ITV

Tag: Stephen Fry

  • 70th British Academy Film Awards ’17 to air on Zee Studio & HD

    MUMBAI: Zee Studio, the English Entertainment movie channel, is all set to premiere the most awaited award night of the year, the 70th British Academy Film Awards 2017 on 13 February from 9pm onwards.

    British Academy Film Awards stand amongst the highest honors in the world of cinema to honor the best British and international contributions to films. What makes the awards night further special? The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton will attend the prestigious award ceremony this year.

    The awards ceremony will be hosted by the perennial actor/comedian Stephen Fry. The star studded night with attendance of Hollywood biggies will be held at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

    La La Land has the most nominations in 11 categories including the top 4 categories of best film, best actor and actress in a lead role and best director. The other films Arrival and Nocturnal Animals followed with nine nominations each.

  • BAFTA to air on dittoTV! on 13 Feb

    MUMBAI: As the global movie industry’s season for applause and hurrahs begins, the highly anticipated 70th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) are set to hit television screens on 13 February at 9 PM. dittoTV subscribers on the go can watch this much awaited event live on Zee Studio on their smartphones and any other internet enabled devices.

    The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) honor the best of international and British contributions to the film industry and host an annual show to present these awards. Hosted by acclaimed comedian, actor and presenter Stephen Fry, this year’s ceremony is set to take place at London’s famous Royal Albert Hall, with ‘La La Land’ topping the charts with nominations in 11 categories. Apart from this Ryan Gosling-Emma Stone starrer, also leading the nominations are top notch contenders like ‘Arrival’ , ‘Nocturnal Animals’.

    The event also features other top nominations such as ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’ for Outstanding British Film, an expected deadlock for the Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role between Emily Blunt for her role in ‘The Girl On The Train’ and Emma Stone in ‘La La Land’, and between Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Nocturnal Animals’ and the heart-throb Ryan Gosling for the Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

    Looking forward to the event, Z5 Business Head of Digital – India Archana Anand says, “We are very excited to bring the 70th British Academy Film Awards to Zee Studio viewers on our platform dittoTV. Cinema fans across the globe eagerly await this extravagant awards ceremony and are particularly excited this year with the huge favourite ‘La La Land’ leading the nominations. dittoTV subscribers can catch all the glamour, excitement and red carpet moments live as it happens on their internet enabled devices even if they are on the go or don’t have easy access to a TV set.”

    The Awards air on television at 13 February, 9 PM onwards on Zee Studio, and dittoTV subscribers can watch it on their Android or iOS phones or any other internet connected devices. Subscription charge for dittoTV start from INR 20 per month.

  • 24: Live Another Day debuts on AXN starting 9 May

    24: Live Another Day debuts on AXN starting 9 May

    MUMBAI: It was first reported in May last year that American broadcast network, Fox, was considering a 24 limited event television series based on a concept by EMMY Award winning writer, Howard Gordon. Not long after, Gordon had issued a statement saying, “Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, who has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can be rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back.” 

     

     Indeed, the much-loved lead protagonist of 24 will be back with 24: Live Another Day, scheduled to premiere on AXN on 9 May, within the same week as its US telecast.

     

     AXN India programming head Arpit Mankar, confirmed the development. Having aired all eight seasons of 24 as well as the television film, 24: Redemption in India, the channel had acquired the rights to broadcast 24: Live Another Day and anymore 24 series if produced early on this year.

     

    Coming to the limited series, it is set and shot in London and follows the exploits of agent Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), four years after the events of season 8, as he once again risks life and limb to thwart a global disaster.  

     

     Tracking the federal fugitive on the run are CIA head Steve Harris played by Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order); resourceful but ruthless CIA agent Kate Morgan played by Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, Dexter); smart and sophisticated CIA computer techie Jordan Reed played by Giles Matthey (Jobs); and sharp but arrogant field operative Erik Ritter played by Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Wire).

     

    Calling the shots is James Heller played by William Devane (The Dark Knight Rises), now president of the United States. Heller is flanked by his chief of staff, Mark Boudreau, played by Tate Donovan (Damages, Hostages), who is married to Heller’s daughter and Bauer’s former flame, Audrey, played by Kim Raver (Revolution).

     

     Meanwhile, Bauer’s confidante, Chloe O’Brian, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub (Firewall), is now working underground with high-profile hacker Adrian Cross played by Michael Wincott (The Crow). 

     

     The guest stars on 24: Live Another Day include Golden Globe Award winner Judy Davis (Life with Judy Garland), Golden Globe Award nominee Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland, Bones) and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones). Bauer has just a day to prevent an unthinkable terrorist attack that could change the world forever…

     

    What are AXN India’s expectations from the limited series? “We expect the show to get new viewers. There are two reasons for this: a) 24 now is a more recognised brand in India, thanks to the local version. b) We expect the younger generation of today to tune-in to the show since the 24 franchise launched way back in 2001 when they were too young to consume TV. We are targeting both the 24 loyalists who we believe are in the 25-44 yrs TG as well as the 15-24 yrs TG who would possibly be watching it for the first time. We expect both males and females to tune in. They will surely want to watch this cult show,” said Mankar.

     

    What about advertising? A 30-second advertisement spot for 24: Live Another Day sells for half a million US dollars in the US. So, “This credibility definitely helps from a sponsorship point of view as brands are assured of loyal viewership, in terms of both reach and time spent. Our sales team has had a very encouraging response from key categories and brands. AXN’s marketing campaign will be 360 degree covering TV, online, OOH and print,” shoots Mankar.

     

    Starting 31 March, Monday to Thursday at 9:00 pm, AXN India will air all episodes of season eight of 24 as a catch-up marathon before 24: Live Another Day makes its adrenaline-packed debut on 9 May.

  • Stephen Fry to host BAFTA for the ninth time

    Stephen Fry to host BAFTA for the ninth time

    MUMBAI: Writer, broadcaster and comedian Stephen Fry is returning as the host of BAAFTA, 2014.

     

    “The awful truth is out — in 2014 l’ll be hosting the @BAFTA Film Awards for the 9th year,” Fry tweeted.

     

    The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will dish out its movie honors on 16 February, 2014 at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden.
    Last year’s BBC One show enjoyed its highest ratings since 2004. The ceremony will be broadcast exclusively on BBC One in the U.K. and in all major territories around the world.

  • Olympian Mo Farah champions Virgin Media’s ‘Brilliance as Standard’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Virgin Media which claims to be the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK has unveiled its new ad campaign featuring Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Mo Farah.

    The print campaign showcases Mo‘s emotional moments as he realises Virgin Media customers get brilliant extras at no extra cost, including amazing HD channels, service and repairs and a doubling broadband speed boost for millions of UK homes. The ads sign off with the tagline “Can‘t say Farah than that.”

    The multi-million pound campaign runs across outdoor, press, digital and mobile from Monday (1st October).

    Virgin Media executive director of brand and marketing communications Jeff Dodds said, “What better way to remind our customers of how Virgin Media goes the extra mile to deliver brilliant services than with national hero, Mo Farah. Mo‘s brought us some golden moments throughout 2012 and with amazing digital services, including HD TV at no extra cost and the UK‘s fastest widely available broadband, Virgin Media is the perfect place to enjoy them all.”

    Mo is the latest Virgin Media brand ambassador, following in the famous footsteps of Stephen Fry, David Tennant, Samuel L Jackson, Uma Thurman and Usain Bolt.

    The Mo Farah campaign was created by BBH, with all media planning and buying handled by Fifty6.

  • BBC to conduct debates on public service bradcasting

    BBC to conduct debates on public service bradcasting

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC will launch a debate with the public and the creative communities to garner views on public service broadcasting, ahead of its own submission to Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) review.

    Ofcom is looking at how well PSB is being delivered in the UK, its funding models and how it will be consumed in the future.

    The BBC’s programme of debate will include:

    The Creative Industry Lecture Series – a series of lectures given by Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry and Will Hutton in their personal capacity, addressing various aspects of what public service broadcasting delivers to Britain.

    There will also be research with the UK’s creative community and the wider audience on their attitudes to public service broadcasting. BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons and other Trustees will hold a series of direct conversations with the public across the country via radio phone-ins and public meetings to hear directly their views on the BBC, in addition to the Trust’s annual survey of public opinion about the BBC and its delivery of the public purposes.

    There will also be research from the BBC Trust that considers the impact of societal changes in the UK on public service broadcasting.

    These activities will inform the BBC’s public submission to Ofcom, which will be delivered in June. The BBC is committed to listening to all constituencies ahead of finalising its response to Ofcom.

    Lyons says, “Ofcom’s first-stage report raises some important issues which require serious consideration and open debate. The Trust will listen to a wide range of opinion as we consider our response, and we will place special emphasis on the views of the wider public. Their interests must be at the heart of all debates and the conclusions finally reached.”

    BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “I am pleased that the Ofcom report reaffirms the audiences’ view that the BBC is the cornerstone of public service broadcasting in Britain. As part of our engagement with the review, I want to focus on what our audiences want from us in the future.

    “The BBC has always innovated, but I am really struck by the early successes of iPlayer. How audiences will want to receive programmes like Doctor Who, Gavin And Stacey or News 24 in the future is something that we’ve done a lot of thinking about. I’m looking forward to hearing from the public and the creative industries what they want from the BBC as we move to a digital society.”

    The BBC has launched a website (bbc.co.uk/thefuture) to support Ofcom’s PSB Review and encourage debate, as well as capture lectures, ongoing research, and speeches.

    The creative industry lecture series will begin with Sir David Attenborough on 30 April. Stephen Fry will follow on 7 May and Will Hutton on 15 May. The lectures will be published in a book, which will be available online and broadcast on BBC Parliament, as well as being available to stream or download on BBC iPlayer.