• GroupM acquires research and sponsorship firm IEG Inc.

    Mar 27, 2002

    MUMBAI: WPP's GroupM has acquired Chicago-based IEG, Inc., which is a provider of research, analytics, strategic coun

  • FTV connectivity higher than HBO, AXN, CNBC, says MEN CEO

    Submitted by ITV Production on Mar 26, 2002
    News Headline

    It may be fashion consciousness, it may be something else. But French fashion channel FTV is expanding its reach at a fast clip, or so it is claimed.

    According to Modi Entertainment Network CEO, distribution, Rajan Kaaicker, FTV‘s paid connectivity has crossed three million across India. That is higher than better known channels like movie channel HBO, action channel AXN and business news channel CNBC India, asserts Kaaicker. For good measure, Kaaicker adds that this figure compares well with Hindi entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television (AXN), which according to him has a paid reach of only around 3.5 million.

    When asked for his reaction, Shantonu Aditya, senior V-P, franchise channels & distribution, was quite dismissive of Kaaicker‘s assertions, saying that that both in the case of SET and AXN, the numbers were far higher than what was being quoted.

    Kaaicker gave the numbers while claiming that most big MSOs in the major metros were carrying FTV, with some of them carrying the channel on the prime band (RPG in Kolkata was one such, Kaaicker says). Questioned as to why FTV was not being carried on west Mumbai-based MSO Seven Star Cable Network, Kaaicker said a deal had been signed and FTV would be available on the network from 1 April.

    FTV is also in the process of expanding its Indian fashion band from the current one hour to two hours with top designers like Rohit Bal and Tarun Tahilani seeing in the channel a chance to showcase their offerings, says Kaaicker.

    FTV is beaming off PanamSat-10 with uplink from Singapore. The channel is being bundled with DD Sports and Hallmark with a combined package pricing of Rs 13.25 per subscriber per month.

  • AXN aims to boost ratings by giving the CIA an image makeover

    Submitted by ITV Production on Mar 26, 2002
    News Headline


    AXN‘s strategy is clear-cut. Build up the action brand through the introduction of innovative programming that caters to both the serious viewer as well as the one who is looking for an escape through adventure. To this end, the channel announced the launch of The Agency. The show on the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)‘s working commences on 2 April at 8 pm and will repeat Wednesdays at 1 pm and 10 pm.

    AXN senior marketing manager Rohit Bhandari expressed satisfaction at the way new programmes like Fear Factor and Scariest Places In The World have been faring on the channel since their launch earlier in the year.

    On the flip side, Bhandari said that animation series on the channel have not struck a chord with Indian audiences, chiefly because the shows target the 15-21 year age group. In India however animation is perceived to be meant for those in the five to 10 age bracket.

    He also said that one of the channel‘s major properties of the year was World Stunt Awards. The event is scheduled to take place on 19 May in the US and is being developed by the channel in conjunction with US network ABC.

    Bhandari said the channel would continue building the brand through alliances with action-oriented movies released in theatres. AXN promotes films not only from the Sony stables but also other film companies like Twentieth Century Fox, Bhandari said. The two parties promoted the war film Behind Enemy Lines and will team up again for Ali with Oscar-nominated Will Smith in the title role.

    The channel is planning to have a multi discipline adventure race towards the end of the year. Targeted at corporate executives who work long hours the event will see disciplines like rock climbing and swimming taking place over the weekend.

    Speaking about The Agency, Bhandari said the idea is to change the perception people have about the CIA. That the stories bear more than a passing resemblance to real life goings on can be gauged by the fact that the pilot episode about Osama Bin Laden‘s Al Qaeda network planning to bomb the famous department store Harrods in London was dropped after the events of 11 September. Interestingly, the pilot was made in May lending credence to the belief that the CIA was well aware of the threat the terrorist outfit posed to America and anyone who allied itself to the country.

    "Drama series like The Agency are peerless and are what water cooler conversations are all about," Bhandari said.

    Apart from The Agency another new show which will commence is called Queen of Swords from 4 April at 8 pm. The title character Tessa Alvorado could be considered a female Zorro. Like her male counterpart she is an expert in the art of sword fighting. The second season of Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) starts on 1 April at 8 pm.

  • AXN

    AXN aims to boost ratings by giving the CIA an image makeover

    Mar 26, 2002

    AXN's strategy is clear-cut.

  • ITV

    Public meet to discuss impact of media violence on children today

    Mar 26, 2002

    A public meeting on the impact of media violence on children, with special emphasis on television, is being organise

  • Public meet to discuss impact of media violence on children today

    Submitted by ITV Production on Mar 26, 2002
    News Headline

    A public meeting on the impact of media violence on children, with special emphasis on television, is being organised by the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) in Delhi on Wednesday.

    The meeting, say the organisers, is the culmination of a nine-month research project conducted by CFAR with support from Unicef, Unesco and Ford Foundation. A field study on media viewing habits of children was carried out in five cities - Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad - with children between the ages of six and twelve who belonged to different socio-economic groups.

    The study, undertaken between January and July 2001, has thrown up some serious concerns with regard to children‘s responses to media violence, concerns which need to be addressed by a wide range of people: parents, teachers, psychologists, child right activists, the government and the entertainment industry.

    These concerns include:

  • The amount of television children watch both in terms of time spent on TV and range of programmes they watch
  • What "hooks" them to television
  • Their most vivid recollections of television
  • Their responses to different types of media violence: horror and the supernatural, graphic physical violence, family drama conflicts and even cartoon violence.
  • The interactive relationship between reel and real violence in their lives

    The findings of the study will be presented along with certain recommendations which will seek to address the main issues at the meet. The public hearing will endeavour to bring together people representing different interest groups to help formulate a blueprint for action which can be faithfully implemented, say the organisers.

    Among those expected to participate in the day long sessions are Times of India senior features editor Kaveree Bamzai, Bheeshma International proprietor Mukesh Khanna, Zee ideation head Vinta Nanda, Sabe TV CEO Markand Adhikari, Star creative director Deepak Segal, DD director general SY Qureshi, Unicef‘s Geeta Athreya and Children‘s Film Society of India chairperson Sai Paranjapye.


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