Broadbandindia Magazine » Media news

Times TV elevates Kaul and Trigunayat

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:55:12 +0000

Times Television Network has announced elevation in responsibilities of two of its senior personnel: Avinash Kaul and Ajay Trigunayat.

While Kaul, who was CEO of Zoom, has been given additional responsibility of ET Now as well, Trigunayat has been named CEO Hollywood Channels. Both Kaul and Trigunayat will continue to report to Times Television network MD and CEO Sunil Lulla.

Lulla said, “2011 has been a significant year of growth for Times Television Network. As the channels consolidate positions, it offers opportunities for talent to develop. Avinash Kaul and Ajay Trigunayat will both bring new ideas, energy and passion for TTN’s ambitious growth agenda. We wish them great success.”

Govt to amend Press and Registration laws

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:49:18 +0000

The Government has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend and consolidate the laws relating to press and registration of books and publications, which would make entry of foreign magazines into the country “hassle free”.

The Press and Registration of Books Bill 2011 seeks to convert into law various executive orders that have followed as a result of the review of the Print Media Policy of 1955 to keep pace with the phenomenal growth and changes in the media sector.

The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 has been amended several times since its inception to 1983, but the existing provisions are still not adequate to cater to the fast changes in the media scene.

NDTV 24×7 goes LIVE on Virgin Media, UK

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:48:52 +0000

NDTV is proud to announce its premier English news channel NDTV 24×7 is now also available on Virgin Media in the UK. Reaching out to additional 3 million-plus households, NDTV 24×7 becomes Asia’s first and only news channel to be a part of Virgin’s base pack along with other leading International news channels. Winner of numerous awards, including the Asian Television Award for Best News Channel, NDTV 24×7 is home to the finest international award-winning journalists and TV production team across the country. Incisive and creative, NDTV 24×7 targets the global Indian with news that is credible, true and fast.

NDTV 24×7 is available on channel # 621 on Virgin Media’s base. It is also available on Sky and is the only News Channel from India which is now being beamed into 75 countries across the world reaching out to not just the diaspora but to India watchers in all these countries.

Ayesha Surty joins Times TV Network

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:47:35 +0000

Times Television Network has appointed Ayesha Surty as Head, syndication and digital revenues. Surty will be based out of Mumbai and will focus on building relationships and maximising revenue opportunities with content and brand presence across platforms. She will report to Zoom and ET Now CEO Avinash Kaul. Surty comes with over 12 years of experience. Her last assignment was with Imagine TV as the associate director – content sales and digital media.

TDSAT declines to hear Media Pro

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:47:14 +0000

TDSAT has dismissed the plea of Media Pro to hear it as a party in the dispute between DTH operator Dish TV and global sports broadcaster ESPN on their subscription agreement. Dismissing the application, TDSAT said it was a dispute between a broadcaster and a DTH operator, and although its outcome may impact the broadcast industry, it was not feasible to hear everyone in the case.

Rohit Vohra,President of BAG Films, passed away

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:46:50 +0000

Rohit Bal Vohra, President, BAG Films, passed away on December 20, 2011 following a heart attack. He was in the core team of BAG Network Ltd and was also heading E24 channel for quite a while. Prior to joining BAG Network Ltd, Vohra had worked with Fox Network. In the course of his long career, Vohra had worked with broadcast majors like STAR Hong Kong, STAR India, NewsX, 9XM, Zoom TV and BIG FM, among others.

ESS acquires Cricket Australia telecast rights till 2017

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:43:22 +0000

ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has entered into a five-year contract for the exclusive rights to broadcast Cricket Australia’s (CA) domestic and home international matches. The telecast rights are across various platforms including television, internet, mobile and radio covering the entire Asian region.

As a part of this deal, the current Future Tours Program (FTP) sees ESPN Star Sports broadcasting more than 191 days of live International cricket action from Australia, including 27 Test Matches, 44 One Day Internationals and 12 Twenty20 games. This broadcast deal with Cricket Australia will give ESPN Star Sports rights to showcase two India series. India is slated to play four testmatches and a tri-series with England as the third team in the 2014- 2015 season.

B4U launches on 2 platforms in East Africa

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:27:16 +0000

B4U, the Bollywood network has launched two of its channels – B4U Movies, and B4U Music – on two platforms in East Africa. Both the channels have been launched on Zuku, the cable network, and Star Times, the DTT operator in East Africa. Both StarTimes and Zuku, cater to the local Asian community in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Burundi, Entrea, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Sudan.

B4U head of business and international distribution Ashok Shenoy said, “We at B4U are excited to launch both our channels in East Africa on these prestigious platforms. With this launch B4U has now become the most widely distributed South Asian channel in the African continent. We are confident that B4U will cater to the large Bollywood fan base in the community and that they will enjoy the variety offered.”

I&B & Health ministries in a row

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:25:15 +0000

The Information and Broadcasting (I & B) Ministry has instructed the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) to maintain status quo and not implement for now the anti-smoking rules for films that the Health Ministry had notified in September. A highly placed source said that while the production of films is regulated under the Cinema-tography Act, it was yet to be legally examined whether the Health Ministry could through a notification bring changes in the process defined under the Act. The I & B ministry’s move which may be a relief to movies like Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Don 2’, also brings out in the open the sharp differences between the two ministries over the implementation of the sstrict rules aimed at discourage smoking and tobacco use. There are also differences between the two ministries on the issues of appointment of a Health Ministry representative on CBFC board and interpretation of a previous court verdict. The Law Ministry is now looking at these legal issues and the objections raised by the Information and Broadcasting ministry.

AsiaSat adds 3 Indian channels

BroadbandIndia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:24:00 +0000

The leading Asian satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) has signed a new agreement with Pride East Entertainments for C-band capacity on AsiaSat4. With the deal in place, AsiaSat4 will deliver three Indian freeto- air satellite channels – News Live, Rang and Ramdhenu – serving audiences in the North Eastern region of India and across the country. News Live is a 24- hour news and current affairs satellite channel broadcasting in Assamese and English languages. Rang offers Assamese, Hindi and English language entertainment programmes, whereas Ramdhenu, a new satellite channel, broadcasts music and lifestyle programming in Assamese, Hindi and English languages.