ITV

Tag: TV

  • 325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe

    325 fire incidents occur for every million TV sets in Europe

    MUMBAI: A study Leverkusen – Statistics for Europe show an annual 325 fires for every million television sets compared with just six in the US.

    The main reason for this is that TV housings on the old continent are still usually made from materials with little or no flame retardancy. In the US, materials with the V-0 classification are used, in compliance with the U.S. fire safety standard UL94.

    The risk of fire produced by televisions and IT equipment is now increasingly a focus of attention for the media and the public. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is also responding to the growing safety demands, with the IEC TC 108 – the standards committee with global responsibility for this area – currently laying down new requirements for flame retardance in TV sets.

    Bayer MaterialScience a polymer manufacturer says that the requirements can already be met by its FR grades, flame-retardant polycarbonate (PC) blends and special grades of the Bayer MaterialScience polycarbonate Makrolon®.

    Bayer Industry Services Michael Halfmann says, “One of the aims of IEC TC 108 is to protect TV sets more effectively from external ignition sources like a burning candle that has toppled over. Some 12 to 20 per cent of all TV fires do not originate in the set but from an external fire source. The new standard therefore specifies areas of a TV set that can be reached by the flame of a candle that has fallen over. The TV must not catch fire in these areas even if it is exposed to the flame for three minutes.

    ”Our flame-retardant PC/ABS blends and PC grades do not just conform to IEC standards. They can also be used without any problems as a housing material that conforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and RoHS EU directives.”

  • Animal Planet looks at Bamboo Flowers

    Animal Planet looks at Bamboo Flowers

    MUMBAI: Animal Planet will air the show When The Bamboo Flowers. Normally a vital and versatile plant for villagers in northeast India, bamboo sets off cycles of famine and plague once every 48 years – a rare, yet ruinous occurrence for the local human population.

    For rats, however, it’s a feast for the ages – a colossal feeding that has beset the region for centuries leaving thousands of ravenous rats and widespread human deprivation in its wake. The show airs on 12 November at 9 pm and on 15 November at 8 pm

    The show brings Animal Planet viewers to Mizoram, a rugged hill state in northeast India. It has been 48 years since the bamboo last flowered and villagers are anxiously preparing for the impending invasion. The strange phenomenon of the flowering of the bamboo is unique to northeast India, which is home to vast plantations of the tree-like plant.

    After the massive cyclical flowering, the bamboo plants produce large amounts of seeds – a good food source for rats, which quadruple their reproduction rate while feeding. The explosion of the rat population results in quick exhaustion of the seeds, leading thousands of rodents to turn to standing crops of the agricultural villages. The result is a widespread famine and, more often than not, plague.

    Back in 1958, famine led to nearly two decades of insurgency in the region and tens of thousands of people perished. Now, in 2006, the bamboo is flowering again and Animal Planet visits the villagers as they prepare for inevitable catastrophe, hoping this time that the outcome is different.

  • NBC Universal introduces interactive talk show

    NBC Universal introduces interactive talk show

    MUMBAI: This is a concept by US media conglomerate NBC Universal that looks to make a television show more encompassing through a presence across differnt platforms.

    The NBC Universal Television Stations, iVillage and the Universal Orlando Resort, have joined forces to create daytime’s first interactive talk show. It will be made available simultaneously on air, online and in front of a live studio audience.

    Shot at Universal Orlando Resort iVillage Live will build on the iVillage brand and connect content, community and commerce in a new experience for the daytime audience. The show launches Monday, December 4 at Noon/ET (11a.m/CT) on the NBC owned-and-operated stations, Bravo and iVillageLive.com.

    NBCU Television Stations president Jay Ireland says, “We’re thrilled to add ‘iVillage Live’ to our daytime schedule. This is a new model we developed for daytime programming in terms of its concept, content, interactivity and brand. The 360-degree premise allows our viewers to interact with the show in the way that best suits them; a true programming first for today’s digital age. We believe in this show’s potential and look forward to building its audience.”

    iVillage president Deborah Fine says, “For over ten years, iVillage.com’s loyal audience of women have been connecting online to laugh, learn and share life’s moments. iVillage Live’ is a ground-breaking programme, which enables our community to extend their conversation in a revolutionary way — on-air, online and even in person. It is a key component in our effort to bring our noted brand to the marketplace in a unprecedented, multi-platform manner.”

    Audience participation takes place through the dedicated website, iVillageLive.com, which is housed on iVillage.com, and has been specifically designed to maximize community involvement in the program. In addition to the live show stream, the site will host a daily live chat, portions of which will be discussed during the broadcast and scroll along the bottom of the television screen during relevant moments.

    A second live chat will take place at Noon/PT allowing west coast viewers to lend their voices to the conversation. A daily poll question and audience comment box will stay open for 24 hours to invite participation and influence the next day’s coverage.

    Viewers on the go can interact with iVillage Live via their mobile phone by texting IVL 360 to ask questions and share comments during the programme, as well as sign up for show reminders, news alerts, ringtones and wallpaper. On-demand access is available through the website, which will make that day’s show available for 24 hours after the initial broadcast. After that, visitors to the site can easily search for past episodes of the show, which will be archived by date, segment and topic.

    iVillage Live will also work closely with its advertising partners to create unique product integration and e-commerce opportunities. The charter sponsors, including Bally Total Fitness; Calphalon; The Estee Lauder Companies, including Aramis & Designer Fragrances, Clinique, Estee Lauder and Origins, among others; GE Profile Appliances; Goody; Graco; Healthy Choice; Overstock.com; Priceline.com and Unilever, will participate in on-air segments, when appropriate, to round out the show and offer value to viewers. On the site, users will have access to a gateway where they can buy the sponsors’ products in real time, while also engaged in the program.

    iVillage Live also marks the first time a theme park is being used as the permanent home for a daily, live talk show. The resort will add to the overall show experience in terms of audience, location, set and content. Universal Orlando draws visitors from all over the world, giving iVillage Live the potential to have one of the most internationally diverse studio audiences in daytime.

    The Park’s former “Toon Amphitheater” has been transformed into a space that fits with the interactive nature of the show, including the installation of audience polling devices attached to each seat.

  • Cartoon Network to join ‘Barbie’ and ‘Pokémon’ on Children’s Day

    Cartoon Network to join ‘Barbie’ and ‘Pokémon’ on Children’s Day

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network Theatre is planning a special treat for its viewers on Children’s Day, with two feature films Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses and Pokémon Mewtwo Returns!

    Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses which was first premiered on the channel in September, will be aired at 2 pm. While Pokémon Mewtwo Returns! will be premiered nationally at 6:30 pm on 14 November, states an official release.

    Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses is based on the life of Princess Genevieve (played by Barbie) and her 11 dancing princess sisters. They are endangered by their evil aunt Rowena, who is plotting to rule their kingdom. In order to break free from Aunt Rowena’s clutches, all the princesses escape to a palace and discover a secret entrance to a magical world where wishes come true! However, they must return to their kingdom in order to save it.

    Pokémon Mewtwo Returns! tells the tale of Ash, Misty, and Brock who continue to explore the Johto region to rescue Pikachu whose was kidnapped by Jessie and James of Team Rocket. The search leads them to the hidden plateau where the redoubtable Mewtwo has established a haven for the cloned Pokémon. The evil Giovanni is plotting to recapture Mewtwo and renew his efforts to create an army of bio-engineered Pokémon. Aided by the reluctant Meowth, Ash and his friends must defeat Giovanni and his henchman in order to rescue Pikachu.

  • MTV Networks and Nexon announce ‘global online’ gaming partnership

    MTV Networks and Nexon announce ‘global online’ gaming partnership

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks and international game publisher Nexon have announced a partnership to create a new user experience for MTVN’S Neopets. one of the youth communities on the internet, and includes MTVN’s marketing of the launch of Nexon’s casual MMOG game titles in North America via its portfolio of television and online brands.

    The announcement was made by MTVN kids and family group executive vice president Stephen Youngwood and Nexon Japan CEO David Lee at the GSTAR 2006 Gameshow.
    Two of the first titles to be marketed under the alliance will be Maple Story and Kart Rider .

    This new service will provide users the ability to purchase premium level virtual items for customisation and personalisation, in addition to those currently available on the site. Nexon will also provide marketing and promotional support in Asia across its games portal for the new Neopets services.

    MTVN will also become a strategic marketing partner for the launch of Nexon’s first three games to be distributed in North America. Marketing campaigns will be run across a portfolio of MTVN television and online brands including MTV, MTV2, MTV U, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, The-N, Neopets.com, Shockwave.com, Addictinggames.com, Gametrailers.com and XFire.
    “We are delighted to establish this mutually beneficial partnership with one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms and the premier media partner in North America for Nexon’s wide ranging target audience. We are confident that through the alliance, Neopets will gain strong momentum in successfully serving its users with more value added services and that Nexon will be able to rapidly expand in the North American market,” said Lee.

    Neopets senior vice president and general manager Kyra Reppen added, “We are very excited about this opportunity to further widen the creative net for Neopets. This premium level experience will provide our members with an exciting new means to enhance their personal involvement with the site and represents a significant new business opportunity for our company in Asia, where Neopets will benefit tremendously from Nexon’s creative and marketing expertise.”

  • ‘Semi Girebaal Returns’ to MTV

    ‘Semi Girebaal Returns’ to MTV

    MUMBAI: MTV is all set to launch the second season of Semi Girebaal. Semi Girebaal Returns would premiere on 12 November at 9:30 pm.

    Coming back with a completely different format, the new Semi Girebaal Returns will include a whole lot of new segments. Each episode will come with elements like celebrity chats and confessions – and this time with some real celebrities, shot in Semi’s new White House, asserts an official release.

    Semi is accompanied by her trusted hired help Atmaram, to ride beside her in her white car and also to enter into her mind and dream sequences. This time she is also coming outdoors with trips to the bazaar, charity auctions as well as the houses of celebrities to meet their cooks, cleaners and their pets – all sterilised for her.

    This season will even see Semi launch her own line of beauty products and merchandise on air. She is also giving out advice on matters of the heart, conducting poetry sessions titled semi literate and giving lifestyle tips like the art of crying.

    Season one of Rendezvous with Semi Girebaal received a good response when MTV VJ Cyrus Sahukar donned the avatar of Semi Girebaal and interviewed look-alikes of leading Indian celebrities in his, err… her tender manner, giving audiences mostly bakwaas information about the stars’ lives, loves and controversies.

    “You can run, but you cannot hide as the first lady of talk shows returns for the wackiest, craziest, zaniest season of interviews, gags and insanity on television. So pull out those white kerchiefs, pucker up for those air kisses and enjoy Semi Grebaal Returns,” says MTV India VP and GM creative and content Ashish Patil.

    Semi Girebaal Returns is presented by Sprite and associate sponsors Charlie Outlaw, Cadbury Éclair Crunch and Johnson and Johnson Stayfree, adds the release.

  • Times Group taking up stake in IOL Broadband

    Times Group taking up stake in IOL Broadband

    MUMBAI: Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd (BCCL), which is the holding company of the Times Group, is picking up a small stake in IOL Broadband for Rs 50 million.

    IOL, which has a content delivery affiliation contract with MTNL for IPTV in Mumbai, will make a preferential allotment of 500,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each to BCCL. “We will be making the allotment to BCCL at around Rs 100 per share,” says IOL Broadband director Oberai.

    IOL is also making a preferential allotment of 700,000 warrants to Maula Trading Company for Rs 70 million. “We will be in raising additional funds to expand our rollout. We plan to launch IPTV also in Bangalore with BSNL,” adds Oberai.

    IOL Broadband has already signed an IPTV deal with the Star network and is offering 24 channels. “We are in talks with other broadcasters. We are offering video on demand (VoD) services and are planning to ramp up our movie library. We currently have rights for 50 movies,” says Oberai.

    IOL is planning to increase the authorised share capital from Rs 500 million to Rs 70 million, divided into 70 million equity shares of Rs 10 each. The company also plans to increase the limit for foreign institutional investors to 49 per cent of its paid up equity share capital.

  • Rajshri launches broadband entertainment portal, to release ‘Vivah’ for viewers at $9.90

    Rajshri launches broadband entertainment portal, to release ‘Vivah’ for viewers at $9.90

    NEW DELHI: Rajshri Group, one of the oldest production and distribution houses in the country, has launched a broadband entertainment portal, www.rajshri.com, that will offer streaming and downloading of various forms of content including movies, music videos, concerts, and documentaries.

    Rajshri’s latest movie, Vivah, will be premiered on the portal simultaneously along with its theatrical release on Friday. This is the first time in India that a film is being made available on the internet at the day of its release.

    The downloading of Vivah will be at a payment of $9.9 through an international credit card, said Rajshri Media (P) Ltd managing director Rajjat Barjatya. The copies do not run the risk of being pirated because of a special software that has been used, he added.

    Rajshri Media (P) Ltd will be the group’s digital media initiatives arm. This will cover streaming services which users don’t have to pay for. Among the broad gamut of content available is the historic midnight speech of late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru on 15 August 1947. “We are also soon going to add humor, management-related content and spiritualism to our site,” said Barjatya.

    Describing the new initiative as an “historic moment,” Barjatya said the company had been working on this project for the past two years. The aim seems to be converting the ‘non-consumers into consumers’ while attempting to break the stranglehold of piracy.

    Barjatya is also targeting about 25 million Indians abroad, NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) put together, who are “extremely keen to stay in touch with their roots and will pay for rich and origial Indian content as against the pirated one.”

    About 51 per cent Indians abroad spent time daily on the net, he revealed. Besides, Indian content was also becoming extremely popular among non-Indians across the world.

    So how will the box office takings of Vivah, for instance, be a hit because of online viewing? “We are getting into a four screen scenario, instead of a two-screen one. Cinema theatres were always there, and then came TV, the big screen and the small screen. Now there is the internet and the mobile,” said Barjatya.

    “Each of these screens are a different experience and one cannot replace any of the other. It is one thing to see a film on the Net alone, and quite another doing so with the family on a TV set, or watching it in a dark hall with a lot of people, so there is no cutting into turfs,” he added.

    The delivery of movies through the internet could also cut down piracy. “If there is a viewer in say Finland, I can now get to him before the pirates can,” Barjatya said.

    A key feature of the site is that the movies can’t be pirated. “We have used a software which ‘wraps around the programme’ and while it is being streamed, it cannot be copied, nor downloaded. Even while it is ‘sitting’ on the hard disk for 72 hours, it cannot be made into a CD or DVD,” he said.

    The portal is also aimed at the tech-savvy younger audience. “The site has a lot of features. You can actually saute the film, slice and dice it, rate it, send a link to a friend and read what others have to comment about it,” Barjatya said.

  • Qualcomm announces finalists for its wireless reach Brew application funding programme

    Qualcomm announces finalists for its wireless reach Brew application funding programme

    MUMBAI: Qualcomm a developer and innovator of code division multiple access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, has announced the selection of finalists for the company’s wireless reach Brew application funding programme.

    As part of Qualcomm’s wireless reach initiative, the USD $ one million fund is designed to increase the availability of useful wireless applications in countries around the world.

    Qualcomm’s wireless reach Brew application funding program has challenged companies to create the most innovative Brew public service application in one of five areas: healthcare; education; public safety; governance; and the environment.

    Qualcomm will award five grants in varying amounts for up to a total of USD $500,000 for the most innovative proposals for Brew applications. The remaining amount will be used to put one or more of the winning proposals into action through new or existing wireless reach projects.

    Finalists were selected based on a careful review of all applications and include 21 developers from 19 organisations in six countries (in alphabetical order):

    – Activepackets – Copiague , New York, U.S.A
    – Agrocom software technologies pvt.ltd IIT Bombay – Mumbai , India

    – Astute systems technology pvt ltd – Indore , India
    – Bandung institute of technology – Bandung , Indonesia
    – Beijing InfoQuick SinoVoice speech techology Corp. – Beijing
    – Beijing Justel technologies Co., ltd. – Beijing
    – BeWell mobile technology, Inc. – Walnut Creek , California, U.S.A
    – BookBox India pvt. ltd. – Pondicherry , India
    – Digital Ignite – Vienna , Va. , U.S.A
    – dotPhoto, Inc./DBA exclaim – West Trenton , New Jersey, U.S.A
    – MOBSYS informatica ltda – Sao Paolo, Brazil
    – MyFoodPhone – Quebec , Canada
    – Spiral Jungle, LLC – Carlsbad , California, U.S.A
    – SquareLoop, Inc. – Reston , Va. , U.S.A
    – Tata consultancy services – Thane , India
    – Tata consultancy services – Mumbai , India
    – UC Berkeley – Berkeley , California, U.S.A
    – UC Berkeley – Berkeley , California, U.S.A
    – UCLA center for international emergency medicine/project HOPE/Konami digital entertainment – Los Angeles
    – Zaxis technologies – San Diego
    – ZMQ software systems – New Delhi

    Qualcomm chief executive officer Paul E Jacobs said, “Qualcomm is proud to recognize these finalists on their dedication to creating Brew applications that will have a positive impact on people’s lives.”

    “We are committed to helping increase the availability of useful Brew applications worldwide and we’re pleased to note that the applications we received are creative, inspiring and show a true consideration for the challenges that underserved communities face today. Our goal is to have wireless reach Brew applications from one or more of the grant recipients in action by the summer of 2007,” he added.

    The 21 finalists have been contacted individually to submit a more in depth proposal by December 31 2006. From these proposals, Qualcomm will announce the recipients of the five individual grants by mid-February 2007.

    Qualcomm’s wireless reach initiative seeks to connect communities that have limited or no telecommunications access through the use of 3G technologies.

    Brew operators and their subscribers benefit from several offerings, which include: uiOne for fast access to high revenue services on wireless devices; deliveryOne for differentiated operator-managed support and delivery of advanced wireless data content and services; and marketOne for a quick-to-market, hosted, scalable content delivery service that includes media titles, flexible management and monetisation, content provider settlement and business intelligence services.

  • Microsoft’s XBox to digitally deliver TV shows, movies to gamers

    Microsoft’s XBox to digitally deliver TV shows, movies to gamers

    MUMBAI: Software major Microsoft has announced agreements with US broadcasters CBS, MTV, film studio Paramount Pictures, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

    The aim is to to bring an initial lineup of over 1,000 hours of hit TV shows and movies to Xbox 360 gamers in the US by the end of the year.

    Microsoft says that Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console to bring standard and high-definition TV shows and movies via digital distribution over the Internet directly to the American consumer. From 22 November 2006, which marks its first anniversary, Xbox 360 will be the first gaming console in history to provide high-definition TV shows and movies directly to gamers in their living rooms. Xbox 360 gamers will have access to the full-length TV shows as downloads to own and movies to rent via download from the Xbox Live® network, the worldwide leader in online distribution of high-definition gaming and entertainment content. This announcement also brings with it several additional ‘firsts’:

    • For the first time, consumers will get an integrated gaming and entertainment experience on a gaming console that includes downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies. This new full-length content adds to the ever-expanding number of choices gamers have on their Xbox 360, whether they want to play games or play a movie on a disc or as a download in high definition or standard definition.

    • CBS will deliver high-definition download-to-own TV shows including CSI, Jericho, Numb3rs and remastered Star Trek episodes. Gamers can buy them and watch them repeatedly.

    • For the first time on any platform, Nascar.com will deliver download-to-own condensed versions of select Nascar Nextel Cup Series races from Race Rewind.

    • The Ultimate Fighting Championship will make 50 of its most intense fights available for download as well as select episodes from the original season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

    Microsoft corporate VP interactive entertainment business Peter Moore says, “This groundbreaking announcement is a win for everyone. It connects our partners with one of the most coveted audiences in entertainment today, and provides even greater value to our Xbox Live community, allowing them to enjoy the games and entertainment they want, when they want it.”