DD bids for Afro-Asian Games rights
Telecast rights for the first Afro-Asian Games have not been allotted to any broadcaster yet, with less than three months to go for the event. Reason: the games, to be held in New Delhi from November 3 onwards, have failed to attract good offers for the telecast rights. The games will be held in eight disciplines with participation from 90-odd countries in Asia and Africa.

Doordarshan (DD) is the sole broadcaster so far to have offered to buy the telecast rights of the games. DD has offered to pay a total of just Rs 2 crore for both domestic and international telecast rights.

Sahara Special
August 15, to mark the Independence day, Sahara TV aired a bouquet of exclusive programmes from 10.30 am onwards. The programmes included Jai Hind, Joi Bangla, Saare Jahan Se Achcha (special edition of patriotic film songs) and Vidhu -Vinod Chopra’s blockbuster movie 1942 - A Love Story.

The songs featured the bigwigs Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa Shetty, Govinda, Juhi Chawla, Shiamak Davar performing a specially choreographed song. Joi Bangla is a telefilm based on Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom produced by Sahara India Media Communications Limited.

The Ten Commandments on HBO
The classic, which should not be missed even if you had seen it before for number of times. Such is the charismatic enduring masterpiece of Cecil B De Mille’s brilliant film The Ten Commandments. Starring Charlton Heston of Ben-Hur fame in the role of Moses and the majestic Yul Brynner of The King And I fame as Pharoah Rameses, the movie has won hearts of millions all over the world over the years.

The Ten Commandments has captured the imagination of movie-goers across the globe with its special effects and moving performances. With four Oscars in its booty, for Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Set Direction and Best Cinemat-ography, it was also nominated for Best Picture, Film Editing and Best Costume Design.

HBO brings this classic on August 15, at 1.15 pm. You will regret it if you have not seen it this time on HBO.

Ultra launches TV crime thriller
Ultra Group, a major entertainment leader has launched its first Marathi TV serial Inspector, a collection of murder mysteries based on true incidents. The mega-budget project of 3 crores with almost 400 episodes slotted for afternoon prime time, each story consists of six episodes.

Inspector is being directed by Bhagwant Deshpande of Barrister Vinod fame. Ashok Shinde and Maithli Jaokar play the lead roles in the serial as dynamic police inspectors. Inspector drives home the point that crime never pays and no one can escape from the law. The serial, started on August 6, is being aired from Monday to Wednesday, at 3.05 pm on DD1 - Sahyadri Channel.