ITV

Category: News Headline

  • Network18 seizes full control of Marathi news channel in Rs 25 crore deal

    Network18 seizes full control of Marathi news channel in Rs 25 crore deal

    MUMBAI: Network18 Media & Investments has moved swiftly to acquire complete control of IBN Lokmat News Pvt Ltd, snapping up 86.25 million equity shares and preference holdings from its long-time partner Lokmat Media Pvt Ltd for Rs 25 crores. Come late October, IBNL will be Network18’s wholly owned subsidiary.

    The transaction marks a decisive shift in the broadcaster’s strategy towards the Marathi news market, where News18 Lokmat reigns as the segment leader. IBNL, which Network18 and the Lokmat Group established as a joint venture in 2007, has been quietly expanding. Its revenues jumped from Rs 22.5 crore in FY2022-23 to Rs 31.1 crore the following year, then surged again to Rs 36.5 crore by FY2024-25—a clear signal that the channel is hitting its stride.

    The deal is a related party transaction structured at arm’s length, with independent valuations from Ernst & Young Merchant Banking Services signing off. Network18’s promoters and group companies have no stake in the arrangement. Regulators have given the green light; no government approval is required. The acquisition should close before month’s end, cementing Network18’s dominance in regional news.

  • Korean TV format powerhouse plants flag in India with two ambitious deals

    Korean TV format powerhouse plants flag in India with two ambitious deals

    CANNES: Seoul’s Something Special has cracked India’s booming television market with a one-two punch, licensing two Korean formats to Karman Unlimited that promise to deliver both tears and laughter to subcontinental audiences. The Seoul-based agency announced the deals at Mipcom, the world’s largest television content marketplace held this month in Cannes.

    First up is Unforgettable Duet, a heart-wrenching unscripted series that reunites dementia patients with their pasts through music and memory. Families curate mementos and a cherished song, which are then loaded onto a Memory Bus that triggers long-buried recollections. The finale sees the patient perform an emotional duet with a family member, crowned by a tribute song from a professional artist. It is therapeutic television at its most potent.

    Then there is Hit & Miss Tour, a raucous comedy show featuring five long-time comedian friends competing in six to eight daily mini-challenges across tourist destinations. With over 210 games in the bank and sponsorship from tourism boards across Turkey and Greece, the format has proved a ratings winner on Channel S in South Korea.

    Something Special president and executive producer Jin Woo Hwang sees the deals as validation of the company’s mission to export Korean creative firepower globally. Karman Unlimited founder & chief executive Sunita Uchil —who previously held sway at Zee TV International—is equally bullish, predicting that Unforgettable Duet will strike a chord with Indian families whilst Hit & Miss Tour delivers the laughs the country desperately needs. Two formats, two markets, infinite possibilities.

  • Network18 flexes muscle in brutal news market as rivals gasp

    Network18 flexes muscle in brutal news market as rivals gasp

    MUMBAI: Network18 Media & Investments is allegedly India’s undisputed news titan, but even emperors struggle when their kingdom is contracting. The media giant posted a crisp 7.2 per cent year-on-year rise in operating revenue to Rs 477 crore in the second quarter, yet the underlying story is far more complicated: the firm is buying market share by keeping costs flat rather than harvesting profits from its dominance.

    The numbers are seductive on the surface. Network18 commands 13.5 per cent all-India viewership share in news, reaches over 250 million people monthly—roughly 30 per cent more than its nearest rival—and operates 20 channels spanning 12 languages. Its YouTube network racked up 13 billion video views this quarter, three times its closest competitor. CNBC TV18 lords over business news with 67.8 per cent share. News18 India owns Hindi at 13.1 per cent. CNN News18 dominates English with 36.7 per cent.

    Yet look closer and the picture is not as rosy. Revenue growth of 7.2 per cent matched operating expense growth of 7.2 per cent. Not one rupee of margin expansion. For the half year, revenue limped ahead just 1.1 per cent whilst operating costs stayed flat.

    The digital realm offers crumbs of comfort. Network18 ranks second for digital news reach with 270 million monthly users. Moneycontrol, its financial news crown jewel, boasts 1.8 times the page views and three times the time spent of its nearest rival. The premium subscription service Moneycontrol Pro hit one million paid subscribers. The newly minted Moneycontrol Super Pro is gaining traction. YouTube accounts at News18.com are expanding multilingual hyperlocal coverage with AI-powered podcasts and rapid-read summaries. Firstpost’s YouTube channel is approaching nine million subscribers.

    Diversification beyond advertising is no longer optional—it’s survival. Moneycontrol’s fintech arm announced a partnership with HDFC Bank to offer personal loans through its platform. Creator18 has engaged over 1,000 social media influencers to pivot into culture, commerce and fashion. These feel like the right moves. 

    The real profit story could be better. Standalone total income reached Rs 478.8 crore this quarter, yet total expenses clocked Rs 548.9 crore, leaving a pre-tax loss of Rs 70.1 crore before exceptional items. The Eenadu Television windfall—a Rs 587 crore exceptional gain from fair-valuing a 24.5 per cent stake after losing voting control—masked the red ink. 

    Consolidated figures tell a sharper story. Pre-tax profit of Rs 41.2 crore this quarter looks respectable until you remember it came on total income of Rs 500.8 crore. Last year’s comparatives of Rs 2,059.4 crore are a mirage: they included operations since deconsolidated. The company swung from a Rs 152.3 crore loss to a Rs 41.2 crore profit, but the goalposts moved entirely.

    Network18’s regional ambitions reveal its strategic thinking. The board approved acquisition of the remaining 50 per cent stake in IBN Lokmat News Pvt. Ltd. for Rs25 crore, transforming News18 Lokmat into a wholly owned subsidiary. Marathi news generates revenue momentum, and full ownership could unlock margin expansion. Could. That word carries weight.

    Adil Zainulbhai, chairman, declared the move “another step in that direction” of becoming “the one-stop news destination” whilst positioning the firm to benefit from government initiatives to boost consumer demand. The language is hopeful. The arithmetic is unforgiving.

    Network18 conquered the mountain and discovered nothing worth eating at the top. Market dominance means nothing when advertising inventory shrinks seven per cent industry-wide. Viewership share rises whilst revenue flatlines—the very definition of a saturated market where volume gains evaporate into pricing pressure. 

    Fintech partnerships, influencer ecosystems, and subscription tiers are the moves of a legacy business fighting for relevance, not a titan in its ascendancy. The firm hasn’t yet proven these new ventures can move the needle at scale. Until they do, Network18 remains a winner in a losing game.

  • Galeries Lafayette lands in Mumbai with massive bet on Indian luxury

    Galeries Lafayette lands in Mumbai with massive bet on Indian luxury

    MUMBAI: Mumbai will get its first luxury department store next month when Galeries Lafayette throws open the doors of its 90,000 sq ft flagship in the heritage Turner Morrison and Voltas House buildings at Kala Ghoda. The move marks the French retailer’s biggest bet yet on India’s exploding luxury market, forecast to hit $85bn by 2030.

    The partnership between the 130-year-old Parisian institution and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), struck in 2022, brings more than 250 global luxury brands to five floors of meticulously restored colonial grandeur. London’s Virgile + Partners has designed the space to blend Parisian refinement with Mumbai’s architectural heritage.

    Aditya Birla group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla called it “a coming-of-age moment for Indian luxury retail.” He pointed to India’s fastest-growing affluent population and a new generation of globally exposed consumers hungry for high-end experiences. “For the first time, India will welcome a luxury department store, housed in landmark real estate, executed with precision, and infused with the elegance of Indian sensibilities,” he said.

    Galeries Lafayette group executive chairman Nicolas Houzé described the Mumbai opening as “a defining moment” that brings together French heritage with India’s energy and cultural richness. The partnership with the Aditya Birla group, he added, gives the project “a particularly strong foundation.”

    To mark the occasion, both chairmen sailed from the Gateway of India aboard a flotilla of yachts for a celebration on the Arabian Sea—a suitably theatrical arrival for a brand built on spectacle.

    Beyond the merchandise, the flagship offers personal styling, private lounges, concierge services and curated cultural programmes. ABFRL, managing director Ashish Dikshit said the store aims to create “cultural experiences” that go beyond retail. “We are setting new benchmarks in assortment, service and experience,” he said.

    The store opens early next month at 16 G. Vaidya Road, Kala Ghoda. If India’s luxury trajectory holds, it won’t be the last of its kind. Mumbai’s moneyed set, it seems, is ready to shop like Parisians—without leaving home.

  • Creators boost Mipcom 2025 as television’s old guard opens the door

    Creators boost Mipcom 2025 as television’s old guard opens the door

    CANNES: The suits and the streamers are finally doing business. Mipcom 2024 pulled in 10,600 delegates—a modest uptick from last year’s 10,500—but the real story wasn’t in the numbers. It was in who showed up and what they were selling.

    Buyers rose to 3,340, up 100 from 2023, with Britain leading the pack, followed by the US , France, Germany, Turkey, Canada, Spain, Italy, Japan and South Korea. Yet the buzz on the Cannes market floor centred on a new breed of attendee: the creator economy, which Lucy Smith, RX France’s Mipcom and Mip London boss, called “the biggest shift in a generation for Mipcom.”

    YouTube planted its flag with a prominent presence, including a packed keynote featuring Pedro Pina, the platform’s EMEA chief, media cartographer Evan Shapiro and BBC Studios’ Jasmine Dawson. The session offered what Smith described as the “definitive playbook on partnerships,” demonstrating how traditional media can tap new audiences and build fandoms through collaboration.

    The convergence went beyond talk. Deals between legacy players and digital creators flowed throughout the week. “It feels like a tipping point for the industry,” Smith told reporters at a wrap press conference. “The relationship between the creator and mainstream economies isn’t binary. The opportunities come from collaboration, not from working in isolation.”

    Mipcom’s pitch to creators was simple: meet everyone worth meeting in one place, at one time, and figure out who can help build new business models. The market staged its first brand-funded content summit, BrandStorytelling, bringing agencies and brands face-to-face with the global production and distribution world. Early feedback suggests it’s here to stay.

    Traditional sales and distribution—”the engine of MIPCOM,” as Smith put it—roared back to life. Every major American studio turned up. Three big international advance screenings drew talent from around the world. Rights deals showed fresh flexibility, with windowing making a comeback, albeit in more complex forms than before.

    The market floor hosted 350 exhibitors, including 88 newcomers such as YouTube. Yet not everything pointed upward: MIPJunior attendance slipped to 940 from 1,000, reflecting ongoing headwinds in children’s programming.

    Smith struck a bullish note. “From change comes opportunity. The industry is resilient, it regenerates. The fact that this definitive global market has been held here every year for the past four decades is testament to that.”

    Next year’s edition runs from 12 to 15  October. The creators will be back. So will everyone else.

  • Grandma rocks the screen in Jai Mata Ji digital premiere

    Grandma rocks the screen in Jai Mata Ji digital premiere

    MUMBAI: This Diwali, grandma takes centre stage! Jai Mata Ji – Let’s Rock, the heartwarming and hilarious Gujarati family entertainer, is making its world digital premiere on ShemarooMe on 16 October 2025. Starring Malhar Thakar alongside veterans Tiku Talsania, Vandana Pathak, and Neela Mulherkar, the film blends comedy, heart, and a pinch of drama to explore life, choices, and mischief at any age.

    The story follows an 80-year-old grandmother whose life flips upside down thanks to a government scheme. Suddenly, she faces life-altering decisions: taking a stand against her self-absorbed children, rekindling a lost romance, or embracing a flamboyant, modern lifestyle. The result is chaos, laughter, and moments that tug at the heartstrings.

    Speaking about the film, Malhar Thakar said, “Manish Saini turned a serious topic into comedy while keeping it sensitive. Shooting with such a talented cast was a joy, and this film makes you laugh and feel emotional all at once. It’s a step forward for Gujarati cinema.”

    Tiku Talsania added, “The film satirically shows how respect for parents is often tied to money, a painful truth. This digital premiere on ShemarooMe allows this message to reach more families while entertaining them.”

    Directed with wit and warmth, Jai Mata Ji – Let’s Rock celebrates resilience, second chances, and living unapologetically, proving that life at 80 can be just as unpredictable, joyful, and adventurous as ever. This festive season, skip the reruns and let grandma lead the charge on screen.

  • India at the Chaupal as News18 sets the stage for big voices and bold views

    India at the Chaupal as News18 sets the stage for big voices and bold views

    MUMBAI: The nation’s most powerful voices are pulling up a seat at the table or rather, the Chaupal. News18 India, the country’s No. 1 Hindi news channel, is gearing up to host its flagship summit Chaupal 2025 – Ab Bharat Ki Baari on October 16, 2025, in New Delhi.

    For years, News18 India Chaupal has been where India’s ideas meet India’s icons, a melting pot of politics, policy, and perspective. This year, the conversation turns to self-reliance and global ambition, as India continues to make waves across sectors, from infrastructure to innovation.

    The lineup reads like the guest list for democracy’s most high-profile brainstorming session. On the dais: Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jayant Chaudhary, and Smriti Irani. Adding to the mix are Tenjem Imna Along from Nagaland, K. Kavitha, Imran Masood, and Mukhtar Naqvi ensuring every corner of Bharat has a voice in the dialogue.

    But Chaupal isn’t just about politics. It’s a culture of conversation and the guest list proves it. Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, actor Bobby Deol, South African High Commissioner Dr. Anil Sooklal, German Ambassador Dr. Philipp Ackermann, French ambassador Thierry Mathou, and artistes like Suzanne Bernert, pianist Andreas König, Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and filmmaker Rafael Stemplewski will bring their unique global and cultural perspectives to the mix.

    “News18 India Chaupal serves as a premier platform for impactful dialogue and national discourse,” said Network18 Group chief strategy officer, Puneet Singhvi. “It brings together the country’s top voices to strengthen governance, democracy, and nation-building.”

    Adding to that Network18 (Broadcast) and MD, A+E Networks | TV18 CEO Avinash Kaul said, “Staying true to its legacy of fearless journalism, Chaupal unites voices that shape India’s narrative. It continues to evolve as one of India’s most distinguished thought leadership forums.”

    Since its inception, Chaupal has been more than a summit, it’s become a symbol of meaningful exchange. The 2025 edition promises high-decibel debates, insightful exchanges, and the kind of unscripted moments that remind viewers why democracy thrives on dialogue.

    So, whether you’re a policy wonk, a culture buff, or just someone who loves a good debate, mark your calendars. News18 India Chaupal 2025 goes live on 16 October, from 11 am onwards bringing India’s biggest names under one roof to ask, answer, and argue what’s next for Bharat.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery sparks dhamakedar Diwali for kids

    Warner Bros. Discovery sparks dhamakedar Diwali for kids

    MUMBAI: This Diwali, the magic of heroes lights up your screens! Warner Bros. Discovery is set to dazzle children across India with a festive lineup of specials, marathons, and new episodes on Pogo, Cartoon Network, and Discovery Kids throughout October.

    Pogo kicks off the celebrations with India ke superhero ka superutsav from 18 to 24 October, featuring fresh episodes and telefeatures of Chhota Bheem, Little Singham, Jay Jagannath, and Mighty Little Bheem. Young viewers can follow epic adventures like Nakshatra Warrior (Part 1–3), airing Sundays at 1 pm from 12 to 26 October, where Bheem and Little Singham unite to thwart Kaal and Kirmada. Late-night excitement continues with Chhota Bheem vs Bhakshak: Quest for Kala Aina (Part 1–3) at 11:30 pm, as Bheem races against time to save his friends.

    Cartoon Network blends superhero action and Halloween fun this month. Teen Titans Go! To the Movies premieres on 19 October at 11:30 am, followed by daily specials from 20 to 24 October at 9:30 am. Fans can also catch Beast Boy: Lone Wolf on 25–26 October at 11:30 AM and enjoy Halloween day specials with spooky episodes on 31 October from 3:30 PM.

    Meanwhile, Discovery Kids introduces new episodes of Titoo from 20 October, airing Monday to Friday at 1 pm, following the mischievous eight-year-old whose good intentions often lead to hilarious chaos.

    With superheroes, laughter, and magical adventures, Warner Bros. Discovery ensures this Diwali is filled with unforgettable entertainment for young viewers across India.

  • Sweet Truth serves nostalgia with festive desserts

    Sweet Truth serves nostalgia with festive desserts

    MUMBAI: This Diwali, Sweet Truth is sprinkling a little nostalgia on your plate! Rebel Foods’ indulgent dessert brand has launched its festive campaign, Back To Sweetness, celebrating the magic of togetherness with a delightful fusion of traditional Indian flavours and modern dessert craftsmanship.

    The limited-edition collection brings classic sweets to life in a distinctly Sweet Truth style. Highlights include the rasmalai cake (Rs 649), gulab jamun cheesecake (Rs 219), rasmalai jar (Rs 169), baklava (Rs 249), and mishti doi cheesecake (Rs 199). For gifting, the brand has introduced the Sweet Truth celebration gift box (Rs 699) and a charming Sweet Truth gift bag (Rs 29), perfect for sharing festive joy.

    “Back To Sweetness celebrates Diwali by reconnecting with our roots while offering something refreshingly new. By fusing Indian flavours with Western dessert styles, Sweet Truth helps people relive cherished memories and make new ones with every bite,” said Sweet Truth brand manager Aruj Garg.

    Available at over 370 locations nationwide, the collection is designed to make Diwali celebrations indulgent, nostalgic, and joyfully sweet.

  • Samarpan Health spotlights leadership driving excellence in mental health

    Samarpan Health spotlights leadership driving excellence in mental health

    MUMBAI: Samarpan Health, one of India’s leading mental health and rehabilitation organisations, is putting the spotlight on its core leadership and psychiatry teams, reinforcing its commitment to ethical, internationally benchmarked care.

    At the helm are chief operating officer Martin Peters, and chief clinical officer Obi Unaka both practising clinicians with decades of experience in mental health and addiction care across the UK, Asia, and the Middle East. They are joined by senior clinical psychologist Nikita Bhati and eminent psychiatrists Anu Kant Mittal and Priyanka Mahajan, forming a powerhouse team driving clinical excellence.

    Martin Peters brings over 30 years of experience in mental health, specialising in relapse prevention, crisis management, and transitional care, while overseeing Samarpan’s operations. Obi Unaka, with more than 25 years in psychotherapy, leads clinical strategy and supervises treatment programs, focusing on trauma, personality disorders, and substance use.

    Clinical psychologist Nikita Bhati adds depth with her expertise in trauma, dissociative disorders, and complex psychological cases, mentoring young psychologists and shaping therapeutic strategies. Complementing her are Anu Kant Mittal, with three decades of experience and leadership in psychiatric ethics and interventions, and Priyanka Mahajan, an adult psychiatrist specialising in personality disorders, ocd, and complex mood conditions, bringing both international and domestic expertise.

    “Dr Anukant and Dr Nikita bring immense experience and credibility, strengthening our multi-disciplinary team,” said Martin Peters. Obi Unaka added, “Their expertise and compassion will greatly benefit those we serve.”

    Together, Samarpan Health’s leadership and psychiatry teams, with over 90 years of combined global experience, are steering the organisation’s vision of transformative, client-centred mental health and addiction care, blending strategic foresight, therapeutic depth, and ethical integrity.