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US broadcaster USA Network and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will have a three-hour TV special on 10 December that will celebrate 15 years of the Monday night show Raw.
Raw has been a staple of cable television since its debut on USA Network in 1993. Raw also pushed talent like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus and Stacy Keibler. In India WWE airs on Ten Sports.
USA Network and Sci Fi Channel president Bonnie Hammer says, "It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since Raw redefined the television landscape. It's an incredible run for a one-of-a-kind entertainment franchise, and we're thrilled to celebrate with Vince, Linda and the entire WWE family."
WWE chairman Vince McMahon says, “Monday Night Raw started as, and continues to be, the most unique television show in history. With its ever changing blend of athleticism, humour, action, drama, soap opera and rock concert content, Monday Night Raw continues with a variety show concept that appeals to a variety of demographics generation after generation.”
WWE to celebrate 15 years of 'Raw' next month
Sony Pictures to distribute Fifa supported 'More Than Just A Game'
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has acquired the international distribution rights to the feature length FIFA-supported docu-drama More Than Just A Game, from Distant Horizon.
The docu-drama stars Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi) and tells the dramatic and little-known story of organized football played among prisoners on Robben Island in South Africa where Nobel Peace Prize Winner Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. The announcement was made today by SPTI president Michael Grindon, and Distant Horizon CEO Anant Singh.
Told through the stories of five former prisoners, More Than Just A Game follows the story of how political activists who were unjustly imprisoned on Robben Island in the 1960s rise above their incarceration by creating a football league, the Makana Football Association (Makana FA), and find an outlet for their passion and commitment to discipline through football.
This deal comes on the heels of Sony Corporation's global partnership deal with FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) that went into effect in January of this year.
As a FIFA Partner, the highest level of sponsorship status which is accorded to only six companies, Sony will be the official Digital Life sponsor of over 40 FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and the FIFA World Cup in 2014 due to be held in South America.
Grindon stated, "This is truly an inspirational story and we are pleased to be working with Distant Horizon to bring this amazing tale of hope to audiences around the world. We are also pleased to continue our association with FIFA, as they recently announced their support for the film and it is a timely acquisition for SPTI in light of the fact that the next FIFA World Cup is being held in South Africa."
Producer Singh added, "We at Distant Horizon are thrilled to be working with Sony Pictures Television International on the international distribution of More Than Just A Game. The film has relevance not only to people in South Africa, but to people around the world. When considering this project, I felt that there was potential for this film because it is a story about human beings trying to succeed against all odds and to survive using football as their inspiration, which in everybody else's terms, was very simple. More Than Just A Game is a tribute to the people on Robben Island who fought for the privilege to play football."
"The Makana FA and Robben Island have great symbolic significance in FIFA's fight to eradicate racism and all forms of discrimination from football and society as a whole. We are very proud that, thanks to our Partner Sony, its subsidiary Sony Pictures Television International and producer Anant Singh have teamed up to distribute this unique docu-drama More than Just a Game around the world. The film shows just how football can help to build a better future," commented FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter.
The movie's worldwide premiere is scheduled around the Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in Durban, South Africa on 24 November 2007. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa from 10 June through 11 July.
More Than Just A Game is a Distant Horizon production in association with Telkom Media and Distant Horizon, with script development supported by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF). It is executive produced by Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh and produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring with Chuck Korr, Lord Ted Rowlands, Dave Crowe and Hannelie Bekker co-producing. The screenplay is by Tom Eaton and it is directed by Junaid Ahmed.
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Victoria Beckham to guest star on 'Ugly Betty'
Soccer star David Beckham's wife and member of pop group Spice Girls Victoria Beckham will pay a visit to US broadcaster ABC's comedy Ugly Betty in an episode.
She will play herself, a celebrity bridesmaid at the 'wedding of the millennium': Wilhelmina Slater's (Vanessa Williams) nuptials to publishing mogul Bradford Meade (Alan Dale).
In India the show airs on Star World.
ESPN Star Sports plans to bring X Games to India
ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is increasingly focussing on localisation. While the Premier Hockey League initiative is into its fourth year, the pan Asian sports broadcaster is looking to bring the X Games to India.
The company is looking at a three year time frame to introduce the extreme games. The games that have previously been held in China and other countries will be modified to the Indian context, said ESS Asia MD Jamie Davis.
In his speech at the Brand Score Sports Marketing Forum organised by ESPN Star Sports and Mindshare on Friday, Davis highlights the element of drama in sports. He says it has heroes, which the Indians are after having beaten England, and also villains, which they were after exiting early in the World Cup.
However, he also notes that ESS will always ask itself whether fans would want it, before embarking on any initiative.
In terms of technology, ESS views it as an opportunity and not as a threat. It has a mobile service for which content has specifically been shot for that medium and not simply shortening existing TV content.
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ESPN Star Sports announces Dream Job
Three years ago, ESPN Star Sports (ESS) had come up with an anchor based reality show format. The show was called Dream Job - Harsha Ki Khoj and involved searching for an anchor who had strong presentation skills like Harsha Bhogle.
Now the sports broadcaster has announced the second edition of the show called Clinic All Clear Dream Job. This offers a one-year contract with the broadcaster. The winner will become a presenter on Star Cricket.
The broadcaster has roped in actor and cricket presenter Mandira Bedi as a celebrity judge for the show. The jury for the second edition will also include stars like Ravi Shastri, Wasim Akram, Harsha Bhogle and Alan Wilkins. The broadcaster's news executive producer Sharon van Zwieten News and SportsCenter presenter Colette Wong will also play a critical role in the jury.
The show will air every Thursday from 20 September on Star Cricket.
ESPN Software India MD R C Venkateish said, “The launch of Dream Job is a part of our overall strategy of launching quality sports based feature programmes. The first edition of the programme received a huge response from cricket lovers across the nation and we expect an even better response this time. The format of the show has been made bigger; the scale is now going to be international. After all, the prize on offer for the winner is literally a Dream Job – he will be a presenter on Star Cricket.”
HUL GM and category head, Hair Care Rajaram Narayanan said, “Dream Job is a perfect platform for any Indian who eats, breathes and sleeps cricket, a sport that unites India. Clinic All Clear as a brand stands for self - assurance, self - confidence and perfection; and Dream Job is a hunt for a perfect candidate who needs to have similar attributes.”
Bedi said, “It is not easy to be a presenter especially for sports. The action is live and the result unpredictable. Hence the reactions have to be honest, impromptu and informed. This is a lethal combination and it takes time to adjust and respond. One has to be always at his confident best to be All Clear All The Way.
“As the jury, we will be testing the contestants on various parameters like presence of mind, domain knowledge, presentation, camera readiness, ease with cricket as well as non-cricket sport and performance during live matches. I am very excited with this new association with the number one sports network in India and world over. Working with ESPN Star Sports is like a dream come true for me. It is my dream job”.
Clinic All Clear Dream Job has kick started with entries through audio/video clips and call in phone lines that will be open till 6 August 2007. The show has already received overwhelming response from enthusiasts across the country, an official release said.
The entries will be reviewed and the short listed candidates will be called for on-ground auditions at the four metros in the presence of the jury. Starting with Delhi on 18 August, Dream Job will travel to Mumbai on 25 August, followed by Bangalore on 1 September and Kolkata on 8 September.
The search goes international as India is taking on England for 3 Tests and 7 One Day Internationals. On each match day the broadcaster will hunt for candidates from the stands and four candidates will make it to the final phase of the reality show.
From the on ground auditions, 16 contestants will make it to the studio rounds, with the final 4 heading to Sydney for an experience of a lifetime and the viewers will not just get to see the contestants live during the semi finals but also vote for their favourite to reach the final round.
The final round will see the top two go to the ESS studios at Singapore where each of them will get to do a story live on Sportscenter. The two will have a final job interview and the winner will get a one year contract as a sports presenter thereafter.
The broadcaster adds that the Dream Job contest last time received an response with entries across the country. The show had on ground auditions in six cities and after a six month long process, Anand Narsimhan from Bangalore was chosen as the winner.
Ten Sports in deal with Goal TV for licensing and production
Ten Sports and Goal TV have agreed to a new multi-year deal which will allow Goal TV's football content to be shown to the 50 million households of Ten Sports and Zee Sports in the Indian sub-continent.
The agreement also sees the production of Goal TV's two all-football channels shift to the Ten Sports headquarters in Dubai. Goal TV is a JV between Astro in Malaysia and Hong Kong's Yes TV. It claims to reach 60 million viewers in 16 countries.
Goal TV founder Thomas Kressner said, "It is an excellent development for us to partner with the Indian sub-continent's leading sports channel, with its huge daily audience and solid production experience".
Goal TV's content includes live action from the French, Scottish and Dutch premier leagues and programming from top English clubs Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, and Spanish La Liga club Barcelona.
Ten Sports senior VP Peter Hutton said, "This volume of excellent football content is part of a growing bouquet of football rights on Ten and Zee Sports. It supports our existing deals with the Uefa Champions League, Uefa Cup, Uefa Supercup, Fifa, AFC, the English championship and the All India football federation."
The new agreement means that Taj TV, Ten Sports' parent will now produce and transmit nine channels from its Dubai based headquarters, ranging from the Cricket Plus channel for Directv in the US to the Football Channel for Singapore cable operator Starhub.
ESPN gets broadcast rights of India-Scotland ODI
ESPN-Star Sports have acquired the broadcast rights of the India-Scotland One-Day International to be played at Glasgow on August 16.
"We are absolutely delighted to bring the India-Scotland One Day International to millions of cricket followers in the country," R C Venkateish, Managing Director, ESPN Software Pvt Ltd, said in a statement here today.
Arsenal Signed Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan
To surprise all the fans of the north London club Arsenal and foot ball, Shahrukh Khan had signed yesterday a four years contract to the club.
"The most important reason to us to capture him is his offensive ability performed in 'Kuch Kuch Hota Kai' movie," Said the magician exploiter Arsene Wenger, after the deal was done. "I hope he will do to us the same thing here."
In the mentioned movie Shahrukh, playing for his school, will just accept the ball from the goal keeper and scores a fascinating goal passing all the players.
King of bollywood Shahrukh was quoted saying: "It was the most difficult decision in my life to leave Bollywood, but finally I decided to join Arsenal b/c they play like the movies fantastically. Like I was doing in the 'Dil to Pagal Hai' and other movies, I will surprisingly appear before goal keepers and score goals."
He had also told reporters that Arsenal fans should never worry if the team mates on the field will be only 10, because he will surprisingly be the 11th one.
Ten Sports sells terrestrial rights to Bangladesh TV
Taj Television Ltd, which runs Ten Sports, has sold the exclusive terrestrial rights of the Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka to terrestrial broadcaster Bangladesh Television.
The deal was concluded in conjunction with Ardent Marketing Ltd. and will provide viewers throughout Bangladesh the opportunity to enjoy live coverage of the ODI matches between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Taj TV has concluded deals worldwide, providing its cricket coverage to its international broadcast partners which include Zee in Europe, DirecTV in North America and Astro in Malaysia.
With these syndication arrangements in place, in addition to Ten Sports coverage, the Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka is expected to be seen in over 70 million homes globally. Launched in April 2002, Taj TV’s Ten Sports is broadcast from Sharjah, the West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Morocco throughout the Indian sub-continent and Asia, as well as in the United States (Cricket Plus), Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Ten Sports also owns the exclusive rights for WWE, the UEFA Champions League, the U.S. Open tennis and World Cup hockey.
Source-indiantelevision.com
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