ITV

Tag: Star World

  • Star World celebrates world of ‘Heroes’ from Wednesday

    Star World celebrates world of ‘Heroes’ from Wednesday

    MUMBAI: English general entertainment channel Star World will kick off the supernatural show Heroes from Wednesday 24 January at 9 pm.

    It starts with a question: Are there people with super powers living amongst us? A genetics professor attempts to solve the problem that his father has been struggling with since he started the project — one which has led to his disappearance.

    Meanwhile, a 30-year-old male nurse tries to convince his politician brother that he can fly. A high school cheerleader learns that she is totally indestructible. A Las Vegas stripper discovers that her mirror image has a secret. A fugitive from justice continues to baffle authorities who twice have been unable to contain him. Finally a young man in Japan develops a way to time travel through sheer will power.
    When they all come together, these ordinary people with extraordinary abilities will realize that their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world.

    The show’s executive producer Tim Kring created this cult hit based on comic-lore, making it easy to compare Heroes to Smallville, X-Men and even the drama Lost. But it’s his firm belief that comparisons will go away after watching the series. He says, “The great thing about this premise (people all over the world developing these abilities) is that we can always introduce new characters. The ‘origin story’ is a lot of fun to watch, so we are planning to give audiences that on a regular basis. Some characters you may love could suddenly lose their powers, or die. There’s no telling.”

  • Warner creates animated version of ‘Smallville’ for mobile

    Warner creates animated version of ‘Smallville’ for mobile

    MUMBAI: The Warner Bros. Television Group in the US and The CW Network have teamed up with mobile firm Sprint for a new shortform animated wireless series based upon the drama Smallville. In India Smallville airs on Star World.

     
    Smallville Legends: The Oliver Queen Chronicles is a six-episode animated wireless series created for the mobile and broadband environment. It premiered a few days ago on the Sprint TV mobile video service.

    A new episode will launch every Thursday and remain exclusive to Sprint for the six-week duration of the series. After Sprint’s exclusive window, the entire wireless animated series will be available for streaming at www.CWTV.com, the online home of The CW Network from 22 February 2007.

    The initiative marks the first time Warner Bros. and The CW have created original animated content as a marketing platform to help drive tune-in for the Smallville television series.

     
    Warner Bros. Television Group executive VP, worldwide marketing Lisa Gregorian says, “Our goal at Warner Bros. Television is to look for unique, innovative ways to entertain and engage our fans, resulting in a deeper connection to our shows and providing value to our broadcast partners.

    The producers of Smallville recently introduced the new character of Oliver Queen, who arrives in Smallville to continue his covert quest for justice in the guise of the super hero Green Arrow. Possessing phenomenal skills with a high-tech bow and arrow, Queen learns Clark has super powers and tries to recruit him in his current mission against Lex Luthor, Queen’s former schoolmate. It is the fascinating back story to this new plotline that unfolds in the animated wireless series Smallville Legends: The Oliver Queen Chronicles. Viewers will go on a journey back in time to experience the pivotal events that led to a young Oliver Queen becoming Green Arrow.

  • Disney’s Ugly Betty sits pretty as No.1 show in NZ

    Disney’s Ugly Betty sits pretty as No.1 show in NZ

    MUMBAI: The 2007 Golden Globes is an affirmation of the phenomenal popularity of Walt Disney Company’s Ugly Betty. Riding high on all the adulation, the series has just got a fillip as it premiered in New Zealand. The series, aired on TVNZ’s TV2 on 16 January at 8:30 pm, was the highest rated show of the night.

    The show was telecast in New Zealand a day after its awards romp at the Globes. Attracting an average audience of 613,600 viewers, the series captured a remarkable 18.58 per cent rating share in age group 18-39. Similar to its performance in the US, it was the nation’s female viewership that drove a massive 70 per cent share of its viewership.

    “We couldn’t be more pleased with Ugly Betty’s performance in New Zealand,” commented BVITV’s senior vice president and management director in Asia Pacific Steve Macallister. “We are confident that this endearing and universal fish-out-of-water tale will continue to warm the hearts of viewers as it launches across the region.”

    l In Asia Pacific, Ugly Betty has already been licensed by The Walt Disney Company’s Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) to ten broadcasters. TVNZ was the first to premiere in the region. The next launch dates across the region include Korea (KBS) on 3 Feb, Singapore (MediaCorp TV) on 5 Feb, Malaysia (8TV) on 6 Feb and Hong Kong (TVB Pearl) on 15 March. Australia (Seven Network), pan-regional (STAR World), India (STAR India), Korea (CJ Media Channel CGV) and Fiji (Fiji TV) have also licensed the series with air dates not yet announced.

    On 15 January Ugly Betty received a Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy with series star America Ferrera taking home the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical.

    Ugly Betty (Touchstone Television) is the number one new comedy of the 2006-07 television season with both total viewers and adults 18-49 in the US. Ugly Betty has greatly improved the time period for ABC, nearly doubling its year-ago delivery in both total viewers and adults 18-49. The series was launched in the UK on Friday 5 January with the highest premiere ratings for a US comedy on Channel 4 in 10 years.

    The series is licensed by Disney’s Buena Vista international Television (BVITV).

  • Disney’s Ugly Betty sits pretty as No.1 show in NZ

    Disney’s Ugly Betty sits pretty as No.1 show in NZ

    MUMBAI: The 2007 Golden Globes is an affirmation of the phenomenal popularity of Walt Disney Company’s Ugly Betty. Riding high on all the adulation, the series has just got a fillip as it premiered in New Zealand. The series, aired on TVNZ’s TV2 on 16 January at 8:30 pm, was the highest rated show of the night.

    The show was telecast in New Zealand a day after its awards romp at the Globes. Attracting an average audience of 613,600 viewers, the series captured a remarkable 18.58 per cent rating share in age group 18-39. Similar to its performance in the US, it was the nation’s female viewership that drove a massive 70 per cent share of its viewership.

    “We couldn’t be more pleased with Ugly Betty’s performance in New Zealand,” commented BVITV’s senior vice president and management director in Asia Pacific Steve Macallister. “We are confident that this endearing and universal fish-out-of-water tale will continue to warm the hearts of viewers as it launches across the region.”

    l In Asia Pacific, Ugly Betty has already been licensed by The Walt Disney Company’s Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP) to ten broadcasters. TVNZ was the first to premiere in the region. The next launch dates across the region include Korea (KBS) on 3 Feb, Singapore (MediaCorp TV) on 5 Feb, Malaysia (8TV) on 6 Feb and Hong Kong (TVB Pearl) on 15 March. Australia (Seven Network), pan-regional (STAR World), India (STAR India), Korea (CJ Media Channel CGV) and Fiji (Fiji TV) have also licensed the series with air dates not yet announced.

    On 15 January Ugly Betty received a Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy with series star America Ferrera taking home the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical.

    Ugly Betty (Touchstone Television) is the number one new comedy of the 2006-07 television season with both total viewers and adults 18-49 in the US. Ugly Betty has greatly improved the time period for ABC, nearly doubling its year-ago delivery in both total viewers and adults 18-49. The series was launched in the UK on Friday 5 January with the highest premiere ratings for a US comedy on Channel 4 in 10 years.

    The series is licensed by Disney’s Buena Vista international Television (BVITV).

  • ‘American Idol’ sets a ratings record on Fox

    ‘American Idol’ sets a ratings record on Fox

    MUMBAI: American Idol is going from strength to strength.

    The sixth season premiere of US broadcaster Fox’s music based reality show was the most-watched in its six-year history, drawing an estimated 37.3 million viewers according to preliminary ratings from Nielsen Media Research. In India the show airs on Star World.

    This represents a five per cent increase over last year’s record premiere audience of 35.5 million, making it the best debut for the show ever for Fox.

    As has been the case in the past American Idol, which gives viewers the chance to pick the finalists and winner, began as usual with scenes from nationwide auditions. The early rounds feature both promising singers and those who serve as targets for acerbic judge Simon Cowell before they are booted out.

  • ‘Koffee with Karan’ to simulcast on Star One, World

    ‘Koffee with Karan’ to simulcast on Star One, World

    MUMBAI: Attempting to aggregate eyeballs, Star is bringing back the second season of filmmaker Karan Johar’s candid talk show Koffee with Karan on two of its upscale channels.

    The show will kick off on 11 February at 9 pm every Sunday and be simulcast on Star World and Star One.

    “Given its huge popularity, the show will for the first time be aired across our two channels Star One and Star World. Koffee with Karan has just the right mix of fun and excitement coupled with Johar’s own unique style. The show became a topic for coffee table discussions for everyone across the nation and we are delighted to have it back,” said Star Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair.

    Star One is clearly planning to evolve a time band strategy, hoping to navigate eyeballs from Colgate Maxfresh Antakshari at 8 pm to Koffee… that will follow on the Sunday line up. The musical talent hunt show Antakshari will be aired on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the channel.

    Along with the change in sets and look of the show, another addition is the title sponsorship deal that has been bagged by DTH service provider Tata Sky. Star Group owns 20 per cent in the DTH venture.

    Star has roped in PepsiCo, Colgate, HLL, Candila Healthcare and HDFC as associate sponsors, said Star India executive vice president and head, interactive media Ajay Vidyasagar.

    A SOL production, Johar will kick of the first episode with his three personal favourites Kajol, Rani and Shahrukh. Most of the second season episodes will consist of “celeb combos,” from a mix of entertainment, sport and corporate backgrounds.

    “We will have some rather interesting matches such as Mallika Sherawat and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Vijay Mallya and Shobha De,” Johar said while addressing the press on Friday.

    The only episode having a single celebrity will be with Hollywood actor Richard Gere. “I have tried to make the show more irreverent, more tongue in cheek, more fun… and I am sure everyone will have fun watching it. The guests on my show will include a lot of my friends from the first season but in unusual combinations and will also feature big names from the corporate and sports world. I am sure that the show will recreate the same magic, as it did in the first season,” said Johar.

  • New season of ‘American Idol’ to hit Star World on 17 January

    New season of ‘American Idol’ to hit Star World on 17 January

    MUMBAI: Star World is set to kick off a brand new season of the musical talent hunt show that has become a worldwide phenomenon, American Idol on 17 January. Slated to premiere excusively on the channel, the first episode will see a two night, four hour event beginning, direct off satellite at 8 pm.
    Apart from the standard trio of judges, guest judges for the first leg of auditions will include Olivia Newton John, Carole Bayer and Jewel. The show will air every Wednesday and Thursday at 8 pm and Thursdays and Fridays at 1:30 am and 10 am, respectively.

    Judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell will be back once again to bring their brand of expert advice to participants. From thousands of hopefuls, and a grueling audition process, only 24 will be picked to go onto the semi- finals, and eventually, only one can win a much sought after record contract and the title of American Idol.

    Auditions for the competition began in August and swept through seven cities across the United States. Tens of thousands of would be idols from across the country showed up for what was the biggest audition so far, and the preliminary reports are that the talent this year will definitely not disappoint, informs an official release.

    With just under 43 million viewers and over 63 million votes during last year’s finale, American Idol was America’s number one rated show for the second year in a row. With local spin-offs in 30 different countries, the Idol phenomenon has taken the world by storm, each year gaining more momentum and fanfare as it determines the next big icon in music, adds the release.

    American Idol Alumni have also received Grammy nods with eleven Grammy nominations within the past three years, two of which were won by the first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson.

  • Star World to telecast ‘Golden Globes’ live on 16 January

    Star World to telecast ‘Golden Globes’ live on 16 January

    MUMBAI: Star World is ready to kick off the year with the live telecast of the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards on 16 January at 6.30 am and a prime – time special telecast at 8 pm.

    This year the film that that leads the race as the most nominated film overall is Babel, which receives seven nods, including one for Best Motion Picture (Drama). Clint Eastwood has drawn dual director nods for his World War II epics Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, while Leonardo DiCaprio grabs two nominations for his starring roles in The Departed and Blood Diamond.

    The British comedy actor Sacha Baron Cohen is nominated Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) with his controversial comedy film, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which will also compete with The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, Little Miss Sunshine and Thank You for Smoking for the award of Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical). Beyoncé Knowles received a nod for Best Actress (Comedy or Musical) for Dreamgirls, while Jennifer Hudson, the American Idol runner-up turned Golden Globe front-runner, received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Comedy or Musical), informs and official release.

    For television, Heroes, the brand new drama series, has been nominated for two awards – Best TV Series (Drama) and Best Supporting Actor (Drama). Masi Oka, the Japanese actor who propelled his way from anonymity into one of the most beloved characters of the show, will compete with veteran character actors like Jeremy Irons and Jeremy Piven, for the acting award.

    Apart from Heroes, another brand new series Ugly Betty is also generating almost the same amount of attentions, receiving two nods – for Best TV Series (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actress for America Ferrera’s leading role. The other hot newcomer is 30 Rock, for which Alec Baldwin has been nominated for the award of Best Actor (Comedy or Musical). He is competing against Zach Braff (Scrub), Steve Carrell (The Office), Jason Lee (My Name is Earl) and Tony Shalhoub (Monk).

    Also in the centre of the Golden spotlight is Grey’s Anatomy. The medical drama has received four nominations, including Best TV Series (Drama). Patrick Dempsey is nominated for Best Actor, when Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigel receive nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Last year’s winner of Best TV Series (Comedy or Musical), Desperate Housewives, is back again this year to do battle with Entourage, The Office, Ugly Betty and Weeds, adds the release.

    The evening will welcome star-studded presenters like Reese Witherspoon, Felicity Huffman, Salma Hayek, Ben Stiller and Justin Timberlake, George Clooney, Rachel Weisz, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Stamos, Cameron Diaz, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hilary Swank, James Woods amongst others.

    Warren Beatty will receive this years’ Cecil B. DeMile Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who organizes the event, for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment field. The Golden Globes honour outstanding achievement in both motion pictures and television, making it one of the few ceremonies to cover both industries.

    The telecast for the same will follow the schedule below:
    – 16 January at 9am HKT (Live), 8pm HKT (prime-time special telecast)
    – 17 January at 00:20am and 11am
    – 21 January at 12pm (repeat).
     

  • ‘The Simpsons’ ring in 2007 with New Year resolutions

    ‘The Simpsons’ ring in 2007 with New Year resolutions

    MUMBAI: The characters of the popular television show The Simpsons have announced their New Year resolutions. In India the show airs on Star World. In the US Fox will air new episodes from 7 January 2007.

    Homer’s resolve is to lose 10 pounds, and then gain it back by Valentines Day.

    Marge’s resolve is to finally learn how to make pancakes that dont stick to the pan. Bart helped me come up with that one.

    Krusty says that in 2007, she promises not to keep using the same old jokes she has been telling since 1961.

    Barney resolves to quit drinking coffee. It leaves less room for beer.

  • Star World kicks off the New Year with ‘Falcom Beach’

    Star World kicks off the New Year with ‘Falcom Beach’

    MUMBAI: English general entertainment channel Star World kicks off 2007 with the show Falcon Beach.

    Every summer, the sleepy New England town of Falcon Beach ignites, and the surf and sand aren’t the only things heating up. When the townies and the rich kids who summer at Falcon Beach collide, the sparks fly. The rest of the year, they live in different worlds, but come summer they share a strip of beach where anything can happen. That’s the thing about Falcon Beach. Anything is possible. But somebody’s bound to get burned.

    The show kicks off on 2 January 2007 at 8 pm.People fall in love, fall out of love, get into trouble and take risks they never thought they would. For a group of friends and the outsiders they meet, this summer is about holding onto the sun and fun as long as they can… because the future is right around the corner and it’s hard to know what you want or what you should do. For now, they’re making the most of every minute while it lasts. There are no right answers, just the endless possibilities of summer. What does that mean for the dreamers and the schemers, the lovers and doubters, the people tied to the past and the ones trying to break free from it?

    The townies are Jason Tanner, a local wakeboard jock whose father died when he was just a kid, Tanya , Jason’s childhood sweetheart who has just returned after a four-year modeling stint in Europe, and Danny, Jason’s best friend, a goofy arcade manager.

    The cottagers are Paige Bradshaw, a spoiled and snobby Toronto rich girl who wants nothing more than to be doing an internship at her father’s big corporation in Toronto rather than be dragged to her mother’s childhood memory cove, Lane Bradshaw, Paige’s conceited and self-destructive brother, a coke addict and dealer, and Erin, who comes to Falcon Beach every summer to be a lifeguard at the beach.