NEW DELHI: Jana Bennett, President Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, today confirmed the network?s commitment to stage bold and ambitious global television events as she unveiled two new seasons for 2012 at MipTV.

London Calling and Planet Earth Live will run simultaneously across the BBC channels around the world, showcasing the very best of British programming and UK talent to the World.

As the eyes of the World turn to London this summer, the City of 2012 will be brought to life by the BBC through London Calling; a unique season of programmes that celebrate the music, fashion, art, culture and history of Britain?s capital city. The season will be led by live coverage from the spectacular Queen?s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Planet Earth Live is the biggest live wildlife broadcast ever undertaken by the BBC. It is an ambitious project which is the result of over ten years of innovation in techniques and formats at the BBC Natural History Unit. A unique and new project, it will bring real animals and their everyday dramas to a global audience in real time. Viewers will witness first-hand these incredible animals? struggle for survival in this animal soap opera, where nature writes the script.

Jana Bennett, said, ?By creating synchronised broadcasts, we unite our viewers around the world and give them a real appointment to view. Ours is the only network in the world which can deliver such massive global moments to an international audience and is what made our coverage of The Royal Wedding last year so successful. This year I want to go bigger and bolder.

?Planet Earth Live and London Calling will enable our audiences to feel part of a truly global viewing experience - whether it be witnessing the wonder of nature as it unfolds before them or revelling in the celebrations taking place across London without ever having to leave the comfort of their living room.?

The two new global events come hot on the heels of the first global viewing event of 2012 as BBC Worldwide gave an international stage to Sport Relief - one the UK?s biggest televised fundraising efforts. The special two week season culminated with Sport Relief Goes Global, a four-hour extravaganza featuring comedy highlights from the UK?s night of fundraising entertainment on BBC ONE.

London Calling will air between June and August on BBC Entertainment (India, Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Asia, Latin America and the channel?s pan-European service), BBC Knowledge (Africa, Poland, the Nordic Region, Italy, Asia and Australia), BBC HD (Latin America, Poland, The Nordic region and Turkey), UKTV (Australia and New Zealand) and BBC World News (global).

The season will also be available to users of BBC.com and to users of the global BBC iPlayer but will vary territory by territory.

Airing on BBC One in the UK, Planet Earth Live will air simultaneously4 to a global audience via BBC Knowledge (Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Poland, Italy, the Nordic Region) BBC Entertainment (India), BBC HD (Latin America) and in a selection of European countries on the global BBC iPlayer. The event excludes the US.

MUMBAI: Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has unveiled its comprehensive broadcast plans on mio TV with ESPN Star Sports (ESS).

SingTel, in partnership with ESS, the IOC?s official pay TV broadcast partner, has secured the rights to broadcast the London 2012 Olympic Games.

As the largest pay TV platform across the region with the rights to broadcast London 2012 Olympic Games, ESS will feature round-the-clock coverage of the London 2012 Games across 13 channels (10 of which are in HD), available on mio TV with free access for all its subscribers.

To deliver an even more engaging experience, SingTel is also working with ESS and the IOC to explore showcasing key events in vivid 3D.

ESS MD Manu Sawhney said, ?We are very pleased to present the most comprehensive coverage of London 2012 Olympic Games in partnership with SingTel on mio TV. This is the first time fans in Singapore will have access to such a wide coverage of the Olympic Games which not only includes round-the- clock coverage on our core networks ESPN, Star Sports and ESPNEWS but 10 new additional ESPN Star Sports channels showcasing action from London 2012. To further enhance fans experience, we have lined up over 680 hours of build-up programming and original programming and along with this our talents will be bringing the highlights of the games from London. Fans can therefore look forward to the most entertaining and engaging presentation of the games ever.?

mio TV will aim to broadcast every single ?live? event that Team Singapore athletes are involved in. The platform?s technical capabilities enables viewers to use a robust search function to look for the events that they wish to watch without having to surf through all 13 channels.

SingTel CEO Singapore Allen Lew said, ?mio TV will be turning five this year. Since we launched in 2007, we have been steadily building our linear and on-demand offerings, ensuring that our subscribers have full access to key sporting events, the latest blockbusters and lifestyle programmes. Come July, our mio TV subscribers will enjoy the most comprehensive and exciting coverage of the London 2012 Games as a result of our partnership with ESPN Star Sports.?

On the home front, SingTel will be announcing a range of activities that will help ignite the flame of support for Team Singapore. Singaporeans are encouraged to come forward to give their encouragement and well-wishes for Team Singapore. More details on how to participate will be released later.

As the Official Telecommunications company for the Singapore National Olympic Council, SingTel will also be equipping the athletes with smartphones and complimentary airtime and data subscriptions while they are in London.

?Our athletes train hard for the Games and many times, find themselves spending less time with their loved ones. Using our multimedia and telecommunications services, SingTel enables Team Singapore to remain connected to their families, friends and supporters,? Lew said.

MUMBAI: Scripps Networks Interactive is acquiring Travel Channel International (TCI), an independent company headquartered in the United Kingdom, for ?65 million as part of its plans to expand its lifestyle portfolio to Asia and Europe.

The company, which has a clutch of channels in the food, travel and lifestyle genres, is eyeing India entry ever since its deal with NDTV collapsed in May 2010. Scripps had agreed to buy 69 per cent of NDTV Lifestyle Ltd for $55 million.

Scripps expects to complete the transaction with Travel Channel in the second quarter of 2012, subject to regulatory approvals.

?We are looking forward to integrating Travel Channel International into Scripps Networks Interactive?s portfolio of popular lifestyle networks,? said Scripps Networks Interactive chairman, president and chief executive officer Kenneth W. Lowe.

?TCI brings unique value to us as we establish our brands in the global media marketplace. We?re enthusiastic about sharing our lifestyle programming expertise internationally, engaging a new set of passionate media consumers overseas, and increasing our footprint in Europe and Asia, building on the solid foundation we?ve established for the continued international growth of our brands.?

Formed in 2004, TCI has affiliate agreements with approximately 850 distributors. The company?s 46 full-time employees in London will join Scripps Networks Interactive at the completion of the transaction.

TCI distributes the Travel Channel brand in 20 languages across Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions besides producing and commissioning original travel programming for distribution in 91 countries.

?Scripps Networks Interactive is the natural home for Travel Channel International,? said Richard Wolfe, chief executive of TCI. ?Combining TCI?s reach and resources in our territories with those of SNI?s U.S. Travel Channel creates a new worldwide brand with powerful synergies in programming and advertising.?

MUMBAI: In a major setback for former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, a London court has declared him bankrupt over unpaid bills of 65,000 pounds (approximately Rs. 5.3 million) owed to private security firm, Page Group, through an order it passed last month.

The international securities and risk assessment company has claimed that Modi owes fees for security services it provided to him and his family in 2010.

Stuart Page, the company?s chairman, said: "It?s unfortunate that we have come to this situation but Modi has given us no other option. We gave Modi a number of security services in relation to threats made against him and his family. We submitted a number of invoices which were not paid. Our attempts to reach a settlement with Modi were to no avail and we were forced to take the action we have taken."

Modi in his defence said, "Until the order was served, I was completely unaware of any outstanding monies. I have not seen any previous demands but since it came to my attention, I?ve even offered to lodge the sum being claimed with the court pending clarity. But for some reason, that was refused, by the company concerned."

The former IPL chairman, though, feels that it is an attempt to gain cheap publicity by the securities firm. "It is a ridiculous waste of everyone?s time and I can only assume it is being done in an attempt to gain some sort of publicity at my expense. Any suggestion that this order means I am unable to pay is equally ridiculous," Modi said.

A hearing will be held in London shortly when Modi will attempt to have the order set aside.