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Tag: SAARC

  • American agency CAA sets foot in India through JV with Kwan

    MUMBAI: After IMG and Platinum Rye Entertainment, Los Angeles-based top talent management agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has set foot in the Indian market through a joint-venture with Mumbai-based celebrity and sports management agency Kwan Entertainment.

    The JV will represent local talent in India and the SAARC nations to create global opportunities for clients in the areas of motion pictures and television (including packaging and sales), music, commercial endorsements, sports consulting, licensing and merchandising, live events, and business development.

    CAA‘s India entry was only a matter of time as the agency had set the stage in February by signing Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra. Its Indian roster also includes Golden Globe-nominated director Shekhar Kapur.

    The development comes close on the heels of another American agency Platinum Rye Entertainment picking 50 per cent stake in Mahesh Bhupathi-promoted Globosport‘s Brand Advisory Business.

    Earlier, New York-based fashion, sports and talent management company IMG Worldwide had entered into a 50/50 joint-venture with India‘s biggest business house Reliance Industries to form IMG Reliance.

    The JV will be led by CAA‘s David Taghioff and Caleb Franklin, along with KWAN CEO and MD Anirban Das Blah and COO Indranil Das Blah. The new company, with more than 60 employees, will be based in Mumbai, with offices in Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
    Anirban Das Blah was formerly with Globosport as its chief executive officer and has been credited with setting up the agency successfully. After quitting Globosport, Anirban started out on his own with KWAN along with Indranil Das Blah.

    CAA president Richard Lovett said, “India‘s robust entertainment industry offers CAA KWAN tremendous opportunities for talent across multiple platforms. In a very short period of time, KWAN has intelligently scaled and diversified their business to maximize this thriving marketplace for their clients. KWAN‘s deep network of relationships, local-market knowledge, and collaborative business philosophy make them a powerful partner in furthering CAA‘s existing business in India and providing our clients with more opportunities.”

    Blah said, “We believe that the combination of CAA‘s experience, influence, and expertise, with KWAN‘s extensive knowledge of the Indian entertainment industry, will enable us to provide an unmatched spectrum of services for our clients.”

  • Wizcraft sets foot in Sri Lanka

    MUMBAI: Communication and event management company Wizcraft International Entertainment Building has expanded into Sri Lanka in keeping with spreading its business across Asia.

    The company has entered into a joint venture with Sri Lankan events company Event Concepts, which is a subsidiary company of Green Lanka Group, to form Wizconcept Events and Entertainment Private Limited.

    The JV will be based out of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

    With this move, Wizcraft now has full-fledged offices in Singapore, Dubai, Muscat and Sri Lanka and Wizcraft representatives in Los Angeles, UK and other parts of the world.

    Wizcraft International director Sabbas Joseph said, “We had a wonderful experience when we worked with Event Concepts during the IIFA Weekend in Colombo in 2010 and on other occasions. Wizcraft believes in creating experiences not just events and partnering with the very best in the business. While we already have a presence in Sri Lanka, we felt that partnering with Event Concepts, an organization that shared our vision and drive would only strengthen that presence. ”

    Wizcraft International and Event Concepts have decided to join forces and revolutionise the events space in Sri Lanka.

    Speaking about the new liaison with Wizcraft Green Lanka Group, joint managing director Kushani Nanayakkara said, “Wizcraft is the largest entertainment company in South Asia. I believe that both companies share a passion for creating spectacular events and this partnership will lead to a revolution in the events sector in Sri Lanka.”

    From its inception in 2006, Event Concepts have aimed to be the leading provider of event solutions to the entertainment sector in Sri Lanka. Having seen considerable success on the island, they expanded their reach to Dubai and London, creating a range of large scale events locally and internationally.

    Event concept has executed several large events including the SAARC Conference dinner, Mihin Lanka launch in Singapore, high end fashion events with reputed international designers, live concerts, cultural events at the SAARC conference and a range of events during the IIFA weekend.

    India’s largest global event, which was held in Colombo in 2010, Event Concept has also paved an avenue in distributing blockbuster films in Sri Lanka challenging the status quo. The two companies will now come together to create Wizconcept Events & Entertainment Private Limited.

  • Bangladesh lifts 39-year old ban on Indian films

    Bangladesh lifts 39-year old ban on Indian films

    MUMBAI: In a welcome sign, the Bangladeshi High Court has lifted the 39-year old ban on Indian film exhibition in the country.


    Expressing his happiness at the move of the Bangladeshi High Court, producer Mukesh Bhatt said, “That‘s great news! This move will provide a death knell to the pirates there who make merry by selling the latest Bollywood fare.”


    “We were always of the view that there should be mutual coordination between all SAARC countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan Maldives and Nepal). Bangladesh and India can be of good use to each other by mutual coordination. Who knows, one day we might see a joint Indo-Bangla film being rolled out,” Bhatt added.
     
    After Eid-Ul-Fitr festival that ends on 10 September, cinemas in Bangladesh will start screening Indian films. This will start with the release of three Bengali films – Jour, Badla and Sangram, that are currently awaiting approval from the Bangladesh Censor Board.


    Later, Bollywood‘s biggest hits including Sholay, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Dhoom:2, Don, Wanted and 3 Idiots would be exhibited.


    The Bangladesh Cinema Halls Owners Association has welcomed the move by saying that the Court‘s decision was “the best thing to have happened” to the country‘s cinemas. Cinema hall owners have expressed hope that they would be able to start showing new Indian films shortly.

  • Telecomm ’07 core committee narrows down on themes, issues

    Telecomm ’07 core committee narrows down on themes, issues

    NEW DELHI: The second core committee meeting of the Telecomm 2007, held on Friday, has narrowed down the theme of this year’s Summit and Exhibition (November1-3, Mumbai) as either “Role of telecom and IT: changing lifestyles”, or “Role of telecom and IT as economic multiplier.”

    The theme, either way, would be consumer-centric. This is a broad consensus that emerged at the meeting, which also decided on having eight conference sessions.

    These would be E-governance (including education, health, etc.); two sessions on the more complex issues of New Generation Network and WiMax; another two sessions on the emerging technology of IPTV / mobile TV, with emphasis on content provider; spectrum and infrastructure sharing; need for a new telecom policy initiative; and investment opportunities and challenges in the sectors.

    The meeting, chaired by former BSNL CMD Prithipal Singh, has sent the recommendations to the chairperson, who will finalise the issues and the main theme.

    Most of the speakers followed the initial argument of Satya Narayan Gupta, chief regulatory advisor (SAARC region) of BT Global Services, who said that the theme has been more or less settled by the government, with the I&B minister’s slogans of 2007: Year of Broadband and Trai’s slogan of 2007: Year of the Consumer.

    What emerged at the Core Committee meeting, in which indiantelevision.com was also an invitee, is a fair merger of the two slogans, as is reflected in the theme as well as the special attention, in the form double sessions, for the topics of NGN and WiMax and two for IPTV and mobile TV.

    There was considerable discussion on the lack of enough data and services not reaching the people in the languages they understand. In fact, one speaker pointed out that the Edusat, created at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore, is yet to achieve its basic targets.

    Indra Mohan, president of India-tech, an industry association for international techno-economic cooperation, said that there was need for technology that can bridge the two Indias: urban and rural.

    In fact, Sanjeev Kumar Seth, Deputy Director General (Commercial), BSNL, bluntly asserted that all the talk about teledensity of 11 in India is a distorted image, and especially in rural India, it will not be more than 2.

    NK Mohapatra of Midas Communication Technologies Pvt Ltd said there is a failure in adequate data generation, and held that in the absence of a proper data delivery system, telecom would become a bottleneck.

    Mohaopatra also raised the important point of why financing agencies are not investing in telecom infrastructure business. He said that these institutions have shown a remarkable reluctance in investing, because they must have realised that the returns are much too low.

    Mohapatra raised the issue of ferreting out what ails investment, and this was supported by many industry leaders attending the meeting, leading to the decision on a full session on challenges and opportunities in investment in the sector.

    Prithipal Singh pointed out also to the vast expansion of the telecom sector, and yet, stressed that there were too many problems in customers getting adequate service. “The mobile service quality in the second phase of the mobile sector growth is not at all what the first phase had given,” he said.

    The organisers also announced the rates for sponsorship in four categories: Diamond (Rs seven lakh); platinum (Rs 4.5 lakh); gold (Rs 3’5 lakh) and silver (three lakh).

    The organisers have asked the participants to give written notes on specific topics under the issues for discussion at the conference, and also suggest names of the experts who would head the various discussions.

  • BBC, Ficci strategic partners in Mumbai Saarc biz meet

    BBC, Ficci strategic partners in Mumbai Saarc biz meet

    NEW DELHI: BBC World, the BBC’s international 24-hour news and information channel will be the official media partner for the second SAARC Business Leaders Conclave, being hosted on 17 and 18 February in Mumbai, a company statement said today.

    The conclave organised by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce will see BBC World and Ficci as strategic partners, providing a platform for global debate, dialogue and discussion.

    Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Foreign Affairs of India, will inaugurate the SAARC Business Leaders Conclave 2007.

    The two-day event will witness participation from eminent corporate, government and media personnel from across the sub-continent.

    Among those addressing the conclave are Dasho Ugen Tsechup Dorji, President, SCCI; Syed Yawar Ali, Chairman, Nestle, Pakistan;. Alan Winters, Director- Development Research Group, The World Bank and Najam Sethi, Daily Times, Pakistan.

    On February18, BBC World will organise a debate: “Is a South Asian economic union necessary for economic growth in South Asian nations?”

    The debate will be moderated by BBC World’s business correspondent, Karishma Vaswani with Vicki Treadell, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, Mumbai and Anand Giridharadas, South Asia Correspondent, International Herald Tribune, among others taking part in the panel discussions.

    Vaishali Sharma, head of marketing communication, BBC World, India, says, “As a leading international news channel, we are proud to associate with Ficci in this endeavour to encourage regional economic cooperation through the SAARC business leaders conclave, as a result providing value to our stakeholders.”

    Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, Ficci says, “SAARC Business Leaders Conclave is an attempt by the private sector of SAARC towards realising the aspirations of South Asia’s economic integration.

    “The Conclave emphasises deeper Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for creating a platform to address the common challenges that South Asia is facing. Ficci and SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) are delighted that BBC World is partnering with us in this unique enterprise of thought leadership.”

    The first SAARC Business Leaders Conclave (SBLC) in 2005 was held at a time of when SAARC countries stood at the threshold of a new decade of their existence.

    The conclave provided a unique platform to debate the gains made in regional cooperation during its first two decades and to underline that efforts must continue to free South Asia from poverty, hunger and other forms of deprivation which present a daunting challenge.

    The 2007 conclave will reinforce this process through its two-day session theme – Regional Cooperation: A Springboard for Growth and Job Creation.

  • Qualcomm to host ‘Brew 2006’ India

    Qualcomm to host ‘Brew 2006’ India

    MUMBAI: Qualcomm Incorporated a developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and mobile data solutions, has announced that it will host the second annual Brew Developers Conference – India.

    The conference will be held in Mumbai at The ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton on 29 November.

    The theme for this year’s conference ‘Brew Your Way’, is about discovering the limitless possibilities of the Brew solution. Targeted toward the wireless community in India, Brew 2006 – India will focus on bringing together distinguished members of the industry, both from within the country and around the world, asserts an official release.

    Qualcomm India and SAARC president Kanwalinder Singh said, “Last year, Brew 2005 – India was a huge success and was attended by more than 250 industry professionals, including leading operators and developers. Encouraged by the tremendous response to last year’s event, Qualcomm is excited to once again host the conference for India’s growing wireless community.”

    “Following a year of notable milestones, deployments and successes for the worldwide Brew community, this conference promises to reflect India’s distinct perspective on the progress of data services, as well as potential new trends within the industry,” Qualcomm India senior director sales and business development Vishal Gupta added.

    Brew subscribers would benefit from several offerings, which include: uiOne for rich, integrated and dynamic user experiences with fast access to high revenue services on wireless devices; deliveryOnefor differentiated and tightly integrated, operator-managed support and delivery of advanced wireless data content and services; and marketOnefor a quick-to-market, hosted, scalable content delivery service that includes media titles, flexible management and monetization, content provider settlement and business intelligence services.

    Qualcomm offers this comprehensive set of Brew offerings to meet the needs of companies delivering mobile products and services around the world, adds the release.

  • SAARC nations to evolve strategy to exchange information during calamities

    SAARC nations to evolve strategy to exchange information during calamities

    MUMBAI: The Press Information Bureau additional principal information officer B S Chauhan will be heading the Indian delegation at the Third Conference of Editors and Working Journalists of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries at Male. On the agenda is SAARC countries evolving a strategy to exchange information on media usage during calamities

    The prime criteria is that reaching out is a must in disseminating critical information for those in the concerned affected areas.

    India has reiterated that SAARC Nations should make special efforts through media so that the people, especially women and children of these areas can be brought closer to the mainstream.

    With a view to reach out to people affected by terrorist acts and hilly terrain in India, Chauhan emphasised that radio coverage should be strengthened to reach the affected zone, informs an official release.

    Sharing the experience of India on media management during Tsunami crisis, he said, all stations of All India Radio in southern states of India and East Coast including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where continuously broadcasting information on the developing situations in the affected areas are based on live inputs by districts and State authorities from different locations.

    Radio and TV stations also broadcast information about relief measures like helplines and measures to combat epidemics. He said that, the media must be involved as a participatory agency which combines the media, government officials, government multimedia implementing agencies, NGOs, public opinion representatives and the beneficiaries.

    Apprising the member countries of transparency measures being taken by India, Chauhan said India had recently adopted a legislation in Parliament relating to the Right to Information (RTI). The RTI Act is a major stride in further increasing transparency in the country and is expected to go a long way towards making officials more responsive to people’s urges articulated through the media. This is an idea, which the other countries in SAARC region may like to emulate.

    SAARC is an association of eight countries of South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan,Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The two-day conference is being attended by the representatives of the SAARC countries except Nepal.