ITV

Tag: UTV

  • India’s favourite ‘Bhabhi’ back to reel life

    MUMBAI: Come Monday Jan 29, UTV produced serial ‘Bhabhi’ on Star Plus would see the come back of one of Indian Television’s favorite bhabhi, Saroj played by the adorable Dolly Sohi. Bhabhi is an unrequited love story set in a classical mould, a story of conflicting value systems in a contemporary consumerist society. The Bhabhi crew has two reasons to celebrate, one is to have Saroj aka Dolly back after a gap of more than a year & the completion of 1000 episodes this month.

    It was the unvarying love and remembrance by the UTV team, which kept in touch with Dolly that got her back with a bang. Confesses Dolly “I realized how much my team loved me and missed my nonattendance as a part of the caste, along with the numerous mails from my fans who have always bestowed me with colossal affection consistently even when I was in Canada”. Having got to spend a lot of time with her family Dolly took complete rest aboard in contrast to her demanding and hectic life in Mumbai.

    Having settled in Canada after martial bliss Dolly aka Saroj left the show, which was artistically portrayed through the occurrence of Saroj taking Samadhi parting from all the worldly materialistic tie-ups. Now her track that airs on Mon Jan 29 would begin from Reshma, Saroj’s mother-in-law who takes a pilgrimage to Vaishnodevi, where she stumbles upon an absolutely radiant Saroj (her very own daughter in law) who has given up all worldly processions and become a recluse.

    She is busy taking care of the poor and needy. Reshma is ecstatic, she tries talking to Saroj and begins requesting her to come back home to help sort the crisis in the Chopra family. Saroj in her new Avtaar of a Jogan appears to be unaffected by the course of events that are unfolding in the Chopra family. Will she be able to find solutions to the problems of the Chopra family to find watch Bhabhi Mon- Thurs 1.30 pm with repeat at 7 pm.

    On being solicited about one thing she missed the most about India she quickly responds without pondering, “After leaving India it was Bombay’s fast Life that I missed the most in Canada, a place where everything happens on the appointed time compared to the busy unscheduled dynamic Mumbai life” says Dolly who bunged watching the serial after she felt her absence in the serial who initially was ecstatic when the show being broadcasting from September 2006.

    Dolly’s parents especially her mother has been upbeat about this come back along with her UTV serial crew, which boosted her morale on giving her first shot with the same energy and enthusiasm post her protracted gap. With a lot of expectation from this Indian Bhabhi, Dolly promises to deliver her level best and cover up for all the emptiness that her fans must have encountered in the past one-year.

  • Hungama TV names board of directors for this year

    Hungama TV names board of directors for this year

    MUMBAI: The former UTV owned kids channel Hungama TV made its first official announcement today following its acquisition by the Walt Disney Company. Hungama TV announced their annual selection of their board of directors called the Captains Club which includes ten children from across key cities who act both as a network of local information systems as well as official spokespersons for the channel.

    Representing Hungama TV was VP programming and production Aparna Bhosle who has recently joined the Disney bandwagon and will report Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain. Hungama TV however, appears to be scouting for a head. Bhosle declined to divulge details of the same.

    After coming under the Disney banner, gradual changes are likely to be expected in the acquired channel. However, both parties say that the positioning of the channel will remain the same. On the programming front, the first fruits of these changes are visible as Toon Disney’s Power Rangers series has been added to Hungama’s portfolio of shows, as of 1 January.

    In addition, driver properties on Hungama TV like Doreamon and Shinchan are likely to be pushed further with the support of Disney’s Consumer Products Division with merchandising activities on the anvil.

    When queried by Indiantelevision.com about the occurrence of a conflict of interest as being a natural outcome following the buy out, Bhosle said Hungama TV compliments the offerings of the Disney pair and so far there have been no such demands to implement any such adjustments.

    Kicking off the New Year, Hungama TV has been swift in getting down to business by taking the opinions of the newly appointed board of directors to plan for the year ahead. This board will meet on a quarterly basis to discuss business, an area in which they will be trained by industry experts from each of their local centers. They will also spearhead all local activities of the channel in each of their cities.

    What appears to be a glaring demand among these kids is the need for more live action content. Primarily governed by ‘tweens’, this board will act as a critique for the channel and keep them abreast of the growing competition.

    On speaking to the Captains some of them freely spoke of the changes they would like to see implemented on the channel. Being given priority is the live action show Hero, which the kids see as unrealistic and far fetched.

    Instead, they have suggested a more practical approach based on science rather than imagination. In additions, they also proposed that more on-ground activities need to be executed to drive kids to the channel. They will be required to put into perspective “What children want to see on television across the nation.” This is a culmination of a three month long event titled Parle G Hungama TV Captains Hunt 2006- 2007.

    Bhosle of course said that considering their suggestions has helped the channel in the past and that changes in live action content such as Hero are likely to be seen, as the core focus for the channel is the belief in “kid’s empowerment.”

     

  • UTV buys Indiagames, Ignition Entertainment for Rs 1.28 billion

    UTV buys Indiagames, Ignition Entertainment for Rs 1.28 billion

    MUMBAI: UTV Software Communications Ltd. is making a foray into gaming by acquiring controlling stakes in UK-based Ignition Entertainment and Indiagames for a total for Rs 1.28 billion.

    While UTV will pay Indiagames, a mobile and broadband gaming company, Rs 680 million, the acquisition of 70 per cent in Ignition Entertainment will cost Rs 600 million. Ignition Entertainment is a console gaming company with an annual revenue of around $15 million.

    “We presently create, develop and aggregate content for TV, movies and animation. With an objective to create content across all entertainment platforms, the company has ventured into gaming. This will give us exposure to the rapidly growing mobile, PC and console gaming industry,” UTV said in a release.

    Indiagames CEO and founder Vishal Gondal will continue to head the company and evolve synergies with other UTV businesses in the creation of cutting-edge games. The company reported annual revenues of around $5 million for the last fiscal and has an employee strength of 270 people. “Post transaction the shareholders of the company will include Cisco Systems, Adobe Inc. and Management. IG is presently involved with mobile game development, publishing and distribution across 67 countries through 80 telecom partners like Vodafone, Verizon, Hutch and Airtel. Its latest venture into PC games distributed online through broadband ISPs like BSNL, MTNL, Airtel and Tata VSNL amongst others is expected to be a major value driver,” the release said.

    The acquisition of Ignition Entertainment will bring to the table relationships with hardware manufacturers, game developers and distributors such as Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, SNK, Konami, Atari, Virgin and Wal Mart. “Ignition is presently developing a top end game ‘WarDevil’ budgeted at around 10 million pounds and is expected to release it in the year 2008 exclusively on the Sony Playstation3(tm) (PS3) platform. PS3 was launched in November 2006 in Japan and the US and it is expected to sell more than 30 million units by the end of 2008,” UTV said.

    UTV plans to invest Rs 1.35 billion in the development of animation movies over the next three years. “Simi Nallaseth, one of the key animators of the international smash-hit animation movie Ice Age is developing one of the productions. Arnab Chaudhury, former Head of Channel [V] and Creative Director of Turner International (Asia), will be working on another project. We are now in the scripting stage of our CG animation production with Will Smith’s Overbrook,” UTV said.

    UTV’s scrip, however, fell 4.83 per cent on the BSE, closing the day at Rs 263.95.

  • ‘Britannia Tiger Hungamthon’ ropes in Ajay Jadeja to kick off the event

    ‘Britannia Tiger Hungamthon’ ropes in Ajay Jadeja to kick off the event

    MUMBAI: The second season Hungama TV’s kid’s marathon just got bigger. The Hungamthon this time round has roped in former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja to flag off the event, for which Britannia Tiger has come on board as the official brand sponsor. With the addition of a third city this year, the Britannia Tiger Hungamthon ’06-07 will be held on 7, 14 and 28 January in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata respectively.

    To add star power to the event, the cast of UTV produced film Hattrick – Rimmi Sen and Kunal Kapoor will extend their support to the runners.

    Hungama TV has tied-up with sports association Athletic Federation of India to ensure appropriate adjudication for the entire event. This year the race will be divided into two categories of the ‘Masters’ and ‘Blasters.’ The applicable age for participants is between 8-15 years, while the Masters will consist of 8 – 12 year olds who would run for 2 km, the Blasters will include 13 – 15 year olds who would run for 3 km.

    The entire event will not be telecast but snippets of it will be shown in Feburary next year.

    To ensure participation, an on going school contact program across 100 schools each in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata was rolled out in November. The channel states that last year the distribtution of forms to the various schools claims to have garnered maximum response from the kids. Additionally, this will be supported by a mass media promotion comprising of print, radio and internet. The channel has tied up with Times NIE and TTIS as print partners and ABP and Telegraph to promote the event in Kolkata. The radio partners are Red FM 93.5 and Total Sports Asia the event partners.

    What’s more, this year the event has lured more advertisers including Set Wet Nottee and Bournvita as co-presenting sponsors, the associate sponsors are Boomer, Dabur Chyawanprash, Sustacal, Haldiram’s Chips and Dukes Waffy. The water partner is Oxyrich and the Multiplex partners are Cinemax and PVR Cinemas.

    Speaking about the Britannia Tiger Hungamthon, UTV senior vice president marketing and communications Siddharth Roy Kapur said that much like last year the event would have a carnival feel with a holding area for parents and kids that will have food and games stalls. “In addition to the Hungama characters interacting with the kids, there will also be a live band performing at the venue.”

    Application forms are available at Cinemax chain in Mumbai and PVR chain in New Delhi as well as on the website www.hungamatv.com.

  • UTV launching youth-centric entertainment channel in JV with Astro

    UTV launching youth-centric entertainment channel in JV with Astro

    MUMBAI: Ronnie Screwvala has swung back into action. After selling off kids channel Hungama TV to Walt Disney in July, he is making a re-entry into the broadcasting space.

    Screwvala’s UTV Software Communications Ltd. is forming a 50:50 joint venture with Malaysia-based Astro for launching a Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) aimed at the youth. An investment of Rs 2 billion will be earmarked towards this.

    The new venture will operate across multiple platforms, including a television channel, gaming, mobile, licensing and merchandising, ground events and the internet.

    The first television channel in Hindi is slated for launch in the second quarter of 2007, supported by a huge multimedia campaign and multi-city ground events. UTV is currently conducting extensive research on this target group as an input to its programming and marketing designs.

    The plans for the venture include the launch of multiple channels across languages in India and Southeast Asia. UTV had earlier entered into a business co-operation arrangement with Astro to set up kids channels in Malaysia and Indonesia, which launched on the Astro platform earlier this year.

    Screwvala is looking at creating a channel targeted at audiences between the age group of 15-25 years. In Hungama TV, the core audience was 4-14 years.

    Walt Disney has acquired 14.9 per cent stake in UTV, offering the multinational giant to participate in expansion opportunities in India. With the buyout of local Hindi channel Hungama TV in a combined purchase deal, Disney has already consolidated its position in the kids segment.

    UTV recently received the FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) and other regulatory approvals for the sale of stake to Walt Disney. It may be recalled that Astro had signed the MoU with UTV to acquire 26 per cent in Hungama TV but with Disney later making a combined purchase offer, the deal didn’t sail through.

    Astro has ambitious plans in India and, along with Value Labs and NDTV, bought out the operations of Radio Today, the radio division of Living Media Group, which runs under the Red FM brand.

    The GEC segment is poised to see further activity with NDTV planning to make an entry. Star Plus continues to lead the space but is being challenged by Zee Telefilms. Sony TV hopes to stage a comeback with Big Boss.

    Screwvala’s attempt, analysts say, will be to carve out a specific target audience as he so successfully did in the kids space.

    Meanwhile, Disney’s acquisition of Hungama TV has concluded with the final approval from the FIPB. This was followed by the inflow of Rs 1.4 billion ($ 31.125 million) from Disney to UTV within a week. Disney has also invested Rs 670 million ($ 14.5 million) towards a 14.9 per cent stake in UTV. The two companies are now working out synergies in areas across television content production, movie production and broadcasting.

    “We will be working along with Disney in the areas of TV, animation and movies,” says UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala.

    Areas of common involvement have been identified including the launch of niche channels, movie co-productions and television content creation by UTV for Disney channels.

    UTV scrip slipped 2.7 per cent in the BSE to end today at Rs 258.70.

  • Hungama TV’s ‘Oral-B John aur Kaun’ to hit television on 2 December

    Hungama TV’s ‘Oral-B John aur Kaun’ to hit television on 2 December

    MUMBAI : Kid’s talent hunt Oral-B John aur Kaun, is set to premiere on Hungama TV on 2 December. The 13 episode reality show will culminate in the selection of a winning pair of a girl and boy to star alongside John Abraham in UTV’s film Goal. The grand finale of the show will be telecast on 13 January 2007.

    40 kids from across five-cities were evaluated on their acting and dancing skills in three rounds judged by television stars Poonam Goel and Shraddha Nigam. The quarter final round reduced the number of kids to 20, with an equal number of boys and girls. The final eight were selected in the semi-final round to compete in the finale that would be judged by film director Vivek Agnihotri in addition to the other two judges.

    In the Finale, the eight contestants would be evaluated on their acting skills and two winners will get an opportunity to star along with superstar John Abraham in Vivek Agnihotri directed movie Goal.

    The show will be hosted by Roshan Abbas and Karishma Randeva and promises not only to entertain but also hopes to provide an interesting peek into the grooming and training of the youngest talent pool of India.

  • Media stocks big gainers

    Media stocks big gainers

    MUMBAI: Sparked by a buoyant stock market, media stocks stood as big gainers on Monday. While the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex scaled a new high to end the day 56.10 points up at 13,186.89, strong activity was seen in media scrips like Balaji Telefilms, TV18 and Zee Telefilms.

    “There is a strong sentiment in favour of media stocks. Major action is happening in this sector and financial performances are improving,” said a market analyst.

    Balaji Telefilms gained 10.4 per cent in today’s trade, moving up from the previous close of Rs 158.55 to end the day at Rs 175. TV18 rose 10.18 per cent to close at Rs 898.55 while UTV went up by 9.26 per cent to Rs 221.75.

    Most of the other media stocks also firmed up with Zee Telefilms seeing a 3.62 per cent rise to close the trading session at Rs 337.65. Among the other gainers were TV Today (5.79 per cent to Rs 75.85), Sun TV (1.81 per cent to Rs 1264), Adlabs (1.88 per cent to Rs 365.55), K Sera Sera (1.43 per cent to Rs 31.95) and Bag Films (3 per cent to Rs 9.27). NDTV saw a marginal rise of 0.38 per cent with the scrip closing at Rs 236.30. Hinduja TMT, however, dipped by 1.48 per cent to Rs 519.15.

    “There is investment interest in media companies from private equity and non media players,” said an analyst in a brokering firm.

    A recent indication of this is the buyout of 51 per cent stake in Asianet by former chairman and BPL Mobile CEO Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Several media companies have also recently raised money through public offerings. Raj Television Network Ltd has just filed documents with the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), for its initial public offering (IPO).

    “The media sector is set for further growth as digitalisation sets in. There is bound to be a rub-off effect in such stocks,” the analyst said.

  • UTV to launch second feature film division ‘UTVPost’ in October

    UTV to launch second feature film division ‘UTVPost’ in October

    MUMBAI: UTV, integrated media and entertainment company, will launch its second post production set-up UTVPost in October. UTVPost will be based in Mumbai and is primarily the feature film extension of UTV’s signature post-production studio, USL.

    UTV founder member and director Deven Khote will spearhead the 60-member team of UTVPost and USL. UTVPost is digitally linked to UTV Toons, one of the country’s animation hubs. It comprises of a team of more than 500 skilled artists, animators and compositors, with expertise in all forms of animation and computer graphics.

    The facility is geared, and professionally staffed, to handle the entire post-production chain – from Telecine (with KeyCode) through to Digital Film recording for feature films, informs an official release.

    At UTV’s new 6000 sq feet Andheri studio, the company has configured a comprehensive projection-based 2Kplus DI (Digital Intermediate), VFX (Visual Effects), and CGI pipeline. UTVPost claims to be equipped with state-of-the-art technology from Arri, AutoDesk, Avid, FilmLight, HP, JVC and Sony.

  • Disney deal: UTV receives first tranche of Rs 692 mn

    Disney deal: UTV receives first tranche of Rs 692 mn

    MUMBAI: UTV Software Communications has received Rs 692 million as the first tranche of payment from The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte Ltd. With this transaction, the strategic investment into UTV from The Walt Disney Company stands executed.

    In July this year, Disney had entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of United Home Entertainment LTD (Hungama TV) at an enterprise valuation of $30.5 million and purchase equity stake of 14.9 per cent of expanded capital in UTV Software Communications LTD, at a consideration of $ 14 million. So, UTV would get a combined $ 44.5 million from the stake sale.

    In pursuance to the deal, UTV has now allotted 34, 00,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each at an issue price of Rs 192.50 per share to Disney. The approval for the same was granted by the members at their annual general meeting held on 24 August, 2006, as per an official release. Disney also announced the allotment of 19, 49,360 warrants to Ronnie Screwvala, founder and promoter of UTV.

  • UTV, ISRO & Vigyan Prasar co-produce quiz show Chamatkar, to premiere on DD1

    UTV, ISRO & Vigyan Prasar co-produce quiz show Chamatkar, to premiere on DD1

    MUMBAI: UTV has tied up with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Vigyan Prasar to produce a quiz show, Chamatkar. Slated to kick off on 3 September at 9 am on Doordarshan 1 (DD1), the 26 episode series aims to introduce science in a fun, non-intimidating way. Sachin Khedekar will anchor the show.

    UTV COO Ronald D’Mello said, ”Through Chamatkar we plan to provide a refreshers course on the fundamentals in Science all over again through an interesting and exciting format of a quiz show, which will appeal to a larger target audience, not like the usual quiz shows that usually just has straight forward questions and answers.”

    The show adopts a simplistic approach with an aim to explain the basics of science to the layman. Questions will be related to things around us that will allow participants and viewers to explore the world of science in their daily lives and understand how it works. The principles of science will also be illustrated with experiments performed on the set by the anchor Sachin Khedekar.

    Sachin Khedekar adds, “Being an Environment Engineer myself, it gives me immense pleasure to be associated with Chamatkar, which aims at educating and entertaining simultaneously”.

    ISRO director of Development and Educational Communication Unit B. S. Bhatia says “We are happy to be associated with UTV through this quiz show and looking forward to making science easy and relatable for the viewers.”

    Vigyan Prasar director V. S. Kamble says, “Through Chamatkar, we hope to achieve our primary objective of popularising the subject of science. We are happy to constantly share information on scientific and technological developments taking place in India with the masses.”

    The series commences with the preliminary rounds of the West Zone and will be followed by the West Zonal finals. The pattern will be repeated for the other four zones i.e. South, North, East and Central zones. It will finally end with the zonal finalists competing in the National finals.