Tag: TV9 Network

  • TV9 ropes in Deep Upadhyay for convergence play

    By Our Staff

     

    Deep Upadhyay
    Deep Upadhyay

    Deep Upadhyay has joined TV9  Network from News24 where he spent more than seven years as Managing Editor.

    Said Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network: “Deep will be a key member of our aggressive convergence strategy. Content is never platform agnostic. Future form of news and content pertaining to current affairs is still evolving worldwide. At TV9 Network, we wish to be ahead of that evolution curve and that is where Deep, with his unique ability to understand news and how it needs to be served to evolving audiences, will fit the bill best.”

    As part of his immediate assignment, Upadhyay will be stationed in Kolkata where he will work with TV9 Bangla’s Deputy Managing Editor, Amritanshu Bhattacharya, to take the Network’s newest channel to leadership position.

     

     

  • TV9 Bangla launch revs up WB news market

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network launched TV9 Bangla, a 24×7 news channel beaming out of Kolkata, as promised a few months back. This is the sixth in the language news channels from the network.

    Commenting on the channel launch  TV9 Network CEO Barun Das said: “Inspired by its glorious past and distinct regional pride, West Bengal is finally getting ready to resurrect and revive. And TV9 Bangla is here to chronicle this new development narrative with neutrality and world class presentation. TV9 Network enjoys undisputed regional dominance in language differentiated markets and with Bangla we will extend our lead. We will be a game changer in this robust market.”

    Explaining the rationale behind the channel going with the “Prothom Thekei Prothomey’ pitch (meaning “a leader from birth”), Das said: “The word prothom signifies three broad elements – first it’s an allusion to our beloved state West Bengal. It’s an aspiration to see Bengal at the top of the charts again. Second, TV9 Network will further reinforce its position as the No. 1 news network with TV9 Bangla adding to its already substantial lead over competing networks. And third, we are vying for a lateral entry at No. 1 position in the West Bengal market.”

    On the timing of the launch, Das said: “The state is already into election mode. Given that Bengal’s propensity for free flow of information, news viewership is bound to peak. We believe this is a perfect opportunity for TV9 Bangla to establish its credentials and win the maximum share of voice.”

    Added TV9 Bangla Chief Revenue Officer Amit Tripathi: “We are proud to add another feather to our cap with TV9 Bangla. Thanks to our customer first approach and remarkable deliveries, we enjoy unstinted confidence of our advertisers which was further strengthened by the unprecedented success of TV9 Bharatvarsh. With the launch of TV9 Bangla, we look forward to providing our partners the best media solutions cutting across geographies and priority markets. We are delighted that our esteemed advertisers from all over the country have already given a thumbs up to our Bangla by committing their support for the channel from day one.”

    Said Gautam Sarkar, Business Head, TV9 Bangla: “We are super excited to launch TV9 Bangla from India’s No. 1 news network in Bengal. We have a very experienced, efficient and energetic team that is capable to bring forth this new chapter in the regional news broadcasting industry. Being unparalleled, indomitable and fearless, we promise to leave a lasting impression and be a trendsetter in the electronic and digital platforms. I am very confident that we will hit every TV screens of Bengal to be the No. 1 soon.”

    From the editorial perspective, Amritanshu Bhattacharya, Deputy Managing Editor and Editor-Digital, TV9 Bangla, said: “As we have embarked on this new journey, we shall create a milestone in the regional electronic media fraternity. We are proud to enter into ‘the land of Bengal tigers’ and roar loudest with the latest updates from every nook and corners of Bengal. Our team intends to bring the latest minute-to-minute news updates with correct facts and figures that shall thrive and make a top of the mind recall for the viewers both in the TV as well as digital.”

  • TV9 Marathi refreshes

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Marathi, the Marathi news channel from TV9 Network, has unveiled a new look and brand positioning – “Kaalji Tumchi Hith Maharashtrache” (Viewer’s Concern and In the interest of Maharashtra).

     

    The channel is celebrating its 12th anniversary in January 2021 and has evolved from a Mumbai-centric offering to pan-Maharashtra channel.

     

    Said Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network: “Every business needs to repivot to align itself with the evolving consumer interest. TV9 Marathi, having emerged as the viewers’ choice in the state in the last 12 years, is all set to restage for the Marathi audience. The new brand promise is firmly rooted in the regional pride of Maharashtra and makes a compelling pitch for further progress of the state.”

     

    Added Umesh Kumavat, Editor-TV9 (Marathi): “We try to deliver every news which concerns Maharashtra & its viewers. We will cover every important aspect of news which includes both urban as well rural sector at breath taking speed without compromising its authenticity”.

     

    Said Bhushan Khot, Business Head- TV9 (Marathi): “The new brand positioning is very well aligned with the core philosophy of TV9 Network as a group. Being a part of India’s No.1 News Network, we have a responsibility of delivering news which is not only credible but also concerns with the people of Maharashtra. Be it political, social or day to day happenings, news which provides value to the viewers are at the core of our brand promise. The Brand Campaign, focuses on the new positioning & the programming, will have 360-degree marketing plan which includes TV, Digital, Outdoor, Print & Radio”.

     

  • India TV appoints Nikhil Mathur as Head of Marketing

    By Our Staff

     

    Leading news channel India TV has announced the appointment of Nikhil Mathur as Head of Marketing. He will be responsible for the entire gamut of marketing including brand planning, marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships and corporate communications.

     

    Mathur brings with him 17 years of experience. His last assignment was with TV9 Network as AVP Marketing and Events. Prior to TV9, he has worked with Zee Media Corp, PTC Punjabi Network and Focus News Network.

     

    Said India TV Managing Director Ritu Dhawan: “I am glad to have Nikhil on board and I am sure he will add more power to the existing powerful team and set new benchmarks in the Hindi News genre”.

     

    Added Mathur: “I am looking forward to being part of the India TV family as it sets new benchmarks each year”.

     

    Added Ritika Talwar, Head – HR, India TV: “We welcome Nikhil into the India TV family. Look forward to a long and fruitful partnership helping the company grow from strength to strength. Nikhil is a perfect match with our team, working towards enhancing India TV’s standing as one of the most trusted brands in the media industry.”

     

     

  • TV9 Network forays into Bangla

    By A Correspondent

     

    TV9 Network has embarked on am expansion plan for both its linear television as well as digital news businesses. The expansion plan will kick off with the launch of TV9 Bangla, a 24X7 news channel in the dynamic Bengal news market early next year. That West Bengal is going to polls next year is obviously more than just a coincidence

     

    Before the launch of TV9 Bangla, the network will unveil its digital offering, tv9bangla.com in December.

     

    Commenting on the Network’s foray into West Bengal, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network, said: “Gopal Krishna Gokhale had famously said  ‘What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow’. But nearly a century later it would seem like that statement applies more to Bengal’s past than the present. An intellectually progressive state and exporter of the best talent to India and the world, we believe the state and its people still retain the wisdom and wares to make that its future as well.  Bengalis are the typical Argumentative Indian, they want to keep her ear to the ground and hence are naturally drawn to news. More importantly, Bengalis are proud of their language and largely consume news in their language. The discerning Bengali viewer will always have room for a neutral perspective and a balanced opinion. That’s the place in the Bengali heart and mind that TV9 Bangla aspires to occupy. We are here to strike the right balance with neutrality and a fair perspective forming the core of our operations. Our unbiased coverage and world class presentation will give teeth to the Fourth Estate in West Bengal.”

     

    On the timing of the launch, Das said: “The state is already into election mode. Indirect canvassing has already started and the heat is building up. Given Bengal’s propensity for free flow of information, news viewership is bound to peak. We believe this is a perfect opportunity for TV9 Bangla to establish its credentials and win the maximum share of viewership and voice.”

     

    The network has onboarded veteran journalist Anjan Bandyopadhyay as the editor of TV9 Bangla news channel. He was the editor of Zee 24 Ghanta and his last assignment was with ABP as its Editor-Digital. Hiring for both platforms is in full swing.  Amritanshu Bhattacharya has also joined as the Editor, TV9 Bengali Digital and will also serve as Managing Editor, Output, for the television channel. His last assignment was as an Associate Editor and Head of Digital of Zee 24 Ghanta.

     

    It may be remembered that not too long ago, Das had made a success of Zee 24 Ghanta. Watch this space as he takes on his former channel.

     

     

  • Covid-led downturn notwithstanding, TV9 announces increments wef April 2020

    By A Correspondent

     

    The TV9 network has announced an increment with retrospective effect from April 2020.

     

    Barun Das

    Announcing this to the team, CEO Barun Das said: “Covid-19 has taken unprecedented toll on both human lives and the global economy. Media hasn’t been immune to the ravages of the pandemic, with even the biggest media companies cutting salaries and laying off employees. I am proud to say that at TV9 network we never allowed that to happen, despite the pressures,” adding: “We are announcing flat percentage increase , based on salary slabs,  because we didn’t believe it was prudent to differentiate, given that all of us have worked as one…”

     

    The arrears will be released before Diwali – which is this week, Das informed, and said that the next annual appraisal will happen in March 2021.

     

     

  • TV9 enters business content vertical, appoints Rakesh Khar as Editor & Business Head

    By A Correspondent

     

    Rakesh Khar

    TV9 Network has appointed Rakesh Khar to set up and lead the business content vertical of its upcoming digital offerings.

     

    Having served the newsroom in a leadership role for over two decades, Khar last served as Editor (Special Projects) at the Network 18 Group, driving campaigns and special initiatives across its media assets. Khar earlier worked with India’s top news brands that include The Economic Times, Television Eighteen, Zee News, DNA and Deccan Chronicle. He also serves on the Executive Council of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).

     

    Commenting on Khar’s appointment, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network, said: “As the digital landscape evolves at a breakneck pace, we are coming up with multiple offerings cutting across various geographies, languages and catering to myriad consumer interest areas. Cutting edge technology will be at the core of our digital expansion plans and one can expect some industry-first products. Rakesh Khar joins us to lead one of the critical verticals.”

     

    On his assignment, Khar said: “I am looking forward to being part of the TV9 family as it embraces new benchmarks. The digital architecture has enabled both access and empowerment and time is ripe to bring into the ambit of financialization each and every citizen irrespective of the size of his or her savings. We are here to enable this shift at the grassroots level.”

     

    Welcoming Khar, B V Rao, Group Editor, TV9 Network, said: “The mainstream business media is traditionally focused on select top conglomerates and there is an urgent need to reflect the aspirations of other enterprises. Given our strong penetration in language markets, it is time to tell the economy story from a pan-India perspective. Our digital offerings will be the most credible vehicle to beam success stories while offering investors an opportunity to draw the right dividends from their investments.”

     

     

  • TV9 Network onboards Manish Seth as EVP

    By A Correspondent

     

    Manish Seth

    After appointing Amit Tripathi as the network’s Chief Revenue Officer, TV9 has further beefed up its top deck with the appointment of Manish Seth as Executive Vice President.  Seth will head key clients nationally for the Network and will be responsible for revenue from the North branch.

     

    With over two decades in the business – with BCCL and Zee Media Ltd in his previous stints, Seth was last with ZMCL as Executive Cluster Sales Head and was looking after national sales of a number of channels, including Zee News.

     

    Welcoming Seth to TV9 Network, CRO Amit Tripathi said: “Manish is a key industry resource and has seen the revenue function evolving in the media domain over the last two decades. His vast experience and network will enrich the revenue vertical here at TV9 Network. We are happy to bring him on board.”

     

    Added Seth: “TV9 Network, in a very short span, has established itself as a leading player in the news genre. I am thrilled to join the team and look forward to creating industry-first benchmarks in revenue generation for the group,”

     

     

  • TV9 Network back in NBA

    By A Correspondent

     

    News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has announced that it’s glad to have Associated Broadcasting Co. Pvt. Ltd, that’s the TV9 Network back in its membership.

     

    Notes a communique: “There has been discourse in the public domain regarding the differences between NBA and TV9 Bharatvarsh. After discussing the matter mutually, NBA and TV9 have agreed to set their differences aside and not to pursue the matter legally. We look forward to working together with all the members in addressing the larger issues facing the news broadcasting industry.”

     

    Said TV9 CEO Barun Das: “TV9 Network is delighted to return to NBA. As one of its founding members, I have proudly witnessed the long strides the NBA has taken in the rough terrain of self-regulation and in furthering the interests of the industry. I look forward to working with all our peers in these testing times.”

     

     

  • TV9 & Sap India launch show on homegrown entrepreneurs

    By A Correspondent

     

    TV9 Network in association with technology major SAP India has launced a series titled Leaders of Global Bharat to turn the spotlight on business mentors of home-grown firms. Airing every Sunday at 11:30m am on news channel TV9 Bharatvarsh, the series will showcase success stories of over 150 entrepreneurs who have the potential to galvanise and inspire the youth and budding entrepreneurs of this country.

     

    Explaining the rationale behind the series, Raktim Das, COO, TV9 Studio, said: “There’s never been a more apt time to look at robust leadership lessons that have steered businesses through these extraordinary times. The Covid-19 induced New Normal has sharpened the focus on business leaders who continue to inspire us, mentor us. The series is also an attempt to showcase that an Atmanirbhar Bharat is in the realms of possibilities. I thank SAP India for making this possible.”

     

    Added Krishnan Chatterjee, CCO and Head of Marketing, SAP India Subcontinent: “Recently, SAP India launched Global Bharat programme to provide MSME access to global marketplace, digital skilling their workforce and transform business processes. We are happy to partner with TV9 Network to highlight these stories of grit and determination for emerging and existing entrepreneurs, share our narrative of Hope, Resilience, Innovation and most importantly inspiration to digitally transform their businesses.”

     

     

  • TV9 bets big on cricket by sponsoring IPL & CPL teams

    By A Correspondent

     

    TV9 Network is betting big on cricket, with TV9 Bharatvarsh, the Hindi news channel from the network, picking up key sponsorship in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) and in Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchisee owned by Kolkata Knight Riders.

     

    TV9 Bharatvarsh will be the Lead Arm Sponsor of KKR and the Upper Chest Sponsor of TKR. With these sponsorships, TV9 Bharatvarsh is set to bat on a new pitch as the channel races towards the final frontier in the Hindi news genre.

     

    Speaking on the association, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network said, “Cricket is not just a sport in India. It’s a religion. That’s why the TV9 Network, India’s largest news network, has partnered with one of the most exciting teams, Kolkata Knight Riders, for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). With this tie up, we intend to offer exclusive IPL experience to our viewers. The meteoric rise of our national Hindi news channel TV9 Bharatvarsh to the No. 2 position is proof that viewers value innovation in their daily news experience”.

     

    Added Venky Mysore, CEO and MD, Knight Riders: “We are very excited to partner with TV9 Bharatvarsh. We hope this partnership will emerge to be a game changer for both TV9 Bharatvarsh and our teams, as we provide a platform to reach out to cricket lovers, while TV9 Bharatvarsh brings their content and news expertise”.

     

    CPL, which commenced on August 18, will conclude on September 10 in Trinidad and features three-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and five other teams. IPL, as we know, is scheduled to start on September 19 in the UAE and conclude on Nov 10, 2020, featuring two-time champion KKR and seven other teams.