MUMBAI: A strong base in the digital markets of Mumbai and Delhi has helped Viacom18?s general entertainment channel (GEC) Colors rise to the number one position among Hindi GECs during three of the five weeks (C&S, HSM 4+ market) in November and December, according to Colors CEO Raj Nayak.

?Colors? content has historically resonated very strongly with viewers in Delhi and in Mumbai too viewers have shown a positive inclination towards our content. With thedigitisation completed in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata (to a lesser extent though), these three markets put together contribute to a large proportion of the digital universe weightage. Hence, a strong base in the markets of Mumbai and Delhi helps,? Nayak tells Indiantelevision.com.

In the weeks from 47 to 51 of 2012, Colors was the number one GEC in digital markets (HSM, Digital 4+), according to TAM Media Research data. TAM would be releasing data for week 52 on Thursday.

Helios Media CEO Divya Radhakrishnan said ratings for Colors peaked in certain weeks due to programming initiatives on its highest-rated shows -- Shiv Anandi wedding in Ballika Vadhu, change in story track of Madhubala. Also Colors was the only GEC running 3 reality shows simultaneously -Bigg Boss, Sur Kshetra and India?s got talent vis a vis only Sa Re Ga Ma on Zee TV and KBC on Sony Entertainment Television (Set).

Maxus managing partner Kartik Sharma noted, ?If we observe GEC1 trends, some of the channels have a higher skew towards digital homes. This trend was observed even before the full-fledged digitisation and the recent data only validates the same.?

Colors has made its way to the top through its content on weekdays as well as on weekends, backed by big-ticket spikes like premieres and events, according to Nayak.

?We at Colors continue to constantly innovate on content to keep up with audience acceptability, sense and sensibilities. We believe in providing world class quality entertainment, throughout the year 365 days, 24x7. In the process, with audience liking, it helps us in being able to constantly interact and touch our viewers everyday of their lives, thus resulting in viewership in tune with this viewer preference as well for our content,? says Nayak.

Asked if Colors had greater acceptability in digital homes, Nayak says, ?That?s not entirely correct. In other markets too, the channel resonates well with the audience, otherwise we wouldn?t have been a strong contender for the No. 1 slot based on just two markets. And the fact that we have been No 1 in the last 3 out of 5 weeks in overall ratings speaks for itself.?

MUMBAI: After experiencing success with its local show ?What?s With Indian Men?, lifestyle channel Fox Traveller turns its attention to the fairer sex with ?What?s With Indian Women? from 9 December every Sunday at 10 pm.

Two Indian boys have taken up the task to be a part of the tell-all tale on Indian women. VJ Andy and comedian Sanjay Rajoura set out on a fun journey across the vast geography of India to figure out the opposite gender. Their adventures take them to destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Dehradun, Pune, Jaipur, Vadodra, Shillong, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow and Chandigarh. They meet women from all walks of life be it models, actors, housewives, sports persons or activists- You name it! This show is all that a man needs to decode Indian women.

Fox International Channel VP marketing Debarpita Banerjee said, "After the phenomenal success of What?s With Indian Men last year, FOX Traveller is back with all the juicy revelations with What?s With Indian Women? Mystery decoders Andy & Sanjay Rajoura are set to task on this exciting series where they meet many beautiful Indian women to know what makes them tick?"

VJ Andy said,"Being a part of this show was like doing a crash course on Indian women! We travelled the Oval: IMPRESS THE LADY. HOLD THE DOOR OPEN FOR HER. Indian landscape, met interesting women and learnt about everything that makes them special! My partnership with Sanjay has been electric; the result is an exciting series that is high on humour, travel and some fantastic revelations".

Rajoura said, "Women are known to be these mysterious creatures, every man is trying to figure out! This show is the perfect guide for all men out there! Andy and I enjoyed every minute of the show, meeting various women from different parts of the country and understanding their quirks and perspectives.

In one episode in Delhi, Sanjay and Andy find themselves in the capital of the country where they try and figure out the contradictions that are Delhi women. Here they meet a sophisticated socialite known for her purchasing power who shows them what it is like to be the diva she is. They meet an opinionated reporter who turns the table on our boys and tests their journalistic abilities and a super biker who takes them on the ride of their life!

MUMBAI: ImagiNation Edutainment India, a joint venture between Singapore based Kidz Inc and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, will set up an indoor theme park in Mumbai in April 2013 under the KidZania brand.

The Mexican edutainment brand has given the India franchise rights to ImagiNation, a company in which the Bollywood superstar owns 26 per cent stake and KidZ Inc the remaining 74 per cent.

KidZania will soon open the first indoor theme park at R City Mall in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai.

KidZania is an edutainment concept that combines education and entertainment engaging kids between 4 to 14 years with environmental stewardship, career exploration and social consciousness activities. It is exclusively designed to help kids strengthen their ability to manage their world through key aspects of learning ranging from society functions, financial literacy, adult professions, team work, independence, real life skills and self-esteem.

The city for children is spread across 75,000 square feet, and will have buildings, paved streets, vehicles and recognizable destinations, offering kids more than 75 role-playing options in its 60 establishments.

Following Mumbai, KidZania will launch centers in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Bengaluru.

Speaking on his association, KidZania India co-promoter Shah Rukh Khan said, "I am proud to be part of the team bringing KidZania into India, as I know it will make a difference to the children here. As a parent, I realise that children are most receptive when they are having fun, so a platform like KidZania that brings entertainment and education together will add value to their lives. India is a young country and we need to focus on building a strong future - KidZania will in many ways provide that by building awareness amongst our children through an experience that is hands-on, engaging, educational, and most importantly, fun."

KidZania‘s revenue stream includes tickets, corporate events and CSR activities among others. The entry ticket for the kids will be in the range of Rs 700 for five hours.

Speaking on the India foray, KidZania Director and CEO Sanjeev Kumar said, "Brands are a key component of the experience as they make it authentic by linking it to the real world. We are looking at partnering with brands that are aligned to the KidZania philosophy of developing the future of children."

Headquartered in Mexico, KidZania was founded in 1996 by a young entrepreneur, Xavier Lopez, who dreamt of creating a place where kids could have fun while enjoying real life experiences. Till date, KidZania has a footprint in seven countries worldwide across 11 centers, with 12 more centers under development and to be launched by 2014.

MUMBAI: Cable TV operators blacked out the broadcasting of entertainment channels on their digital networks since Saturday evening as a mark of respect to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray who died the same afternoon.

The news channels, covering in detail the death of Thackeray and the Sunday?s funeral procession, were shown on digital cable networks. Mumbai is one of the three metros to have gone digital since 1 November.

The Mumbai Cable Operators? Association (MCOA) is led by Shiv Sena leader and Member of Legislative Council Anil Parab.

Even the sports channels were blocked in many parts of Mumbai.

The entertainment and sports channels, however, started beaming once the funeral rites were over.

The cinema theatres in Mumbai were also shut.