Fox Series enhances programming to create New Women’s Channel

The channel, now called FOX, targets women with quality programming dubbed in Arabic and available in dual audio

Fox International Channels (FIC) is upgrading its FOX Series channel into a new 100 percent Arabic general entertainment channel for women featuring content available in dual audio (Arabic and English). The new FOX channel, will be called FOX, features exclusive blockbuster shows as well as new and exciting genres including international lifestyle programming.

“FOX Series was dedicated to bringing the best quality home entertainment to the region. FOX is taking this philosophy one step further and creating a channel for women with great formats, shows and new seasons of programming. Our research revealed that there is a huge demand for quality entertainment targeting women. Taking a page from these insights and findings, the all new FOX channel will now be the one-stop destination; bridging this void,” said Rohit D’Silva, General Manager at FIC Middle East.

Fox will be premiering a number of exciting new shows never-before-seen in the region on Free TV. The hugely popular award winning Glee, a musical comedy-drama television series that focuses on the high school glee club and Masterchef Australia, an Australian competitive cooking game show will now be showcased on FOX. Additionally, the channel will introduce to the region the ground-breaking novel series Lie to Me, the hit crime drama series based on the real-life scientific discoveries of world-renowned body language psychologist Paul Ekman. Especially exciting is the introduction of the show Jdeed O Mofeed during the day time, featuring unique content that adds educational value while providing practical solutions for women’s everyday life, across various genres such as cooking, arts and crafts, health and beauty, parenting and home improvement. The ever famous favorite classic Desperate Housewives will also be showcased featuring season 6. As a launch special, FOX will air all these shows on a daily basis, bringing viewers a new episode every week night.

The new FOX channel, just like the FOX series channels will be readily available on Free-to-Air and accessible to all individuals in the region.

“FOX is the next step in the brand’s evolution, offering improved value proposition to advertisers that is more comprehensive, with novel genres of programming and exciting new series that cater especially to women. You could not ask for better programming!” said Pierre Al Daher, President, Broadcasting, Rotana Group.

Mammootty – The best actor award 2011 on Asianet

Mammootty officially inaugurates the
 'Mammootty - The best actor award' 

Megastar Mammootty launched the second edition of  ‘Mammootty — The best actor award’ in the presence of the jury members and MR Rajan, Asianet Assistant Vice President. The show on Asianet is for finding the best talents in Kerala.

Mammoottty and the participants

The second edition is coming with never before seen sessions and challenges. The show will have 10 contestants (five male and five females), who were selected and trained by the young brigade of Malayalam film industry – Arun Kumar, Martin Prakkat, Rohan Krishna, Sunil Karyattukara, Rajesh Kannankara, Radhakrishnan Mangalath, Deepu Karunakaran, Shyju Anthikadu, Mohan Raghavan and Mammas.

A jury comprising award winning film maker Ranjith, actress-director Revathy and cinematographer Venu will judge the participant’s talents.

The show will be aired every Sunday at 12.30 (UAE) on Asianet and every Friday at 20.30 (UAE) on Asianet Middle East.

OSN launches OSN Action HD

The launch of OSN Action HD brings the line-up to 13 HD channels exclusively to OSN customers

OSN recently confirmed the launch of OSN ACTION HD — a brand new channel that will provide the very best in action entertainment to OSN customers from 01 March. The latest addition to the network brings the OSN line-up to over 85 channels which include 13 HD channels to OSN customers in the MENA region.

OSN ACTION HD is non-stop adrenaline rush of thrilling HD entertainment, viewers who love  action fuelled movies will be in paradise with hundreds of films packed full of the biggest and best thrills any action fan could wish for. Explosive action, stunts and death-defying antics all from the greatest action stars in the business.

“The launch of OSN ACTION HD responds to increasing customer demand for high quality programming with the intensity and vividness of HD. We are proud to be able to offer the region’s most comprehensive HD service, OSN homes can currently access up to 13 HD channels spanning entertainment, sports, movies, series, kids and documentaries. Our customers have now come to demand HD as standard and we look forward announcing more HD channels in the coming months.”

The action packed line-up includes Ninja Assassin, Saw VI, Let Me In, The Grudge 3, The Midnight Meat Train, Armored, The Butterfly Effect 3, Echelon Conspiracy and Wild Things: Foursome plus many more.

With the addition of OSN ACTION HD, customers will be able to enjoy the largest range of OSN HD programming and other leading channel brands including Discovery, Nat Geo, Food Network and Sky News.

Pallavi Joshi hosts Antakshari again!

But wait!! Before you jump out of your seats in glee, let us inform you that it is not what you think…

Archana Manav at Laxmi's wedding

Zee TV is back with Antakshri but this time in Sanskaar Laxmi’s wedding. Our very own Pallavi Joshi will grace your screens this time with the popular Marathi singer Avdoot Guptay on Zee TV’s Sanskaar Laxmi as wedding festivities go into full swing. The actress was clearly enjoying herself during the shoot and was all bright eyed and chirpy till the wee hours of the morning.

Pallavi and Avdoot

Also shaking a leg at the Antakshari will be TV’s heartthrobs — Ankita Lokhande, Sushant Rajput, Nandish Sandhu and Rashmi Desai. The four stars will sing, dance and join in the family frolic with popular tracks like Range De, Aiwaien aiwaien, Laung da Lishkara and others.

A source in Zee TV told, “Laxmi’s wedding will be like no other on Indian television as it will showcase the ethnicity and vibrancy of Gujarati weddings. It’s an opportunity for us to acquaint our audiences with these small rituals and traditions which form such an integral part of any wedding. The rich Gujarati culture and heritage rooted to their traditional ethics adorn the matrimonial celebrations with typical Gujarati fancies, elaborating the vivacity and exhilaration prevalent in their community.”

Rashmi and Nandish

The producer of Sanskaar Laxmi, Rajesh Joshi said, “It’s a huge challenge for us to put together such an extravagant wedding on television. Gujarati wedding celebrations and rituals are replete with gaiety and frolic and I’m sure pan Indian viewers will surely enjoy it to the hilt. The unique blend of traditions and detailing is something which make Laxmi’s wedding a sheer delight. Coming from a humble background, will Laxmi fight all odds to win the hearts of the Purohits? Will Laxmi be able to mould herself with the new way of life and adjust to a large family where each member has a different personality? Laxmi’s journey from Dharigam to Purohit’s family in the cosmopolitan city, Mumbai, will be the highpoint of the show.”

Archana Manav at Laxmi's wedding.

The wedding celebrations which are expected to go on for four days, will be a grand celebration of everything that is Guajarati. Right from the smaller rituals like the Tippani dance, to the Athango dance, producer Rajesh Joshi is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that this is the most talked about shaadi of the year.

Tune in to Sanskaar Laxmi every Sunday to Wednesday at 10.30 PM on Zee TV to be a part of the shaadi that will blow your mind!!

Academy Awards Live on Fox Movies at 3am (UAE) on Feb 28

FOX Movies set to air 83rd Academy Awards, bringing the stars and action of Oscar night live at 3am on Feb 28 to Middle East movie lovers. Starting February 4 2011, every Friday and Saturday features three Oscar winning movies back-to back leading up to the 2011 Academy Awards. 26 prestigious classic films will provide viewers the opportunity to watch greats from the past.

Fox Movies will be exclusively airing this year's Oscars live from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre, having secured the exclusive rights to the biggest event in the world's annual film calendar for the third year running. On February 28 at 3am (UAE), movie lovers across the Middle East will be able to tune in to Fox Movies and be a part of the action and excitement of the 83rd Academy Awards, all from the comfort of their homes.

Pearl Harbour

Additionally, to celebrate the Oscar season, Fox Movies has scheduled a month-long weekend movie-marathon, bringing viewers three Oscar-winning movies back-to-back every Friday and Saturday started on February 4, with a different movie showing at 22.00, 00.00 and 02.00 (UAE). Viewers can enjoy a total of 26 Oscar-winning movie classics including Little Miss Sunshine, Mystic River, Monster's Ball, Braveheart, The Last King of Scotland, Walk the Line, Million Dollar Baby, Training Day, Dreamgirls and Pearl Harbour.

"The Oscars is not only one of the most glamorous red carpet events in the world, it is also the biggest event in the world's annual movie calendar that brings together the best of the past year in the movie industry," said Athreyan Sundararajan, Marketing Director, Fox International Channels Middle East.

To promote the awards, Fox is running a series of promotional elements on Fox Movies and several cross channel promos on Fox Series and Rotana Channels. The elements feature; Oscar themed night promos, Oscar ceremony promos, interactive vox pops and Oscar contest promos. Additionally, the activation is also supported by print, online and radio campaigns in KSA and the UAE. Sponsoring the celebration throughout the month and the live broadcast are M&M's, Panadol, Sensodyne, Hardees, KFC and Ali Café.

"We are excited to be bringing our viewers live, all the dazzling stars and dramatic anticipation that the night is world renowned for. To celebrate this thrilling night, we are also bringing a series of Oscar-winning classics in the run up to the event demonstrating our commitment to providing viewers across the Middle East with exhilarating content straight from Hollywood." Athreyan Sundararajan, Marketing Director, Fox International Channels Middle East.

This year, Anne Hathaway, from The Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries, and James Franco, from Spider Man and Freaks and Geeks, both nominated for Best Performance awards this year, will be hosting the Academy Awards, putting a fresh face to the Oscars. Meanwhile, the full official roster of Oscar nominees was announced on January 25. The King's Speech featured prominently with nominations in the best picture, best director, best actor, best supporting actor and best supporting actress categories. The Fighter and Black Swan were also nominated in several categories.

Farsi speaking audiences warm up to popular international TV series

FARSI1 TV taps into the fast growing market with dubbed versions of 24, Prison Break and The Mask of Analia

Popular American drama  24

Dubbed versions of popular American soap operas and dramas such as 24 and Prison Break are proving to be increasingly popular with Farsi speakers across the world as they tune into FARSI1, the privately owned Farsi-language TV station based in the UAE.

FARSI1 is a 24-hour free-to-air general entertainment channel featuring a broad and comprehensive selection of the finest international and regional entertainment programs across different genres. By lining up a refreshing array of award-winning dramas, action series and comedies, FARSI1 has succeeded in entertaining viewers like never before.

Dubbed version of South American
series The Mask of Analia

Some of the popular programmes – all dubbed in Farsi – include Prison Break, 24, Victoria, Story of a Mermaid, Dharma & Greg, Malcolm in the Middle and Bez Bebek, among others. Also captivating audiences are dubbed versions of Korean dramas such as White Lie (Korean) and South American series, including The Mask of Analia and Missing.

FARSI1 is a joint venture between MOBY Group and News Corporation. The independent TV channel is transmitted via Eutelsat W3A and targets more than 100 million Farsi speakers throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. In the UAE, the channel is also available via cable and IPTV on all packages of E-Vision (Channel 251) and Du TV (Channel 791.

A still from Korean drama White Lie

Commenting on the development, Zaid Mohseni, Chief Executive Officer of FARSI1, said: “Since its launch, FARSI1 has rapidly attracted a huge following for the high quality and rich variety of its programming. FARSI1 has set the standard for Farsi language television entertainment by ensuring content is engaging yet appropriate for the entire family.”

Mohseni attributed FARSI1’s instant success to the rapid evolution of TV audiences who demand quality entertainment and its own ability to bridge the gap between different generations of Farsi-speaking viewers.

“Our programs are doing well because they resonate with the Farsi-speaking viewers, who explore content that they can watch and enjoy with their families. What is amazing is that these dramas have become the hot topics of discussion at dinner tables and social gatherings,” he added.

For more information, please visit www.farsi1.tv

Choti Bahu returns on Zee TV

Come Fall in Love …Once Again

‘Choti Bahu — Dev aur Radhika ki ek nayi prem kahani” premiering on Feb. 16, every Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm.

Avinash Sachdev and Rubina Dilaik 

are coming back to the small screen 

as Dev and Radhika on CHOTI BAHU

Love never ends. It is the infinite, eternal, transformative power of the universe. Going by the efficacy of this very thought and increasing demand from the audiences to bring their favourite couple Dev and Radhika back on TV screens, Zee TV will soon premiere an all new series of Choti Bahu — the show that was an undisputed leader in its timeslot.

Rubina Dilaik, coming soon as

 Radhika on CHOTI BAHU 

This year, Zee TV will once again touch the hearts of its millions of viewers with the pure, unadulterated and divine love of Dev and Radhika. This endearing and fresh story of Choti Bahu will have a new plot and many more actors, Dev — Radhika aka Avinash Sachdev and Rubina Dilaik will once again warm your hearts as the divine couple intensely in love.

The show will be set in Rawal, the place where the spiritual love between Radha and Krishna actually blossomed according to Indian mythology. The divine love story of Dev and Radhika will start when they are kids. Unlike the protagonists of the first season, Dev and Radhika will not be silent spectators and will now be projected as more outspoken and pro-active people. The story of the new version of Choti Bahu will begin in Rawal and later move to Mathura. Made by India’s foremost content producer, DJ’s Creative Unit, the show highlights love, relationships, friendship and even spirituality in modern India.

Avinash Sachdev, coming soon as 

Dev on CHOTI BAHU

Source in Zee TV said, “We were overwhelmed by the response that we received from viewers for Choti Bahu. Since the time the show ended, we have been flooded with calls, SMS’s and mails from viewers to revive the magic of Dev and Radhika. The Radha — Krishna amour is a love legend of all times. Classical love legends from Hindu mythology and folklore of India are passionate in content and never fail to appeal to the romantic side in us. These fables stretch our imagination, engage our emotions and entertain us. It’s endearing to see that Dev and Radhika as characters have become so enormously popular and that their love is synonymous with Radha — Krishna. Also, the idea of exploring spiritual relationships, divinity, the existence of soulmates was so very amazing and alluring, that we developed a fresh plot but decided to retain Dev and Radhika’s magic which had caught the audiences fancy. We hope this story too will touch hearts!”

Echoing the same thought, Avinash Sachdev, the man who will once again essay Dev’s role said, “Both Rubina and me are extremely elated about being a part of Choti Bahu’s new quintessential story.”

 “It’s a complete new show with an entirely new packaging. Besides Kanha, the only resemblance to the earlier show is that me and Avinash play Dev and Radhika but in a totally new and different avataar. Dev and Radhika’s chemistry is so genuine and real that they have rewritten romance on television. Even this time around, we hope that we click with the viewers and are able to portray convincingly the eternal bond of Dev and Radhika,” ends Rubina Dilaik.

For an ethereal mix of love, laughter, tears, tragedy, drama and above all to connect with the divine, do tune in to Zee TV’s new show…. “Choti Bahu — Dev aur Radhika ki ek nayi prem kahani” ‘Dev and Radhika’s One new Love story’.