MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor speaks about Food Food,India’s first Hindi 24-hour food lifestyle channel which has recently completed one year

    ‘Food Food is a lifestyle channel themed around food’

    FoodFood,India’s first Hindi 24-hour food lifestyle channel, launched by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor in association with Malaysian based company – Astro, has completed a year.

     

    The channel caters to food lovers inIndiain the SEC A B, Metros and mini metros market.  Company officials state that the channel has produced an average rating of 11 GRPs in the year gone by, and promises to cover a lot of ground this year.

     

    At the time of launch – January 2011- the food lifestyle channel had got Madhuri Dixit on board as the life ambassador. While the central programming is centred on food, special attention has been paid on bringing the lifestyle elements too in the shows. Shows like   Ladies First, Firangi Tadka, Mummy Ka Magic, Sanjeev Kapoor’s Kitchen, Turban Tadka, Secret Recipe, Tea Time with Rakesh Sethi, and Food Food Maha Challenge are some of the shows aired on the channel.

     

    The channel is available on both analog as well as digital platforms panIndia. Outside ofIndia, it is currently being telecast in theMiddle East countries. It was brought to UAE by Etisalat, a telecom operator and TV service provider inMiddle East. The Middle East is an important market for a food channel, primarily becauseAbu DhabiandDubaiare popular destinations for expat Indians.

     

    “It has truly been a memorable year for all of us at Food Food. Going forward, we plan to enhance our presence across the world, appealing to the expat Indian population,”  says Sanjeev Kapoor, celebrity chef and one of the promoters of Food Food.

     

    The popular chef spoke to MxMIndia’s Rishi Vora on Food Food’s journey so far and the plans ahead. Excerpts:

     

    How has the journey been so far?

    The journey so far has been very good. In a sense, it has been like a dream because not many people believe that a 24-hour channel dedicated to food and lifestyle can work in this country. But the response has been fantastic. In terms of viewership, we are three to four times higher than the channels that have been around for years.

     

    Has the market for a food lifestyle channel evolved in the past one year?

    There was always a huge market to explore through food, which has remained marginalised for too long. The food gamut is endless and offers a huge opportunity for growth. Food covers a vast sphere, from travel to entertainment to culture and even kids. Almost every aspect of media lends itself to some aspect of food, be it game shows, travelogs, lifestyle features, talk shows, or even soaps.

     

    After the advent of satellite television in India, food and lifestyle shows did not grab much attention initially from advertisers. But things have undergone major changes now with the growing demand for food-related shows. Advertisers have started spending a substantial part of their budget on food and lifestyle shows.

     

    What particular time-band is considered to be prime time for the channel?

    At Food Food we defied the concept of prime time through research and market study. While other channels have their original programming in the evening, our channel has its original programming in the afternoon. This helped us catch the interest of our target audience.

     

    What is your core TG?  And do you find traction from small towns and cities?

    Food Food is a channel for the middle class Indians in urban towns and cities. The core audience is the average Indian belonging to SEC AB in metros, mini metros and the top towns.

     

    How big is the market for a dedicated food channel in India?

    Food, today, is not a mere consumable; it’s not just a hunger-driver. It is rapidly acquiring a lifestyle halo. As prosperity invades Indian households, food is coming out from the kitchens and well into our entire lives. Today food is not only being devoured, it is being relished; it is becoming integral to our lifestyle aspirations. In an introduction to one of her books, Nigella Lawson wrote: “the kitchen is not a place you escape from, but the place you escape to”. Indeed, food, today, has become experimental; it has gone cosmopolitan; it has discovered fusion.

     

    Being a 24-hour food channel, what are the challenges you face in the business?

    There are certain business challenges which will always be there. As a specialty channel with mass approach, we are a new category. Food Food is not only a food channel, it’s a lifestyle channel themed around food. Food on TV is no longer just about stand and stir cookery shows. The viewer has changed. He demands richer content, more innovative programming, even in the realm of food.

     

    In GRP terms, how well has the channel done?

    Our viewership is three times higher than some channels that have been around for years.

     

    How has been the response from advertisers?

    The food genre today is what news and GECs were a few years back. This speciality genre is not only a natural fit with consumers (given the love we Indians have for food), it also allows a high degree of interactivity and entertainment. Both of which the consumer seeks from the media. It took some time for the advertisers to understand the potential of food and food lifestyle platforms. But today, advertisers are more than willing to spend on this category.

     

    Distribution wise, what is the reach of the channel? Is the channel operational on all DTH platforms?

    The channel is available in both analog and digital formats. With 360 degrees of food available across multimedia platforms like TV, web, mobile, food is all set to become the new entertainment. Food Food is not just a food channel, we are here to provide Indian viewers their very own Khushi ki Recipe!

     

    How has been the growth of the channel revenue wise?

    This is a specialty genre and we have very unique programming. It would not be fair to gauge this genre with revenue. But looking at the response, I can surely say that our advertisers and viewers are very happy with us. So in that way we definitely see tremendous opportunity and growth in the future.

     

    How do you see the channel grow say in another year’s time?

    We have expanded beyond HSM markets such as Kolkata, South Indiaand so on. We’ve gone international.  We’re already available in Middle East. This year, we also plan to expand further internationally. Keeping alive our promise of 360 degree entertainment, we will continue to offer exciting repertoire of food-related products to keep the family entertained and engrossed.

     

  • Last year, Hindi GEC genre fell 6.5% while Hindi news grew 10%… just some of the highlights of TAM Media's 'Impatient Generation' report

    What TV viewers watched in 2011

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Digital viewing of television grew a phenomenal 63 per cent in 2011, indicating the shape of things to come in 2012 and forthcoming years. This and various other results are part of TAM Media Research’s third annual report on television viewing patterns inIndia.

     

    Titled ‘Impatient Generation’, the report was launched by Union sports and youth affairs minister Ajay Maken at the Indian Merchant Chamber’s ‘Fusion 2012’ conference. Ms. Bhavna Doshi, President, Indian Merchant Chamber and Mr LV Krishnan, CEO, TAM, were also present on the occasion.

     

    “We conduct such a study every year. The study, ‘Impatient Generation 2011’, is a quick, reader-friendly compilation of TV viewing trends in 2011. It gives a patient update of the impatient world of audiences consuming TV content. This annual feature attempts to update all advertisers, marketers and other stakeholders on how to reach out to their target groups,” said Mr Krishnan.

     

    Here are some of the highlights of the report:

     

    The TV Viewing Universe

    • C&S at All India level is currently 126 million Households, Digital Households (42 mn) have grown at 63 per cent.
    • C&S and Digital grew by 5 per cent and 61 per cent respectively in TAM reported markets.

     

    Viewing trends in key genres

     

     

    • Hindi General Entertainment Channels (GECs)
      1. Viewership of Hindi GECs genre has seen a 6.5 per cent dip.
      2. Viewership share of Hindi GECs is 38 per cent of all TV viewing and Top 6 GECs account for 90 per cent of the audience shares gained by the genre.
      3. In 2011, Hindi GEC genre has shown a consistent growth in 1-hour special fiction episodes during Prime Time on Weekends.
      4. Delhi, Maharashtra, UP & Gujarat have been the Top performing markets for Hindi GECs genre across years and the viewership returns from Metros have seen a slight drop.

     

    • Hindi Movie Channels
      1. Hindi movie genre holds about 15 per cent of total TV viewing.
      2. Number of unique movies aired in 2011 has decreased by 10 per cent.
      3. Both airtime and viewership of South-dubbed movies has seen a clear growth in 2011.

     

    • Hindi General News
      1. Share of Hindi News genre has witnessed a 10 per cent growth in 2011 after decreasing in 2010.
      2. Returns from News Bulletins has witnessed an appreciable increase while viewing proportion from telecast of Review/Reports has witnessed a decline across years.

     

    • English Entertainment
      1. Overall GRPs have increased by almost 50 per cent with Reach & Time spent contributing to the gain.
      2. Digital penetration increasing in key Metro markets has led to greater access for the channels.
      3. The growth in Consumption led by Time Spent is showing a 15-20 per cent increase.

     

    • Kids Channels
      1. The overall genre with 18 per cent share seems to be on a growth path with new channel launches in 2011. Today, 14 channels constitute the genre.
      2. The Reach levels for 10-14 years age band has improved in 2011.
      3. With the increase in number of channels, Kids genre witnessed a continuous increase in viewership share since 2008.
      4. Homes with Kids are faster in adopting to Digital TV platforms with growth rate touching almost 60 per cent in 2011.

     

    • Sports Genre
      1. Sports genre witnessed 200 million unique viewers in year 2011.
      2. There has been 18 per cent rise in Sports content on TV during 2011.
      3. Live sports coverage continued to garner over 50 per cent of the viewing for any sports content.
      4. 2011 saw 35 per cent growth in advertising volumes, but 70 per cent of volumes continued to be garnered by cricket.

     

    Launch_of_Impatient_Generation_by_Mr.Ajay_Maken, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Ms. Bhavna Doshi, President, Indian Merchant Chamber and Mr. LV Krishnan, CEO, TAM Media Research

     

    Viewing trends in select regional markets


    • Tamil Nadu
      1. Digital penetration increased by 17 per cent in Tamil Nadu market.
      2. Increase in viewership is because time spent levels increased by 3 per cent in Tamil Nadu market.
      3. Tamil GECs, Music and Sports also witnessed increase in viewership.

     

    • Andhra Pradesh
      1. Digital penetration has just touched 8 per cent in AP market.
      2. While overall Time Spent on TV is high (over 3 hours daily), its growth is just 1 per cent over 2010.

     

    • Karnataka
      1. Kannada GECs, News are primarily on a growth track in viewership.
      2. While serials provided almost 3 times ROI, the growth in viewing for this genre has continued to be excellent with an average of almost 20 per cent in 2011.

     

    • Kerala
      1. Fall in Time Spent by 6 per cent has resulted in overall TV viewing coming down in 2011 but the introduction of new channels has resulted in a growth in viewing again the last few weeks of 2011.
      2. Malayalam GECs dominate with a lion share of 50 per cent with news, movies and music following.
      3. Malayalam Kids Content pick viewing with launch of New channel – Kochu TV.

     

    • West Bengal
      1. Viewership of Bangla regional has witnessed a steady and fast growth from 5 per cent share in the year 2000 to 43 per cent as of 2011, eating into Hindi channels’ share.

    There has been a growth in ratings for regional movies and events as compared to Hindi movies and events.

     

    • Maharashtra
      1. Although total TV viewing remained steady, viewership of Marathi yegional has seen a growth over last year.
      2. The growth is seen maximum on Digital TV platforms (31 per cent), as compared to Analog set of viewers (13 per cent).
      3. Unlike 2010, the Marathi GEC genre had prioritized the airtime mostly for the higher ROI generating contents like fiction, movies and reality shows.
      4. Chat shows/ Interviews (on Marathi news channels) now constitute about 12 per cent of airtime, contributing about 14 per cent of total viewership.

     

    According to Mr Krishnan, the study provides a useful perspective to TV broadcasters and production houses of the where, when and how TV audiences are changing in their tastes and preferences, what content they are rejecting or accepting. “The dynamics that shape an average Indian household viewer’s relationship with TV each day starting from morning to evening is another block that this TAM feature attempts to throw light on,” he said.

     

    MxMIndia will bring you more viewership trends over the next week.

     

  • Comedy Central, a serious contender in the English entertainment channels, has taken the No 3 position in the category in week 1

    It’s comedy time in English entertainment!

    By Rishi Vora

     

    English entertainment channels now have one more serious contender, which has already left an impact at its launch. Comedy Central, from the Viacom 18 stable, has taken the No 3 position in the category in week 1, with 14 per cent market share. It may be noted that Comedy Central is Viacom 18’s sixth channel.

     

    Comedy Central was launched in theUSinitially, and post 2006, extended its presence to other countries. InIndia, it has been launched in seven cities -Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,Hyderabad,Bangalore, Pune and Ahmedabad, reaching 20 million households across analog, digital cable and DTH.

     

    It is said that the Indian version will have localised content apart from the international library of shows.

     

    Now that the channel is at a reasonable position, the challenge is to keep the momentum going and, slowly but surely, be the No 1 player in the genre. Yes, there are established players, such as Star World and AXN, but Senior VP and General Manager of English Entertainment channels, Viacom 18, Ferzad Palia is of the opinion that Comedy Central has a differentiated offering. It is the first 24-hour comedy channel in English which catersSECAB+ audience.

     

    On why there was a need of a comedy channel in the English entertainment category, Palia explained: “Comedy Central comes as a light hearted channel in an environment which is so much stressed and depressed; something which came up very strongly in our research.”

     

    He added: “Also, the audience which we’re catering to are not on the lookout for crime and drama. And the pattern of the TG which we’ve observed is seen to be non-decisive in a way, where there is not much clarity on what the viewer wants to watch. But, with Comedy Central he knows he is going to get light-hearted humour – all the more reason for him to stick around with the channel.”

     

    With the English speaking population on the rise, consumption of English content too will rise. It is said that 8 per cent of the total population understands English and a subset of that percentage can converse in English. Because English channels reach out to the premium audiences, there are advertisers and brands that look to advertise on English entertainment channels, and Comedy Central is already on the ball as far as tapping advertisers is concerned. It has already got Volkswagen on-board, and a few more premium advertisers will follow.

     

    Apart from advertising, the channel is looking to add to the revenue via subscription, events and merchandise. “We are catering to an audience which no advertiser can afford to ignore. They’re a bunch of aspiring people, very discerning and those who enjoy quality programming. And this audience looks at English entertainment as the only form of entertainment on TV, apart from sports and movies.”

     

    Though the channel seems to have carved out a niche within a niche segment (launching a comedy channel in the English entertainment category), Palia disagrees: “Comedy cuts across gender and age. So in that sense, it isn’t very niche.”

     

    The channel, in next few weeks, will see a full-blown marketing campaign covering, print, outdoor, radio, Internet. The channel was launched with a TV campaign which ran across network channels. Social Media will be one big thrust for the channel as far as marketing is concerned.

     

    Though the market looks a bit crowded with players like Star World, AXN, FX, Fox Crime, Big CBS channels – Spark, Prime, Love and BBC Entertainment, it will be interesting to see how the genre grows and which channels emerge on the top.

     

  • In Freaking News, Ranjona Banerji reviews the fare on primetime news and in the papers

    SIT’s report makes for exciting TV but bad journalism

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    The Special Investigation Team as appointed by the Supreme Court to look at the involvement of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in the Gujarat riots of 2002, particularly with reference to the Gulbarg society case has submitted its report. The report is still in sealed cover. But television spent half of last week going to town over the “clean chit” given to Modi and promptly a number of TV debates were held.

     

    The BJP, quite relieved to get a break from the behaviour of its ministers in Karnataka, sent out its publicity army in full force. TimesNow insisted that it had exclusive “leaks” from the sealed report while every other channel had their “sources” who told them what was in it.

     

    Newspapers, however, were forced to be more circumspect, although Times of India did initially blow up this “clean chit” – ironically on the same day that it headlined the slamming of Modi by the Gujarat High Court over his government’s inaction during the riots.

     

    By Friday morning, newspapers decided to wait for the actual report even as beleaguered BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharaman was begging channels to wait for the report. Some like Swapan Dasgupta and Yatin Oza were happy to jump the gun and blame secularists, the Congress, Muslims, activists and other wicked people for blaming Modi.

     

    Much as all this makes for exciting television, it also makes for bad journalism. One can understand our desire for tamasha but one can hope that at least we have some facts before we start jumping to conclusions.

     

    * * *

     

    It was interesting to hear Chief Election Commissioner Y Quereshi telling NDTV how hard the commission has worked to encourage higher voter interest during these UP elections. For some reason, after that the discussion became about low voter interest in Mumbai with lyricist Javed Akhtar and columnist Sandeep Desai holding forth. Quereshi did point out that Allahabad’s track record was worse than Mumbai’s.

     

    * * *

     

    The arrival of Comedy Central on our televisions has meant the welcome addition of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart to our homes. It is well worth watching at 11.30 every night as the comedian takes on American and world politicians and politics, among other things. No one is spared, which is wonderful.

     

    Of course, I understand that all Indian people and things are sacrosanct and far above humour and satire and must never be so sullied but still, kudos to Cyrus Broacha and The Week that Wasn’t on CNN-IBN.

     

    * * *

     

    While on satire, Europe has to sometimes win the day for its devil-may-care attitude. The clip about Rafael Nadal and the power of Spanish athletes – implying drug use – on the satirical programme Les Guignols, shown on the French + Canal channel has Spain up in arms. Legal action will be taken says Spain, as this is one more in a series of allegations by various French sportspersons and media that Spanish sportspersons take performance-enhancing substances. The clip, available on YouTube, is very wicked!

     

  • Celebrity love gurus, special sitcom marathons, music, channels have something special lined up for their viewers this Valentine's Day

    Television channels on Valentine mode

    By a Correspondent

     

    It’s Valentines Day today – a day celebrated by many, abhorred by some and perhaps overlooked by others. And some of the television channels, too, have tweaked their content to suit the Valentine mood.

     

    Zee Cafe

    Zee Cafe will broadcast back-to-back episodes of the popular romantic sitcom ‘Better with You’ from 1:30pm to 5pm on February 14. In addition to this, Zee Cafe has designed an application for Valentine’s Day called ‘Which Is Your Cafe Couple’ where users answer questions about their favourite song, ideal date and so on and based on their answers the app shows them which ‘Cafe Couple’ they’re most like. The result then shows up on the users’ wall with a link to the Cafe fan page and app.

     

    zoOm

    Bollywood celebrities Kareena and Imran will play Love Gurus for fans on zoOm. Katrina Kaif will give a style makeover to a lucky fan. Not only that, celebrities like Ritiesh-Genelia, Prateik-Amy Jackson will be a part of the four day lineup to celebrate the Valentine week on zoOm. The channel has lined up many other activities such as a Bollywood celebrity stylist giving tips for the perfect ‘Valentine’s Day Look’. zoOm has also put together a special music selection for Valentine’s Day.

     

    Big CBS Love

    Big CBS Love will broadcast a special series on romance, love and relationships from February 14 to February 17 from 10am to 10 called “Valentine’s Week Special – Crazy in Love”.

     

  • For good to triumph over evil, what better place to start than one’s own backyard?

    The Anchor: 10 media evils we’d like to see banished this Dassera

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    It’s Dassera tomorrow, a festival that symbolises good winning over evil. Here’s my list of 10 media evils that I would like to see the end of. You can say that some of these are predictable since I have written about the issues in the past, but they are genuine evils. Banish them!

    #1 Corruption

    The 10-letter word is not just a preserve of government and politicians. It exists in plenty in corporates and the private sector. Our business included. Bribes to get sales deals through, generating revenues by way of money payouts and favours. Sending media buyers and clients to see the FIFA World Cup or Wimbledon tennis is nothing extraordinary these days. Nor is selling of magazine covers, or newspaper or website stories, in lieu of monies very surprising. Ditto with awards: money or just for old times’ sake. Har ek friend zaroori hota hai!

    #2 Paid news

    This has been institutionalised by certain publications even if it’s for just for lifestyle, glamour and brand launch news. It needs to stop, and a dubious disclaimer won’t do. Paid News is prostitution of editorial space and I don’t have to spell out what its practitioners should be called.

    #3 Industry fiefdoms

    Trade associations are supposed to help the lowest common denominator, but in the media we have a situation that some of the aasociations have become fiefdoms and people hardly mentor or help the weaker players. In fact they often attempt to crush them.

    #4 The ratings race

    Revenues happen only if there is proof that your product is read or seen or heard. Nothing wrong with it. But some newspapers are rumoured to go to any extent to fix things. And channels see nothing wrong tweaking storylines for better numbers. Ratings ke liye kuch bhi karega!

    #5 Dearth of talent and disparity in salaries

    There is need for dramatic change here. Some wings of media and marketing are paid fantastically, others pathetically. Journalists, for instance, are very poorly paid in many establishments. Ditto with staffers in Tier 2 cities. The media needs to attract quality talent and offer great content. Both are critical for good content. Alas, I don’t see this changing in a hurry.

    #6 Abuse of Intellectual property

    In Indian media, copyright is mostly defined as the right to copy. Our media companies are fortunate that legal action takes its time or never happens. Else a few of them could be giving the more high profile criminals company in Tihar or Arthur Road. The discipline has to start from the ground-up. Googled pictures must be a no-no and only licensed content must be used.

     

    #7 Fake ads

    It’s not as severe as other issues here, but the fake ads that advertising agencies craft to win awards are not on. Yes, they are a given these days and some leading agencies patronise the practice. But there has to be a way to end it. Perhaps some introspection?

     

    #8 Content sucks

    The self-regulation mechanism has been set up, but I think some of our channels, especially a few newswallahs, could do with a drive to improve content. And a news channel must air news and possibly some kutta-billi stuff. Not the other way round.

     

    #9 FDI blues

    Foreign direct investment in radio was hiked to 26 percent last week and in news channels it’s restricted to 26 percent till date. However, GECs can be 100 percent owned by foreigners. And creative and media advertising agencies too can be fully owned by non-Indians. Given that ad agencies influence media buying decisions and hence can in turn influence the media, why not allow full FDI in news and radio?

     

    #10 No Ethics!

    It’s a dirty word in most media organizations. Look at how many have a Code of Ethics, and insist on employees (and the promoters) agreeing to practise it.

     

     

    The views expressed here are my own and are not endorsed by MxMIndia.com

  • is the No. 1 channel in the region with leading prime time shows like Jerry Di Adaalat, Veer Hawaii De, Amreeka Di Top Model and international movies

    Spark Punjabi emerges winner for BIG-CBS

    By A Correspondent

     

    Spark Punjabi, the innovative international Punjabi channel launched by BIG-CBS, the Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS  jv, has reported excellent ratings by TAM. The channel has been rated as the leader during primetime of 7pm-12am, according to TAM reports, week 3-6 2012 (TAM India: CS4+ Males, Punjab 1 Mn+)

    With its endeavour to offer hand-picked world class content, dubbed in Punjabi to the audiences, the channel offers advertisers the best possible platform that they could seek, to reach out to audiences with minimal spill-over. The region is one of the richest regions and boasts of a strong base of affluent consumers. The market offers a good business opportunity for this channel format as it has excellent TV and C&S penetration, coupled with limited local language entertainment options.

     

    The channel is being supported by an integrated marketing plan leveraging multi-media platforms. With RBNL’s existing radio brand 92.7 BIG FM reaching 22 cities in the region and its OOH arm BIG Street’s 3,000+ ambient media options across the markets, BIG CBS Spark Punjabi offers marketers an integrated media opportunity.

     

    Speaking on the rating, Vishal Rally, Business Head, BIG CBS Networks said: “The strategy of taking world class content, tailoring it to meet local sensibilities and catering to the entertainment requirements of the people of Punjab has worked! Audiences have lapped up the channel, while advertisers are seeing excellent value for their brands.”

     

    The channel is available across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) region and distributed on digital and analog platforms, with an extensive reach of over 6mn+ C&S households in the region.

  • Happy days are here again for the Indian cricket board. The Board of Control for Cricket in Indian and Sahara India Pariwar have concluded their discussions and, as they say, kissed and made up

    All’s well as BCCI gets back its Sahara

    By A Correspondent

     

    Happy days are here again for the Indian cricket board. The Board of Control for Cricket in Indian and Sahara India Pariwar have concluded their discussions and, as they say, kissed and made up. Here are the terms of endearment… specifically, the BCCI “took note” of the various requests put up by Sahara and has agreed to the following:

     

    1. To extend the trading window, which was due to close on Friday, February 17, until Wednesday February 29 to give Pune Warriors India the opportunity to have successful negotiations with other franchises as it looks to strengthen its squad.

     

    2. Reactivation of the Auction Purse of Pune Warriors India so that it can take a number of players, subject to the squad composition regulations.

     

    3. BCCI and Sahara have agreed to start the arbitration proceedings initiated by Sahara through appointment of an arbitrator to address Sahara’s claim for a reduction in franchise fee for 74 matches.

     

    4. BCCI does not have any issues with Sahara seeking a strategic partner in the Pune Warriors India franchise, subject to terms of the Franchise Agreement.

     

    5. In respect of their request to sign overseas players who were not included in the Auction Register, subject to the relevant player regulations, BCCI agrees to the request subject to the views of all other franchises.

     

    6. Sahara has requested for one of the play off matches scheduled to be played in Bengaluru to be played in Pune. The right to host the Play Off matches is awarded to the finalists from previous edition, in this case Royal Challengers Bangalore. BCCI, in principle, is agreeable to hold one of the Play Offs in the new Pune stadium, subject to the consent of RCB.

     

    7. Sahara has requested to furnish the Bank Guarantee against the Franchisee fee in two instalments; BCCI will consider it at the next available opportunity.

     

    8. Notwithstanding the recent working committee’s decision of rejecting five foreign players in the playing eleven, in consideration of the exceptional circumstance and the non-availability of Yuvraj Singh, Sahara has offered to obtain the consent of all the franchises for the submission to the BCCI.

     

    The joint statement signed by Messrs N Srinivasan, BCCI President and Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker and Chairman of the Sahara India Pariwar adds that Sahara confirms that it will continue sponsorship of the Indian team adding Sahara may want to exercise its right to assign the sponsorship as per the agreement.

     

  • The series will feature insights on key people and events that have shaped our nation as told by insiders who have held positions of power and privilege

    NewsX launches The Insiders with Kalyani Shankar

    By A Correspondent

     

    NewsX has launched a brand new series – The Insiders with Kalyani Shankar to boost its programming lineup. The Insiders is a series that provides viewers with an Insider’s perspective on events and people who have shaped the discourse and direction ofIndia.

     

    Hosted by ace political commentator, Kalyani Shankar, this series will provide groundbreaking insight into certain events of the past that shapedIndiaand changed the course of our collective histories. The ‘Insiders’ featured in this series have held key positions of power and been involved in policy and decision making processes.

     

    The events and people they talk about during the show are not ordinary either. From Pokhran-II to the 1971 Bangladesh War; from Kargil and the IC-814 hijack to the inception of insurgency in Kashmir; from the road to economic recovery in 1991 to when democracies collided with Mrs. Gandhi taking on the might of Nixon and theUSA, the show throws light on all these incidents that shaped our nation’s history.

     

    Commenting on the launch, Jehangir S Pocha, Co-Promoter, NewsX said: “The Insiders re-examines key events that shaped modernIndiathrough Kalyani Shankar’s free-wheeling and frank interviews with the key players involved in those events. The show brings new light to these stories and gives the nation a greater understanding of the issues and decisions behind the events that shook the nation.”

     

    Host of the series, Kalyani Shankar, is a political commentator based inNew Delhi. During her career spanning over three decades, she was theWashingtoncorrespondent and later the political editor of the Hindustan Times. She was a Nuffield Press Fellow atWolfsonCollege,Cambridge. Presently she is a syndicated columnist writing for Hindi and English newspapers, apart from doing a weekly current affairs programme on All India Radio. She has also authored Gods of Power and two other books.

     

    Following are synopsis of some of the episodes that have been featured on the show:

     

    1971:India’s finest hour

    In 1971, there was a brutal crackdown in, what was then,East Pakistanagainst the Bengali population. Thousands of Bengali students and intellectuals were systematically murdered in cold blood by the Pakistani Army. Millions of refugees floodedIndia’s borders and the then-Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi knew that she had to act and she did – ordering the army into action on India’s eastern borders. This campaign, once launched was swift and effective. The war ended in just 13 days, after the Indian troops closed in onDhaka. It was here that the instrument of surrender was signed and Gen. Niazi and his troops laid down their arms in what is regarded as history’s first ever public surrender of such magnitude. The episode features the story of how the 1971 Bangladesh War was won from the insider.

     

    Under attack

    In 1999,Indiacame under attack. In May, a mix of Mujahideen and Pakistani army regulars took over strategic positions in our side of the LOC in Kashmir in an attempt to block the only road to Leh fromSrinagarat the time. On Christmas Eve, an Indian Airlines plane (IC-814) was hijacked by armed Pakistani terrorists who forced it to make its way toKandaharinAfghanistan. Both situations were extremely tense and captured the imagination of the whole nation and world. The Vajpayee-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had to make some tough decisions. Also, it let go of three terrorists who were in jail in J&K against the wishes of the then-CM, Farooq Abdullah. This episode features interviews with Brajesh Mishra (Former National Security Advisor to the PM), Yashwant Sinha (Former Finance Minister) and  Farooq Abdullah (Former CM of J&K).

     

    Road to reforms

    In 1991, when the Chandrashekhar government took over,Indiawas perched on the edge of an economic crisis. As Finance Minister at the time, Yashwant Sinha was the man entrusted to pull us out of the crisis and keep our economy afloat. As Foreign Secretary at the time, Muchkund Dubey was involved in this effort. Hear the story of howIndiawas saved from going under and how the road to economic reforms was built, from insiders Yashwant Sinha (Former Finance Minister) and Muchkund Dubey (Former Foreign Secretary).

     

    Democracies collide

    Indo-US relations were at their all time low when Richard Nixon was the president of theUS. He had nothing but contempt for Indira Gandhi and she was no big fan of his either. Their battle of wits is legendary and evenIndia’s staunchest critics begrudgingly agree that Mrs. Gandhi outfoxed Nixon during the 1971 Bangladesh War. She not only built up public support forIndiaagainstPakistanbut also inked the Indo-Russia Friendship Treaty, which guaranteedIndiaa key ally in the Russians. Insiders MK Rasgotra, thenIndia’s Deputy Chief ofMissionin Washington and later Foreign Secretary and Natwar Singh, former Minister of External Affairs, and someone who worked closely with Mrs. Gandhi provide the flavour of those times in this episode.

     

    Kashmir: Insurgency’s inception

    On July 2, 1984, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Jagmohan dismissed the then-Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah. Many see this as the turning point in allowing militancy to rule the roost in the valley. Hear from both these insiders into the circumstances surrounding this action, and why peace has eluded theKashmirvalley ever since.Sparkswill fly in this episode as both Jagmohan and Farooq Abdullah take each other head on – and spin the story of the inception of insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir.

     

    ‘The Insiders with Kalyani Shankar’ will be telecast every Saturday at 2.30pm and Sunday at 6.30pm on NewsX!

     

  • The channel, #1 in affluent India, is fastest growing amongst all international news channels

    BBC World News is the No 1 international English news channel

    By A Correspondent

     

    The latest Ipsos PAX survey (Q4 2010-Q3 2011) shows that BBC World News is the top international English news channel in India, and the fastest growing across all international news channels.

     

    BBC World News is also shown to be the most watched international news channel (35 per cent) amongst the evolved, upmarket audiences, including the affluent, business decision makers and top management consumers. The channel is also the most watched news channel amongst key audiences – thought leaders, international flyers and car owners. BBC World News viewers also have combined investments of US$8 bn.

     

    Sunita Rajan, Senior Vice President, BBC Advertising at BBC Worldwide News said: “This study shows that BBC World News is going from strength to strength acrossIndia. With such an amazing year ahead for international news, we’re pleased that the channel continues to reach so many audiences throughout the region.”

     

    The Ipsos PAX study surveys international and local media consumption and product consumption among affluent adults and business professionals in the Indian cities of Mumbai,DelhiandBangalore. The latest survey covers Q4 2010 to Q3 2011.

     

    BBC World News, the BBC’s commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by BBC World News Ltd, a member of the BBC’s commercial group of companies. BBC World News is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and over 300 million households.

     

  • Positioned as the ultimate music destination, the music offers a strong platform to artists, both international and Indian

    BIG CBS Spark goes musical for Gen Next

    By A Correspondent

     

    For most youth today music is a lifeline and BIG CBS Spark, in keeping with the needs of its Gen Next viewers, is coming out with some of the hottest and power-packed music-based shows. In its endeavour to sharpen the channel’s musical offering, the channel brings music based shows – Hip Hop MCs, Indie Rock Mania and Hot Hitz for its young audiences.

     

    Apart from urban-international music, BIG CBS Spark will also introduce fresh Indian music blocks ranging from hip-hop, rock, pop, folk, world, brass, chamber music, latest hits and more. The music segments will complement the existing shows like Cheaters, Max, Smash Cards, Oblivious and Real TV.

     

    In connecting with its audiences on ground, BIG CBS Spark will also feature college festivals, music concerts, youth fests, music launches and the likes. The channel will also offer a platform for young and upcoming artists to be showcased on the channel.

     

    With the youth as their audiences, the channel will see heavy use of social media to connect with audiences and already has in place a series of communications on the digital platform to engage with them.

     

    The sharpening of music content also comes from a deep understanding and in-depth research of what the audiences seek for entertainment. In gearing for digitization which is in the anvil, the channel is ensuring that it caters to the requirements of quality and variety for audiences while offering a value proposition to its operator-partners. This new offering compliments Reliance Broadcast Network’s recently launched ‘Choose Your Set-Top-Box Wisely’ campaign, which is designed to increase awareness and empower consumers with adequate information to make the right choice while choosing their set top boxes, while also enabling operators to build their brand equity.

     

    A joint venture between Reliance Broadcast Network Limited and CBS Studios International, BIG CBS Networks has changed the way English language television entertainment is served to Indian audiences. The JV launched 3 English language entertainment channels, marking not just RBNL’s, but the Reliance Group’s entry into the television broadcasting space and CBS Corporation’s channel entry into India.

     

    The themed channels targeted at India’s fast-growing, upwardly mobile population are BIG CBS Prime, BIG CBS Spark and BIG CBS Love.
    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited has a multi-media play in the spaces of Radio, Television, Intellectual Property, Out of Home and Television Production, and specializes in creating & executing integrated solutions for clients, across the country. CBS Studios International, the leading supplier of programming to the international television marketplace, is a division of CBS Corporation,

     

  • New tournament to feature 21 days of non-stop action, with over 100 hours of matches from February 9-29, 2012

    ESPN STAR Sports to Broadcast Inaugural Bangladesh Premier League

    By A Correspondent

     

    Asia’s top sports content provider, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) on Thursday announced the broadcast of the much-awaited inauguralBangladeshPremier League (BPL) from February 9-29 on STAR Cricket and STAR Sports.

     

    As the biggest cricketing event inBangladesh, BPL will bring all the glitz and glamour of T20, featuring some of the top names in cricket from around the globe with 21 days of non-stop world-class cricket action and entertainment.

     

    As the definitive rights holder of the best in international sporting events, ESPN STAR Sports will showcase this exciting new T20 event to cricket lovers across Asia, along with Channel 9, which will broadcast the tournament inBangladesh.

     

    With the match action kicking off on February 10, the first edition of theBangladeshPremier League will feature six teams that will play each other twice in a round-robin format of over 33 matches held inChittagongandDhaka. Each team will feature a stellar mix of a leading icon player fromBangladeshalong with current T20 stars and cricketing greats, some of which are listed below.

     

    BarisalBurners Shahriar Nafees Bangladesh- Icon player
    Brad Hodge Australia
    Chris Gayle West Indies
    ChittagongKings Tamim Iqbal Bangladesh- Icon player
    Shoaib Malik Pakistan
    Mutthaya Murlidharan Sri Lanka
    Dwayne Bravo West Indies
    KhulnaRoyal Bengals Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh- Icon player
    Nasir Hossain Bangladesh
    Herschelle Gibbs South Africa
    Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka
    S Chanderpaul West Indies
    Sylhet Royals Alok Kapali Bangladesh- Icon player
    Naeem Islam Bangladesh
    Kamran Akmal Pakistan
    Darren Sammy West Indies
    Brad Hogg Australia
    DhakaGladiators Mohammad Ashraful Bangladesh- Icon player
    Nazim Uddin Bangladesh
    Saeed Ajmal Pakistan
    Shahid Afridi Pakistan
    Keiron Pollard West Indies
    Duronto Rajshahi Mushfiqur Rahim Bangladesh- Icon player
    Zunaed Siddique Bangladesh
    Abdul Razzaq Pakistan
    Marlon Samuels West Indies

     

     

    “We are delighted to support the expansion of T20 toBangladeshby bringing this exciting new tournament to cricket fans inAsia. As the rights holder for some of the globe’s best cricket events, including ICC World T20, CL T20, India-Australia test matches, ODI tri-series betweenAustralia,IndiaandSri Lanka, and England-Australia ODIs, we are pleased to addBangladeshPremier League to our portfolio of top cricket coverage,” said Joyee Biswas, Director, Programming of ESPN STAR Sports.

     

    “As the first GEC of Bangladesh with a mix of Sports and Entertainment, and the producer of BPL T20, we are pleased to partner with ESPN STAR Sports to bring BPL to cricket lovers and look forward to a long term relationship,” said Enayetur Rahman, Managing Director of Channel 9.

     

    Running from February 9-29, the tournament will feature a mix of 1-2 matches per day. On days when two games are played, the first match will begin at 2pm local time followed by the second match at 6.30pm. In addition to the Icon player fromBangladesh, each team is allowed 9 foreign players, 5 of who can play per match per team.

     

    ESPN STAR Sports showcases an unparalleled variety of premier sports from around the globe featuring some of the most iconic sports events to viewers across 24 countries inAsia. ESPN STAR Sports operates from itsSingaporeheadquarters and has regional offices across six countries in Asia (China,Hong Kong,Taiwan,India,Malaysia,South Korea). ESPN STAR Sports features a comprehensive portfolio of multimedia assets including its 25 television channels, 3 broadband networks, digital content services, and its on-ground Event Management group.