covershot: Maximum City (FM India) won the Best Reality Show award, whereas Best Adaption of an Existing Format went to Asia’s Got Talent (FM Asia).

     

    Determined by an expert panel of over 60 judges from across the region, the Asian Television Awards is the region’s biggest and most prestigious awards, attracting more than 1200 entries across 30 award categories from a wide range of broadcasters and platforms. The awards are recognised by the region’s entertainment industry as an important accolade and it is a great honour to receive four nominations. 

     

    Nat Geo Covershot: Maximum City is an exciting and creative photography-based reality program featuring 16 budding photographers from across India. They compete to be featured on the cover of the National Geographic Traveller India magazine. Here is a fantastic promo for the series:

    Asia’s Got Talent was the highest rated English language show in Asia for 2015, achieving an unprecedented 93 per cent audience share across English language channels in The Philippines for the Grand Final. To sample some of the amazing acts on AGT, please take a look at their YouTube channel:

     

    https://www.YouTube.com/user/asiasgottalent

  • India boasts of 830 TV channels even as MIB cancels permission of 125

    India boasts of 830 TV channels even as MIB cancels permission of 125

    NEW DELHI: The total number of television channels uplinking from or downlinking into India has risen to 830, with the permission of as many as 125 channels cancelled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

     

    Thus, the government had given permission to a total of 955 channels, which included those who have been later denied permission.

     

    Of the permitted channels, 398 are news and current affairs channels while 432 are general entertainment channels (GECs).

     

    Twenty channels including seven news channels have been permitted to uplink from India but not downlink within the country, as of 30 November, 2015. 

     

    A total of 725 channels including 349 GECs are allowed to uplink and downlink in the country while 85 including 70 GECs are uplinked from overseas but allowed to downlink into TV homes in the country.

     

    Star India brought into its fold the Maa cluster of channels including Maa TV, Maa Movies, Maa Music, and Maa Gold. NGC Network India launched National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Nat Geo People HD, Nat Geo Music HD, National Geographic HD, Fox Life and Fox Life HD in other Indian languages. Eenadu TV launched ETV Life, ETV Plus and ETV Abhiruchi that are Telugu channels permitted for uplinking. Additionally, Colors TV launched Colors Infinity and Colors Infinity HD.

     

    Other channels that received permission this year include 9X Bajao (earlier 9X Bajaao and 9X Bangla), Rengoni, Asianet HD, Australia Network, Da Vinci Learning (non-news channel), Sharnam, Tulsi TV (earlier Vedas Om TV); the multi-lingual Sree TV, Naaptol HD (earlier All Time), Media One Life in Malayalam and English; Sangeet Marathi; MNGK Star in English and Indian languages; Ishwar in English and Indian languages; Baby TV HD; Seven Sisters Rainbow; Positive Health; Shubh TV; Swadesh News; Cartoon TV (earlier Maha Mazza); Teleshop; Home Shop 18 Tamil; V S Entertainment; Nick HD+ (earlier Bandhan); Veria Living and Zee Café HD (for downlinking).

  • National Geographic Partners announces new senior leadership appointments

    National Geographic Partners announces new senior leadership appointments

    MUMBAI: Upon completing the transaction to form National Geographic Partners (NGP), CEO Declan Moore announced a series of new appointments, thereby choosing the core leadership positions. National Geographic Partners combines the National Geographic television channels and National Geographic’s other media and consumer-oriented assets.

    “We are thrilled to bring these incredibly talented executives to the senior leadership team”, Moore informed, after 21st Century Fox and National Geographic Society made the formation of National Geographic Partners public.

    “We’re excited to officially begin our journey to bring a new and integrated National Geographic experience to people worldwide, and I look forward to partnering with Ward Platt and working with Susan Goldberg, Courteney Monroe and Jeffrey Schneider to share the National Geographic mission with an even larger audience,” added Moore..

    Fox International Channels (FIC) COO and CEO of National Geographic Channels International CEO Ward Platt will assume the new post of National Geographic Partners COO. He will partner with Moore to drive the global revenue of the entire portfolio of National Geographic Partners’ businesses, including channels distribution, advertising revenue, digital publishing, licensing, travel and consumer products. Platt will also have oversight of the new venture’s international operations.

    National Geographic magazine editor in chief Susan Goldberg has been vested with additional responsibilities as an editorial director who will supervise the publishing activities under the new venture, including digital journalism, magazines, books, maps, children and family, travel and adventure.

    The current National Geographic Channels US CEO Courteney Monroe, will serve as CEO of National Geographic Global Networks, overseeing global programming, operations and global marketing for the portfolio of National Geographic Channels around the world, including National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo People and Nat Geo MUNDO. Additionally, Monroe will oversee National Geographic Studios, the in-house television production studio previously part of National Geographic Ventures

    This expanded role will see Monroe working  closely with Fox Networks Group chairman and CEO Peter Rice, with an aim to position National Geographic Channels as a global leader in premium science, adventure and exploration programming.

    The current National Geographic Channels business and legal affairs EVP, Jeffrey Schneider, has been appointed National Geographic Partners business legal and affairs EVP, overseeing the legal dealings associated with the new venture.

    While these form the key leadership positions, further new appointments are expected follow says NGP.

  • Fox International Channels launches global sales platform

    Fox International Channels launches global sales platform

    MUMBAI: Fox International Channels (FIC) has launched a new sales platform – Fox Media, which will take the company’s global sales to a new level with a comprehensive approach to global cross platform media buying and sponsorships.

     

    Fox Media, which represents three media brands namely Fox, National Geographic and Fox Sports in its portfolio, will enable innovative ad sales partnerships, including native advertising and branded content, across multiple platforms. From a single point of contact, local, regional and global clients will be able to connect to quality audiences across FIC’s 1.825 billion strong TV footprint and nearly 130 million unique monthly online users.

     

    Fox Media is the only network group with a track record of successful global sponsorships. In a recent example, Fox Media and Microsoft Surface partnered on this summer’s #1 scripted drama, Wayward Pines, from M. Night Shyamalan.

     

    “At FIC, we turn the best TV shows into global cultural events; and with the launch of Fox Media, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver them to global, pan-regional and local brands who want to tell a bigger story, both on the big screen as well as the personal screen,” said FIC president and CEO Hernan Lopez.

     

    Fox Media can leverage the power of more than 1.825 million homes, including 245 million homes for Fox, the 440 million homes for National Geographic Channel and Fox Sports, which is available in 90 million homes.

     

    The Fox Media sales team, helmed by executive vice president, advertising sales & corporate communications Europe Deborah Armstrong, EVP ad sales and partnerships Asia Pacific and Middle East Simeon Dawes and SVP ad sales Latin America  Juan Vallejo, will be driving the global sales initiative forward. The team will collaborate closely with the Fox sales team in the US to deliver a worldwide offering, while also supporting regional clients with the same multi-platform campaigns.

     

    “The global partnerships we have executed in the past with Microsoft and Samsung as well as our upcoming campaigns are all excellent examples of the creative, comprehensive, cross-platform solutions Fox Media is able to deliver with our unrivaled reach in the coveted 18-49 demo. Our goal is to match global brands with Fox, National Geographic and Fox Sports; three of the world’s most powerful media brands, offering distinctive choices by genre, market, audience and media. We provide one stop access to the Fox world across entertainment, sports and factual programming and deliver global cross-media sponsorships that maximize the winning combination of TV and online,” said Armstrong.

     

    Fox’s in-house creative teams will now be know globally as FoxLab and will continue to deliver integrated, a la carte, cross-media campaigns to clients in any industry segment across the most desirable genres and audiences. These powerhouse creative teams produce work with the Fox Media partners that connects deeply with audiences everywhere, sharing a brand vision that creates true chemistry.

     

    “With the expansion of FoxLab to service clients in every part of the world, we’ve become a truly full service creative and content partner, well positioned to offer quality marketing partnership, branded content campaigns and native advertising relevant across all screens. It’s not just about channels anymore. We reach consumers across all media,” added Lopez.

  • National Geographic Channel’s ‘Megastructures’ showcases the making of the Hyderabad Metro Rail

    National Geographic Channel’s ‘Megastructures’ showcases the making of the Hyderabad Metro Rail

    MUMBAI: Acclaimed to showcase some mammoth structures and architectural masterpieces, Megastructures is back. After the roaring success in Delhi and Mumbai, Hyderabad is all set to have a metro network soon. To showcase the making of what will be an iconic structure for the city, National Geographic Channel, in association with “L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited” is launching “Connecting the city of Nizams: Hyderabad Metro” on 19th October, 2014 at 6 pm.  

     

    NGC’s Megastructures features constructions that inspire amazement and interest amongst people not only for their remarkable size but also for the intricacies and innovations involved in building and managing them. The new episode will feature the actual work involved in building the Hyderabad metro rail network. It will also focus on the collaboration of some of the best engineers, planners and designers in the city to bring forth the flawless and the needful railway project. India’s largest construction and technology giant L&T is bringing the largest Public Private Partnership Project in metro sector to make this dream come true for the people of Hyderabad.

     

    Commenting on the show and association Debarpita Banerjee, Vice President, Marketing and Communication, NGC and Fox Life, said “Megastructures is one of our most successful franchises. The research, depiction of the challenges & opportunities, along with the unique story-telling takes the viewer on a journey- starting from a single brick to a gigantic structure. We are happy to associate with L&T Metro Rail which is responsible for bringing this project alive and are confident that viewers would appreciate a show that showcases the makings of a mega structure that hugely impacts people’s daily lives.”

     

    Commenting on the show, Vivek Bhaskar Gadgil, Chief Executive & Managing Director, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited, said “Hyderabad Metro Rail Project is the World’s largest Public-Private Partnership Project (PPP) in the Metro Sector. We are extremely excited to work with National Geographic Channel to showcase the behind the scenes of the making of this iconic structure. While the city gears up for the metro, not just the planners but all citizens are being made the ‘ambassadors’ of the new mode of transport through unique and unprecedented public interface programs fostering an emotional connect with the project.”

     

    ‘Connecting the city of Nizams: Hyderabad Metro’ premieres on 19th October, 6pm on National Geographic Channel.

     

  • FremantleMedia acquires stake in  495 Productions

    FremantleMedia acquires stake in 495 Productions

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia, has signed a deal to acquire a majority stake in 495 Productions, a US-based production company, known for its cutting edge reality programming.  Under the terms of the deal, FremantleMedia will have a 75 per cent holding with the opportunity to acquire the remaining shareholding in the future.

     

    This acquisition adds another strong and prolific US production companies into FremantleMedia’s increasingly diverse group of North American holdings, alongside its subsidiary FremantleMedia North America (“FMNA”) and previous acquisition Original Productions.

     

    Founded in 2006 by SallyAnn Salsano, one of the preeminent US entertainment producers and creators, 495 Productions is a formidable hit factory specialising in riveting unscripted character-driven reality series with colourful personalities at their heart.  The company developed and produced the pop-culture phenomenon series Jersey Shore, which went on to become MTV’s highest-rated show in its history and a global hit with multiple spin-offs including Snooki and JWOWW, The Show with Vinny and The Pauly D Project.

     

    Other ground-breaking productions include Spike TV’s Tattoo Nightmares, which FremantleMedia already distributes internationally, and Repo Games; MTV’s dating show Friendzone and the daytime syndicated talk show The Real for which SallyAnn Salsano is the executive producer. 

     

    The company also produces recent ratings hits Jerks with Cameras for MTV, Tattoos After Dark for Oxygen and Party Down South, which has quickly established itself as CMT’s highest-rated series ever.

     

    FremantleMedia  CEO Cécile Frot-Coutaz in a press statement said, “495 Productions is undeniably one of the US’s leading reality production companies with a unique approach to formatted character-driven reality shows which have proved compelling TV in the US and around the world.  This deal will allow us to expand our share of the valuable US cable market and will complement and diversify our existing portfolio of content and clients.  Together, our ambition is to continue to grow 495 Productions in the US and to broaden its global footprint even further through our extensive distribution and production network.”

     

    FremantleMedia North America CEO Thom Beers added: “SallyAnn is a brilliant leader, an unstoppable creative force and one of the most successful producers in the entertainment industry. Since founding the business 2006, she and the talented creative team at 495 Productions have built the company into a powerhouse responsible for some of the most watched and talked about programming on TV at the moment. This is a key strategic acquisition for FMNA which, with both Original Productions and 495 Productions in the fold, now commands a best-in-class production slate across all family, male and female demos, and for network, cable and syndication platforms.”

     

    495 Productions has enjoyed great success in the US with shows airing across major broadcast and cable networks including a long-standing relationship with MTV and other Viacom channels such as Spike, CMT and VH1 and more recently with Fox, TLC, SyFy, Oxygen, National Geographic, TV Guide, A&E, Lifetime and History Channel.  Additionally, the company has recently signed a multi-year deal with Warners’ Telepictures Productions for SallyAnn’s services as executive producer on new shows for syndicated television, the first of which, The Real, launches this fall.  The company’s production team and the casts of its shows have been nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards and People’s Choice Awards and have won Teen Choice Awards for two years in a row.

     

    495 Productions founder SallyAnn Salsano commented: “This is a huge moment for me and the entire team at 495. That said, the decision of who to partner with and where to make my new home was easy because of my long term relationships with both Cecile and Thom. They know me, they understand how I run my business and they appreciate the way I produce my shows. I started this company with nothing in 2006 and this is proof that if you love what you do, work your ass off and want it bad enough someone will notice and it will pay off.”

  • NGTI launched their Summer Holiday Special Issue

    NGTI launched their Summer Holiday Special Issue

    MUMBAI: National Geographic Traveller India (NGTI) magazine from the house of Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd, the publisher of India’s, and the world’s, most widely read travel magazine launched their Summer Holiday Special Issue. The ultimate travel companion, NGTI holiday special offers readers a buffet of ideas to plan a family holiday during summers.

     

    With focus on experiential holidays for Indian families, NGTI is the only travel magazine, which has dedicated its cover page to the kids. This summer special issue helps their readers to plan an unforgettable family holiday along with great photographs of the ultimate travel destination.The issue also features international locations that will provide the readers a global holiday experience.

     

    Manas Mohan, Publishing Director, NGTI Magazine said,”With this Summer Special issue we have focused on content that is family driven. NGTI is known for creating an experience for the family with its unique storytelling quality. This also provides a huge platform for the advertisers to reach out to its target audience. We are glad that NGTI has been enhancing, expressing and inspiring travel for Indian families. We have always emphasized on developing quality content and making it a lot more than a travel magazine. We hope that our efforts of bringing together the legacy and culture of a travel experience will be appreciated by our readers.”

     

    “The summer season is synonymous with fun and summer special issue is full of ideas for lively experiences. The holiday buzz makes us feel the need to gather some friends and take a road trip, plot a family outdoor break, even brave the heat of the jungle to see a big cat. Our suggestions for active escapes will inspire joyous vacations whose memories will last all year long. Besides, we’ve got the Nat Geo Traveller Best of the World list which features destinations, from Argentina to Oz, to hang out in 2014” says the magazine’s Editor Niloufer Venkatraman

     

    Over the years, National Geographic Traveller India has given the Indian families the best travelling experience through best photographs, stories, features and much more.

     

    So get ready to pick up your copy of National Geographic Traveller India’s new Summer Holiday Special issue and plan your getaway this summer with your family.

     

    National Geographic Traveller India’s summer holiday special issue will be available at all book stands from 1st March @ Rs 120

     

    To subscribe, log on to www.natgeotraveller.in and explore new places, read travel blogs, participate in photo contests and step into a world of inspiring travel.

  • Cineflix Rights sells programming worldwide

    Cineflix Rights sells programming worldwide

    MUMBAI: Cineflix Rights has inked a number of deals with broadcasters around the world for third-party content, including Windfall Films’ Massive Moves and Frantic Films’ The Opener.

     

    In Europe, RAI Italia went for World War II: The Last Heroes (Impossible Pictures); Plan?te in France snapped up the first two seasons of Massive Moves; and National Geographic Italy got onboard seasons one and two of The Opener.

     

    The first two seasons of The Opener will also be heading to FYI in the US, where Smithsonian picked up season one of Dangerous Flights (Pixcom Productions) and DIY purchased the first season of Massive Moves. Shaw in Canada went for the eighth season of Border Security (Seven Network).

     

    Also in Europe, Sweden’s T4 acquired the first three seasons of Murder She Solved (Force Four Entertainment/Mystique Films) and 1000 Days for the Planet (Glacialis Productions). NTV Germany pitched for The Man Who Doesn’t Breathe (Back2Back Productions), while Ireland’s TV3 procured A Gypsy Life for Me (Daisybeck Productions).

     

    Cinflix Rights also made a 100-hour agreement with Joj Slovakia for the first three seasons of The Cupcake Girls (Force Four Entertainment) as well as season one of Wives with Knives (Indigo Films). I Prima in the Czech Republic picked up 24 hours of programming, including such titles as 101 Things Removed from the Human Body (LMNO Productions) and The Day Kennedy Died (Finestripe Productions).

  • A live view from ‘above’, courtesy Nat Geo

    A live view from ‘above’, courtesy Nat Geo

    MUMBAI: If you have seen the movie Gravity then the realness that the movie gives to the space experience is something remembering lifelong. Now, one of the world’s oldest magazine’s TV channel National Geographic is all set to give the globe a view of Earth from the outer space.

     

    This March, the infotainment channel will telecast live from space a two-hour episode that will be broadcast from the $100 billion satellite station International Space Station (ISS) and Mission Control Houston which will over 170 countries. Produced by Arrow Media, Live from Space will be a ride with astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata from the ISS and astronaut Mike Massimino will be live in Houston. The innovative feature is that viewers will be able to chat via video with the astronauts too.

     

    The ISS that is situated about 400 kms above, orbits the earth every 90 minutes. NGC is promising incredible shots of the planet such as sunset, sunrise, city lights, lightning storms and shooting star.

     

    “Every day at NGC our team tries to reach for the stars. Now we are literally able to do it! We are honoured to have secured such amazing access to the station and the astronauts living there and are exhilarated by the tremendous challenge to show Earth…live,” said NGC president Howard T Owens.

     

    “We’re thrilled to be making this unique event for NGC Worldwide. The technological and logistical challenges of broadcasting live from space may be enormous, but there’s no bigger buzz than creating mind-blowing content that works in micro gravity, on the world’s largest spacecraft!,” added Arrow Media’s creative director Tom Brisley.

     

    AT $160 billion, the ISS is the most expensive object ever that has been existing for over two decades.

     

    What until now has only been used for science purposes will now be utilised for entertaining the world!