MxMIndia

Tag: ZEE Media

  • The channel will report global news and issues from a South Asian perspective. WION is scheduled for a Summer 2016 take-off

    Zee’s Eng news channel to be called WION. To launch mid-2016, digital-/mobile-first, TV channel later

    By A Corresondent

     

    Okay, the name is not the regular news channel-y name that one expects. But, then in October 1992, one asked similar questions of a channel called Zee TV. And there was the other network which had a weird name. Something that went twinkle, twinkle… Ah, yes, Star. So, for those who are wondering ‘yeh WION-waayan kya hai’, chill. The name will grow on us. It’s what the folks at Zee Media have christened the proposed global English news channel. The channel will report global news and issues from a South Asian perspective. It’s hence called World Is One News or WION, in short. Interestingly, it will be a mobile/digital-first platform and will be an international television channel later. WION is scheduled for a Summer 2016 take-off.

     

    Subhash Chandra

    Commenting on the new channel, Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel and Zee group said: “Zee Media’s new Global English News Channel – WION, will look to offer a seamless experience to empower, educate and energise our discerning viewers. Inspired by the group’s motto, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-The World is My Family”, WION aptly stands for ‘World is One News’ and will give a global view of the world with a South Asian lens.”

     

    Rohit Gandhi

    Sharing more details on the news network, Rohit Gandhi, Editor-in-Chief – English News Broadcast and Related Content said: “With WION, we will meet the aspirations of two billion South Asians by delivering a global news network reflecting a South Asian world perspective. It’s high time for South Asian reporting from frontlines, warzones and prominent global capitals,” adding: “While a TV channel is the face of this mobile-first start-up, our newsgathering, reporting, production and publishing processes are an ambitious leap into a multiscreen future. We aim to disrupt conventional ways of thinking about news and set a new template for storytelling across platforms.”

    As mentioned earlier, WION is a mobile/digital first platform and later will be an international television channel. The network will use technology to bring in user-generated content and the  news gathering teams will be equipped with mobile technology for an ‘anytime-anywhere’ live approach. WION will have bureaus across the globe. Using a mix of young and seasoned journalists with diverse nationalities, notes a communiqué.

     

  • The statements by Vishwa Deepak are "incorrect and mischievous", notes a statement by Zee Media

    Zee Media issues statement on Vishwa Deepak

     

     

    Zee Media Corp Ltd has issued a statement which is as follows:

    It has come to the notice of Zee Media that Mr. Vishwa Deepak who was working with Zee News, after his resignation dated 19.02.2016, has made certain statements on various social media platforms which are not only incorrect but also defamatory and mischievous. Some of the media houses without proper verification of the facts and going into details of the false, incorrect and mischievous statements made by Mr. Vishwa Deepak, have portrayed the said statements as a statement of fact. It is disheartening to see that other media platforms without even caring to check with Mr. Pawan Nara who was reporting that night from JNU chose to believe and report wild allegations. By this statement ZMCL condemns and deny all the allegations made by Mr. Vishwa Deepak and wishes to highlight the following points appealing to all Media Houses to consider prior to portraying the statements as a statement of fact:

     

    1. ZMCL is a large media house and people leaving and recruitments are a normal affair.

     

    2. Mr. Vishwa Deepak was neither concerned nor was he involved in any stories related to the JNU issue.

     

    3. Mr. Vishwa Deepak had never discussed any of these issues with anybody in the organization, if he had any.

     

    4. The news report regarding happenings of events in JNU on 09.02.2016 and shouting of anti-national slogans such as ‘Pakistan Zindabad’is a true factual event that was not only reported by ZMCL but also other Media houses which have also reported shouting of anti-national slogans.

     

    5. It is evident from the raw footage shot by its cameraman that slogans such as ‘Pakistan Zindabad’were raised in JNU on the night of 09.02.2016.

     

    6. The raw footage of the happenings on the night of 09.02.2016 has been submitted by ZMCL to the Delhi Police and the Police Authorities are in the process of verifying the correctness and truthfulness of the said footage. ZMCL is confident and sure that the authenticity of the said footage would be once and for all clearly established by the reports of Delhi Police.

     

    7. ZMCL is an independent media house which has no affiliations with any of the political parties and as such does not take any sides while reporting any news.

     

    8. ZMCL has always endeavored to ensure that the news reported by it meets the standards of being unbiased, neutral and are true facts.

  • Announces the appointment of Rohit Gandhi as Editor-in-Chief

    Zee Media brings on board editorial head for its English news channel

    By A Correspondent

     

    Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) has moved a step further ahead in its foray into the English news broadcasting space with the appointment of Rohit Gandhi as Editor-in-Chief – English News Broadcast and Related Content. Gandhi will be heading the operations of all initiatives in this space, working closely with the Business Head & Revenue Resources. He will report in to Punit Goenka.

     

    Punit Goenka

    Speaking on the initiative, Punit Goenka said, “Venturing into the English news space allows us to extend our presence in the overall news genre across geographies and even in the international arena. We want to launch a news network for global audiences with an Indian point of view. With Rohit onboard to spearhead this initiative, we are confident that we will be able to showcase a world-class product.”

    Gandhi brings with him over 23 years of rich experience across forty countries. In his previous assignment, he was t International Correspondent & Communication Strategist for South Asian International News, prior to which he worked with CBC, CNN, BCTV & Global TV, Canada, and NDTV. He has covered many war zones including Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.

    Meanwhile, as has been rumoured, Zee Media Corporation Limited is likely ink an editorial arrangement with US newscaster CNN once the latter’s association with IBN ends in January 2016. There is no official word on this from ZMCL though.

     

    Rohit Gandhi

     

  • When Arnab Goswami of Times Now became a subject of debate in the session titled 'The Big Fight for Primetime'…

    #FF14 Day 2: Traditional or sensationalism – what works more for primetime?

    By A Correspondent

     

    The tone for the session was already set by the speaker from the earlier session, who was invited to make a keynote address to the audience on Day 2 of FICCI Frames 2014. Having shared with the audience his secrets to being a popular anchor on news television, Arnab Goswami of Times Now became a subject of debate in the next session titled ‘The Big Fight for Primetime’.

     

    The panelists included Ashok Venkataramani, CEO, MCCS India; Dr Bhaskar Das, CEO, ZEE Media; Vishnu Som, Editor & Sr Anchor, NDTV and Jon Sopel, Senior Anchor, BBC Global News who moderated the session.

     

    Sounding put off by the adulation that his friend and former colleague had received at an earlier session, Vishnu Som was critical as he said that what sells in news journalism today is an element of sensationalisation or entertainment. “The job of any news journalist is to provide news, not infotainment or entertainment. I find Arnab’s Goswami’s style of reporting a bit more dramatic or aggressive if you may call it. Personally, what matters for me is providing content that is high on quality. In that sense, the old style of journalism is much better and remains desirable even today.”

     

    Bhaskar Das highlighted how it was essential to have content that was centered around the interest levels of the viewers. Ultimately, he opined, if you manage to provide good content that will result in better viewership which will translate to better revenues for the channel at large. “It is essential that news broadcasters figure out what is the primetime for the viewer and work towards providing content accordingly.”

     

    On a question on the high number of news channels in operation today, Ashok Venkataramani said that there were too many channels existing in the marketplace which was not feasible. “There are too many news channels operating today and beyond the top 3 players, others will continue to face survival challenges. That is possible by having a sound business model with renewed focus on content.” Mr Venkatramani went on to add that the best way to see that people do not chase TRPs is to stop giving them TRPs. He asserted that it was important to build brands that stayed loyal to their core objective and accordingly, give them enough space to grow.

     

    Taking a hard jibe on the regulators, Vishnu Som was quite vocal when he said that one of biggest problems arising out of the ongoing primetime battle is due to a flawed measurement system. “I find the ratings system to be highly flawed as it is based on limited number of meters installed at homes. In fact, an internal study undertaken by us show NDTV as the clear No 1 in primetime but that is not the case with the current measurement system.” Adding further Som said that news channels today were relying only on advertisers for making money and therefore when the numbers were not right it was causing a dent on the revenue making model for channels.

     

    Pointing again to antics followed on rival channel Times Now, Som said that the primetime in India is majorly between 7-11pm and people have realised that all it takes to get numbers is get in people to talk. “Talking is a cheap exercise as there are no costs involved in getting panelists to speak on air for free, but it results in certain channels getting undue favour from advertisers while those offering quality content don’t get the desired returns. All this needs to change.”

     

    Bhaskar Das opined that the challenge for news channels will be to get the youth hooked on to the content especially since many new platforms were evolving that were offering similar content. But the good thing is that digital is still evolving as a medium and there is still about 3-5 years for television to make changes if it had to stay relevant in the future as well, he remarked.