MUMBAI: Big CBS Networks is launching the latest season of ‘American Idol‘ on 15 October.

The eleventh season of the singing reality show will simulcast on three channels of the bouquet - Big CBS Prime, Love and Spark.

To be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the show will air from Monday to Thursday at 9 pm across all three channels.

The panel of judges includes Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson.

The channel has partnered with brands like Reliance Mobile, Microsoft and Nivea for the property.

Big CBS Networks business head Anand Chakravarthy said, "This show, once again, is in keeping with our endeavor of offering the latest-freshest-hottest of global entertainment to India. American Idol the pioneer of all singing reality television shows, promises to generate excitement on television amongst the relevant audiences. We are happy to be offering audiences with exciting content while offering marketers the perfect platform to reach their audiences with maximum return."

MUMBAI: Television format creator, distributor FremantleMedia has announced the appointment of Thom Beers as CEO of the US business effective 1 September.

Beers, currently FremantleMedia-owned company Original Productions CEO, executive producer, will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz.

Beers will be responsible for the company‘s overall management and business performance and will oversee the development, production and business operations of over 600 hours of network, cable and syndicated programming. He will lead an experienced executive team including FMNA COO Donna Redier Linsk and president of entertainment programming - ‘American Idol‘, ‘The X Factor‘ and ‘America?s Got Talent‘ Trish Kinane.

Frot-Coutaz said, "Thom Beers has a creative vision that has placed Original Productions, the company he founded, at the forefront of the industry. Thom?s multi-award winning combination of experience, innovation and expertise has made Original a dominant force on US primetime cable networks, and as an existing member of the FremantleMedia family he has a deep knowledge of our people, our company and our operations around the world. Thom is the perfect choice to take the helm of FMNA as it continues to grow, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to build on his successful leadership of Original and take on responsibility for FMNA."

MUMBAI: European entertainment network RTL Group has appointed C?cile Frot-Coutaz as CEO of television format creator and distribution company FremantleMedia.

Cecile will be based in London and take charge from 1 July 2012.

C?cile, currently FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) CEO, will succeed Tony Cohen who will step down to focus on his non-executive work.

RTL Group co-CEO Guillaume de Posch together with Anke Sch?ferkordt said, "After being with the group for 17 years, C?cile has the vision and leadership that are needed to further grow FremantleMedia. She brings expertise and drive from the largest TV market in the world and combines her creative skills as a producer with a sharp business perspective. I am very happy to welcome her at the helm of RTL Group?s production arm."

Incidentally, Cohen transformed FremantleMedia from a collection of individual entities into a global content power house. Under his leadership, the company has become the pre-eminent producer of the hit prime-time global entertainment formats in dozens of countries, a top distributor and brand licensor, and a rapidly growing force in online and mobile gaming, branded entertainment and kids.

Cohen said, "FremantleMedia?s extraordinary creative and commercial achievements this last decade have been due to the talent and skill of its leadership team and staff, to our great partnerships with major talent and to our shareholder?s unwavering support. I am grateful to them all and to have been part of the company?s amazing journey."

As the FremantleMedia North America CEO, C?cile currentlyoversees the development, production and business operations of over 600 hours of network, cable and syndicated programming. Under her guidance, FMNA currently produces some of the most innovative and successful event entertainment on television, including the multiple Emmy-nominated musical/reality show American Idol on the Fox network. Other titles produced by FMNA are The X Factor (Fox), America?s Got Talent (NBC), Family Feud (syndicated), The Price Is Right (CBS), and the scripted series The Wedding Band.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox has announced that the host of its music-based reality show ?American idol? Ryan Seacrest will serve as the host of its ?25th Anniversary Special?, airing on 22 April.

Fox president of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell said, "Who better than Ryan Seacrest - America?s best television host and 11-year member of our FOX family - to lead our 25th anniversary celebration. This is going to be an amazing trip down memory lane filled with plenty of surprises that will showcase our hits, our misses and everything in between."

Hugh Laurie from ?House?; Kelsey Grammar from ?The Simpsons? and ?Back To You? and Tommy Davidson from ?In Living Color? join previously announced participants including Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama from ?That ?70s Show? and Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny and creator Chris Carter from "The X-Files."

The star-studded special will pay tribute to Fox?s most memorable moments with appearances by Fox talent, highlights from iconic series and specials and reunions with cast members from some of the network?s fan-favorite series, among other surprises.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox has announcing 2011-2012 midseason premiere dates for new and returning series, including the return of ?American Idol? the debuts of new dramas Touch, ?Alcatraz? and ?The Finder?; and the launch of new animated series ?Napoleon Dynamite?.

?American Idol? comes back for the 11th season. It begins with a two-night premiere on 18 January 2012. The show features host Ryan Seacrest and returning judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

?Touch?, the new drama created by Tim Kring ?Heroes? and starring Kiefer Sutherland ?24) will debut with a special preview on 25 January immediately following ?American Idol?. The drama, which makes its series premiere on 19 March features Sutherland as a widower and single father haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son. But everything changes when he discovers that his son possesses the gift of staggering genius - the ability to see things that no one else can and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events.

JJ Abrams? new thriller ?Alcatraz? will debut on 16 January with a two-hour premiere event. The series then makes its time period premiere on 23 January following all-new episodes of ?House?. The mysterious drama stars Sarah Jones, Jorge Garcia and Sam Neill as a team investigating the shocking reappearance of Alcatraz?s most notorious prisoners, 50 years after they vanished.

?The Finder?, the one-hour procedural centering on a man with the ability to help people find the unfindable, joins the schedule on 12 January.

?Napoleon Dynamite?, the new animated comedy joins the Animation Domination lineup with a double dose of episodes on 15 January. Featuring the voices of the original cast the show follows the continuing adventures of America?s most awesomely awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends, as they navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

From 6 March Tuesday will have a new block of four half-hour comedies led by encores of ?New Girl? followed by the second season of ?Breaking In?, the workplace comedy starring Christian Slater, Bret Harrison and new series regular Megan Mullally. The Tuesday night of comedy continues with all-new episodes of the show followed by the misadventures of the Chance family on ?Raising Hope?.

?Bob?s Burgers? joins the Animation Domination menu when it the second season kicks off on 11 March. This season, Bob (the voice of H. Jon Benjamin) and the family test-drive the food truck industry, dive into the world of synchronized swimming, search for treasure in an abandoned taffy factory and get tied up with a very needy bank robber.