Tag: Helios

  • Helios bags sales mandate for FoodFood

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading food channel has awarded its revenue monetization mandate to Helios Media, the Divya Radhakrishnan-led speciality services company for broadcasters with verticals in sales, marketing, content advisory, content syndication and research and traffic management. The mandate was earlier held by Media Agnos.

     

    FoodFood is a joint venture between well-known Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Malaysia-based media conglomerate Astro Media. Chef Kapoor is well-known for his popular shows like ‘Khana Khazana’ on Zee TV and his recent association with ‘Masterchef’ on Star Plus. Confirming the news, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Co-founder & Director of FoodFood, said, “Our decision to partner with Helios Media is based on our assessment of its team’s strength and ability. In a unique offering and destination such as FoodFood, it is imperative that the team has deep understanding of aspirational needs of brands and viewers alike. The passion displayed by Helios reassures me that it would not only meet FoodFood’s expectation but also exceed it.”

     

    The channel has just celebrated its second anniversary and has been popular among the core segment of women for its programming, like the most recent ‘Secret Recipe’ and other popular shows like ‘Sanjeev Kapoor’s Kitchen’, ‘Turban Tadka’, ‘Mummy Ka Magic’ and ‘Style Chef’.

     

    Divya Radhakrishnan

    Commenting on the win, Divya Radhakrishnan, MD, Helios Media, said, “We are extremely honoured for the faith instilled by Sanjeev and team on Helios Media and for awarding us the business. With a dedicated food channel and even the GECs going the food route with primetime reality shows, we know that the food space is just beginning to simmer. ”

     

    Adds Bala Iyengar, Business Director of Helios Media: “Helios Media has the ability to not just sell space, but sell brand perceptions as well, and that is extremely critical in the niche channel scenario. We are confident about synergizing the FoodFood brand values with the clients’ marketing objectives to give solutions working for both the channel and the advertisers. With our strong infrastructure of teams across the country and evolved process, we are all set to take FoodFood to glorious heights.”

     

    Meanwhile, Media Agnos – set up by seasoned broadcast professionals Abraham (Abe) Thomas and Sumit  Gupta – will continue to handle the mandate for NDTV Good Times and Explore TV amongst others.

     

  • Divya Radhakrishnan launches Helios to serve non-content needs of broadcasters, ropes in Bala Iyengar

    Divya Radhakrishnan

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s now public. Divya Radhakrishnan, former TME president, has formed Helios Media Private Limited, an integrated ancillary service company for broadcasters. Helios, which was launched by Ms Radhakrishnan on November 1, has roped in Bala Iyengar as Business Director.

     

    The vision of this company has been crafted on the premise that the growing number of TV channels, and a large list waiting to come into the country, are facing a key business challenge. While content is the primary scope of these channels, a lot of effort has to be invested in creating a robust ecosystem to run the business. This puts a lot of stress on the channel business head, resulting in dilution of focus from the key delivery, which is content. Also, proliferation will lead to further slicing of the revenue pie making the all-encompassing business model non-viable.

     

    Helios Media has set up sales, marketing, research and traffic management verticals, offering services as a composite piece or as a stand-alone, based on the requirements of the broadcasters. It has offices covering the geographies of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

     

    Bala Iyengar

    The need for such a platform is amplified with the fact that Helios has already signed up three channels/ groups at the outset. M Tunes is India’s First Bollywood Music Channel in HD. Music Express, the second music channel from the same stable, will have a combination of music, trailors, short filmy programming on current affairs and retro music.

     

    Meanwhile, Helios Media is also the Asian arm of World Media Connect which markets Indian channels to the ethnic population based in US and UK. The channels under this portfolio are 6 channels of the Sun Network (Sun TV, KTV, Gemini TV, Udaya TV, Gemini Movies, Surya TV) and Punjjabi TV. Helios will be aligning with some more channels shortly.

     

    With the above contracts already in place, Helios is in advanced stages of negotiations with four speciality channels coming into India.

     

    Ms Radhakrishnan, who has been in the business of media management for the last 24 years, is the Managing Director of Helios Media. She has worked with leading advertising agencies like Publicis and Rediffusion Young & Rubicam. In her last assignment, Divya headed the Contact Practice at Rediffusion Y&R.

     

    Mr Iyengar, who has 14 years of experience, leads the Sales and Content syndication function at Helios Media. He has held senior positions at The Times of India, Sony Entertainment Television, Star Network and MTV. In his last assignment, Bala was the Business Head of Zoom.