• Vh1 kicks off 'Beavis And Butt-Head' on 24 June

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 22, 2012
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Vh1 India will kick off Mike Judge?s ?Beavis and Butt-Head? on 24 June at 7 pm.

    The presenting sponsor of the show is Samsung Galaxy SIII.

    The show centers around two socially awkward, metal loving teenage delinquents who live without any adult supervision at home. These dim-witted, under-educated friends lack any empathy or moral scruples even for each other.

    Their favourite activity is to watch music videos all day and criticise them with much fervour. And this time around they have more than just music videos to make fun of. Jersey Shore, the Internet, Ultimate Fighting will all be crossing their TV screen and be ridiculed with a lot of excitement. Despite having no experience with women, their other signature trait is their obsession with sex, and their tendency to chuckle and giggle whenever they hear words or phrases that can even remotely be construed as sexual or scatological!

    Viacom18 Media senior VP, GM English entertainment Ferzad Palia said, ?We?re very excited to launch Mike Judge?s Beavis and Butt-Head - a show which is sure to stand out in the English entertainment category. It?s been one of the most popular shows in the West and Vh1 has a strong 360-degree launch marketing campaign to support the series too. We are confident that Beavis & Butt-Head?s world famous whacked-out personalities will resonate well with the Indian audiences."

    Known for their super cool comments? Beavis and Butt-Head have entertained audiences in the West with their most common activity of watching music videos, which they tend to judge by deeming them "cool", or by claiming, "This sucks!" They also apply these judgments to other things that they encounter and usually deem something "cool" if it is associated with violence, sex, or the macabre.

    Vh1 also goes a step further to interact with its audience on the digital space. On Facebook (www.facebook.com/vh1india) , users can type any question they want in the text box and they will get an instant response from Beavis and Butt-Head! This promises not only to be riotous but also takes interactivity with the characters to the next level. Users will also be able to take part in exciting contests, download wallpapers, games, watch videos and win merchandise.

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    Ferzad Palia
  • Chasme Baddoor to release on 31 August

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures’ David Dhawan-directed Chasme Baddoor has been slated to release on 31 August.

  • Vivek Bahl joins Viacom18 as network advisor content

    Submitted by ITV Production on May 17, 2012
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has appointed Vivek Bahl as network advisor content.

    Bahl?s immediate focus will be to work on the regional channels the group plans to get into. He will also play a strategic role in planning and development of new content.

    He will report to Colors CEO Raj Nayak and has a parallel line of reporting to the regional head.

    Bahl joins in from Turner India, where he was the chief content officer for all Turner channels.

    Nayak said, ?Vivek comes with great experience in developing content for different genres and his understanding of the television and entertainment industry is quite phenomenal. We believe he will play a significant role in not only in further developing and strengthening the current content on Viacom18?s offerings but also in the expansion of the network?s upcoming regional channels.?

    Bahl comes in with over 25 years experience in television, films and advertising. He has played various roles of creating, writing, programming, producing and directing entertainment content.

    Prior to Turner, he was executive creative director for Star India and he co-produced the series ?Navya? for Star Plus. He has also worked with Mahuaa Network in a consulting role to set up their new regional channels and Zee TV.

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    Vivek Bahl
  • Viacom18 posts fourth straight quarterly loss

    Submitted by ITV Production on May 09, 2012
    indiantelevision.com Team

    MUMBAI: Viacom18, the joint venture between Network18 Group and Viacom, has posted a fourth straight quarterly loss as its operating expenses surged 185 per cent, mainly on account of discontinued operations - deferment of the Hindi movie channel and TIFC (The Indian Film Company).

    Viacom18, which runs a clutch of entertainment channels including flagship Hindi general entertainment channel Colors, reported a net loss of 337 million for the three-month period ended 31 March 2012, as against a profit of Rs 45 million in the year-before quarter.

    In the first three quarters, Viacom18 had also coloured the books red with a net loss of Rs 10 million, Rs 284 million and Rs 532 million respectively.

    Viacom18 posted a revenue of Rs 6.28 billion, up 131 per cent from Rs 2.72 billion. However, it clarified that this includes Rs 2.34 billion realised from the sale of the movie library that it had built up for the proposed Hindi movie channel.

    ?Our continuing business grew at 16 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year,? the company said.

    Meanwhile, operating expenses jumped to Rs 7.16 billion for the quarter, from Rs 2.72 billion in the year-before quarter. Marketing, distribution and promotional expenses jumped from Rs 826 million to Rs 1.29 billion, while production expenses and other expenditure doubled to Rs 3.17 billion from Rs 1.51 billion. The company also listed expense of Rs 2.38 billion for its deferred Hindi movie channel.

    Viacom18 posted operating (Ebidta) loss of Rs 887 million in the quarter, as against a profit of Rs 204 million.

    Viacom18 also posted individual Ebitda for TV continuing operations, new operations and discontinued operations. Notably, the company has suffered operating loss from TV continuing operations including motion pictures also, which was until now a profit making business.

    The Ebitda loss stood at Rs 116 million, compared to a profit of Rs 204 million a year ago.

    Viacom18 clarified that one-time losses amounting to Rs 477 million in Q4 were incurred with respect to the discontinued operations - deferment of the Hindi movie channel and TIFC, while Rs 294 million was incurred with respect to costs towards the new channels ? Sonic, Comedy Central and Colors HD.

    For the full fiscal ended 31 March 2012, the net loss stood at Rs 1.13 billion, from a net profit of Rs 851 million in the earlier year. Operating revenue stood at Rs 15.84 billion (from Rs 11.04 billion), while expenses were at Rs 16.97 billion (from Rs 9.85 billion).

    Viacom18 said that the fourth quarter and full fiscal numbers have been subjected to limited review by the auditors and segmental numbers are on a proforma basis.

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    Viacom18
  • Scorsese’s Hugo to release on 4 May

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Motion Pictures is gearing up to release Martin Scorsese’s Hugo (3D) across the country on 4 May.

  • Colors to launch Sunday wellness show on 29 April

    Submitted by ITV Production on Apr 27, 2012
    indiantelevision.com Team

    Mumbai: Colors, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Viacom18 stable, is launching a wellness show on 29 April. Titled ?All is Well with Dr. Ahluwalia?, the show will be aired every Sunday at 12 noon

    The show is the Indian adaptation of the international format - Dr. OZ. This is one-of-its-kind show in India and will simplify the medical jargons and terminology for the masses and give its audiences the medical expertise. It will drive awareness and also educate the audiences towards managing health at home and leading a better lifestyle.

    Colors had bought the rights of the show from Sony Pictures Television (SPT) in November last year.

    Produced by Miditech, the show will run for an hour. In the show, Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia, will demystify everything related to health and medicine, giving simple solutions and answers to all health and lifestyle related issues in common man?s terms. The interactive show will make health regime a fun experience through games, quizzes, power workouts and dance.

    Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, "With All Is Well, we are excited to explore wellness as a concept that brings to our audiences edutainment weekly in a show that is both educative and entertaining. It takes a Sundays - 12 noon slot, a time when the entire family gets together, thereby building our weekend viewing. The show is also in line with the Colors philosophy of providing the viewers with variety of programming. With All Is well, we hope to bring in more awareness on health issues and take up the cause of reaching the message to a large audience."

    Miditech co founder Niret Alva added, "It?s great to bring an interactive show that highlights health and medicine in a simpler and entertaining format to the Indian audience. Dr. Sonu is the perfect fit to take on as the host; he is witty and connects well with the audience. His experience and insights into the profession has worked towards making this show engaging and informative."

    Also Read:

    Colors acquires rights for ?The Dr. Oz Show?

    Image
    Raj Nayak
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