MxMIndia

Tag: Balaji Telefilms

  • As GM, Sony Pictures International Productions

    Sony Pictures Entertainment appoints Nachiket Pantvaidya

    Nachiket Pantvaidya
    Nachiket Pantvaidya

    Sony Pictures Entertainment appoints Nachiket Pantvaidya as General Manager of Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP).

    In this role, Nachiket will oversee local Indian production while working alongside Shony Panjikaran (General Manager and Head of Sony Pictures Releasing International, India).

    In his earlier assignments, Nachiket was Group CEO, Balaji Telefilms, Business Head of Sony Entertainment Television. He was also the Business Head of Star Plus and held several roles in the Star TV network, including Head of Star Pravah and Managing Director of Fox Television Studios. An IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, he has also held key management roles in BBC and Disney.

    Shebnem Askin, EVP, Creative Production and Head of Sony Pictures International Production said: “Sanford Panitch and I are so pleased to have Nachiket join the Sony Pictures International Productions to lead our local Indian production. These are exciting times as we take a step to make and release our biggest local slate for the Indian market in the next two years. We are most excited as Nachiket brings along not only rich industry experience but also new energy and dynamic execution skills to lead SPIP to a prime position.”

  • For the films division

    Vivek Koka is now CBO @ Balaji Telefilms

    By Our Staff

     

    Balaji Telefilms has appoints Vivek Koka as the Chief Business Officer of the films division. Koka, who has been managing Altt, will now also be responsible for heading the films business.

     

    Said Shobha Kapoor, Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms, in a statement: “We are pleased to have Vivek on board, and are confident that his leadership will take Balaji to the next stage of growth and value creation. The Indian media sector is dynamic and full of opportunities for content and businesses. We are certain of Vivek and his team, to seize these opportunities and create value for all our stakeholders.”

     

  • There is some history to the chemistry between Lulla and Singla

    Sunil Lulla is Chairman of Ashwani Singla’s Astrum

    By Our Staff

    Sunil Lulla
    Sunil Lulla

    On his first day as CEO of MTV India, he walked in with colour on his finger nails. Each one different, and bright. A former friend once told this writer that he wanted to buy the man some printed socks from Kuala Lumpur, given the man’s love for all things stylish. At the press conference for an entertainment channel – yes, a real one – that didn’t quite take off, he stood up the podium with the hair on the back of his painted red.

    And now Sunil Lulla is all set to add colour and style to Astrum, a PR and advocacy firm based in New Delhi NCR. Better known as its founder and Managing Partner Ashwani Singla’s agency, Astrum fashions itself as “India’s first science-based specialist Reputation Management advisory”. We don’t know that what means, but Astrum sure has had a fair good set of clients over the years.

    Ashwani Singla
    Ashwani Singla

    Lulla, a communique said, will play a vital role in strengthening Astrum’s capability as a trusted advisor to the C Suite and adding fuel to its growth engine. Said Singla: “For over two decades that I have known and worked with Sunil, I have admired how he combines strategic clarity with execution excellence to achieve extraordinary outcomes. Our clients and colleagues will benefit from his sage counsel and proven acumen.”

    “The impact of reputation, risk and regulation on business is a major pre-occupation of the C Suite and more so today; I am delighted to be a part of a team that has an enviable track record of helping CXOs successfully negotiate this landscape,” added Lulla.

    Lulla should know, having spent a lifetime in the media ecosystem. Eons at Wunderman Thompson’s earlier avatar of JWT, MTV (where he effected a turnaround), Sony Entertainment Television (not yet Sony-Zee), Times Network (yes, with Arnab Goswami), Indya.com (remember the Sunday Times of India roadblock?) for Pradeep Kar’s Microland, HMV (now SaReGaMa), Grey, Balaji Telefilms (yes, with Ekta Kapoor) and television audience measurement body BARC India, where he was tasked by the Board to undertake some cleansing operations.

    The role doesn’t appear to be a full-time one, and will be in addition to a slew of other projects Lulla is involved in as part of his firm Linus Adventures. Linus, btw, is Sunil spelt ulta.

    Lulla is an active runner (yes, a marathoner), loves swimming, working out in the gym, enjoys his movies, music and books, and if you are on his friend’s list, perhaps the first to greet you on your Big Days. And, yes, he is also good in mixology. 

    We don’t know how he is with mixing liquids. But the number of engagements and bosses he’s worked surely indicates he can mix things well. And Astrum is, as the communique claims, a “science-based” firm. 

    There is some history to the chemistry between Lulla and Singla (they known each and worked with each other for over two decades). Science, mixology… fireworks?!

  • Account was won post a multi-agency pitch

    TheSmallBigIdea wins social media duties for ‘Dream Girl’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Digital media agency TheSmallBigIdea has been awarded the social media mandate for Balaji Telefilms’ upcoming movie ‘Dream Girl’, post a multi-agency pitch. As per the mandate, the agency will be responsible for the ideation and execution of the entire digital promotion of the film set to release on September 13.

     

    The agency will be responsible for conceptualising and implementing social media campaigns across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In addition to this, TheSmallBigIdea in collaboration with Balaji Telefilms will strategise and execute video concepts with Ayushmann Khurrana to create engagements and interactions across social media platforms.

     

    Harikrishnan Pillai

    Said Harikrishnan Pillai, CEO and co-founder, TheSmallBigIdea: “We’re thrilled to work with Balaji Telefilms for the third time in a row this year! This is the second Ayushmann Khurrana film that we are working on, and like all his films, the plot is as interesting as it gets. We are working with the team at Balaji Telefilms to create content that brings the audiences closer to the wonderfully crafted characters of the movie. It’s a golden phase for cinema and everyone aligned with it, where great storylines make great films. The team at TSBI is proud to play a small part in this.”

     

     

  • The platform will launch a digital contest ‘AltBalaji Ka Sabse Bada Fan’

    AltBalaji celebrates second anniv with new content initiatives

    By A Correspondent

     

    AltBalaji has completed two years of operations in India. To connect with fans, the platform will launch a digital contest ‘AltBalaji Ka Sabse bada fan’, where two lucky winners will get a chance to meet their favourite star. A Twitter contest will be hosted on AltBalaji’s official handle from April 19 till 22 wherein multiple questions will be asked about the shows at regular intervals.

     

    Nachiket Pantvaidya

    Said Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO – AltBalaji and Group COO, Balaji Telefilms: “Entertaining viewers with innovative content has been the core ethos of the group and very significantly runs in the DNA of AltBalaji too. Celebrating the journey of two glorious years  is a very proud moment for us as we set foot into the third year. By constantly working on an effective content strategy to cater to individuals, we aim to ramp up our offerings in the Originals space at an exciting pace. With a total of 18 new originals across genres launched last year, the content-library is growing bigger and getting more extensive. This also reflects in our growing subscriber base, with AltBalaji consistently ranking in the three Top Grossing Apps on both iOS and Android.”

     

     

  • Dixit has joined as Senior Vice President and Head Marketing for India and International markets

    AltBalaji appoints Divya Dixit as Head of Marketing

    By A Correspondent

     

    AltBalaji has announced the appointment of Divya Dixit as Senior Vice President and Head Marketing for India and International markets. She has joined AltBalaji from Zee5.

     

    Speaking on the appointment, Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO AltBalaji and Group COO Balaji Telefilms said:“As we continue to grow the company while deepening our relationship with viewers around the globe, we also want to ensure that we have the strongest leadership team in place at AltBalaji. We are delighted to have Divya on board. She will be pivotal in driving AltBalaji’s vision of shaping and defining its leadership in the fast-growing and dynamic OTT sector. With her experience in media, entertainment and the digital space, we look forward to further capitalizing our digital expansion and I wish her all the best. All the other various marketing units operating under AltBalaji umbrella will now roll into Divya.”

     

    Commenting on the occasion, Dixit added: “AltBalaji is a leader in clutter breaking original content. It is an exciting time for OTT players, as the Indian digital landscape is exploding. I truly believe that AltBalaji will raise multiple industry benchmarks and shall continue being a dominant player in the space. I am thrilled to join the AltBalaji family and looking forward to a successful journey.”

     

     

  • The former Grey Group CMD will will join Balaji wef May 25

    We told you so. Sunil Lulla joins Balaji Telefilms as Group CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    On April 10, we had reported that Sunil Lulla was moving on from Grey Group to join Balaji Telefilms as Group CEO. We had to use the word rumoured because the official announcement could only be made post the Board meeting. Lulla will join Balaji wef May 25.

     

    Lulla, a veteran of over three decades of experience across media, entertainment and the broadcast industry, was until recently CMD of Grey Group India. Earlier he has worked with HMV (nkaSaregama), MTV, Sony, Times Network and Indya.com. Lulla has been a prominent member on many boards and forums of the broadcast industry.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Shobha Kapoor, Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms said: “We are pleased that Sunil will be joining us as Group CEO and are confident that he is the right person to lead Balaji to the next stage of growth and value creation. He is a seasoned leader with a stellar leadership reputation and brings with him a wealth of consumer business experience. The Indian media sector is undergoing massive change which also creates enormous opportunities for us at Balaji Telefilms and Sunil will lead the efforts with the rest of the team to seize these opportunities and create value for all our stakeholders.”

     

    Added Lulla in a statement: “I am incredibly excited to join Balaji Telefilms at this stage of the company’s evolution into a B2C media business. Balaji Telefilms has a great combination of engaging and compelling content and distribution on the back of explosive growth in online video consumption. Balaji Telefilms is well positioned to become a leading player in the Indian media sector and I am motivated to join the leadership team and all the great people that have fuelled Balaji Telefilms success so far.”

     

     

  • BCL will be aired on the youth channel from Feb 13

    MTV acquires broadcast rights for Box Cricket League

    By A Correspondent

     

    Youth channel MTV and Box Cricket League come together to offer a mix of cricket and entertainment in typical MTV style.

     

    MTV will join hands with Balaji Telefilms and Marinating Films to the celebrity cricket matches with the over 200 television celebrities starting February 13, 2018.

     

    Commenting on the association with Balaji Telefilms Limited, Raj Nayak, COO, Viacom18 said: “We all know about young India’s obsession with cricket! With MTV Box Cricket League, we will be taking the nation’s obsession with cricket and entertainment a notch higher by ensuring we give the youth of India what it wants – celebrities and cricket – on a channel they love the most – MTV. Not only is the MTV Box Cricket League a fun concept but also an opportunity for viewers to see their favourite stars in a new avatar and engage with brand MTV in a whole new manner. It’s going to be extremely exciting to see the league unfold on screen for both, us and the viewers.”

     

    Added Ferzad Palia, Head – Youth, Music and English Entertainment, Viacom18: “MTV is a brand that knows the pulse of the youth like no one else does and cricket being a sport which fascinates a lot of youngsters, we knew this would be a perfect association for us. When Prime Time stars take on their new role on the cricket pitch, we’re positive young India is going to sit up and not only take notice but follow each match in the league with keen interest. The stellar line up of celebrities will definitely make MTV Box Cricket League all the more engaging for our young viewers.”

     

    On partnering with MTV, Ekta Kapoor – JMD, Balaji Telefilms, said: “MTV BCL 2018 is a reboot that’s set to excite and entertain viewers across the television and digital medium. With a prime time slot on India’s top youth channel, MTV BCL is poised to take the audiences on a dramatic sport extravaganza. Add to this the top male and female faces of indian television and the landscape is unlike any other. Audiences today are ready for clutter breaking content and this is a step in that direction.”

     

     

  • New shows to be available only on mobile and web, to create 250+ hrs of original content this year

    Balaji Telefilms launches OTT platform ALTBalaji

    By A Correspondent

     

    Balaji Telefilms announced its arrival in the digital world through the launch of mobile platform The platform will offer 250+ hours of original, exclusive content to its subscribers. The ad-free, subscription-based platform is now commercially available with few of these original shows.

     

    Commenting on the launch, Ekta Kapoor, Joint Managing Director of Balaji Telefilms said: “Indian entertainment audience is evolving and so are we at Balaji, with ALTBalaji we are officially identifying our audience as individuals and not groups/family. We are entering into their most personal space- mobile phones and this empowers them to really watch what they want, at the time and location of their choice and not what single TV family is habituated to. ALTBalaji’s shows will open new world of home grown differentiated entertainment to the viewers with the best stories and artists.”

     

    Added Sameer Nair, Group CEO, Balaji Telefilms: “We are proud to bring ALTBalaji to the Indian viewers, this is an alternate to their regular entertainment options- TV, Bollywood Films and foreign English content. We fit right between these options and with the plummeting digital divide across Indian cities we found a perfect space to showcase our content, digital platform. We tied up with multiple partners to ensure smooth navigation and subscription payment option, creating an unparalleled user experience on the app.”

     

    Said Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO of ALTBalaji: “The most endearing feature of ALTBalaji is its content, we are launching with the promise to bring fresh and never heard of stories to our viewers. While we are starting with five shows, it will be followed by a new show every 15 days for the bingewatch-lovers.”

     

  • Sethi will be overseeing the company's entire communications strategy in India and international markets

    ALT Balaji ropes in Manav Sethi as Chief Marketing Officer

     

     

    ALT Balaji has roped in marketing veteran Manav Sethi as its Chief Marketing Officer. Sethi will be overseeing the company’s entire communications strategy in India and international markets.

     

    Said Sameer Nair, Group CEO, Balaji Telefilms: “Manav is ideally suited to support the vision we’re working towards at ALT Balaji. We are looking forward to harnessing his experience and expertise as we launch, grow and expand our footing. Manav’s role will cover a wide array of activities including Marketing and Communications, and we look forward to his leadership in shaping our journey”

     

    “We are delighted to add such an experienced resource to the ALT Balaji family. Manav not only comes with a vast experience in the field but also will add a new layer and dynamism to the team, we think. I’m sure he will only complement to our venture of creating a solid and valuable brand”, added Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO, ALT Balaji.

     

    Commented Sethi: “It’s an exciting time in the digital space and to be a part of a company since its launch always adds to the excitement. I’m looking forward to playing a part in this journey towards making ALT Balaji one of India’s leading brands”

     

  • Box Cricket League will air its second season on India's leading Hindi GEC, Colors & Colors HD from Feb 28th 2016

    Balaji Telefilms hands over sales mandate of Box Cricket League to Aidem Ventures

    By A Correspondent

     

    Aidem Ventures has acquired ad sales duties of a celebrity cricket show titled Box Cricket League. This reality show is a joint venture between Balaji Telefilms & Marinating Films.

     

    Box Cricket League is an on-ground property with a unique blend of sports, celebrities & entertainment. It is the only reality show that brings the concept of cricket being played in an indoor format. The top 200 television actors & actresses have been roped in, making it a star-studded battle of equals. Besides the game of cricket, Box Cricket League also promises its viewers with a line-up of dance performances, high-end drama, team-wise strategy sessions, on-field tasks etc.

     

    Sameer Nair

    Confirming the news, Sameer Nair, Group CEO, Balaji Telefilms said, “The networking strength & the rich experience that Aidem has garnered over the years is what sought our attention. We are confident about Aidem’s ability to understand the needs of the brands, living up to the advertisers’ expectation which is vital for our content. Hence, we are looking forward to a prolific business relationship going ahead.”

     

    Vikas Khanchandani

    Vikas Khanchandani, Co-founder & Director, Aidem Ventures added, “Box Cricket League as a concept is exceptional, innovative & untouched in the history of Indian Television. We are not looking at it as a challenge but an exciting task of evangelizing the market about their beneficial association with a unique content like this. Also, Aidem Ventures has been successful in not just selling space but revolutionizing the perception of advertising. I believe Balaji Telefilms’ association with Aidem Ventures will establish an advertising platform of huge success.”

     

    Box Cricket League will air its second season on India’s leading Hindi GEC, Colors & Colors HD from Feb 28th 2016. The show will be telecasted on Saturdays & Sundays, 4.30 – 6.30 pm, with a repeat telecast on Rishtey.

     

  • "This confirms Star's exit of a minority stake of 25.99% in Balaji Telefilms," said Uday Shankar, CEO Star India

    Star Network sells its 25.99% in Balaji

    By Ravi Teja Sharma

     

    Rupert Murdoch-owned Star Network has sold its entire shareholding of 25.99% in Ekta Kapoor promoted Balaji Telefilms in a block deal on the Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India (MSEI) at an average price of Rs 63.6 a share. This values the block deal at around Rs 108 crore.

     

    “This confirms Star’s exit of a minority stake of 25.99% in Balaji Telefilms,” said Uday Shankar, CEO Star India.

     

    “Axis capital acted as advisors to Star and also executed the on-market sale on August 5th 2015. This is in line with our strategy to focus on core businesses where Star has the ability to shape and scale the future growth path of its investments. Our programming and contractual relationships with Balaji are deep and we continue to work on strengthening them to our mutual benefit,” he added.

     

    Star had bought 21% stake in the company in 2004 for Rs 90 per share and had raised it to 25.99% later through an open offer.

     

    The production house had an exclusivity deal with Star. Balaji Telefilms is known for some of the top soaps such as Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasuati Zindagi Ki.

     

    Balaji Telefilms’ shares were up 19.96% to 95.25 at the close of trading on Wednesday.

     

    Source:The Economic Times

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