News Broadcasting
Orion acquires exclusive US license for Hugo
MUMBAI: US Kids may now interact with their favourite animated character Hugo through SMA on Live TV, courtesy Orion. The company has announced that it will work closely with Interactive Television Entertainment (ITE) to introduce the very successful Hugo character into the US.
Hugo has already proven very popular with children in 22 countries in Latin America, Europe and China. Hugo enjoys fame in more than 40 countries and is one of the strongest global brands in children’s entertainment. Orion now has the exclusive license to distribute Hugo in the US.
The company has already started negotiations with potential Web portals and media networks to handle the distribution of this property in the US.
The Hugo property includes a complete wireless component enabling young viewers to interact with their favorite troll using text messaging (SMS) safely. The Hugo property includes downloads of Java games, Hugo ringtones and Hugo wallpapers. Hugo may be broadcast live or from pre-recorded TV shows. The complete Hugo package includes DVDs, PC games, tapes, books, Hugo ringtones, and Hugo wallpapers.
Orion Information Services CEO Kristian Gjerding was quoted in an official release saying, “The Hugo property fits perfectly with our framework of fully interactive wireless entertainment. Its style, technology infrastructure, and business model is compatible with our current properties, SmartFlirts, GossipGirls and our Mobile Entertainment Portal. We can see that both wireless and media companies we will work with in the coming years to introduce Hugo in the US will find it lucrative.”
Orion Information Services develops, markets and delivers profitable, engaging, Web-centric mobile content and properties to consumers through partnerships with established traditional media groups, wireless companies, and Internet commerce companies. Orion provides its partners with content, supporting technology, delivery of properties to consumers, and the accounting infrastructure
News Broadcasting
Times Network to air JVC Exit Poll across 5 regions on April 29
Four-hour broadcast spans states and Puducherry with data-led analysis
MUMBAI: Times Network is set to roll out what it calls one of its most expansive election programming efforts yet, culminating in the JVC Exit Poll on 29 April, with a multi-hour broadcast spanning key poll-bound regions.
The exit poll will air across Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, beginning at 5pm and 4pm respectively. Co-powered by Vedanta and Jindal Stainless, the programming aims to combine on-ground reportage with data-driven projections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
The network has deployed over 50 journalists across these regions, gathering voter sentiment and local insights in the run-up to polling. The effort builds on its ongoing election formats such as Election Yatra and Election Premier League, which have tracked campaign narratives and community-level issues.
In parallel, Times Now Navbharat has focused on constituency-level reporting in West Bengal through its Jan Gan ka Mann series, capturing voter opinions across diverse segments.
The coverage has also featured interviews with prominent political leaders. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan have appeared on the network’s election specials. From Tamil Nadu, voices including deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, BJP leader K Annamalai and NTK’s Seeman have also featured in discussions.
On the day of the exit poll, the network’s primetime anchors, including Navika Kumar, Zakka Jacob and Sumit Awasthi, will lead the coverage. They will be joined by a panel of political analysts, psephologists and senior journalists offering real-time insights and interpretation of trends.
The programming will integrate grassroots reportage with analytics from the JVC Exit Poll, aiming to give viewers an early sense of electoral outcomes ahead of the official results on 4 May.
With its combined English and Hindi broadcast reach, Times Network is positioning this effort as a comprehensive look at voter sentiment, blending field reporting, data and debate to decode what could lie ahead when the final mandate is revealed.
