MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • The channel completed one year on July 31 with big plans ahead

    Colors Infinity turns one!

    By Anuka Roy

     

    Colors Infinity was launched on July 31, 2015 and with the promise of giving its viewers a unique television experience in English entertainment content. The channel boasts of capturing 60% of viewership from the aspirational, neo-urban consumer in the country but has also got over 100 advertisers on board, including brands ranging across automobiles, e-commerce, FMCGs and electronics categories.

     

    Ferzad Palia

    Speaking on the occasion of the first anniversary of the channel, Ferzad Palia, Head, English and Youth Entertainment, Viacom18 said, “At the very onset, we were faced with unequivocal opinions of futility but today celebrating a thriving completion of one year makes the anniversary an even more momentous occasion for us at Colors Infinity. We stayed true and committed to our vision of expanding the viewership base of English entertainment in general and increase the market share of Viacom18’s English cluster. With 60% of Colors Infinity’s viewership coming in from the non-metro market and our English cluster commanding 53% market share in the genre, I would say we are well on track to realise our vision.”

     

    “We have also seen a very encouraging quarterly advertising growth of 30%, in terms of the number of advertisers coming on board. This in turn has helped us capitalize on our effective rate as well. This year we plan to increase our focus on local English content as well as bring in the latest seasons of our popular shows. Finally, we are committed to continue our innovations on the viewing experience with Infinity-On-Demand, instant premieres and essential viewing,” Palia added

     

    In its very first year, the channel startedwith instant premieres of shows like Mr Robot, Tyrant, Better Call Saul, Heroes Reborn, Blindspot, Shades of Blue and Flash, thereby showcasing episodes immediately after its US premiere. It furtherencouraged binge watching on their channel by showcasing three back-to-back episodes of globally acclaimed shows such as Arrow, Fargo, The Big C, The Last Ship, Chasing Life and more, as well as a new concept in India called LIVE Binge of all-new seasons of Mad Dogs and Orange is The New Black, same time as its US telecast. In addition, the channel also introduced the idea of viewers choosing their own premieres with Infinity-on-Demand.

     

    In October 2015, the channel presented the viewers with the first-ever homegrown English language music talent show – The Stage. With the introduction of The Stage, the channel took a leap into homegrown content as well as for the first time on Indian television a platform to nurture English singing talent in India. The channel further nurtured its homegrown space with the launch of the celebrity chat-show Born Stylish: an AFP in association with Grey Goose. It showcased Bollywood style icons such as Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, and Anil Kapoor, spill the beans on their evolution of style through the years, as well as International fashion pioneers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Anna Zegna, MassimilianoGiornetti of Salvatore Ferragamo and many more, interacting with host PriaKatariaPuri.

     

    Besides a 360-degree marketing campaign, the channel took a step further to engage with the audience, such as anassociation with IIM-Bangalore for the launch campaign of Shark Tank. Within its first year, Colors Infinity has won a total of 23 metals across CEF Awards, IMA, Promax World, Promax India Awards and Promax Asia Awards for its creativity and innovation. Some of the key award-winning highlights include PromaxBDA Asia award for Best Integrated Marketing Campaign for launch campaign of the channel, and PRomaxBDA World awards for Orange is The New Black and Fargo.

     

    The channel celebrates its one year anniversary by adopting a noble cause through Isha Foundation by sponsoring one year’s schooling for 120 underprivileged girls.

     

  • The change is with effect from today, August 1

    From yesterday: Bloomberg TV India is now BTVi

    Business Broadcast News Pvt Ltd has announced the launch of BTVi, an all-new business channel which in its most recent avatar was called Bloomberg TV India. It may be recalled Business Broadcast and global financial information provider Bloomerg had ended their licensing agreement earlier this year. Bloomberg has now inked a deal with former Network18 promoter Raghav Bahl’s Quintillion Media.

     

    Noted an official statement released by the company on the launch of BTVi: “We stand by our principle of continuously delivering accurate information to our viewers. The content of the new channel will be a reflection of our proficiency and experienced editorial team. The compelling content of BTVi will be of interest to all participants of the financial ecosystem. BTVi will also have strong digital connect with the viewers with an integrated newsroom.”

     

    BTVi will have a strong connect with the senior corporate management, big market movers, technocrats, and the governance administration – both federal and state, the communique noted, adding: “With sharp market analysis, investment takeaways & deep data-mining, the show line-up will demonstrate best –in-class insights, exhaustive analysis, detailed company reports and in-depth interviews with the industry stalwarts and influencers.”

     

  • ZEEL revealed the first look of Zee Yuva on Wednesday evening in Mumbai. The channel is scheduled for launch on August 22

    Mindset does not have an age, says Sharada Sunder on Zee Yuva

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sharada Sunder

    Last evening (Aug 3), Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) hosted a pre-launch party for its new Marathi GEC ‘Zee Yuva’. This is the network’s third Marathi channel after Zee Marathi and Zee Talkies. Unveiling the first look of the channel, Sharada Sunder, Executive Vice President and Cluster Head, Regional Channels underscored the need for the network launching yet another channel in the same language. “While we see that a certain need of audiences are not served and it cannot be served by an existing genre. That is when we need to bring in a fresh proposition,” she said, adding: “So that we are able to focus and serve entertainment as is required by that particular target audience which is seeking entertainment of a different kind. That is what makes you want to serve a new channel to them.”

     

    Even though regional content and channels have been of great importance in the past as well but in recent times, networks are on an overdrive. In fact most of the large networks have launched a secondary channel in the same language and some more are on the anvil. So, are networks more focused on regional content currently, we asked Sunder. “I think there has always been an equal importance given to national and regional channels. We have seen a plethora of national channels launched in the past couple of years also. We have seen launches happening in both national and regional space. So, I think it is just about trying to give a brand which meets the demand. You will continue to see this so on and so forth. Whenever there is an opportunity and need, that is when there will be a launch,” she said.

     

    After Zee Yuwa’s first look was unveiled by Sunder and Bavesh Janavlekar, Business Head, Zee Talkies and Zee Yuva, an AV introducing the shows that will be aired from August 22 (the launch date) was screened. “The proposition of Yuva is it is not for kids. And, it is certainly not positioned as an age cut. It is positioned as a mindset. Mindset does not have an age. It is not meant to be restricted to an age bracket, it is meant to be appealing to a larger base of youthfulness,” said Sunder on the channel’s TG.

     

    According to her, Yuva is going to be in a zone that understands and reflects the energy of young India. The ‘relatability’ factor is being seen as one of the USPs of the channel. On the marketing strategy, Sunder said that the network will spend enough to make it visible and penetrate in the relevant market. And she is positive about revenues as well, because for her, good proposition always attracts monies. Of course.

     

  • Bhakti Active is a premium religious ad free subscription based service

    DishTV unveils Bhakti Active service

    By A Correspondent

     

    DishTV has tied up with Shemaroo Entertainment to launch a new premium service called Bhakti Active. Bhakti Active service will cater to the needs of people who like mythological and religious content. The respective programmes on the Bhakti Active service will be lined up based upon the Hindu calendar and festivals.

     

    Bhakti Active is a premium religious ad free subscription based service; that will enhance the consistent viewing experience of our subscriber. This service will be available as a free preview till the 31st August, post that a nominal amount of Rs 30 per month would be charged.

     

    Speaking on the launch, Arun Kumar Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, DishTV said, “Being a pioneer and a market leader in the DTH industry, DishTV stands for quality and commitment. It has always lived up to its promise of providing maximum width and depth of content to its consumers. We have always taken the lead in enhancing the value proposition and provide the best in entertainment to our subscribers. We are happy to announce our partnership with Shemaroo to launch Bhakti Active Service on our platform. This move reiterates our commitment to augment the TV viewing experience for our viewers.”

     

  • … India's Olympic quest needs better media showcasing, writes Shailesh Kapoor as the world gets set for Rio 2016 to unveil tonight

    The Games start today, but…

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    The biggest of all sporting events is here. Rio Olympics will kick off less than 24 hours from now, and over 17 days, the best in the world will compete to win something few other sporting achievements can match – an Olympic medal.

     

    Olympics may not be the most-watched sporting event in most parts of the world, but it is certainly the most prestigious one. From a broadcasting perspective, it is a challenging one too. Navigating schedules can be an arduous task, with more than a dozen simultaneous events at times. In the older days, we would rely on Doordarshan to give us whatever they thought was the best for us to see, on one channel. This broadcast by interrupted by long studio discussions, even as you missed the action that was unfolding at the same time.

     

    Star Sports has attempted to address the “problem” of variety this time, dedicating four channels (and their HD versions) to the event. It’s still not very clear how one is expected to navigate through the maze and find what one wants to watch, but at least, there will be variety on offer.

     

    My pet peeve related to Olympics coverage has been how incidental the India angle has been over the years. Ideally, one would expect a channel dedicated to India alone, which showcases only those events in which Indian athletes are participating. And when there’s no such event, the channel could air repeat programming or magazine content around India’s Olympic quest. I’m not aware if Star Sports has a specific plan like that, but I’m sure the India angle will be given more importance that previous years.

     

    Historically, there’s not been much to shout about the India angle, which explains why it has never been given the visibility it deserves today. When I started watching the Olympics back in 1984, expecting India to win even a single medal amounted to wishful thinking. We drew a hat-trick of blanks in 1984 at LA, in 1988 at Seoul, and then in 1992 at Barcelona. Leander Paes broke that dubious streak with an unlikely Tennis bronze in 1996 at Atlanta.

     

    Sydney 2000 was not much better. India’s sole bronze came from Karnan Malleswari in women’s Weightlifting. The hue improved in Athens 2004, with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (now an MoS) winning a Shooting silver. But it was the only medal we won that year.

     

    Beijing 2008 and London 2012 saw an improvement that many of thought we won’t see in our lifetimes. Abhinav Bindra’s gold in 2008 was backed up by Vijendra Singh and Sushil Kumar winning bronze. And the tally doubled to six in 2012, with two silvers and four bronze medals across four sports.

     

    If the trend is anything to go by, we should be targeting double-digit this year. To be honest, I don’t have much of a clue of how realistic that is. While there has been cursory coverage of India’s medal hopes on news channels, it has been confined to off-prime slots or the sports pages. The front-pages and primetime bulletins have largely ignored this topic. And the depth of analysis has been missing.

     

    The 120-strong squad, our biggest till date, will compete across 66 events. I Hope Star Sports and the rest of the Indian media covers these events prominently, even if they are not ratings-friendly. Because showcasing India’s participation with pride can have a defining influence on how our sporting culture builds over the next few years.

     

    Jai Ho!

     

  • The programming will focus on music videos and visual content

    Channel V transitions in to 24-hour music channel

    By A Correspondent

     

    There was a buzz that Star India’s Channel V might go back to being a 24-hour music channel. And, finally, the network made the announcement that transition will happen. With this, Channel V introduces music entertainment in India where visual content will be the focus. The programming will focus on music videos.

     

    With the foray back into the music television industry, Hemal Jhaveri, General Manager and Executive Vice President – Channel V, Star Gold, Movies OK and Utsav movies said, “Channel V has been a strong brand synonymous with music in India. We at V are keen on changing the music videos viewing experience. Last few years the TV music category has been dormant. With the revamp of Channel V, we aim to redefine the music video experience by delivering an uncluttered high-quality experience, with curated content for a visual delight.”

     

    Along with a new look and programming, Channel V will also launch a high decibel 360-degree marketing campaign across key metros. With prime focus on the digital medium, the campaign will also have a presence on TV, radio and outdoor sites. Other than this the channel will also participate in some on ground activities to grab the attention of the young audiences at major youth hangouts across key metros.

     

  • Region favourites Ravi Kishan & Madhu Sharma will be anchors with Malini Awasthi and Aman Verma as judges

    Big Ganga begins airing ‘Hindustan Ka BIG Star’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Hindustan Ka BIG Star, a rural talent-based show has begun airing from Saturday, 6th August every weekend from 8 – 9 pm on BIG Ganga. Popular actors Ravi Kishan and Madhu Sharma will be seen anchoring the show while Malini Awasthi and Aman Verma will be on the judging panel. In its eighth season, the channel took the property to the next level by targeting not only melas, but also added cities, thus increasing participation as well as growing the reach.

     

    With an attempt to unearth talent from the grass root level, Hindustan ka BIG Star not only invites participants who are passionate about any talent, but also encourages those who have an aptitude for singing, dancing, mimicry, stunts, stand-up comedy, painting and much more.

     

    Harkawal Singh, Category Head –Oral Care, Dabur India Ltd said, “We are delighted to partner with Hindustan Ka BIG Star for the third year in a row. The show is a great platform to communicate about the importance of oral hygiene in a relevant way. Dabur Red Paste from the house of Dabur is always known for complete oral care. Dabur Red Paste is a unique blend of traditional Indian Medicine and modern pharmaceutical technology bringing out the best of both, the side effects free, effective formulation useful for maintaining oral hygiene and keeping the gums and teeth healthy.”

     

    Speaking about the property, a spokesperson from BIG Ganga said, “The eighth season of Hindustan Ka BIG Star was a great success with auditions across UP, MP, Bihar & Jharkhand and we are looking forward to the telecast from Saturday, 6th August. With region favorites like Ravi Kishan and Madhu Sharma as anchors, and well known TV personality Aman Verma and the immensely talented Malini Awasthi as judges, we are sure viewers will enjoy watching India’s first and only rural talent based show.”

     

    The show has already travelled to some of the biggest melas of the Hindi heartland including Kumbh, Sonepur, Meerut Nauchandi, Aligarh Numaish etc. More than 10,000 performers have lived their dream on Hindustan Ka BIG Star’s (Mele Ka BIG Star) unique platform.

     

    In addition to this, the high decibel marketing approach to the show will facilitate an extensive forum for marketers to directly connect with their consumers. The show will be heavily promoted through TV, radio, digital and print mediums.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    BIG Ganga is distributed across all cable operators across the states of Bihar, Jharkhand & UP and spread across the likes of DEN, Digicable, WWIL, Hathway, Darsh and Maurya amongst others and DTH players like Airtel, Dish, Reliance Digital, DD Direct and Videocon.

     

    About Reliance Broadcast Network Limited

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited is a media and entertainment company with interests in radio, television and television production. The Company houses: 92.7 BIG FM – India’s No.1 FM Network with 45 stations, reaching over 4.3 crore Indians each week; BIG Magic – which has built strong brand equity as a Comedy Channel and is positioned as the one stop destination for humor, with higher affinity in the Hindi heartland; BIG Ganga – the No. 1 regional Channel of Bihar and Jharkhand; BIG Magic International – a channel targeted at the Indian Diaspora in North America. For more information, log on to www.reliancebroadcast.com.

     

  • The two short TVCs highlight the magic of these unforgettable movies and the impact that these films have on people’s lives even today

    Sony MAX2 unveils latest brand film with an emotional spin

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sony MAX2 from Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) unveiled its latest campaign to refresh the channel’s brand ethos ‘Kuch Filmo Ka Jadu Kabhi Kam Nahi Hota’ with its new tagline ‘Yaad Rahega’. This campaign is a rejuvenation of the brand’s promise of enriching the lives of today’s viewers with the inspiring values and refreshing pure content of iconic films.

     

    The two short TVCs highlight the magic of these unforgettable movies and the impact that these films have on people’s lives even today. It showcases how people savor ageless cinema by celebrating simple yet beautiful moments in their life. The first TVC shows a family get-together where a young couple celebrates their marriage anniversary and the speech-impaired wife beautifully enacts the all-time romantic number,’Pehla Nasha’ for her anxious husband and surprises him. The second TVC celebrates the strength of a long-enduring relationship, wherein an old couple shares a light moment with their grandchildren when they are asked about their love affair in their younger days. These TVCs engrave MAX2’s refreshed positioning in the minds of its viewers and help the audience develop an instant connect.

     

    The channel has also strengthened its content library with classic ground-breaking movies like Julie, Ek Duje Ke Liye, Khatta Meetha, Gharonda, Kasme Vaade, Aap Ki Kasam and many more such to live up to its promise of enriching the lives of today’s viewers.

     

    Vaishali Sharma, Senior VP Marketing and Communications, Sony MAX and MAX2 said: “Being the leader in its space, MAX2 as a brand has grown and built a strong viewership base for itself. With the new campaign tagline, ‘Yaad Rahega’ we aim at strengthening our brand promise by appreciating the magic of iconic cinema. The two TVCs indisputably bring forth the nostalgia of good timeless movies and how they still have the power to impact our present life.  With a more robust library in place, it’s a perfect time for us to refresh our brand imagery.”

     

    Conceptualized by DDB Mudra the campaign launched on 10th August. The channel is engaging in a massive television plan across all genres for over four weeks. The marketing plan also includes print and a digital campaign spread over the next one month.

     

  • It has been launched to salute the spirit of the Indian woman, who is gaining her independence every day

    TLC’s digital campaign #FreedomIs connects with WOMEN

    By A Correspondent

     

    TLC’s Independence Day digital campaign ‘FreedomIs’ was well received and a hit on social media platforms. It has been launched to salute the spirit of the Indian woman, who is gaining her independence every day.

     

    The digital campaign was launched across digital platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The video has been viewed by over half a million people and reached over four million viewers on social platforms.

     

    The campaign celebrated Indian women in different spheres of life discussing the multiple manifestations of freedom – from societal to economic liberation. It was well received by women on social media.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Rajiv Bakshi, Vice President, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (South Asia) said, “Each person defines freedom as per the prevailing situation and surrounding challenge. There is a woman announcing her independence every day across India. On India’s 70th anniversary of independence, TLC highlights women aspirations and descriptions about this breathtaking word – freedom. Capturing today’s woman, the digital campaign lifts the veil from the past auguring the future.”

     

  • Bharatvarsh will take viewers on a journey from ancient India to the 19th century

    ABP News flags off Bharatvarsh with Anupam Kher

    By A Correspondent

     

    In the last few months, ABP News has been constantly working on revamping its prime time shows. Amongst the big changes, channel launched its 9pm news bulletin “Jan Man” with Dibang which talks about the big news of the day and its impact on the common man’s life. The next big programme in pipeline is “Bharatvarsh”.

     

    Bharatvarsh will take viewers on a journey from ancient India to the 19th century by showcasing the life stories of India’s major figures, who had a defining impact on the formation and evolution of the country. Anchored by Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, ‘Bharatvarsh’ will present thoughts and ideologies of such varied personalities. The programme will cover icons like Buddha, Kabir, Chanakya, Maharana Pratap, Shivaji and many more. The series also aims to explain how these ancient, historical individuals have been interpreted in modern India and continue to impact and inspire lives. The show will air on every Saturday 10pm and Sunday 8 pm.

     

    “News is a cluttered space with virtually no differentiation and this has always been the challenge for the industry. At ANN, we are committed to challenging ourselves all the time to differentiate and to bring out something new for our viewers and advertisers. Bharatvarsh is another innovative show backed by extensive content research and high-end production quality,” says Ashok Venkatramani, CEO, ABP News Network.

     

    Milind Khandekar, Managing Editor, ABP News, said “We are thought leaders in News Television industry, ‘Bharatvarsh’ will prove this once again after the grand success of ‘Prandhanmantri’ and award winning series ‘Ramrajya’. This programme will make history relevant for all of us”.

     

     

  • Only News Channel ahead of Zee Anmol, Star Utsav, Rishtey and Sony Sab

    Aaj Tak overtakes major GECs with record coverage of over 136mn

    By A Correspondent

     

    Aaj Tak emerged a winner last week by being the only Hindi news channel to reach 136 million coverage (Source – BARC, TG: 4+, All India, Wk 31’16, Cov’000). This record is remarkable because it is not just ahead of the other trailing news channels, but is also the only news channel that is ahead of GECs like Zee Anmol, Star Utsav, Rishtey and Sony Sab.

     

    Ashish Bagga

    Speaking on the viewership record, Mr. Ashish Bagga, Group CEO – India Today Group said, “Aaj Tak has been defining the News genre in India for over 15 years and has consistently led as the No.1 Hindi News Channel. This milestone is just one among the many records that the channel continues to break. The focus on the viewer and the philosophy of staying true to the promise of ‘Sabse Tez’ has always kept Aaj Tak in pole position ”.

     

    Aaj Tak led through the week across all major news events especially in the story around collapse of the bridge on Mumbai Goa highway and continuing coverage of the Bulandshahr gang rape incident.

     

  • The brand will be handled by the agency's Mumbai office

    Publicis Worldwide wins SonyLIV’s creative mandate

    By A Correspondent

     

    SonyLIV from Sony Pictures Networks has assigned its creative mandate to Publicis Worldwide. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch. The brand will be handled by the agency’s Mumbai office.

     

    Sony LIV is a premium video-on-demand (VOD) service by Sony Pictures Networks’ (SPN) providing multi-screen engagement to users across platforms. Launched in January 2013, SonyLIV enables users to discover 21 years of rich archival and original content from the network channels of SPN.

     

    Uday Sodhi
    Paritosh Srivastava

    Commenting on Publicis winning the SonyLIV creative mandate, Uday Sodhi, Executive Vice-President and Head, Digital Business, Sony Pictures Networks India, said, “During the last three years, a lot of effort has gone behind building brand SonyLIV. In Publicis we saw the right creative partner who could help us with their strategic insights. With their expertise we hope to drive impactful campaigns and create meaningful conversations around our brand.”

     

    Expressing their view on the account win, Paritosh Srivastava, COO, Publicis Ambience said, “We are excited and proud to be associated with a brand like SonyLIV. In this digital era, with the growing audience, video-on-demand is the future of entertainment. SonyLIV has been one of the early entrants in the OTT space and we aim to cohesively work with the brand team to realize the grand ambitions.”