MUMBAI: SMC Entertainment Group, an entertainment and brand management company, has stitched slew of licensing agreements in the US for The Jungle Book TV series.

SMC had acquired licensing rights of the first season of the series for North America from DQ Entertainment.

The Jungle Book is scheduled to debut on 11 June on Disney XD in the US.

SMC has signed a slate of new US licensees, including Phase 4 Films as the property?s home entertainment and digital distribution partner; Isaac Morris as its master apparel partner; Komar for children?s sleepwear; Insights Editions for Young Readers Book series; Seasons USA for Halloween costumes; Nanco-Nancy Sales for amusement plush and novelties; Pacific Play Tents for children?s play tents; Barnes & Noble for ebooks; United States Playing Card Company for customised playing cards, and My Idol Pops for figural lollypops.

"The new animated series for The Jungle Book has ignited interest from the licensing and merchandising community because it combines the best of both worlds. You have the incredible legacy of The Jungle Book delivered in a fresh, colorful and engaging series that entertains children and evokes treasured memories for their parents and grandparents. The property?s association with Disney is the icing on the cake," said SMC SVP Licensing Lisa Streff.

In addition to The Jungle Book television series, Phase 4 will release a bonus 1-hour holiday special in 2012. SMC is also developing a strategy to roll the series out across a multitude of digital platforms. Additionally, a dedicated website for The Jungle Book is in development.

SMC acquired all North American home entertainment, licensing and merchandising rights, and promotional rights for The Jungle Book CGI-animated television series plus the one-hour telefilm from DQE, the producers and rights holders of the series. In addition, SMC has also acquired The Jungle Book toy rights for Benelux, Australia and New Zealand and licensing and merchandising rights for South Africa.

Targeting consumer products, which focus on boys in the 4-7 age group as well as parents with children from infancy to 8 years of age, SMC will be representing The Jungle Book at the 2012 International Licensing Show.

The company is seeking partnerships to develop a comprehensive consumer products? campaign across categories including Toy, ELA?s, Publishing, Games & Puzzles, Gaming/Interactive, Apparel, Footwear, Accessories, Back to School, Party Good, Food & Beverage, Arts & Crafts, Home Furnishings, and more.

MUMBAI: Al Jazeera?s sports channels, beIN Sports USA 1 and 2, is set to hit American TV homes beginning 1 August, said beIN Sports USA MD Youssef Mohammad Al-Obaidly.

beIN Sports will offer exclusive coverage of La Liga BBVA from Spain, Serie A from Italy and Ligue 1 from France.

Backed by the resources of Qatar Media Corporation and the global expertise of Mediapro, beIN Sports aims to provide unmatched experience to soccer fanatics in the USA.

?We are very proud to bring to the American community a new way of watching sports, a better way, where all platforms come together to provide a truly customized and totally unprecedented depth of interactive experience to the viewer," Al-Obaidly said.

The channel is being developed in partnership with Imagina US and has already secured two major deals with service providers.

"We are working together with Imagina US as our partner, and we are already in the last stages of negotiation with different providers, having secured two major deals so far that will bring the channel to subscribers? homes on August 1," he added.

Veteran American English-language soccer commentator Phil Schoen has joined beIN Sports USA. Schoen is expected to continue as the English-language voice of La Liga in the USA, when beIN Sports USA launches.

MUMBAI: US cable network USA Network from the NBCUniversal stable has announced a slate of comedies and dramas. It is also looking at the reality genre to boost its reach.

The new comedy slate feature comedic talent, including Kelsey Grammer, Mark Gordon, Denis Leary and Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.

USA co-presidents Chris McCumber, Jeff Wachtel said, "The comedy genre has re-emerged as a top choice for television audiences, and we anticipate our latest projects coupled with ?Modern Family? will ignite excitement with our viewers. Our track record of provocative storytelling from marquee talent has made USA a top entertainment brand for consumers and a great investment for brands looking to reach them."

The Upcoming half hour comedy slate includes ?Regulars?. It is about a misfit group of customers and employees at a suburban New Jersey bar express their joys, sorrows and observations through karaoke.

Modern Family executive producer.Steven Levitan said, "USA is the perfect home for ?Modern Family.? We are proud to anchor USA?s next generation of comedies when we begin airing next year."

?The Dicicco Brothers? comes from comedy icon Kelsey Grammer ?Frasier? and writer Ed Cannistraci. This is the story of a promising dot-com entrepreneur who moves to the very politically correct culture of Silicon Valley with dreams of making it big. His dreams may unravel though when his colorful, blunt, and unrefined extended family arrives to "offer their support."

??Paging Dr. Freed? is a comedy about two gynecologist brothers who inherit their father?s thriving medical practice after he suffers a heart attack during an attempt at "playing" doctor with his young secretary. Along with taking over the family business, these brothers also must deal with something else their father left behind - their overbearing, neurotic mother. Trusted and beloved by their patients, these guys are professionals when it comes to women but only from the neck down.

?Sirens?, meanwhile, offers the comedic point of view of Denis Leary. His new comedy follows three of Chicago?s best EMTs whose sometimes self-loathing, other times narcissistic, and always downright self-destructive personalities make them unqualified for sustaining relationships, friendships and most occupations. They are, however, uniquely qualified for saving anyone unlucky enough to wind up in their ambulance.

On the drama side of things, ISA Network is encouraged by the success of ?Suits? and ?Necessary Roughness?. New shows announced include ?Political Animals?, the pilot ?Graceland? and the development of three dramas - Bang Bang, Rare, Mind Fields, Fallen, ?We Counted Your Knives? and the Untitled Dick Wolf Project.

"As USA moves into Upfront week, this new slate reaffirms the network?s position as a ?blue chip investment? to the advertising and creative community. These projects will continue to further the scope of our dramas with the collaboration and passionate input of Hollywood?s top talent," said McCumber and Wachtel

In ?Bang Bang? an unlikely partnership is formed when veteran hitman Danny is saved by rival novice hired gun Marco, while executing a target. This duo pair up to execute contracts, if they don?t kill each other first.

?Rare; is set in Tour which is a new restaurant in San Francisco. Part of its allure may be the chef, a mysterious ex-special forces captain who?s good with a knife both inside and outside the kitchen. Even if he tries to resist his old violent life, he will be unlikely to keep it entirely outside his new establishment.

In ?Fallen? after an accident, a cop -- known for his "act first, ask questions later" approach -- develops the rare condition of synesthesia and suddenly finds himself seeing "emotions." His partner doesn?t quite understand this "touchy-feely" approach to solving crimes, but there?s no doubt that this new insight is helping clear cases.

USA Network is also looking to extend its audience reach by diving into the reality genre with the pilot pick-up of ?Bride Or Best Man?. In addition, ?Romancing The Globe?, a new relationship series, is in development from executive producer Mark Burnett. The slate also includes two previously announced projects - the pilot for The Choir and the recently greenlit series ?The Moment?.

McCumber and Wachtel said, "As we move into the world of reality programming, we?re staying true to our brand DNA by focussing on real life characters that are every bit as fascinating, inspirational and entertaining as our scripted ones. These unscripted series let us welcome characters of all types, which will continue to broaden our appeal to audiences."

?Bride Or Best Man? is being pushed as a "bromantic comedy" with a twist; this series highlights a trip down the aisle that goes completely wrong when the Groom and his Best Man are left in charge of planning the ?big day.?

?The Choir? follows accomplished UK choirmaster Gareth Malone as he embraces various American communities and assembles a choir made up of the most unexpected mix of individuals. Malone believes in the transformative power of music and uses choirs as a way to bring people together, raise morale, and restore a sense of pride in community.

The journey is both comedic and emotional with each episode culminating in an orchestrated choir performance. Malone began his career leading choirs for the London Symphony Orchestra and since then, has gone on to win an International Emmy and numerous BAFTAs as well as recently having an album top the UK pop charts.

MUMBAI: WWE is expanding its ?Raw? franchise from two hours to a three-hour event 52 weeks a year. Ten Sports airs WWE action in India.

The extended telecast will kick-off on 23 July on US cable network USA Network and marks the 1000th episode of the WWE Raw franchise and a television record - no other series has ever reached this milestone.

USA Network co-presidents Chris McCumber, Jeff Wachtel said, "The WWE Universe is one of the most socially active and passionate fan bases in all of television. The powerful three-hour block of live TV truly makes USA the year-round destination for young male viewers on Monday nights."

The expanded WWE Monday Night Raw will aim to transform television to an unprecedented level of viewer interaction. Fans will have new ways to get involved in the show through WWE.com and social media by deciding matches, stipulations and new character development. WWE will brand this unprecedented fan interaction as "RAWactive."

WWE chairman, CEO Vince McMahon said, "Our new three-hour Raw represents the next generation in interactive television where our fans won?t just watch the show, they will help create it."

MUMBAI: The broadcast rights of the lucrative Premier League championship for the local UK market are up for grabs with the availability of Invitati on to Tender (ITT) spanning seasons 2013 through to 2016.

The broadcast rights comprises two packages: live rights to a total of 154 matches - split into seven packages; and a free-to-air highlights package - including ?catch-up? rights.

The live rights consist of five packages of 26 matches and two packages of 12 matches with no single buyer allowed to acquire more than 116 matches.

The extra 16 live games comes as matches are moved away from Saturday 15:00 kick-off times, due to Europa League involvement or police advice. No 15:00 kick-offs can be shown live.

?This creates a more attractive and compelling offering for both broadcasters and fans; whilst allowing the continued protection of the Saturday 3 pm ?closed window? and minimising further displacement of Premier League fixtures,? the statement read.

Under the existing contract 138 games are telecast with 115 matches being broadcast on Sky Sports each season, while ESPN shows the remaining 23 games. The current agreements with Sky and ESPN are worth ?1.78 billion effective 2013.

The Premier League will conduct a separate sales process for other packages described in the ITT which includes two "Near Live" long form packages each containing 226 matches; one for linear and the other for on-demand exploitation; and an Internet-based Clips package for all 380 matches.

Both the Live and "Near Live" packages will be available for exploitation on a technology neutral basis, the statement said.

Qatari-based Al Jazeera, which had recently ventured into sports broadcasting segment with the launch of its channel beIN Sports in France, is widely expected to bid aggressively for the rights as part of its ambitions to become a global player.

Eurosport, however, suggested last week that these rumours might just be a good marketing ploy by the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera has reportedly announced the launch of its new sport channel, beIN Sports, in the USA this August. It will cover La Liga from Spain, Serie A from Italy and of Ligue 1 from France.

?Backed by the resources of Qatar Media Corporation and the global expertise of Mediapro, beIN Sports will provide soccer fanatics in the USA with an experience that is unmatched by any rival,? the company claims.

MUMBAI: With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, the fifth season of the Indian Premier League will be telecast in all the major markets with sizeable following.

Neo Cricket will air the the tournament in US on with Echostar.

The tournament will be telecast on ITV 4 in UK, Rogers in Canada, Setanta in Ireland, Super Sport in South Africa & sub-Saharan territories. In Carribean, the tournament is available on Sports Max.

As already reported by Indiantelevision.com, in Pakistan the tournament will be broadcast on Geo TV, while Carlton Sports will air it in Sri Lanka.

Pehla Platform, a pay television operator in Mena region, will telecast the tournament in Middle East. In Hong Kong and Singapore, the telecast rights are held by PCCW and Star Hub.

The IPL is also availaible on other popular platforms like Internet and mobile.

In India, the tournament is being streamed live on Indiatimes.com and Indiatimes channel on YouTube with a five-minute delay.

Willow.TV is carrying the live feed of the tournament in USA and Canada.

On mobile, Apalya Technologies, leading mobile TV service provider, will provide exclusive, mobile, video streaming for all the matches of the IPL.This will be the fourth consecutive year the company will be streaming the IPL.

Apalya has tied up with all the leading telecom partners in India to enable the IPL Mobile stream on the existing mobile TV service. To avail this, subscribers can SMS TV to 58888.

avaniTV has tied up with Indiatimes for the telecast of IPL on the car.