News Broadcasting
‘The Osbournes’ runs into hot water with producer; Miramax acquires worldwide video, DVD distribution rights
MUMBAI: Even as MTV India has commenced telecasting the hit reality series The Osbournes on the life of rock star Ozzy Osbourne, the serial is causing headlines for all the wrong reasons abroad.
Associated Press reports that producer Gary Binkow has sued the star and his wife over allegations that the couple stole the idea for their MTV reality series from him. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, the producer said that he held discussions with the couple and Miramax TV between 1999 and 2000 for ‘a real-life docu-sitcom’ about their family.
The court papers include what Binkow said was a copy of his original treatment of the proposed series from January 2000, registered with the Writers Guild of America, The Hollywood Reporter reported on Friday. A spokeswoman for the family, Lisa Vega said previously published reports have made it clear that Binkow was not the show’s creator. MTV has not been named in the lawsuit.
The Osbournes which recently commenced airing in India follows the family over several months – at home and on the road, documenting the ups, downs, highs, lows, and the bizarre for viewers.
According to the report, a second season of the popular show is set to begin shooting in a few weeks with Sharon Osbourne beginning chemotherapy for cancer that she recently learned had spread beyond her colon.
In another development, Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax Films announced the acquisition of the worldwide DVD and video rights to the first and second season of the series. Weinstein has been quoted as saying, “The Osbournes have the perfect mix of family, music and drama we’ve always appreciated here at MMX. The show’s incredible following, never-before-seen footage and other DVD extras will make The Osbournes a key addition to Miramax’s family of DVD and video hits.” The DVD of the first season is expected to be released later in the year.
News Broadcasting
Rajesh Sundaram joins NDTV Profit as senior editor, assignment
The 32-year newsroom veteran has launched channels on three continents and covered everything from 9/11 to South African television
MUMBAI: NDTV Profit has bolstered its newsroom with a hire who has done rather more than most. Rajesh Sundaram, a journalist with over three decades of editorial, managerial and consultative experience across India and international markets, joins as senior editor, assignment, tasked with sharpening the network’s newsgathering and real-time response.
Sundaram’s career reads like a tour of Indian media’s most formative moments. He began at Businessworld in 1994, moved to Zee News as bureau chief across Mumbai and Chennai, then joined NDTV in 2002 as part of its political bureau during a particularly febrile period in Indian politics. A stint as India correspondent for Al Jazeera International followed, where he covered key geopolitical developments and got his first serious taste of the global newsroom.
What sets Sundaram apart, however, is his serial channel-launching habit. At NewsX, he helped get the operation off the ground. At Headlines Today, part of the India Today Group, he served as editor. At News Nation, he helped launch the Hindi news channel and its digital ecosystem. He then crossed continents to lead the launch of ANN7 in South Africa as editor-in-chief, overseeing both television and digital. Back in India, he launched Tamil news channels News7 Tamil and Cauvery News, and later served as principal consultant for the launch of Marathi channel Lokshahi. Most recently, he helped build and lead the Press Trust of India’s video service and content studio, before stints consulting for Business Today and The Himalayan Times.
Rahul Kanwal, chief executive and editor-in-chief of NDTV, left little doubt about what Sundaram is expected to deliver. “The assignment desk is where a newsroom’s intent becomes action,” he said. “Rajesh brings a rare combination of field experience and leadership in building news operations at scale.”
Sundaram has reported from across India and the world, covering elections, civil conflicts, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the 2008 US presidential election.
At NDTV Profit, he will lead the assignment desk, driving editorial coordination and real-time response across markets and breaking developments. For a business news network sharpening its focus on speed and multi-platform delivery, it has hired a man who has built newsrooms from scratch on three continents. The assignment desk is in good hands.
