ITV

Tag: TLC

  • TLC to air journey of Lindsay Lohan in its new series ‘Lindsay’

    TLC to air journey of Lindsay Lohan in its new series ‘Lindsay’

     

    MUMBAI: TLC presents to you the highly anticipated series, Lindsay which will capture the life of the controversial actress and media sensation – Lindsay Lohan. The series will show Lindsay’s journey through recovery, following a very public event of crisis.

     

    Lindsay airs every Thursday and Friday at 10 pm.

     

    Lindsay is one of the most talented young actresses of her generation, boasting of an impressive list of credits, including The Parent Trap, Mean Girls and A Prairie Home Companion. Having had her career and personal life sidelined by her public struggles, Lindsay for the very first time is strikingly candid about her life and is more determined than ever to get back on her feet.
     

    Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President and General Manager – South Asia & South East Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said “TLC is more than just a TV channel – it is a way of life that presents the best lifestyle experiences in its distinct style and treatment. Our new series, Lindsay will offer an inside look into the life of Hollywood’s most talked-about star and reveal various aspects of her celebrity life.”

     

    Each episode of Lindsay will document her honest and no-holds-barred account, with an intimate and unflinching look into the life of one of the world’s most sought-after celebrities. Cameras will follow Lindsay as she returns to New York, reunites with friends and family, and attempts to build a new life. Viewers will see as she works to stay on track amidst the demands and pitfalls of fame. She opens up like never before, discussing everything from her emotional recovery process to her exhausting run-in with the paparazzi.

     

    This eight part series will give viewers an opportunity to know not only about the celebrity Lindsay Lohan but also Lindsay, the person.

     

    A small glimpse into the series:

     

    Part One

    After completing her sixth stay in rehab, Lindsay decides to move to New York to work on her sobriety and rebuild her once promising career. But will she resist temptation?

     

    Part Two

    While trying to manage her sobriety in a chaotic setting, Lindsay fights to move into her new apartment, and the producers start to question her commitment to the series.

     

    Part Three

    After finally getting the keys to her apartment, Lindsay refuses to let the cameras film, and her assistant threatens to quit. But will Oprah be able to make her see sense?

     

    Part Four

    After a visit from Oprah, Lindsay attempts to jump-start her career by doing a skit with Jimmy Fallon. Later, she performs community service at a children’s center.

     

    Part Five

    AJ, Lindsay’s sobriety coach, questions her abstinence. And later, when Lindsay returns home after a tabloid-fuelled trip, everything comes into question.

     

    Part Six

    A large crew travels to Manhattan to shoot Lindsay for the cover of Elle Indonesia’s anniversary edition. But when she fails to show up on time, the friction is palpable.

     

    Part Seven

    Lindsay appears on the brink of getting what she’s been striving for since getting out of rehab: a starring role in a Hollywood film. But will everything go according to plan?

     

    Part Eight

    After being out of rehab for nearly five months, Lindsay finally feels like she’s settling into life in New York, and she gets the chance to reflect on her journey.

  • TLC to showcase ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’

    TLC to showcase ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’

    MUMBAI: TLC presents the culinary discovery of India by one of the world’s most renowned chefs, Gordon Ramsay in the new series ‘Gordon’s Great Escape.’

     

    The series will showcase Gordon travelling in search of Indian flavours, discovering authentic food from the most jaw-dropping locations across the country. Gordon will explore the diversity of Indian food, starting his journey in the capital, Delhi and moving on to exciting locations including Kolkata, Kerala, Northeast India and ending his journey in bustling Mumbai.

     

    ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’ will premiere on 31 January and will air every Saturday at       10 PM on TLC.

     

    As Gordon samples a variety of Indian delicacies, he will immerse himself in local traditions and activities such as bullock racing in Kerala, hunting deer in Nagaland and assisting a master chef in Lucknow to help prepare a wedding feast.

     

    Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President and General Manager – South Asia & South East Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said “TLC continues to present the world of ultimate lifestyle experiences to Indian audience with its varied, distinct and quintessential programming. Gordon Ramsay is an iconic host loved by viewers for his unique personality and style. We are delighted to present his first ever culinary expedition in the new series Gordon’s Great Escape on TLC.” 

     

    Watch Gordon Ramsay doing what he loves most, seeking out the best food in India and testing himself in extreme and demanding situations. His appetite for adventure will take him across the country on his ‘great escape’.

     

    Some of Gordon Ramsay’s India culinary experiences are captured below:

     

    Northern India

    Gordon will travel around Northern India to look for more authentic versions of the popular Indian dishes he grew up with, and at the end, will have to prove he’s learned how to cook some authentic Indian food in front of food experts in New Delhi.

     

    Kolkata

    Gordon demonstrates his curiosity about Indian cuisines that aren’t normally represented in UK restaurants, so he will travel to remote Northeast India to search them out, and will open a food cart in Calcutta for a day to prove he’s learned something.

     

    Southern India

    Gordon will travel to Southern India to learn more about vegetarian cooking and Indian fish dishes. He will cook Sambar with a street chef and put on a fancy dinner for the upper crust of Mumbai.

     

     

  • TLC uncovers secrets of Vietnamese cuisine in ‘Luke Nuguyen’s Vietnam’

    TLC uncovers secrets of Vietnamese cuisine in ‘Luke Nuguyen’s Vietnam’

    MUMBAI: Luke Nguyen acclaimed Australian-Vietnamese chef returns to the country of his heritage to learn centuries-old cooking secrets, traditions and techniques in ‘Luke Nuguyen’s Vietnam’, a brand new series on TLC. From his food-obsessed extended family, as well as home cooks and local street-food vendors scattered across the southern regions, Luke travels around Vietnam to learn from the people of the country. 

     

    ‘Luke Nuguyen’s Vietnam’ premieres on 5 January and will air every Monday to Friday at 8 PM, only on TLC.

     

    In the ten-part series, Luke will travel through Vietnam’s spectacular northern countryside, visiting the natural wonders of Ha Long Bay, stopping at the bustling and French inspired Hanoi and all the way to the beautiful mountains of Sapa. Along the way he prepares dishes in locations that represent an authentic Vietnam, in all its chaotic vibrancy. 

     

    Each episode will explore the food and culture of Vietnam, while on the journey he enlists the local dish to be cooked by him. On a journey of Vietnam’s southern region, Luke travels from Saigon, through the Mekong Delta, and north along the coast to the World Heritage-listed city of Hoi An. Along the way, he meets many relatives, who share with him the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine, and help him discover the tiny cottage industries that have been creating vital ingredients for many centuries. 

     

    Discover Vietnam’s diverse cuisine as Luke whips up tantalizing dishes along his journey: from favourite takeaway snacks like green papaya salad, to local favourites like sweet Mekong shrimp with fried pork belly, to unusual dishes like deep fried pumpkin flowers stuffed with prawns and dill.

     

    Join Luke on his quest to trace his heritage and the secrets that make Vietnamese food the ‘nouvelle cuisine of Asia’ in ‘Luke Nuguyen’s Vietnam’.

  • Indian broadcasting industry is on the cusp of transformation, says Rahul Johri

    Indian broadcasting industry is on the cusp of transformation, says Rahul Johri

    The year 2014 has been a remarkable one for Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP). It announced the launch of three new channels in India, in May. Widely recognised for enhancing the television viewing experience in India over the last two decades, Discovery launched a refreshing new concept Hindi entertainment channel named ID – Investigation Discovery.

    The company also expanded its HD offering with the launch of two differentiated gold standard channels – TLC HD World and Animal Planet HD World.

    The year saw Rahul Johri being promoted to the role of executive vice president and general manager, South Asia and head of revenue, pan-regional ad sales and Southeast Asia. And the end of the 10-year joint venture distribution company with Multi Screen Media (MSM).

    DNAP south Asia and southeast Asia GM and executive VP Rahul Johri talks about the high and low points of the year.

    What has been the highlight for the year for Discovery Networks?

    Discovery Networks launched three new channels in 2014. Today, we operate in six unique genres through our robust portfolio of 11 networks reaching a cumulative 260 million homes in five languages. Extending our brand experience beyond television, we made a foray in print with the launch of Discovery Channel Magazine. We expanded our business fuelled by marquee initiatives – new channels, unmatched India productions and marketing innovations.

    Continuing to offer the widest repertoire of programmes, we launched more than 300 high-quality programmes catering to the interests, passions and demands of children, youth, women, men and families. We strengthened our India content slate with unprecedented 100 original hours in the last two years bringing unique stories, pristine subjects, and exclusive accesses.

    Some of the path-breaking India productions on Discovery Channel and TLC include programmes like Revealed: National Defence Academy, Revealed: The Line of Control, Revealed: World’s Biggest Election, India: Living Traditions, Ravinder’s Kitchen, Trinny & Susannah’s Makeover Mission India and The Great Indian World Trip amongst many others. We have recently launched Revealed: Rann of Kutch, an extraordinaire account of the seasonal salt marsh located in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

    We launched ID – our distinct and high-quality investigative channel. Our research findings revealed that Indian viewers have immense appetite to watch true investigation and crime based narratives if presented in an entertaining way. We identified this vacuum and created a segment within the Hindi entertainment genre.

    As a pioneer in high-definition, we further extended our leadership in this genre with the launch of TLC HD World and Animal Planet HD World.

    To broaden the appeal of Discovery Turbo, we have refreshed the brand with new logo, new identity and have expanded its content offering to suit tastes and preferences of male audiences.

    We are committed to offer the finest viewing experience and differentiated offerings to viewers and maximum value to our trade partners. Our expansion over the past few years and the matching success is a reflection of India’s significance in the world of Discovery.

     

    What was the challenging phase faced by Discovery Networks this year?

    I have often said that digitisation has brought new opportunities and challenges in equal measure. Competition has got fiercer. Viewer fragmentation is a reality. Innovations are making the existing channels look traditional. In short, one has to be ahead of the rest to enjoy viewers, affiliates and advertisers’ confidence. However, whichever way one looks, the benefits far out shadows the challenges.

    The year 2014 marked to be the year of opportunities for Discovery.  We expanded our portfolio with the launch of three new channels and the launch of Discovery Channel India Magazine.

    Discovery had some of most path-breaking India productions like Revealed: National Defence Academy, Revealed: The Line of Control, Revealed: World’s Biggest Election, India: Living Traditions; and our first local animated series KISNA on Discovery Kids.

    Benefiting from digitisation, all our channels have witnessed viewership growth this year.  Discovery Kids jumped by 80 per cent and Discovery Science’s viewership grew by 39 per cent over last year.  Animal Planet recorded lifetime high ratings in the channel’s 20-year presence in India.  Propelled by engaging content, nationwide penetration and innovative campaigns, Animal Planet has registered 16 per cent rise in viewership this year.  Building strong affinity with its viewers, Animal Planet has surpassed History TV18 ratings this year, increasing its gap to 10 per cent for the YTD period.

     

    How did the Indian broadcast industry fare in 2104?

    Indian broadcasting industry is on the cusp of a transformation.  Undoubtedly, digitisation has been the biggest change the industry is experiencing. It will help drive up the value of differentiated and high quality content and thus will naturally benefit Discovery’s channels.  We support this drive and believe it will be a milestone achievement for the country and generate higher value for all stakeholders especially the viewers.

    The other milestone should be the new audience measurement system – BARC, which should create new value system for the broadcast sector.

     

    High points and low points for the brands…

    India is a vast country with diverse needs and attitudes. Indian viewer is discerning and appreciates variety of content. Discovery has catered to this need with its wide ranging bouquet of 11 networks from factual, lifestyle, kids’, high-definition to Hindi entertainment. Our compelling programming repertoire spans genres including science, exploration, survival, natural history, technology, space, health and wellness, engineering, crime and investigation, civilizations, kids and more. We have been able to lead in the respective genres through our commitment to deliver on the brand promise.

    Today’s viewer is well travelled, aware and has experienced finer things of life demanding a mix of India and international content in the comfort of his home. Discovery Networks, through its eclectic programming mix across networks offers the right blend of India and international content. We have consistently presented India themes that can travel the world and international themes relevant to India. We have surprised and delighted the viewer with some of our extraordinary shows giving them an opportunity to watch and enjoy once in a lifetime experiences such as Skyscraper Live with Nik Wallenda – a LIVE event which has been a huge hit all over the world. Another one to air on December 31 will be Eaten Alive, which is an attempt to be eaten alive by an anaconda.

    Offering credible and high-quality content 24 hours x 365 days consistently, Discovery is missioned to satisfy the curiosity of Indian viewers. The audience, advertisers and affiliates expect nothing less than the finest from Discovery.

  • TLC presents ‘The Great Indian World Trip’

    TLC presents ‘The Great Indian World Trip’

    MUMBAI: Breaking away from the world of busy schedules, work travels, virtual life, TLC presents a riveting series on a record breaking road trip – ‘The Great Indian World Trip’. Join Sanjay and Tushar in their quest to explore the world and experience new cultures in the journey of a lifetime as they travel across six continents, fifty countries and drive over 90,000 kilometres in a car, without a GPS. In the process, the duo create seven new world records and break one Guinness World Record.
     
    ‘The Great Indian World Trip’ will premiere on December 15 and will air every Monday and Tuesday at 9PM on TLC.
     
    Sanjay and Tushar are two simple Indians with one dream – to travel the world by road. From the UFO Capital of the world, to driving from the end of the world in Ushuaia to the top of the world in Deadhorse, having BBQ in Kentucky, doing the Tango on the streets of Buenos Aires, listening to blues in ‘The South’, wearing a kilt and shopping in Scotland, eating weiner schnitzel in Vienna, the duo has done it all. TLC joins them on this epic trip and bring its viewers the sights, sounds and cultures of people across the world.
     
    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific executive vice president and general manager, South Asia and Southeast Asia Rahul Johri said, “Over the last 10 years, TLC has extended the definition of travel in India and we continue to present the diversity of the country through unique and engaging formats. The Great Indian World Trip’ is an exciting adventure series based on a road trip across the world by two Indian travellers. The series will inspire travel enthusiasts to take the leap and realise their dreams.”
     
    With their eyes set on the records, Tushar and Sanjay will begin the first leg of their journey, an 8000 km drive from India to Singapore, crossing Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. The two encounter funny and troublesome situations on their journey but their will to travel and explore the world triumphs over everything else.

     

  • Discovery going all out to promote ‘Kisna’

    Discovery going all out to promote ‘Kisna’

    NEW DELHI: The Discovery Kids channel is going all out to popularise its new animation series ‘Kisna’ as it is an India-based series and is a ‘driver show’.

     

    told indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of a press meet on the launch of the new series by, and series maker Rahul Johri and renowned filmmaker Ketan Mehta that the percentage of marketing was very high for this show.

     

    Discovery Channel Asia Pacific VP marketing Rajiv Bakshi  said while the series has already been promoted for almost a month on all Discovery channels, it will now be promoted on other channels as well as on billboards and through school activities. While Facebook was being used to promote the series among adults so that they could encourage the young to see it, the social network was not available to those under 18 years of age.

     

    Filmmaker Ketan Mehta said that the aim of the series was to impart education and entertainment at the same time. He said the name ‘Kisna’ had been used because it had an association with everyone in the subcontinent, but the series would be contemporary and every episode would also have some education value. Thus, it was not the story of Lord Krishna.

     

    The series, produced by Cosmos Entertainment and Maya Digital Studios, would be telecast from 19 October at 2 pm every Friday in English, Tamil and Hindi. It would be repeated at 6 pm.

     

    Discovery’s current portfolio in India includes 11 channels – Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Discovery Kids, Discovery Science, Discovery Tamil, Discovery Turbo, Discovery HD World, TLC HD World and Animal Planet HD World – apart from a Discovery Channel Magazine.

     

    Apart from the three High Definition channels – Discovery World, TLC World and Animal Planet World – Investigation Discovery (ID) was launched early this month and carries true stories of crime and their investigation. Though the stories are all American, they have been dubbed in Hindi.  Each story is complete in itself.

     

    Kisna is the story of an adventurous and amusing young boy from Anandnagri and his adversary the wicked Raja Durjan of Andhernagri. During the series, Kisna will clash with Raja Durjan and each time squash his evil plans of spreading fear in Kisna’s hometown.

     

     Mehta said, “Kisna is a fascinating story told through captivating characters. Kisna’s endearing personality combined with his superhero powers will make him a favourite character amongst the kids. We are delighted to partner with Discovery Kids, a renowned brand that delivers fun and enriching entertainment.”

     

    Discovery Kids is available in Hindi, English and Tamil languages across India on both analogue and DTH platforms including Tata Sky, Dish TV, Reliance DTH, Airtel Digital and Videocon d2h.

  • We want Zee Khana Khazana to be a destination channel: Amit Nair

    We want Zee Khana Khazana to be a destination channel: Amit Nair

    MUMBAI: Food as a genre, in the recent years, has grown concurrently with the rise of interest in culinary art. Food has always been an interesting topic of conversation, but its importance has grown much more than what existed in the 90s when a Tarla Dalal or Nita Mehta cookbook were hot-sellers at bookstores or a 30-minute Khana Khazana on Zee TV.

     

    It was only in December 2012, when Khana Khazana launched itself as a 24-hour food channel encouraging women to move from their kitchens to living rooms. The channel catered specifically to the art and science of food-making, with a wide spectrum of shows and novel concepts that explored different aspects of gastronomy.

     

    Almost after a year, the genre witnessed a new entrant in FoodFood.

     

    Zee Khana Khazana has gained the distinction with a consistent record at the TAM TV ratings chart. It has surpassed all its competitors and registered the number one spot and recorded an average of 1,799 GVTs of 10 weeks.

     

    Followed by FoodFood that noted 1,060 GVTs, Fox Life with 824 GVTs, TLC with 622 GVTs and NDTV Good Times with 175 GVTs.

     

    In a conversation with indiantelevision.com, Zee Khana Khazana business head Amit Nair talks about the reason behind the success, plans for the festive season in terms of content, how is the channel moving towards travel and food reality shows and marketing initiatives which led the channel to top the chart.

     

    Last year, the channel started off discussions with its core TG to decide what they wanted to watch. “What we found was that people today want interesting solution recipes; it is not the regular stuff but using the regular ingredients and adding a twist to it and make it interesting,” says Nair.

     

    The channel also looked at niches across the food genre. “One of our findings showed that cooking for kids was a major concern for mothers. So we launched Bacha Party and it turned out be a major show for us which not only fetched us good ratings but it also won a packaging awards at recent Indian Telly Awards,” adds Nair.  

     

    Moreover, shows like Breakfast Express and Jain Jalsa also added to the success kitty. “All of these have resulted in helping us reach the pole position,” informs Nair.

     

    Like other channels, Nair also felt the need to engage more with the audiences and hence, it got on-board a special segment called ‘Tips & Tricks’.

     

    Another series christened ‘Home Made’ teaches viewers how to make dips and sauces. “These kind of programmes stuck a cord with the audiences. We have content that makes their lives much easier,” reveals Nair.

     

    The channel also walked towards lifestyle segment with ‘The Great Indian Rasio,’ the first food and travel show.

     

    “Unlike other travel series where people just go and eat, this one takes a much deeper look into the Indian cuisine and how the kitchen has evolved over a period of time,” he says.

     

    Nair wants the channel to be the first destination when it comes to food and lifestyle curated segment where interesting food stories can be told.

     

    To further expand its content portfolio in the food reality and travel space, it is set to launch three new shows in the coming months. Come 15 September, it will launch Health Bhi, Taste Bhi, which will bring to table the skills required to give the favourite meal, a healthy makeover by cutting the calories without compromising on the taste. Hosted by Chef Ranveer Brar, it appeals to both urban and non urban audience.

     

    The first week of October will see the launch Eat Manual which will appeal not only to the kids but also mothers who would want to see what their kids like to eat. It will be hosted by one of the finalists of Junior Masterchef, Emanuel Chauhan, who will also present his own tips of cooking.

     

    By the end of October the channel will bring to the viewers a show called ‘Chef on the Wheels’.

     

    This is not the end, Khana Khazana plans to add more to its kitty by the year end and early next year, when it will add two more shows for its viewers.

     

    Nair also expresses his joy at the distribution front. The reach and sampling of the channel has increased manifold. “Last year, we were a subscription based channel. We had to chase subscribers more than viewership. We faced a lot of issues on the distribution front, as we were not available on many DTH and cable platforms. It was the first thing that we resolved early this year.”

     

    Currently, the channel is available on four DTH, plus across all digital cable platforms. “In terms of viewership, we have seen a tremendous growth in last six-eight months.”

     

    From this year onwards, the channel has taken the ad-revenue route. “In terms of our marketing initiatives, we are very serious about the genre. We want to stay as a top player in this space.”

     

    To maintain its numero uno position, it did a lot of effective advertising. In the month of March, the channel did a lot of TV burst supported by an outdoor and digital buzz. “This helped us to firmly implant into the viewers’ mind and this effectively laid the ground for further acceptance of shows.” To keep the buzz alive, it did a lot of ATL and BTL as well.

     

    Advertisers’ response towards the channel also has been very encouraging. Early this year when the ratings started growing, the channel did a couple of road shows with major agencies, clients and created the buzz.

     

    Current FMCG products like HUL, P&G and Nestle are advertising on the channel and going forward it is looking at other categories as well.

     

    Revealing the growth in terms of revenues, Nair believes that the numbers are very ambitious in nature. “Month-on-month we have broken all our set targets and moved far ahead on what we had started off earlier this year. It looks like an exciting year for us,” concludes Nair.

  • Discovery to launch 100 premiere series in India

    Discovery to launch 100 premiere series in India

    NEW DELHI: In a country where general entertainment channels (GECs) rule the roost; Discovery Network is a blueprint of how to succeed for the numerous niche channels.

    Discovery Channel, the flagship network of Discovery Communications, was launched in 1985 in United States and since then has offered viewers an engaging line-up of high-quality non-fiction entertainment from blue-chip nature, science and technology, ancient and contemporary history, adventure, cultural and topical documentaries.

    Today, Discovery Channel reaches to more than 612 million subscribers in Asia Pacific.

    In India, it is the biggest non-fiction network. Discovery Channel in the country is beamed in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Bangla as against the US, which has feeds in English and Spanish. 

    Discovery’s current portfolio in India includes 11 channels – Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Discovery Kids, Discovery Science, Discovery Tamil, Discovery Turbo, Discovery HD World, TLC HD World and Animal Planet HD World – apart from a Discovery Channel Magazine.

    Apart from the three High Definition channels – Discovery World, TLC World and Animal Planet World – Investigation Discovery (ID) was launched early this month and airs true stories of crime and their investigation.

    Discovery executive vice president and general manager – south Asia Rahul Johri boasts that Discovery has upped its ante on its Indian channels by producing over 100 hours original content in the past two years. He highlights that Discovery has two billion subscribers worldwide through 196 networks in 45 languages, of these, India accounts for 600 million subscribers and reaches 300,000 cities and villages in the country.

    However, what is worth noting is that the network isn’t breathing easy.

    Three new Indian productions will soon be launched on Discovery Channel. Gujarat’s Rann will come alive in one of a kind programme Revealed: Rann Of Kutch, which will showcase the region’s geology, history, culture, people and wildlife. Apart from that, a first ever, start-to-finish account of the staggering logistical feat of putting together the world’s largest election will be presented in Revealed: World’s Biggest Election; and lesser known facets of India’s vibrant cultural practices, fascinating living traditions, unique art forms and amazing natural phenomena will be captured in India Living Traditions. The programmes being unveiled also include Medical Miracles India, which will have exclusive footage from all parts of the country.

    In 2012, Discovery forayed into fiction through Discovery Kids. The channel along with leading filmmaker Ketan Mehta will see its first animation-based Indian series Kisna in October.

    Johri reveals that the network is investing $1.5 billion in the original programming globally.

    For dubbed content, Johri says that the network takes meticulous care as it goes through two layers of checking and re-checking before being approved. The dubbing team had around 500 professionals.

    The latest entry, ID, too might see an addition of Indian content in the near future.

    Johri underscores the company’s expansion drive through wide-ranging premiere content.

    The network is planning to launch more than 100 high quality multi-genre series catering to the interests, passions and demands of children, youth, women, men and families.  This will capture a wide-spectrum of categories ranging from adventure, survival, cuisine, travel, space, gadgets, natural history, fashion, pets, auto, engineering and reality amongst others.

    Johri claims that the channel has the highest number of programming per day with 12 to 15 shows per day. He adds that shows like Rashtrapati Bhavan saw the highest channel share, while the programme on the Uttarakhand floods – Himalayan Tsunami – was the highest rated in 20 years, and the programme on National Defence Academy had a viewership that was 325 per cent more than Rahul Gandhi’s interview on Times Now.

    Johri says, “We have tripled our networks in India in the last five years. Today, we operate in six unique genres through our robust portfolio of 11 networks reaching a cumulative 240 million homes in five languages.  We will continue to strengthen our leadership and make investments in content, communication and availability across all our networks and deliver an unmatched experience to millions of viewers across urban and rural India.”

    The channel survives as a pay channel and on advertisements and has never crossed the limit of 12 minutes of advertising and two minutes of promotions in an hour. “We have more than 200 local and national advertisers for the Tamil channel,” he claims.

    India today has 1.5 million HD sets, and continues to increase. Johri believes that the addition of the HD channel will help Discovery to dominate the market since the future is in HD. All the programmes were being shot in HD much before the launch of the channels in India.

    Johri adds that though it is the only channel to has a licence for 3-D television, it has not launched any channel, so far, as a very few people have 3-D television receiving sets.

    The network has seen tremendous growth from the time he joined it, 13 years ago. Johri feels that he is fortunate enough to contribute to this growth and bringing the channel to the third position. He recalls that 2010 was the turning point for the channel as it saw the launch of Turbo, Science and the first HD channel apart from the Tamil and Telugu feeds.

    He is optimistic about the future of the niche channels and content generated for it. He says, “People want specialised content and so every channel is trying to go niche in its own way. India is the fast growing market in terms of television in the world.”

    When asked if there were any plans for a sports channel since Discovery had acquired Eurosport International, without revealing much Johri says that it is too early to predict anything and any action in this will be taken after thorough study.

     

  • TLC presents a spice twist with ‘The Incredible Spice Men’

    TLC presents a spice twist with ‘The Incredible Spice Men’

    MUMBAI: TLC presents a brand new series based on the magnificent world of spices told through the eyes of two acclaimed chefs Tony Singh and Cyrus Todiwala – THE INCREDIBLE SPICE MEN. With spice as their powerful weapon, Tony and Cyrus are on a mission to wake Britain up to the versatility of spices. THE INCREDIBLE SPICE MEN will premiere on AUGUST 23, EVERY SATURDAY AT 8 PM.

     

    In the new series, Tony and Cyrus will take on a road trip to explore the British Isles and add their own spicy twist to the most classic and best-loved dishes. They jazz up a Sunday roast lamb with a cardamom rub, add some cumin to give Welsh rarebit a kick and even try Cyrus’ nutmeg-infused take on toad in the hole.

     

    Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President and General Manager-South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan- Regional Ad Sales & Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, “TLC has pioneered the lifestyle genre by bringing in exciting travel experiences, delectable cuisines, high-street fashion and relatable themes. We continue to present new and fresh concepts such as the INCREDIBLE SPICE MEN that demystifies the fascinating world of spices in Britain.”

     

    With delicious recipes accompanied by Cyrus and Tony’s top tips and favourite spices, “the spice boys” will unravel the contents of the spice rack, and open everyday cooking to a world of exciting new flavours. The British food never will be the same with the spicy twist added to it.

     

    Cyrus Todiwala was born in Bombay and moved to London in 1991, where he opened his acclaimed Spice Cafe Namaste, currently on of the UK’s 100 Top Restaurants. Author of three cookbooks, Cyrus was awarded an OBE in 2009, and cooked a banquet for the Queen and Prince Philip in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

     

    Tony Singh was born and bred in Scotland, where he has worked in many of the country’s top kitchens, from The Balmoral Hotel to the Royal Scotsman train. Oloroso, one of his many restaurants, has won numerous awards, and was named by the Independent as ‘the hippest place to eat and drink in Edinburgh’.

  • TLC presents Bizarre foods America with Andrew Zimmern

    TLC presents Bizarre foods America with Andrew Zimmern

    MUMBAI: TLC brings an exciting new series BIZARRE FOODS AMERICA WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN. The series will follow Zimmern travelling to various parts of America and his home state of Minnesota in search of oddest and strange cuisines.

     

    In each episode Zimmern will go on the quest to taste the wacky and oddest delicacy found in US. Whether, it is baked muskrat in Baltimore, deep fried piglet testicles on a hog farm in Iowa, or fermented fish eggs with Native Americans on an island in Alaska, Andrew is ready to tempt and test his palate on TLC.

     

    BIZARRE FOODS AMERICA WITH ANDREW ZIMMERNwill premiere on August 2, every Saturday and Sunday at 9PM and 10PM.

     

    Zimmern goes deep into the lane and cities to find a dish which will set apart from the rest. He goes on to try snakehead to cow’s feet, tongue to every part of the pig which has been turned it to mouthwatering delicacy.

     

    Bizarre Foods focuses on regional cuisine from around the world, this time mainly for America, which is typically perceived as being disgusting, exotic, and bizarre. In each episode, Zimmern focuses on the cuisine of a particular country or region. He typically shows how the food is procured, where it is served, and, usually without hesitation, eats it.