MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • It's become an industry in itself with the emphasis to perform (and hug!), writes Shailesh Kapoor

    Shailesh Kapoor: Are Reality Show Judges too Eager to Please?

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    The season of reality shows has well and truly taken off. It’s a typical phenomenon every year after the IPL concludes, but there seems that much extra on-air this year. Star Plus has Nach Baliye, and there will soon be Dance+. Colors had India’s Got Talent and there will soon be Jhalak Reloaded. One variant of DID on Zee has given way to a new season of the main DID show. Indian Idol Junior on Sony and The Voice on &TV complete the GEC reality list. So, if you have been tracking the category, eight reality shows have been in the mix, either on-air or in promotional stages. Not to talk about half a dozen others on youth channels.

     

    All the eight mentioned above have a format that needs a jury. So, we are talking of more than 20 different judges across these shows. Now, that’s an industry in itself. Choreographers, film directors and actors typically dominate the list.

     

    Watching a typical episode of one of these reality shows will make you feel there’s immense pressure on this lot of 20 to ‘perform’. It’s like a mini-competition on the sidelines of the larger channel battles. Everyone is out there to make an impact, without an understanding of the respect and awe that should accompany a jury chair.

     

    It’s cue-a-gimmick judging, where interspersed between performances (all eight are talent shows, though two of them are about celebrity contestants), a judge would take off on a journey that’s ridiculously disconnected with the show. Reading shaayri is the latest favorite. What Anu Malik and Navjot Sidhu started has now become everyone’s domain.

     

    Then there’s this sudden urge to hug contestants on stage that about a dozen judges should be medically treated for. It takes about 30 seconds of footage and barring rare exceptions, you don’t feel a speck of emotion watching it.

     

    The new favorite that’s emerging can be called ‘Let’s pull each other’s leg’. Admittedly, it’s a lot more entertaining than the shaayri and the hugs. But when it happens every seven minutes, you begin to wonder whether you should call it a talent show.

     

    Reality shows have been a core area of our work over the last seven years. There are three essential ingredients of what a good jury member should have, irrespective of the format of the talent show.

    1. Should be an expert in the field.
    2. Should encourage and motivate participants.
    3. Should come across as humble and rooted.

     

    The first one may seem obvious on the face of it, but go through the list of 20 and you would know there are at least five crosses on it. But it’s the second and the third where the real gap would lie. Fans of MasterChef Australia would know what these three points mean. The jury of that show embodies them. And yet, there is no trace of gimmick and showmanship on the screen. It’s a natural, free-flowing format that delivers emotions and entertainment within itself. Nothing needs to be ‘cued’.

     

    The original Dance India Dance jury (Geet Kapur, Terence Lewis & Remo D’Souza) met this brief very well. They had no star value at that time, and yet, would count in my book as the most successful jury combination in the two-decade history of reality television in India.

     

    The India’s Got Talent jury for the last two seasons (Kirron Kher, Karan Johar & Malaika Arora Khan) top the current set of juries. There was a lot of free flow in the judging process, especially aided by Kher’s disarming persona, and the gimmicks, while they were present, rarely interfered with the format.

     

    But at a larger category level, it’s time for producers and channels to question their penchant of ‘over-writing’ reality shows. Let the ‘reality’ prevail, and we may have better content!

     

    And a note to the hosts: When you ask for state capitals to test a contestant’s knowledge, it is not called an IQ Test.

     

  • Both Hindi and English news channels covered Yoga Day on June 21 extensively, as per S Group, the analytical arm of TAM Media Research

    Yoga Day earns big dividends on news channels: TAM data

    By A Correspondent

     

    Both Hindi and English news channels covered Yoga Day on June 21 extensively, as per S Group, the analytical arm of TAM Media Research.

     

    The news channels took the opportunity on International Yoga Day to give viewers a break from the Lalit Modi case which had been dominating the coverage since the previous week.

     

    Celebrated on June 21, the event was also covered outside the news genre, on various Doordarshan regional channels along with DD National, which garnered the rating of 0.09 at an All India level. (All 4+)

     

    Among the Hindi news channels, Aaj Tak witnessed maximum viewership for Yoga Day coverage which devoted 50% of its content time to the same on June 21. However, it was IBN 7 which covered this story most heavily with 9 hours content.

     

     

    The viewers entered the genre earlier than usual on Yoga Day.

     

    Times Now was the leading English News channel to gain viewership from Yoga Day coverage, which garnered 47% of the overall viewership of this news within the English News Genre.

     

    Both Aaj Tak and Times Now maintained their leadership position in the respective genres in week 26.

     

  • This means three continuous episodes shown one after the other after the other every day of the week

    It’s back to back to back primetime for Colors Infinity

    By A Correspondent

     

    When we interviewed Ferzad Palia, EVP, Viacom18 and Head, English Entertainment, last week, he promised that the soon-to-be-launched Colors Infinity, the English general entertainment channel from the Viacom18 stable, will offer disruption of the kind offered by the flagship Hindi GEC Colors in 2008.

     

    With the scope governed by the number of titles and libraries available to be acquired from the international market as that’s what the viewing masses want to watch (as against locally produced content), the team at Infinity had to dream up a strategy that would be stand-out given all the constraints.

     

    So out came this idea of back to back to back. This means three continuous episodes shown one after the other after the other. Phew! And this will happen every day of the week. The slew of shows – selected jointly with Bollwood impresario Karan Johan and actor Alia Bhatt – has some never-seen-on-Indian-TV shows like Fargo, Orange Is the New Black, Better Call Saul, The Flash amongst others.

     

    Karan and Alia along with Palia and Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18 unveiled the line-up to the media at an event on Tuesday (July 7). “Our first homegrown English entertainment channel for India – Colors Infinity, through its many firsts, is all set to subvert convention in the genre through providing a consummate viewing experience,” Vats said.

     

    Talking about the channel’s gambit to forge ahead of competition, Palia said he was looking at marketing beyond the six-eight cities which most look at. “Adding to the immersive experience, the innovation of facilitating essential viewing is set to be a definitive game changer through inviting newer audience and growing the viewership pie.” Colors Infinity is looking to pushing the chanel to some 21 cities other than the four metros.

     

    Meanwhile, in line with what many new channels have been doing in the recent past, Infinity has roped in four brands to partner the offerings. These being L’Oreal, Grey Goose, Renault and Integriti.

     

    Meanwhile, the launch date for the channel has still not been unveiled, but according to trade sources, it’s most likely going to be in the next three weeks.

     

  • The 20 day tour includes three test matches to be held in the cities of Galle, Colombo and Kandy

    Sony Six bags broadcast rights to India-SL Test tour

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sony Six has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to the Sri Lanka vs India test series. The series to be held in Sri Lanka, will take place between August 12, 2015 and September 1, 2015. The 20 day tour includes three test matches to be held in the cities of Galle, Colombo and Kandy and will be shown live and exclusive on Sony Six.

     

    Prasana Krishnan

    Commenting on the acquisition of the series, Prasana Krishnan, Business Head, Sony Six and SONY KIX said‎, “We are delighted to partner Sri Lanka Cricket Board as the official broadcaster of the series. The fixture between the two Asian giants is one of the most sought after and keenly followed contests in cricket and we are proud to be bringing it live to our viewers. And it will be interesting to watch how the Indian squad fares under Virat’s aggressive style of leadership.”

     

    Sidath Wettimuny, Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket said, “Sony Six has established itself as one of the most exciting sports channels in the industry and we are thrilled to be associated with them for this test series. The channel’s track record in showcasing premier sporting properties further cemented our decision in making them our broadcaster partner in bringing the high-quality sporting action. Through this deal, we believe we will be able to expand and reach out to a wider and newer audience.”

     

  • The channel will showcase movies never released in the country

    English movies genre hots up with Star Movies Select HD

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s all a-happenin in the English movie entertainment space. Close on the heels of the launch of Times Network’s MN+, Star India has announced the launch of Star Movies Select HD. The insight for this channel comes from an extensive consumer research that highlights how people yearn for variety and great stories, notes a communiqué. The channel has in its line-up a slew of movies lined up including Gone Girl, Fault in our Stars, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, Theory of Everything and Birdman. Some 30 premieres are planned for the year and the channel will be available only in High Definition (HD) and the premieres and the 9 pm movies will not be screened on any other channel.

     

    Kevin Vaz

    Speaking on the occasion, Kevin Vaz, General Manager – English Cluster, Star India said, “We have curated content from the biggest Hollywood studios, created a programming line-up that will need no introduction to our select audience. Movies unreleased in India, award winning premieres and festivals are just some of the initiatives that will enthrall them with the sheer strength of spectacular stories.”

     

  • In the merit list of probable FTII chairpersons, Gajendra Chauhan would struggle to make it to the first million, writes Shailesh Kapoor

    Shailesh Kapoor: FTII Row: The Chauhan School of Delusions

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    The student strike at FTII, in protest against some key appointment, in particular that of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s chairperson, has found its way to primetime news, after almost a month of cursory headline coverage. It took a YouTube video by Ranbir Kapoor for mainstream media to take up the matter in all earnestness. It may not be a burning issue of national importance, given the killer scam that’s being unearthed in another part of the country, but with an unmistakable political slant, the FTII story should not be restricted to the entertainment sections either.

     

    There aren’t too many layers to the story. It’s like the proverbial open-and-shut case. You have an actor who has played supporting parts or bit roles in about 300 films and 700 serials (I’m sure he means episodes when he says serials), and has no fraternity support worth talking about, no previous academic experience, not even writing or directorial experience. In the merit list of probable FTII chairpersons, he would struggle to make it to the first million. But here he is, a BJP hand, at the helm of the film school, with the blessings of the Government.

     

    Last night, on The Newshour, Gajendra Chauhan decided to make an appearance in person to field questions. He came up with some gems, which only worsened his position:

    1. You are questioning my body of work (which he also called ‘body of stature’). I’ve worked with Salman Khan. (I’m sure that doesn’t win him any support at FTII!)

     

    2. If a film is a hit, it is an A-grade film. (That hit Jungle Love was a silver jubilee was spoken with great pride too as an example)

     

    3. I refuse to answer that question (when repeatedly asked what, according to him, is good cinema)

     

    That he has never attended MAMI or any other International film festival was also admitted candidly, perhaps fearing another GK Test if he said he had. At the end of it all, Anupam Kher had clear advice to give Chauhan, asking him to just step aside with dignity. Just leave it, he said.

     

    Chauhan’s false sense of confidence on the show, as indeed over the last few weeks, is not surprising. The film and TV industry can be a delusional world, we all know. There’s little room for reality check when you have an ecosystem that’s populated with people telling each other how good they are.

     

    One can make some sense of the delusion if the big stars, producers or directors were to display it.But in all my experience, they are the most grounded, at least in relative terms. Perhaps because they have seen the highs and the lows. It’s the bit players who try and hide their insecurities, sometimes mediocrity, by portraying success, almost demanding to be respected at times. It’s an archaic idea that has little foothold in this day and age.

     

    I’ll be surprised if Chauhan can hold on for too long. He has nothing going for him. Stepping down from FTII and taking up a Bigg Boss invitation will be a good idea. But he may tell you that the former is not a pre-condition for the latter anyway!

     

  • Kabaddi became the second most viewed tournament in the country (453 million) when it was launched last year

    Razorfish to partner Bengal Warriors online

    By A Correspondent

     

    Razorfish has been appointed online partners to Future Group’s Bengal Warriors Pro Kabaddi Team.

     

    Sandip Tarkas

    The Star TV backed Pro Kabaddi League has brought a sport of inner-India to the forefront. Future Group’s origins from Bengal may have been a natural extended association to the Bengal Warrior team. On choosing Razorfish as the digital agency, Sandip Tarkas, President Future Group said, “Razorfish is one of the best Global Digital agencies and the team also has a deep understanding of the Indian consumer. What aided the decision was also that many of the Razorfish team members know Bengal intimately well and have themselves indulged in playing some amateur Kabaddi!”

     

     

    Charulata Ravi Kumar

    Charulata Ravi Kumar, CEO Razorfish India, said, “When we met the Future group team that manages Bengal Warriors, it was like every meeting was an immersion into the sport. Like we were actually playing it. There is high passion and involvement from both sides. At Razorfish, we believe we co-own the team!”

     

    Kabaddi became the second most viewed tournament in the country (453 million) when it was launched last year with unprecedented TRPs for the finale of the Pro Kabaddi league for any non-cricket sport. The Bengal Warrior team boasts many stars like their ex-Captain Nilesh Shinde, raidersNitin Madane and Mahendra Rajput, Koreans Jang Kun Lee and Seong Kim, New captain Dinesh Kumar, an Arjuna awardee and ex-India captain; and key defenders Sachin Khambe amongst others.

     

    Razorfish has created the platform of “AmraDekhiyeDebo” which resonates with the team’s spirit of camaraderie, challenge and combative determination to oust its opponents. The same is being amplified through all digital platforms.

     

  • Discovery Veteran Previously Led European Business and Has Extensive Experience in Asia

    Discovery moves Arthur Bastings to Prez & MD, APAC

    By A Correspondent

     

    Arthur Bastings Discovery Networks International (DNI) has named Arthur Bastings as the new head of the Asia-Pacific region, effective 1 September. The announcement was made by Jean-BriacPerrette, President of DNI, to whom Bastings will report.

     

    As President and Managing Director of Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP), Bastings is responsible for setting the regional strategy and maximising the potential of DNAP’s business and workforce to accelerate the company’s expansion. He will be based out of the Singapore office.

     

    Bastings joins DNAP from Millicom, an international telecommunications and media company, where he was a member of the Executive Committee responsible for Africa and Financial Services, focusing on mobile and information and communications technology convergence. He brings over 20 years’ experience working in the TV and media business, including several years leading strategy and business development for Viacom across Asia. Bastings also previously spent six years as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for Discovery. Under his leadership, Discovery’s EMEA business transformed by doubling audiences and generating exceptional organic growth that resulted in one of the fastest growing and largest pay TV businesses in the region.

     

    “The Asia Pacific region encompasses two thirds of the world’s population and thus represents one of the biggest growth opportunities for our company.  Arthur has a remarkable combination of experience in Asia, strong strategic thinking, and a proven track record of growth and building strong teams. His deep knowledge of Discovery and familiarity with the Asia market will give him a great head start in accelerating DNAP’s expansion,” said Perrette.

     

    Since launching Discovery Channel in the region over 20 years ago, DNAP is now 15 channels strong. DNAP is committed to continue investing and building its scale and market share in Asia Pacific, a key region for Discovery’s international business. Backing its localisation strategy to deepen its connection and relevancy with audiences, DNAP opened new local offices this year in Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, and continued the momentum with the appointment of a new country head in Korea.

     

  • Aaj Tak garnered maximum ROI for the Lalit Modi story, followed by India TV within the Hindi news genre (HSM, CS 15+). Times Now secured ROI three times that of genre average (All India 1 Mn+, CS 25+ Males AB), as per analysis conducted by the S Group, the analytical research arm of TAM Media Research

    TAMWatch: Aaj Tak, Times Now gain much on Lalit Modi story

    By A Correspondent

     

    The focus of all news channels has shifted to the ‘Vyapam Scam’ while the ‘Lalit Modi Immigration Case’ (or ‘LalitGate’) has witnessed a sudden drop in coverage. It would be interesting to see if the ‘Vyapam Scam’ turns out to be the next big thing for news channels in terms of viewership. Aaj Tak garnered maximum ROI for this story, followed by India TV within Hindi News Genre. (HSM, CS 15+). Times Now devoted the maximum time to ‘LalitGate’, that too with the ROI three times that of genre average (All India 1 Mn+, CS 25+ Males AB). The coverage of ‘Lalitgate’ on Times Now was highest among all the news channels. This emerged from the analysis conducted by the S Group, the analytical research arm of TAM Media Research.

     

     

    Both Hindi and English news channels covered the Lalit Modi case extensively till July 1, post which there has been a shift of focus. Before that, news channels have made sure to gain viewership from the same.

     

    Both Aaj Tak and Times Now would be hoping to carry the momentum into ‘Vyapam Scam’. As on July 8, both these channels were leading in terms of coverage. We will have to wait for the next week’s TAM data, to see who the winner in ‘Vyapam Scam’ battle is.

  • To ensure that the country at large is given a grand invitation for the second season, Star Sports has roped in superstar Amitabh Bachchan

    Amitabh Bachchan lends his voice to Kabaddi league

    By A Correspondent

     

    Come July 18 and the country will be treated to the fast-paced action of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. The best of Indian and global Kabaddi talent will take centrestage at NSCI, Mumbai where the caravan style league commences. To ensure that the country at large is given a grand invitation for the second season, Star Sports has roped in superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

     

    Star Sports’ marketing blitzkrieg for the upcoming league reaches another level as the iconic film actor with an inimitable voice takes to the mike as well as composes for the latest commercial of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi.

     

    Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India, said, “Star has a deep and abiding commitment to growing the sport of Kabaddi. The inaugural season introduced the sport in an aspirational and cool avatar. We are delighted to partner with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan for the second season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, to help galvanize the sport across the nation.”

     

    The promotional film for Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, takes forward the #LePanga narrative in the form of a peppy, energetic and fast paced song composed and sung by Amitabh Bachchan. The underlying visuals have superlative game and in action portraits of the heroes of the sport.  What better booster than the baritone the country adores? This was the thought that motivated the very words of the film penned by India’s leading adman Piyush Pandey from Ogilvy.

     

    Highlighting the concept, Piyush Pandey, said, “The idea was to combine the martial energy of the great India sport with the great Indian tradition of ‘Veer Ras,’ one of the nine emotions or ‘Navrasas’ of our culture. With a sense of fun and fire, that is how I wrote this song. Thereafter Mr. Bachchan took over. He composed the music, sang the song and created a legendary track.”

     

    Star Sports Pro Kabaddi starts July 18 with the action live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD2 in English; Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD3 and Star Gold in Hindi; Maa Movies in Telugu; Suvarna Plus in Kannada and Star Pravah in Marathi.

     

  • The effort of the new venture will be to develop a convergent digital media platform for evolved consumers and marketers

    Viacom18 sets up Viacom18 Digital Ventures with Gaurav Gandhi as COO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Gaurav Gandhi

    Viacom18 has announced Viacom18 Digital Ventures to help converge traditional broadcasting with digital innovation. Gaurav Gandhi who is currently Group Chief Operating Officer at IndiaCast Media Distribution (a TV18 & Viacom18 venture) will be Chief Operating Officer of this venture. His new role is effective August 1, 2015.

     

    On the announcement of Viacom18 Digital Ventures and the key appointment, Group CEO, Sudhanshu Vats commented, “The broadcast industry is growing rapidly, and digital content, delivery and access are the new green shoots. We are looking to leverage the interception between a highly digital audience and the current content offerings. Gaurav’s rich experience in media, keen understanding of digital,strong base in distribution and his entrepreneurial instinct have made him our obvious choice”.

     

    Says Gaurav Gandhi on the new role, “I am very excited about this opportunity of building out a consumer facing digital business for Viacom 18. With the everchanging media landscape, fast growing high-speed internet access andexplosive growth in video consumption across screens, there could not be a better time to move forward in this space. We at Viacom 18 want to be the forefront of this digital convergence with our products & content offerings”

     

    Gandhi joined Viacom18 as Chief Commercial Officer & Head of International Business in March 2010. His previous stints in leadership roles have been at NDTV Imagine (Executive Vice President – Business Operations & Content Sales), Star India (Vice President, Commercial & Business Planning), Turner International India and Madison Communications.

     

  • MSM Media Distribution Pvt. Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Multi Screen Media, has been ranked 31st amongst Top 50 India’s best companies to work for in 2015 by the Great Place to Work Institute India

    MSM distribution co is a ‘great places to work’

    By A Correspondent

     

    MSM Media Distribution Pvt. Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary of Multi Screen Media (Sony Entertainment Network), has been ranked 31st amongst Top 50 India’s best companies to work for in 2015 by the Great Place to Work Institute India in association with the Economic Times. In the  television  Industry, MSM Media is  the only company to feature in this prestigious list.

     

    NP Singh

    Speaking on the announcement, NP Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd and Chairman of the Board, MSM-MD said, “I am deeply elated to see my team resonant the vision I envisaged for MSM MD and work towards making it a reality. MSM MD culture is built around exceptional people, and there’s nothing more rewarding than hearing that our colleagues feel deeply connected to the organisation on an emotional level. I look forward to the team achieving further milestones in the years to come.”

     

     

    Rajesh Kaul

    Said Rajesh Kaul, President, MSM Media Distribution: “We are a team of passionate people with core values that create a great culture within the organization. This is the primary reason for our unprecedented success year on year.”

     

     

    Hema Malhotra

    Hema Malhotra, Director, Human Resources, MSM Media Distribution,  had this to say on the recognition, “It’s indeed a privilege to be featured in the Great Places to Work. Our workplace is one that attracts people that are characterised by inclusive environments in which all employees participate in the cultural life of the organisation. We as an organisation also believe in working hard and partying even harder.”