ITV

Tag: original programming

  • PRODUCTION BEGINS ON DISNEY JUNIOR’S ‘MIRA, ROYAL DETECTIVE,’ A MYSTERY-ADVENTURE SERIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS INSPIRED BY THE CULTURES AND CUSTOMS OF INDIA

    PRODUCTION BEGINS ON DISNEY JUNIOR’S ‘MIRA, ROYAL DETECTIVE,’ A MYSTERY-ADVENTURE SERIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS INSPIRED BY THE CULTURES AND CUSTOMS OF INDIA

    MUMBAI: Production has begun on "Mira, Royal Detective," an animated mystery-adventure series for preschoolers slated to debut on Disney Junior channels and programming blocks around the world in 2020. Set in the magical Indian-inspired land of Jalpur, the series follows the brave and resourceful Mira, a commoner who is appointed to the role of royal detective after solving a mystery that involves saving the kingdom's young prince. The role of Mira will be voiced by 15-year-old newcomer Leela Ladnier. The announcement was made today by Joe D'Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming, Disney Junior.

    D'Ambrosia said, "We are eager to introduce kids and their families to the rich, diverse cultures and customs of India through Mira, a young girl who looks at things with her own unique lens to gain different perspectives and help others in her community. We hope that she will encourage our audience to actively engage with the inspiring world around them and appreciate the little details that make life extraordinary."

    As royal detective, Mira travels throughout the kingdom helping royals and commoners alike. Along with her friend Prince Neel, a talented inventor, creative cousin Priya, and comical mongoose sidekicks Mikku and Chikku, she will stop at nothing to solve a case, taking young viewers on adventures that highlight critical thinking and encourage deductive reasoning. Rooted in India's vibrant heritage, each episode will weave authentic music, dance and customs into two 11-minutes stories.

    In addition to Ladnier, the "Mira, Royal Detective" voice cast includes Freida Pinto ("The Path") as Queen Shanti; Hannah Simone ("New Girl") as a young commoner named Pinky; Jameela Jamil ("The Good Place") as Mira's Auntie Pushpa; Kal Penn ("Designated Survivor") and Utkarsh Ambudkar ("The Mindy Project") as mongooses Mikku and Chikku, respectively; Aasif Mandvi ("Shut Eye") as Mira's father, Sahil; Sarita Choudhury ("Homeland") as Prince Neel's Great-Aunt Rupa; Aparna Nancherla ("BoJack Horseman") as Mira's cousin Meena; Kamran Lucas (Disney's "Mech-X4") as Prince Neel; Karan Brar (Disney Channel's "BUNK'D") as Prince Veer; Karan Soni ("Deadpool") as twins Ranjeet and Manjeet; Sarayu Blue ("I Feel Bad") as the palace tailor; Parvesh Cheena ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend") and Sonal Shah ("Scrubs") as bandits, Manish and Poonam, respectively; and newcomer Roshni Edwards as Mira's cousin Priya.

    Emmy® Award-nominated Sascha Paladino ("Miles from Tomorrowland") is executive producer of the series, which was developed by Becca Topol ("Elena of Avalor") who also serves as story editor. Sue Perotto and Dorothea Schoentag (both of "Phineas and Ferb") are supervising director and art director, respectively. IW Group's Shagorika Ghosh is the series' cultural consultant. Additional consultants include Bollywood dancer and choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan ("So You Think You Can Dance") and music producer Deepak Ramapriyan ("Basmati Blues"). Emmy Award nominees Matthew Tishler ("Fancy Nancy") and Jeannie Lurie ("The Muppets") will write and produce original songs, and Amritha Vaz ("Miss India America") will serve as composer. The series is produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior.

  • Zee Anmol gets into original programming

    Zee Anmol gets into original programming

    MUMBAI: The free-to-air (FTA) general entertainment channel (GEC) – Zee Anmol, which until now aired some of the hit shows from its sister channel Zee TV, has now made its original programming debut.

     

    The channel’s new show Vim Grihani No. 1, premiered on 10 April and will be aired every Friday at 6:30 pm.

     

    “In a short while, Zee Anmol has challenged other players in the FTA genre to build a legacy of entertainment and emerge as a strong brand on television. It has touched people’s hearts through real and genuine emotions depicted in some of the best shows that Indian television has ever seen. With our first original production, Grihani No 1, Zee Anmol salutes every grihani (housewife) in India.  They have been pillars of support to everyone around them. It is an exciting show that felicitates the woman of the house by making her feel special and acknowledging her selfless contribution towards her home,” said Zee TV & FTA cluster head marketing Sorbojeet Chatterjee.

     

    Hosted by actor Ajay Singh Chaudhary, Vim Grihani No. 1 is an engagement led series revolving around one family in India in each episode. The search for Grihani No. 1 was conducted in many cities and towns in India including Deolali and Dhule in Maharashtra, Itarsi, Bhopal and Habibganj in Madhya Pradesh and Kanpur, Lucknow and Rai Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, amongst others.

     

    Viewers also get an opportunity to invite Zee Anmol to their homes to felicitate their own Grihani No. 1. Every episode has the host interacting with the homemaker and her family members where they talk about her life, her dreams and ambitions. This will be followed by one minute games and quizzes related to the family.

     

    The current lineup of programmes on the channel includes fiction and non-fiction properties from Zee TV, movies and kids’ content.

  • Scripps Networks to launch 1,200 hours of original programming at MIPCOM 2014

    Scripps Networks to launch 1,200 hours of original programming at MIPCOM 2014

    MUMBAI: Scripps Networks International that develops home, food and travel lifestyle content, announced that its newly established program sales and distribution division will introduce 1,200 hours of fresh content at MIPCOM 2014.

     

    This will include its network channels Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel. “The breadth of Scripps Networks offering includes a vibrant mix of home, food and travel content spanning culinary competition, adventure, food travelogues, home make-over, property and investment shows,” said International Program Licensing and Distribution VP Hud Woodle. “With genuine storytelling, compelling personalities and high entertainment value at the core of every show, Scripps Networks’ high-quality lifestyle and factual entertainment programming is a must-have for programmers.” He added.

     

    The following are a few key titles featured in the MIPCOM 2014 sales catalogue.

     

    Home                                                       

    TV icon William Shatner is going boldly into a brand new adventure in The Shatner Project (Scott Sternberg Productions for DIY Network, 6 x 30) – as project manager of his own remodel. He’s giving his outdated 1980s home a full makeover, from demolition to rebuilding and design to decorating.

     

    For third-generation alligator farmers Britney, Kasey and Chelsea Brooks, no task is too tough when you’re Growing Up Gator (2C Media for Great American Country, 6 x 30), whether it’s raising over 7,000 gators at their family farm to wrangling massive gators during rescue missions.

     

    A hit restoration series Salvage Dawgs (Trailblazer Studios, NC, Inc. for DIY Network, 52 x 30) sees co-owners of premier architectural salvage operation Black Dog Salvage bid on condemned homes and buildings in order to secure valuable vintage pieces to resell.

     

    Also making its market debut is the show House Hunters franchise, including hit spinoffs House Hunters International: Where Are They Now? (Leopard Films for HGTV, 10 x 30), where we revisit the most memorable families to check out their amazing renovations, and House Hunters: Off the Grid (Leopard Films for HGTV, 5 x 30), which takes house hunting to the extreme as buyers tour unconventional properties way off the beaten path.

     

    Food

    Scripps Networks’ food programme Bite This with Nadia G (Tricon Films and Television for Cooking Channel, 14 x 30) and Restaurant Redemption for Asian cuisine.(Lion TV for Cooking Channel, 26 x 30).

     

    Travel

    Scripps Networks’ travel series transport adrenaline seekers and voyeuristic travelers alike. From the depths of the jungle comes Hotel Amazon (Crazy Legs Productions for Travel Channel, 6 x 60), a fascinating look at the grueling experience of building a world-class resort in the middle of the Amazon.

     

    The ultimate house gazing road trip goes beyond the gate in Mega Mansions (Indigo Films for Travel Channel, 6 x 30), as viewers get an exclusive look at America’s most enormous and opulent mansions.

     

    Take a trip with adventure seeker Don Wildman as he explores America’s most extraordinary monuments and intriguing events and characters in Monumental Mysteries (Optomen Productions, Inc. for Travel Channel, 40 x 60).          

     

     

  • Pogo comes alive with new original programming

    Pogo comes alive with new original programming

    MUMBAI: Turner Entertainment Networks Asia’s (Tena) kids’ channel Pogo, created specifically for the Indian market, has more original programming up its sleeves this year. Game shows, sitcoms, documentaries and fiction shows is what’s on the kiddies’ channel’s agenda for 2006-07.

    What’s more, Pogo is now garnering a lot of interest from international markets as well. In April this year, Turner’s Latin American kids channel Boomerang was re-launched with the Pogo branding. While the name of the channel remains the same, a lot of elements in terms of promos and on-air look were borrowed from Pogo.

    Coming back to new original programming; taking a cue from the popularity of shows M.A.D (Music Art Dance), Bam! Bam! Bam! Gir Pade Hum, Prime Pogo and Pogo Amazing Kids Awards (2004 and 2005), the channel is now set to launch a new half hour comedy show called It’s Alive! from 21 May. The 13-episodes show, which has been produced in-house, will air Sundays at 11 am and will star Prime Pogo stars Niall and Chinu.

    What’s more, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of Sesame Street, is also slated to launch around mid-August and is likely to air from Monday to Fridays. The third edition of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards is also on the cards this year. Apart from this, a new season of M.A.D. coupled with a summer special of the same is also in the pipeline.

    “Pogo itself is an original production and we are constantly looking at innovative, smart and fun ideas that will back up the Pogo brand. The success of our original productions on Pogo has inspired us to do more such shows,” says Tena vice president creative and original content Orion Ross.

    Plans for the annual Pogo Amazing Kids Awards are also big this time round. The channel plans to film ‘amazing’ kids across the country and develop a 13-week series around the same, which will lead up to the grand finale. “This time on the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards the emphasis is going to be on the kids themselves. Sixty kids across 10 categories will be profiled. We will be finding out their stories and air them every week and towards the last two weeks before the awards, the series will be aired every night,” informs Ross.

    Viewers will also be asked to vote for their favourite ‘amazing’ kid via SMS. The winner in each category will be chosen on the basis of the votes as well as the jury for the awards. Ross says, “The aim is to build ways for viewers to be more involved in the process.”

    TURNER OPEN TO PRODUCE / COMMISSION INDIAN ANIMATION IDEAS

    Until now, Turner’s strategy has been to acquire original animation series from Indian studios and air them on their channels. Some of them are – Akbar & Birbal, The Legend of Buddha, Son of Aladdin, Tenali Rama and Ramayana – The Legend of Prince Ram.

    Now the network is planning on something big and a first of sorts. “We are open to hearing animation script ideas from individuals as well as studios in India and then develop the series for Cartoon Network and Pogo. They could be series, feature films or pre-school shows,” says Ross.

    Ross is in charge of overseeing the overall strategy for Tena’s two existing teams – the Hong Kong based Creative Services as well as the India based Original Productions. One of Ross’ mandate at Tena is to set up and manage a new Asia Pacific animation development structure in India, which will focus on new Indian animation projects.

    The network will decide whether to produce the new series in-house or commission it to Indian studios. Tena will be funding the production for the series.

    “The approach is creative driven. We are looking for the big idea in Indian animation. We are open to talking to people who have a distinct creative vision. The aim is to find the next William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Chuck Jones or Craig McCracken,” says Ross.

    However, whether the series will be solely for the Indian market or will be aired in the international markets as well is a decision the network will take at a much later stage. Ross’ 12-member team will look to set the ball rolling in this direction.

    This surely could be music to the ears of aspiring animators in India… provided they have the Big Idea!

  • AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    AOL signs deal with Clearwire for broadband

    MUMBAI: American Internet service provider AOL and Clearwire Corporation announced an agreement to offer American consumers in select markets “AOL High Speed – Powered by Clearwire.”

    Consumers will now be able to access the AOL service with high-speed wireless broadband access for $25.90 per month.

    AOL president access business Joe Redling says, “Clearwire’s wireless high-speed service brings a differentiated offering to AOL members moving to broadband. This innovative approach to broadband access offers consumers additional levels of freedom and flexibility in how and where they experience AOL’s content and services – and stands to be a promising feature for new consumer segments.”

    Clearwire’s co-president and chief strategy officer Ben Wolff says, “This truly complementary relationship offers customers access to AOL’s premium safety and security features and content with a simple, fast wireless connection.

    “Clearwire’s reliable wireless broadband service combined with AOL’s wide array of content and services, presents an appealing option for online users to leverage the power of the Internet.”

    Key features of the AOL High Speed powered by Clearwire include:

    – Wireless High Speed: In addition to high speed, wireless access offers mobility, freedom and flexibility.

    – Fast and Easy Setup: Plug-and-play installation makes establishing a wireless Internet connection quick and easy.

    – Customer Service: Help that’s available 24/7, including help via phone, e-mail or instant message.

    – Safety: A comprehensive set of safety and security tools available to keep users safer against viruses, spyware, identity theft, and other online threats for no additional charge.

    – Content: AOL-exclusive and original programming including commercial free radio, streaming video and music are all more enjoyable than ever.

    – Storage: Additional benefits like unlimited email and picture storage on AOL.

    This service connects to the Internet using licensed spectrum and eliminates the confines of traditional cable or phone wiring. A small wireless modem makes connectivity easily portable and movable within the Clearwire coverage area, allowing customers to use the service throughout their home, office or favourite local coffee house.