Three TV stations — MAA TV, Doordarshan, and NTV — to air TeachAids animations in India on World AIDS Day
This World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, the TeachAids Telugu animations will be televised on Star Maa (formerly MAA TV), Doordarshan Saptagiri, and NTV to millions of viewers in India and abroad. On the MAA TV broadcast, TeachAids Ambassador, actress and social activist, Amala Akkineni, will participate in a special program in discussion with an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer about the importance of comprehensive HIV and AIDS education and the launch of the TeachAids Telugu versions in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
MAA TV is a leading Telugu TV network known for its innovative and interactive programming. It is ranked among the top 25 TV channels out of more than 400 that operate in India. Doordarshan (DD) Saptagiri is the Telugu language satellite channel supported by Doordarshan Studios in Hyderabad and Vijayawada. DD Saptagiri programming includes entertainment serials, infotainment programs, news and current affairs, social programs and film programs, and is available to 90% of the population of Andhra Pradesh. NTV is a Telugu news channel owned by Rachana Television Pvt, Ltd. in Hyderabad that offers 24/7 news coverage.
The TeachAids animations will feature the voices and avatars of film stars Nagarjuna Akkineni, Anushka Shetty, Navdeep Pallapollu and Swati. All the cultural icons donated their voices and likenesses in hopes of promoting HIV and AIDS awareness in India, which has the third-highest HIV and AIDS infected population globally.
The development of the software was funded by Nimmagadda Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of former Matrix Laboratories CEO and AIDS treatment pioneer Nimmagadda Prasad, and was announced on World AIDS Day 2010 in Hyderabad, India. Since then, 25,000 copies of the TeachAids software have been distributed by the State AIDS Control Society throughout the school system and counseling centers in Andhra Pradesh, home to more than 84 million people.
The Linear (non-interactive) male and female specific production versions of the software are available on the TeachAids YouTube channel:
TeachAids Telugu HIV Prevention Tutorial (Male)
TeachAids Telugu HIV Prevention Tutorial (Female)
TeachAids partnered with VenSat, a world-class animation company with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Hyderabad, and Chennai, to create all these animations at a generously subsidized rate.
MAA Television Network Limited as a corporate entity was formed in 2001, and the main channel MAA was launched in 2002. The second channel MAA Music was launched in 2008. Two more channels, MAA Movies and MAA Junior, were launched in February 2011. With the launch of the MAA Movies and MAA Junior channels, MAA has emerged as a major Telugu television network with a bouquet of four channels catering all major genres. In addition, each year MAA TV produces the ‘CineMAA Awards‘, a platform for the film industry to celebrate excellence in Telugu Cinema.
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. On September 15, 2009, Doordarshan celebrated its 50th anniversary. It provides television, radio, online and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional India, as well as overseas through the Indian Network and Radio India.
DD Saptagiri is a state-owned TV channel telecasting from Doordarshan Kendra Hyderabad. Doordarshan Kendra Hyderabad’s Regional Network in Telugu took on a new identity as “DD Saptagiri” in April 2003. This service is viewed in India and in different parts of the world.
NTV is an Indian regional Telugu channel launched on August 30, 2007. Sister channel Bhakti TV was also launched on the same day. It is described as South India’s first devotional channel. The NTV stands for Next Generation TV. The company also launched India’s first women’s channel, Vanitha TV.