Not one, but three. Television software production house Creative Eye is making a splash into the movie making business with the announcement of three Hindi feature films, all slated for launch before the end of the calendar year.The first production goes on the floors in the first week of July and has been tentatively titled Tum Jo Mil Gaye. Produced by Dheeraj Kumar, the film has been scripted by ZD Lari, with the music composed by Pyarelal, and directed by Amol Shedge. The film, a "social romantic film" with a new pair in the lead role, is to be shot in India and New Zealand and is slated for a January 2003 release. The other two films are to be launched by the end of August and September 2002 respectively.

The company has so far produced more than 1,700 hours of programming consisting of social, suspense thrillers historical and mythological programmes. According to an official release, the current eight hours of programming per week on Doordarshan will be increased to 16 hours in 2002-03.

CNN has bagged top honours for continuing coverage and news documentary in the Network Television Division at the US‘ 2002 Edward R Murrow awards. The Murrow awards, sponsored by the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA), recognise outstanding achievements in electronic journalism since 1971. This year?s competition judged 2,303 entries from 511 organisations. The awards ceremony will be held on 7 October in New York City when CNN will be honoured with awards in the following categories in the Network Television Division:

1. Continuing Coverage:
‘11 September, 2001: Terrorist Attacks‘ - CNN is being recognised for its coverage of 11 September events. Coverage included constant news updates from each scene, eye witness accounts, international reports and in-depth perspectives from CNN?s top anchors and correspondents around the world. Five hours of non-stop breaking news were anchored by CNN?s Aaron Brown and Judy Woodruff.

2. News Documentary:
‘Beneath the Veil‘ - Investigative journalist Saira Shah journeyed to her ancestral home in Afghanistan to look at life under the iron rule of the Taliban. Using secret footage, hidden cameras and with unprecedented access, Shah showed viewers the ruins of Kabul, public executions and the forbidden underground network of women struggling to survive. From the frontlines to the forbidden classrooms, the execution grounds to the ruined gardens of Shah?s father?s homeland, this film takes a searing look into the Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel) has been voted Best Asian Telecom Operator for the fifth year running by readers of Telecom Asia, the region‘s widely read telecommunications publication.
In the Telecom Asia‘s Readers‘ Choice Awards 2002, SingTel Mobile won the title of Best Asian GSM Operator again, following its earlier success in 2000. SingTel President & CEO Lee Hsien Yang has been named Best Telecom Executive for the second consecutive year, says an official release.

SingTel is one of Asia‘s leading communications company with a comprehensive portfolio of services that include voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms. The company serves global communication in corporate and residential markets. SingTel has extensive interests in submarine cable and satellite systems, including its co-owned ST-1 satellite and the pan-Asian C2C cable network. Its infrastructure development strategy is to ensure that its networks remain modern and efficient, and continue to meet the needs of its customers.

The SingTel Group has expanded into overseas markets, with investments in many countries and territories. In Australia, its wholly-owned subsidiary, SingTel Optus is a leader in integrated communications - serving more than five million customers. The Group‘s major investments include Advanced Info Service of Thailand and the Bharti Telecom Group in India.

In the past year, SingTel has received numerous awards by the industry and its peers in a variety of opinion polls published in leading publications including Red Herring, Far Eastern Economic Review, Computerworld and FinanceAsia.

Irdeto Access, a leading player in content protection and management, has signed a license agreement with Zhengzhou Broadcasting & TV Information Network for delivery of its content protection system, Irdeto M-Crypt.
Irdeto Access, a subsidiary of MIH Limited, the Subscriber Platforms group and its Chinese partner, Shenzhen Advanced Video Info-Tech will together offer advanced technologies for the digital upgrade programme underway in the Zhengzhou cable TV network. The network currently offers 500,000 subscribers many analogue, digital and interactive multi-function valued-added services, says an official release. In addition, Zhengzhou provides data transmission and full network application solutions to government bodies, financial securities, education and enterprises.

Irdeto Access will provide a series of advanced digital conditional access (CA) system solutions for the project, including the digital CA system head-end and smart cards. The first order of smart cards has already been delivered to Zhengzhou Broadcasting & TV Information Network. Shenzhen AVIT is Irdeto Access‘ licensed partner in China that provides related products and STBs with integrated Irdeto Access‘ technologies, the release states.

Irdeto Access CA technology was localised for the Chinese market in 2001. From January 2002 when the Irdeto Access‘ technology was approved by the China State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), the deployment of its products has increased rapidly in China, the company claims.

Dubai will play host to the Global Entertainment and Media Exhibition (GEMEX) from 4 to 6 March 2003.
The exhibition, this time round, will feature an enhanced product profile in 2003 and be complemented by a series of seminars, conferences and workshops, aimed at providing media professionals with an opportunity to learn about the newest trends and technologies fuelling growth of the media industry in the region and globally, says an official release.

Star Vision, E-Vision, Pinnacle, Procast, Technosat, Mediacom, Triax and Tek Signals are among those who have confirmed their presence at the exhibition as well as several international companies, including Viaccess of France, Newtec of Belgium, Egyptian Satellite (Nilesat) and Worldspace of the UK and Jaeger of Taiwan. Other companies which have already confirmed their participation at GEMEX 2003 include Bond Communications, Broadnman, EVS, Glocom, Intelsat of the U.S., New World Media, Seven Star, Studiotech, Thales, Wafa and WISI.

GEMEX will also provide students and media graduates with unique opportunities to learn more about the media industry‘s newest trends and technologies as well as network with representatives from a range of key organizations in the field. Organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Media City with the support of International Conferences & Exhibitions is being built on the success of the former CABSAT event last year. It will feature an enhanced product profile and will be supported by a series of seminars, conferences and workshops organised by Gambate.