ITV

Tag: TV

  • MGM Channel to launch in India on Zee’s Dish TV

    MGM Channel to launch in India on Zee’s Dish TV

    MUMBAI: MGM Networks, a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., has announced a string of breakthrough distribution agreements in key Asian markets. The MGM Channel will roll out in India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

    Debuting this month, the MGM Channel will be available on Zee’s Dish TV platform.

    MGM Networks executive vice president Bruce Tuchman said, “We are very excited to begin our newest chapter in the booming Indian market with this launch. Having previously seeded demand in India through a co-owned, co-branded channel with Zee TV, we are now launching a wholly MGM-owned, exclusively MGM-branded network in order to more fully mine the opportunities abounding in this dynamic market.”

    In the Philippines, Sky Cable, the country’s largest MSO, has just commenced the roll out of The MGM Channel as part of its new digital “Platinum” package offering. In Vietnam and Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City Television and Phnom Penh Municipal Cable and Optical Television, respectively, have entered into distribution agreements with MGM Networks and recently introduced The MGM Channel to their customers.

    The MGM Channel’s launch into India and these new Southeast Asian markets are the latest milestones in an aggressive roll-out of the channel across Asia. Starting with its debut in South Korea in 2002, The MGM Channel followed up with a series of launches in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. MGM Networks also launched a second branded channel in South Korea, called MGM Plus, following the successful launch of its first Korean network.

    “Our success and growth in Asia mirrors our success and growth elsewhere around the world. Over the last five years, MGM has increased its channel interests from approximately 25 countries and territories in a handful of regions to over 110 across Europe, Latin American, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific Rim,” added Tuchman.

    In Southeast Asia/Greater China, The MGM Channel is produced and distributed by MGM Networks through a strategic alliance with CNBC Asia Pacific. In South Korea, the channel is operated through a joint venture with leading local media companies, Skylife and Taewon Entertainment.

  • TVHead licenses Tetris for interactive TV

    TVHead licenses Tetris for interactive TV

    MUMBAI: Capitalising on a truly global game phenomenon, TVHead has secured the worldwide interactive TV rights for Tetris – including cable, satellite and IPTV – through 2010. The games-on-demand television network will provide the game to cable and IPTV subscribers as part of its premium offerings.

    With its user-friendly interface and addictive appeal, Tetris is believed to be the world’s best selling electronic game, due to its wide availability on almost every modern computer and game system available.

    “Tetris is more than just a game… it’s a phenomenon with a level of consumer loyalty and awareness equal to top TV programs. Not only is Tetris the number one downloaded wireless game by a large margin, but it has also been incredibly successful on every other platform on which it has been introduced. We are thrilled at the opportunity to provide Tetris to TV audiences because television is the perfect casual games platform. By offering such a consumer-demanded blockbuster, TVHead enables operators to keep their game playing subscribers happy and in front of the TV,” said TVHead CEO and founder Sangita Verma

    TVHead will offer two versions of Tetris: Tetris Classic and Tetris Battle. In the classic Tetris puzzle game, players must clear horizontal rows to score points by creatively rotating and aligning falling blocks while the action accelerates with every move.

    Additionally, Tetris Classic will include high scores, multiplayer and advance play modes. Tetris Battle, a new multiplayer version currently in development, begins when a player submits his or her ‘best of’ game as a challenge to others. Competitors can then select to play against this game—being dealt the same pattern and speed of falling blocks—to see if they can best the score. Highest scores continue to move up the ranks with postings on leader boards and prizes for obtaining high-score benchmarks. Rankings span first local, then regional, and finally national status.

    TVHead is also working with Blue Planet Software Inc., the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for The Tetris Company, to create a consistent multi-platform game experience in which players are able to compete against each other using television and PCs.

  • CNN wins Peabody Award for Katrina coverage

    CNN wins Peabody Award for Katrina coverage

    MUMBAI: The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced that CNN has received a George Foster Peabody Award for its distinguishing coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

    For CNN’s 10th Peabody, the judges cited CNN for being the “go-to” channel for “essential, up-to-the-minute information for viewers, listeners and online users” about the disaster.
    CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton said,”We are pleased that the Peabody panel deemed our work to be worthy of one of the most prestigious awards in journalism. The award not only honored our dedication to the story but our unique ability to provide millions of people with news and information across multiple platforms. No matter where or when they needed the news about Katrina, people around the world depended on CNN.”

    CNN provided unmatched coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina before and after it made landfall on 29 August 2005, showing once again its power as a breaking news network and the premier source for news and updates long after the U.S. Gulf Coast felt the full force of the hurricane.

    CNN’s coverage went beyond television and cable news. Through CNNRadio and CNN Newsource, CNN provided important news and report packages to its numerous affiliates in the region and elsewhere. CNN.com provided extensive online coverage of the disaster as well, servicing more than 33.2 million videos and more than 572 million page views within the first week of the tragedy.

    CNN also offered public service journalism through the creation of a “Victims and Relief Desk,” which aired segments and posted resources in an attempt to link those left stranded with relief efforts. The Peabody awards will be presented on 5 June in New York City. Jon Stewart will be the master of ceremonies.

    Established in 1939 and first awarded in 1940, the George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious service by radio and television networks, stations, producing organizations, cable television organizations and individuals. They perpetuate the memory of the banker-philanthropist whose name they bear.

  • BroadcastAsia2006 to focus on latest technologies

    BroadcastAsia2006 to focus on latest technologies

    MUMBAI: BroadcastAsia 2006, the Asian International Electronic Media Technology Exhibition & Conference, will take place from 20 June to 23 June 2006 at the Singapore Expo.

    Organised by Singapore Exhibition Services (SES), the event promises a bigger and more comprehensive platform for India to source for the latest broadcast technologies and solutions to meet the growth of its media industry. IPTV, HD Technologies, and digital audio broadcasting (DAB) will be the highlights of this year’s show.

    Indian participation at this year’s BroadcastAsia2OO6 exhibition include All India Radio, Monarch Computers, Essel Shyam Communications and Cicada Broadcast Solutions.

    Geared to meet India’s demand, BroadcastAsia2OO6 is expected to gather over 750 international companies, with nine group pavilions from countries such as China, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, Singapore, UK and USA.

    Highlights at this year’s exhibition include the latest in Professional Audio Technology, IPTV, computer graphics and animation, HD Technology, broadcasting to handhelds, video on demand, personal video recording, and digital audio broadcasting (DAB).

    Director and CEO of Cicada Broadcast Solutions Pvt Limited Prasanta kumar Ghatak said, “It is our desire to extend our reach beyond India and obtain a foothold in the Asia Pacific region. We believe that our participation in BroadcastAsia2OO6 will give us the opportunity to reach out to our target customers effectively. Cicada Broadcast Solutions is committed to bringing the same quality of service and dedication to customers beyond our shores, and BroadcastAsia2OO6 is a fantastic platform from which to do so.”

    In view of this, animation buffs will not be disappointed as ComGraphics&Animation2006 (CGA), held in conjunction with BroadcastAsia2OO6, will feature the latest hardware, software and services designed especially for the computer graphics and animation industry, film and motion picture industry. A number of conferences and masters classes will also be held for developers and professionals to exchange ideas & expertise learn and network.

    “With India’s healthy growth in movie and film output, significant market opportunities are now available for those within the broadcasting industry. BroadcastAsia2006 complements India’s remarkable industry growth by offering not only the latest, but most relevant technologies and solutions to meet the media expansion plans that are set to take place in India” said Jackson Yeoh, project director with event organiser Singapore Exhibition Services.

  • Endemol secures deals on reality formats

    Endemol secures deals on reality formats

    CANNES: Endemol international has secured a range of agreements on its reality formats, including Fear Factor, in addition to several new game show format deals.

    The format of Fear Factor has also just gone to air on SET India. The format has now been sold to 24 countries worldwide including the U.S.

    Set to premier this April, Fear Factor will air on RTL in Croatia, Show TV in Turkey, and later this year on Caracol in Columbia. This follows the success of the format’s recent launches in Indonesia on RCTI and Malaysia on Channel 7. The series is made on locations in Argentina and Malaysia as a co-production between Endemol affiliates.

    The Match , the sports reality format, has been acquired in Croatia by HRT and in Switzerland by SFDRS. And, Fool Around With is due to launch on Europe TV in France later this year.

    The Big Brother rollout will premiere on Top Channel in Albania this September. This follows the launch of the first series on 17 March in Serbia on B92, simulcast in Bosnia on Pink TV. The format has now been sold to 38 countries.

    Endemol’s director of international sales Ed Louwerse said, “All the signs are that the worldwide reality TV phenomenon is here to stay. The vintage formats are as popular as ever and the more recent hits are showing significant growth.”

  • Nat Geo Intl to bring ‘Korea to the World’

    Nat Geo Intl to bring ‘Korea to the World’

    CANNES: National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and Korean Broadcasting Institute (KBI) have announce the first co-production partnership to cultivate local filmmaking talent.

    The partnership will facilitate the production of quality made-in-Korea documentaries for global viewers. It will provide $1.2 million in filmmaking funds for 4 one-hour films, titled Korea to the World.

    NGCI CEO David Haslingden says, “We are proud to be the first international factual network to partner with KBI and are delighted to expand NGCI’s presence in Asia. We want to develop and bring Korean talent to the notice of our global audience in 162 countries and in 27 languages worldwide”.

    KBI president Gyun Yu says, “We are excited to establish this partnership with NGCI. As a renowned international television network, NGCI, provides the perfect platform for Korean documentaries to reach viewers globally”.

  • Katie Couric to be anchor & managing editor of CBS News

    Katie Couric to be anchor & managing editor of CBS News

    MUMBAI: CBS Corporation President and CEO Leslie Moonves and CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus announced that one of broadcasting’s most respected and popular journalists, Katie Couric is joining CBS News.

    With the appointment, Couric becomes the first female solo anchor of a network evening news broadcast.
    As part of the multi-year agreement, Couric will become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric beginning in September. Couric will also contribute to 60 Minutes and will anchor CBS News primetime specials as well, states an official release.

    Couric said, “It has been a great privilege to be one of the caretakers of a television institution like the ‘Today’ show for 15 years. Joining CBS is a unique opportunity that came at the right time for me. I’m thrilled to become part of the rich tradition of CBS News and look forward to working with the many extraordinarily talented people there.”

    Said Moonves. “With this move, our News Division takes yet another giant leap forward. Katie is simply one of the best in the business and represents a tremendous addition to CBS News, which continues to grow and improve every day under Sean’s leadership. Seasoned broadcasters who are at once respected, charismatic and known throughout this country and beyond are increasingly important in this fragmented media landscape. I’m proud to have a talent like Katie who personifies this rare combination of qualities, and look forward to the many contributions that she will make not only to our developing evening news broadcast, but to our entire news operation.”

    Couric joined NBC News in 1989 as deputy Pentagon reporter. She began work on Today in June 1990 as its first national correspondent, which included two stints covering the Gulf War. Couric served as substitute co-anchor from February 1991 until taking over the job permanently in April 1991. She also was a contributing anchor for Dateline NBC.

    Couric has anchored many major breaking news events over the past 15 years, including the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center; the Columbine tragedy in Colorado; six Olympic Games, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bombing; the funeral of Princess Diana; the Oklahoma City bombing; the Timothy McVeigh execution; the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings; and the end of the millennium coverage, which she co-anchored with Tom Brokaw.

    She has interviewed an extraordinarily diverse collection of newsmakers, from presidents and prime ministers to captains of industry and cultural icons and a myriad of authors, politicians and newsmakers.

    “This is an enormously proud day for all of us at CBS News. Katie joining our team signifies not only her commitment to doing first-rate journalism, but our strong commitment to producing the highest quality work done by the best reporters, producers and writers in television news. She is a key ingredient as we work towards our goal of making CBS News the number one news organization in America. This organization was built on quality and integrity, and Katie and her CBS News colleagues will continue to carry that legacy into the 21st century” said McManus.

    Couric is the recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award for her March 2000 series on colon cancer. She also has won six Emmy Awards, the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award, a National Headliner Award, an Associated Press Award, a Matrix Award, two American Women in Radio and Television Gracie Awards, the Harvard University School of Public Health’s Julius B. Richmond Award and UNICEF’s Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award.

    Couric’s broadcast journalism career began as a desk assistant at ABC News in Washington, D.C. (1979). She worked for CNN (1980-84) as an assignment editor, associate producer, producer and, ultimately, political correspondent. Couric was a general assignment reporter for WTVJ Miami (1984-86) and for WRC-TV Washington, D.C. (1987-89), adds the release.

  • Security concerns threaten enterprises rollout of mobile technology: Global survey

    Security concerns threaten enterprises rollout of mobile technology: Global survey

    BANGALORE: Security concerns are the biggest obstacle to the widespread adoption of wireless and remote computing in businesses worldwide today, according to a global survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by Symantec Corp.

    More than 60 per cent of companies are holding back on deployment, citing security concerns. Close to 47 per cent of respondents cite cost and complexity as a major obstacle to deployment. All the while, almost one in five businesses has already experienced financial loss due to attacks via mobile data platforms.

    The Economist Intelligence Unit’s research highlights serious weaknesses in firms’ present security arrangements for mobile devices. While 82 per cent of businesses worldwide, indicate that they see the damage from virus attacks as the same or greater on a mobile network than on a fixed network, only 26 per cent have actually assessed security risks of smart phones, compared with 81 per cent of enterprises conducting security assessments for laptops. Despite the proliferation of mobile device use in the enterprise, only 9 per cent of companies have incorporated a new security architecture designed to include mobile device access. Of the rest, ten per cent of the companies have no measures for addressing mobile security, 39 per cent are granting mobile devices access to corporate networks on an ad hoc basis and another 39 per cent are integrating mobile devices into their existing fixed network security architecture.

    “It’s prudent for enterprises to gain experience in mobile deployments and security before a serious attack makes it mandatory and time critical,” said Paul Miller, director mobile and wireless solutions, Symantec Corporation. “In today’s enterprise, there are multiple end points to account for and proper protection cannot be tackled as one-size-fits-all. While most enterprises are aware of the risks introduced with mobility, they continue to lack the appropriate security measures and policies required to protect themselves from potential threats.”

    The Economist Intelligence Unit, surveyed more than 240 global company executives and conducted a number of in-depth interviews with executives across a range of industries, to explore awareness of security risks associated with the widespread adoption of mobile data solutions. The research also looked at business readiness to respond, should a security threat be realized. Regional responses were aligned on a number of matters, with regional contrast strongest around security risk assessment on specific devices and security software deployment. For example, 55 per cent of Western European businesses have deployed security software to protect mobile data, compared to 44 per cent in Asia-Pacific and just 36 per cent in North America.

    “Security is the one particular issue that continues to impede the widespread adoption of mobile computing in the workplace and if it continues to be overlooked there is a danger that some businesses will miss the advantages mobility can bring to their workforces,” said Economist Intelligence Unit director of custom research Gareth Lofthouse.

    The Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Volume IX, published in March 2006, highlighted that malicious code that targets mobile devices, particularly smart phones, continued to grow through the second half of 2005. The report also highlighted several new examples of malicious code for smart phones including Cardtrp, which was the first cross-platform threat with the ability to affect both Symbian and Windows operating systems. The end of 2005, also saw the emergence of Pbstealer, which is distributed as a file that represents itself as a phone book utility for smart phones, in order to entice a user to download and execute it. Once a device has been compromised by one of these Trojan horses, information such as the user’s phonebook, notepad, calendar, and to-do list will be transmitted to Bluetooth-enabled devices that are within range. This may pose a serious breach of confidentiality if a corporate device is compromised in this manner, as sensitive contact information and appointments could be shared. The risks connected with mobile data will increase as larger mobile networks become a more attractive target for cyber-criminals.

    “A coherent strategy for mobile security would work towards alleviating the concerns of many enterprises. Companies can begin leveraging mobile technology as a competitive advantage by adding mobile protection to 5 or 10 per cent of their mobile workforce and heeding to best practices. This measured approach will help tremendously in preparing for major deployment,” said Miller.

  • Distraction relaunches Gameshow Zone

    Distraction relaunches Gameshow Zone

    MUMBAI: International format distributor Distraction adds two hot new properties to its classic gameshow catalogue, now re-launched as The Gameshow Zone.

    “These shows have an enduring appeal that hits the classic gameshow revival trend head on,” commented Distraction CEO Michel Rodrigue. “They are stellar examples of the qualities that have made formats so successful. Extremely strong audience retention, clear structures, proven track records, strong production histories… they have all the makings of sure-fire, long-term winners.”

    Teasers: From U.S. producer Merrill Heatter, Emmy award winning creator of the legendary Hollywood Squares, comes a format classic that combines the performers, questions, gags and bluffs of Hollywood Squares with the challenging, play-along style of Wheel of Fortune.

    Teasers is a fast-paced, fun-filled format with high production values and ‘can’t miss’ game play. Six celebrities – sitting in two rows of three boxes – answer the questions. Two contestants decide if the panellist has given the correct answer. A correct guess earns a contestant a piece of a six-part word puzzle, superimposed on his or her ‘box’, and the contestant has a chance to solve the puzzle.

    This entertaining word game is perfect for either a weekly or stripped slot, and with the proven power of funny celebrities plus the involvement of the word game, Teasers is sure to be at least as successful and unpredictable as its predecessor.

    Black Cat: A game of trade and cunning, Black Cat is the Magnolia adaptation of a popular Italian card game. Three contestants race to the last card over four rounds of the game before coming to the gold pyramid and the final jackpot prize. The rules of play are simple, but contestants must overcome obstacles in each round as they compete to keep the winning cards and stay in the game. One alone will move on to the final round, where eight prizes await. Only four are worth cash, however, and whether or not the contestant wins them depends on what’s in the cards.

    In the end, the only sure winner with Black Cat is the broadcaster. This one-hour format is now airing on Italia Uno and showing a strong performance against rival Deal or No Deal in the access prime time slot. Even successful series such as The O.C. and Smallville are falling short of the audience appeal of Black Cat, which has improved Italia Uno’s ratings in Italian television’s most challenging timeslot.

    Distraction’s Gameshow Zone groups these new offerings with successful formats such as In the Dark, which airs in Thailand, Indonesia and Russia, among other countries.

  • OpenTV adds Auction and Sales modules to its multi-platform product

    OpenTV adds Auction and Sales modules to its multi-platform product

    CANNES: OpenTV Corp., which provides technology solutions for advanced digital television services, has released new Auction and Sales modules that will add support for television auctions and sales to its multi-platform OpenTV Participate product. OpenTV Participate enables viewers to participate in real-time or time-shifted competitions, votes, polls, quizzes and games, via mobile phones, web, IVR, and TV remote controls.

    The Auction and Sales modules are fully integrated with existing OpenTV Participate modules, including third party billing, fulfillment, accounts, customer care, bonus, loyalty, and marketing. Operators can now run a dedicated shopping or auction channel or individual shopping or auction events.

    As with all OpenTV Participate modules, the new Sales and Auction modules utilize wizard-based logic, enabling almost any type of sales or auction event-including the popular ‘bid up’ and ‘bid down’ auction models-to be created by non technical personnel. Support for selling content is also included, enabling broadcasters to offer pay-per-use and on-demand services such as mobile TV clips, downloads, or video streaming on any platform, states an official release.
    With these new modules, OpenTV continues to enhance OpenTV Participate’s unprecedented combination of functionality in a single, scalable system, enabling broadcasters and programmers to offer their viewers an even richer choice of interactive products and services.

    “Our vision for OpenTV Participate is to enable broadcasters to convert passive viewers into active customers by offering compelling interactive services and building a profile of their viewers’ TV habits,” said Amos Manasseh, OpenTV’s VP of Global Sales and Marketing for Participation Television. “These new modules further advance this vision as well as OpenTV Participate’s unique position in the market place, benefiting both broadcasters and advertisers alike.”

    OpenTV will be demonstrating OpenTV Participate at the upcoming MipTV/MILLA, NAB, and NCTA conferences, the release adds.