ITV

Tag: US broadcaster

  • CBS orders a new comedy ‘Bad Teacher’ for 2013-2014 season

    CBS orders a new comedy ‘Bad Teacher’ for 2013-2014 season

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster CBS has ordered the comedy ‘Bad Teacher’ for the 2013-2014 season.

     

    It is based on the film, which starred Cameron Diaz. The TV show stars Ari Graynor as an always inappropriate, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband leaves her penniless.

    Hilary Winston, Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Sam Hansen, Jimmy Miller and Michael Lasker are executive producers for Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios and Mosaic Media Group.

  • Nat Geo announces global cell phone coverage solution

    Nat Geo announces global cell phone coverage solution

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster National Geographic has launched the National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone.

    It has ben designed specifically for the needs of the traveling public. It allows for affordable calls from over 100 countries, with no contracts to sign and free incoming calls in most international markets.

    GSM cell phone technology experts at Cellular Abroad in California, collaborated with National Geographic in a licensing partnership to provide this service that works seamlessly across international borders, picking up local cellular networks and providing consumers with the best coverage available.

    Unlike other services, the phone number stays the same, no matter where the consumer travels. As an added benefit, the National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone features a dedicated toll-free number to reach Cellular Abroad’s 24/7 customer support service.

    Cellular Abroad president Sebastian Harrison says, “Staying in touch while overseas has proved difficult for travellers the majority of overseas travelers have not been able to afford the security and convenience of a cell phone.

    “With expensive rates and little or no technical support, international cellular service has excluded the general public. Now, it is at their fingertips.”

    National Geographic senior VP licensing John Dumbacher says, “National Geographic is excited to offer the Talk Abroad Travel Phone to all international travellers. Students, vacationers, business travelers and our own explorers and photographers can now stay connected with this affordable travel phone and SIM card, while they seek to understand and experience our world”.

    The National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel phone will be available from next month at www.Cellularabroad. com/ travel phone.

  • Zee Studio to bring red carpet coverage of Oscars

    Zee Studio to bring red carpet coverage of Oscars

    MUMBAI: While Star Movies will telecast The Oscar Awards live from 6 am on Monday, Zee Studio has also something special to offer for viewers interested in the event.

    Zee Studio has tied up with US broadcaster E! to bring their show Live from the Red Carpet: The 2007 Academy Awards to Indian viewers. The coverage starts at 4:30 am. The Oscars themselves will conclude at around 10:30 am. This means that combined coverage on the two channels will last for six hours.

    E! News anchor, Ryan Seacrest, and E! News co-host, Giuliana DePandi, will spearhead the star-studded presence on the red carpet from the site of the annual ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The pre show will look to capture the buzz.

    There will be more interest this year than last year in India since Water directed by Deepa Mehta is competing in the foreign film category. The suspense is most in the best picture race. For the first time all five nominees Babel, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen all have a chance to win which is as it should be. Little Miss Sunshine which is the only feel good movie in the bunch seems to be a little ahead at the moment having won the directors guild, writers guild and actors guild awards.

    Martin Scorcese should win best director for The Departed. However one cannot completely rule out two time winner Clint Eastwood. Eastwood has been nominated for Letters From Iwo Jima which tells the story of the second World War from the viewpoint of the Japanese soldiers. Around 21 per cent of Oscar voters are actors and would no doubt appreciate Eastwood making two great war movies in one year.

    Helen Mirren should win best actress in The Queen which deals with the two week period following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Best actor is a three way race betwen Forrest Whitaker who plays Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King Of Scotland, old time favourite Peter O Toole who falls for a young woman in Venus and Leonardo DiCaprio who plays a diamond mercenary in Blood Diamond.

  • ABC to air special on Oprah’s academy on 26 February

    ABC to air special on Oprah’s academy on 26 February

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster ABC will air the special Building A Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy on 26 Februiary 2007.

    In a one-hour special, the talk show queen Winfrey brings to television the five-year journey of the creation the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls — South Africa. Viewers will see the touching, inside story of how Oprah turned her dream of opening a school for disadvantaged South African girls into a reality, including an up-close look at some of the life-stories of these inspiring students.

    Despite hardships, these girls all exhibit that intangible it quality and know that attending this Leadership Academy will forever change their lives, the lives of their families, their communities and the future of their nation.
    The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls South Africa is a 28-building, state-of-the-art independent school that engenders high standards of academic achievement and service leadership for girls.

  • Fox to take off ‘The OC’

    Fox to take off ‘The OC’

    MUMBAI: The end has come for the American kids on The OC. US broadcaster Fox has announced that the show will have its final episode 22 February 2007.

    In India the show airs on Star World and on Zee Cafe.

    Set in Orange County, California, The O.C. premiered in the US in August 2003. It follows a group of friends and families whose lives were changed by the arrival of an outsider Ryan Atwood to their ocean-side community of Newport Beach. Reports indicate that the show kicked off its fourth season with ratings that touched an all time low.
    Fox claims that the show revived the teen drama genre while including humorous and heartfelt adult storylines. Shortly after its summer premiere, THE O.C. was a pop culture phenomenon its actors are household names and its indie music (and subsequent six soundtracks) and hip California wardrobe are sought-after in stores. The shows Newport Beach locale also has become a popular tourist attraction as fans visit the real locations featured in their favourite episodes.

    The O.C. creator and executive producer Josh Schwartz, “This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close. Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top. It has been an amazing experience and a great run. For a certain audience, at a certain time, The O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful.”

  • ‘American Idol’ sets a ratings record on Fox

    ‘American Idol’ sets a ratings record on Fox

    MUMBAI: American Idol is going from strength to strength.

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

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

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

  • Television maverick Mark Burnett to produce the 2007 MTV Movie Awards

    Television maverick Mark Burnett to produce the 2007 MTV Movie Awards

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster MTV has announced that reality television producer Mark Burnett will executive produce the 2007 MTV Movie Awards.

    For the first time the show will air live on 3 June 2007 from Los Angeles, California. Golden popcorn wil be up for grabs in such eccentric categories as Best Kiss, Best Villain and Best Comedic Performance along with the debut of several new awards.

    The star-studded event is MTV’s irreverent nod to the typical awards shows celebrating the year’s best in movies, stand-out musical performances and more. The show has had its moments like sexy lip locking from the likes of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair, and outrageous acceptance speeches such as Jim Carrey’s comedic rant surrounded by 60 angels.

    MTV president Christina Norman, says, “Mark has great ideas and vision for the movie awards, and I know he’s going to bring some fresh energy to the show. I can’t wait to see how his vision comes together to create a one of a kind experience for the movie awards, on television and on line.”

    Burnett notes, “I began my career at MTV with Eco-Challenge and worked closely with Salli Frattini on every aspect of that project. I love MTV and I especially love its Movie Awards, so when you combine MTV, Salli Frattini and movies it was easy to say yes. Adding a live element to the Movie Awards irreverence and spoofs, it simply means … anything can happen. Buckle your seatbelts!”

  • James Gandolfini signs exclusive producing deal with HBO

    James Gandolfini signs exclusive producing deal with HBO

    MUMBAI: Actor James Gandolfini, who stars in HBO’s gangster saga The Sopranos, has signed a three-year exclusive producing deal with the US broadcaster.

    The agreement marks the first overall production deal for Gandolfini, who along with his producing partner, former Paramount executive Alex Ryan, is simultaneously launching his production shingle, Attaboy Films. Under this exclusive producing arrangement, Gandolfini will develop and produce original television programming for HBO and will also have a first-look deal for feature projects at Picturehouse, HBO’s specialty film distribution arm.

    HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht says, “The Sopranos is a landmark in TV, and the gifted James Gandolfini is one of the reasons for the show’s remarkable success. I am delighted that he will continue to work with the network after the end of the series.”

    Gandolfini and Ryan have spent the past year developing Hemingway, a biopic written by Barbara Turner, with Gandolfini playing the title role in the film. Philip Kaufman (Quills, The Unbearable Lightness of Being) is attached to direct the drama about the tempestuous romance between Hemingway and war correspondent Martha Gellhorn. Turner, whose screen credits include Pollock and Georgia, will produce along with Gandolfini, Ryan and Peter Kaufman. Gandolfini’s managers, Nancy Sanders and Mark Armstrong, will be executive producers. The project is expected to continue development under Attaboy’s new deal, which also includes a commitment to two pilot scripts.

    Gandolfini and Ryan are also developing a documentary with HBO Documentary Films. The film, whose working title is Occupation Iraq, is about soldiers in Iraq and chronicles their stories, tragedies, triumphs and homecomings.

  • NBC to celebrate 80th birthday of legendary singer Tony Bennett

    NBC to celebrate 80th birthday of legendary singer Tony Bennett

    MUMBAI: In a one-hour special, US broadcaster NBC will celebrate the 80th birthday of the legendary singer Tony Bennett.

    The special Tony Bennett: An American Classic airs later this year.

    The special, sponsored by Target, showcases the Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer along with a myriad of superstars who perform duets from his upcoming album Tony Bennett Duets/An American Classic. 

    The special will take viewers on a musical journey through the renowned singer’s life. Set amongst the backdrop of different eras from Bennett’s career, he performs his most memorable songs with popular artists. Bennett performs Rags to Riches with Elton John, The Best Is Yet to Come with Diana Krall; For Once in My Life with Stevie Wonder; Because of You with K.D. Lang and trumpeter Chris Botti; and Sing You Sinners with John Legend. Additional participants will be announced at a later date.

  • NBC goes on a treasure hunt this Summer

    NBC goes on a treasure hunt this Summer

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC will air a new show Treasure Hunters.

    This is a fast-paced adventure/mystery reality series where multi-player teams try to stay one step ahead of each other as they are mentally and physically challenged in their quest for a promised hidden treasure.

    The adventure series kicks off with a special 2-hour premiere episode on 18 June.

    The teams must avoid elimination as they travel to historically significant locations around the globe where they decipher cryptic codes and puzzles.

    Each has a clue that leads them closer to solving the ultimate puzzle and obtaining the coveted grand prize. The show has been produced by the team responsible for the film The Da Vinci Code.