Movie Channels
HBO lays claim to number one English movie channel status
MUMBAI: The war in the English movie channel arena is heating up. HBO, positioning itself as the world’s greatest Hollywood movie channel, claims to have emerged as the number one English movie channel this year.
Quoting Tam data for the period September 2003 -August 2004 sec A,B,C 15-44 it stated that it had seven of the top ten rated English films. Spiderman was the highest with a rating of 1.95. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9pm to midnight it had the highest share of 1.08 per cent, maximum reach at 62.37 per cent. In addition people spent 48 minutes on HBO each weekend, which was more than archrival Star Movies.
Addressing a media gathering this afternoon HBO Asia CEO Jonathan Spink said, “HBO’s Big Ones rated higher than Star Movies’ ‘Satruday Night Premieres’. What is more is that in the primetime time arena from 9pm to midnight on all days HBO also emerged as a leader among English general entertainment channels.
“No wonder the competition (Star Movies) is copying our formula by launching the Big Two. The graphics and packaging even look the same. It takes two of their products to match one of ours. What is next? The big Three, Four, Five? Let us just leave it at that.”
While conceding that other films that aired in the Big One block like Men In Black II did not manage to match Spiderman’s impressive ratings Spink maintained that this was natural as the English film business is title driven.
“We are very excited about another huge franchise The Lord of The Rings. The first installment in the trilogy The Fellowship Of The Ring will air in the last quarter. However it is not just the action-oriented fare that is doing well. The family film Stuart Little 2 was the third highest rated English film this year.”
For the Diwali season where all channels try to put their best foot forward HBO will air the caper film Ocean’s Eleven. George Cloonety and Brad Pitt are among a gang of thieves that try and rob a Las Vegas casino owned by Andy Garcia. Another big film that will bow on the channel is Charlies Angels:Full Throttle. This sees Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore returning in the roles of the super spy trio.
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
