ITV

Tag: Pankaj Saxena

  • Discovery programming head Pankaj Saxena quits

    MUMBAI: Discovery Networks India VP programming Pankaj Saxena has put in his papers. Saxena quit several days ago.
     
     

    While confirming the news Aditya Tripathi who is the brand director of Discovery Travel And Living said that Saxena who had been unwell was taking a break and was exploring further options.

     

    Tripathi is now in charge of the programming for both Discovery and Animal Planet. Tripathi said, “Pankaj has had an important role in building the Discovery Brand in India. He was with us for 10 years from the very beginning. Of course at that time he did not head programming but was always been instrumental in shaping up the programming strategy.”

  • Discovery to telecast a special programme on the rapid decline of vultures

    Discovery to telecast a special programme on the rapid decline of vultures

    Discovery Channel is all set to air a special programme on India's vulture population titled The Last Flight, presenting the on-ground reality, the ramifications of vulture extinction, the investigation undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to understand the cause for the rapid decline in vulture population and the initiatives required to reverse this trend.

    The Last Flight will air on the Discovery Channel under the popular Discover India series on Saturday, 26 March at 8 pm.

    The key aspect of the programme will be the in-depth investigation undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to decipher the cause for this high mortality rate of vultures in India.

    Discovery Networks India vice president – programming Pankaj Saxena said, "The Discover India series highlights the unique aspects of India and generates high viewership across the country. But I must say that The Last Flight is, perhaps, one of the most relevant programmes that we would ever present in the series. The programme highlights a calamity that demands immediate action. I am confident that Discovery Channel, with a subscriber base of 31 million households in India alone, will be able to generate nationwide awareness about the problem and encourage necessary action."

    The Last Flight is produced by Nutan Manmohan.

  • Animal Planet ends the year with a best of package

    Animal Planet ends the year with a best of package

    MUMBAI: As 2004 comes to a close Animal Planet will feature a two hour special series on the best that it had to showcase for the year.

    This will air from 27 December to 31 December at 8 pm.. The series will include 12 of the broadcaster’s highest rated programmes.

    Viewers can savour both international and India-specific programmes, offering stories on wildlife mysteries, animals addictions, human intervention and its damaging consequences, and even animal entrapments.

    The series will also showcase episodes by animal experts, including David Attenboroughs programme on polar bears, Jeff Corwins encounters in Ranthambhore and Gujarat and John Downers celebration of animals’ inventiveness and ingenuity, informs a media release.

    Discovery Networks India VP programming Pankaj Saxena said, “Best of Animal Planet is a consequence of the incessant demand made by Indian viewers. It is a compilation of our best shows of the year, from highly acclaimed documentaries to wildlife reality TV and animal soap drama. The series is extremely entertaining while at the same time also provoking a debate on invasion of animal privacy.”

    The shows that will air in this block include

    On the Edge: Crocodile Hunter Diaries Working with Legends on 27 December at 8 pm. The programme chronicles life behind the scenes at an Australian Zoo, presenting amazing animal adventures and the zoo staffs daily encounters.

    The Jeff Corwin Experience: India on 27 December at 9:30 pm: Jeff Corwin travels from Ranthambhore to Gujarat to encounter the near-extinct Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Lion. Between these two riveting encounters, Jeff meets fascinating people and encounters other animals, including the King Cobra and the Soft-Shell Turtle.

    Animal Planet Reveals Asia: The Life of Birds: To Fly Or Not To Fly 29 December at 8 pm. Perhaps the most popular and perfectly adapted life forms on earth, Animal Planet presents dramatic images of birds, illustrating the latest research on their enduring survival spirit.

    Temple of the Tigers on 30 December at 9 pm: Temple of the Tigers is a remarkable story of a group of ten monks who have taken on the task of protecting tigers by offering them a home within the walls of their temple. This programme explores each monks life and their one-of-a-kind relationship with tigers.

    The Most Extreme on 31 December at 9 pm. This looks at how the best and worst of the human world stacks up against the residents of the animal kingdom. The journey to find the answer, however, is far from straightforward – the path twists between natural history, science, history and trivia.

  • Discovery explores a virtual world next year

    Discovery explores a virtual world next year

    MUMBAI: The Discovery Channel is looking to push the boundaries with shows that combine knowledge with entertainment. One of its major initiatives for the first quarter of 2005 is Virtual World.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on the initiative Discovery programming VP Pankaj Saxena said, “Virtual History allows viewers to watch virtual footage of historical events where no actual film exists — events that had been documented solely through verbal and written accounts, artifacts, and still photograph.

    “One episode will examine The Bomb Plot Day. It recreates the 24 hours of 20 July 1944 from the point of view of the four war leaders: Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt, Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler. There will also be a Making Of special that looks at how the filmmakers achieved the look, feel and texture of the show.”

    On that day, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg planned to kill Hitler during a meeting with a two pound explosive hidden in his briefcase. Stauffenberg leaves the room to “make a phone call.” Completely unaware of Stauffenberg’s plans, Colonel Brandt moves the briefcase out of his way — and away from Hitler. Brandt’s small act will change the course of history. It will save the Fuhrer’s life but cost him his own.

    Another show is titled Machine Gun. In this three part series history is viewed down the barrel of a gun. Social, technological and personal stories are woven together into a modern history as influenced by this weapon which had such dramatic effect in shaping the world over the past 150 tears. It is at once a story about one of the world’s deadliest inventions and a vehicle for a larger historical story – that of human power and aspiration.

    Those with a passion for vehicles can check out Ultimate Cars. Each episode will celebrate cars of a chosen category from sports cars to convertibles, from Italys glamorous Supercars to the power machines of Japan.

    A more personal show that anyone can connect with is called Human Instinct. Our instincts are long out of date – shaped for a lost, primitive world. That is why each of us can be driven to do extraordinary things, without knowing why. Only now can science begin to explain the power of these hidden forces.

    Professor Robert Winston tells the story of these urges within every one of us – the instincts to survive, have sex and compete and the story of how human instincts have helped propel us out of the animal world. This ambitious four-part series uses computer graphics, experiments and secret filming and hears the personal stories of individuals who have experienced overpowering urges to help us understand Human Instinct.
     

  • Animal Planet features special series on Indian Wildlife- ‘India Revealed’

    Animal Planet features special series on Indian Wildlife- ‘India Revealed’

    MUMBAI: Animal Planet will premiere a special series on Indian wildlife – India Revealed. The series will air from 8 November to 12 November at 10 pm daily.

    India Revealed presents a comprehensive view of Indian wildlife, featuring internationally acclaimed wildlife experts, including Valmik Thapar, Jeff Corwin and Mark O’Shea, and their encounters with Indian wildlife.

    The series will show the experts travel across India to bring viewers absorbing stories of power, fear, distrust and friendship,informs an official communique.

    Discovery Networks India vice president -programming Pankaj Saxena, said “The India Revealed series is a manifestation of the immense popularity enjoyed by Indian wildlife across the world. With contributions from both Indian and international experts, the series presents a comprehensive picture of the unique and fascinating range of Indian wildlife.”

    The schedule:
    The Natural World: Danger In Tiger Paradise will air on 8 November where the expert Valmik Thapar returns to Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, to witness Machli’s progress, a tigress he has followed for four years.

    Another programme O’Shea’s Big Adventure: In The Python’s Grip will feature on 9 November sighting Mark O’Shea who comes to India in an attempt to solve a puzzle about one of the greatest predators on the continent, the rock python. The media release says that he is also the only person in recent times to be given permission by the Indian government to handle this endangered species in the country.

    The Natural World: Warriors Of The Monkey God (aka Monkey Warriors) will telecast on 10 November. In Jodhpur, twenty-nine langur ‘gangs’ comprised of 20 or more females and their young governed by a ‘warlord’ have carved the city between themselves. These ‘warlords’ reign for three to four years before they are overthrown and a new warlord takes over the ‘gang’.

    The Jeff Corwin Experience: India will air on 11 November wherein the episode shows Jeff Corwin travel trip from Ranthambhore to Gujarat to encounter the near-extinct Bengal tiger and the less known Asiatic lion. The show will highlight his encounters with animals, including the king cobra and the soft-shell turtle.

    Lords Of The Animals: Chami & Ana, The Elephant will feature on 12 November. Having shared life for four decades, Ana, the elephant and Chami, the mahout, completely comprehend each other’s every move and mood.

    Being There: India will feature on 12 November at 10:30 pm. The show will explore India, the land of dreams and romance, of palaces and hovels, of tigers and jungles. With many religions and thousands of gods, it is today the most preferred destination for spiritual rejuvenation.
     

  • Discovery launches its first intl lifestyle channel in India

    Discovery launches its first intl lifestyle channel in India

    MUMBAI: After weeks of test runs, Discovery Networks India today announced the formal launch of Discovery Travel & Living, India’s first 24-hour international lifestyle channel. Aimed at the upper and upper-middle class audiences, the channel also marks the global launch of the company’s lifestyle portfolio. After India, the idea of Discovery’s lifestyle portfolio would be incubated for replication in other global markets in the coming years.

    Inspiring viewers to ‘get more out of life’, this stylish, premium, niche international lifestyle channel is targeted at savvy viewers with a ‘global outlook’.

    Speaking on the occasion, Discovery Communications India director marketing Aditya Tripathi said, “With the launch of Discovery Travel & Living we hope to provide the highest quality of ‘factual entertainment’ for Indians with a global outlook. The treatment of the content will be stylish, smart and aspirational.”

    Targeted at Indians with high disposable incomes and who ‘don’t live to work but work to live’ (Tripathi’s description); the channel hopes to fill a need-gap in terms of enriching their lives. Says Tripathi, “Our market research has revealed that the size of this target audience is 75 million. Our programmes will help this target audience in terms of planning their world tours, cultivating hobbies, planning beach parties and shopping for the latest designer wear, gadgets etc.”

    To further support their theory, making a presentation on how the Indian consumer has changed today, Discovery officials said that consumption no longer is just a function of income as there are 10 million credit card holders; disposable income has risen by over 270 per cent since 1990; dual income families are now a widespread urban phenomenon and there is a fundamental shift in consumption patterns of the Indian consumer.

    The channel believes that ‘Lifestyle entertainment’ is the next big trend and the channel is committed to putting in millions of dollars to develop it. The programming genres will include travel, health and well-being, food and cuisine, automotive and motoring, home design and décor, hobbies and outdoor leisure.

    Queried on whether Travel & Living would be adding on Indian programming on board in the coming months, vice-president, programming Pankaj Saxena says, “Indian programming will be introduced in 2005, which would be acquired. But our focus is on the best that the world can offer, so it’s not really just India. So, if there are things of that level happening in India those will be covered and those will also be telecast in other countries.”

    Refusing to divulge further details on the kind of programmes or production houses, Saxena says, “We are in the process of talking to some production houses.”

    Some of the programmes that are already being seen on the new channel include Celebrity Travelogues, Globetrekker, Floyd’s India, Cooking for Love (a blind date show blended with cookery), Date Patrol, Biker Build-Off, He’s Gotta Have It, Great Vacation Homes, Superhomes, Other Peoples’ Homes, While You Were Out, The Chris Lowell Show, Tim Brooke-Taylor’s Golf Clubs.

    The company expects the channel to provide a new and unique platform for advertisers by targeting an audience comprising upscale and young adults with active interests in the age group of 18-45. It is also likely to expand Discovery’s ability to attract new audiences and advertisers who have traditionally been advertising only in the print medium due to a lack of a focused platform. The channel claims that some of the largest advertisers have already signed on.

    As of now, Discovery reaches out to 35 million people in India and Discovery Travel & Living hopes to reach a subscriber base of 15-to 17 million people in a year’s time. The channel will be distributed in India by One Alliance along with the company’s two existing channels, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Though the channel will be a pay channel the subscriber price has not been announced for now.

    Preeti Vyas Giannetti has bagged the Discovery Travel & Living creative account. A high-decible marketing and promo campaign has been planned a week from now. Though Discovery officials refused to divulge more details of the campaign, it definitely promises to be one of the most high budget campaigns revolving around the punchline ‘get a life’.