Cabinet clears new satellite to replace Insat 2E & 3B

The Union Cabinet has approved a communication satellite, GSAT 10, which will replace the existing and ageing Insat 2E and Insat 3B satellites. The satellite will be designed and developed at a cost of Rs 7.35 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs 6.34 billion within 20 months, government sources say. The satellite will have 12 high power Ku-band transponders, 12 C-band and 12 Extended C band India coverage transponders and a navigation payload. It will also provide on-orbit back-up for the GAGAN navigation payload. As reported first on Indiantelevision.com, on 24 July the cabinet had approved the launch of GSAT 11 within 30 months with 16 beams in Ku-band and frequency reuse factor of 4.

The two new communication satellites are to be launched within the next three years at a cost of Rs 12.35 billion, aimed at creating additional capacity of transponders and for direct-to-home (DTH) applications. The spacecraft structure is designed for a lift off mass of about 3337 kg with a dry mass of approximately 1432 kg. The Spacecraft employs a proven 1-3K structure used to realise INSAT 4A and 4B satellites. The spacecraft is configured with 2-sided solar array panels to generate around 6 KW of DC power. GSAT 11 will be able to provide 10 GHz effective bandwidth equivalent to about 220 transponders of 36 MHz.

-Indiantelevision

Vaiyapuri, Raghav and Yugendran

It will be actors Vaiyapuri, Raghav and Yugendran in Athu Ithu Ethu this week. They will be joining the host Sivakarthikeyan who is doing a fantastic job in the show. Earlier in my post I have written that this show in particular is interesting only when the guests are popular people. This week I am sure it will be really very interesting given the guests. Lets see how it goes..

Mushroom Special

It was mushroom special in Samayal Samayal today.. every week there was some secret ingredient being asked to be used and this week it was Mushroom. It was actress Raghavi and actor Siva who competed in here. Raghavi, actress who is not so familiar to me atleast, had acted in Raja Chinna Roja as child artists. Siva, actor whose debut "Iramana Rojave" reminds everyone. I was bit shocked seeing Siva coming with his wife and it was Siva himself who cooked everything.

Team A, Raghavi's prepared Mushroom Gravy and Mushroom Soup and Team B, Siva's team, prepared Mushroom Gravy and Sambha Ravai Pulao. It was pretty different stuff from Siva's team and the chef who came in for the show even impressed with the dishes. GRT grand days' Corporate Chef Mr. Seetharam Prasad was the judge for the show. He choose Siva over Raghavi and that makes Siva moving onto next round in the competition. Priyadarshini and Devadarshini anchored the show. Usually both of them come in similar dresses and today it was PD (Priyadarshini) in Saree and looked awesome. Good Show.. !!

Adhu Ithu Ethu - Bharath Kalyan, Manjari, Rishi

Is Kodambakam Skool over ?

Kodambakam skool, comedy show that featured lot of mimicry artists of Vijay TV being headed by Swaminathan seem to be stopped in the channel. Initially when the show started I was regularly watching this show but was not able to watch it continuously. The reason being its been scheduled on sunday evening which is very difficult for me to be at home. Other reason could be, the show lost its charm and fun after some episodes. It was not very funny as the show went on and I found lot of people lost interest in it.

Now, Kodambakam skool is not featuring anymore on sundays. You guys have any idea whether its shelved or its been rescheduled to any other day in the week ? Kalakka povathu yaaru juniors might be a good replacement for this show.

What to Expect in this August @ Star Vijay

Last few months we have been seeing quite a new programs and shows had been started in Vijay TV. This is because the realty shows had been getting over and new shows had started.. Boys Vs Girls had started with its next season, Paatu Paadava had come in place of Ungalil yaar adutha Prabhudeva and Anu alavum bayamillai over Koffee with Anu. The new shows have been pretty impressive and with serials even, Anbe Vaa looks decent.

This month in August I think Kalakka Povathu Yaaru Junior for which the auditions are being held in Chennai this week and auditions in Coimbatore, Madurai is already over. Kalakka Povathu yaaru might start mid-end of august. Kanaa Kaanum Kaalangal next season should start in the mid of August. This was announcement that was made earlier by Vijay TV crew and hopefully it should come out. This season concentrates on school students in a village school.

Aircel becomes title sponsor for Chennai Open

The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) has signed a two-year deal with cellular operator Aircel, which will make the telecom company the title sponsors of the ATP Tour Chennai Open for 2010 and 2011. Henceforth the tournament will be known as Aircel Chennai Open until the end of the contract. The telecom player is the third title sponsor, after ITC and Tata, in the history of the event, which has been a regular feature in the sports calendar of the city for the last 13 years. The $ 4,50,000 prize money event, scheduled for the first week of January will start on January 4. The total expense for conducting Chennai Open will be approximately $ 2 million (Rs 9.5 crore) and Aircel will shell out Rs 5 crore.

IMG, a sports and entertainment company which owns the tournament, will be joined by TNTA and All-India Tennis Association (AITA) in organising the event. Earlier this year, during the last edition of the event, tournament director Fernando Soler and Ravi Krishnan had expressed their desire to continue the event in Chennai. "The first week of January is normally buzzing with activity with tournaments happening in other parts of the world but we will try to bring in a strong field," said Ravi Krishnan, president and managing director, IMG - South Asia. Though IMG has always been happy with the success of the tournament, the end of the previous contract, which was a five-year agreement, had cast a shadow over the event. Curiously, Somdev Devvarman's stupendous show which took him to the final had made the 2009 edition a grand success. And now that TNTA has managed to get the renewed support of Tamil Nadu government besides getting a new title sponsor, Chennaites will hope to see the rise of new talents. The organisers also confirmed the backing of government of TN for the event.

Non-Cas tariff: Trai asks stakeholders to disclose financials

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked stakeholders to disclose their financial and operational details, something which broadcasters, cable TV operators and DTH service providers have been cagey to reveal. The sector regulator says such details would help it have a "realistic understanding" before issuing the consultation paper relating to tariff for cable TV services in non-Cas areas. The information that Trai is asking for includes audited financial data and break-up of key revenues and costs; insights into the operating model; factors determining key payments being made by various stakeholders in the current supply chain; and issues in the current market scenario and their impact on the business.

"In line with the established transparent procedure followed by Trai, the Authority has initiated the consultation process on the issue of tariff for cable TV services in non-Cas areas," the sector regulator said. Broadcasters will have to provide information like their yearly financial performance, ownership structure, cross-media ownership, pricing, revenue and carriage and placement fees. If this isn't enough, Trai wants broadcasters to disclose their advertising and subscription revenues separately from India and overseas and from different platforms. What could irritate broadcasters further is the revenue break-up that the sector regulator seeks for each channel. Distribution platforms such as DTH and cable TV operators will have to furnish details on carriage & placement fee and content cost. In case of DTH operators, Trai would require a breakdown of the content cost based on revenue share, minimum guarantee and lumpsome payment. They would also have to thrash out details of subscription revenue by bouquet/channel and region.

MSOs will have to open up their carriage and placement fee sharing arrangement with the local cable operators (LCOs). They will also have to provide brand-wise carriage and placement fee norms for the Tam markets (which measure ratings of programmes and channels based on which advertisers spend their monies). Trai has appointed Ernst & Young to assist in this exercise. Trai has asked broadcasters, aggregators (authorised distributors of the broadcasters), DTH operators, multi-system operators (MSOs), cable operators and consumers to submit the information in the prescribed format by 17 August. Trai said it has initiated the consultation process as per the Supreme Court order dated 13 May. The apex court had directed Trai to consider the matter relating to tariff for cable TV services in non-Cas areas de novo as regards all aspects.

-Indiantelevision

Do we really miss Chinmayi ??

With Chinmayi not appearing in Vijay TV for long time now, I was thinking do we really miss her ??? Chinmayi, who used to anchor Vijay TV's Super Singer shows and she was part of Airtel Super singer, Super Singer Junior and Super Singer 2008 and had stopped appearing in the show by the end of Super Singer 2008. She initially was out for few episodes which brought in lot of rumours and she was back again. And then, again she stopped anchoring later in few more episodes. But, the reason for this was not announced or known to us. There are some rumours being spread for this reason but I am not sure whether its true. Lately, we have been seeing Chinmayi in other television channels but I will say that she is not the same whom we saw in Super Singer.

She was replaced by playback singer Yugendran and his wife Hemamalini & they did pretty decent job in anchoring Super Singer 2008 show. I could say that they were not so good and Malini's accent, dressing were commented a lot of times in here and in Star Indya Forum. Now, we have got Divyadarshini aka DD anchoring the Super Singer Junior 2 show. She has been really fantastic in hosting this show and gets together with the kids and parents. I like her hosting the show and she makes the show interesting even. DD, who also anchors Boys Vs Girls currently in Vijay TV, has been better than Yugendran and Malini pair I could say. But, the question would be whether DD really better than Chinmayi.. Well I could not say that because Chinmayi bieng a playback singer & her anchoring was very good in Super Singer 2008. I would opt for Chinmayi for Super Singer seasons and DD for Super Singer Junior season. What say ??

Veteran actor Murali dies

Malayalam actor Murali, who is best known for his powerful roles in both Malayalam and Tamil movies passed away today at a private hospital in Trivandrum, Kerala. Murali was admitted to the hospital a few days ago following health issues. He breathed his last around 8.00 p.m. at the hospital. The 55 year old actor is survived by his wife and a daughter. During his career, Murali received numerous awards, significant of them being the Kerala State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie Amaram and the National award for Best Actor for Neythukaran in 2002. I remember Murali doing very good roles in Tamil films and its very sad moment for South Indian film industry.

Are you earning right amount ??

This week, the show has an interesting topic for debate — ‘Are you earning the right amount, just about right or too little? Do you think you can earn more with your experience or qualifications?’ Bosses and employees will present their views, and arguments are bound to be there! Many employees argue that they are underpaid while employers believe that the salary is in line with what the employees deliver. It will be yet another good topic from Neeya Naana crew. I think they have been getting good topics that brings out lot of things that we face in everyday basis. This might not be an eye opener but still will be good to laugh episode.

Kalakka Povadhu Yaaru Juniors Chennai Auditions

After Kovai and Madurai, auditions for the junior version of this Vijay TV programme come to Chennai! Children in the 5 to 15 age group can participate in the first round of auditions, that will take place on August 09, 8 p.m., at Dr. M.G.R. Janaki Matriculation School, 103, Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai. The only qualification required for the tiny-tots is that they have to make everyone laugh. They will be judged on the basis of their creative stand-up comedy acts, mimicry and stage presence. The children are requested to be present at the venue with their parents/guardian, and bring along their bio-data, photographs and age proof.

Viewers can now call HC judges, courtesy Asianet News

Don't know how to get rid of encroachers upon your land? Don't worry as top judges in Kerala are now just a phone call away. Asianet News, the Malayalam news channel from the house of Star Jupiter Entertainment, is airing a weekly show, in which viewers can call Kerala High Court judges, including Chief Justice S. R. Bannurmath, and address their grievances to them. The show, the first of its kind in India, will be telecast on every Sunday at 7.30 pm, starting August 02, 2009. Callers from around the world can interact with the judges live on the show, which is called Adalat (court of law).

"Callers can ask us any legal question. Well suggest possible solutions," said Justice Kurian Joseph; while Justice Bannurmath says, "We are thankful (to the channel) for allotting prime time slot to the show." The first episode, that was aired last Sunday, was shot on the high court premises in Kochi on Friday. Biju Pankaj, an official of Asianet News, said the channel was 'flooded' with calls - mostly from the Gulf countries, which have a huge number of workers from the state - seeking legal remedies.

"On the first day of the recording, we received some 10,000 calls but were able to put through only 100 of them to the judges. The judges had agreed to spare 45 minutes per week for the show. But the shoot went on for over two hours and still many calls couldn't be attended." Pankaj adds. The channel chose Friday as the day of recording because it is a public holiday in the Gulf, where more than a dozen Malayalam channels are engaged in a fierce battle for supremacy. Many of the callers from the Gulf said they had trouble protecting their property in India from encroachers because they couldn't stay back and file a case that was likely to go on for years. Taking note of this, the judges said they'll pressure authorities for fast- track courts to deal with such cases. The channel expects the programme to become a huge hit. Sponsors are already queuing up, having realised the shows commercial potential.

-Television Point

Production houses to seek legal recourse on DD ban

Banned for two years by Doordarshan, a majority of the 13 production houses are seeking legal recourse. The production houses were banned for submitting blank or repeat tapes under the Short-Term Acquisition Scheme for 2006-07 launched by Doordarshan. Though none wanted to be named for fear of compromising their position, the heads of these houses told indiantelevision.com that they were already seeking legal advice. It is learnt that a High Court has stayed the order with regard to one production house.

Some, however, said they had written letters to Doordarshan explaining their position and seeking personal hearing, and would approach the courts only if they did not receive a satisfactory reply. The proprietor of one house alleged conspiracy by some corrupt DD officials. Parliament was informed late last month that the tapes were submitted to meet the deadline for submission of remaining episodes of the recommended programmes. The ban is effective from April this year. The companies include BAG Film and Media Ltd, Saif Entertainment, Tirupati Production, Astra Productions, Touchstone Communications, Rainbow Films, Matrix Entertainment, Magick Works, Vaishnu Films, Shrey Media Entertainments, Montage Films, Meghna U-Matic Vision, and Bajaj Animation Kendra.

The pubcaster had invited TV producers to participate in the special scheme in 2007 if they had ready programmes on special subjects. The special topics included 150 years of the First War of Indian independence and shows for family viewing. This is not the first instance of blank tapes being submitted to Doordarshan. A total of around 250 blank tapes had been submitted in early 2007 for the DD Urdu channel.

Whats happening with 2nd level of SS ?

Last week and this week has been the second level of the Airtel Super Singer Junior 2 event. Last week it was with kids being selected from Trichy and Coimbatore audiance and this week its with Chennai kids. The show is getting interesting as the competition is also getting tougher. Judges have been eliminating the contestants who are not at par with the competitive skills. This round in the show requires the contestants to sing 1 slow/melody song and 1 fast song. Its with parents who choose the choice of song that the kid will perform and the list is available with the judges on what the kids are going to sing even.

This is the sequence of action being shown for any kid. First the kids' parents speak and tell which song they are going to perform. After this they show kids' performance and judges comments. If the kid is spot selected he/she gets the buzzer pressed immediately. Otherwise, kid is asked to go and judges Unni Menon, Mahathi and Pop Shalini discuss on the decision for the kid. Then judges tell the good and bad part of the performance followed by the result. Some kids get introduced by host DD also on few occasions. I guess Vijay TV is telecasting all the kids performances and this will make sure the further rounds will also be of same kind.

Government has no plans to restructure Films Division

The Government has no plans to restructure the Films Division, but is adapting new technologies to keep it in line with the changing times. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told Parliament that the Division was digitising all its films to make them available easily to a larger audience. These will also be made available through newer technologies and different media like compact video discs and the Internet. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Division has digitised 7443 films out of a total of 8131 movies in its archives.

Ministry sources told that though the Expenditure Reforms Commission had recommended closure of the Division, the Ministry’s protest was considered by the Committee of Secretaries which in April 2004 recommended downsizing of the manpower in the Division. Consequently, the strength of the Division was reduced by 336 from 1177 in May 2002 to 841 at present. The Finance Ministry also gave its approval to this move. Meanwhile, the Division has launched a new scheme under the 11th Plan for production of documentary films with a plan allocation of Rs 200 million.

The Division has a total plan outlay of Rs 161.43 million for production of in-house and outside production, apart from a Plan allocation of Rs 47 million for the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, short and animation films held every two years. The next one is being held from 3 to 9 February 2010. In addition, there is a separate plan allocation of Rs 420 million for the Museum of the Moving Image being set up within the premises of the Division in Peddar Road in Mumbai. The annual allocation for the Division for the last three years was Rs 66.102 million in 2006-07, Rs 65.652 million in 2007-08, and Rs 53.257 million in 2008-09. The Division produced 46 films and 15 news magazines during 2008-09, as compared to 57 films and 11 news magazines the year before, and 48 films and 16 news magazines in 2006-07.

-Indiantelevision

Actress Abhirami @ Paatu Paadava

Actress Abhirami will feature in this week's Paatu Paadava show. I was thinking that it would be playback singers who would be pariticipating in this competition but it was shocking to see Abhirami participating. From the promotional videos it looks like Abhirami goes on till 5th round.. yeah.. upto Round 5.. thats really amazing. This stage was not easy for playback singers even to cross 3rd round, but still Abhirami had managed to go on till fifth. I guess playback singer Prasanna, who came in last week with just introduction is yet to compete in here. with the promotional videos it looks like Prasanna may have an early exit.

Star adds 9 channels in Indonesia

News Corporation-owned Asian broadcaster Star is adding nine channels from its bouquet to Indovision's DTH platform in a bid to expand its footprint in Indonesia. Among the lot are five Hindi language services, two Mandarin language services and two international news channels distributed by Star. While the Hindi channels are Star Plus, Star One, Star Gold, Star News and Channel [V] India, the Mandarin language services include Star Chinese Movies 2 and Channel [V] Taiwan. Fox News and Sky News are the two international news channels available on the DTH platform.

The newly launched nine channels compliment Star World, Star Movies and Channel [V] International, which are already available on the platform, thus making Star one of Indovision's largest television channel suppliers. Says MNC Sky Vision VP director Handhi S Kentjono, "We are very happy to have more Star channels in our lineup. The channels will increase the entertainment aspects of Indovision to a higher level. The best selection of Star channels will cater the entertainment needs of large Indonesian demographic segments and ages." Adds Star VP distribution and marketing Gautam Kiyawat, "With popular channels such as Star World, Star Movies and Channel [V] already on Indovision's platform, Star has built an established and valued connection with viewers in Indonesia. The nine additional channels we are launching today represent many highly rated Indian and Chinese language channels, including Star Plus, Star One, Star Gold and Star Chinese Movies 2."

Indiantelevision

Kalaka povathu Yaaru Junior..

Last week I was excited after seeing the Kalaka povathu yaaru junior coming up in Vijay TV. There was message asking for kids to join the show and auditions are starting in Coimbatore again. I dont remember any auditions for kalaka povathu yaaru earlier but now its really good that its back again in Vijay TV. Kalaka povathu yaaru was the first ever stand up comedy realty show in any tamizh channels and later the idea was copied by other popular channels that left Vijay to shelve it for a while. Now, its going to be BANG again with the show. I guess with that we will also have VJ Ramya to anchor the show again and its been some time she appeard anchoring shows in Vijay TV. I will post sooon about the place of auditions and the plans of the show. Hope to see the auditions soon in the channel.

Neeya Naana - Chikanam Vs Tharalam

Here is the video that I said I will be posting in here.. Chikanam Vs Tharalam.. yet another good episode from Neeya Naana.