• MCCS attains highest market share - TAM Ratings

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jul 02, 2007

    MUMBAI: As per the latest TAM ratings for week 25, Media Content and Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), India‘s leading news network continues to lead the charts.

    Both its existing channels continue to occupy the #1 slot in their respective genres. Its flagship new channel, STAR News is the clear winner with a 20% market share*. The other Hindi news channels including Aaj Tak with 19%, India TV at 16% & Zee News at 12% market shares respectively trail behind. 10 of the top 20 and 51 of the top 100 Hindi news programs belong to STAR News for TAM Week 25.

    STAR Ananda, the 24 hours Bengali News Channel from the MCCS stable, continues to be the people‘s favorite dominating the charts, as it retains its #1 position. As per the latest TAM Week 25 data, STAR Ananda has attained a whopper of a 39% market share** as compared to other news channels, including, 24 Ghanta at 34%, Kolkata TV 16% & Tara News at 10%.

    As a part of it‘s expansion strategy, MCCS, plans to continue regional penetration across the country. The recent launch of their 24 hours Marathi News Channel - STAR Majha is step towards the direction. Star Majha is the new age Marathi channel for the modern Maharashtrian. Headquartered in Mumbai, it is equipped with an innovative-modern production facility, a first of its kind set, and a state-of-the-art newsroom. Having an extensive bureau network across Maharashtra and countrywide, it will draw on the immense resources & expertise of MCCS.

    Commenting on the successful run of Star News and Star Ananda, Mr. Barun Das, Vice-President of Media Content & Communications Services India Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), says, " The consistent upward trend of STAR News & Star Ananda, along with the viewers‘ positive feedback to the recently launched Star Majha, encourages us to believe that we are on the right track. The ratings are an endorsement of our viewers‘ faith in us and we thank them for their continuous support and encouragement."

    Adds Mr. Shazi Zaman - Managing Editor, MCCS, "The enduring success of Star News is a sure indicator of the fact that people will watch if you have compelling and differentiated content. And it‘s our constant endeavour to develop content that connects to the viewer. Star Ananda and now Star Majha, offer programming tailored to the requirements of the regional audiencese look forward to offer to our keen viewers‘, continuous, innovative & knowledge-worthy forms of current-affairs, thereby fortifying the company‘s leadership position in these exciting times."

    MCCS has grown to be a leading television network, in the Indian news broadcasting business. MCCS promises to have many more triumphs in the offing, with its expanding bouquet of channels across the network.

    *Source: TAM, Period: Wk 25 (17-23 June), Daypart: All Days, TG: CS 15+, Market: HSM

    **Source: TAM, Period: Wk 25 (17-23 June), Daypart: All Days, TG: CS 15+, Market: West Bengal

     
  • Watch 'Frankly Speaking' with Arnab on July1 2007 at 2.30pm and 8.30pm only on TIMES NOW

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 29, 2007

    MUMBAI: India‘s leading English news channel manages to get the enigmatic Jayalalithaa to speak one on one after a three year silence.

    It‘s clearly the scoop of scoop in terms of high profile television interviews.

    Jayalalithaa, who many believed would never give a TV interview again after having a verbal skirmish on the sets of a BBC interview more than three years back, has spoken her mind out to TIMES NOW. It was a race to the finish, with all news channels trying to outdo each other in getting the charismatic lady to speak, but TIMES NOW outdid others at the last minute.

    The interview is, according to the channel, being telecast on Sunday, on the flagship interview show "Frankly Speaking with Arnab". The channel is not revealing yet what the reclusive politician has said in the interview, but it is believed that Jaya has gone public with her national ambitions for the first time ever. That should be interesting, because Jayalalithaa is known to have prime ministerial aspirations and very strong views on Sonia Gandhi.

    The scoop was recorded in utmost secrecy by the channel in Chennai sometime this week, and comes just days after Jayalalithaa made a determined but unsuccessful attempt to get President Kalam re-elected for a second term. This is the second big scoop for TIMES NOW recently, after Benazir Bhutto went public with plans of returning to active politics on the channel last month.

  • Journey for the gala round beings on Indian Idol

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 29, 2007

    MUMBAI: The stage is set. The magic is about to begin. Indian Idol‘s 13 chosen ones are on center-stage.Indian Idol based on the internationally popular ‘Pop Idol" format now moves in to the most exciting phase with the Gala Round. The Galas bring with it grandiose sets, glitz, glamour and loads of talent. The Top 13 will put out their best performances week after week, in a do- or-die effort, to win over the viewers and their votes in order to move to the next round. With performance every week, followed by the result episode, these gifted contestants will be moving closer to making their dream true.

    The Piano Round of Indian Idol 3 threw up a genuine pool of young talent. Amongst the boys, we have ‘the prankster‘ Emon Chatterjee and ‘the Singing Sepoy‘ Prashant Tamang from Kolkata, ‘the cute and charming‘ Meiyang Chang from Dhanbad, ‘Mr. Perfect‘ Parleen Gill from Delhi, Shillong boy Amit Paul with his ‘Golden Voice‘ and ‘the man with the ulta cap‘ Abhishek Kumar from Bhopal all voted in by the viewers. The ‘Girl Power‘ includes ‘the baby face‘ with a voice to match Richa Aneja from Amritsar, ‘Ms. Congeniality‘ Charu Semwal from Dehradun, ‘the aspiring RJ‘ Deepali from Patna, ‘Ms. Super Confident‘ Ankita Mishra from Kanpur, ‘Ms. Dynamite‘ Puja Chatterjee from Dhanbad and ‘the talented plain Jane‘ Smita Adhikary from Kolkata along with ‘the golden girl‘ Jolly Das who is back to complete her last year‘s mission* in the third season of Indian Idol.

    Starting this Friday, 29 June, this power packed gang of Indian Idol TOP 13 will begin their riveting journey with one single goal in mind - ‘Indian Idol - Bharat Ki Shaan‘. Whilethe performance episode is on Fridays, the result episode will be on Saturdays. Voting lines will be open from Friday 9.00 p.m to Saturday 8.00 a.m.

    The show is now in its most important & crucial stage! The ‘Indian Idol 3 Gala Round‘ promise the viewers never-seen-before entertainment and an unforgettable viewing experience. With such great talent emerging on the show this year, the viewers will have a tough task of selecting the most deserving contestant. In the coming weeks, watch the making of another musical sensation? a true ‘ Indian Idol-Bharat Ki Shaan‘ chosen democratically by millions of Indian viewers.

    The spirit and enthusiasm with which the nation has greeted Indian Idol 3 has truly set the tone for yet another nationwide frenzy. And this phenomenal response of the show can be attributed to its path breaking content with an inimitable fusion of drama, humour, music, entertainment and excitement. The coming weeks will witness the Gala Round, which will see contestants aspiring to reach the height of fame, fortune and love of the entire nation.

  • Watch a remarkable documentary 'My Death Row Lover' only on Zone Reality

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 29, 2007

    MUMBAI:Not sure what it does to the age old vow, "?till death do us part," but marrying a man on death row is definitely one very unique commitment. My Death Row Lover is a remarkable observational documentary that follows three women who began corresponding with Death Row inmates only to fall in love.

    Through powerful testimony, this programme probes the psychological and emotional reasons for such an attraction. Is there a vicarious thrill in having a dangerous lover behind bars? But what happens if these men are released from prison? Is it happy ever after? Or does a lover‘s past overwhelm any prospect of future happiness?

    My Death Row Lover penetrates and explores the deep recesses of dark passions.

    Premier on - 30 June, 2007 at 20:35 ? 21:30 IST only on Zone Reality.

  • Discovery to premiere docu on The Lost Queen Of Egypt


    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 28, 2007

    MUMBAI: Secretary General of Egypt?s Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass announced and unveiled in an international press conference at Cairo?s Egyptian Museum, a 3,500-year-old mummy now positively identified as Hatshepsut, one of history?s few female pharaohs.

    Using computed tomography (CT) scanning and ongoing DNA testing, Dr. Hawass solved the mystery of what happened to one of ancient Egypt?s most powerful and successful rulers. Dr. Hawass?s odyssey of archeological and scientific adventure has been documented in Discovery?s Secrets Of Egypt?s Lost Queen, which premieres worldwide on 15 July, 2007

    The investigative journey of Dr. Hawass and his team leads them through the massive crypts beneath Egypt and into the depths of the Egyptian Museum. Using knowledge of royal Egyptian mummification and clues from two known tombs linked to Hatshepsut, the team narrows their search for Hatshepsut to just four mummies from thousands of unidentified corpses.

    CT scanning allows the scientists to link distinct physical traits of the four mummies to those of Hatshepsut?s known relatives. The search further narrows to two possibilities?both from the tomb of Hatshepsut?s wet nurse?but the final clue lies within a canopic box inscribed with the female pharaoh?s name. A scan of the box finds a tooth that, when measured, perfectly matches a missing upper molar in one of the two mummies.

    Discovery US president, GM Jane Root says, "Only Discovery Channel can provide a context for and continually immerse viewers in these important moments of scientific discovery. We are proud to be part of this significant find, and commend Dr. Hawass and his team for their hard work and dedication.?

    Applied Biosystems, a global provider of DNA analysis technologies, and Discovery Quest, Discovery?s initiative to support the scientific community?s work, enabled the construction of and equipment for the first-ever ancient DNA testing facility located in the Cairo Museum in Egypt. The DNA testing facility will not only be used to extract and compare nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of the Hatshepsut mummy and mummies from her family, but will be used by scientists to examine future finds in Egypt and attempt to clarify familial relationships among the royal families.

    Equipment from Siemens Medical Solutions allowed scientists to conduct detailed computed tomography scanning of each of the mummies. By using their technology in a project like this archeologists were able to go beneath the wrappings and fragile bodies of some of Egypt?s greatest pharaohs without damaging them.

    More powerful than Cleopatra or Nefertiti, Hatshepsut stole the throne from her young stepson, dressed herself as a man and in an unprecedented move declared herself pharaoh. Though her power stretched across Egypt and her reign was prosperous, Hatshepsut?s legacy was systematically erased from Egyptian history?historical records were destroyed, monuments torn down and her corpse removed from her tomb?and her death is shrouded in mystery.

  • The great Indian laughter challenge 3 this week with Himesh

    Submitted by ITV Production on Jun 27, 2007

    MUMBAI: Star One‘s The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 3 enters its 7th week with the best music, talent and non-stop excitement.With loads of fresh comedian‘s, the episode will have the ‘incomparable‘ Himesh Reshammiya on the show. Watch him smile, laugh and sing! The audiences are in splits as the contestants put their best foot forward to showcase their wit and characteristic humour! The show will air on 29 June at 9.00pm.

    Watch the wonder-duo Shekhar Suman & Navjot Singh Sidhu judge the competition in their trademark style! Catch the stunning Parizaad Kolah and Shonali Nagrani as they sizzle through the show and crack up during the performances. Produced by Endemol India, a global leader in television and other audiovisual entertainment ,The great Indian laughter challenge 3 definitely aims to set television screens ablaze!

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