MUMBAI: Times Television Network?s Bollywood channel Zoom has launched a social TV show zoOmit which integrates television viewing and social media interaction.

The one hour weekend interactive show will air requests and dedications received on the zoOm FB app along with the requestors? name, Facebook profile picture and dedicated message.

The show is an extension to the recently launched Facebook app (apps.facebook.com/gozoomit). It will be telecast at 6 pm every Saturday and Sunday starting 8 December.

The show will be hosted by a social jockey who will share the interesting dedications, set topics and themes for upcoming episodes, chat live via twitter and showcase interesting content and trends from social media sites.

Zoom CEO Avinash Kaul said, ?zoOm is one of the top youth channels in the country. We have taken an initiative to integrate the two platforms that the youth use the most for entertainment ? Bollywood and Social Media. We aim to create more and more synergies between the 2 mediums and this show is a step in that direction.?

MUMBAI: A study on the economic impact of New York State?s film and television production tax credits finds that production incentives supported 28,900 jobs across all sectors of the state?s economy and generated $6.9 billion in economic spending in the state in 2011.

The study was conducted by HR&A Advisors and assesses the economic and fiscal impact of production tax credits on the state in 2011, the most recent full year for which data is available. The study also finds that the jobs HR&A analyzed within the film and television production industry in New York State grew by nearly 25 percent between 2008 and 2011, while private sector employment as a whole declined by 1.6 percent in New York State during the same time frame.

Motion Picture Association of America Chairman, CEO Senator Chris Dodd said, ?These findings further confirm that the New York State production incentives have grown into a major economic driver in the state?s economy. Not only does film and television production in New York employ the thousands of men and women working on some of the most popular television shows and films, it also supports small businesses in every sector of the economy ? dry cleaners, restaurants, florists -- who benefit when a production comes to town. Film and television production is a critical piece of New York State?s economy.?

Key findings from the study include:

• The production industry in New York State has grown despite an overall decline in private sector employment statewide. In New York State the jobs analyzed within the film production industry grew by nearly 25 percent between 2008 and 2011, while private sector employment as a whole declined by 1.6 percent.
• In 2011, the Credit supported 28,900 jobs across all industries in New York State, including 12,600 jobs directly associated with productions and 16,300 supported downstream in related businesses, as captured by multiplier effects.
• The Credit also generated $6.9 billion in economic spending and $4.2 billion in personal income to the New York State economy in 2011.
• Estimated tax revenues to New York State and New York City totaled $748 million. Compared to the present value of the 2011 credit distribution of $335 million, this results in a return on investment (ROI) of 2.23 for the Credit, i.e. for every $1.00 of credit distributed, the State and City received a combined $2.23 in taxes.
• Since 2004, the number of productions participating in the program has steadily increased from a total of 18 productions in 2004 to 135 productions in 2011. Spending on goods and services in New York State by these qualified productions has also significantly grown from $600 million in 2004 to $1.5 billion in 2011, an increase of 155 percent.

MUMBAI: Prime Television New Zealand has picked up the broadcasting rights for the US version of cooking competition show ?The Taste?. ?The Taste? has already been picked up by Fox for India, Australia?s Nine Network and M6 in France.

ABC has ordered nine episodes of "The Taste" in which famed foodies Nigella Lawson and Anthony Bourdain head a distinguished panel of four judges to pit America?s most skilled cooks against one another. ?The Taste? was created by Kinetic Content, RedArrow?s US production company led by Chris Coelen.

Prime Channel manager Kathy Wright said, "We are delighted to include ?The Taste? in Prime?s schedule for2013 as it brings enormous value to our lifestyle lineup.

"Food and lifestyle programming is a popular part of our prime-time viewing and Nigella Lawson has been a familiar face for our viewers for many years, so we are very much looking forward to introducing our audience to her latest venture with Anthony Bourdain in this fantastic new competition series".

Red Arrow International regional sales director Asia and Pacific Yan He said, "This exciting blend of competition and cooking really hits a nerve! Here at ATF, buyers love ?The Taste? and I?m thrilled that now the Kiwis get a chance to watch it on PRIME." The Taste For the first time ever, Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson are teaming up to get down to what truly matters: the way the food tastes! Our culinary superstars are going back to basics: the taste! Both home cooks and restaurateurs are given the opportunity of a lifetime, as they sharpen their skills and train with the best culinary experts in the business. Our superstar mentors will each coach a team of cooks, who they handpick based on their dishes alone. In each episode there are two challenges; a team challenge and an individual challenge. At the end of each show the mentors must decide together who to eliminate."