Media UK

Channel S Television - news archive

This is an archive of news about Channel S Television. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

SAB TV to reposition to a comedy channel
From Biz Asia. Posted June 23 2008, 1.04am
Sony Entertainment Network's youth orientated channel SAB TV is reverting back to being a comedy channel, come Monday 30th June. The channel, which launched in India in 2005 (UK earlier this year) has undergone a couple of makeovers already but this time around its more serious than ever to concentrate on the comedy genre. According to IndianTelevision, SAB TV will be launching a daily comedy soap called 'Lo Ho Gayi Pooja Is Ghar Ki' from 30th June. It will replace 'Jersey Number 10' in the 21:00 Monday to Thursday slot. Other new additions to the prime time schedule will be dubbed Hollywood shows such as 'Home Improvement', 'Wife and Kid', 'According to Jim' and '8 Simple Rules'. It has also acquired comedy series of 'Charlie Chaplin' and 'Laurel and Hardy' which will be aired shortly. American sitcoms in dubbed version 'Home Improvement' and 'Wife and Kid' will kick off in the first week of July from 19:00 - 20:00. The shows will be repeated between 23:00 and midnight. SAB business head Anooj Kapoor says, "With our new repositioning we will highlight positive values of families. We will become a comedy channel skewed towards families with our target group being people aged four years and above. "Until now we had showcased episodic comedies but for the first time we are getting a trend of linear family comedy," avers Kapoor. As a part of the entire revamp, the channel has also introduced a comedy track in its flagship show 'Left Right Left' (LRL). "According to a survey that we did in our TG, shows like LRL and Jersey Number 10 had no more remained top of the mind recall for them. Our viewers could relate to only comedy with SAB," answers Kapoor. In the last few months the channel went on a spree of launching comedy based reality and fiction shows like 'Krazy Kiya Re', 'Comedy Ka King Kaun' and 'Bhago KK Aya'. SAB TV is a part of the MAX Mix pack on Sky Digital. Related links: SAB TV makes official Sky EPG launch SAB TV adds four new shows to primetime Sony to re-position & revamp its SAB channel (more)

ARY OneWorld News launches website
From Biz Asia. Posted June 18 2008, 9.57pm
The long awaited website of ARY OneWorld News has launched today. Although the website is a beta version, a channel spokesperson said, "the full version will be launched very soon after taking feedback from our viewers." The ARY OneWorld news website hopes to become a news portal similar to other local news channels from Pakistan or CNN and BBC internationally. The website covers news stories from Pakistan and all across the globe and are further classified into sports, politics, health, business, entertainment etc. Other features include top news stories from around the world, hourly updates, special reports in PDF format, News in Pictures and for more avid fans, a forum to discuss the latest topics. The website can be viewed here. (more)

Multichannel TV ratings: Almost 1m watch Thatcher drama
From Media Guardian. Posted June 13 2008, 10.27am
BBC4's Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley was the most watched multichannel show in the 9pm slot, attracting almost 1 million viewers. By Natalie Whelan (more)

Disney Channel says free-to-air move in Spain will not be repeated in UK
From Media Guardian. Posted May 28 2008, 4.31pm
Disney is making its Spanish kids' TV channel free to air - a first among the 27 Disney Channels worldwide - but says it has no plans to ditch the pay-TV model in the UK. By Katie Allen. (more)

Clear Channel surges after asset sell-off
From Financial Times. Posted May 9 2008, 11.16pm
Clear Channel recorded a surge in first-quarter earnings, helped by asset sales, although the media group's core radio and outdoor advertising divisions showed signs of continued weakness in a sluggish advertising market (more)

Sony TV releases info on 'Indian Idol 4'
From Biz Asia. Posted April 29 2008, 9.49pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia has announced it has signed up actress Sonali Bendre as a judge on its latest series of 'Indian Idol', which starts in the coming weeks. Bendre was incidentally a part of Sony TV's other show 'Mr. & Miss TV'. She will join regulars Anu Malik and Javed Akhtar on the panel. Kailesh Kher has also been roped in to form the new series. Contestants from the last series Meiyang Chang and Deepali Kishore have been named as hosts for the initial auditions process of the show. A channel spokesman said if viewers respond positively towards the two, they may be considered as permanent fixtures for the show. (more)

Disney star regrets flashing her flesh for Vanity Fair's Leibovitz
From The Independent. Posted April 29 2008, 12.00am
Sitting for Vanity Fair photographer Annie Leibovitz may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but Miley Cyrus, the 15-year-old television superstar who plays Hannah Montana in the popular Disney Channel show of the same name, is now wishing she hadn't. (more)

SAB TV makes official Sky EPG launch
From Biz Asia. Posted April 24 2008, 7.40pm
Sony Entertainment Network's light-entertainment channel SAB TV has made its official launch on Sky Digital today. As exclusively revealed by BizAsia.co.uk last week, SAB TV was to launch in an existing EPG slot on Sky. We later announced that SAB TV was taking over EPG 819, replacing Sahara FILMY. The channel has unable to achieve the same success it has in India here due to film rights issues so was dependent on a high repeat pattern of movies, which could be the reason behind its sudden demise in the UK. Some programming properties from Sahara FILMY will be shifted to Sahara One in the coming weeks. Whilst the network has remained tight-lipped on the move, it seems the decision was made as an effort to bolster its MAX Mix bundle of channels. With the launch of SAB TV, the network will use it as an alternative GEC (general entertainment channel) to Sahara One. SAB TV is available as part of the MAX Mix package on Sky channel 819. Related links: SAB TV to replace Sahara Filmy next month? EXCLUSIVE: SAB TV launch details emerge Ofcom awards Sony TV licence for SAB SET MAX to launch Sahara channels in UK (more)

EXCLUSIVE: SAB TV launch details emerge
From Biz Asia. Posted April 17 2008, 1.54pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia's light entertainment sister channel SAB TV is planning to launch on Sky Digital next month, BizAsia.co.uk can exclusively reveal. (more)

Sunrise TV signs up to official body BARB
From Biz Asia. Posted April 11 2008, 11.56am
Sunrise TV has signed up with the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB) to officially measure its viewership. The channel, which is still yet to officially launch, is available on Sky Digital and becomes the third Asian channel in recent months to have its viewership measured. Mainstream terrestrial and digital multi-channel services subscribe to BARB, however Asian TV channels have until recently stayed away from such mechanics of audience measuring. Last October saw Prime TV become the first Asian channel sign up with BARB. Related links: Doordarshan India signs to audience measuring body Prime TV signs audience measuring body BARB Sunrise TV begins testing ahead of Sky launch? Sunrise TV to launch in early-February? (more)

Confirmed: Salman to front show for Sony TV
From Biz Asia. Posted April 5 2008, 12.28pm
As we revealed last week, it has now been confirmed by Sony Entertainment Television Asia that Bollywood hunk Salman Khan will be fronting a gameshow for the channel from June. The desi version of 'Power of 10' is being produced by Synergy Adlabs. Sony TV will use the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the lead in for the show. According to Sony TV business head Albert Almeida, the show is more inclusive and audience participatory compared to other gameshows. Almeida adds that participants will need to have an educated stance and a decisive point of view to succeed. "If an issue affects him/her, then it is likely that the participant will answer as per the feelings. If the question pertains to an issue that is far from the individual's issue, then the participant will have to think about it." A participant can choose to exit the show at any point of time. If the participant however carries on and answers incorectly, then the amount won is lost. In the beginning two participants face off for the right to play the game. In the US the show airs on CBS and is hosted by Drew Carey. On rival channel STAR Plus India, it has begun marketing activities for its own upcoming mega gameshow 'Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain?' hosted by King Khan - Shah Rukh. Related links: Salman Khan to host gameshow for Sony TV Shah Rukh Khan show to air on STAR Vijay too Shah Rukh to host another show on STAR Plus (more)

Asian Wedding Exhibition fever hits STAR One
From Biz Asia. Posted March 21 2008, 12.18pm
UK’s cutting edge television channel STAR One was the media sponsor for this year’s Asian Wedding Exhibition 2008, which took place on 8th and 9th March 2008 at the Alexandra Palace. The weekend provided a one-stop shop for all brides and grooms to-be who were planning for their big day, and to prepare them, STAR One will be showcasing, a first of its kind, one-hour special dedicated to organising the perfect wedding, which will be broadcast on STAR One at 21:00 on Sunday 30th March 2008 and repeated at 20:00 on Sunday 13th April 2008. Innovative wedding cars, exotic and exquisite mandaps, captivating fashion shows and previews of the coming season’s collections will be among the features of the one-hour special programme. 'Tips and tricks' from the top-end group of experts, spanning fashion and food to beauty and bhangra bands have also been included to make the programme educational and entertaining. Now in its 15th year, the Asian Wedding Exhibition, the largest event of its kind in the UK, brought together the best of Asian bridal fashion and beauty proving a phenomenal hit with Brit-Asian fashionistas and brides and grooms-to-be. Visitors were among the first to see some of the season’s latest collections, cuts and colours, from the hottest international designers. With over a hundred wedding specialists participating, from jewellers and beauticians to caterers, florists, photographers and even venue representatives, the exhibition constantly proves to be a one-stop shop for all wedding needs and it’s all under one roof. Since its launch, STAR One, the contemporary sister channel of STAR Plus, has been wowing British Asian audiences with a diverse line up of shows that take viewers away from the regular fare that is available on TV today. STAR One is committed to celebrating and presenting global audiences with a whole new era in original and compelling entertainment programming, delivering exciting shows that bring Asian programming well and truly into the 21st century. (more)

ITV2+1 to take Men & Motors EPG slot
From Digital Spy. Posted March 6 2008, 12.22pm
ITV is to switch the EPG positions of Men & Motors and ITV2+1 as the channel starts 24 hour broadcasts. (more)

ITV wins double with European football
From Digital Spy. Posted March 5 2008, 3.10pm
ITV dominated terrestrial and multichannel schedules last night with Champions League football. (more)

BBC Arabic to launch March 11
From Rapid TV News. Posted March 3 2008, 11.01am
The BBC’s Arabic language news channel starts transmissions a week from today, on March 11. What will it achieve? (more)

MTV shakes up channel strategy
From Media Guardian. Posted January 29 2008, 7.28am
MTV is to relaunch its flagship website MTV.co.uk as a general entertainment and music portal. By Mark Sweney (more)

Sunrise TV begins testing ahead of Sky launch?
From Biz Asia. Posted January 23 2008, 8.59pm
Sunrise TV has commenced testing EPG data ahead of its official launch on Sky Digital next month. The news about Sunrise TV launching on Sky was exclusively revealed on BizAsia.co.uk last week. EPG data of the channel suggests that programmes will consist of shows imported from India such as 'Punjabi Pop', Mumbai Masala' and 'Hasya Factory'. Bollywood movies and locally recorded shows are also expected to form the schedule. Sources close to BizAsia.co.uk have said that the channel is likely to be available free-to-air initially before encrypted. There has also been speculation about Sunrise TV being added to the MAX Mix bundle of channels but this can't be confirmed at this stage. BizAsia.co.uk awaits an official response from Sunrise Radio about its TV service, which has been in the planning for over three years. Sunrise TV is expected to join the Sky EPG on Monday 4th February. EPG testing can be tuned in by following the steps below (audio and video testing soon): -> Using your Sky Digi remote, go to Services Menu -> System Setup (4) -> Add Channels (4) -> Enter the frequency: 11.388 (H), FEC 2/3, Symbol Rate 27500 -> Find Channels and Press SELECT -> Highlight "52408" service and press Yellow button. -> Return to Services Menu -> Other Channels (6) on STB / (8) on Sky+ -> "52408" should be listed and available Related link: Sunrise TV to launch in early-February? (more)

Premium Gallery goes Sci-Fi
From Rapid TV News. Posted January 13 2008, 2.16am
Sci-Fi, the NBC Universal Global Networks TV channel brand, will be one of the main daily programming blocks on Italy's new TV channel Steel. (more)

Foul is fair for Weather Channel sale
From Media Guardian. Posted January 3 2008, 11.47pm
A round-the-clock American weather forecasting channel, renowned for its intrepid rain-drenched reporters standing in the eyes of hurricanes, is up for sale with an estimated price tag of $5bn (£2.5bn) (more)

Shanghai city TV channel starts English, Japanese language broadcasting
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 1 2008, 11.49am
China’s economic hub, Shanghai, today opened its first TV channel that broadcasts in foreign languages. International Channel Shanghai (ICS) is the first foreign-language TV channel in China that is not operated by China Central Television (CCTV), the state TV system. ICS will broadcast in English and Japanese, with Chinese captions. The organization didn’t say whether other [...] (more)

9X & Bindaas begin eating into popular channels
From Biz Asia. Posted December 24 2007, 12.06pm
Newcomers into the Indian TV market - 9X and Bindass have begun eating to the shares of long-running channels like Sony Entertainment Television Asia, Sahara One, MTV and Channel V, according to latest data. Business Standard is reporting that while 9X, within a month of its launch, has managed to penetrate nearly 30 per cent of the 76 million cable homes, Bindass, the youth channel from UTV, is generating higher ratings than MTV and Channel V, the two established youth-centric television channels. According to online rating generated by Audience Measurement and Analytics Ltd for the 10th December (Monday)-16th December (Sunday) period for the prime-time television (8pm-11pm), 9X is generating comparatively similar ratings at various time bands as Sony TV, the general entertainment channel (GEC) running for nearly a decade. Similarly, UTV’s Bindass has managed to outdo MTV and Channel V on several of the weekdays at prime time shows. For example, on 14th December (Friday) between 9pm-10pm, Bindass generated a rating of 0.21, which is 10 times the ratings generated by Channel V and MTV. In the GEC space, 9X generated a rating of 0.41 in the 8:30pm-9pm slot, similar to Sony TV on December 15 (Saturday). Analysts feel that this is because of a high cable household penetration achieved by 9X within a month of its launch coupled with interesting shows like 'Missing Ustaad' and others. In the long-term, these new channels (including ZEE Next launched on 17th December) may eat into the ad revenue of the big three GECs — STAR Plus, ZEE TV and Sony TV, says an industry source. The higher ratings of these newly launched channels will have an adverse impact on channels like Sahara One, STAR Utsav and SAB TV among others in the short run. Among the big three GECs, Sony TV has been at the third place for a long time both in terms of ratings and channel share, with STAR Plus being the numero uno followed closely by ZEE TV. Both STAR Plus and ZEE TV generate average television ratings of 3.9-5 during weekdays in the prime time viewing band. While Star Plus on most occasions gets the highest viewership ratings, ZEE TV has started displacing STAR Plus shows on several occasions, says the source. Related links: ZEE Next confirmed for launch in India New channel 9X opens to a mixed response INX Network to launch channel in India this month (more)

Channel shoppers
From Media Guardian. Posted December 20 2007, 11.43pm
Why did Sky buy its stake in ITV? (more)

Bizarre's Godfrey moves to Sumo.tv
From Media Guardian. Posted December 19 2007, 9.49am
Bizarre magazine editor Alex Godfrey has been appointed controller of the user-content TV channel Sumo.tv. By Mark Sweney (more)

Shanghai to launch international TV channel targeting foreigners
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 16 2007, 11.24am
Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua on 16 December 07 Shanghai will launch an international channel on 1 January next year [2008], as part of an effort to become an international and cultural metropolis. The International Channel Shanghai (ICS) is expected to serve as a window to showcase the economic and cultural [...] (more)

Venus TV celebrates two year anniversary
From Biz Asia. Posted December 5 2007, 7.52pm
Free-to-air broadcaster Venus TV is celebrating two years on air this weekend with a feast of new shows. The channel said it will be running an eight-hour live show on Friday 7th December to celebrate the occasion. It said, many famous names from the industry and business partners will be attending the special do. Venus TV is also expected to announce new deals with various Pakistani production houses, which will path the way for new programmes (details will be published here in the coming days). On Friday, the channel will also make public its plans to launch Venus TV in other parts of the world. Keep it with BizAsia.co.uk for more. Venus TV is available on Sky Digital EPG 807. (more)

New channel 9X opens to a mixed response
From Biz Asia. Posted November 26 2007, 8.37am
INX Media's new Hindi general entertainment channel 9X, which launched earlier this month has opened up to a bag of mixed numbers. Data for its launch week shows that the channel already has a 20 per cent reach, but in terms of channel share, it has opened lower compared to the likes of SAB and STAR Utsav. TAM Media Research data shows that for the C&S 4+ in the Hindi speaking markets, both in the all day data for the entire week, and the for weekdays primetime data, the channel has got better numbers only to the UTV owned Bindass. At an all day level for the entire week, 9X has a share of 0.63. In comparison, STAR Utsav is 0.86, SAB is 0.9, STAR One is 1.64, Sahara One is 2, Sony is 2.8, ZEE TV is 7.93 and STAR Plus is 10.09. The recently launched youth channel Bindass has a share of 0.49. If only the weekday primetime is seen, 9X has a share of 0.48, while STAR Utsav has 0.56, SAB has 0.88, Sony is 1.81, STAR One is 1.95, Sahara One is 2.42, ZEE TV is 13.57 and STAR Plus is 15.77. INX Media officials are "delighted" with the numbers and are touting it to be the “best opening numbers for a C&S channel in the history of Indian television”. Indrani Mukerjea, CEO, INX Media, said, "Things are going as per our plans – from the day we started, the reach numbers have gone up each day – right from November 12 to the close of the week, and will continue to do so." Karthik Laxminarayan, COO, Madison Media Infinity, voices the section of the industry that is happy with these numbers. He said, "They are very close to the second tier numbers in the first week itself and hence, these are very promising numbers. They have created enough buzz for people to tune in to the channel, and from here it is really up to the content of the channel." Prasanth Kumar, National Director, CTG, GroupM, on the other hand, is of the opinion that these are not encouraging numbers. He said, "9X is one of the channels that had launched with a high decibel impact plan. The programming line also had a good cast. However, the numbers haven’t given it an impact-at-launch. It shows that the channel certainly didn’t come as a surprise to viewers or clients and agencies." At a programme level, of the three shows in the primetime slot of 9X – 'Kahe Na Kahe', 'Jiya Jale' and 'Mere Apne' – 'Mere Apne' has delivered the highest with an average rating of 0.2. Siddharth Basu’s first shot at fiction – 'Jiya Jale' – has had an average rating of 0.14, while Ekta Kapoor’s 'Kahe na Kahe' is at an average rating of 0.11. The channel’s comedy band that has a different show on each day of the week at 22:30 has ratings varying from 0.09 to 0.15. Mukerjea is clear that the channel is not in any hurry to make any changes based on just a week’s data. She said, "We are confident that each of our shows is a unique property, and we don’t have knee jerk reactions to such early numbers." 9X's sister channel 9XM continues its run as market leader in the music sector after only three weeks on air. 9XM is also planning a UK launch next year. Related link: INX Network to launch channel in India this month STAR India's legal head quits network It's official! Top bosses quit STAR India Siddhartha Basu turns producer for ZEE TV soap (more)

SyncTV to offer channel service
From Financial Times. Posted November 19 2007, 2.00am
A new online video download service will allow viewers to subscribe to individual TV channels. SyncTV, which launches its beta-testing phase today, breaks from current... (more)

Sony & MAX announce Christmas movies
From Biz Asia. Posted November 16 2007, 9.15pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia and sister channel MAX have lined up some of their best movies for the upcoming Christmas break. For the first time in months, flagship channel Sony TV will screen a matinee movie (Monday - Thursday) throughout December to coincide with children taking time off from school for the festive season. Every week, Sony TV will air a special "Matinee Madness" season, which includes Bollywood Beauties, Bollywood Gold, Bollywood Royalty and Bollywood Epics. Some movies a part of the bumper movie festival include 'Zeher', 'Omkara', 'Junglee' and 'Mughal-E-Azam'. Furthermore, Sony TV will also screen the World TV Premiere of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif's romantic comedy caper 'Namastey London' on Sunday 30th December at 20:00. Over on its network movies channel MAX, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's hard-hitting drama 'Provoked' will get its World TV Premiere on Saturday 15th December at 20:00. The other premiere on MAX is 'Mr Ya Miss' starring Ritesh Deshmukh, Aftab Shivdasani and Antara Mali on Saturday 1st December at 20:00. (more)

Ofcom awards Sony TV licence for SAB
From Biz Asia. Posted November 7 2007, 9.32pm
Rumours of Sony Entertainment Television Asia launching its sibling entertainment channel SAB can finally be put to rest. Today, media regulator Ofcom confirmed that a licence for SAB had been awarded meaning the channel can now launch in the UK market. Sony Entertainment Television Asia's runs the MAX Mix bouquet of channels currently consisting of movie channels MAX and Sahara Filmy, entertainment channel Sahara One, Pakistani infotainment channel ARY Digital and India's leading news channel Aaj Tak. To consolidate its package and add further variety, the network will no doubt add SAB as an alternative entertainment offering to Sahara One and ARY Digital, instead slanting it towards a comedy/youthful genre channel. With Sky clamping down on the number of channels it launches on its platform, many Asian TV channels are getting in the launch queue quicker than before. A few weeks ago, it was revealed on BizAsia.co.uk that ZEE Network is getting ready to launch up to five new channels to form a bouquet of its own. Other India and Pakistani broadcasters have also been finalising their paperwork to speed-up their Sky Digital launches. Related links: Ofcom approves four new licences for ZEE UK Sky to reject launch of new channels New TV music channel to launch next year SET MAX to launch Sahara channels in UK Sahara One's new marketing strategy: Cricket (more)

German TV station to broadcast 24/7 in Dolby Digital 5.1
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 7 2007, 2.47pm
In 2008 the Munich broadcasting group Deluxe launches a world first: broadcasting 24 hours a day in Doly Digital 5.1. Deluxe, the first music station for adults, will achieve a multi-channel surround sound format with six separate audio channels. “This is a quantum leap for television entertainment, and marks the development of our premium selection,” says Markus [...] (more)

MP calls for more English-language show on S4C
From Media Guardian. Posted October 29 2007, 7.45am
Welsh channel S4C should include more English-language shows and have its budget devolved to the Welsh assembly, a Labour MP said today. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Rebel region TV operator to rebroadcast pro-government Moldovan TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 28 2007, 4.57pm
Excerpt from report by Moldovan news agency Basapress Chisinau, 26 October: Sheriff, the largest cable TV operator in Moldova’s breakaway Dniester region, will rebroadcast the Moldovan [pro-government private] NIT TV channel starting from 1 November 2007. According to a press release issued by Sheriff, Dniester region residents will have an opportunity to watch a TV channel from [...] (more)

ZEE TV postpones "unready" serial 'Ardhangini'
From Biz Asia. Posted October 19 2007, 9.09am
ZEE TV shocked the producers Kinnari and Jay Mehta of its soon-to-launch serial 'Ardhangini' when it was pulled off the air in the last minute. Heavy promotional activity advertised 'Ardhangini' to go live in India on Monday (15th October) and on ZEE TV UK this Monday (22nd October), however according to Mumbai Mirror, the banked episodes of 'Ardhangini' had to re-shot. The channel scrapped the entire bouquet of episodes, the producers were upset with the director, Pawan Sahu, for not following the brief. They have sacked him. Pawan Kumar has been roped in as the new director. Since 'Ardhangini' is a big-budget project the channel wanted the look to be sleek. A source in the production house told Mumbai Mirror, "It's a big- budget show and the channel wanted everything to be perfect. The production house and the creative heads at the channel had several meetings on the concept, look and the style of the show. In fact, we had shot episodes that would last almost a month but the channel was very unhappy. They wanted the lead actress Sudeepa Singh's character, Kangana, to be modeled after Paro of Devdas. But it did not turn up like the way it was conceived. Now we are re-shooting it and there's too much pressure." Ashish Kaul, executive vice president of ZEE TV told Mumbai Mirror, "As a channel, we have to keep in mind the long term benefits. The production house is like a mother who never sees any fault in her child, but we have to keep a check on quality control. I think the producers should understand that quality content will make a show big with the viewers. Nowadays, channels pump in a lot of money into the shows and we have to keep that in mind." 'Ardhangini' now goes live in early November. Related link: ZEE TV to add more new shows in October (more)

New Dutch talk TV channel starts with a whimper
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 15 2007, 3.03pm
The new Dutch TV channel Het Gesprek (The Conversation), that launched on 2 October, has started with a whimper rather than a bang.  The weekly viewing figures released today by the Audience Research Foundation (SKO) give the market share of the new talk station as 0.0 percent, or too small to measure. Nationally, an average of just [...] (more)

After Sahara One, FILMY gets ready for revamp
From Biz Asia. Posted October 8 2007, 10.11pm
Sahara's TV channels in the UK are finally making headway by announcing the launches of several new innovative shows. As BizAsia.co.uk reported last week, its flagship entertainment channel Sahara One will be launching a new drama produced by Paresh Rawal called 'Main Aisi Kyun Hoon', starting at 20:30 on Monday 22nd October. Over on Sahara's movies service FILMY, comedy show called 'Jigar Ma Badi Aag Hai!' will launch, which will star TV favourites Neena Gupta, Kanwaljeet and Sunil Grover (of 'Kaun Banega Champu' fame). Speaking about the show, Suchita Shah, Senior Supervisory Producer - FILMY said, "FILMY has always strived to entertain the masses through innovative film based programming, be it movie jockeys like Lallan or original software like Kaun Banega Champu and Rokkky's 99. Jigar Ma Badi Aag Hai! is one such show, which in a humorous way, covers the impact of a phenomena called Bollywood, on the lives of every Indian. With clichéd Hindi film plots and dialogues that have acquired cult status over the years, and with music and treatment that is 100% FILMY, Jigar Ma Badi Aag! is an out an out comedy show, that could not have been anywhere else but on FILMY!" 'Jigar Ma Badi Aag Hai!' comes on the back of the success of FILMY's reality talent show 'Bathroom Singer', which is shown on Sunday nights. In the pipeline, the channel also plans to launch, what it has dubbed the "biggest Bollywood quiz show" 'Bollywood Ka Boss', which will be hosted by Boman Irani. 'Jigar Ma Badi Aag Hai!' launches on Sunday 21st October at 20:30. Related links: Sahara One's new marketing strategy: Cricket Sahara One to launch Paresh Rawal soap (more)

Astra wins another ‘entavio’ channel
From Rapid TV News. Posted September 12 2007, 10.35pm
Astra’s “entavio” digitally encrypted platform has secured German channel SportDigital TV. (more)

Bangladesh news channel suspended for 7 days
From Media Network Weblog. Posted September 8 2007, 11.23am
Reporters Without Borders has called on the interim government to reverse its decision to suspend the country’s only privately-run 24-hour news channel CSB News for a period of seven days. The worldwide press freedom organisation said it appeared the decision could be linked to the channel’s broadcasts of footage from anti-government demonstrations. “The closure of [...] (more)

Live gameshow to launch on ZEE Music
From Biz Asia. Posted August 31 2007, 9.18pm
ZEE Music will be launching its first live weekly gameshow. The programme titled 'Quiz Master' will be a fun filled game of luck and intelligence that involves the entire family. Participating in the show is stated to be simple and if the six questions are correctly answered, one can win the jackpot amount of £250. A participant will have to answer five questions correctly to be eligible for the sixth question for jackpot. 'Quiz Master' will broadcast live from its Play TV channel studios in India. As well as ZEE Music UK, 'Quiz Master' will also simulcast on Play TV. The show introduces a unique concept of using a Randomizer to select the live caller. Viewers will have a play-along round where in if the caller is unable to answer the question the same is open for viewers to answer and a cash prize at the comfort of their living room. Speaking on the launch of Quizmaster, Play TV MD Amit Goenka said, "Play TV has a loyal set of young viewers who enjoy this new genre of entertainment where interactivity is an integral part of television viewing. Quizmaster is a show that will appeal to viewers across age groups. It is a family activity that everyone can sit together, watch and participate in." 'Quiz Master' will air every week at 21:00 from Saturday 8th September. (more)

School rocks: why kids love High School Musical
From Media Guardian. Posted August 31 2007, 1.00am
The High School Musical phenomenon has filled a gap for programmes celebrating being at school, the managing director of the British Disney Channel said today. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Channel I to replace Channel S NTV on Sky
From Biz Asia. Posted August 28 2007, 1.04pm
Troubled Bangladeshi service NTV, distributed in the UK by Channel S will be replaced by Bangla news provider Channel I, according to the broadcaster. Channel S NTV was previously available on Sky Digital EPG 826; however its transmission was disrupted in February when a fire struck in the building where the channel is based in Dhaka. Since then, the UK feed had to rely on looped NTV shows, which subsequently were suspended to make way for a temporary channel replacement by the name of MTN. The religious channel will remain on air until mid-September before its EPG space is permanently taken over by Channel I. Channel I was the first digital channel to launch in Bangaldesh in 1999. The channel broadcasts educational, news and entertainment content. There are also plans to resurrect NTV in the UK once its broadcast has been rectified in Bangladesh. Related link: Fire at Bangladesh's NTV channel halts output (more)

NDTV lifestyle channel set for India launch
From Biz Asia. Posted August 27 2007, 11.02am
NDTV's upcoming lifestyle channel, tentatively titled Goodtimes, launches in India on Friday 7th September. According to Business Standard, the lifestyle channel will be followed by with the launch of Metro Nation - NDTV’s city-specific channel for Delhi and the national capital region. Smeeta Chakrabarty, the CEO for NDTV’s lifestyle channel, would not confirm the brand name, but confirmed that the channels would be launched in the first fortnight of September. "It is the first Indian lifestyle channel with world-class programming for the global, urban Indian. It’s a channel which answers all your questions from food to travel, leisure to gadgets, marriages to parenthood and wellness to parties," she said. NDTV’s Hindi general entertainment channel is expected to be launched in January, which has received huge support from Bollywood personalities such as Karan Johar (bought a stake in the channel earlier this year). NDTV has already confirmed to BizAsia.co.uk that the lifestyle and entertainment channels will also launch in the UK when a platform becomes available. Related links: NDTV signs UK distrubution deal with BT Plans on for UK launch of new NDTV channel NDTV looking to dislodge STAR Plus from top Confirmed: STAR's Sameer Nair to join NDTV It's official! Top bosses quit STAR India 'KBC' and 'Koffee With Karan' to move to NDTV? UK set up for new NDTV Entertainment channel Dharma Productions buys stake in NDTV channel (more)

Asian TV channels in Sky EPG reshuffle
From Biz Asia. Posted August 6 2007, 9.00am
Selected Asian TV channels on Sky Digital have been given new EPG numbers. As revealed first by BizAsia.co.uk, the changes are taking place to make room for additional new services in the already packed out 'International' genre of Sky Digital's EPG. Some broadcasters have opted to remain in their existing EPG slot and some have moved down the EPG to fill up vacant slots in the category. The new EPG list is as below: 780 B4U Movies 781 B4U Music 782 Sony TV Asia 783 STAR One 784 STAR Plus 785 PCNE Chinese 786 Bangla TV 787 mta-muslim tv 788 ZEE TV 789 ZEE Music 790 ZEE Cinema 791 ARY Digital 792 PTV Prime 793 MATV National 794 DW-TV 795 TVEi 796 Abu Dhabi TV 797 SouthForYou 798 Alpha ETC Punjabi 799 TV5 800 MAX 801 Record TV 802 DM Digital 803 804 ARY QTV 805 DM Gold 806 ARY The Musik 807 Venus TV 808 Aastha TV 809 810 STAR News 811 STAR Gold 812 PTV Global 813 Islam Channel 814 Channel 'S' 815 GEO UK 816 ZEE Gujarati 817 Aapna Channel 818 Mana Telugu 819 Filmy 820 Sahara One 821 Aaj Tak 822 823 824 AAG 825 826 Channel S NTV 827 Channel S ATN 828 Channel Punjab 829 830 831 832 DD-News 833 DD-India 834 835 836 837 838 839 Related links: New EPG numbers for Asian channels on Sky Asian channels set for EPG reshuffle on Sky (more)

Nuts TV secures Freeview carriage
From Digital Spy. Posted July 24 2007, 3.57pm
A new lads channel spun from Nuts magazine will launch on Freeview in September. (more)

Noor TV gears up for launch in October
From Biz Asia. Posted July 23 2007, 2.44pm
A Birmingham-based Islamic educational channel is gearing up for its launch on Sky Digital Noor TV will broadcast from Aston in Birmingham and was expected to launch earlier this year but was delayed to reasons unknown. Due to the channel missing its proposed launch date, Noor has had to wait six months due to Sky's long cue of new channels wanting to launch on the platform. According to an insider at the channel, Noor TV will commence broadcasting on Sky Digital on Monday 1st October, with tests beginning on Friday 14th September. Related links: Noor TV begins testing on Sky ahead of launch Noor TV delays launch of channel on Sky EXCLUSIVE: Noor TV launch details emerge Fifth Islamic channel set for UK launch (more)

ZEEL Q1 results show impressive figures
From Biz Asia. Posted July 18 2007, 9.13am
ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has reported its first quarter consolidated revenues of Rs 3,916 million, representing a 35 per cent growth over the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. The consolidated operating profit stood at Rs 1,197 million. These are higher by 81 per cent as compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Operating profit margin rose by 30.6 per cent from 23 per cent, as compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Profit before tax for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 was Rs 1,225 million, while net profit was Rs 813 million, recording a growth of 51 per cent over the corresponding period last year. The company registered advertisement revenue of Rs 2,044 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2007, an increase of 47 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal. The average channel share of the flagship channel increased to 25 per cent within the general entertainment genre, which increased by 10 per cent from the previous quarter. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, ZEEL, said, "We are pleased that operating margins have improved to 30.6 per cent, compared to the 23 per cent in the first quarter last fiscal. Most of us are aware of the exciting opportunities ahead of us in the television content business. We are making the right investments in capturing a larger mind share of the viewers, both nationally and globally. With rapid transformation in the Indian media scenario through digitisation, the coming years hold a lot of promise and we are confident of delivering long term shareholder value." Punit Goenka, Director, ZEEL, said, "We continued to gain market share in the general entertainment genre. ZEE TV has maintained its ratings across time bands and has averaged 234 gross rating points during the quarter, and an average channel share of 25 per cent within the general entertainment category, up from 23 per cent during the previous quarter.” He further stated that during the quarter, ZEE TV had come closest ever to the genre leader in the last seven years. Goenka explained that STAR Plus’ 'KBC-3', which went off-air in mid-April, helped both 'Kasamh Se' and 'Saat Phere' to regain their respective leadership positions. 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007' continues to be the leader despite many shows based on a similar theme. Elaborating on the performance, Pradeep Guha, CEO, ZEEL, said, "Our team has done well, both in gaining viewership share and in monetising that effectively. We are pleased with the good start to the fiscal year. On the international business front, we continued to do well, though rising strength of rupee has impacted our revenues." Guha further said that in terms of sports, his company had got out of the cricket contract, and that it is looking forward to build franchise in football. He said that the channel would showcase cricket from the Indian Cricket League. The sports genre for the flagship company saw Ten Sports as a clear winner as it registered a 51 per cent viewership share. ZEE Sports and Ten Sports will now look forward to a strong second quarter with a variety of joint ventures. They will increase their joint impact on the market, particularly in August, as both channels will share a new line-up of football rights, including deals with various football clubs. Article from Exchange4Media (more)

Azerbaijan announces tender for frequency of Turkish TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 18 2007, 8.51am
Nushirvan Maharramli, the Chairman of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting, announced the commencement of a tender on 17 July for the national frequency broadcast by the Turkish television channel Samanyolu (STV).  The closing date for the tender is 17 August and transmission of STV will continue until then. During the meeting held on [...] (more)

ZEE TV's sibling station to launch in India
From Biz Asia. Posted July 13 2007, 12.35am
It was confirmed earlier this year that ZEE Network will be launching a sister station to its flagship ZEE TV service. Today, ZEE Network officials have announced the sibling tentatively titled ZEE Next (as revealed on BizAsia.co.uk this year) will be going live in September in India. According to a report on IndianTelevision, ZEEL director Punit Goenka said the launch of the channel will coincide with the upcoming festive season. "From the very start, it would be a pay channel," he added. Unlike the main service, ZEE Next will be targeting a much younger audience - viewers aged between 15 and 25. The channel will address more contemporary issues especially in its portrayal of women. Although its main target will be the youth demographic, it will "not alienate the housewife," he added. ZEE Next is being launched to compete with the likes of STAR One and Sony's secondary entertainment channel SAB TV. Our sources at ZEE Network UK have said that ZEE Next will also be available to UK viewers months after its India debut. ZEE UK is also expected to make an announcement in the coming days about its ZEE Radio service and the launch of ZEE News here. Related links: EXCLUSIVE: ZEE Network to launch radio station ZEE India to launch new entertainment channel (more)

Plans on for UK launch of new NDTV channel
From Biz Asia. Posted June 18 2007, 9.32am
NDTV is set to unleash the first of three new channels in India next month. 'NDTV Life!' is the working title the channel has been given. It will be India's version to Discovery Travel and Living. The lifestyle channel will broadcast in English, which aims to be aspirational, shall encompass everything an ideal lifestyle channel should possess – travel, leisure, luxury, adventure, partying, cuisine, health and wellness. As per programmes and shows on travel and leisure, the channel promises to bring in stories from across the world, which could be of India’s interest. Besides, the channel will also cover the essence of India through reality shows, and big weddings, and emerging women power. The channel also promises to have fine dining shows on dishes and drinks from across the globe. The presenters, as the channel promises, will not just be pretty faces, but will make way for quirky, funny spontaneous journeys, and discover life along with viewers. According to an insider at NDTV, the new channel will launch in the UK early next year, "Our travel and lifestyle channel, NDTV Life! (that's the working title for the channel) is launching in India in July... Will keep you posted on the date once we've sorted it out internally... The plans are to get the channel to the UK by early next year depending upon how good the platforms are to us..." Extracts from AgencyFAQs Related links: NDTV looking to dislodge STAR Plus from top Confirmed: STAR's Sameer Nair to join NDTV It's official! Top bosses quit STAR India 'KBC' and 'Koffee With Karan' to move to NDTV? UK set up for new NDTV Entertainment channel Dharma Productions buys stake in NDTV channel (more)

Movie premieres galore on Sony & MAX in July
From Biz Asia. Posted June 15 2007, 9.15pm
The temperature continues to rise on and off our TV screens with bigger and better movie premieres in the month of July. SET MAX has confirmed that it will be telecasting the premiere of chick flick 'Kudian Ka Hai Zamana' starring Mahima Chaudhry and Rekha on Saturday 21st July at 20:00. There's also the satellite TV premiere of 'Anwar' starring Manisha Koiralla. The film proved a disaster at the box office but the music of the movie remains one of the biggest hits of this year. 'Anwar' will be shown on Saturday 28th July at 20:00. Flagship entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television Asia on the other hand has lined up last year's huge box office success 'Dhoom 2'. (more)

ITN news channel still a possibility?
From Digital Spy. Posted June 15 2007, 8.00am
ITN's chief executive says the company hasn't ruled out the possibility of a launching a 24-hour TV news channel again. (more)

Disney Channel signs IPTV programming deal
From Digital Spy. Posted June 7 2007, 10.52am
Disney hooks up with Tiscali to supply three new branded IPTV channels for the ISP's customers. (more)

Sahara Filmy begins audio & video testing
From Biz Asia. Posted June 4 2007, 12.11pm
Sahara's movies and events channel Filmy has commenced testing in the UK on Sky Digital, signifying an official launch is now just days away. The channel began EPG data testing over the weekend. Filmy is part of Sahara One Media And Entertainment Limited’s strong bouquet, which includes Sahara One Motion Pictures - India’s largest player in the motion pictures business - and Sahara One Television, the popular General Entertainment Channel. The network's flagship channel Sahara One has been EPG data testing for a number of days and could also begin its audio/visual testing this week. Keep it with BizAsia.co.uk for full details. Testing for Filmy can be viewed in the following way: -> Using your Sky Digi remote, go to Services Menu -> System Setup (4) -> Add Channels (4) -> Enter the frequency: 11.222 (V), FEC 2/3, Symbol Rate 27500 -> Find Channels and Press SELECT -> Highlight "53112" service and press Yellow button. -> Return to Services Menu -> Other Channels (6) on STB / (8) on Sky+ -> "53112" should be listed and available Related links: UK launch for Sahara TV channels imminent GloboSat strikes deal with Sahara for UK/Europe EXCLUSIVE: ARY to launch Sahara early 2007 EXCLUSIVE: Sahara delays UK channel launches MATV acquires Sahara One shows (more)

First World Indigenous TV Broadcasting Conference planned
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 4 2007, 11.45am
The leader of Welsh-language channel S4C will be a featured guest speaker at the inaugural World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference to be hosted by Maori Television in Auckland, New Zealand early next year. John Walter Jones OBE is chairman of the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority which was established to provide a wide-ranging, varied and high-quality programme service [...] (more)

S4C Show will Have Polish Subtitles
From Merry Media. Posted June 4 2007, 12.29am
The Welsh language channel S4C is to be the first tv show in the UK to use Polish subtitles on a current affairs programme that is produced by the BBC.. (more)

Pakistan: English-language DawnNews TV channel starts transmissions
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 25 2007, 10.06am
Text of report by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency DawnNews, Pakistan’s first English language TV News Channel, started its test-transmission this evening [24 May] from its head office at Karachi. The 24 hours broadcast of DawnNews will be fed by a network of newsroom and studios located at Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore and [...] (more)

Arsenal to Launch New TV Channel Soon
From Merry Media. Posted May 23 2007, 4.21pm
Arsenal Football Club are launching their very own television channel. The station will broadcast 6 hours a day for 5 days of the week with a mix of archive and new material.. (more)

TV ratings: 'Indian Idol 3' gets off to good start
From Biz Asia. Posted May 14 2007, 9.10am
Its been over a year now since ZEE TV took the helm to become India's number two channel in India (STAR Plus at top). This resulted in former number two - Sony Entertainment Television Asia being pushed to number three/four in the competitive Indian TV market. Officials at Sony TV are hoping that the new series of its popular show 'Indian Idol 3' change the fortunes for the broadcaster. Though the show, which opened with a TVR of 3.03 on Friday 4th May, certainly helped the channel increase its share in the time slot, it couldn’t catapult Sony TV out of the number 3 slot. As per TAM Media Research (C&S, 4+, HSM), the show managed a TVR of 3.08 with the second episode on Saturday 5th May, and its channel share in the 21:00-22:00 slot on Friday and Saturday went up from 10.77 per cent in the previous week to 28.65 per cent in Week 18 among GECs. But overall, for the whole week, the show could increase SET’s market share by only a few marginal percentage points from 12.59 per cent in Week 17 to 13.08 per cent in Week 18, the week when the show was aired. In comparison, the other two lead channels – STAR Plus and ZEE TV – garnered a channel share of 37.93 per cent and 24.97 per cent, respectively. Anita Nayyar, CEO, MPG, India, is of the opinion that the ratings of 'Indian Idol' are still satisfactory as this is the third season of the reality series. "The show can’t achieve what it did in the first season or even in the second season, when it started off with a much bigger TVR," says Nayyar. The first two seasons had opened with a TVR of 5.4. Nayyar says SET needs to do more than an ‘Indian Idol’ to get close to ZEE, forget STAR Plus as of now. Close observers of the industry expect the competition to heat up for 'Indian Idol' once STAR’s 'Voice of India' is on air. "It's already competing with 'Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' on ZEE TV, which is also a talent hunt show for singers," says Tarun Nigam, executive director, North, Starcom. "In fact, ZEE’s 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' started off with a better TVR of 4.0," Nayyar adds. Analysing the reasons for 'Indian Idol's' not so great performance, a senior media planner says, “The first two episodes of 'Indian Idol 3' had too much reality in them, probably the promoters served too much 'masala', which might have killed the appetite." (more)

Channel selling soap as cure for Aids rebuked
From Media Guardian. Posted May 10 2007, 1.00am
A shopping channel owned by Express proprietor Richard Desmond has been rapped for giving airtime to a TV evangelist selling 'miracle' soap. By Owen Gibson. (more)

Discovery channel snaps up Abhi-Ash wedding?
From Biz Asia. Posted April 24 2007, 1.55pm
Discovery Network's digital TV channel Travel and Living looks as if it has snapped up the UK TV rights for the much publicised Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai wedding. (more)

Panorama turns on Blue Peter over phone-in
From Media Guardian. Posted April 23 2007, 1.00am
12.30pm: A row has erupted between BBC1's Panorama and its channel stablemate Blue Peter over the participation TV scandal. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Now STAR does 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa'
From Biz Asia. Posted April 14 2007, 10.37am
STAR seems to be on a roll to produce programming to rival its number two opposition ZEE TV. In what looks like an imitating move, STAR Plus will now launch its own talent hunt show to compete with ZEE's hit show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa'. Coincidently, the STAR show name is quite similar to that of ZEE TV's top musical reality show. The programme is named 'STAR Voice of India-Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa' and will air on flagship channel STAR Plus from mid-May. The similar programme name and format does not come as a huge surprise as it is former ZEE TV producer Gajendra Siingh who is behind the new STAR show. Siingh will also direct the show. Singer Shaan will host the show (former Sa Re Ga Ma Pa presenter on ZEE TV). 'Voice of India' elevates the concept of talent hunts and reality television to a whole new level with its unique and innovative format. The selected singers from each audition city will get the opportunity to perform live in their respective cities at exciting ground events even before the show goes on air. After an exhaustive round of auditions and performances, 30 finalists will come together for a chance to compete to become the ‘Voice of India’. Siingh said, "Music is our passion and has always been. We have always endeavoured to do something with music since we are very involved with this concept. Talent scouting is our forte. Our focus has always been to tap talent, and with 'Voice of India', we are here to do that once again. The differentiation in this cluttered space is the music and the participants. Besides best production values, we are also trying to bring in a new and interesting format to make the show a success. With backing from a channel like STAR Plus, we are confident that we will touch greater heights." Musicians Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Aadesh Shrivastava, Jatin and Lalit Pandit will form the esteemed panel of judges. ZEE TV said that if the STAR show is in anyway similar to its, then the broadcaster will take legal action, "If we find the content and format of Star’s new show any way similar to our show, we will take legal recourse and serve them legal notice," said Ashish Kaul, senior vice president of ZEE group. When Gajendra Siingh defected to STAR last year, his first production for the network was the ever popular 'Antakshari’ show to rival ZEE TV's own 'Antakshari' gameshow. ZEE TV's 'Antakshari' has been able to edge its rival in the TV ratings war. Also a few months ago, ZEE issued STAR TV a legal notice over the name of a drama both channels were to launch. 'Betiyaan' on ZEE TV started days before STAR One launched its own drama, which also carried a similar storyline. STAR One was forced to change its show name to 'Betiyaan Apni Yaa...Paraya Dhan’. "Once STAR Vijaya, the tamil channel of STAR India was launching Saregamapa and we had served then legal notice expressing our reservations. They withdrew the show. Again, when STAR One was launching a soap called Betiyaan...similar to a ZEE soap, we objected and they had to change the name," Kaul added. Last year, ZEE TV bounced back to the number two position thanks to the successful 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa -Challenge 2006' contest. STAR Plus is hoping its own 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa' drives new viewers to its channel. ZEE TV launches 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa -Challenge 2007' next month also. Related links: Vishal Shekhar to judge 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' Himesh to judge for ZEE or Sony? STAR One spruces up schedule for February ZEE TV welcomes back 'Antakshari' in January Producer Gajendra Singh quits ZEE TV ZEE's 'Betiyaan' row over; STAR renames show (more)

Malaysia?s national news agency may have own TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 10 2007, 1.25pm
Malaysian Deputy Information Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said he did not rule out the possibility of the national news agency, Bernama, having its own television channel soon. However, he told the Lower House that this would be dependent on financial allocation and the support of the members of parliament, reports Bernama. “This is a good [...] (more)

Clear Channel sells stations
From Radio Today. Posted April 4 2007, 11.12pm
Clear Channel Communications are selling 51 more radio stations, this time in the Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana markets. Clear Channel announced in November 2006 they were going private, and aiming to sell over 500 of their smaller radio stations. (more)

India/UK: Two Doordarshan channels to launch on Sky in April
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 26 2007, 3.33pm
Text of report by Indian broadcast industry website Indiantelevision.com on 23 March Doordarshan is planning to launch two channels on the United Kingdom’s Sky satellite platform next month. The two DD channels going on the Sky platform are its international DD India, which is an entertainment channel showcasing dramas, game shows, Bollywood movies, chat shows, sport and [...] (more)

Russian Business Channel signs contract with Eutelsat
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 26 2007, 2.57pm
Eutelsat Communications and RBC-TV, the Russian business television channel, today announced the signature of a five year contract for lease of capacity on the Hot Bird™ 6 television satellite for free-to-air broadcasting over Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. This new agreement illustrates RBC-TV’s objective to initiate international expansion beyond its core markets of Russia [...] (more)

Sony's Kunal Dasgupta contract extended
From Biz Asia. Posted March 19 2007, 7.32am
The head honcho of Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET), Kunal Dasgupta, has had his contract renewed making him the longest running CEO in the history of any media or entertainment company. His contract was scheduled to end in June of this year. Kunal has been with the channel since 1996. While speculation was rife that Mr Dasgupta’s term at SET would end, the two-year extension gains importance in the light of SET’s IPO plans. The SET India board has appointed Manjit Singh as chairman, replacing Michael Grindon, president of Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI), who will continue as a board member. Mr Grindon has chaired the board since SPTI and its JV partners launched SET India in 1995 with one channel, Sony Entertainment Television. (more)

Noor TV begins testing on Sky ahead of launch
From Biz Asia. Posted March 17 2007, 11.45am
A new Birmingham-based Islamic educational channel is gearing up for its launch on Sky Digital Noor TV will broadcast from Aston in Birmingham has begun testing EPG data, with audio and visual tests expected to begin later this week. The channel has had its launch delayed on two occasions already due to management changes. However, today's development has confirmed the channel is now on course for an early-April launch. In the meantime full video and audio testing can be viewed in the following way: -> Using your Sky Digi remote, go to Services Menu -> System Setup (4) -> Add Channels (4) -> Enter the frequency: 11.662 (H), FEC 2/3, Symbol Rate 27500 -> Find Channels and Press SELECT -> Highlight "54056" service and press Yellow button. -> Return to Services Menu -> Other Channels (6) on STB / (8) on Sky+ -> "54056" should be listed and available Related links: Noor TV delays launch of channel on Sky EXCLUSIVE: Noor TV launch details emerge Fifth Islamic channel set for UK launch (more)

STAR Gold to premiere Bhojpuri movies
From Biz Asia. Posted March 15 2007, 8.49pm
Popular movies channel STAR Gold will begin telecasting Bhojpuri films soon. It’s the first time Bhojpuri films will get a platform on a national and international level. Says Wide Angle Media's Aneesh Aarjun Dev, "Bhojpuri films will now be shown on STAR Gold. I started buying the satellite rights of Bhojpuri films when no one thought of the idea. I have acquired the rights of 65 hit titles so far. I had approached various TV channels, but it was STAR, which was convinced." (more)

Confirmed: STAR's Sameer Nair to join NDTV
From Biz Asia. Posted March 15 2007, 7.54am
Its finally been confirmed that STAR TV Network's Sameer Nair is joining NDTV's Hindi channel subsidiary 'Imagine' when he leaves later this month. (more)

Winners and losers in Sky-Virgin fallout
From Media Guardian. Posted March 1 2007, 12.00am
Analysis: Multichannel services like ITV2 and Five US will be the major beneficiaries of Sky pulling channels from Virgin Media homes. By Mark Sweney. (more)

TAM data shows "encouraging start" for KBC 3
From Biz Asia. Posted February 2 2007, 8.56am
After two weeks of being on air, the results by audience measuring body (India)-TAM are out and has shown a decent start to the Shah Rukh Khan hosted 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. It must be noted that a direct comparison to the numbers last year would not be correct as TAM has expanded markets beginning January 2007. Looking at numbers now, the 21:00 - 22:00 day-part from Monday to Thursday has grown for Hindi general entertainment channels (GEC). From a share of 45 per cent in week 3 (one week prior to KBC launch), the share in week 4 was 57.95 per cent. In the three Hindi metros, the number has grown from 32.11 per cent to 48.41 per cent. For STAR Plus, the relative share of the channel was 37.7 in week 3 for HSM and this has increased to 60 per cent in the KBC week. In the three metros, the jump is from 33.7 per cent to 62.7 per cent. In the HSM, KBC-SRK opened at a TRP of 12.33 on 22nd January 2007. It came down to 10.44 on the second day and further down to 7.36 in episode three, but the final episode of the week picked up again to throw up a TRP of 9.24. Looking at the Hindi metros now, the opening TRP was 11.26, which moved to 9.1, 6.03 and then to 7.65 on the final day of the week. However, KBC has done some good to STAR Plus. The week it aired KBC saw an increase in its relative channel share to 55.9 per cent, from 37.7 per cent in the previous week among general entertainment channels. This was mainly at the cost of ZEE’s viewership, which in Week 3 of 2007 was at par with STAR Plus, with a channel share of 37.6 per cent, but could only manage a 21.5 per cent share in Week 4, 2007. Extracts from Exchange4Media & AgencyFAQs Related link: KBC 3 opens well but fails to break record (more)

PTV-Pakistan to launch Pushto channel soon
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 30 2007, 11.48am
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is likely to approve the launch of a new Pushto TV channel soon.  A feasibility report regarding the Pushto channel – Abaseen - has already been moved to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat from the Ministry of Information, The Dawn has reported. The government had taken notice of the delay regarding the [...] (more)

Skype moves into TV
From Digital Spy. Posted January 16 2007, 2.53pm
Joost platform to allow channel surfing and show "the best of TV and the best of the internet." (more)

Moldova?s first satellite TV channel said to be broadcasting illegally
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 12 2007, 3.34pm
Text of report by Moldovan news agency Infotag Chisinau, 12 January: The Audio Visual Council [a Moldovan media watchdog] considers that the Moldova International TV channel, the first Moldovan channel broadcasting by satellite, is operating illegally, a member of the council has told Infotag on conditions of anonymity. According to him, the management of the TV channel [...] (more)

Setanta TV gets major funding boost
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 11 2006, 2.01pm
Sports channel Setanta today announced that it has signed agreements worth €315m with a number of private equity firms, providing the company with a major funding boost as it prepares to cover Barclays Premiership football next season. In May, Setanta paid £392m (€579m) for the rights to 46 games each season for the next three years. Last week [...] (more)

User-generated TV channel Sumo.tv launches
From Media Guardian. Posted November 27 2006, 12.00am
4pm: The race to commercialise user-generated content has accelerated with the launch of Sumo.tv. By Jemima Kiss. (more)

Murdoch buys himself a role in the ITV drama
From The Scotsman. Posted November 19 2006, 1.22am
RUPERT Murdoch's move on ITV through his BSkyB broadcasting group sent other bidders for the UK's third channel scurrying for cover. (more)

Clear Channel sold for $19b
From Radio Today. Posted November 16 2006, 1.54pm
The largest radio company in Amercia has been sold for nearly 19 billion dollers, according to a report just released by Reuters.The bid values Clear Channel, which has about 1,150 radio stations, at $37.60 a share, the source said. Clear Channel shares closed at $34 Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. (more)

Taiwan?s Liberty Times Group to launch TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 8 2006, 1.20pm
Taiwan’s Liberty Times news group plans to launch a cable TV channel early next year, the SETTV TV channel said today. “The Liberty Times Group plan to invest 700 million to one billion Taiwan dollars (US$21-30 million) to launch a cable TV channel in February next year,” SETTV reported.   The reason for launching a TV channel is [...] (more)

Channel shoves Goldplated into late night slot
From Media Guardian. Posted November 7 2006, 12.00am
12.30pm: Channel 4 is to shunt its Goldplated into a late-night slot after it flopped in the ratings. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

New Bengali satellite TV channel starts testing
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 30 2006, 3.34pm
Bengali international satellite television channel Ananda Bangla Channel-A started test transmissions recently. The channel will telecast regular programmes next month. This channel’s head office is in Hong Kong, but it has an office, studio and newsroom in Dhaka. The channel is broadcasting via the Apstar-VI satellite, and is free to air. Channel-A will be broadcasting 24 hours a day immediately from its [...] (more)

Nickelodeon launches broadband service for Nick Jr
From Brand Republic. Posted October 27 2006, 11.10am
LONDON - Nickelodeon is launching a video service on its Nick Jr website for pre-school children, which will offer clips from programmes on its Nick Jr TV channel such as 'Dora the Explorer' and 'The Backyardigans'. (more)

Ofcom allows channel sponsorship
From Breaking Radio. Posted October 25 2006, 11.48am
Ofcom has issued a response to its consultation on channel sponsorship, deregulating the area. However you still can't have a sponsor's name in the channel's name. (more)

Ofcom gives go-ahead for TV and radio channel sponsorship
From Media Guardian. Posted October 25 2006, 1.00am
11.45am: Ofcom is to allow advertisers to sponsor entire TV channels and radio stations for the first time. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Disney partners with Orange in mobile deal
From Digital Spy. Posted October 11 2006, 12.43am
Disney Channel signs deal with Orange to provide mobile children's TV on demand services. (more)

BSkyB to launch UK version of Al Gore?s Current TV
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 6 2006, 10.02am
UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB joined forces with Al Gore today to unveil a British version of his Current TV, a channel showing user-generated programmes. BSkyB Chief Executive James Murdoch and the former US vice president told Reuters in a joint interview they hoped to use the channel to democratise the broadcast medium by allowing viewers to [...] (more)

Guinea radio listeners finally get chance to channel surf
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 15 2006, 5.52pm
Guineans huddled round radio sets today as the West African country’s first private station took to the air, ending a state broadcasting monopoly nearly half a century old. “I’ve spent the whole morning zapping from one station to another, because now I’ve got the choice,” said local journalist Makale Soumah. “The music is more varied [...] (more)

News International in sponsorship deal with Sports TV
From Brand Republic. Posted August 10 2006, 8.08am
LONDON - News International has signed a sponsorship and advertising deal with digital stadium-based channel Sports TV, which works with all 42 Football league clubs. (more)

Made for TV channel Movies 24 launches on Sky
From Brand Republic. Posted June 30 2006, 11.06am
LONDON - Movies 24, a new channel showing made-for-television films launches tomorrow on Sky, backed by a �1m national advertising campaign. (more)

Pride to launch gay TV channel backed with �15m
From Brand Republic. Posted June 28 2006, 4.06pm
LONDON - Pride Television Networks is to launch Pride TV, a new channel specifically for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, which will be backed by a �15m investment for the first year alone. (more)

Bestic axed in Sky News cull
From Media Guardian. Posted June 7 2006, 3.01pm
1.45pm: Sky News correspondent Richard Bestic, who has been with the channel since it launched, is among 17 staff who will lose their jobs in a wide-ranging cull. By John Plunkett. (more)

Chinese TV channel starts broadcasting in Kazakhstan
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 7 2006, 1.49pm
Kazakh company Digital TV has started broadcasting the XJTV-3 TV channel in Kazakhstan, focusing on the 1.5 million Kazakhs residing in China. Director General of the company Oleg Chumakov spoke about the programmes of the new TV channel. First of all, it is important to inform the viewers of life of ethnic Kazakhs abroad, he stressed. Journalists pay attention to the fact that Kazakhstani (more)

Anti-Trust Allegations: Clear Channel Sued Over Concert Practices
From radio.about.com. Posted June 5 2006, 7.33pm
From FMQB.com: "A class-action lawsuit was filed last Friday (June 2) in a Denver federal court, accusing Clear Channel Communications of breaking anti-trust laws in its dealings in the concert... (more)

Grampian TV Comes to an End Next Tuesday
From Merry Media. Posted May 25 2006, 2.54pm
Launched in the sixties, Grampian TV has been a much loved channel in the North of Scotland as one of the classic ITV1 franchises. But from next Tuesday at 9.25am - Grampian TV will be no more and disappear forever. Parent company Scottish Media Group is renaming the channel STV - so it has the same name as the STV which covers the Central region of Scotland.. (more)

ITN launches 24h news and weather channels on mobile TV
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 14 2006, 12.27pm
ITN Multimedia, the UK’s leading independent content provider for mobile and broadband platforms, has announced the launch of its streamed 24-hour news channel service and the ITN Weather Channel on Vodafone mobile TV. This is in addition to the services ITN already provides on Vodafone including hot news, regular bulletins, entertainment news and soap updates. The made-for-mobile News Channel on (more)

America Channel secures distribution in Europe & Middle East
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 13 2006, 5.26pm
The America Channel announced today that it has entered into a long-term distribution and services agreement with BT Americas, a division of BT, for delivery of The America Channel to an estimated 50 million households via the Hot Bird™ and Eurobird™ satellites. Under the agreement, BT will provide digital conversion, backhaul, multiplexing, technical support, customer service, encryption, program (more)

Vahid Azerbaijan TV channel starts broadcast via Internet
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 11 2006, 2.59pm
Vahid Azerbaijan TV channel (VA TV) has started broadcasting through the Internet from today. At present the TV channel broadcasts one program a week via information site www.azadtribun.net. It will have its own independent Internet site in the future. The goal of VA TV is to inform Azerbaijanis living in different parts of the world and the world community on national problems. The TV channel (more)

South China's Guangzhou launches first regional English TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 28 2006, 6.05pm
China's first regional English TV channel started broadcasting today in Guangzhou, capital of the southern Guangdong Province. The channel is broadcast to the entire south of China and mainly deals with news and stories around the Pearl River Delta. The new English channel will broadcast for 18 hours every day and the programs are divided into four parts: news, information, culture and (more)

ITV renews Freeview carriage deal
From Digital Spy. Posted March 23 2006, 4.55pm
ITV renews its deal for a 24-hour channel slot on multiplex D for a further five years. (more)

AOL launches free online TV channel
From Digital Spy. Posted March 16 2006, 9.33pm
AOL has launched an online television channel showing Warner Brother's classic TV shows. (more)

Ofcom to allow TV channel sponsorship under strict criteria
From Brand Republic. Posted February 7 2006, 1.02pm
LONDON - Ofcom is set to allow commercial TV channels and radio stations to be sponsored, although it will mean no change for terrestrial TV because any channel carrying news and current affairs will be barred from doing so. (more)

Comics 'lose thousands' after variety channel shuts
From The Stage. Posted February 7 2006, 12.50pm
Entertainers including Johnny Casson, Russ Williams and Mick Miller have hit out at executives of failed digital variety channel Sound TV, for potentially costing them thousands in lost royalties and exploiting their goodwill. (more)

Berber TV set to begin broadcasting from Netherlands
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 31 2006, 8.50am
Text of report by Algerian newspaper Liberte website on 31 January Amazigh TV is a private channel set up by a group of [Moroccan] Rif region natives living in Tilburg, in the Netherlands, from which location it will broadcast its programmes starting in January 2007. The goal of this new channel, which is of an informational and educational nature, is to promote exchanges and the promotion of (more)

Plans for Australian channel still on
From Digital Spy. Posted January 19 2006, 5.38pm
'Down Under TV' intends to launch on Sky this summer. (more)

Fewer staff to be axed from news channel
From Press Gazette. Posted January 12 2006, 11.13am
Fewer ITV News Channel staff face compulsory redundancy than originally estimated. (more)

ITV2 tops multichannel rankings
From Media Guardian. Posted January 6 2006, 7.36am
8am: ITV2 overtook Sky One and Sky Sports 1 to become the UK's most popular multichannel service in 2005. By Jason Deans. (more)

Bid to improve ITN redundancy deal
From Press Gazette. Posted January 5 2006, 12.54am
The NUJ met ITN management just before Christmas in a bid to win improved conditions for ITV News Channel staff facing the sack. (more)

NUJ bid to curb job losses at ITV News Channel
From Press Gazette. Posted December 20 2005, 5.10pm
The NUJ has met ITN management in a bid to win improved conditions for ITV News Channel staff facing the sack. (more)