MxMIndia

Tag: Subhash Chandra

  • Zee Greenlights Moving Premium Hindi Entertainment Channel Zindagi Exclusively To Its Ott Platform Ozee

    Zindagi to turn OTT-only from July 1

    By A Correspondent

     

    On June 23, Zee Entertainment launched Zindagi with much fanfare. In almost no time, the channel grew in popularity, even though viewership numbers were limited. Not only did the channel rekindle the belief in finite entertainment but also threw up new stars from across the border.

     

    While Zee continued to repose faith in the channel, last year, Zee group Chairman Subhash Chandra announced that the channel would stop airing Made-in-Pakistan software in the wake of the Uri massacre. Given that things didn’t really improve on the border front, the channel launched a slew of Indian and international programming.

     

    And now ZEE has announced the decision to move Zindagi from the television broadcast platform to its video-on-demand platform OZEE from Saturday, July 1. This move has been announced with an objective to expand digital engagement with audiences who thrive on time-shifted viewing, notes a communique.

     

    Said Aparna Bhosle, ZEE’s Business Cluster Head, Premium & FTA GEC channels: “Zindagi is a thought leader in premium entertainment and the shift to digital is yet another example of innovation from Zee. Making it available exclusively on OZEE will enable us to deliver more distinctive and quality content to audiences on the move.”

     

  • As Zee will complete 25 years of existence next year, last week MxM announced a special volume: Zee@25. We replay the notice

    Do you have an interesting Zee story?

     

    Next year, 2017, to be precise, the Zee Network completes 25 years of existence.

     

    On October 2, 1992, Zee TV was launched with mixed fanfare. Will a name like Zee work, many asked. Just how can someone not from the business of entertainment get into television. Yes, Star TV was around, but can Zee do a similar act?

     

    Despite many sceptics, Zee TV under Subhash Chandra and a team of energetic professionals took off in style. And since then hasn’t looked back. And although there have been some blips in the 25 years, it’s been a journey of highs and highs. Even fierce competitors acknowledge that Zee is by far the most successful Indian television media conglomerates.

     

    In this quarter of a century, Zee TV has touched the lives of many across the country, and the world.

     

    MxMIndia announces a book to chronicle the Zee journey.

     

    So do you have a Zee story that you would like to share with us and the world? Have you worked with Zee for a period of one year or above? Have you been a vendor or done a show for Zee? Have you done business with Zee? Or have you got the wrong end of the stick? Have you been a journalist who has reported on Zee or a creative/media agency having done business with the channel? Send us your account… your experience with your name and photograph and a day-time telephone number and we will publish it (subject to our editorial discretion and it may be trimmed for brevity and style).

     

    The volume will be printed in August-September 2017, and the deadline for submissions is January 31, 2017.

     

    Write to us at editor@mxmindia.com

    Please note that this volume is being published by MxMIndia independently (and not commissioned by anyone). However, we are happy to carry sponsorship and receive bulk bookings for copies.

     

  • The book will be launched at the 'ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival', on 21st January 2016

    HarperCollins chronicles Dr Subhash Chandra’s life in new autobiography

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading publihser HarperCollins India has announced the launch of the autobiography of Dr Subhash Chandra of Chairman of Zee and Essel groups. The book is an unusually candid memoir of a truly desi self-made businessman who came to Delhi at age twenty with seventeen rupees in his pocket. Today, he has a net worth of $6.3 billion and annual group revenues of in excess of $3 billion. Senior journalist Pranjal Sharma helped put the book together.

     

    Dr Chandra, the promoter of Essel Group and Zee, is an unlikely mogul. Hailing from a small town in Haryana, where his family ran grain mills, Chandra has been a perennial outsider, repeatedly aiming high and breaking into businesses where he was considered an interloper Starting work as a teen to pay off family debts, Dr Chandra had to rely on bluff, gumption and sheer hard toil to turn things around. A little bit of luck and political patronage saw him make a fortune in rice exports to the erstwhile USSR.

     

    Always a risk-taker, Chandra then had the vision of getting into broadcasting early, even as established media players failed to see its potential. Zee TV, India’s first private Indian TV channel, changed the rules of the game and tickled the fancy of a public starved of entertainment.

     

    Several gutsy initiatives followed, though not all of them were successful. Chandra’s attempts to launch satellite telephony and a cricket league came a cropper. But the man continues to reinvent himself; he is now also focusing on infrastructure and smart cities.

     

    The book was unveiled by the Prime Minister on Wednesday and then a day later amidst much fanfare at the Jaipur Litfest.

     

     

  • The theme of Dr Subhash Chandra's discussion will be 'News Neutrality'

    IAA gets set for maiden IndIAA Awards and ‘Conversations’ with Subhash Chandra

    Tuesday, October 13, sees the India chapter of the International Advertising Association playing host to two events – one, as part of its regular series IAA Conversations, Essel group and Zee chairman Dr Subhash Chandra will be in conversation with senior journalist V Shankkar Aiyar.  The theme of the discussion is ‘News Neutrality’. This is on between 5.45 and 6.45pm.

     

    At 7pm, the first edition of the IndIAA Awards happen.

     

    Both events will be held at St Regis Hotel in Parel (what was earlier Palladium Hotel and even earlier Hotel Shangri La).

     

    Said Srinivasan Swamy, President, IAA India Chapter: “News Neutrality is a controversial hot button topic. Given Zee’s global footprint and experience in various markets, Subhash Chandra in conversation with Shankkar will bring deep insights to the subject. We have decided to have the IAA Conversation and the IndIAA Awards on the same day, so that the people attending will have the opportunity to engage on two very different topics.”

     

    Said Dr Bhaskar Das, Chairman, IAA Conversations said, “Most often, the News Neutrality debate is around objectivity and ideology.  Now with accelerated online news delivery and wider television reporting, the conflict is even more apparent. This session of IAA Conversations will definitely bring a new perspective to the existing narrative.”

     

    Pradeep Guha, Chairman, IndIAA Awards Committee said, “Since the advertiser and the agencies that co-created the winning campaign are honoured on the same stage, this award format promises to be different.”

     

  • SITI Cable Network Ltd has achieved the landmark of 4 million digital customers as on 31stMarch 2014

    SITI eclipses 4 million subscriber mark

    By a correspondent

     

    SITI Cable Network Ltd has achieved the landmark of 4 million digital customers as on 31stMarch 2014. Encouraged by the significant improvement in the performance in FY13-14 and to support the aggressive growth plan to grow subscriber base to 10 million in FY 14-15, the promoters have invested additional Rs.2430 million in the business.

     

    As per the approval received from Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in March 2013 to raise Rs. 3240 million from promoter entities, the company has already received first tranche Rs. 810 million in March 2013 and this is balance tranche fund of Rs. 2430 million. With this total promoter shareholding rises to 72.82 percent.

     

    The funds will be utilized primarily for Business expansion and to partially reduce debt.

     

    Subhash Chandra, Chairman, stated, ” The Indian television distribution industry is on the cusp of high growth value phase as it marches towards the digitization of balance phases of cable television in the country. With the change in leadership last year, SITI Cable has driven higher revenue and profitability through relentless focus on operational excellence despite uncertain environment. Our sustained investment in this sector will further accelerate the growth momentum and will serve the Digital Cable TV viewing needs of many more million Indians on SITI Cable Network”.

     

    Commenting on this development, V D Wadhwa, CEO of SITI Cable said “For the wider digitization roll out, the company needs to invest in upgrading its digital infrastructure further and enter into newer strategic markets. We plan to seed over 6 million set-top-boxes in phase-3&4 markets through organic and in organic growth. We believe that we are well poised to benefit from the ongoing digitization implementation and ready to penetrate the market at a faster rate.”

     

     

  • The Jaipur Literature Festival has announced Zee Entertainment as the new title sponsor for the 2014 edition that takes place next week – January 17-21. Over 20,000 people are expected to attend each day of the five-day fest

    Zee is title sponsor of Jaipur Lit Fest

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Jaipur Literature Festival has announced Zee Entertainment as the new title sponsor for the 2014 edition of the fest which takes place next week – January 17-21, 2014.

     

    The festival, which is now in its seventh edition, will host a cross-section of top literary talent including Jonathan Franzen, Jumpha Lahiri, Amartya Sen, Harold Varmus, Tash Aw, Samantha Shannon and Reza Aslan.

     

    Subhash Chandra

    Said Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, in a communiqué: “Literature, as they rightly say, preserves our cultural ideals, customs and morals. ZEE has been the cultural ambassador of our nation to the rest of the world for over two decades. Our traditions and rich culture, weaved into our content, reaches over 700+ million viewers across the globe. Our brand positioning – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, resonates this effort of ours, to unify the diverse cultures and traditions across the world into one Family. Celebrating this legacy further, we are extremely proud to associate with Jaipur Literature Festival.”

     

    Punit Goenka

    Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, added: “The Zee Jaipur Literature Festival association further strengthens our endeavour in creating compelling and engaging story telling for our viewers.”

     

    Sanjoy K. Roy, Producer of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Zee Entertainment as title sponsor to the Jaipur Literature Festival. Their support will allow us to keep the Festival open to all, whilst bringing a wealth of world class talent to Jaipur each year.”

     

    The directors of the Jaipur Literature Festivals are William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale and the festival is produced by Sanjoy K Roy (seen often on television news around the time of the Tarun Tejpal episode) and Sheuli Sethi of Teamwork Productions.

     

    The title sponsor of the festival last year was infrastructure company DSC and Tata Steel, Airtel and a host of others backed the event. In fact DSC has had a long association with festival as is with other literary initiatives. While the literature festival attracts a galaxy of writers and thinkers, the 2013 edition saw a controversy initially over the participation of Salman Rushdie in the proceedings and later over the remarks of sociologist Ashis Nandy on OBCs and SC/STs.

     

    Over 20,000 people are expected to attend on each day of the five-day festival. Decidedly, the biggest in the business. While there have been figures quoted of the sponsorship amount being in the region of Rs 5 crore, according to the grapevine, the actual amount could be even less than half that, with Zee putting its weight behind the promotion of the festival across media.

     

  • The Zee and Essel group Chairman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of East London

    Subhash Chandra receives doctorate at Univ of East London

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zee and Essel group Chairman Subhash Chandra was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of East London (UEL).

     

    Mr Chandra received the Doctorate from Lord Gulam Noon, the Chancellor of the University of East London, at the ceremony for their Royal Dock Business School graduates. Accepting the award, Mr. Chandra thanked the entire senior management team at the Royal Dock Business School, saying, “It is indeed a privilege to be recognized outside one’s country, and in the presence of such highly acclaimed and respected individuals. I thank you all for bestowing this prestigious award that I feel honored to receive.”

     

    Mr. Chandra’s felicitation adds a feather to the crown of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd and marks the establishment of the broadcaster in the UK andEurope, and follows a recent launch of DittoTV, an online, tablet and mobile platform providing live streams and TV on demand from 17 Zee channels. ZEE TV is now in the process of commissioning new programming produced specifically for the UK and European audience.

     

    Later today (Nov 21), Mr Chandra will deliver a keynote speech at AsPIRE, the annual event hosted by JP Morgan at Lord’s to promote Asian-Pacific global leadership. Mr Chandra will take the audience through his life journey from humble beginnings in India to becoming a global billionaire. He will reveal his role models and advise on implementing ideas into successful business operations.

     

  • The former India Today Publishing Director has joined the English daily dna has s appointed Malcolm Mistry as CEO

    Malcolm Mistry joins dna as CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Zee group’s English daily dna has appointed Malcolm Mistry as CEO.

     

    Mr Mistry has over two decades of experience across the India Today and Indian Express groups. As Publishing Director at the former, he was responsible for the flagship India Today magazine and all its language avatars, Business Today and Readers Digest amongst others. In addition, he was the chief architect of the sales synergy process as he created a unified sales team across various brands. His last stint saw him turning entrepreneur and launching Ushta Te HR Consultancy Services to provide recruitment solutions across key verticals like media, advertising and luxury. The appointment, say industry observers, will be a boost to the sales function at dna which needed a ‘face’.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group said: “We are delighted to have Malcolm on board. His extensive experience in leading strong media brands will help build on the momentum and navigate ‘dna’ into a phase of high growth.”

     

    On his new role, Mr Mistry said: “dna has strong brand equity. I am excited with the challenge of raising the bar and creating a more vibrant ‘print plus’ product with greater consumer traction and increased shareholder value.”

     

    dna is now part of the Zee Media Group which also comprises a slew of television channels and digital offerings. Dr Bhaskar Das, formerly President, Bennett, Coleman and Co and associated with several industry associations, is Group CEO. The position of CEO at dna has been vacant since K U Rao moved on to a Zee group firm and later exited the media conglomerate.

     

    In recent months dna has gone in for a new look, appointed an editor-in-chief and also undertaken an aggressive marketing campaign.

     

  • The future appears bright for entrepreneurs running advertising agencies was the consensus at the IAA Knowledge Conclave on Saturday

    Future bright for Emerging Agencies

     

    By Fatema Rajkotwala

     

    Downturns and failures are opportunities to be successful in the future,” said Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group and Zee Network in his address on entrepreneurship at the Knowledge Conclave of International Association of Advertising India Chapter.  The Conclave on Saturday (October 26) in Mumbai was held with the objective of helping emerging agencies understand how to take their businesses to the next level.

     

    Mr Chandra, who was Chief Guest of the event, shared his mantras for entrepreneurs. “Honour your commitments.  Don’t let fear set in. Listen to your customer. When I hear debates on whether it is better to be independent or enter partnerships, I say you become a multinational. But yes, partnerships help in growth.”

     

    Srinivasan Swamy

    Led by President Srinivasan K Swamy (CMD, RK Swamy BBDO), the IAA India chapter in association with the Free Press Journal invited senior industrypersons to share their knowledge and experience with the fraternity of small and mid-sized agencies. Acknowledging the growth in number of small agencies and the theme chosen for the Conclave, Swamy pointed out that the growth in membership of the various trade bodies from amongst the small and medium-sized agencies indicates that the business is robust for them.

     

     

    CVL Srinivas

    CVL Srinivas, CEO, Group M South Asia spoke on “How to flourish as a mid-sized media agency”.  Putting things in perspective for emerging agencies, he pointed out that in many ways, small and mid-sized agencies have a natural competitive advantage over big corporate and network-owned agencies. “It is easier for emerging companies to go digital. It is no longer a game of the top 4-5 agencies. Fragmentation and specialization is a huge opportunity for emerging agencies. Large agencies are not equipped to deal with local entrepreneurs whereas small agencies can cast the net wider. There is a shift from contextual and demographic targeting to audience planning.”

     

    Mr Srinivas spoke of how agency life tends to get a little superficial at times, leaving you disconnected from consumers. He said, “There is no better time than now to be a part of the media agency business. Today, all of us (big networks, multinationals and small agencies) are in the same boat. Massive disruptive models are coming in and this indicates that our advertising model needs reinvention.”

     

    B S Nagesh, Vice Chairman, Shopper’s Stop engaged the audience with his talk on “Preparing to win in a hyper competitive market” where he urged all entrepreneurs in SMEs to bring in out-of-the-box modes of growing their businesses. Summing up his nuggets of advice, he said,”Creativity has to be coupled with financial training. Many processes within SMEs happen in an informal way. To lessen the gap between Desire and Deserve, organisations need to look at building capability along with building capacity. Trust, transparency and empowerment within the company is important. Create an organization that is more responsive, accountable and measures performance. Create opportunities by creating clients in emerging markets. Celebrate trials, failures and successes.”

     

    Later, Ali Merchant, Director Triton Communications, Harindra Singh, Vice-Chairman & MD, Percept Ltd, that holds specialists agencies in various sectors and Vinod Nair, Managing Director, Network Advertising formed a panel on the topic “Path ahead for an Emerging Agency” that was chaired by Sandip Tarkas, President Strategy, Future Group. The panel debated the pros and cons of commoditizing the advertising product with specialized agencies, the benefits and limitations of being an independent agency versus entering partnerships to grow businesses and the need to position and package in order to be paid for specialized services.

     

    As the Founder and CEO of classifieds portal, Quikr.com, Pranay Chulet spoke on a session titled, “Future of Interactive Media”. Sharing his insights on digital marketing and the growing digital industry, he said, “In this complex world, the client needs not just an ad but conversations that are generated. We have to think multiple channels. The digital medium has also made Call to action easier. It allows Test, Analyze and Scale Fast or Fail Fast model, which is not possible with other media.”

     

    Abhishek Karnani

    According to Abhishek Karnani, Chairman of the IAA Knowledge Conclave, the primary objective of the sessions was to get the top advertising and media minds to come together to reflect on ideas and strategies for emerging agency owners to take their companies to the next level. This, he said, was served in ample from the practical advices served at the Conclave.

     

     

  • The Pakistan PM urged for relaxation of laws so that Pakistani channels could be seen effortlessly in India

    Nawaz Sharif meets Subhash Chandra, all for relaxing ‘regulatory regime’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met Subhash Chandra, Chairman of the Zee and Essel Groups, who called on him at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad yesterday (July 18).

     

    While talking to Mr Chandram, Mr Sharif highlighted the role of media in bringing the people of India and Pakistan closer and how the media could help in achieving the shared goal of peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries. Pakistan and India, said the Pak PM, possess rich cultural and traditional heritage that is shared by many, on both sides of the divide.

     

    Mr Sharif said that media is the most effective tool for shaping perceptions and could be effectively utilized to play its due role. He emphasized the role of television in the field of education and said that dedicated ‘Education TV’ could play the role of imparting to millions in developing countries. He further said that regulatory regimes need to be softened for facilitating media outlets of both the countries to reach out to maximum viewers. He urged for relaxation of laws so that Pakistani channels could be effortlessly seen in India.

     

    The Premier expressed the hope that media of both the countries would play its constructive role more sensibly to bring people of the two countries closer so that the focus is shifted towards peace, economic prosperity and well being.

     

    Thanking the Prime Minister for the hospitality, Mr Chandra said that he would play his role to enable the two countries to achieve the common objectives of peace and stability.

     

  • Mr Wadhwa will be responsible for taking forward the organizational aspirations of growing the business of Siti Cable multifold through digitization. He will be based out of Noida

    V D Wadhwa appointed CEO of Siti Cable

    By A Correspondent

     

    V D Wadhwa has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Siti Cable Network Ltd, an Essel Group company. The Multi-System Operator (MSO) Siti Cable is a major player in India’s cable television industry, and reaches around 10 million viewers.

     

    Mr Wadhwa will be responsible for taking forward the organizational aspirations of growing the business of Siti Cable multifold through digitization. He will be based out of Noida.

     

    His last assignment was with Timex Group India Limited where he was Managing Director & CEO for business operations in India and SAARC countries. Mr. Wadhwa brings with him over 28 years of general management experience in the consumer lifestyle and retail industry, and is largely credited with the profitable turnaround of Timex operations in India and establishing its retail operations in India and South Asian countries.

     

    Mr Wadhwa is an alumni of Harvard Business School and a fellow member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He has served on the various committees of FICCI and Assocham besides serving as President of the Horological Federation of India.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Essel Group Chairman Subhash Chandra said, “We are delighted to have Mr Wadhwa at the helm of Siti Cable. With his strong business acumen and strategic inputs, we expect the company to touch new highs with the aggressive growth plan in the digital regime. I am confident that Mr Wadhwa’s association with the group will add immense value to the company and all its stakeholders.”

     

     

  • The DTH platform also added 829,000 new subscribers with ARPU of Rs 160

    Dish TV reports Rs 4,943 revenues in Q3

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dish TV India Limited has reported third quarter fiscal 2013 unaudited standalone operating revenues of Rs 5,578 million, recording 13.1 percent growth over the corresponding period last fiscal. EBITDA of Rs1,377 million registered 4.8 percent increase over the corresponding quarter last fiscal. EBITDA margin for the quarter stood at 24.7 percent.

     

    Highlights

    • Dish TV added 829 thousand new subscribers in the quarter ended December 31, 2012 achieving a total of 14.7 million gross and 10.5 million net subscribers at the end of the period.
    • Total standalone operating revenues for the quarter stood at Rs 5,578 million, recording a growth of 13.1 percent as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.
    • Subscription revenues for the quarter were Rs 4,943 million, recording a growth of 16.2 percent as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.
    • Subscriber Acquisition Cost (SAC) at Rs 2,201 compared to Rs 2,273 in the immediately preceding quarter.

     

    Subhash Chandra

    Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Dish TV India Limited, said, “The Indian media industry is witnessing a sea change as it moves towards a fully digitized environment. With the government remaining committed to the cause, stakeholders across the value chain are working overtime to make the best of the opportunity. As digitization sweeps the pay-tv households in India, platforms with evolved business systems and processes having last mile reach are likely to have an upper edge. Amongst DTH platforms, Dish TV with its technological lead and superior product line-up is one of the best placed to capitalize on the digitization mandate,” he added.

     

    Jawahar Goel, Managing Director, Dish TV, said, “While the distribution industry remained on tenterhooks preparing for digitization, the third quarter saw the much debated compulsory switch off of analog television signals take place in key metro markets. Although lack of execution in Chennai and Kolkata was a dampener, festival demand coupled with mandatory conversion in Delhi and Mumbai brought the DTH industry back to the 1 million plus monthly run-rate. DTH garnered around 35 percent share of incremental additions post the sunset date.”

     

    He added, “In line with our expectation, we witnessed significant subscriber uptake around the sunset date of 31st October. Dish TV achieved the largest share of 28 percent amongst DTH platforms in the digitization territories. ‘Dish+’, India’s first standard definition recorder, played its part in differentiating and attracting consumer interest in a crowded market.”

     

    Commenting on the third quarter performance, Mr Goel said, “A larger base did create pressure on the average revenue per user which, primarily supported by price hike in the second quarter, increased marginally to Rs 160. In the third quarter, apart from the usual additional spends typically experienced due to the festive season, additionally this year the company’s investments to capitalize on the digitization opportunity are also reflected in higher costs during the quarter. A seasonally higher marketing expense was as per budget. Content cost for the year is expected to be within the guided range of 12 percent increase over the previous fiscal.”