The Baker And The Beauty Will Be On Amazon Prime Video
Keshet International (KI) has announced a worldwide licensing deal in more than 200 countries & territories for the Israeli romantic comedy series The Baker And The Beauty. Amazon Prime Video will be the premium subscription streaming home for season 1 & season 2.
National Geographic Announces 2nd Season
US & global infotainment broadcaster National Geographic has announced that the 2nd season of its scripted anthology series Genius will chronicle the life & the work of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, one of 20th century’s most influential & celebrated artists. The new season, from Fox 21 Television Studios, will again be executive produced by Brian Grazer & Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, Madison Wells Media’s OddLot Entertainment & EUE /Sokolow & will premiere in 2018.
Sony Max To Bring Back Popular Property
Hindi movie channel Sony Max is all set to bring back its popular property Action Super Kings featuring Hindi – dubbed South Indian movies The property will air from 24th Jun, 2017 to 29th Jul, 2017 every Saturday, at 8 pm. Action Super Kings will showcase world television premieres of blockbuster movies every weekend in prime – time slots.
Zee TV To Premiere Raees
After airing Aamir Khan’s 2016 hit film Dangal, Hindi GEC Zee TV is all set to premiere Shah Rukh Khan’s 2017 blockbuster Raees. The film will premiere on 25 Jun, 2017 at 12 noon.
HistoryTV18& The Better India Tie Up
In a 1st – of – its – kind digital collaboration, infotainment channel HistoryTV18 has joined hands with digital news platform The Better India to launch #BossWomen, a weekly video series showcasing the stories of extraordinary Indian women. To be hosted every Tues, #BossWomen will put the spotlight on women leaders who are “change-makers” in their personal & professional spaces.
BBC Two Commissions Docu Series
BBC Two has commissioned Great Indian Railway Journeys, a new series from Boundless, part of FremantleMedia UK. This follows Great British Railway Journeys, Great Continental Railway Journeys & Great American Railroad Journeys, all presented by Michael Portillo. With a century – old Bradshaw’s Handbook of Indian, Foreign & Colonial Travel tucked under his arm, Portillo will embark on a brand new railway adventure in India through a land of mountains, desert & plains watered by holy rivers.
Kevin Spacey To Receive An Award
The International Academy of Television Arts And Sciences will present the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award to two -time Academy Award winning actor & producer Kevin Spacey, who in his turn will accept the Award at the 45th International Emmy Awards Gala on 20th Nov, in New York City.
Michael Debuts On Netflix
5 years after it failed to find a theatrical or a satellite window, Naseeruddin Shah starrer psychological thriller Michael has been resuscitated by global over – the – top (OTT) giant Netflix, which has acquired the rights to the long – forgotten film. Directed by Ribhu Dasgupta. & produced by Anurag Kashyap, the film was released in 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival. However, the film, which has 6 stars on online film database IMDb, didn’t find any takers.
ALTBalaji Integrates JioMoney
Over – the – top (OTT) platform ALTBalaji has integrated with JioMoney, the mobile wallet from Reliance Payment Solutions, to provide digital transaction experience to its subscribers. The integration will enable easy & hassle – free subscription payments for ALTBalaji’s customers. ALTBalaji was launched on 16th Apr, 2016 with 5 original shows and adds new shows every fortnight for its viewers to binge – watch. The content is created by some of the best talent of the Indian entertainment industry, including critically acclaimed directors & actors.
Sony Pictures Network & Indian Music Lab Launch New Property
The music cluster of Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) has collaborated with Indian Music Lab to launch a new property, Artist Of The Month’, to provide a platform for the next – gen singers to showcase their talent. The property, which kick – started on World Music Day 21st Jun, 2017 promotes 12 emerging singers over the course of 1 year on Sony Mix & Sony Rox HD.
Viacom18’s Voot In Contention
Viacom18’s video – on – demand (VoD) product Voot has emerged as one of the 4 finalists in content distribution category for the IBC 2017 Innovation Awards for its technological innovation. The international panel of judges reviewed an array of compelling entries, settling on 11 finalists from around the world, all offering very different solutions including Viacom18.
ALTBalaji Launches Comedy Show Pammi Aunty
OTT platform ALTBalaji has launched a comedy show Pammi Aunty. The digital show will showcase Pammi Aunty aka Ssumier Pasricha & her maddening dysfunctional family. The highlight of the yet – to – be named show is the fact that all the characters are played by Ssumier Pasricha himself. The entertainment dose of ALTBalaji’s new show is manifold as it is a riotous extension of Pammi Aunty. Her America returned son Timmi, fireball draped maid Shanti Shole & one amusing neighbour Kishori Lal will add zest to the antics of Pammi Aunty.
Zee Studio To Premiere Mechanic Resurrection
English movie channel Zee Studio will air Mechanic Resurrection on 25th Jun, at 12 pm & 8 pm. The action thriller features Jason Statham, Jessica Alba& Tommy Lee Jones. Jason Statham reprises his role as Arthur Bishop in the sequel to the 2011 action thriller The Mechanic.
SRK & GMR Group Amongst Franchise Owners
2 Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners will also own 2largest teams of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) new T20 Global League. Bollywood star & Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan & Delhi Daredevils owner GMR Group have spread their business interest to South Africa. While Khan will own the Cape Town franchise, GMR Sports will have the Johannesburg team. Khan also owns a franchise in the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL).
Epic To Be Launched As An Infotainment Channel
Anand Mahindra – backed Hindi GEC Epic will be relaunched as an infotainment channel on 4th Jul, 2017. The channel, which is being positioned as an indigenous Hindi infotainment channel, has lined up 6 shows, which also include existing infotainment shows. The channel will focus on exploring India’s untold stories, facts & possibilities.
GTPL Hathway & Darsh In Advanced Talks
GTPL Hathway, which is tapping the capital market to raise Rs 480 crore through an initial public offering (IPO), and Patna based Darsh Digital Network are in advanced talks to form a joint venture (JV) to expand in the Bihar market. The 2 multi – system operators (MSOs) are looking to set up a 50:50 JV company. Talks are also on to stretch the JV to the Jharkhand region.
Tata Elxsi Integrates Android TV Middleware
STBEngineering design firm Tata Elxsi has executed the integration of Android TV middleware with direct – to – home (DTH) operator Airtel Digital TV’s hybrid set – top box (STB). Tata Elxsi is the technology partner for Airtel Digital TV’s system integration for internet TV.
Star Plus To Premiere Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 3
Hindi GEC Star Plus is all set to release the 3rd season of its popular show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 3. It will premiere on 3rd Jul, 2017 and air every Mon to Fri at 8 pm. The show is set to replace Balaji Telefilm’s soap opera Pardes Mein Hain Mera Dil.
Zee Takes Over Ahmedabad & Jaipur Editions
Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL), the TV news & print arm of Essel Group, has taken over the Ahmedabad & Jaipur editions of its English newspaper DNA from DB Corp. DB Corp was publishing DNA on a franchisee basis from Ahmedabad & Jaipur under an arrangement with ZMCL. The Mumbai & Delhi editions of DNA were published by ZMCL through its subsidiary Diligent Media Corporation Ltd (DMCL).
Star Postpones FX HD Shutdown
Broadcaster Star India has postponed the discontinuation of its HD English entertainment channel FX HD to 20th Jul, 2017 and is planning to launch the SD version of its premium Hindi movie channel Star Gold Select HD. The broadcaster had earlier issued a notice stating that FX HD, along with FX & Star Movies Action, will discontinue from 15th Jun, 2017.
DTH Operators Present List Of Concerns
Over – the – top (OTT) platforms, DD Freedish, satellite crunch & the licensing process are some of the concerns that direct – to – home (DTH) operators have. Videocon d2h has called upon the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to regulate the over – the – top (OTT) video delivery platforms like Hotstar, Netflix & Amazon Prime Video. Videocon d2h has noted that the OTT services are un – regulated as they don’t need a licence to operate, nor pay licence fee. They are also exempt from paying entertainment taxes unlike other TV distribution platforms.
Indo – Pak Match Highest – Rated ODI Match
The India – Pakistan clash in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy attracted 201 million viewers, thus becoming the highest – rated ODI match in BARC history. Moreover, an impressive 294 million viewers tuned in for the 1st half of the tournament, as per BARC India data for 2+ (U+R) all India.
Pulak Bagchi Bids Adieu
Star India SVP legal & regulatory Pulak Bagchi has put in his papers after more than a 7 year stint. He is currently serving his notice period and his last day at the company is 30th Jun, 2017. Bagchi, who has been a part of the TV broadcast sector for almost 9 years, is changing the industry. He will move to the infrastructure sector.
Rishtey Cineplex Bags Gold
Ppomax BDA Global AwardsViacom18’s Hindi movie channel Rishtey Cineplex has bagged a gold for on – air branding at the recently held 2017 PromaxBDA Global Excellence Promotion, Marketing & Design Awards. The channel won the award in the category of Total Package Channel Image – On – Air Only (Art Direction & Design). The design objective of Rishtey Cineplex was to create an active yet non – intrusive branding. Created in collaboration with New Zealand based visual artist & designer David Frearson, the branding & the communication stood out due to its simplicity & beauty of the idea. This win makes Viacom18 the only broadcaster to have attained this honour since 2009.
Hathway Adds 2 New Subscription Services
Multi – system operator (MSO) Hathway Digital has launched 2 new add on subscription services, Play My Play & Hare Krsna, for Rs 40 & Rs 25 per month, respectively. Available under the Hathway Special brand, the 2 services will be available at no cost for the 1st 1 month starting 15th Jun, 2017 following which it will be available on subscription.
Sun TV’s Digital Content Platform Crosses 1.1 mn Downloads
Sun TV Network’s recently launched subscription – led digital content platform Sun NXT has already crossed 1.1 million downloads, barely 4 days into its launch. Sun NXT offers Sun TV’s popular TV programmes in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam & Kannada. It has a film library of over 4,000 titles, over 40 channels streaming live & catch – up TV.
Arunabh Kumar Steps Down
Facing allegations of sexual harassment, digital content creator TVF’s founder Arunabh Kumar has stepped down as the CEO of the company. Dhawal Gusain, the current COO of the company, has replaced Kumar as the new CEO.
