MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • The 4th edition of tournament will also be streamed LIVE on SonyLIV app and website

    SPN acquires broadcast & digital rights for Bangladesh Premier League 2016

     

     

    Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) announces the acquisition of the broadcast and digital rights of the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016. The tournament which is said to be the biggest cricket extravaganza in Bangladesh, commenced on November 4 and will be telecast on Sony Six and Sony SIix HD as well as streamed live on SonyLIV app and website. The on-air broadcastrights include the telecast of 43 live matches of the tournament in the Indian sub-continent. Along with streaming, SonyLIV will also be providing fans with a lot of exclusive Video-On-Demand (VOD) content like highlights, best sixes, best catches, fielding and more.

     

    Said Rajesh Kaul, President, Distribution and Sports Business, Sony Pictures Network: “Sony Pictures Networks India has been in the forefront of bringing and popularising theT20 league format of cricket. Following our previous offerings of Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, South African T20 league and Karnataka Premier League, we are pleased to announce the addition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to our T20 cricket portfolio. The BPL line-up is particularly impressive with International cricketers like Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and more that our viewers can look forward to.”

     

    The top four teams from the group stage will qualify for the knockout stage which includes the semi-finals, the eliminator and the final match. The semi-finals of BPL 2016 will take place on December 8 while the final will be played on December 9 in Dhaka.

     

  • The channel's digital presence will also be revamped with the launch of a newly designed news18india.com

    IBN7 to be called News18 India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Network18 Group has renamed its Hindi general news channel as News18 India. The channel will unveil a new brand identity, logo and tagline along with a refreshed on-air look. The new avatar of the channel will be revealed at 6.57 pm today (November 9). The channel’s digital presence will also be revamped with the launch of a newly designed news18india.com

     

    Speaking on the re-launch, Avinash Kaul, President – Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network18, said, “We are not just rebranding the news channel, we are also putting into action an entire philosophy, a fresh approach focused on hard hitting journalism. There is constant need to innovate and stay relevant in the rapidly changing news environment. Through this refresh initiative, we intend to capture the viewer’s interest and also ensure impact through our news stories. Today, the viewers are overloaded with choices and information. In the midst of all this clutter, we are trying to create differentiation and relevance for our viewers and are confident about the change that we are actioning.”

     

    In the lead-up to the rebranding, the channel has strengthened its editorial team, introduced new anchors and launched new shows and formats. The refresh will build on this momentum with more impactful content, fresh packaging, and new studios adding to the experience being provided to the viewers.

     

    Said Prabal Pratap Singh, Consulting Editor, News18 India on the new identity of the channel: “Our news channel has seen tremendous energy over the past few months. We have broken several big stories and I feel repositioning ourselves with the tagline “Danke Ki Chot Par” aptly captures the spirit of what we are trying to achieve. Going forward, the channel will continue to ask even more pointed questions with an aim to challenge the status quo. Editorially, the thrust will be on constructive criticism and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that our passion for fearless journalism results in positive impact on society.”

     

  • There is jubilation in the India TV newsroom as the ITA Award for Hindi news channels has been bagged by rival Aaj Tak for 15 consecutive years

    India TV wins ITA Award for Best Hindi News Channel

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ritu Dhawan

    Leading Hindi news channel India TV won the coveted viewers’ choice Best Hindi News Channel Award at ITA Awards ceremony held in Mumbai on Sunday.

     

    Said Ritu Dhawan, MD and CEO, India TV said:  “India TV is all about the people of this great nation. We have achieved many milestones in the past and we continue to do so. First it was TAM now it’s BARC, we have broken all rating records. The ITA award is indeed yet another special achievement specially when the viewers have chosen us directly for the honour.”

     

    Rajat Sharma

    Commenting on the feat, India TV Chairman and Editor-in-chief Mr. Rajat Sharma said, “The relentless pursuit for excellence in news gathering and delivery is at the core of our success. The team has indeed been doing a great job and I am very pleased with the effort,” adding: “The viewers must also be congratulated to have made sure that the competition feels the heat. After all this is great for the genre and benefit the viewer eventually.

     

    Meanwhile, there is jubilation in the India TV newsroom as the ITA Award for Hindi news channels has been bagged by rival Aaj Tak for 15 consecutive years.

     

  • The marketing plan also consists of a digital leg

    Sony Max unveils new brand message – ‘Naaz Hai Humein Apni Deewangi Pe’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sony Max, the Hindi movie channel from the Sony Pictures Network has rolled out a new campaign recently. The campaign is based on the thought ‘Naaz Hai Humein Apni Deewangi Pe’ which encapsulates the country’s obsession with Hindi Cinema and its influence on the everyday moments of life. The channel will be unveiling multiple short films showcasing how fans inspired by movies have imbibed the deewanapan.

     

    The three 45-seconder TVCs string together people from different walks of life and depicts how extremely passionate movie buffs look at every situation from a 70mm lens. The campaign also attempts to capture the rich pallet of emotions behind various facets of Hindi cinema. The TVCs consist of seven distinct situations including the likes of a young couple eloping with the entire community running behind them and then with a sudden sharp turn they screech and look into the camera and say “Ishq karo toh aise karo ki zamana peeche lag jaye”. Another one is a college graduation ceremony sequence where an Anil Kapoor inspired student dances her way to the stage to receive her degree, leaving the audience and the professors spellbound – “Entry maro toh aise ki sab dekhte reh jaye”. A rickshaw driver inspired by Hindi movies pulls his collar wide when two pretty looking girls arrive for a ride. With a lot of cheek, he turns them down and says “Aur thukrao toh aise thukrao ki choor-choor ho jaye”. One more situation on friendship sees a young man taking a beating for his friend by some goons much larger than him. As he takes one to the chin he says, “Dosti nibhao toh aisi ki misaal bann jaye.” All TVCs end with a voiceover in the end “Deewana banate aaye hai, banate rahenge”.

     

    Said Vaishali Sharma, Senior VP – Marketing, Sony Max movie cluster:

    “The strategic reason to have a fresh campaign is to celebrate the uninterrupted leadership and success of the Sony MAX channel over the last 26 weeks. The campaign is a reflection of the influence and impact that Sony MAX has had on people’s lives with its movie offerings. The core thought ‘Naaz hai humein apni Deewangi pe’ not only showcases the madness that movies instills in every Indian but also takes the deewanapan a notch higher”. The TVCs are conceptualised by DDB Mudra and shot by Tubelight Films.

     

  • The new Vh1 to be India's go-to destination for International Music, Entertainment & Pop Culture

    Vh1 undergoes brand refresh exercise

    By A Correspondent

     

    Viacom18’s international music channel Vh1 is set to elevate its brand experience with an all-new refreshed look. The channel will offer original programming like “Vh1 Inside access with Miss Malini” and “Vh1 India Diaries”. Introducing the refreshed Vh1 experience will be Demi Lovato, Coldplay and Jay-Z live at the most awaited Global Citizen Festival 2016 on November 19.

     

    Commenting on the refreshed Vh1, Ferzad Palia, Business Head, English and Youth Entertainment, Viacom18, said: “Vh1 India represents the changing entertainment preferences of the millennials. It is to cater to these evolving preferences that the channel has refreshed its content and visual experience. Our endeavour is to now make the channel more inclusive by introducing original content and socially integrated shows into the mix. We are sure that the all new Vh1 will reinforce our authority on International music & pop culture.”

     

    Speaking about going live with Global Citizen, he added: “There could not have been a bigger, more entertaining and relevant platform than Global Citizen Festival to showcase the brand new and refreshed Vh1.”

     

  • Zee Cafe's new positioning is more indicative of its leadership and reinforces the channel as a trendsetter in the category

    Zee Cafe redefines its brand positioning with ‘All Eyes on New’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zee Café has announced its brand re-positioning with the slogan – All Eyes on New. According to a communiqué, the new slogan incarnates the gamut of the channel’s clutter-breaking content and urges the audience to stay glued to Zee Café.

     

    To promote the brand revamp, the channel will soon be releasing a brand film to showcase the new philosophy of the channel. An original soundtrack has been composed to embody the attitude of the Brand Refresh.

     

    Meanwhile, Zee Café is undertaking a dynamic social media mix to mobilise audiences across platforms. In addition to this, the channel will continue with a unique and interactive marketing campaign across mediums such as TV, Radio, Print, Trade, DTH and Outdoor in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

     

  • The entertainment industry is notorious for having perspective problems, writes Shailesh Kapoor

    Shailesh Kapoor: Perspective: Entertainment Can Wait When It Needs To

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Perspective is a powerful word. It is also an underrated one, and “losing perspective” is not an uncommon thing to do. The entertainment industry, in particular, is notorious for having perspective problems. And nothing highlights this more than the events of the last week. It may not be the most obvious linkage, but it’s one worth diving into.

     

    With the cash economy coming under increasing pressure over the last 10 days, the focus of the country has been on keeping their lives running. Everything else comes second to that. Now that’s pretty obvious, you would say. But this dead-duck-obvious piece of fact actually challenges how the entertainment industry, especially the film industry and the ad industry, has been thinking for years.

     

    The perception that the entire country, if not the world, is waiting with bated breath for their new film, trailer, ad, channel or show launch is something you would strongly sense in the corridors of a media house. It is natural to feel involved with one’s work, and passionately so too. But the perspective that this industry’s work after all is not essential to running people’s lives is often not understood in so many words.

     

    It is routine to hear sweeping statements like “People have simply loved the show, we are getting so much positive feedback, we can’t even read all of it” or “I’m surprised its recall is so low. Everyone I meet is talking only about it”. In a country as big as ours, words like everyone, people, so much, etc. can mean previous little, especially when spoken without perspective. The social media has made it worse. It has increased the interaction of celebrities, creative talent and media executives with their audience manifold, creating more and more illusion about how substantive their work is.

     

    Let’s look at some numbers for perspective. Only 36.6 million (3.66 crore) Indians contribute to 87% of Bollywood’s theatrical business. More than 65% television sets are switched off at 9pm, which is the peak of primetime. An episode of the biggest show on TV gets about 12 million (1.2 crore) impressions only. These numbers may look sizeable, when you compare them to random data points, like the population of a mid-sized state in the USA. But when seen in the Indian context, they are certainly not national unifiers.

     

    Entertainment is a powerful industry in influencing public opinion, shaping popular culture and creating social change. There is no debate on that. But it is, to begin with, primarily a medium of relaxation and enjoyment. No shame in that. Relaxation and enjoyment are not easy to come by. But ascribing undue importance to the role of the entertainment business is where perspective is lost.

    Theatres have been largely empty over the last week and a half. In a research conducted by Ormax Media earlier this week, 28% of regular theatre-goers said they will not be able to watch a film in theatres at least for the next week, till their cash situation improves. This number is likely to be significantly higher among irregular theatre goers.

    The “non-essential” nature of the entertainment business is evident. People don’t talk TV shows and films all the time. They have a life to run, which can at times include standing in long bank and ATM queues for hours. That’s their perspective. What’s yours?

     

  • Network to raise awareness on issues such as Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Clean Water and Sanitation in India

    Viacom18 puts its might for Global Citizen Festival

    By A Correspondent

     

    Viacom18, which had entered into a strategic tie-up with the Global Citizen Festival, is getting set to amplify a high decibel public awareness campaign in India, on the issues of quality education, gender equality and clean water and sanitation. As part of this partnership, the festival will be telecast live exclusively on Vh1, streamed exclusively on Voot, with flagship Colors airing it in December while Colors Infinity and MTV showcasing content around the festival.

     

    Commenting on the GCF partnership, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18, said, “We live in interesting times. There’s so much happening around at a global, national and local level. As a leading Indian media and entertainment organisation we saw this partnership as a natural extension of our own beliefs and perfectly in sync with the kind of work we have been doing since our inception. It gives us the ideal springboard to channel a much larger force towards driving change in modern-day India. The Global Citizen Festival enables us to work with like-minded organisations as we use all our media assets to drive behavioral change when it comes to WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) related matters.”

     

    The Global Citizen Festival will see a galaxy of international musicians like Colday, Jay Z and Demi Lovato and Indian icons like AR Rahman, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arijit Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Dia Mirza, Freida Pinto, Malaika Arorha Khan, Monali Thakur, Parineeti Chopra, Sachin Tendulkar, Sakshi Malik, Shah Rukh Khan, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Shraddha Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Vidya Balan, Vijendar Singh and Vivek Oberoi; come together in support of the GCF’s causes at MMRDA Grounds on November 19.

     

  • News channel Aaj Tak has reported yet another high given the news of the demonetisation

    Demonetisation helps Aaj Tak viewership skyrocket

    By A Correspondent

     

    Close on the heels of its performance around the surgical strike, news channel Aaj Tak has reported yet another high given the news of the demonetisation. According to communiqué, as per recent BARC data, Aaj Tak has left behind GEC and movie channels like Colors, Zee Cinema, Sony Max, Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony Ent (SOURCE:- BARC, Mkt:- HSM, TG:- 15+ NCCS AB, Wk-45’16  (in millions). Aaj Tak also had a massive lead in the news genre with 25% market share on coverage of the demonetisation post PM Modi’s announcement, the communiqué adds.

     

    Commenting on the ratings, Ashish Bagga, Group CEO – India Today Group said “The preference for Aaj Tak amongst news viewers is evident every time any major national news breaks. The fact that Aaj Tak is ahead of all channels during by Advertise” href=”#44390314″> important news events highlights the trust that viewers place on the channel. We value their confidence in the brand and will continue to stay true to the promise of being Sabse Tez.”

     

  • Maharashtra gears up for a true identity & status upgrade

    Zee Marathi now available on HD platform

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zee Marathi launched its HD channel, Zee Marathi HD on Sunday (Nov 20). Having been in the business for 17 years, the channel has evolved with changing times and has aspired to represent the changing mindsets and ideology.

     

    The channel will feature simulcast content with an enhanced viewing experience on HD. launch campaign is based on an HD experience that the viewers will go through while watching their favorite shows on Zee Marathi HD. The launch is supported by a focused television, print, DTH and outdoor campaign.

     

    Said Sharada Sunder, Cluster Head:  “Offering HD channels to our viewers is a part of our ‘future ready’ vision.  ZEEL has started its regional HD offering with the launch of Zee Talkies HD last month. We are happy to launch the HD versions of our popular brands Zee Marathi and Zee Bangla. Zee Marathi has always inspired and entertained with great content offering and I am confident that the viewers will love the superlative viewing experience on HD as well”.

     

    Added Nilesh Mayekar, Business Head-Zee Marathi: “This is a proud moment for all of us. Our shows have essentially preserved and depicted family relations in a manner that is relatable, inspirational, and connects emotionally with the audience. We believe that we play an by Advertise” href=”#66377277″> important role in the evolution of the consumer and treat the same with a great degree of responsibility. As the consumer evolves and moves up in life we ought to give them the experience that they rightly deserve and this is the way forward for technology in broadcast.”

     

  • Content development leader brought on to forge a new direction for Discovery with millennial audiences across various platforms

    Sameer Rao appointed VP at Discovery Networks

    By A Correspondent

     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific has appointed Sameer Rao as Vice President, Real World Products-South Asia with effect from November 25. Rao will lead content curation, audience development, creative and original content for Discovery’s Real World product suite which includes Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Tamil, Discovery HD World and Animal Planet HD World.

     

    Based in Mumbai, he will report to Karan Bajaj, SVP & GM South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific. He will lead the development of the Real World vertical and expand the networks’ existing category leadership.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Bajaj said: “I am delighted to have Sameer join our team to transform our Real World product suite with visceral content, compelling local franchises and digital offerings that resonate with millennial audiences. Sameer’s depth of experience and network will be a catalyst in developing an omni-platform content strategy appealing to the masses.”

     

    Rao brings with him over two decades of experience in movie, broadcast and consulting industries.

     

  • While Big Magic & Big Ganga and the four licences will be part of ZEEL, 49% of 92.7 Big FM becomes part of Zee Media

    Reliance ADAG exits television, 49% of radio. Sells to Zee

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Zee group has acquired the Reliance Broadcast Network Limited’s entertainment channels (plus four other licences it owns) along with 49 per cent stake in 92.7 Big FM. The transactions will help reduce exposure in non-core businesses and work towards further reducing debt under Reliance Capital, said Sam Ghosh, Executive Director and Group CEO, Reliance Capital.

     

    Radio:

    The Board of Directors of Zee Media Corporation Limited has approved acquisition of 49% stake in 92.7 BIG FM, the radio broadcasting business of Reliance Broadcast Network Limited.

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited runs the largest network of FM radio channels in India – 45 operational licenses (issued under Phase II and migrated to Phase III) and 14 new licenses (issued under Phase III). The FM channels are being broadcast under the brand “92.7 BIG FM”, reaching to 45 cities, 1200 towns and over 200 million people. It reaches out to around 43 million listeners per week and engages with a large number of national and local advertisers.

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited shall be transferring the 45 operational and 14 new licences into two SPVs respectively along with the assets and liabilities. ZMCL shall acquire 49% stake in each of these two SPVs. ZMCL and Reliance Broadcast Network Limited shall also have a call/put option to acquire/sell the balance 51% after the lock-in provisions on the permission holder of these licenses expire. As per MIB regulations, at least 51% shareholding needs to be held by the permission holder for a minimum period of three years from the date the channels were operationalised. The lock-in period for the 45 operational licenses shall expire on March 31, 2018, whilst the lock-in period for the 14 licences shall expire after the expiry of three years from the day all 14 licences shall have become operational, which is expected to be around March 2020.

     

    Said Rajiv Singh, COO, ZMCL: “We are pleased to announce this acquisition which shall not only be complementary to our current business but accelerate its growth too. We are currently running successfully a bouquet of 11 news and current affair channels and with the addition of 59 radio licenses, we will be reaching out to a much increased audience base and will keep them engaged on different media platforms. This acquisition shall bring about the desired business diversity and will help in achieving the sound financial objectives at an accelerated pace. We are confident that this investment will enhance value for all stakeholders and looking forward towards this exciting journey to take the company to the next level.”

     

    Said Sam Ghosh, ED and Group CEO, Reliance Capital in a statement: “We are happy to bring in Zee Media as our partner in the Radio business. This transaction is part of our strategy to reduce exposure in non-core businesses and work towards further reducing debt under Reliance Capital”.

     

    The proposed transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals including Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of CY2017.

     

    Television:

    Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (“ZEEL”) has also approved the acquisition of the general entertainment broadcasting business undertaking of Reliance Big Broadcasting Private Limited, Big Magic Limited and Azalia Broadcast Private Limited, all part of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group entities through a scheme of demerger and execution of definitive agreements in relation to such proposed acquisition..  The TV Broadcasting business of Reliance Group Entities currently comprises two operational general entertainment channels (“BIG Magic” and “BIG Ganga”) and 4 other TV licenses.

     

    BIG Magic is a Comedy channel catering to Hindi Speaking Markets. BIG Ganga is a leading Bhojpuri entertainment channel catering to audiences in Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal. The channels are available on all major MSOs and DTH operators.

     

    The General Entertainment TV Broadcasting business undertaking along with its assets, liabilities, licenses, trademarks etc. shall get demerged from “BIG Magic Ltd”, “Reliance Big Broadcasting Private Ltd” and “Azalia Broadcast Private Ltd” into ZEEL through a court-approved scheme.

     

    Said Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL: “We are pleased to announce this acquisition which further adds to our expanding universe of general entertainment channels. Big Magic gives us access to comedy genre enhancing our customer offerings. Big Ganga, a leading Bhojpuri channel syncs with our strategy of expanding into the regional markets which offers attractive growth potential. I am confident that these two channels will make the Zee Network channels more enriching for the audience and for the Company.”

     

    Said Sam Ghosh, ED and Group CEO, Reliance Capital: “We are happy to divest 100 per cent of our general entertainment TV business to Zee Entertainment. This transaction is part of our strategy to reduce exposure in non-core businesses and work towards further reducing debt under Reliance Capital.”

     

    The proposed transaction remains subject to approval of the shareholders and requisite regulatory approvals including stock exchanges, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Bombay Hight Court. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of CY2017.