ITV

Tag: Zee Caf

  • BBC World launches ad campaign for ‘World News Today’

    MUMBAI: With an aim to capture the Indian market, BBC World has launched a new advertising campaign in India for the new show World News Today which has started from 23 July.

    It has released four print ads, two TVCs, two radio spots and one internet ad for the Asia-centric news show hosted by Nik Gowing.

    BBC World marketing and communications head Vaishali Sharma elaborates, “As the show is focused for the Indian audience, the ad campaign is made to meet the needs of the Indian market. We are trying to reach out to the people by our ad campaign.”

    “With a common tagline for all the ads which reads ‘what affects the world, affects you’, the campaign stresses upon the fact how global changes affect our lives in India,” she adds.

    One of the print ads read ‘To know if we’re going to receive record rainfall this year, check the skies in Oman.’ The other ad states ‘To find out if petrol prices will rise. Keep an eye on America’s Middle East policy.’ To know if our foreign holidays will get cheaper one has to keep an eye at the US-China trade gap, explains one of the ads. The other ad asks to watch the show to discover how by walking into an Amercian mall, one can figure out job oppurtunities.

    Sharma says that the print ads will be placed in almost all the leading dailies of major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Srinagar, Hyderabad. Meanwhile, the radio spots will be aired on Radio City and Radio One.

    BBC World will run the 30-second TVCs only on Discovery, Travel and Living, AXN, Pix, Zee Café and Zee Studio who share a similar audience profile.

  • 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.”

  • Zee Cafe gets into action mode with ‘Without A Trace’

    Zee Cafe gets into action mode with ‘Without A Trace’

    MUMBAI: In a bid to add spice to its lineup English general entertainment channel Zee Cafe will kick off the action show Without A Trace from 15 October at 9 pm.

    This is a procedural drama about the New York Missing Persons Squad of the FBI. The sole responsibility of the special task force is to find missing persons, by applying advanced psychological profiling techniques to peel back the layers of the victims’ lives and trace their whereabouts in an effort to discover whether they have been abducted, been murdered, committed suicide or simply run away.

    The show has been produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. The team reconstructs a ‘day of disappearance’ timeline that details every minute of the 24 hours prior to the disappearance and digs into every facet of the victim’s life, following one simple rule: learn who the victim is in order to learn where the victim is.

    Senior agent Jack Malone (Anthony LaPaglia), a tough but compassionate, seasoned and astute professional, heads the dedicated team that knows too well that every second counts when someone vanishes. His squad includes Samantha Spade (Poppy Montgomery), an agent whose blonde good looks belie a tough, complex approach to her work; Vivian Johnson (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a no-nonsense investigator with a special insight into victims’ families; Danny Taylor (Enrique Murciano), whose sensitivity is often covered up by his street smarts, and the strait-laced Martin Fitzgerald (Eric Close), who joined the team as a result of his father’s connections but
    has since earned his stripes.

    The team’s newest member is street-smart F.B.I. rookie Elena Delgado (Rosalyn Sanchez), formerly of the N.Y.P.D. vice unit. As the agents work on varied and complicated cases, details about their own lives continue to unfold.

    In addition as a Diwali special the channel will air an Abba concert on 21 October at 4 pm. One of its local shows After Hours celebrates one year with a one hour special on 15 October at 7:30 pm. It will be repeated the following Monday at 3 pm, Wednesday at 10:30 am, Saturday at 10:30 pm and on Sunday at noon.

    The channel will also air the classic mini series The Thornbirds from 10 October from Tuesday-Saturday at 2 pm. This mini series covers 60 years in the lives of the Cleary family, brought from New Zealand to Australia to run their aunt Mary Carson’s ranch. The story centers on their daughter, Meggie, and her love for the family’s priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart. Meggie tries to forget Ralph by marrying dashing stockman Luke O’Neill, but she and Ralph are soon reunited, with tragic consequences for them both.

    This romantic drama has won four Golden Globes (four nominations) and six Emmies (10 nominations).

     

  • Zee Cafe to launch ‘Love Monkey’ & ‘Sopranos V’

    Zee Cafe to launch ‘Love Monkey’ & ‘Sopranos V’

    MUMBAI: Zee Cafe will premiere two new shows Love Monkey and Sopranos fifth season starting 23 July and 19 July respectively.

    Love Monkey, a comedy scheduled for Sunday nights at 10 pm, stars Golden Globe nominee Thomas Cavanagh (Ed), Golden Globe nominee Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210), Larenz Tate (Ray) and Christopher Wiehl (Playmakers). The story revolves around four men, who struggle with career and relationships while helping one another through the often-comical roadblocks fate decides to throw their way.

    Sopranos, scheduled for 10 pm on Wednesdays, features Emmy Award winners James Gandolfini and Edi Falco. This series redefines family with its realistic, compelling and darkly humorous looks at the suburban New Jersey Soprano clan. Managing a deadly criminal enterprise has taken its toll on anxiety-ridden Mafia boss Tony Soprano (Gandolfini). Trying to elude the FBI and avoid mob power struggles while coping with a shaky marriage to long-suffering wife Carmela (Falco) and fatherhood to his sullen teenage son and rebellious daughter is enough to send anyone to the analyst’s couch. So, when the pressures reach dangerous levels, Tony reluctantly seeks the help of psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) to reconcile the consequences of his life choices.

  • Zee Café to launch comedy ‘Joey’ on 12 July

    Zee Café to launch comedy ‘Joey’ on 12 July

    MUMBAI: Zee Cafe has announced the launch of a sitcom Joey. The comedy kicks off on 12 July Wednesday at 9:30 pm.

    Joey says good-bye to a time when his friends were his family and welcomes the chance to turn his family into his friends. After reuniting with his high-strung sister Gina (de Matteo), a strong and sexy hairdresser, Joey shares an apartment with her genius 20-year-old son, graduate student Michael (Costanzo), who literally is a rocket scientist. What Joey lacks in book smarts; he more than makes up for with his people skills, making him the best new friend his nephew could ask for. Joey quickly befriends his hot married neighbour, uptight lawyer Alex Garrett (Anders) who is also the apartment superintendent. All he needs now is for his tough-talking, old school agent, the tact-challenged Bobbie (Coolidge), to get off the casting couch and get him some acting work.

    Created by Shana Goldberg-Meehan (Friends) & Scott Silveri (Friends), Joey is executive produced by Kevin S. Bright (Friends), Goldberg-Meehan and Silveri.

  • ‘The Orange County’ Season II on Zee Cafe from 30 June

    ‘The Orange County’ Season II on Zee Cafe from 30 June

    MUMBAI: Zee Café will unveil the second season of The O.C. (Orange County) this month. The second season will premiere on 30 June at 10:00 pm.

    Announcing the launch, Zee Café business head Neil Chakravarti said, “The first season of The O.C. on Café was immensely popular. We received innumerable requests from loyal viewers across the country to air the second season and we are indeed happy to be able to respond to those requests, and to bring it exclusively on Zee Café.”

    The first season saw Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) fall in love with the girl next door, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) Their romance, however, is ill-fated, constantly tested by the young lovers’ inability to escape from their pasts. At the end of the season, Ryan returned to Chino to protect his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Theresa from her abusive ex-boyfriend.

    As the tumultuous summer comes to an end, both Seth (Adam Brody) and Ryan must make decisions on their futures in The O.C. and their futures with Summer (Rachel Bilson) and Marissa. And the adults in town face fresh challenges as well, with Caleb’s past coming back to haunt him causing big problems for Sandy, and Jimmy’s fortunes taking a turn. Meanwhile, Julie and Kirsten are thrown together in a surprising and contentious alliance.

  • Zee Cafe announces three new shows for prime time

    Zee Cafe announces three new shows for prime time

    MUMBAI: Zee Café will unveil three new shows in June 2006. The shows ER season IX, Bikini Destinations and Full House Season II & IV will be launched this month in the prime time.

    ER Season IX – Launches June 15, 2006, Thursdays at 10:00 pm: The most nominated drama series in Emmy history, ER, begins its latest season on Zee Café. Even after a record 104 Emmy nominations, 22 Emmy Awards and two prestigious Peabody Awards, ER continues to thrill and entertain audiences around the world. 

    Bikini Destinations – launches June 19, 2006 from Monday to Friday at 11:30 pm: Follow top bikini models as they set sail on a array of adventures to the world’s most alluring locations. Every half-hour episode will witness glamorous swimsuit models on calendar photo shoots around the world. From the beautiful white sand beaches of the Bahamas to the exotic islands of Tahiti, Bikini Destinations is an invitation to enchantment, states an official release.

    Full House Seasons III & IV – Launches on 20-June from Tuesday to Saturday at 6:30 pm : Zee Café is bringing back the first family in American sitcoms to your telly tubes.

  • TV channels can still seek downlink OK: Govt

    TV channels can still seek downlink OK: Govt

    NEW DELHI: Television channels that have not yet applied for registration under downlink norms in India need not loose heart, though the deadline expired on 11 May 2006.

    The government said that a channel can apply for registration in India for re-distribution clearance even after the expiry of the deadline.
    However, there is a rider. Those applying for landing rights after 11 May 2006 would not be carried by cable networks legally till the time the government gives it a clearance.

    “There’s no bar on TV channels applying for registration still. The only difference being that such channels can only be seen in Indian cable homes once the government clears them, which may take longer time compared to those who applied within the deadline,” an official of the information and broadcasting ministry told Indiantelevision.com today.

    Last week, the government had clarified that from 11 May, all TV channels uplinking from outside India and having applied for registration with the government by that date could be carried on cable networks for the next six months or till the time government decides on their applications.

    The official explained that a channel applying for registration after the deadline would be given less priority compared to those who made an attempt to adhere to norms within the stipulated time.

    The registration process is two-fold. First a TV channel will be registered with the government, which will make it easier for the authorities to monitor errant ones on various counts, including breach of the programming code.

    Second, an authorized company, responsible for the actions of a channel beaming into India, will be registered. This entity can either be an authorized distributor of a channel in India or the channel-owning company’s Indian subsidiary.

    Now that the deadline for adhering to downlink norms is over, the government will compile the information, including shareholding patterns, provided by various channels and companies and scrutinize their authenticity.

    “This task will take some time and that’s why we have indicated a six-month period. The work can be completed earlier also,” the ministry official pointed out.

    Conspicuous by their absence are Pakistan TV family of channels, including PTV, Geo TV, the ARY channels and Q TV.

    “If they haven’t applied for registration, then their carriage on any (Indian) cable network or a DTH platform (beaming to Indian consumers) would be termed illegal,” the I&B ministry categorically said.

    The ministry is also in the process of issuing a notification in this regard, which will amend the Cable TV Act of 1995 and the DTH guidelines to incorporate the features of downlink norms.

    “The notification in this regard should be out in a day or two,” the official said. The downlink norms, announced in November 2005, have been termed stringent by many a broadcaster and industry lobbying bodies.

    Those TV channels that have got permission to uplink from India will be deemed as registered after furnishing some additional details.

    Meanwhile, according to the I&B ministry’s website, a total of 65 TV channels have applied for registration till 11 May.

    The channels are Star Utsav, Star Plus, Star World, Star Gold, Star One, Star Movies, Channel V, Deutsche Welle TV, Angel TV, Hallmark Channel, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Star Vijay, Sony TV, Set Max, Animax, SET Pix, SAB(Sony), AXN, National Geographic Channel (NGC), History Channel, MTV, Nick, Vh 1, MTV2, Ten Sports, Channel News Asia, B4U Music, B4U Movies, Discovery Channel, Discovery Travel & Living, Animal Planet, Zee Studio, Zee Café, Zee Trendz, CNN International, HBO, POGO, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TV5 Monde, ESPN Sports, Star Sports, BBC World, Fashion TV, Voyages Television, Miracle Net TV, God TV, Reality TV, ABC Asia Pacific, Zee Arabia, Goal TV-1, Goal TV-2, Zee MGM, Day Star Television, DAN Tamil Ozhi, DAN Cinema, DAN Music, Trace TV, Euro News, Family Entertainment TV, CT Buzz, Raj Musix and Vissa TV.

    Indiantelevision.com learns that Essel Shyam, a joint venture between Shyam Electronics and Zee’s parent Essel Group, has applied for registration on behalf of over a dozen of TV channels, most of which are foreign owned.

  • 14 more TV channels apply for downlink okay

    14 more TV channels apply for downlink okay

    NEW DELHI: Fourteen more TV channels have applied for downlinking permission in India taking the total number to 55 as the deadline shutters down on 11 May.

    According to information posted on the website of the information and broadcasting ministry as of 11 May 1.10 a.m., the likes of ESPN, Star Sports, Reality TV, BBC World, Fashion TV and God TV were amongst those seeking landing rights in India.

    The government had stated all TV channels wishing to be downlinked into India will have to apply for landing rights after fulfilling various norms by 11 May 2006.

    The government had also clarified that from 11 May, all TV channels uplinking from outside India and having applied for registration with the government by that date could be carried on cable networks for the next six months or till the time government decides on their applications.

    The TV channels that have applied, according to the I&B ministry website, till 10 May include TV5 Monde, ESPN, Star Sports, BBC World, Fashion TV (that has applied under the entertainment category), Voyages Television, Miracle Net TV (entertainment), God TV(entertainment), Reality TV (entertainment), ABC Asia Pacific, Zee Arabia, Goal TV-1, Goal TV-2, MGM.

    The channels that sought landing rights earlier include Star Utsav, Star Plus, Star World, Star Gold, Star One, Star Movies, Channel V, Deutsche Welle TV, Angel TV, Hallmark Channel, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Star Vijay, Sony TV, SET Max, Animax, SET Pix, SAB(Sony), AXN, National Geographic Channel, The History Channel, MTV, Nick,Vh 1, MTV2, Ten Sports, Channel News Asia, B4U Music, B4U Movies, Discovery, Discovery Travel & Living, Animal Planet, Zee Studio, Zee Café, Zee Trendz, CNN International, HBO, POGO, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

    The ministry has informed TV channels that those who have obtained uplinking permission from India before 2 December, 2005 are not required to file with the government for downlinking.

    These channels will also not be required to pay an initial fee of Rs. 500,000 on grant of permission agreement or the annual downlinking fee of Rs. 100,000 per channel.

    However, those TV channels obtaining uplink permission from the government after 2 December, 2005 are required to submit some additional information relating to downlink okay, but are exempt from any processing and annual fee.

  • Zee Cafe presents new reality show ‘The Cut’

    Zee Cafe presents new reality show ‘The Cut’

    MUMBAI: In addition to a host of reality TV series, Zee’s 24-hour English entertainment channel Zee Cafe announced the launch of a new reality show The Cut. It will be hosted by style icon Tommy Hilfiger and will hit Indian television on Friday 12 May at 9 pm.

    The first episode of the series will be presented commercial free and thus the title, The Cut – Uncut. Episodes span for an hour and will feature celebrity guests such as Jennifer Lopez, designer Karl Lagerfeld and Jamie-Lynn DiScala.

    The Cut features sixteen contestants competing for an opportunity to design their own collection under the Tommy Hilfiger label, earning a package worth $250,000. To accquire this, contestants must complete a series of tasks that showcase their design and business skills to prove their metal in the world of fashion.

    Zee Cafe showcases sitcoms, comedies, dramas, soaps, underworld masterpieces & blockbuster programmes. Other shows on the channel include Friends, Sopranos, America’s Next Top Model, ER, After Hours, Orange County and E! News.