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Tag: Spark Punjabi

  • Localization of content has helped channels and networks to know and capture their TG well

    Strategy to use TV & radio simultaneously for max impact: Anand Chakravarthy

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    That regional channels are not a new phenomenon is evident when one surfs through various channels available today. And the available channels don’t seem to be enough as networks have launched, or are planning to launch, regional channels to tap specific target audience.

     

    So, when Reliance Broadcast Network launched Spark Punjabi, a regional channel for the PHCHP (Punjab, Haryana,Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh) region, earlier this year, there was no surprise or shock.s.

     

    Anand Chakravarthy

    Speaking on the role regional channel play for a network, Anand Chakravarthy, executive vice president, Marketing, RBNL and business head, Big Magic said: “India is not one country, but is formed of various countries. And in the past five-six years, there has been an increase in number of regional channels. Traditionally, only southern states had separate channels, but today the markets have opened up in other states too. And this is because of availability of better quality content.”

     

    Localization of content has helped channels and networks to know and capture their TG well. Mr Chakravarthy states that it’s not only regional channels which are going local, but also national Hindi GECs too. “Take a look at any primetime show on a GEC – you’ll be seeing the differences – right from costumes to language used by the characters is localized as well as the story of the show. This is because even GECs know that if they do so, it becomes more relevant to a certain set of audience.”

     

    The network wants to give its audiences a very local feel and want to be seen as part of the region. “We show dubbed international shows, along with specially created programming because it helps us reach our audience better. It’s our USP. And we’ll continue to make shows which are very regional in their approach.”

     

    However, what is unique about the Reliance Broadcast Network is its strategy to use radio and TV simultaneously to strengthen the hold in a region. “We do a lot of marketing on our radio stations which helps a show’s launch on television, as it is able to create a lot of buzz. We plan to strengthen our regional footprint and our strategy is to launch in regions where we have very stronghold as it will help us and also form a unique advertising  offering which will get us advertisers and help us grow as well,” pointed out Mr Chakravarthy.

     

    And this is why the channel – Spark Punjabi – along with 92.7 BIG FM, came together to conceptualize BIG Boli Star - a talent hunt contest aimed at promoting Punjabi Boliyaan (a traditional Punjabi form of art). “Punjab has a very rich traditional art forms and Boliyaan have been passed down from generation to generation. Spark Punjabi and 92.7 BIG FM are ensuring that this traditional art continues to flourish, both in the rural and urban areas of the Punjab region. The BIG Boli Star talent hunt is creating a new wave of enthusiasm for traditional Punjabi culture as well as bringing new talent to the forefront.” The show is currently the no 1 reality show in Punjab and was able to deliver a 0.77 TVR in the CS4+ category (week 27).

     

    The network also plans to launch more regional specific shows as well as two more regional channels in the coming few weeks.

     

     

  • Unveils a new line up of shows in the humour genre, strengthening its leadership with exciting new offerings

    Spark Punjabi launches new shows

    By A Correspondent

     

    Spark Punjabi, the international Punjabi channel which is a joint venture between Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International, is adding a new spark to its programming. True to its promise to deliver variety entertainment relevant to different target groups, beginning June 11, Spark Punjabi will feature special shows.

     

    Comedy seems to resonate very well with the viewers, even in the PHCHP region, and hence Spark Punjabi will be launching 2 new shows – Naadaniyaan, a situational comedy, and Bulbulay, a story of four lunatic characters, in the prime time slots.

     

    The new shows are being promoted through an aggressive multi media campaign, featuring TV, Radio, OOH, Print, Digital, Cable, Cinema across the PHCHP region to ensure that audiences quickly sample these new offerings.

     

    The channel launched these shows in sync with its recent campaign called ‘Choose Your Set-Top-Box Wisely’, designed to increase awareness and empower consumers with adequate information to make the right choice while choosing their set top boxes, while also enabling operators to build their brand equity.

     

  • is the No. 1 channel in the region with leading prime time shows like Jerry Di Adaalat, Veer Hawaii De, Amreeka Di Top Model and international movies

    Spark Punjabi emerges winner for BIG-CBS

    By A Correspondent

     

    Spark Punjabi, the innovative international Punjabi channel launched by BIG-CBS, the Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS  jv, has reported excellent ratings by TAM. The channel has been rated as the leader during primetime of 7pm-12am, according to TAM reports, week 3-6 2012 (TAM India: CS4+ Males, Punjab 1 Mn+)

    With its endeavour to offer hand-picked world class content, dubbed in Punjabi to the audiences, the channel offers advertisers the best possible platform that they could seek, to reach out to audiences with minimal spill-over. The region is one of the richest regions and boasts of a strong base of affluent consumers. The market offers a good business opportunity for this channel format as it has excellent TV and C&S penetration, coupled with limited local language entertainment options.

     

    The channel is being supported by an integrated marketing plan leveraging multi-media platforms. With RBNL’s existing radio brand 92.7 BIG FM reaching 22 cities in the region and its OOH arm BIG Street’s 3,000+ ambient media options across the markets, BIG CBS Spark Punjabi offers marketers an integrated media opportunity.

     

    Speaking on the rating, Vishal Rally, Business Head, BIG CBS Networks said: “The strategy of taking world class content, tailoring it to meet local sensibilities and catering to the entertainment requirements of the people of Punjab has worked! Audiences have lapped up the channel, while advertisers are seeing excellent value for their brands.”

     

    The channel is available across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) region and distributed on digital and analog platforms, with an extensive reach of over 6mn+ C&S households in the region.

  • For the consumer, it is a chance to view a particular channel in his mother tongue. For channels, it is about expanding viewership base and accumulating additional revenues

    Speaking in tongues, good for TV channels

     

    By Rishi Vora

     

    TV channels are gung-ho about the digital revolution India is witnessing. New launches and the ones in the pipeline – all are preparing to be on DTH or Digital Cable. Well, what this brings to viewers and for the industry is a  novel trend: the rise of language feeds. For the consumer, it is now a chance to view a particular channel in his mother tongue. For channels, it is about expanding viewership base and accumulating additional revenues via local advertisers.

     

    The trend is visibly on the rising side. Big CBS launched Spark Punjabi. Sonic has extended its offering to Marathi and Bengali. History, the factual entertainment channel from the A+E Networks recently launched the Gujarati feed, making it the only channel to be available in seven languages (Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi and English). Discovery serves in English, Telugu, Bengali, Hindi, while National Geographic is present in five feeds: English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu and Tamil. The trend, quite noticeably is seen in the kids and the factual entertainment genre.

     

    For these international channels, the opportunity is way too big to be missed. The cost of launching a new feed vis-a-vis the return it brings to the table in terms of reach, viewership and revenue, is negligible. All it accounts for is an additional cost on dubbing, which on most occasions, for all channels would be an incremental cost since English and Hindi languages are by most channels, already operational. Sangeetha Aiyer, General Manager – Marketing A+E Networks and TV 18 JV informs that the cost of dubbing varies between 7 to 15 per cent of a programming budget.

     

    “The trend has been around for a while,” says Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Executive VP and General Manager, Sonic and Nick India. She further adds, “For us, since we cater to the kids and the young adults of India, it is important that the characters kids have an affinity towards speak to them in their mother tongue – the language they speak at home. That is the best way you can engage and entertain them.” Aiyer agrees that it brings in more revenue and viewership for the channel, but also calls for a lot of co-ordination with studios which at times can be painstaking. Ensuring quality control, scripts, technicians etc is one part of the challenge, while lack of experts in languages like Marathi or Bengali is another challenge.

     

    Most channels outsource the dubbing work to studios, except UTV Action which contracts its sister company UTV Software on the same. UTV Action, as is known was one of the early movers in the movies segment to offer Hollywood films dubbed in Hindi. The channel later launched its Telugu feed. Manasi Sapre, Programming Head, UTV Action says that Telugu feed opens up a big market for the channel. “We’re seeing a lot of traction from the Telugu market, where the appetite for Hollywood movie watching is constantly increasing. Telugu market is one market where you can be rest assured of a good response, given the fact that the southern belt likes to view content in their own language rather than English or Hindi.”

     

    A separate P&L company within the UTV group – UTV Software, has been in the business of dubbing for more than 15 years now. The company is seen as a pioneer, currently handling projects like Walt Disney, Hungama, Fox Traveller, National Geeographic Wild, NDTV Good Times and UTV Action. The company dubs 40-50 hours of content every month, so considering that content is offered in a minimum of  four languages, it means 200 hours of content being dubbed every month.

     

    According to Rahul Bhatia, Senior VP – Dubbing, UTV Software, the dubbing industry has grown leaps and bounds in the past five to seven years in terms of the number of players. The market still remains majorly unorganised with UTV as a major player as against many small studios that do one-off projects. “Price-points for dubbing have gone down drastically. From what it used to be Rs 1 lakh for an hour 10 years back, it is now come down to Rs 25,000. But, on the brighter side, volumes have increased. Three years back it was only Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, but now if you see, the market is growing to other languages like Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali and Punjabi.”

     

    Quite interestingly, for many channels that bring in international content from countries like Japan, Korea or even China, content is translated to English and then dubbed to various other languages, which is a lot of effort on the part of the studios. Part of the reason for this tedious procedure is the fact that channels are extra careful to ensure that  international standards are maintained.

     

    Given the kind of growth dubbing has seen and that many channels have launched multiple feeds, there are chances that a few broadcast majors would want to set up their own studios. Maybe it is too early to say, or the existing outsourcing practice could well be effective enough as one may not want to get into the business, which could well mean diverting the attention from three major functions: Content, Distribution, Sales. Even for now, Dubbing seems to come later in the priority list of the channels.

     

  • Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International complement JV portfolio with dedicated international Punjabi channel

    BIG CBS goes balle-balle with Spark Punjabi

    By A Correspondent

     

    The BIG CBS, a Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International complement JV, on Tuesday announced the launch of its fourth channel, Spark Punjabi, marking its foray in regional television.

     

    The BIG CBS has already launched three channels – BIG CBS Prime, BIG CBS Love and BIG CBS Spark. The JV is the number one English entertainment network in the country.

     

    Spark Punjabi, a category creator, is positioned as the first international Punjabi channel. It will be launched on January 14. Targeting the 15+ audience, the channel will feature the best of CBS content, dubbed in Punjabi, giving local audiences immediate access to world class entertainment.

     

    The channel will be available across Punjab, Haryana,Chandigarhand Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) region. The channel will be distributed on digital and analog platforms, with an extensive reach of over 6mn+ C&S households in the region.

     

    Spark Punjabi will air the latest seasons of international shows such as jerry Springer, Hawaii Five-O,America’s Next Top Model, Masked Warriors – an international wrestling format, amongst others, dubbed in Punjabi. The channel will also feature a judicious mix of Punjabi music, international dubbed movies and local programming in Punjabi.

     

    The PHCHP is one of the richest regions and boasts of a strong base of affluent consumers. With 78 per cent TV penetration and 88 per cent C&S penetration, coupled with limited local language entertainment options, the market offers a good business opportunity. The Rs1,200 crore advertising pie also creates an exciting opportunity for this platform.

     

    With Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd’s (RBNL) existing leading radio brand 92.7 BIG FM, reaching 22 cities in the region and its OOH arm, BIG Street’s 3000+ ambient media options across the markets, Spark Punjabi will offer marketers an integrated media opportunity like none other in the region.

     

    The channel will be supported by an integrated marketing plan leveraging multi-media. Added to this will be the media muscle of the entire Reliance Group.

     

    Tarun Katial, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd. said: “India’s booming regional television industry with limited regional entertainment options is an opportunity that we are leveraging. With our robust radio network in place, Spark Punjabi will allow a more integrated offering to marketers, while presenting audiences with the best television entertainment.”

     

    Armando Nuñez, President, CBS Studios International said: “The move into the regional market perfectly complements our existing bouquet of channels in India, utilizing existing programming resources customized to the Punjabi market and backed by Reliance’s great media assets in the region.”