OMNI Television announced today that, as the Official Canadian Broadcast Partner of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2011, it will broadcast unprecedented coverage of the three-day long weekend and awards celebration to Canadians when it makes its North American debut in Ontario this June.
“Our partnership with the International Indian Film Academy is a natural fit for OMNI Television, to build upon our already well established South Asian entertainment and news,” commented Alain Strati, Vice President, OMNI Station Group, Specialty and Development. “With the addition of new shows and specials to our already strong Bollywood programming lineup, our viewers will have access to more exclusive, Canadian-produced, South Asian content leading up to and beyond this world class event.”
IIFA 2011 is a celebration of Indian Cinema, consisting of fun-filled activities, that brings the fans close to their favourite stars. OMNI Television is the only all access pass, with extensive coverage of the star studded fashion show, IIFA Rocks; must-see film festival highlights; and the highly anticipated IIFA Awards Ceremony. One of the biggest nights in entertainment, the live-to-tape special broadcast of the IIFA Awards on OMNI will showcase the best in Indian Cinema, giving viewers behind-the-scenes access to their favourite stars, show stopping fashion, and breathtaking performances.
“We are happy to partner with OMNI Television as our Official Canadian Broadcast Partner of IIFA 2011. IIFA has a reach that goes well beyond international borders. For the Indian Cinema fans in Canada, we find that OMNI, with its entertainment focus and large television base is a natural choice to spread the IIFA magic,” commented Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International Ent. & IIFA.
OMNI Television will deliver a vast array of South Asian entertainment leading up to the special coverage of the IIFA Weekend and Awards, from locally produced South Asian news in all markets, to IIFA themed Indian blockbuster hits on Bollywood Freetime Movies, to daily and weekly coverage of the IIFA celebrations on Bollywood Blvd., including a pre-awards special from IIFA’s unique green carpet at the Awards Ceremony. OMNI is also launching a new four part series, Best of the IIFAs, which will showcase the best moments in IIFA history. Starting in March, a new entertainment series, Bollywood’s Best Top 10, starring Canadian actress, Lisa Ray, will celebrate the very best of Indian cinema – past and present.
The coverage of the IIFA 2011 celebrations will continue well beyond the event as OMNI will bring Canadians even more programming, including: an in-depth look back at all the highlights from the IIFA Weekend and Awards in Toronto, a celebration of Bollywood’s top stars; and favourite moments from the Award show and Green Carpet. These specials will compliment OMNI News: South Asian Edition in English on OMNI.2 in Ontario; OMNI in Calgary and Edmonton; as well as OMNI News: Punjabi Edition in language on OMNI in B.C., Bollywood Freetime Movies and South Asian entertainment magazine shows. Additional South Asian programmes on OMNI Television are also offered in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Sinhalese, and English.
About IIFA
Conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity, IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy. Also, the IIFA Awards is India’s biggest media event. With a viewership of almost 600 million, it is among the world’s most-watched annual entertainment events.
From a one night celebration in 2000 at the Millennium Dome, London, the last ten years have seen the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) movement grow into a cine-packed weekend of film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases, global business forums and sporting events, all of which climax into the highlight of the IIFA Weekend and Awards.
