MxMIndia

Category: RADIO

  • RBNL vehicles 92.7 Big FM and Big Magic take talent-based reality show to Hindi-speaking markets

    Talent hunt launched for ‘memsaabs’ across HSM

    By A Correspondent

     

    Close on the heels of a tie-up between Big FM and Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand, the Reliance Broadcast Network GEC  have tied up to take the popular reality show to the various Hindi Speaking Markets in the country.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Kumaran, Business Head, BIG MAGIC said, “We are excited to take this property national. There has never been a show of this kind, since it doesn’t have any caveats to the talent that the women can showcase. The collective power the television and radio, makes BIG Memsaab a property with unmatched reach, greater cost efficiency, offering a deeper connect with audiences and marketers across markets.”

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 BIG FM added, “The show on radio has received phenomenal response and we are happy to be extending this opportunity to women audiences further across India. We have seen entire families coming forward to encourage the woman of the house to participate in this talent hunt and are confident of a fantastic engagement with audiences and marketers alike.”

     

    The property will be supported by a multimedia campaign across television, radio, print, digital and on ground. BIG Memsaab will be a 13-week property divided into phases like pre-promotions, city auditions, semi finale’s and the city finales, culminating with a national winner.

     

  • Private radio channels slam government policy on 'airing news on radio'

    No news on FM radio is bad news

    By Himanshi Dhawan

     

    The Supreme Court’s notice to the Centre seeking an explanation for omission of news and current affairs on private radio channels has brought the spotlight on the government’s skewed policy.

     

    The last decade has seen a proliferation of newspapers , TV channels and news websites – all of whom are free to air news, but private radio channels are not.

     

    The proposed FM radio phase III policy had the opportunity to correct this anomaly, but the government failed to seize the chance – many industry leaders feel deliberately. They said the current policy was in contravention of the SC’s “airwaves” judging in 1995 when the court stressed that “diversity of opinions, views, ideas and ideologies is essential to enable the citizens to arrive at informed judgment on all issues touching them. This cannot be provided by a medium controlled by a monopoly -whether the monopoly is of the State or any other individual , group or organization.”

     

    However, radio remains the only medium where government has a complete monopoly over news.

     

    The Association for Radio Operators in India (AROI) president Anuradha Prasad said it would be a “welcome” step if news on radio was allowed to be broadcast. “If news organizations can generate news for television and print, then why not for radio as well,” she asked.

     

    Nisha Narayanan

    Red FM CEO Nisha Narayanan said the current policy was “unconstitutional”. Describing government concerns about law and order and national security as “spurious”, Narayanan said, “These are spurious concerns. We have over 150 news channels on cable TV, many of which are foreign channels over which we have no control. There are over 65,000 registered news journals in India. We have no idea how many news websites are there on the internet , or who runs them. To this day, I have not heard anyone suggest that we shut them all down as ‘unchecked’ news or that they might lead to a law and order problem. Far from banning news on any of these media, no one in his right mind even suggests pre-censorship of news on TV or newspapers or the internet.”

     

    Ms Narayanan added, “Reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) and the general broadcast code apply to all electronic media, including radio. The sensible method of ensuring compliance with the broadcast code is self-regulation and suitable penalties for violations. Prohibition of news on radio is a ridiculous overreach on the government’s part.”

     

    Prashant Panday

    Radio Mirchi’s Prashant Panday said, “How can private FM broadcasters be denied the right to air news? At one time, we heard the government had security concerns , because they couldn’t monitor us. But today, the technology is readily available . Then we heard that since FM radio reached one and all, even those who could not afford a TV set or read a newspaper, the government was concerned about our news content. But this is specious reasoning as we are bound by programming guidelines, and would be governed by a code similar to the one followed by TV channels,” he said.

     

    Tarun Katial

    Reliance Broadcast Network CEO Tarun Katial said, “Giving private radio the freedom to air news and current affairs can bring about a sea change in the way India consumes the medium, and position radio as a means for information dissemination , beyond pure entertainment . Inclusion of news will realize information requirements of a large section of the population, while fuelling growth of the sector,” he said.

     

    The PIL filed by NGO Common Cause pointed out that there was no such ban in countries like the US, Spain, Sri Lanka and Pakistan despite a large number of radio stations in these countries.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

    Copyright © 2013, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All Rights Reserved

    Licensed to republish

     

  • The auditions for the show to be aired on Big Magic, Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand and Big FM 92.7 will held across 400 schools in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand

    Parle-G to get juniors curious in RBNL’s kiddie talent hunt

    By A Correspondent

     

    Parle-G has come on board as presenting sponsor for Big Junior Star, a property that showcases the best young talent across the core Hindi markets of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. To be aired as a show on Big Magic and amplified across Big Magic Bihar and Jharkhand as well as radio network 92.7 Big FM, the talent encouragement platform is targeted at children between the age of 8-15 years. The show will be created into a 40-episode special that will air on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting October 2013 to March 2014.

     

    Said Pravin Kulkarnii, GM-Marketing, Parle Products said, “With Big Magic now being aired across all major cities in India and becoming popular amongst its target audience, we are certain that our association with their upcoming show, Big Junior Star will help us take forward the brand ideology of Parle G.” Added Mayank Shah, Group Product Manager, Parle Products, “This platform will help us focus in bringing out natural curiosity in kids, encourage their desire to try new things, experiment and learn from their mistakes. We want them to realize that they can learn everywhere and from everything and that school is beyond just books and classrooms.”

     

    Said Sunil Kumaran, Business Head, Big Magic: “With an interactive format and a diverse platform of categories, we are confident that Big Junior Star will garner mass appeal, engaging excellently with our target audience – kids.”

     

  • Radio City's web radio destination PlanetRadiocity.com has embarked on a crowd-funded initiative of rural electrification in association with the solar power company, Sunkalp Energy. We think initiatives like these deserve all the encouragement and accolades

    Three cheers! PlanetRadiocity lights up lives with ‘Deep Jyoti’

    By A Correspondent

     

    There are press releases and press releases that news media offices receive every day.  A new show, a new sponsorship, a new starcast, a new whatever whatever. Most of these communiqués that are inboxed to us every day are flagged unusable.

     

    PR agency and inhouse PR professionals call and remind us about the releases, and we politely show them the decline button.

     

    And then there are some which silently land on our mail software and we don’t really get badgered for an inclusion. Yet, we think they ought to merit a mention, because they deserve all the encouragement and accolades.

     

    Radio station network Radio City’s web radio destination PlanetRadiocity.com has embarked on a crowd-funded initiative of rural electrification. In association with the solar power company, Sunkalp Energy, PlanetRadiocity has launched ‘Deep Jyoti’. Through this initiative, PlanetRadiocity pledges to light up an entire village in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. Project Sarmanpur, which rolled out ‘Deep Jyoti’, on November 6, has been receiving encouraging response from listeners the world over, notes a communiqué.

     

    Listeners will get an opportunity to sponsor solar ’tiles’ on the village’s roof in return for a chance to get their name on the project’s foundation. A special microsite http://planetradiocity.com/deepjyoti has been created for the listeners who wish to donate towards lighting up the village. The microsite offers all the information about the project and also the process for donation of the funds. The microsite will be live until the midnight of January 6, 2014. For more information on Deep Jyoti, one can log onto PlanetRadiocity’s social media pages (facebook.com/planetradiocity, @planetradiocity). Collections amounting to Rs 3 lakh are targeted towards the completion of Project Sarmanpur.

     

    Rachna Kanwar

    Talking about the association, Rachna Kanwar, SVP & Business Head, Digital Media & New Business, Radio City 91.1 FM, says, ” ‘Deep Jyoti’ is an initiative that offers us an opportunity to create a positive impact in the society whilst building a platform of sustainable growth.  We are extremely proud to be part of the wonderful initiative undertaken by Sunkalp Energy. Through this crowdfunding campaign we hope to leverage the huge reach and fan-base we have in the webradio space and make the project a success.”

     

    Kanika Khanna, Founder, Sunkalp Energy, says, ”There are still close to one lakh un-electrified villages in India with a majority of them being in Uttar Pradesh. Project Sarmanpur marks a milestone in our endeavour to electrify 200 villages. PlanetRadiocity provides the perfect amplification for this initiative. The roof-top microgrid will provide proper electricity connections in to each household in the village. Harnessing solar energy for sustainable development is one of the major priorities for rural development the world over. We are very happy to have an effective platform like PlanetRadiocity for this important initiative.”

     

    We wish we had the monies to make a donation to the PlanetRadioCity effort. Perhaps after all the people who are supposed to pay us do that, we will donate some. But if you have the monies now – even if you belong to a rival FM network/station, please do. Asap. It will light up many lives. And if they have the light, they’ll be able to read our newspapers. Watch our channels. Listen to our radio broadcast. Surf our websites. Go for it.

     

  • … and get us humming that famous Aamir Khan song from his film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak – Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega, Beta Humaara Aisa Kaam karega. Magar yeh toh koi na jaane, kee meri manzil hai kahaan.

    Birla Sun Life-Big FM get together to help kids live their real passion in radio

    By A Correspondent

     

    As Children’s Day draws closer, almost every media brand manager (and his uncle and aunt) dreams up something to target kids. Tokenism of this nature is commonplace. Even MxMIndia does it 🙂

     

    But sometimes brands  come up with winner ideas. Like this one from the Aditya Birla group’s Birla Sun Life Insurance which has got us humming that famous Aamir Khan song from his 1988 film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak – Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega, Beta Humaara Aisa Kaam karega. And as it continues: Magar yeh toh koi na jaane, kee meri manzil hai kahaan.

     

    Birla Sun Life Insurance (BSLI) has established a ‘Not Just Jobs But Passion’ initiative and as part of this, Children’s Day 2013 will see Reliance Broadcast’s part-retro radio network 92.7 Big FM being run by children.

     

    The initiative aims to  generate conversations between parents and kids to identify the child’s real passion and helps support the child financially and emotionally in this endeavour. Talented kids with real passion in various aspects of radio programming will be given holistic hands-on training on the running of a radio station. Children will take charge of operating all aspects of Big FM’s radio station in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai

     

    Ajay Kakar

    Commenting on this initiative Ajay Kakar, Chief Marketing Officer, Financial Services – Aditya Birla Group said, “Today, children are exposed to a variety of options that tempt them to independently explore their interests. Not every child finds their real passion right away. Identifying and cultivating real passion needs parental support and encouragement. Parents are undoubtedly a child’s biggest cheerleader and passion partner. To further this quest in search of real passion, on the occasion of Children’s Day, in partnership with Big FM we offer a unique opportunity to interact, train and learn from experts who run the radio station.”

     

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Said Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head, 92.7 Big FM, “As an initiative that’s fresh and exciting, ‘Birla Sun Life Insurance Not Jobs But Passion’ endeavours to encourage parents to introduce little ones to an art that might one day become their strength and vocation. This is another initiative that lives on our tagline Suno Sunao, Life Banao. We thank Birla Sun Life Insurance for coming on board as our partners.”

     

  • There will be nine award categories: Education, Environment Conservation, Health & Sanitation, Public Service, Culture & Art, Sports, Women Welfare & Empowerment, Child Care & Development and Economic Development.

    My FM announces Season II of Jiyo Dil Se Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Riding high on the success of the Jiyo Dil Se Awards Season I, 94.3 My FM has announced the second season of the awards to recognize and acknowledge unsung heroes of society. A campaign will be rolled out in My FM markets covering the 7 states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

     

    There will be nine award categories: Education, Environment Conservation, Health & Sanitation, Public Service, Culture & Art, Sports, Women Welfare & Empowerment, Child Care & Development and Economic Development.

     

    Harrish M Bhatia

    Ernst & Young will be the official tabulators for the Jiyo Dil Se Awards Season II. Speaking on the initiative, Harrish M Bhatia, CEO, 94.3 My FM, said: “We are proud to announce the Jiyo Dil Se Awards Season II as it takes further our brand’s belief that every individual, or entity should also give back to the society in which it dwells. The second season of Jiyo Dil Se Awards carries forward from Season 1, the effort to recognize the individual who has showcased immense dedication and passion for a cause brining about a difference and spreading happiness in peoples’ lives.”

     

    To apply for the award, people can log on to www.myfmindia.com and download the form. Selected top entries in each category will be put for public voting and jury and listeners’ votes will determine the winners.

     

  • Mr Krishna will be responsible for conceptualizing, designing and marketing various intellectual properties of Radio Mirchi

    Rishikar Krishna steps into Radio Mirchi as Marketing Head, Mirchi Properties

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading radio station network Radio Mirchi has announced the appointment of Rishikar Krishna as Head Marketing, Mirchi Properties at Entertainment Network India Limited (ENIL). Rishikar will be chiefly responsible for conceptualizing, designing and marketing various intellectual properties of Radio Mirchi.

     

    Prior to this, Mr Krishna was Associate Director, Marketing at Skechers. In this role he was in charge of creating awareness and preference for the brand in India.

     

  • Big FM Mumbai was awarded 'Best Radio Station' at the 20th Lions Club Gold Awards in Mumbai last week

    92.7 Big FM awarded Best Radio Station by Lion’s Club in Mumbai

    By A Correspondent

     

    92.7 Big FM was awared ‘Best Radio Station’ at the 20th Lions Club Gold Awards in Mumbai last week.

     

    Ashwin Padmanabhan

    Commenting on the receipt of the award, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Business Head – of the 45-station radio network said: “We feel proud to be ‘Best Radio Station’ in Mumbai  and extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lions Club and to our loyal listeners who have contributed to our success. We look forward to continuing to offer our listeners some of the most lucrative shows and path breaking content in 2014.”

     

  • The priority being flagship brands 92.7 Big FM, Hindi GEC Big Magic and regional foray with BIG Magic Bihar and Jharkhand, as per an RBNL statement

    RBNL recasts broadcast play, ends jv with CBS

    By A Correspondent

     

    Reliance Broadcast Network Limited has issued a statement on the recast of its broadcast portfolio and consequently the dissolving if the joint venture with CBS Studio International. This follows unconfirmed reports that the Reliance ADAG group firm had shuttered the three channels operating as part of the CBS jv.

     

    The Company has issued a statement to this effect. “Reliance Broadcast reorganizes and recasts strategy for it’s broadcast portfolio, with increased focus on local and original content along with IPs. The priority being flagship brands 92.7 Big FM, Hindi GEC Big Magic and regional foray with BIG Magic Bihar and Jharkhand.”

     

    “Radio continues to be the growth driver and will further benefit from the upcoming Phase 3 FM radio auctions. Similarly, Big Magic has successfully increased its footprint across the Hindi speaking markets demonstrating over 200% viewership growth in the last three months, and is gearing to fortify its position in the Hindi entertainment space. These also offer complimentary offerings to our advertisers and synergies in content and promotion,” the statement continues adding that the company has reviewed its portfolio of niche English Channels and the JV with CBS Studios International. Reliance Television Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Broadcast Network Limited and CBS Studios International have mutually decided to dissolve their Joint Venture, the statement added.

     

  • The Next Radio Ltd and BBC Worldwide jv which runs seven differentiated formats in the metros has upped ad rates by 20 percent wef Feb 1

    94.3 Radio One hikes ad rates by 20%

    By A Correspondent

     

    Radio One, the joint venture between Next Radio Ltd and BBC Worldwide, which runs 7 differentiated formats in the metros has increased its advertising rates by 20 percent across markets effective February 1, 2014.

     

    Said Vineet Singh Hukmani, MD and CEO Radio One: “In the last two years, our ‘product-first’ approach has ensured unparalled engagement of our listeners and therefore huge value to our advertisers. Complementing on-air content with simulcast digital conversations with the same TG does cost us. However, advertisers gain most as a result of this continuous upgradation as they can get access to supremely engaged audiences only on Radio One.”

     

    Radio One was the first station to begin ‘Online rebroadcast’ of its international Delhi and Mumbai stations. “In the last year we have begun to offer noticeable engagement in the online streaming audience and continuous up gradation of this service is the need of the hour and we are willing to make this investment for our advertisers’  added Vineet.

     

    Radio One runs international stations in Delhi and Mumbai, both of which have an online ‘rebroadcast’. The format for Bengaluru and Pune is upmarket Bollywood, whereas Ahmedabad and Kolkata are Hindi retro. Chennai, on the other hand, is a 100% request station. “We are happy that in Q3, all our seven stations were EBIDTA positive and this is the best proof of our strategy based on continuous product up-gradation,” added Mr Hukmani.

     

  • While the FM network will air live updates through the tournament, the Bihar & Jharkhand channel has live telecast rights for four matches of Team Bhojpuri Dabangs along with semi-final and final matches

    Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand and Big FM partner Celebrity Cricket League 2014

    By A Correspondent

     

    As the fourth edition of the Celebrity Cricket League is set to start, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd’s Big Magic Bihar & Jharkhand has acquired telecast rights to air four matches of Team ‘Bhojpuri Dabangs’ along with two semi-final and the finale match. CCL-4 starts January 25. Additionally, 92.7 BIG FM will also be associated and air live updates across its 45-station network.
    Team ‘Bhojpuri Dabangs’ is owned and captained by film actor Manoj Tiwari and consists of other celebrities from the Bhojpuri entertainment industry. The regional channel from the RBNL stable will also host programmes and contests around the property.

     

    Said Vishnuvardhan Induri, Founder and MD of CCL said, “We are happy to be associated with Big Magic Bihar and Jharkhand and 92.7 Big FM. We are sure this will help us reach wider areas and especially the regional hinterland.”

     

  • A new award – the Bajaate Raho Dialogue of the Year 2013 – was included in the list of Renault Star Guild Awards 2014

    Red FM partners Renault Star Guild Awards 2014

    By A Correspondent

    It’s the season of film awards and radio network, 93.5 Red FM has partnered with the Renault Star Guild Awards. A new award – the  Bajaate Raho Dialogue of the Year 2013 – has been included in list of awards.

    Said Nisha Narayanan, COO, 93.5 RED FM: “Star Guild Awards celebrates the best of Bollywood and we are excited to be once again associated with it.  We jointly with the Renault Star Guild Awards introduced a new category this year, ‘Bajaate Raho Dialogue of the year’”

    Added Rajat Uppal, General Manager (Marketing), RED FM on the association: “With the ‘Bajaate Raho Dialogue of the Year Award’ introduced here, we looked out for a dialogue which was impactful and had created an immediate connect with the youth of India. There were some excellent dialogues from big blockbusters of the year which were nominated, but the one from Ranjhanaa definitely proved to the most popular one.”

    Speaking on the awards, Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International said, “It has been a wonderful association and we value this partnership with Red FM who allow us to engage audiences across India with Red FM’s excellent listenership base in India.”