The Hindi News channel from TV18 group and Jagran TV Channel 7 is coming with a new look from June 5, created by Florida based VDO, a broadcast design and branding company. The environment, including the channel ID, show openers, and on-air graphic packages, has been changed to give the channel a more contemporary look and feel. The new logo in red, black and silver is bold, impact full, sophisticated and distinct “The idea behind the new logo is to give it a contemporary look. The new logo is also aimed at communicating the core brand values of the channel and its philosophy,” said Dilip Venkatraman, Director Marketing, TV18 Group.

Senior Producer of VDO Dianne Streyer, added, “The idea behind changing the on-air look of the channel was to make it more modern and connect with the viewers. The Indian market is cluttered with a plethora of news channels and it was important to give it a distinctive look to create a unique identity for Channel 7.”

VDO was also instrumental in developing the on-air look for CNN-IBN channel. Clearwater, the unique brand packaging solutions for networks, broadcast groups, stations and cable channels. The company’s client portfolio includes well-known broadcasters like NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX, among others.

The most exciting television events of the year, where a star-studded panel of judges will choose Miss USA 2006. Drew Lachey and Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell, will host the event that will be held at Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, commentary will be provided by Carson Kressley of Bravo’s Queer Eye, along with the reigning Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley.

Judges for the Pageant include are the. Olympic gold medalist Chad Hedrick, Donald Trump Jr, shoe guru Steve Madden, NBC’s James Hyde, America’s Next Top Model’ winner Nicole Link letter, Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward, television personality Jillian Barberie, and Vice President & General Manager, North America and Global Cosmetics, Procter and Gamble, Gina Drosos.

In the two-hour event, the contestants will compete in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions the top five finalists will be selected. Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005, will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 250 million. So don’t miss this extravaganza.

Star India CFO, G Subramaniam has, has put in his papers and is currently serving his notice period. He will be with the organization till the end of this month and is slated to join Reliance Mobile in the later course of time.

He is Chartered accountant by qualification. He joined Stat India as CFO, Digital Platform Group in May 2001. Aforementioned to joining Star, he had worked with the BPL Innovision business group in their telecom ventures, including four years with BPL Mobile, Mumbai as the CFO.

The Key professional has made the third exit after the departure of Puneet Johar and Vidyuth Bhandari, last week. Puneet Johar was Senior Vice president, marketing and Communication; he was associated with marketing initiatives of Kkavyanjali, KBC 2, Prithviraj Chauhan and also National Geographic Channel. While, Vidyuth Bhandari was Associate Vice president, he has currently moved to Adlabs Radio as Interactivity Activation and PR Head.

Nick, the TV channel for kids is launching the comedy show Bakra that is starting from June 5. The ‘Bakra’ episodes on Nick, chosen from the existing library, have already run on MTV over the last few years.

Vice President and General Manager of Nick Hema Govindan, says, ‘Bakra’, whose attractiveness transcend all ages, will be a valuable addition to our already laugh-riotous ‘Nick Hahaha’ block, which also includes ‘Kenan & Kel’, ‘Drake & Josh’ and ‘Laurel & Hardy’. We’re sure that during summer vacations, ‘Bakra’ on Nick will keep our young audiences smiling.”

For the few not familiar with the sect occurrence of ‘Bakra’, this highly rated half-hour show sportingly cons and makes ‘bakras’ of unsuspecting people. Crazy host Cyrus Broacha and his team put regular junta through strange situations with sometimes unexpected - but always hilarious - results, all captured on hidden cameras.

Channel 7 is coming with a new logo, new programming and new graphics from June 5. TV 18 Group has, for the time being, put on the backburner its plans to change the brand name of Channel 7, the new channel in its kitty, owing to certain technical reasons, but will move ahead with the relaunch of the channel on June 5, 2006.

The channel will change its baseline to ‘Khabar Har Kimat Par’ from the present ‘Zindagi Live’, in line with the ‘Whatever it Takes’ baseline of CNN-IBN, the English offering from the group. Sardesai said, “I will host shows infrequently, when I feel strappingly about it, like the Aamir Khan interview. I expect to do it at least once in a month. But at a later stage, I may host a special programme.”

Ashutosh the Managing Editor of Channel 7 said that “Our Focus will be on hard news as we deel sharpness in news has vanished from Hindi news channels. Our precedence will be to preserve the stability in Channel 7 with a unique brand positioning. The greatest advantage with Channel 7 is its association with Dainik Jagran, which is rooted at the grassroots level. We have great synergy with Jagran and we will only strengthen the bond. Our association with the TV18 Group, which already has three offerings, will only work towards our advantage.”

Ali Ejaz the Pakistani director is all set to direct the first ever India-Pakistan television serial, “Dil Aur Fasley” which will be aired on Indian television channel Sahara One. Sareeta from Sahara One is the co-director of the play. Preetam Kaur the Indian folk singer will sing the titian song of the serial, and Shahid Askari is the assistant director.

The ‘Jubilee Queen’ Asha Parekh, returns with her new Gujarati serial ‘Akhanda Saubhagyavati’. Asha has featured in three Gujarati films. “And now she is returning to her Gujarati roots.”The Gujarati serial ‘Akhanda Saubhagyavati’, which I have produced, is coming on ETV Gujarati. It is an arrogant moment for me. I have always felt my work and my art would keep me close to my roots.”

She says: “My first Gujarati film, called ‘Akhanda Saubhagyavati’, was a smash hit. But at that moment I was at the brink of my career in Bollywood. But now I feel proud to come back with a serial in my mother tongue. “Akhanda Saubhagyavati” is the third Gujarati serial produced by Asha Parekh, the first two being “Jyoti” for Doordarshan which marked as a stepping stone for regional television and the second ‘Nari Tu Na Hari’ for ETV Gujarati.