MUMBAI: AXN Network has created a new position to focus in one of its fast-growing markets. Sunil Punjabi, who had quit Cinemax in May as CEO, has joined as business head and will be handling the channels AXN and Animax.

"Earlier, most of the operations were being handled out of Singapore. Now they want to have a local focus. So they have created this new position," Multi Screen Media president network sales Rohit Gupta told Indiantelevision.com.

Punjabi will report to Sony Pictures Television (SPT) Networks-Asia EVP and GM Ricky Ow, who is based in the company?s regional head office in Singapore. 

Punjabi will be overseeing the day-to-day management of the channels, developing business opportunities and channel equity. He will lead the team in developing the go-to-market strategy for new channels as well as oversee the development, acquisition and production of a content mix for SPT?s networks in India. He is also charged with driving marketing strategies to grow the channel brands and to pursue further distribution opportunities.

"We are pleased to welcome Sunil to drive our business in India. His acumen and experience across all functions will be key assets to lead our channels to greater heights in one of Asia?s largest and most competitive TV markets,"said Ow.

AXN and Animax India SVP Rohit Bhandari will report to Punjabi. 

"Yes, I have joined AXN. We have always had marketing offices and now we are setting up new operations in India,"Punjabi told Indiantelevision.com.

An engineering graduate and an MBA, Punjabi earlier worked with Sony where he was responsible for business development for sports, movie and music TV channels. He was also looking after new media, telephony and syndication divisions.

Prior to joining Sony, Punjabi headed the film production and distribution strategy at Fox Star Studios India for a period of two years.

MUMBAI: Science fiction show ?Falling Skies? executive produced by Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler?s List) and co-created with Oscar nominated screenwriter Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan) kicks off on 25 December and will air everyday at 10 pm on AXN.

?Falling Skies? is set in the aftermath of an all-out invasion of Earth by aliens. Set in the chaotic world left completely devastated by the extraterrestrial attack, Falling Skies picks up six months into the alien occupation where the few survivors have come together outside what is left of key cities in an attempt to fight back.

Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers scavenge for supplies, protect the people in their care, and embark on a guerrilla campaign against the enigmatic and deadly alien force. Humans live in the hope of taking back their home one day and rebuilding their lives.

Falling Skies stars Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominee Noah Wyle (E.R.) as Tom Mason, a Boston history professor whose wife was killed in the invasion and the second of his three sons was captured by aliens. Determined to rescue his son and safeguard his two other boys, Tom must put his extensive knowledge of military history and strategies to the test as the second-in-command of ?2nd Mass?, a resistance force named after their base in Boston, Massachusetts. However, Tom?s lack of battlefield experience leaves him at odds with his commander, the no-nonsense, formerly retired military captain Weaver (Will Patton, Armageddon).

Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) co-stars as Anne Glass, a pediatrician helping children among the survivors cope with the traumatic upheaval. Anne lost her only son and husband during the invasion. Yet to face up to her loss, Anne is pouring herself into work for 2nd Mass. The tragedy she shares with Tom pulls them close in a unique relationship.

Tom?s eldest son, Hal (Drew Roy, Secretariat), has to grow up overnight to fight alongside his father, while youngest child Matt, (Maxim Knight, Brothers & Sisters) remains deeply traumatized from the experience.

Mighty, mysterious and merciless, the extraterrestrial conquerors are highly intelligent and are able to fight using military-like tactics. Combining live-action and visual effects, aliens named ?Skitters? are six-legged spider-like monsters with incredible strength and agility. Bipedal, robotic ?Mechs? walk upright and fire deadly projectiles from their arms. The ?Skitters? and ?Mechs? serve even more powerful extraterrestrials that will be unveiled in the series. Captive children such as Tom?s son, Ben (Connor Jessup, The Saddle Club), are controlled through bio-mechanical harnesses fused to their spines which change them to their very core?

AXN Networks India VP Rohit Bhandari said, "Sci-fi as a genre has generated a lot of interest among the Indian viewers lately. With high production values and an epic story line, viewers would watch the show and immediately see Spielberg?s influence. With Falling Skies premiering on AXN, I am confident that our viewers will be treated to a situation so well captured, that every episode will be followed with great anticipation and enthusiasm."

MUMBAI: English entertainment channel AXN is gearing up to launch the second season of game show India?s Minute To Win It.

The second season will premiere on 8 October and will air every Saturday-Sunday at 8 pm. Gaurav Kapoor will once again host the show.

AXN Networks India VP Rohit Bhandari says, "Keeping in mind the adventure and fun loving audiences that AXN has in India, we are extremely excited about launching the second season of India?s Minute To Win It. Based on the enthusiastic responses that we received to the first season last year, we were very clear that we would be launching the second season of the show to give our loyal audience the opportunity to win the grand prize of Rs 10 million again."

The format of Minute To Win It is owned by NBC Universal and has been brought to India exclusively by AXN in the form of an original production.

The show enjoys captivated audiences in Australia, Russia, Sweden, Uruguay, Germany, Colombia and Brazil.