ITV

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Vodafone India offers free Twitter access for three months

    Vodafone India offers free Twitter access for three months

    MUMBAI: Vodafone India is offering its prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers free Twitter access for a period of three months starting today (29 July).

    Under the promotion, users will be able to access mobile.twitter.com or the Twitter Android app without incurring any data charges on the Vodafone network. The operator clarifies that access to mobile.twitter.com would be free only when the subscriber uses the native or default browser.

    It also adds that “the Eligible Subscriber would only be charged for connection setup, at 10p/10KB on 2G all circles except Uttar Pradesh (West), Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka and 2p/10KB on 3G and 2G in Uttar Pradesh (West), Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka in case he/she is subscribed to Pay As You Go Tariff at Prevailing Pack Tariff in case he/she has subscribed to any of the Vodafone India Mobile Internet Packs.”

    Free Twitter access is available only when the subscriber sets the APN to ‘www’ in the Internet data settings on the phone. The offer is not available to BlackBerry users.

    Vodafone is also running advertisement messages within the Android Twitter app showing promotional messages under individual tweets and pop-up messages when one tries to compose a tweet.

    It’s not the first time an Indian telecom operator has tied up with Twitter to offer free access. In April, Reliance Communications had also tied up with Twitter to offer a “Twitter Access” program for three months, wherein it offered its GSM subscribers access to Twitter’s mobile website and app without levying any extra data consumption charges.

  • RBNL expands reach in HSM with new carriage deals

    RBNL expands reach in HSM with new carriage deals

    MUMBAI: Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (RBNL) has expanded the reach of its multi-lingual international men‘s entertainment channel Big CBS Prime beyond the eight metros to 1 million+ towns across Hindi Speaking Markets (HSM).

    RBNL has inked deals with leading distribution platforms to extend its reach to 30 million households across the markets of Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and top 8 metros.

    BIG CBS Networks Business Head Anand Chakravarthy said, “With the launch of the Hindi language feed, BIG CBS PRIME now expands into 1mn+ HSMs in the country, expanding its audience base. The channel has seen very encouraging results over the last few weeks, since launch of the language feed in metros, and we expect to get an even better response in HSM‘s. We are sure that the channel will build a strong viewer base ensuring better ROI for marketers and advertisers.”

    The channel which is already available on all leading DTH platforms and national MSO‘s in metros has now inked deals with all the regional MSO‘s as well, making Big CBS Prime available to a larger cross-section of male audiences, showcasing the best international content in a dual feed.

  • Discovery Kids unveils interactive contest on Mystery Hunters India

    MUMBAI: Discovery Kids has announced the launch of an interactive contest based on its first India production – Mystery Hunters India.

    The contest aims to ignite the imagination of millions of kids in India as it gives them a chance to explore the intriguing mysteries of the country featured in the new series – Mystery Hunters India.

    The contest starts with immediate effect and will be valid till 31 December.

    Kids can participate in Mystery Hunters India contest by tuning in to Discovery Kids and sending their answers via sms or by logging on to the official website.

    Kids have to answer a simple question which will have multiple choice options. The shortlisted entries will get a chance to win exclusive prizes from Discovery Kids.

    Demystifying intriguing myths, Mystery Hunters India will unearth the answers to the hidden and unexplained mysteries from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan and Delhi amongst other states.

    Pairing a bright young boy and a girl – Himanshu and Apoorva, Mystery Hunters India will travel the length and breadth of the country to explore and delve into the tales which have bewildered people for ages.

    The inquisitive duo will uncover the truth behind the strange paintings in Madhya Pradesh, to get to the root of the existence of Pygmy elephants in Kerala considered extinct for over 200 years and many more such captivating mysteries.

  • Zee News wins the ECI National Media Award on Voters’ Education

    Zee News wins the ECI National Media Award on Voters’ Education

    NEW DELHI: Zee News has won the National Media Award on Voter Education of the Election Commission of India for its outstanding campaign towards creating voters’ awareness in the Assembly elections (January-March) 2012, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    The Hindi daily ‘Amar Ujala’ has also been selected for a Special Award for its remarkable contribution towards voter education and awareness in the aforementioned elections.

    This follows a decision taken by the Commission and announced during a Media Convention on 23 January 2012 that the Media House with the best campaign on Voter Education and Awareness would be awarded.

    The Award would be presented during the 3rd National Voters’ Day on 25 January 2013 at New Delhi.

    The Commission has now decided to constitute separate awards for electronic and print media for all the forthcoming elections.

  • Film industry divided as multiplexes run while single screens join strike

    Film industry divided as multiplexes run while single screens join strike

    MUMBAI/DELHI: The one-day strike called by the Film Federation of India and member associations, protesting the 10.3 per cent service tax on the film industry, got a lukewarm response with multiplexes staying open.


    Most single screen theatres , however, remained closed all over the country. The single screen theatres in Delhi, though, did not join the strike.


    On Wednesday, the split in the film industry on the issue of strike came to light as FFI was in support, while Film and TV Producers Guild had distanced from it.


    PVR Cinemas Group President Pramod Arora said, ” What strike? All cinema halls including multiplexes and single-screens in Delhi are open and people are coming in.”


    Agreed Cinemax chief executive officer Sunil Punjabi, “We, multiplex owners, discussed the strike issue at the industry-level and unanimously decided to go ahead with the screenings,” he said.


    In retaliation, FFI president Vinod K Lamba said that the strike was a success. “Out of a total of 10,500 plus cinema halls in India, there are a mere 750 multiplexes. In Delhi, there are less than ten single screens.


    All single screen theatres in Bengal, Assam, and the Northeast states remained closed and 500 artistes, cine technicians, exhibitors etc held dharna and road meeting at Chowringhee. The All TV and Artistes Guild in Bengal stopped work for 30 minutes to express solidarity with the strike.


    A total of around 800 persons observed dharna in Chennai where there was no film activity, according to senior FFI member L Suresh. Similarly, there was no activity in Kerala and Karnataka.


    Lamba also said all single screens in Uttar Pradesh including Saharanpur, Bareilly, and Varanasi were closed. In Maharashtra; only the multiplexes remained open.


    Multiplexes have eaten into the share of the single screens and contribute a major chunk of India’s box office business.


    In the CP Berar, CI and Rajasthan circuit, the bandh had little effect. The Central Circuit Cine Association (CCCA) had issued a circular calling off the proposed bandh.


    CCCA President Santosh Singh Jain said, “When the finance minister has already woken up to the travails of the industry and has promised to look into the matter, it does not make sense to go ahead with the bandh.”


    In Mumbai, the main hub of the film business, laboratories, post-production studios and workers affiliated to several associations did not stop work.


    On the workmen front, workers associated with Cine and T.V Artistes‘ Association (CINTAA) and Film Studios Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union have reported to work.


    The film industry have several bodies that are in conflict and are divided on issues. There are four main film associations – the FFI, IMPPA, Film Producers Guild, and Association of Motion Pictures and TV Programme Producers of India (AMPTPP).


    Explains CINTAA President Dharmesh Tiwari, “While FFI and IMPPA are together, the Guild that comprises big-ticket film producers and AMPTPP constitute the other group. Film workers have no allegiance whatsoever to anyone. They are always with producers who provide them employment and today all concerned producers are working. Hence our workers are working too.”


    Also Read:
    Film industry split on stopping work on 23 February

  • Noted lyricist Shahryar passes away

    Noted lyricist Shahryar passes away

    MUMBAI: Lyricist Shahryar, known for having immortalised himself with songs like ‘Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye‘, ‘In aakhon ki masti ke mastaane hazaron hain‘ from Umrao Jaan, passed away on Monday after battling lung cancer. He leaves behind three children, two sons and a daughter.

    Shahryar had received India‘s highest literary award, the Jnanpith Award in 2008. The 75-year-old poet was known to have written heart touching lyrics for all of Muzaffar Ali‘s films like Umra Jaan, Gaman and Anjuman.

    Talking about the passing away of Shahryar, Farooque Shaikh, said, “This is a big loss to the world of Urdu literature. Shahryar Sahab wrote the lyrics for four of my films, Gaman, Umrao Jaan, Anjuman and Faasle and each of them was a masterpiece. I met him several times during the 1980s and more recently at his son‘s residence in Mira Road when he came over to Mumbai for cancer treatment.‘‘

    Born on 16 June 1936 in village Anwalla in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Shahryar received his early education at Bulandshahr and then studied at Aligarh Muslim University. He was appointed as a lecturer in Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University in 1986 and served until 1996 when he retired as chairman of the Urdu Department of the University.

    In 1987 he received the Sahitya Akademy Award in Urdu for his poetry collection ‘Khwab Ka Dar Band Hai’.

  • Paras Dairy assigns creative duties to Rediffusion Y&R

    Paras Dairy assigns creative duties to Rediffusion Y&R

    MUMBAI: Popular dairy brand Paras Dairy has assigned Rediffusion-Y&R to handle its creative duties while its media duties will be handled by The Media Edge (TME), a sister agency of Rediffusion.


    Rediffusion won the account in a multi-pitch process in which agencies like Grey and Crayons among others participated. Earlier, Percept/H used to handle the business of the dairy. Though the contract is for a year, it is renewable every year.


    The size of the account, however, could not be obtained at the time of filing this report.
     
    Confirming the development to indiantelevision.com, Paras Diary brand manger Sumit Mohan said, “We have assigned the creative and media duties to Rediffusion-Y&R and TME respectively based on their credentials of handling large businesses, as well as the strategic and creative prowess shown by their team.”


    Paras Dairy has created a network of 5,000 villages as collection centres for milk across western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat and currently sells over 2,50,000 litres of milk per day in Delhi.

  • SC lifts Aarakshan ban in UP

    SC lifts Aarakshan ban in UP

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today declared illegal the ban imposed by Mayawati government on the release of producer-director Prakash Jha‘s film, Aarakshan.


    The apex court, thus, cleared the decks for the release of the film in Uttar Pradesh.


    Jha had challenged the ban imposed on the release of the film by Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab government.


    The Punjab and Andhra Pradesh governments, however, lifted the ban after the director agreed to remove the objectionable portions. But the Mayawati government refused to lift the ban on the ground that it may create law and order problems.


    A bench comprising Justices MK Sharma and Anil R Dave quashed the UP government order banning the release of the movie for two months.


    The movie has already been released in other parts of the country on 12 August.


    Jha in his petition had contended that the ban order violated his fundamental right to Freedom of Speech and Expression guaranteed under Article 19(i)(a) of the Constitution of India.


    Earlier, the Mumbai and Patna High Courts refused to interfere with the release of the film, the latter observing that there had been no law and order problem since its release.


    The Madras High Court had stayed the release of the film but changed its order after Jha convinced the court that the issue related to some extraneous payment not linked to this film.


    Earlier this week when the apex court issued notice to the UP Government on the petition, the bench also asked the Centre to give its reaction in view of the contentions by Jha that the state governments cannot override the permission granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to exhibit a movie.


    The petition contended the decision by the governments of UP, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh was due to political reasons and it violates the fundamental right to speech and expression.


    In the petition, Jha said the examining committee of Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC), which cleared the film for exhibition, comprised members drawn from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and other backward castes and the ban by the three states is “biased and arbitrary”.


    Seeking a stay on ban orders, Jha had cited various apex court judgments holding that “open criticism of the government policies and operations is not a ground for imposing restriction on expression views even in the form of films.”


    He said he has spent Rs 650 million towards production, publicity and marketing of the film and third party rights for distribution and exploitation of the film have also been created.


    Aarakshan, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Prateik Babbar and Hema Malini (in a guest role), deals with the sensitive issue of commercialisation of education in the light of caste-based reservations in the education system.

  • Patna High Court also rejects petition against Aarakshan

    Patna High Court also rejects petition against Aarakshan

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Supreme Court is to take up the case relating to Prakash Jha‘s film Aarakshan on Friday, the Patna High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) requesting the Court to stop the release of the film in Bihar.

    Petitioner Pramod Kumar Singh had demanded a stay on the release of the film fearing breach of peace in the state. Singh had said that certain comments, allegedly made in the film, were “against the constitutional provisions”.

    A division bench of the Patna High Court comprising Justice SK Katriar and Justice A Amanullah, however, dismissed the petition, saying a similar petition filed in the Bombay High Court was dismissed on 9 August.

    The bench further observed that as the film had already been released in Bihar on 12 August and no breach of peace took place since then, the application had been rendered infructuous.

    Even as the Uttar Pradesh Government gears itself to protect its ban of the film before the Apex Court tomorrow, it is learnt that the state exchequer lost revenue worth about Rs 40 million due to the ban.

    Estimates made by entertainment department said that window sales on the first weekend alone would have generated around Rs 25 million. By Tuesday, the amount was expected to cross Rs 40 million mark.

  • The story of three channels

    The story of three channels

    NEW DELHI: Three different channels operating in different markets are trying to work out content that would work and advertising revenues that would make them profitable. Struggling to succeed against their bigger rivals, they have a task cut out for them.

    CNEB News, part of the HBN Group, is up against the mightier Hindi news channels such as Aaj Tak, India TV and Star News.

    “Distribution is the main problem for us. The government also should be strict in handing out permissions for news channels,” said CNEB COO Anuranjan Jha, while speaking at the 4th News Television Summit.

    Maurya TV, operating in Bihar and Jharkhand, has managed to find space for itself. “We became the No. 1 channel in these markets. Bihar is a very political market. We are also expanding to Uttar Pradesh,” said Maurya TV executive editor Kumar Raajesh.  
         
      The channel is 74 per cent owned by Prakash Jha and 26 per cent by Manmohan Shetty. Though it may have got ratings, the channel is finding it tough to rope in advertisers. The hope is that a wider footprint would help. Entering into Uttar Pradesh, however, would mean coughing out higher carriage costs as MSO Den Networks dominates that market.

    Day & Night News is also finding the going tough. Blocked initially by a leading MSO in Punjab for coverage of political news, the multi-lingual channel (Punjabi, Hindi and English) is fighting back and has sealed distribution deals with the DTH operators.

    “We have carved a space for ourselves by being politically neutral. The other channels in the state are politically aligned,” said Day & Night News managing editor Kanwar Sandhu.

    The channel is from Chandigarh with primary focus on Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi & NCR.