MUMBAI: PBS International has finalised its most recent deal for ?The Choice 2012? with broadcaster RT? at Mipcom in Cannes, making Ireland the latest of more than 88 countries where ?Frontline?s quadrennial U.S. presidential election special will be seen.

The Choice 2012, a definitive profile of the character of the men competing for the US presidency, is a journey into the places, people, and decisive moments of each candidate. As President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney spend hundreds of millions of dollars to tell their own stories, Frontline?s top political reporting team spent the last year gathering the rest of the story. More than 100 in-depth interviews with friends, family, authors, and journalists contribute to the most ambitious television biography of the candidates ever created.

PBS International VP Tom Koch said, ?Historically, Mipcom has helped us to generate many of our sales for The Choice. An annual venue where we can reach so many buyers at one time affords us the opportunity to introduce the series at one Mipcom and close deals through the next?.

The newly signed deal with RT? adds to the list of more than 34 broadcasters who have signed on to air ?The Choice 2012? since Mipcom 2011 including CBC, Educational Broadcasting System (EBS), Geo TV, NHK, Public Television Service (PTS), Societe Radio-Canada (SRC-RDI), Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), SVT, Televisi? de Catalunya / TV3, and TVI of Portugal.

MUMBAI: Big CBS Spark Punjabi, the regional general entertainment channel for the Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh (PCHP) region, is launching a two-day property titled ?Babies Unlimited?.

The channel, in an attempt to beef up its programming, has recently launched new shows like ?Spark Da Star? and ?Big Wheels? in August. ?Spark Da Star? airs every Saturday at 8 pm while ?Big Wheels? telecasts every Sunday at 8 pm.

The show will air on 26 August and 2 September at 9 pm.

Babies Unlimited is replacing a stage play - Bakra Qiston Pe. Post ?Babies Unlimited?, the channel will air Pakistani humorous show ?Koi hai jo hamein hussain? at this slot.

According to the channel, ??Babies Unlimited? is a Pakistani stage comedy play acquired from Geo TV and assures to see high engagement amongst the local populace leaving them with riots of laughter. What happens when young couples are faced with the pressure of having babies immediately after marriage, but have work pressure and a boss who most definitely doesn?t agree? What happens when a couple tries to deal with the pressures they face from their families, while keeping the boss happy at the same time? One solution is to simply rent a baby! The show takes hilarious turns promising to leave audiences in splits."

The shows on the channel are being marketed through multi-media campaign - across the channel, the Big FM radio network, on ground, print and through social media.

MUMBAI: Sporty Solutionz, the Delhi-based sports rights management company, has signed up Geo TV and Carlton Sports as official broadcast partners for the Indian Premier League in Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively.

Sporty Solutionz had acquired IPL broadcast sub-licensing rights for the two territories from Multi Screen Media, the official broadcast rights holder of the tournament in Indian subcontinent.

The company has earlier successfully acquired the worldwide rights to market and license the Bangladesh Premier League in the event?s opening season. It also plans to invest into various other sports properties besides cricket.

NEW DELHI: ?Foodistan?, the culinary battle between Indian and Pakistani chefs which commenced telecast on NDTV Good Times on 23 January, is to be telecast in Pakistan from 11 February.

While it is being telecast from Mondays to Wednesdays at 9.30 pm by NDTV Good Times, it will be telecast on Geo TV in Pakistan on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 pm (Pakistan Time). The programme is in English and a smattering of Hindi and Urdu.

NDTV Lifestyle CEO Smeeta Chakrabarti had earlier told indiantelevision.com that the channel had partnered with Geo Channel of Pakistan to get some shots from that country.

This Indo-Pak battle for culinary supremacy is featuring 16 professional chefs in 26 episodes, and their food preparations are being judged by a three-member jury comprising HT Media Editorial Director Vir Sanghvi who has won the Food Critic Award from the Indian Culinary Foundation; celebrity British chef Merrilees Parker, and Sonya Jehanis who is a Bollywood actress of Pakistan and French descent.

All the chefs ? eight each from India and Pakistan ? are already known for their work in various hotels in India and Pakistan. The series is presented by the well-known Aly Khan with Ira Dubey.

Talking about the tie-up with Geo TV, NDTV Lifestyle Vice President - Development Atul Seth said, ?Geo TV is the largest and most respected network in Pakistan hence we decided to partner with them for Foodistan. Very soon the show will be available for the viewers in Pakistan as well. NDTV Good Times? association with Geo TV has been great so far; right now it?s only about them showcasing our content but eventually we might look at a bigger partnership.?

Geo TV President Imran Aslam added, ?Both the countries, India and Pakistan have taste buds that have been nourished over the centuries, we share a common passion for the aroma, the exquisite texture, the palette of colours and the distinctive flavours of the dishes that adorn our dastarkhawn. From the humble street-side dhabas to the resplendent tables of the courts, our food, is always magical. Foodistan will allow half forgotten fragrances to waft across our borders as chefs from India and Pakistan cook up a storm. No matter how many chefs there are on the show, this is one broth, one bhujia, one curry that cannot be spoilt. We, in Pakistan and Geo TV are looking forward to a mouth watering menu which will be a feast for the eyes. Zor ka tarka pyar se!?