MxMIndia

Category: TV

  • Despite threats from the MNS, Colors, Sahara and GEO set to simulcast Sur-Kshetra musical reality show from Sept 8

    Colors, Sahara brave MNS diktat, to simulcast Sur-Kshetra with Geo from Sept 8

    By A Correspondent

     

    The threat of an MNS agitation is not going to see musical frontiers being bridged. At the time of writing, MxMIndia learns that Colors and Sahara One are going ahead with the broadcast of the cross-border Indo-Pak musical reality show – Sur-Kshetra. The Chitrapat Karmachari Sena of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is said to have sent an alert to the channels to not air the show as also to noted playback singer Asha Bhosle to step back from being on its jury though. The reason: the MNS wing believes that Pakistan had banned ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ and thereby not reciprocated India’s desire to forge relationships via the arts.

     

    The press conference held at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai happened on Thursday with Ms Bhosle later making a clarion call to the MNS to call off the stir as the show attempts to promote peace and harmony between the two countries.

     

    Interestingly, while the MNS has said it would disrupt the shooting of the show, MxMIndia learns that the preliminary episodes have already been canned and only the finale – which will happen at an international destination – remains to be shot.

     

    Also being simulcast on Pakistan’s Geo TV, Sur-Kshetra starts September 8 and will air every Saturday and Sunday.

     

    Said Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors, “This is the first time ever in the history of television that a show will be simulcast across national and international networks of Colors, Sahara One and Geo TV, making it the biggest show to hit TV screens – ever. Unifying audiences across the globe, Sur-Kshetra will bring hearts closer as it builds an exciting viewing experience much like that created by an India-Pakistan cricket match.” Speaking on the timeslot, he further elaborated, “With Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa going strong on weekends, the inclusion of Sur-Kshetra will further strengthen our weekend content lineup providing our audiences with variety entertainment that appeals to them.”

     

    Sur-Kshetra’s two teams will be mentored by Indian music director-cum-singer-cum- actor Himesh Reshammiya and Pakistani music sensation Atif Aslam. Judging the musical flair of the contestants will be the three legends – Asha Bhosle (India), Abida Parveen (Pakistan), and Runa Laila (Bangladesh).

     

    Boney Kapoor – Director, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Ltd said in a communique, “Sur-Kshetra is a mega reality music show that brings together the best of singing talents from two arch-rival nations, India & Pakistan, competing against each other.”

     

    Produced by Sahara One in association with Saaibaba Telefilms, the will be sponsored by Dabur Amla Hair Oil and Videocon. A 360-degree integrated marketing campaign will engage multiple mediums like print, television, outdoor and radio through tie-ups reaching out to target audiences across the globe.

     

  • Dance reality show gets viewers to put on their dancing shoes through an online game

    Colors launches Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa online game

    By A Correspondent

     

    General entertainment channel Colors announced the launch of a first-of-its kind online game allowing viewers to be a part of the popular dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Exploring digital avenues to enhance the popularity of the show, the initiative allows fans to partake in the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa experience online. Designed by BBC Worldwide Productions India, the game takes fans on a whirlwind ride while allowing them to learn and experience different dance forms that makes the show a hit among audiences.

     

    Commenting on the launch of the game, Vivek Srivastav, Digital Head – COLORS said, “With the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa game, we aim to connect with our strong online fan base which elevates the show to a higher mass platform. The more virtual formats we explore, the more it enables us to tap newer audiences across the world.”

     

    Elaborating about extending the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa experience across digital platforms, Myleeta Aga, General Manager & Creative Head – BBC Worldwide Productions India, said, “We are very excited to explore newer avenues in the digital media space and bringing the television experience of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa to the virtual world. We believe that with the launch of this game, the overall experience will create an addiction among the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa fans and dance lovers.”  The game can be accessed at http://colors.in.com/in/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa.

     

  • The digital business of DisneyUTV has associated with Gameloft, a leading international publisher and developer of games to distribute their mobile games in India via operator channels and UTV Indiagames’ destination sites

    DisneyUTV brings Gameloft’s mobile games to India

    By A Correspondent

     

    The digital business of DisneyUTV has associated with Gameloft, a leading international publisher and developer of games to distribute their mobile games in India via operator channels and UTV Indiagames’ destination sites.

     

    Gamers in India will now have access to global hits like Asphalt 6: Adrenaline – from the blockbuster Asphalt franchise, Prince of Persia Forgotten Sands – an epic adventure game from the Prince of Persia saga series, along with some latest releases like The Dark Knight Rises – an action game inspired by the movie trilogy’s final chapter. Further the tie up will also bring the Indian audiences blockbuster MARVEL titles like Ironman, The Avengers and Amazing-Spiderman – the official web-slinging adventure game. These games will be available on Java phones with select titles available on Android as well. Gamers can download the exciting titles in the price range of Rs. 30 / 50 / 99.

     

    “This is one of the most strategic alliances that we have made especially in light of some of the MARVEL franchises that we will be able to engage Indian audiences with, in addition to the world class repertoire of Gameloft IPs. The gamer base in India is expanding rapidly and at this critical juncture we believe the right content offering will catalyze growth further,” said Samir Bangara, Managing Director – Digital, DisneyUTV.

     

    Sarabjeet Singh, Country Manager Gameloft India said, “Gameloft has been distributing its games for over 5 years in India, and we are thankful to our Indian fans for the strong interest and appreciation they have shown over these years. We are now pleased to partner with the digital team of DisneyUTV who will be distributing our mobile games via the various operator channels in India. We are confident of their rich experience and local expertise in the market and will be working closely with them to bring our Indian users an even better gaming experience.”

     

  • A highlight of the week was Balika Vadhu's special episode on Thursday which generated 6.4 TVRs, the highest on HGECs in the week

    Star Plus leads in Hindi GECs. Colors is #2 and Zee #3

    By A Correspondent

     

    Star Plus has maintained its lead as the top Hindi GEC in Week 35 in the weekly ratings made available to MxMIndia from an industry source. Star Plus scored 264 (265), whereas Colors secured 245 (258) and Zee was at 227 (237). Sony was a distant fourth at 210 (211). Sab and Life OK were tied at 132 (126 and 125 respectively). A highlight of the week was Balika Vadhu’s special episode on Thursday which generated 6.4 TVRs, the highest on HGECs in the week.

     

    Please note that the information has not supplied and verified by TAM Media. However our source is reasonably reliable. The figures in brackets indicate ratings of the previous week.

     

  • This move is a part of the leadership re-alignment now underway at Network18 News Media, the client facing ad sales unit which manages the advertising interests of the news and factual entertainment channels at Network18 Group

    CNN-IBN appoints Vishal Bhatnagar as Nat Revenue Head

    By A Correspondent

     

    CNN-IBN has appointed Vishal Bhatnagar as National Revenue Head, with immediate effect. He was earlier SVP & Regional Head-North & East, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz. This move is a part of the leadership re-alignment now underway at Network18 News Media, the client facing ad sales unit which manages the advertising interests of the news and factual entertainment channels at Network18 Group.

     

    Speaking on this development, Dilip Venkatraman, CEO, CNN-IBN said “Vishal’s track record and experience in monetizing news brands is exemplary. His contribution will be critical as we shape a new phase of leadership for CNN-IBN”.

     

    Vishal Bhatnagar added “CNN-IBN has clearly emerged as a benchmark amongst general news brands in the country, in terms of credibility, viewership and innovation. I look forward to working closely with the channel team to ensure we build further on its revenue leadership as well”

     

    Commenting on the larger re-alignment at Network18 News Media, Sanjay Dua, CEO, Network18 News Media said “We believe that our brands are well-placed to build further on their leadership, both in terms of innovative client solutions as well as a strong network proposition. Each of our leaders comes with a proven track record and strong leadership acumen and we’re confident that this alignment is the beginning of a new phase of growth for us”

     

    Mr Bhatnagar brings with him over 18 years of rich experience in sales across media and has been with the Network18 Group since 2004. He holds degrees in management and commerce from the International Management Institute (IMI) and the University of Delhi.

     

    Network18 News Media spearheads the group’s effort towards consolidating and optimizing revenue growth across its six news & factual entertainment channels (CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNN-IBN, IBN7,IBN-Lokmat & History TV18) spanning the full spectrum of General news, Business news, Regional news and Factual entertainment. Ad sales for the ETV regional news network, subject to regulatory approvals for the acquisition, will also form part of this stable. While acting as a centralized sales agency, Network18 News Media also reflects the group’s focus on individual brands via dedicated teams and revenue leaders aligned to each channel.

     

  • A feel-good response to the 3-part series on cricketer Yuvraj Singh's inspirational journey to be aired on Colors soon

    Thumbs up to Yuvi’s can-do story…

     

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    Where there’s a will there’s a way is one proverb that everyone of us have heard about and have even implied in our lives. However, there is one man who fits the proverb to the T and its none other than the country’s favourite cricketer – Yuvraj Singh.

     

    Ajay Kakar, CMO (Financial Services), Aditya Birla Group, Yuvraj Singh, Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors

    An icon for many and someone who’s always in limelight made recently headlines not for the sixers or catches but for being diagnosed with a disease which is still spoken about in hushed tones – cancer. But he survived it and is back in the country and in the Indian cricket squad for the upcoming T20 matches.

     

    It is this determination of the player which Colors, Viacom18’s flagship channel, wants to showcase to the world. The channel in partnership with the cricketer’s foundation YouWeCan wants to create awareness about the disease in the country.

     

    “We all know about Yuvi’s fighting spirit and he’s an inspiration to many. Therefore, we wanted to tell the world his story… a story of hope,” says Raj Nayak, CEO of Colors, while explaining the unique partnership the general entertainment channel has gotten into.

     

    Indian Cancer Statistics
     

    > Cancer is the second largest cause of death in India

     

    > In 2010, 5.56 lakh people died of cancer, and 71 percent of these deaths occurred in people aged 30-69 years

     

    > Most fatal cancers in men - Oral, Stomach and Lung

     

    > Most fatal cancers in women - Cervical, Stomach, Breast

     

    (Source: Study by Tata Memorial Hospital, Lancet, Centre for Global Health Research and University of Toronto)

     

    The three-part series – Zindagi Abhi Baaki Hai – will showcase the cricketer’s journey through pain, struggle and victory over cancer. “The show is about my life and I want people to know how one feels after being diagnosed with it and can lead to denial and depression. But I want them to fight and live again instead of giving up,” says Yuvraj Singh.

     

    Jai Lala

    According to media planners, it will difficult to say how much TRPs the show will be able to generate but it will definitely create a lot of buzz. “When Satyamev Jayate was launched, everyone thought it will score high on ratings but it didn’t. However, it did create a lot of awareness which might be true to these series as well,” predicts Jai Lala, Mindshare’s principal partner.

     

    “The programme is a special initiative. Such initiatives being one off in nature will appeal to different sets of people. If we look at overall TV scenarios it seems a large proportion of viewership is garnered by popular programs which essentially means viewers are looking for entertainment. The particular programme cannot be looked in the same light as standard soaps. Therefore TVRs might not be necessarily very high compared to standard soaps,” feels Kartik Sharma, Managing Partner, Maxus.

     

    Kartik Sharma

    But the people working for cancer awareness programmes aren’t worried about how many eyeballs the show will be able to garner. They feel that even a little communication can lead to some amount of change. Namita Shibad of the Pune-based Prashanti Cancer Care Mission is elevated about the show. “Even today, there is very less awareness about the disease. People don’t want to talk about it, so what Yuvraj has done is seriously commendable. The show will be able to generate awareness about the deadly disease and decrease the stigma associated with it. We and others like have been trying to do so for years now, but a celebrity can make a difference. If people can watch his survival story, I’m sure they will also believe that ‘if he can, then even I can’ which will open new perspective about it and give strength to millions to fight it rather than feel dejected.”

     

     

    Namita Shibad

    “There is no dearth of social relevant shows on television today but many take notice of them when big hoardings are put up or celebrities hosting them but that’s not our plan. We are not doing this for ratings. I recently lost a relative to cancer, so know the agony and turmoil surrounding it. And in our country where cancer is the second largest cause if death, the disease is still treated at a taboo. It is important to tell people that it can be cured. All one needs is the will to fight it,” adds Mr Nayak.

     

    Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance is the tittle sponsor of the show and feel that the association is not about endorsement but a partnership of philosophy. “We want Yuvraj to be the ambassador of teaching people how to live your life even when in dumps. When the going is good, no one thinks about the tough times. And when they face it, one question which most of us ask is ‘God, why me?’. However, this was not the case with Yuvraj who chose to fight back to live the life he loves. We are proud to associate with him and the channel in this venture as it tells the story of highs and lows of life,” said Ajay Kakar, chief marketing officer – Financial Services, Aditya Birla Group.

     

    Pratap Bose

    “Yuvraj has a great fan following and this might be a major reason apart from the concept that advertisers might want to get associated with it,” feels Pratap Bose, COO, DDB Mudra Group.

     

    Mr Sharma adds, “As far as advertisers are concerned decisions on a programme buy is never an isolated case and always has a larger context of their overall campaigns. Some advertisers will find it worthwhile and some will not as is the case with any programming.”

     

    Mr Lala too feels that brands which have the similar message as the show wants to showcase will be glad to associate with it, but others wont be attracted towards it because of the impact and GRPs it will be able to generate.

     

    The channel hasn’t decided the time-slot for the series or when it will be aired as it is still being shot. However, the channel hopes to succeed in creating awareness and inspire people. All the proceeds generated through the show will be given top the cancer foundation.

     

    The series might be aired on other channels under the Viacom18 banner as well to make a stronger impact.

     

  • The lifestyle channel NDTV Good Times is completing five years soon. Taking the celebrations to the audiences, the channel has announced the launch of new shows in the coming months

    NDTV Good Times completes five years

    By A Correspondent

     

    The lifestyle channel NDTV Good Times is completing five years soon. Taking the celebrations to the audiences, the channel has announced the launch of new shows in the coming months. While the Second Season of the popular food show Vicky Goes Veg and the new season of Aditya Bal’s Chakh Le series are scheduled for September; October will see The Kingfisher Calendar Hunt in its fourth season.

     

    The channel will also enter the all-new segment of home d̩cor with the introduction of two completely novel shows РWhole New World, and Living Right Royally under the Royal Reservation brand umbrella.

     

    Smeeta Chakrabarti, CEO, NDTV Lifestyle, said, “As a team, we have endeavoured to offer novel and trend setting content to our viewers. This year will see more innovative programming, with our foray in to clutter breaking home segment programming, and as custodians of Indian Lifestyle, our soon to be announced Lifestyle Awards in November.”

     

    Shibani Sharma Khanna, Channel Director, NDTV Good Times, said, “We are elated to turn five. NDTV Good Times has always strived to offer the best programming and we have managed to raise the bar higher with each offering. We promise to offer more vigour, zest and diversity with new formats and genres in the coming year and would like to thank our viewers for their constant love and support.”

     

    Projit Chakrabarti, Head, Marketing Services, said, “On the back of our genre defining programming and clutter breaking content initiatives, we’ve literally created a new season – summer, spring, autumn, winter and Good Times. And one needs only tune-in, log-on or walk-in to live the good times.” NDTV Good Times continues to enjoy its niche position as lifestyle channel in the country, with Highway On My Plate, Kingfisher Calendar Hunt, I’m Too Sexy, Heavy Petting, Band Baajaa Bride, Chakh Le India and No Big Deal as its most popular and loved shows.

     

    Beamed directly across international markets such as US, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Maldives, the channel is present across all major analogue cable markets, and all six DTH platforms in India.

     

  • As the 6th edition of India's #1 Quiz Show starts tonight, try our special edition of MxM Buzzer+MEC & media agency captains on how KBC6 will fare

    So how much do you know about KBC?

     

    By Sorbojeet Chatterjee

     

    1) Big B plays the role of a quiz master on KBC. Which quiz master is the behind the scenes star as the producer and director of this blockbuster TV show

     

    2) Sushil Kumar, the famous 5 Crore winner from the last season of KBC, recently participated in a reality show. Identify the show?

     

    3) Slumdog Millionaire was based on KBC where Anil Kapoor played the anchor. Which bestselling book was the movie adapted from?

     

    4) Who was the first celebrity guest on KBC?

     

    How will KBC rate this season?
    By Meghna Sharma

     

    When people press the power button on the TV remote today at prime time, it will be a little different from other days. Tonight sees the return of Amitabh Bachchan to the small screen hosting the sixth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). Viewers will enter the world of information and trivia, pitting their living-room wits against the contestants or just enjoying the Big B’s banter and easy chatting style.

     

    Whatever the reason, Sony will be hoping to nab as many eyeballs as possible.

    And if MEC, a media buying and planning agency and a founding partner of Group M, is to be believed, KBC 2012 is estimated to deliver 10 percent higher viewership than before. MEC partnered with Meritus Analytics India Ltd to find out the estimate for this season. The approach used for KBC was based on past learning from IPL estimation and the fact that increase in TVRs for a new programme is due to a combination of increase in PUT (People Using Television) and people already viewing television moving to the new programme from their regular programming. MEC and Meritus built a statistical model using a set of TV shows to understand the factors affecting PUT and channel share for such non-sports programmes.

     

    The key influencing factors delineated are:

    > Programme promotions on the channel, network and also other channels
    > Promotion across other media like Radio and Newspapers
    > Search volume index as a measure of viewer buzz
    The base channel share of the airing channel

     

    MEC estimates that the programme will deliver higher than last year due to three reasons.

    1. Sony as a channel has seen  its viewership base grow since the launch of KBC last year. Therefore the base viewership for the channel is at a higher level compared to the last season.

    2. Search volumes indicate that the buzz is almost double of last season.

    3. Also the fact that the show has moved to the weekend without clashing with the weekly soaps could add to viewership.

     

    MxMIndia spoke to other media planners to find out what they think, and what they predict for the show.

     

    Ambika Srivastava
    Chairperson, ZenithOptimedia India and chairperson, VivaKi Exchange

    I think the show will do well; however, it is difficult to say if it’s going to be 5 percent or 10 percent or 15 percent. The content strategy of the show is very interesting and it has a very broad-based appeal. The contestants in the show come from different backgrounds and represent the ‘aam adami’ and it is this connect which appeals to the masses and makes them switch on their television sets. Having said that, I do believe that only time will tell how it will perform this time around too.

     

     ______________________

     

     

    Neel Kamal Sharma
    COO – Buying, Madison Group

    I don’t think the ratings will be higher than last year; on the contrary, I think it will be tough even to maintain its last season’s TVRs as building weekend viewership has always been difficult, compared to weekdays. However, there is no doubt that the show has performed consistently over the years. The main reason is that there has been some fresh thought on both execution and promotion. I recollect elements like connecting well with small town viewers, touching their heart via audition of people who have screen presence or some charisma to make content more interesting for viewers. Sony has really worked on it every year for it not to become monotonous, so I am pretty confident that they will continue to re-apply their learnings from the past.

     

    ________________________________

     

    Suresh Balakrishnan
    CEO, BPN India

    According to our company, this year the show will be able to generate 5.6 percent TVR in the opening weekend. This is because firstly, the show this time will be aired on the weekend which can lead to more eyeballs. Secondly, in the past 12 weeks the channel has been doing well. Thus, having the momentum will help the show and the channel too. Lastly, the ‘gyaan’ route which they have taken this season seems to be working. It has a connect with tier II and III cities.

     

    Year after year, the show has been performing consistently. In the beginning it was Amitabh Bachchan and the money. Although these two still remain a major factor, over the years it is the hope of becoming somebody from a nobody which has attracted the common man. Look at last year’s winner, he’s a mini celebrity today!

     

    ____________________________

     

    Mohit Joshi
    Managing director, MPG

    I’m not sure if it will be 10 percent, but I do expect the ratings to go up this year as the platform (Sony) has also evolved over time and has a better base-level performance today. Apart from Big B knack of connecting with the viewers, another reason why it will help the show is the fact that it’s on the weekend. It will definitely push up the buzz as we saw in the case of Satyamev Jayate. Also, a weekend slot will ensure no conflict with the ongoing daily soaps which will be an added advantage. However, to break from the monotony, since it’s been running for years now, the channel can take a few steps:

     

    1. Make the show more socially relevant

    2. Need to go to the next level of contributing positively to the primary education of this country by creating KBC hubs in localities which support educational programmes and create local millionaires

     

    5) Mr Bachchan is synonymous with ‘Lock Kiya Jaaye’. What phrase did SRK use?

     

    6) Which celebrity was roped in to host KBC in Bhojpuri for Mahuaa TV?

     

    7) What is Harshvardhan Nawathe’s claim to fame?

     

    8 ) Which advertising agency is behind the popular KBC marketing campaigns (Koi bhi sawaal chota nahin hota and Sirf Gyaan hi aapko aapka haq dilate hai) for Season 4 and 5?

     

    9) What is the lifeline called where the contestant can guess 2 answers for a particular question?

     

    10) Which brand integrated their campaign ‘Ek Crore Ka Shortcut’ with KBC during the last season?

     

    11) Bengali superstars Mithun Chakravarty and Prosenjit Chatterjee were offered to host KBC in Bengali. However which celebrity was eventually signed?

     

    12) Celador sold the rights of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to a Dutch company 2waytraffic in 2006. Which global giant acquired 2waytraffic in 2008?

     

    13) Identify the only celebrity couple/team that has won Rs 1 Crore in KBC?

     

    14) In Season 2, Mr Bachchan shot for 61 out of the 85 episodes before he was critically unwell. When did he return to shoot the balance episodes?

     

    15) What is special about the book Amitabh Ka Khazana?

     

    16) Zee tried to counter KBC with a show that offered 10 Crores as prize money and was hosted by Anupam Kher and Manisha Koirala. Name the show?

     

    17) Even Sony created a show called Jeeto Chappad Phaad Ke to try and counter KBC. Who was the host?

     

    18) Kaun Banega Champu was a popular spoof on KBC3 and the host mimicked SRK and was called Ruk Ruk Khan. On which channel was it broadcast?

     

    19) During the last season, Big B handed out Axis Bank cheques to the winner. This was a much talked about media innovation during Season 1 of KBC. Which bank pioneered this integration?

     

    20) Sachin Tendulkar and Madhuri Dixit came together on KBC Season 1 for a special show to raise funds for the victims of which calamity?

     

    21) During Sushil Kumar’s journey of answering the questions to win the biggest prize, which former TV news presenter was the ‘expert’ who answered the 1 Crore question correctly?

     

    22) Which television actress has appeared thrice on KBC winning 3.2 lakhs in Season 1, 6.4 lakhs in Season 2 and 25 lakhs in Season 5?

     

    23) ‘Lock Kiya Jaye’ became a catchphrase after the first season of KBC. Identify the country where this was first used as ‘Lock it in’ by the host Eddie McGuire?

     

    24) Sushil Kumar from Motihari, Bihar won 5 Crores in Season 5 and created history. Which bestseller author was born in Motihari?

     

    25) Lara Dutta appeared as a celebrity guest along with which tennis player in the second season of KBC?

     See Answers at the bottom of this page

     

    MxM Buzzer, the weekly quiz which goes live every Friday, is compiled by Sorbojeet Chatterjee, vice-President of Neo Sorts. Starting this week, we are discontinuing the contest part of MxM Buzzer and will bring you just the quiz week after week. Enjoy! (PS: we’ll be back with a cooler contest soonest soon!) Please click here for the answers and winners of MxM Buzzer #7

     

     

     

  • Sonia Kapoor takes charge at CNBC-TV18, Sterling Ferreira will lead CNBC Awaaz.

    Honcho changes at CNBC-TV18, Awaaz

    By A Correspondent

     

    CNBC-TV18 & CNBC Awaaz announced changes to their revenue leadership team. Sonia Kapoor, who was earlier managing West & South regions as SVP & Regional Head for CNBC-TV18 & CNBC Awaaz, has now been elevated to National Revenue Head for CNBC-TV18. Sterling Ferreira has been appointed National Revenue Head for CNBC Awaaz. Ferreira was earlier in charge of national sales at CNN-IBN. The move is a part of the leadership re-alignment now underway at Network18 News Media, the client facing ad sales unit which manages the advertising interests of the news and factual entertainment channels at Network18 Group.

     

    Speaking on this development, Anil Uniyal, CEO, CNBC-TV18 & CNBC Awaaz said, “Both Sonia and Sterling have been remarkable contributors to the brands they have been entrusted with over the years. Sonia’s been instrumental in establishing CNBC-TV18 as a benchmark in the monetization of news brands and her perspective in charting the next phase of its growth will be critical. Sterling comes in with stellar experience across a variety of news brands, which will be crucial as we go on to unlock the tremendous potential of CNBC Awaaz.”

     

    On her elevation, Ms Kapoor said, “It’s been a momentous journey so far and my experience with CNBC-TV18 has been intense, enriching and very satisfying. I look forward to bringing it to bear as we thrust forward and further strengthen the brand. I look forward to working closely with all channels teams in adding a new dimension to this growth path.”

     

    Ms Kapoor has over a decade of experience in ad sales including stints at the Indian Express Group, TV Today Network. She joined the Network18 Group in 2002. Mr Ferreira has over two decades experience spanning a variety of media including the Indian Express Group, Business Standard, ABP, Tata, Red FM. He joined the Network18 Group in 2005.

     

    Mr Ferreira commented, “CNBC Awaaz is at a very interesting juncture in its success story. With its refreshing approach to content, CNBC Awaaz is well aligned to deliver audiences and value to clients as growth, consumption and thus spends move beyond the metro markets. I hope to work with the CNBC Awaaz editorial and marketing teams in ensuring that we build further on the unique position the brand has achieved already.”

     

    Commenting on the larger re-alignment at Network18 News Media, Sanjay Dua, CEO, Network18 News Media said, “We have a diverse portfolio of brands, each with a sharply defined market proposition and strong track record with clients. Our goal now is to build further on this leadership, both in terms of innovations as well as stronger network deliveries and this re-alignment is a step in that direction. Both Sonia and Sterling are great leaders and we’re confident they’ll help us chart the next phase of growth for CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz.”

     

  • Star Network's Kannada general entertainment channel Suvarna has announced the first edition of its Parivaar Awards. The on-ground event will be held on September 15

    Suvarna announces 1st Edition of Parivaar Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Star Network’s Kannada general entertainment channel Suvarna has announced the first edition of its Parivaar Awards, exclusively for shows that air on Suvarna. The title sponsor is Sunfeast.

     

    The on-ground event will be held on September 15.

     

    Sunfeast Suvarna Parivaar Awards has 33 different categories highlighting not just individual characters but relationships within the Suvarna family. Some of the award categories include Best Hiriya Sadasya, Best Appa (Father), Best Amma (Mother), Best Magalu (Daughter), Best Child Artist, Best Hosa Sadasya (New Member), etc.

     

    For non-fiction shows the Sunfeast Suvarna Parivaar awards has categories like the Best Anchor, Best Reality Show, etc.

     

    Awards in the Favourites category are based on audience votes, to collect which a can has gone across the state covering cities and major towns.

     

    Channel business head Anup Chandrashekharan said, “Sunfeast Suvarna Parivaar Awards will felicitate the entire family of Suvarna, comprising Fiction and Non-Fiction, who have contributed to the channel’s success. The characters of our shows have become immensely popular among the television viewers and this is an opportunity for us to celebrate relationships. All the artists are working hard to put up a great show and I am sure our viewers will enjoy it.”

     

  • Week 36 of the TAM weekly ratings put Zee at #1 yet again with 251 points and Star Plus a close second. But the real star has been Sony at 244 on the back on KBC

    Zee is #1 again as KBC propels Sony to a close #3

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zee is back to the No 1 slot among Hindi general entertainment channel in Week 36 of the weekly TAM ratings released today.

     

    While Zee scored 251, Star Plus was a very close #2 at 250. However, the star of the week was undoubtedly Sony. Mega quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati took the channel from a distant #4 to a close #3 at 244. Colors was #4 at 229 GRPs.

     

    Meanwhile, after the tie at 132 points last week, Life OK inched ahead with 141, while SAB was at 136.

     

    Last week’s numbers were as follows: Star Plus 264, Colors 245, Zee 227, Sony 210, Sab and Life OK 132

     

    Please note that the information has not been supplied and verified by TAM Media. However our source is reasonably reliable. The figures in brackets indicate ratings of the previous week.

     

  • Bigg Boss: Salman Khan sends advertising rates roaring 20% in Season 6

    Salman bhai sends Bigg Boss 6 ad rates soaring

    By Nandini Raghavendra

     

    Salman  Khan is inviting the family to watch Bigg Boss this time around as it begins its sixth season next month. So, whether it is the combination of Khan, who is riding an uninterrupted wave of success, or the fact that Colors is recasting the show as a family entertainer and is therefore expected to give the show a prime-time slot, the much debated reality show, definitely one of the most expensive reality shows on Indian television at Rs 150-160 crore, is commanding a 20% premium on its ad rates this year.

     

    In the fray for the title sponsors this year are telecom, FMCG and even a white goods company with the expected price, according to sources, within both television and advertising industries being around Rs 35-40 crore and ten second rates coming close to Rs 3 lakh.

     

    Harish Shriyan, CEO of OMD says Khan’s successful run at the box office does not necessarily mean that one can ask for higher ad rates, yet Khan’s mass appeal is what has lured in the white goods brand which has thrown in its hat into the Bigg Boss ring for the first time. For now, these rates are still lower than what KBC has notched at Rs 3.75 lakh per ten seconds for this season. Cadbury is said to have paid, between Rs 20-25 crore this year.

     

    For Colors, the success of this show is critical– never has competition among the GECs been so tough. Gross Rating Points (GRPs) are very close, with number one being held on tightly by Star while two, three and four are keenly fought between Colors, Sony and Zee.

     

    According to TAM data for last week, Star led with 264 GRPs, followed by Colors at 245, Zee at 227 and Sony at 210. Colors is riding high on two of its fiction shows and the dance reality show of Jhalaak. But the battle is only going to get tougher, so moving away from the previous seasons, Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors has decided to broad base the show, making into a fully family entertainer and here they have definitely kept Khan’s mass appeal in mind. “If Jhaalak (the dance reality show with Madhuri Dixit) is dancing with the stars, Bigg Boss will be camping with the stars,” says Mr Nayak who while choosing not to comment on the ad prices, does confirm that it is an expensive show and they are scaling it up further this year and have therefore priced it higher this time round.

     

    He does add that there will be lots of opportunities for brands and active and passive integration possibilities.

     

    According to Nandini Dias, COO, Lodestar, Colors premium pricing is because it will be shifting the time slot and the number of times that Khan appeared last year had been reduced due to his illness which has been increased this time. Yet, she also voices Mr Shriyan’s sentiment saying the success of a film is no guarantee that another creative property will work. “Every creative property has to stand for itself. Salman is seen as a successful anchor for Bigg Boss. But the eyeballs will depend on who the participants are far more than only the anchor,” says Ms Dias who feels last year the Bigg Boss brand took a beating because of the kind of content it had and had become difficult for families to view together.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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