MUMBAI: ?Chime For Change?, which is Gucci?s new global campaign for girls? and women?s empowerment, has released the list of broadcasters that will be airing ?The Sound Of Change Live? concert event. The concert which takes place today and will reach up to one billion people in over 150 countries worldwide.

In the US, NBC will air the show the day after the live event in London. The concert event, which will be broadcast across six continents, brings together some of the world?s most talented artists and internationally renowned activists to raise awareness of issues affecting girls and women, and raise funds for non-profit organisations pursuing change. In addition to Star and NBC, The BBC, Rotana and WoWow are among the broadcasters set to air ?The Sound Of Change Live? concert event to households around the world.

Chime For Change co-founder, artistic director and singer Beyonc? Knowles-Carter will perform a 45-minute special set and will lead the performers including Florence + the Machine, HAIM, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Laura Pausini, Rita Ora and Timbaland.

Knowles-Carter said, "I am really happy that so many amazing artists and presenters have come together to support ?Chime For Change? on 1 June. Our goal is to have a great time together while we unite and strengthen the voices of girls and women around the world."

Madonna will join presenter line-up which includes actors, musicians, activists, film directors and public figures including Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Freida Pinto, Gloria Steinem, Gordon and Sarah Brown, James Franco, Jessica Chastain and Zoe Saldana.

Singer Madonna, who is also the founder of the Ray of Light Foundation said, "60 per cent of the children in the world not in school are girls! 2/3 of the world?s illiterate are Women! I do not accept this. We need to change this and we will change this!"

The concert will be produced by Kevin Wall and Aaron Grosky of Control Room in association with Harvey Goldsmith - the forces behind Live Earth and Live Aid. In addition to performances and collaborations from global artists, the live concert, which takes place tomorrow 1 June will also serve as a platform to broadcast inspirational and provocative short films and stories spotlighting girls? and women?s issues globally.

Kevin Wall of Control Room said, "We are thrilled to be producing and distributing The Sound Of Change Live concert event at London?s Twickenham Stadium on the 1st of June and utilising our expertise in producing and distributing global multi-artist charity events to help Gucci raise funds and awareness for girls? and women?s issues around the world."

Underwritten by Gucci, all tickets sales (less VAT and service fees) will go towards raising funds for projects, which will be disseminated through Catapult - the first crowd-funding platform dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women. In a world first, through Catapult, fans will be able to choose exactly which projects their money goes towards and receive updates on their progress. A sell-out concert means that over 120 projects supporting women around the world will be 100 per cent funded.

MUMBAI: US infotainment broadcaster National Geographic Channel (NGC) has announced that from 14 June actor Alec Baldwin will be the on-air host for the weekly ?Night of Exploration? programming block.

Each Friday, Baldwin will help the channel celebrate the spirit of exploration through world premieres or programmes that showcase the hotshots, the mavericks and the best in their fields who have devoted their lives to exploring the world around us, and the groundbreaking discoveries that are making a difference. Baldwin will appear as host for ?Night of Exploration? in the US and globally in 171 countries and 38 languages.

Baldwin?s on-camera hosting duties begin with ?Crossing the Ice?, which follows two Australian adventurers as they attempt to become the first to tackle the perilous journey from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, completely unassisted. No sled dogs and no wind kites, just two men dragging their food, their shelter and themselves across the barren ice.

On television for seven seasons, he starred on NBC?s ?30 Rock?.

"Alec has the perfect combination of energy and gravitas that we think our Night of Exploration viewers will love," said National Geographic Channel?s CEO David Lyle. "Each week, he will introduce the compelling stories of people around the globe whose drive to climb higher, dive lower or dig deeper never cease to amaze."

Launched in January to coincide with the National Geographic Society?s 125th anniversary yearlong celebration, each week ?Night of Exploration? introduces viewers to the trailblazers who are working on the unexplored frontiers of human imagination and innovation. From leading the ultimate cold-case investigation into the Titanic?s final moments with Oscar-winning filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-In-Residence James Cameron, to following a husband-and-wife filmmaking team over their 30-year quest to track lions and leopards through Africa?s harshest environments, these critically acclaimed programs have left audiences and critics asking for more.

MUMBAI: Deborah Turness, who was ITV News editor in the UK has been named US news broadcaster NBC News president. The announcement was made by NBCUniversal News Group chairman Pat Fili-Krushel.
 
Turness joins CNBC president Mark Hoffman and MSNBC president Phil Griffin as part of the NBCUniversal News Group leadership team reporting to Fili-Krushel. She will be based at the NBC News headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and begin her new role on 5 August 2013.

As president, Turness will be responsible for all aspects of the NBC News division including the programmes ?NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams?, ?Today?, ?Meet the Press? and ?Dateline? as well as its news bureaus around the world. She will also oversee all breaking news, investigative and enterprise reporting, along with the division?s digital properties including NBCNews.com. Additionally, she will have oversight of Peacock Productions, an in-house production company.
 
Fili-Krushel said, "Deborah has built an outstanding reputation as both a journalist and business executive with a proven track record for innovation and collaboration. She is a leader with a global perspective, who is also very familiar with NBC News, having worked closely with us through our partnership with ITN. Her passion for the news business, combined with her creativity and vision, will be a tremendous asset to NBC News, and I?m very pleased to welcome her to the team."

Turness said, "It is quite simply the greatest imaginable honor to be named as the next president of NBC News. I am hugely excited by the opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to working with the talented journalists and technicians who make it one of the great global news operations."

MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC has announced the renewal of five drama series for the 2013-14 season.

They are ?Revolution?, ?Chicago Fire?, ?Parenthood?, ?Grimm? and ?Law and Order: Special Victims Unit?.

All have been given 22-episode orders.

NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke said, "On the verge of our 2013 fall scheduling decisions, we?re pleased to renew five drama series that will be important to our new season line-up.

"We?re proud and very appreciative of all of the actors, producers, writers and directors who work so hard to deliver such high-quality work week in and week out. These complex shows represent a broad range of genres and tones, and all of them stand out for us in a television landscape now filled with one-hour series. We?re especially pleased to be renewing "Revolution" and "Chicago Fire" - two first-season successes - and there will be more returning series announcements made in the next couple of weeks."

?Revolution? is the Monday night drama that centers on a family trying to reunite amidst a worldwide power failure.

?Chicago Fire? meanwhile goes inside a Windy City firehouse and the lives of those who engage in one of our nation?s noblest professions.

?Parenthood? adapted from the 1989 Steve Martin film, examines the colorful Braverman family, and all its foibles and triumphs. The series is executive produced by Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Howard had directed the film.

?Grimm? is inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers? fairy tales
?Law And Order: Special Victims Unit? will enter its 15th season for NBC. The series chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes.