Wow, I guess when it rains it pours. From Worldscreen.com:

MTV Networks today announced the launch of MTV World, initially consisting of three new channels in the U.S. targeting Indian-American, Chinese-American and Korean-American viewers.

The channels will feature content from MTV’s own international networks, plus original programming, promos and packaging created in the U.S. “We live in an increasingly diverse and multicultural country, where conversations at the dinner table and in the living room are more and more taking place in Chinese, Hindi, Urdu and Korean,” said MTV Networks’ chairman and CEO, Judy McGrath. “Launching these new channels is the next logical and tremendously exciting step for MTV Networks, delivering customized programming that reflects the bi-cultural identities of these audiences, not to mention providing another platform for all the great talent from these communities.”

Okay. Maybe a Sepia Mutiny blog show isn’t respectable enough to get on American Desi TV, but surely MTV will take us? I can’t wait to make an appearance on TRL with all those girls scream… Okay back to reality.

The first to launch will be MTV Desi, targeting Indian Americans. MTV China and MTV Korea will launch in 2005, with additional channels to follow. Tapped to oversee these new networks is Nusrat Durrani, as general manager and senior VP of MTV World.

Several news services carry a press release announcing the creation of a new 24-hour English language American television network for South Asians living in America:

American Desi, the first and only 24- hour English language American television network for South Asians living in America, today announced the appointment of senior management, advisors and on-air talent who among them represent over 125 years of relevant experience at such media companies as ABC, NBC, ESPN, FOX, PAX-TV and major corporations, including American Express, among others.

The new network’s senior management will lead a team of executives, producers, directors, writers, on-air talent and production personnel who have received many of the U.S. television industry’s top honors — including more than ten Emmy Awards.

Well its about damn time. What can we expect in terms of content? It looks like they are putting together a great team:

American Desi today also unveiled several featured on-air talent appointees, including Divya Ohri, Vice President of Production and Sree Sreenivasan, WABC-TV reporter and South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) co-founder. Ms. Ohri becomes American Desi’s Senior Vice President and host of “American Desi: Prime Time Live,” the flagship show of the network; “Bollywood Fix;” and co-host of “Points of View.” For his part, Mr. Sreenivasan is executive producing and hosting American Desi’s new “Live Wire; The Pulse; The Voice” in-depth affairs programming. “We are extremely proud of the unprecedented and unparalleled team we have assembled both behind and in front of the camera. Never before has such a senior assemblage of Western and South Asian executives and on-air talent been assembled to launch a comprehensive media venture for the Desi community,” said Mr. Verma.

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Weekly news magazine 60 Minutes will broadcast a first-of-its-kind interview with Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, according to a press release published today on her web site.

The interview comes about a month before the long-awaited release of Gurinder Chadha’s “Bride and Prejudice,” which features Rai as a co-star. The 31-year-old actress won the Miss World crown in 1994, and has since appeared in 30 Bollywood films.

“Ash’s popularity is global and America will soon get a taste of this international phenomenon,” said her manager Simone Sheffield.

The interview was conducted in Bombay by reporter Bob Simon, and produced by Neeraj Khemlani.

“This will mark the first time in the history of 60 Minutes where they feature an in-depth one-on-one profile with a Bollywood star,” said Khemlani.

The interview airs on January 2, 2005 at 7 p.m. on CBS.

Sepia Mutiny: The Windfall that Bhopal never got

Update by Manish: Check out the video clip of Aishwarya’s interview. Continue reading →

Donald Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice” featured the second coming of deposed contestant Raj Bhakta last Thursday, and will include the 28-year-old real estate developer in the season finale.

In last week’s episode, Trump whittled his applicant pool down to the final two — software executive Kelly Perdew and lawyer Jennifer Massey. The finalists then were asked to assemble a team of employees comprised of fired cohorts. Each team is assigned the task of putting together a sports fundraiser for a charitable foundation. Raj was chosen by software executive Kelly, who is responsible for organizing a polo tournament.

“I’m doing this because I like winning,” said Raj during the episode. “I couldn’t give a damn about Kelly.”

The three-hour season finale airs this Thursday at 8 p.m. on NBC, and should include some great Raj moments. Oddsmakers place Kelly as the early favorite. Why? Three words: Raj Muthaf—-n’ Bhakta.

Sepia Mutiny: Life after being “Fired”

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