MUMBAI: Kris Allen and Adam Lambert are American Idol?s two remaining finalists. In a season full of surprises, season eight?s final performances promises to be a night to remember as Allen and Lambert compete head-to-head for the Idol crown at the Nokia Theatre in LA on Thu, 21 May at 9pm exclusively on STAR WORLD.

Tune in the following night for the biggest television event of the season. Over 100,000 people auditioned, and now only one finalist will be crowned the next American Idol in the two-hour season finale, on Fri 22 May at 8pm.

The season finale will see the Top 13 finalists reunite on stage one last time before America?s vote is revealed. The two-hour extravaganza is rumored to include performances from former Idol winners Carrie Underwood and David Cook as well as special guest appearances from Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper, Queen Latifah, the Black Eyed Peas and Keith Urban, making it the most star-studded finale in Idol history.

The 2009 finalists represent the polar-opposite ends of the pop spectrum. While Allen is a clean-cut crooner from Arkansas who married his longtime girlfriend last year, Lambert is a flamboyant Broadway performer who?s known for his affinity for black nail polish and eyeliner.

Although Lambert goes into the finale as the favorite, Allen has been this season?s dark horse and has attracted a huge fan base of teenage girls.

Who will strike a chord with viewers? Which finalist ? Kris Allen or Adam Lambert ? will be in tune with American tastes? Be among the first to find out who is pop?s newest superstar as STAR WORLD brings you the American Idol Season Finale on Fri 22 May at 8pm.

MUMBAI: SAB, the family comedy entertainment channel has achieved an astounding 54 GRPs as per the latest TAM data for week 19th 2009.

This exceptional growth is ascribed to its unique and creative programming strategy. In cluttered GEC space SAB has grown almost 17% during IPL Season II. SAB has achieved a tremendous 8 GRP leap in comparison to its last week ratings, which is clear indication of its growing popularity in the general entertainment genre.

Commenting on this significant achievement, Anooj Kapoor, Business Head, SAB TV stated - ?SAB?s aim is to ensure ?experiential?, refreshing, light-hearted family based comedy entertainment. Despite successful second innings of IPL achieving 54 GRPs is truly a remarkable feat. We are further confident of strengthening our position in the GEC segment.?

He further commented that ?All our programming GRPs have increased along with Film GRPs, SAB has taken a whopping lead of 9 GRPs from Sahara One and is just 2 GRP away from Star One. Our persistent growth is attributed to the response generated for all our current shows apart from the dynamic programming strategy?

SAB TV?s Brand Campaign ?Asli Mazaa SAB ke Saath Aata Hai? has received an overwhelming response from the audience and has contributed to the popularity of the channel. Recently the campaign bagged two gold awards at the Mirchi Kaan Awards.

MUMBAI: BIG 92.7 FM, India?s No.1 FM Station Network in its constant endeavor to offer listeners unparalleled and innovative programming, whilst ensuring highest levels of entertainment, announces the coming on board of none other than the very talented Rahul Vaidya to host a Top 50 countdown which in true Hindi slang style is christened Jhakkas Pachas. The show, which is in a countdown format of top 50 songs of the week, will air every Sunday from 5:00-9:00pm where Rahul will co-host the show with Mumbai?s evening jock RJ Rohit.

Rahul Vaidya has donned many hats professionally which include those of a singer and anchor, the latest being that of a radio jockey. His show will have tons of mauj and masti through the very interesting chemistry that he shares with RJ Rohit and the listeners. Apart from playing the top 50 countdown, he will also be heard crooning away some of the latest hits and enthralling listeners with his melodious voice. Rahul will have a guitarist accompanying him on all his shows as he takes on requests and dedications from listeners on air. He also plans to host a whole bunch of colleagues from the music fraternity, while offering listeners access to some of the best music talent on the show.

Jhakkas Pachas will reach out to audiences across the country, as it reaches out to 35 stations of the BIG FM network, from the Hindi belt. Interactions will thus be with listeners who have varying music tastes and queries that will ensure listeners are thoroughly entertained while getting a preview to a host of exclusive and musically inclined information and trivia. The show marks Rahul Vaidya?s first tryst with radio, one that he is super excited about.

Speaking about his new role, an excited Rahul Vaidya said, ?I am extremely excited about my new role. This far, my interactions with audiences have been with them in front of me. This time it is different and extremely challenging? to be able to enthrall audiences and keep them hooked to the station through my voice ? either through conversations or through singing is what is going to be exciting. Radio they say is the theatre of the mind and I am looking forward to giving listeners a new experience on radio. Am sure RJ Rohit and me will together be able to put forth some of the best music ever.?

Speaking on this programming offering, Mr. Nirupam Sonu, Vice President ? Programming, BIG 92.7 FM said, ?Rahul Vaidya is an excellent fit for the Hindi markets given his mass connect and appeal. Jhakkas Pachas has been put together to ensure listener delight while making him accessible to listeners as they interact and jam with him and RJ Rohit almost at a personal level. The format of the show is a countdown, which will ensure the top 50 songs of the week are up for listening pleasure. We are looking forward to entertaining India with some of the best music only on BIG 92.7 FM. Suno Sunao, Life Banao.

MUMBAI: In order to understand the involvement and interest of the corporate houses towards the elections; UTVi in association with ICMR (Research Division of Planman Consulting) conducted the Corporate Voice Index - a study that primarily covers feedbacks and views of CEO?s and top management in various companies towards the elections in general. As a step forward to this, UTVi, today on counting day is hosting a CEO Parliament. This is a day when India Inc. will put forth and discuss its expectations as well as their concerns about elections and the government that shall be elected to power.

Through the CEO Parliament, UTVi Business News takes the discussions and debates a step closer to the industry. It would be quiet a view when the set up comes alive with the biggies of India Inc. debating and sharing their politically correct or heart felt views on:

• Should we expect major changes trade policy and priorities?
• What will this mean for the future direction of small and medium emerging companies?
• Is a major boost to the business environment around the corner?

On May 16, 2009, the Counting day UTVi turned the spotlight on corporate India and their views as the results start coming in.

Shantonu Aditya, Executive Director, UTV Global Broadcasting Limited and CEO, UTVi, says: ?As the world?s largest democracy stands poised to usher in a new government, election results 2009 are closely tracked by decision making segments across the country. The current scenario combining the slowdown with the political reorganization makes for a critical point in Corporate India?s future strategy.??

The CEO parliament will be kicked off with Speaker?s Note by Tushar Jani, Chairman, SCA Group of Companies. The CEO Parliament was attended by the likes of Ranjit Shahani, VC & MD, Novartis India, S Ramesh, President Finance, Lupin, Pankaj Baliga, VP, TCS, Van Fleisher, Chairman, Renoir Consultancy, etc, where the agenda of the forum was set in. Followed by Question Hour where the crew will take reactions from the initial round of results pouring out and important questions are posed to eminent members and their views go on air on UTVi. Later on Findings of the ICMR corporate India?s first corporate electoral survey released. A number of topics will be the part of panel discussions like Crunching the numbers & Race For Raisina. Finally the parliament will be dispersed with a Vote on various policies from the guests, the results of which will be announced later same night on the channel

MUMBAI: Adlabs Films Limited, an associate of the Reliance Big Entertainment company and member of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, with business interests which cover film exhibition, television production, film and media services, has made huge strides in the digital world in the last six months, securing its position as India‘s fastest growing film and entertainment services company.In line with parent company, Reliance Big Entertainment‘s overall strategy to be an international premium entertainment brand, delivering entertainment both in and out of the home, Adlabs is a part of cementing that vision, having acquired and further developed, Lowry Digital, based in Los Angeles, taking the company global.

One of its key initiatives is ‘digital first‘. Adlabs is digitally distributing films in 2K formats via international optical fibre communication to be exhibited on its 2K digital BIG Cinema screens across the globe. Adlabs has already successfully ‘delivered‘ the highly successful "GHAJINI" digitally to its New York flagship cinema. It is also looking at developing and rolling out 4K.

Meanwhile, parent company, Reliance Big Entertainment announced at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, specific development details of its Creative Partnership deals which are taking the company well into the realms of Hollywood.

Anil Arjun, CEO, Adlabs Films, said: "We realize that consumers‘ lifestyles have changed and in order to grow, the entertainment industry must evolve to newer formats of entertainment which are in sync with the consumer‘s needs. We are committed to being leaders in the digital arena and with our ambitious growth strategy we are looking forward to the next twelve months and announcing more ‘DIGITAL FIRSTS‘."

MUMBAI: The world?s top riders are all set to burn rubber again, as the Moto GP caravan swings into France.

And all the action from the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP categories will be Live on TEN Sports over the weekend (see schedule below).

This year?s French Grand Prix, which will be held at the famous racing track at Le Mans, is an absolute must-see. Fiat Yamaha?s legendary Italian rider Valentino Rossi heads into the event with an 11-point lead over second-placed Australian Casey Stoner of Ducati-Marlboro in the MotoGP world championship. 8-time GP champion Rossi, fresh from his win at the Gran Premio in Spain, will go in as the overwhelming favourite once again, as he tries to steer clear of Stoner. Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, meanwhile, are locked in an exciting tussle for 3rd, with 41 points each.

In the 250cc category, Scot Racing?s Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama goes in with a slender 4-point lead over Mapfre Aspar?s Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista at the top of the standings, thanks to his ?revenge? win in Spain. Spain?s Hector Barbera, competing for the Pepe world team, is third with 43 points.

And in the 125cc category, Italy?s Andrea Iannone holds a slender one-point lead over Premio winner Bradley Smith of the Bancaja Aspar team. Iannone finished a disastrous 19th in Spain, and will be hard-pressed to maintain his lead at the top of the table.