MUMBAI: Ficci?s ?Media and Entertainment Business Conclave (MEBC) 2011? will be held on 1-2 December, 2011 in Chennai with ?Embracing The Digital World? as the overall theme of the conclave.

The two-day Conclave will showcase the potential for developing the Indian Entertainment market in South India with a view to forging global linkages. The effort would be to expose delegates to the global and Indian developments with regard to trends and opportunities in the entertainment industry, business possibilities and regulatory regimes in different countries.

The Conclave will bring together over 500 media and entertainment business people from India and overseas, along with government officials in a bid to deliberate on issues confronting the industry across various states. The business sessions at the Conclave will cover the entire gamut of Media & Entertainment like films, broadcast (TV & Radio), digital entertainment, animation, gaming, and visual effects.

The Inaugural session would be addressed by Ficci Media and Entertainment Business Conclave chairman Dr Kamal Haasan; Tamil Film Producers Council president SA Chandrasekaran, The South Indian Film Chamber president C Kalyan, Ficci Secretary General Dr Rajiv kumar and Keynote address by UTV founder, chairman, CEO Ronnie Screwvala.

The Valedictory Address will given by Central Board of Film Certification chairperson Leela Samson and there is also have a keynote address by Trai chairman JS Sarma.

Haasan said that MEBC 2011 would identify and find redressal of the challenges facing the industry across states. With an eminent speaker?s line up at the conclave, its content will be diverse and enriching in a variety of ways. This year at the Conclave we would see the impact of Digital across the value chain of entire Media and Entertainment Industry.

The Conclave has a seven-fold objective:

• To work closely and strengthen links with the sizeable and vibrant Indian Entertainment Industry and help develop its rich potential
• To take up regulatory issues with the state and central governments
• Provide a forum for the Government to receive authentic and first hand information on the state of the Indian Entertainment Industry and its problems and prospects
• To be one of the most prestigious conventions on the Business of Entertainment in Asia and the entire world; the entire gamut of the entertainment industry would be covered at the Conclave, over a period of two days and will be addressed by thought leaders in each field.
• To offer an opportunity for the Indian entertainment industry to explore its global linkages
• To expose delegates to the global and Indian developments with regard to trends and opportunities in the entertainment industry, business possibilities and regulatory regimes in different countries
• To bring the varied Indian states and their entertainment industries together under a single platform.

The various sessions, spread over two days will review, analyse and make predictions for the future for the entire gamut of Indian media and entertainment in general, followed by an exhaustive micro-view of South Indian entertainment.

Ficci advisor to president P Purai said, "I am extremely happy that FICCI?s Media and Entertainment Business Conclave (MEBC) has truly created a wonderful space for legends and leadership from the Indian and especially the mammoth South Indian film and entertainment industry to review, analyse and make predictions for the future for the entire gamut of Indian media and entertainment."

MUMBAI: Vh1 has bagged the rights for the 69th Golden Globe Awards 2012 and music?s biggest night - The Grammy Awards, 2012.

The Golden Globes rewards achievements in film and television. Earlier UTV World Movies aired the event. This year, Vh1 will showcase all the drama from the red carpet to behind-the-scenes to performances of the awards in its 69th year.

The Golden Globe Awards ranks as the third most-watched awards show each year, following The Oscars and The Grammy Awards. The evening will be held on 16 January, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Vh1 India channel head Ferzad Palia said, "The Golden Globes and The Grammy are two of the world?s most watched events. Keeping up our tradition of showcasing the best in international entertainment, it is an honour for Vh1 India to play home to these iconic properties. India can look forward to tons of excitement as we build up to show day."

Vh1 India also airs other global award ceremonies and shows like Video Music Awards, Scream Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Europe Music Awards and the American Music Awards.

MUMBAI: Colors, the Hindi general entertainment channel from the Viacom18 stable, has roped in Balaji Telefilms creative head Prashaant Bhatt as the head of fiction.

He will be responsible for driving the fiction properties on the channel and take key decisions on new show productions.

Bhatt will join the channel on 1 December and will be reporting to Colors CEO Raj Nayak.

Nayak commented, "Given Prashaant‘s experience in delivering compelling content for multiple successful fiction properties over the years, we are confident that he will take the Colors‘ fiction shows to a new peak. I am proud to have him on the team, and look forward to co-creating new frontiers in fiction programming on Colors."

Bhatt added, "I have tremendous appreciation for Colors‘ constant attempts towards providing new and innovative content to the viewers through their shows. I am looking forward to working with this incredibly talented group of people and apply my knowledge and experience and contribute to the fiction programming."

Bhatt has over 16 years of experience as a writer and creative director of various fiction properties. In the last few years, he has also been involved in conceptualising shows and creatively heading them for various production houses, which include Rajshri Productions, Cinevistas, Creative Eye, AK Films, UTV and Shreya Creations among others.