MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • To align with Sony's global ethos

    Sony rebrands channel portfolio

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has rebranded all its network channels to be more aligned with Sony’s global ethos.

     

    According to N P Singh, MD & CEO, SPNI: “The power of the Sony brand and its values have driven our work ethics so far, and today, it reflects in our channel-brand architecture as well. The work that we started three years ago has now reached fruition. We are creating a powerful unified entertainment conglomerate with a broader appeal by refocusing our existing channel portfolio in its latest look and feel.”

     

  • For Season 2 of the rap/hip-hop reality show

    DDB Mudra joins MTV Hustle to launch first AI-powered rapper

    By Our Staff

     

    DDB Mudra Group has partnered with MTV Hustle 2.0, a rap/hip-hop reality show, to launch ‘BotHard’ – an AI-powered rapper. The campaign offers a unique tech innovation and consumer engagement experience. It is conceptualised by the DDB Mudra Group.

     

    Speaking on the initiative, Anshul Ailawadi, Head – Youth, Music and English Entertainment cluster, Viacom18, said: “MTV has always been about bold visions and big moves. ‘BotHard’ is an example of disruptive, transmedia storytelling that complements the raison d’être for Realme MTV Hustle 2.0. With this initiative, we hope to redefine the consumer experience for our Gen-Z and millennial fans.”

     

    Added Utsav Chaudhuri, Marketing Head – Youth, Music, and English Entertainment, Viacom18: “At MTV, we focus on strategic and innovative experiences across multiple youth touch-points. We are at the cusp of exciting possibilities with AI to drive narratives, recall value and immersive consumer engagement. With the confluence of avant-garde technology and a multi-platform approach we developed ‘BotHard’, a first-of-its-kind AI-powered rapper, to further put the spotlight on real, unmatched talent curated by Realme MTV Hustle 2.0.”

     

    Speaking on the campaign, Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said: “While this idea is built on cutting-edge technology, the most exciting part for us was how true it had to stay to hip-hop culture for it to be accepted by the audience. It lives at the right intersection of culture, creativity, and technology.”

     

  • To cement its position as a Living Room Brand

    Sony Sab bolsters brand and content strategy

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Sab has launched a campaign to mark a new chapter in its journey as a channel and brand. The channel aims to strengthen its emotional connection with its viewers through a philosophy based on the understanding that “Jo roz choti khushiya dete hai, wohi rishtey toh bade hote hai.”

     

    Said Neeraj Vyas, Business Head, Sony Sab, Pal, and Sony Max Movie Cluster: “Sony Sab is entering a new phase as the brand is undergoing metamorphosis with its content and brand strategy. We are looking for stories and insights from the daily lives of people. As creators we are constantly looking for new themes and new insights that reflect on the trends and what people are going through, staying ahead with consumers and their changing lives. The recently launched brand films will further help us cement our positioning as a brand that goes beyond just providing entertainment and helps us connect emotionally with our audiences on a much deeper level. As a channel we are forward-looking, catering to the diverse needs of the family and yet at the same time bringing them together.”

     

    Added Vaishali Sharma, Marketing & Communications Head, Sony Sab, Pal and Sony Max Movie Cluster: “In today’s complex world we understand the meaning of using the insights of what relationship means to our viewers and we have mined a very powerful insight which helped us develop this campaign. The objective of the brand campaign is to strengthen our relationship with our consumers and to express how the brand interweaves itself into the life and emotions of people. The campaign is one such initiative in the journey of evolution for Sony Sab, and while content continues to make an impact, at a brand level we will continue to engage with people keeping this ethos in mind.” The campaign kicked off yesterday, November 3.

     

  • Brings the best of the OTT subscriptions to one place

    Dish TV India launches Watcho OTT plans

    By Our Staff

     

    Following a successful run on its original content, Watcho is expanding its offering by providing bundled packages of the most popular OTT platforms, thus providing its subscribers with a whole new world of digital content along with the convenience of a single subscription.

     

    Watcho will offer OTT content from Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, Sony LIV, Lionsgate Play, Hungama Play, HoiChoi, Klikk, EpicOn, Chaupal, and Oho Gujarati via a single login and subscription model. Additionally, subscribers will also be able to enjoy the massive library of original content including 35+ enthralling web series, Swag (UGC content), snackable shows, and live TV from WATCHO exclusives. DishTV will further enhance its plans as more OTT platforms are in the pipeline to join Watcho to make it a comprehensive entertainment destination.

     

    Speaking on the launch, Anil Dua, Group CEO, Dish TV India Limited said: “As pioneers of DTH technology, Dish TV India has played a significant role in changing the Indian television landscape. With rapid digitization, evolving consumer preferences, and a paradigm shift in the industry dynamics, we are moving a step ahead by aggregating video streaming apps (OTTs) and thereby expanding  Watcho’s offerings. With Watcho’s new service, we have strengthened our OTT content distribution platform by creating a single subscription gateway that delivers amazing value and convenience to our subscribers. With the introduction of this new services, we intend to make Watcho a one-stop entertainment destination with original content, linear TV and on-demand diverse entertainment anytime, anywhere, and on any screen.”

     

  • He was at Goldmine Telefilms previously

    Enter10 gets Johnson Jain as CRO

    By Our Staff

     

    Enter10 TV Network, which owns and operates five broadcast channels, Dangal TV, Dangal 2, Bhojpuri Cinema, Enter10 GEC and Enter10 Bangla, has roped in Johnson Jain as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

     

    Jain has worked across organisations like Zee Entertainment, Sony Entertainment, 9X Media, Goldmine Telefilms and Beginnen Media. Most recently, he was Chief Revenue Officer at Goldmine Telefilms.

     

    Commenting on Johnson’s appointment, Manish Singhal, MD of Enter10 TV network said: “I am glad to welcome Johnson Jain to our Enter10 family as the Chief Revenue Officer. His charming personality, a go-getter attitude and cordial relationships are admired across the industry. I wish him all the best.”

     

  • To be hosted by Sunny Leone and Arjun Bijlani

    MTV launches new season of MTV Splitsvilla

    By Our Staff

     

    MTV, the youth-centric entertainment television channel, , launches the new season of its marquee show ‘MTV Splitsvilla X4’. The 14th season of MTV Splitsvilla X4, co-powered by Wildstone Deos and Perfumes and ONN…Total Comfort, is all set to go on air from 12th November on MTV and Voot.

     

    Sunny Leone and Arjun Bijlani will be hosting the show.

    Speaking on amping up the content portfolio with its marquee property, Anshul Ailawadi, Head – Youth, Music and English Entertainment cluster, Viacom18, said: “MTV continues to spearhead youth entertainment in India with its repertoire of in-vogue content that evolves with its target audience. On the heels of successful franchises like MTV Roadies – Journey in South Africa and MTV Hustle 2.0, we’re set to launch the latest season of our tentpole show, MTV Splitsvilla X4. We’re sure the new season will be loved by all fans, old and new.”

     

  • For Season 2 of MTV Nishedh series

    Viacom18 and MTV Staying Alive Foundation roll out campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Viacom18 and MTV Staying Alive Foundation are back with Season 2 of television series MTV Nishedh.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Anshul Ailawadi, Head – Youth & English Entertainment, Viacom18, said: “We believe that doing good is good for business, and that ethos drives our content choices too. The maiden season of MTV Nishedh performed well with a consolidated viewership of over 11 Mn and a growing digital following. We are excited to push the boundaries when it comes to content narratives and to shine the spotlight on topics that might be considered taboo.”

     

    Added Georgia Arnold, Executive Director of MTV Staying Alive Foundation: “I’m excited that we’ll be able to reach even more young people, empowering them to make informed choices about the social and health issues they encounter. With partners like Viacom18, it gives the campaign monumental leverage in terms of reach and engagement.”

     

    Commenting on the partnership, Sarthak Ranade, Managing Director of Janssen India & South Asia, part of the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson said: “Johnson & Johnson continues its fight against TB in India, building on our longstanding work in collaboration with the Government of India, NGOs and other partners. We believe that there is tremendous power in multi-sectorial partnerships to help turn the tide against this devastating disease. Through our partnership with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation on Season 2 of MTV Nishedh, we aim to empower the youth of today to make a real change and champion the cause of a TB-free India.”

     

  • Starting 4th December

    Sony bags rights for Bangla 2022

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) has bagged the exclusive television rights to broadcast the India tour of Bangladesh 2022 (Men’s Cricket).

     

    Said Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer, Distribution and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India: “It gives us immense pleasure to present fans with Team India’s final series before ending a successful year of cricket. India’s overseas record under the leadership of Rohit Sharma has been remarkable, and we hope to witness the same success in Bangladesh. With this series, we aim to continue providing fans with non-stop cricket action.”

     

    Added Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh Cricket Board: “We are happy to note that Sony Sports Network has acquired the broadcast rights for India’s tour of Bangladesh 2022. Sony Sports Network is among the industry leaders, and I am sure the broadcast quality and standards will be befitting of a much-anticipated series like this one.”

     

  • The way the sport was growing about a decade ago, football should have been a clear No 2, writes Shailesh Kapoor. But… read on

    Whistle Up The World Cup

     

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Shailesh KapoorWe are moved from one World Cup into another. Within a week of the T20 Cricket World Cup final, the FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar. So far, it’s been a fairly engaging tournament, though punctuated by four goalless draws on the way. There have already been two big upsets in the first four days, with fancied Argentina and Germany losing to Saudi Arabia and Japan respectively.

     

    The popularity of the sport of football rose in India about 10-15 years ago, as international leagues started getting popular, and a loyal (though niche) fan base started building around specific teams and players. Over the last five years though, the sport seems to have hit some sort of stagnation. In Ormax’s ‘We, The Sports Fans of India’ report, released in April 2022, football has 23.4 million fans in India, and ranks no. 4, just behind kabaddi (28.5 mn) and WWE/ wrestling (26.5 Mn). Cricket, of course, is the dominant leader, at 124.2 Mn.

     

    The way the sport was growing about a decade ago, football should have been a clear No 2, with about 35-40 millions fans, at the very least. One of the impeding factors has been that Indian Super League (ISL), founded in 2013, has failed to fire. The league continues to exist and even get some viewership. But it has not generated fandom for the sport, beyond a handful of states like West Bengal, Goa and Kerala, where the sport has always been big anyway.

     

    In contrast, kabaddi has seen huge build-up of fanbase, starting from virtually nothing, on the back of a vibrant and thriving league. It’s not very difficult to understand why Pro Kabaddi League has been a bigger success than ISL. With exposure to the best of international football, the quality at display in ISL looks mediocre in comparison. And there is no room for mediocre content in a world where we are inundated with options.

     

    The sport one starts watching in one’s teens is often the main sport one watches through the rest of their lives. What one plays (the few who do!) may evolve over the years, but the first choice to watch invariably doesn’t. Football was making inroads on this front, till a few years ago. A new generation of kids in the metro cities would find cricket too slow, and international football became their go-to sport.

     

    Since then, these kids have grown up to be in their 20s, and IPL has grown stronger with each passing year. The gap between cricket and other sports may only be widening now, I suspect.

     

    But that’s a thing of the future. For now, we have another three weeks of what is arguably the biggest global sporting spectacle, and at very friendly India timings too. Relish!

     

  • India does not have one single (outlet) to compare to Financial Times or Al Jazeera, said the all-new media boss. Ranjona Banerji comments

    So what will NDTV be under Gautam Adani?

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiIndia’s fastest growing businessman Gautam Adani has almost closed the deal to buy the news channel NDTV.

    Adani has stretched his wings, with a little bit of help from his powerful friends, to various industries from airports to mining to solar power, far from his original bastions of ports and edible oils.

    There has been much ferment over this hostile takeover because for many in India, NDTV has remained the last practitioner of Indian TV’s version journalism, as all its competitors have fallen in line with government diktats. In a sense, NDTV was the forerunner of free non-state-controlled broadcast news in India. Most of the older generation of television presenters were trained by NDTV, and that is where the first star anchors emerged from.

    Dr Prannoy Roy was a major influence on how TV would be conducted in India in the early days, after he and his wife Radhika Roy started NDTV in the mid-1980s. His show The World This Week for Doordarshan was very popular.

    The question now being asked over and over again by loyal viewers is what will happen to NDTV after Adani takes over? What will happen to Ravish Kumar, the fearless anchor who looks after NDTV’s Hindi news channel, the only TV journalist who does not kowtow to government forces?

    Why Adani wants a media outlet of his own is self-evident. His international press is not that good, and that sometimes spills over to India. The general assumption therefore will be one more propaganda channel which focuses on positive publicity for Adani companies and Adani himself. This is how many or most industrialist-owned media houses behave. Earlier the result journalism-wise would be disastrous because people expected some sort of basic standards – the collapse of the Observer papers after the Salgaocar-Ambani takeover is a case study here.

    But since 2014, assisted by a helpful government which demands total loyalty from media houses, the Ambani takeover of the News18 group has been a success. Not obviously when it comes to journalism but definitely when it comes to numbers.

    Hardly surprising then that Adani wants his own mouthpiece.

    What is amusing however – because I am cynical – is that in an interview to the Financial Times, Adani made the following comment: “Why can’t you support one media house to become independent and have a global footprint?… India does not have one single (outlet) to compare to Financial Times or Al Jazeera.”

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/25/indian-tycoon-defends-hostile-takeover-bid-for-broadcaster

     

    Now that’s an interesting standard for an Indian mainstream media which currently struggles to get even the basics correct. Neither the Financial Times nor Al Jazeera specialise in the sort of nightly high-decibel battles which characterise Indian television. The Financial Times is a serious pink paper, of the sort which today’s media owners scoff at. Indian news consumers, the general feeling goes, are largely thick, easily excitable and undiscerning and thus can only appreciate news in the form of a soap opera.

    There is nothing new in pandering to the lowest common denominator. It is an old media policy. But neither FT nor Al Jazeera fall quite into that News of the World, National Enquirer category. India Today TV recently ran a show where they objected to a tweet by actress Richa Chadha on the Indian Armed Forces. For their show, they ran photos of Chadha in swimwear. That works to belittle women, to put Chadha in her place as it were, and appeal to their crass audience. Actor Akshay Kumar objected to Chadha’s tweet, but the news of that was not accompanied by images of Kumar in revealing swimwear.

    Is Gautam Adani making it clear that this is not the sort of future he envisages for his version of NDTV?

    Well, you can hope as much as you like but the truth is likely to be elsewhere. In the same FT interview, Adani made this remark: “Independence means is government has something wrong, you say it’s wrong”.

    And Adani also said this: that the media should have the “courage” to back the government when it is right.

    There you have it ladies and gentlemen, clear intent from the tycoon himself.

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal

     

  • Fans can watch 40+ matches on Sony Ten channels

    Sony acquires rights for LPL 2022

    By Our Staff

     

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has bagged the exclusive broadcast rights for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League 2022 franchise cricket tournament.

     

    Notes a communique: “The broadcaster will get the exclusive television rights across the Indian subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and Maldives along with digital rights for India and Sri Lanka. Cricket fans are in for a high-octane ride with 40+ matches to be telecast across Sony Sports Ten 1 & Sony Sports Ten 5 channels.”

     

  • It's been the third-best year of all time at the Indian box-office, across all films in all languages, notes Shailesh Kapoor

    Box-office 2022: Resurgence & Records

     

     

    By Shailesh Kapoor

     

    Shailesh KapoorIt’s still a month to go, and 2022 is already the third-best year of all time at the Indian box-office, across all films in all languages. The pre-pandemic year, 2019, holds the record, with total gross collections of ₹ 10,948 crore, while 2018 is No. 2 at ₹ 9,810 crore. As on Nov 27, 2022, the running year has clocked an estimated ₹ 9,532 crore.

     

    The December line-up looks very robust, with a huge Hollywood franchise film in Avatar 2, and the Rohit Shetty family comedy Cirkus. Drishyam 2, which released two weeks ago, is still going strong. There are some very worthy releases in other languages too, such as Hit 2 (Telugu) and Gold (Malayalam), which released today and yesterday respectively. Crossing the ₹ 10,000 crore mark is only a matter of formality. 2022 has a genuine shot at the all-time record, especially if Cirkus lives up to expectations. And this in a year when the month of January was negligible in its contribution (only ₹ 168 crore) because of the third Covid wave.

     

    A year ago, not too many saw this coming! If one were to compile all the media stories that spelt the death of the theatrical medium last year, it will be one fat book. The OTT category was predicted to the saviour of cinema. Today, subscriptions growth across the world has reached saturation, or is declining, even as theatrical business continues to make a strong comeback in most markets.

     

    This is probably a peril of the pandemic. It has made almost everyone an analyst. People have started doling out “insights” on social media by the hour, with no consistency in their own internal logic over a few weeks.

     

    The complexity of the impact of the pandemic can only be ignored at your own risk. Everything that we knew and understood till 2019 can now fall anywhere on the long continuum ranging from “it remains exactly the way it was before” to “2019 is no reference at all”. It’s often said that one must unlearn to keep adapting to changing situations. But the trick here is to choose what to unlearn.

     

    The theatrical business has needed the maximum unlearning to do. For example, we, at Ormax Media, had to discard a large pool of data collected over almost a decade, and build our box-office forecast models afresh, when theatres re-opened last year. The rules have changed, after all. Films are opening and sustaining differently now. You cannot play by a 2019 playbook if the audience have written an entirely new one on their own.

     

    With the passage of time, the real, long-lasting impact of pandemic in different walks of life will emerge. But one thing is certain. The movie theatres are here to stay, even though why and for what audiences visit them may have changed forever.