Finally India‘s only television portal is here. Indiantelevision.com, a vortal based on India‘s burgeoning cable, satellite and terrestrial television and industry was launched on February 25 by the industry stalwart- Zee Telefilms‘ Chairman Subhash Chandra.
According to Anil Wanvari, a media analyst and also the founder & CEO of the company, the vortal aims at being ‘the one stop source for everything related to the Indian television‘. Indian Television Dot Com Pvt Ltd, which started off in form of India‘s first and succesful paid e-mail newsletter-The Indian Cab&Sat Reporter, has come a long way since then.

True to its name, Indiantelevision.com offers a variety of services to the industry. As of now the site is focusing on a huge information base wherein it lists a wide array of industry resources like media houses, advertising agencies, producers, directors, photographers, makeup men, actors etc.

Apart from this Indiantelevision.com also has plans to introduce the B-to-C model on the site, which will provide entertainment to the viewers in form of new, gossips, games revolving around the popular television, programmes. The B-to-C area will not only entertain the viewers but also form a part of valuable feedback to the industry in the form of suggestions and recommendations from the viewers.

"We want to generate revenues not just gather plain valuation" were the words of the CEO at the launch. He asked for blessings from the industry which would assure success for the portal which boasts to be objective.

Discovery Channel seems to be working hard in increasing the penetration of the infotainment channel and increasing its popularity. It is working on the ground level to directly reach the audience.As per the channel‘s plans to introduce a new series every three months, the channel has kicked off roadshows to promote its latest programme ‘Raising the Mammoth‘ which will be launched on 12 March, 2000. It would be a part of ‘Watch the World Over‘ series. Discovery Communications India has already got in Bernard Bulgues, the French explorer who was behind the path breaking expedition which excavated the still-intact remains of the 20,380 year old beast ‘Woolly Mammoth‘.
The French explorer is expected to interact with over 800 school children in Mumbai and will chat on www.indiatimes.com.

The channel already boasts that it has a penetration of over 15 million homes. The penetration of the channel rose tremendously following the introduction of the Hindi language feed.

Discovery Channel will promote its sister channel Animal Planet which will be its priority in the year 2000. It would work on increasing the distribution network of Animal Planet and would double the number of decoders to over 1,000 units. However, both the channels even though on similar lines, would have an identity of its own.

The Jim Henson Company, one of the world‘s leading producers and marketers of pre-school, kids and family entertainment, signed a definitive agreement with EM.TV & Merchandising AG, of Munich, Germany, one of the fastest-growing and most successful media, animated cartoon and retail companies in Europe under which EM.TV will acquire 100% of Henson in a cash-and-stock transaction notionally valued at $680 million.
Established in 1958 and headquartered in Los Angeles, The Jim Henson Company‘s library comprises more than 450 hours of family programming and includes famous series, TV movies and specials such as The Muppet Show, Jim Henson‘s Muppet Babies, Fraggle Rock, numerous Muppet movies and the recent international successes Bear in the Big Blue House and Farscape. It also is allied with the movie channel Hallmark Entertainment and kiddie channel Kermit Channel.

The leadership of The Jim Henson Company will be substantially unchanged. Brian Henson will continue to be responsible for initiating and driving the creative and technological forces of the Company as Chairman. Charlie Henson will be promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer. Lisa Henson will be officially joining the Company as President of Jim Henson Pictures, and also serve as Vice-Chairman. They will work closely with EM.TV‘s Chairman and CEO Thomas Haffa and his brother Florian, who is the Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer.

EM.TV & Merchandising AG is one of the fastest-growing and most successful media, animated cartoon and retail companies in Europe. Established in 1989 by Thomas Haffa, Chairman and CEO, EM.TV & Merchandising AG has developed into a leading international media company. The company is active in the production of children‘s and family programs, worldwide distribution of TV rights, and marketing of merchandising rights and major international events. EM.TV is the world market leader in family and children‘s programming and the European market leader in merchandising. With 30,000 half hours of programming under its control, EM.TV has one of the largest children‘s and family entertainment businesses in the world.

Thomas Haffa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EM.TV & Merchandising AG said, "This acquisition gives us access to one of the world‘s most outstanding product libraries, and represents a major milestone in the development of our company. By acquiring The Jim Henson Company, we gain some of the most powerful and enduring kids‘ and family brands worldwide and get access to the world‘s biggest and most important media market."

Allen & Company Incorporated advised The Jim Henson Company with regard to the transaction.