MTV Networks has relaunched their web property Atom.com, known for short films and comedy material.

MTV has now signed on Comedy Central as its exclusive partner which would now have a show on Atom.com.

Atom.com would feature four original series: Border Patrol, Steven & Stephen, Stickman Exodus and Benny, Escaped Convict.

Atom.com also welcomes user-generated submissions. Select videos will also be featured in a weekly Upload Showdown.

MTV gained rights to Atom.com when parent company Viacom acquired AtomFilms in 2006.

Jordin Sparks, a 17-year-old high school student from Glendale, Arizona, has been crowned the youngest ever American Idol.

Sparks won over 25-year-old beatboxer Blake Lewis, the show’s hippest-ever finalist. In what the organizers termed was one of the closest results in Idol’s six-year history, a record 74 million votes were cast to decide the winner.

The final result was not too much of a surprise though as Sparks saved the best for last and gave a triumphant performance on Tuesday that wowed the show’s judges and viewers alike. (more…)

SET India has promoted Rohit Gupta as its president for network sales, licensing and telephony with immediate effect.

He will continue to report to SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta.

Gupta was given the additional responsibility of handling the digital, licensing and telephony activities of the company a few months back even when he was designated as executive vice president, ad sales and revenue management.

Said Dasgupta, “Rohit has been with the company for more than five years and has contributed immensely in building the network sales team and growing revenues year on year. (more…)

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev will head the Executive Board of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL).

The other members of the Board include former stumper and selector Kiran More, former England captain Tony Greg and Australian cricketer-turned-commentator Dean Jones.

While making the announcement, Himanshu Modi, Business Head of Zee Sports, said more positions would be finalised later. (more…)

In an effort to beef up the afternoon time band, Zee TV is set to launch a new saga Meri Doli Tere Angana on 21 May. Slated to occupy the 2 pm slot from Monday to Thursday, the new show will replace the repeat telecast of ratings driver Saath Phere.

Zee TV programming head Ashivini Yardi said, “After the successful launch of our prime-time shows we are delighted to offer another brand new series for our afternoon viewers. The show revolves around this simple girl Simran, who belongs to a very traditional Punjabi family.”

Produced by Rahul Bhatt’s production house Film Tonic, the show narrates the story of an orphan girl Simran who obeys the wishes of her uncle and aunt who have brought her up. She settles for an arranged marriage, but on the day of wedding, her husband Ruhaan reveals his love for someone else. (more…)

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practises Commission (MRTPC) to investigate accusation of financial bungling by the Star Plus channel in its Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) show. A Division Bench of Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice JP Singh asked the petitioner and the Star Plus to appear before the Commission on May 8.

“Keeping in view the contentions of the parties, importance and gravity of the allegations besides the larger interest of the general public, we deem it fit that the matter should be referred to MRTP Commission for investigation into the finances, chances of winning, element of allurement, misrepresentation, fraud and other related allegations,” the Bench said.

“The Commission should implead computer experts or any other person or party who may have the know-how of finding out fraud, tricks or manipulation, if any, in the game,” the Bench added. (more…)

ESPN STAR, Asia’s premier sports broadcaster, on Tuesday announced the launch of a dedicated cricket channel for audiences in the Indian subcontinent. The new channel, christened STAR Cricket, will commence transmission in June 2007. STAR Cricket will be the 15th network launched by ESPN STAR in the Asia Pacific region.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd, R.C. Venkatesh, said, “The launch of STAR Cricket is part of our long term strategy to further strengthen our offering to the sports fans in the country. STAR Cricket will showcase live India and non-India cricket for the passionate Indian cricket fan.

“We plan to add quality first class cricket coverage from around the globe as well. The channel will also showcase feature programming on cricket including reality shows, archival programming and magazine shows. STAR Cricket will be the one stop destination of all the cricket action, history, updates, views and reviews.” (more…)

STAR India has finally got a new CEO. Close to four months after the high-profile exits of Peter Mukherjea and Sameer Nair, STAR has appointed STAR News CEO Uday Shankar as new chief executive.

Senior executives of STAR India and STAR News confirmed the development to ET on Sunday. A formal announcement is expected in the next few days from Hong Kong. However, the STAR spokesperson feigned ignorance when contacted for an official response.

A veteran in the news business, this will be Mr Shankar’s first stint in the general entertainment broadcasting segment. A senior print and television journalist, Mr Shankar joined STAR News in February 2004. (more…)

After the path-breaking block-buster ‘GADAR – EK PREM KATHA’ in 2001, Zee had taken a back-seat as far as film production and distribution is concerned. Only now, after a six-year hiatus, Zee Entertainment Network has acquired the worldwide distribution rights of a mainstream Hindi feature film.

The film in question is, actor-director Ammtoje Mann’s Sunny Deol-starrer ‘KAAFILA’. Zee Entertainment Network could not conceal its excitement after having viewed only a few fleeting images of ‘KAAFILA’ and immediately evinced interest in acquiring the film. Zee Entertainment Network then viewed the rushes of ‘KAAFILA’ and immediately acquired the film for a handsome price.

Zee Entertainment Network is pretty confident of the film’s thumping worldwide success and senses that it has a winner in their grasp in the form of ‘KAAFILA’ which is based on the burning global issue of illegal immigration. (more…)

‘I’m waiting for the right offer. If I get it, I’ll surely do it,’ Aditya told IANS. He has just finished a three-month acting course in London.

‘Acting is another option. If I get good offers I’m open to acting. In the meanwhile, my practice is going on every day. Music and singing are in my genes.

So I may end up dividing my time between acting and singing,’ said Aditya, who as a child did pivotal roles in ‘Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai’ and ‘Pardes’. (more…)