Channel [V]?s getting serious about increasing its value within the Star bouquet with a clutch of new shows.
After the AIDS concert on 1 December and the launch of its reality show Popstars, [V] is now planning to digress from its usual pop-n-roll content and get down to some serious talk. Its target this time is the modern Indian woman. A new half hour show What Women Want, to be aired from Christmas, will invite female celebrity talents to speak their minds and teach men a thing or two about women.

[V] is plugging the show as an exclusive platform for the ladies to lead and show the world why its no longer just a ?man?s world?. The channel claims What Women Want is the only one of its kind that celebrates the modern independent Indian woman and provides inspiration to young girls to draw on the strengths of these ?women of substance?. The first celebrity to appear on the show is actor Raveena Tandon along with new VJ Puja, who will also attempt to fathom the modern Indian woman?s tastes in music.

Raveena and those of her ilk who follow her, will have a chance to spread the mantra of their confidence and successes with respect to their careers, styles and relationships. The programme will be aired on Tuesdays at 8 PM, with repeat telecasts on Fridays at 2 PM, Sundays at 12:30 PM and again at 8 PM

And if What Women Want is a tad heavy for the [V] viewer, the channel has another show up its sleeve. Beginning 24 December, four times a day, [V] will take viewers on a trip in which featured guests will catch up with their first infatuations. [V] Crush will use email, letters, couriers, photographs on a search for the first crush. Orchestrated by VJ?S Purab & Kim, the countdown culminates in a meeting between the two involved. The show will use love songs as an integral part of the show.
 

The first ever TV commercial to be filmed entirely in space will be aired in Japan from 1 January 2002.

The ad has been created by Dentsu Inc for Otsuka Pharmaceuticals? Pocari Sweat Drink and reportedly cost 100 million yen ($ 786,000) to make. The ad features two Russian astronauts drinking the beverage at the International Space Station. The astronauts left for the station in October this year on board the Soyuz TM 33 from the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan.

Dentsu Inc officials have described the project as "the first effort by Japan to shoot a TV commercial in space," along with "the world?s first attempt to support a full-fledged commercial with high-vision shooting combined with real-time remote direction." A US firm has already produced a TV commercial featuring simple images filmed at a space station.

A camera that shot footage appropriate for high-definition television sets was installed by the National Space Development Agency in the Russian service module of the ISS, the officials said. During the 50-minute filming period, Dentsu instructed the astronauts by linking up with the ISS via a telecommunications channel, they said.

The ISS is a venture sponsored by 16 countries, including Japan, Russia and the U.S. It is scheduled to be completed in 2006.