ITV

Category: Press Release

  • World TV Premiere of Superhit movie ‘Burra Katha’ on Zee Telugu

    World TV Premiere of Superhit movie ‘Burra Katha’ on Zee Telugu

    With a promise to offer its audience an unmatched movie viewing experience, Zee Telugu presents the World Television Premiere of ‘Burra Katha’ on Sunday, 15th September at 6 PM only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu HD. Helmed by Diamond Ratna Babu and starring the supremely talented Aadi Saikumar and Mishti Chakraborty, the film reflects the nuances of a human mind.

    Abhiram, played by Aadi Saikumar, is a man born with two brains, because of this, he suffers from dual personalities – massy Abhi and classy Ram, whenever triggered by loud noises. Abhiram is a sceptic who trusts no one but his mind and its playful games. His life takes a U-turn when Happy, played by Mishti Chakraborty, enters his life. How did he survive with this kind of attitude? What troubles he encountered with this problem? How did his life shape up? Forms the story of the movie.

    Diamond Ratna Babu, who has previously written films like Gayatri and Luck Unnodu, made his directorial debut with Burra Katha. The movie has been produced by Kiran Reddy and Srikanth Deepala, while Sai Karthik has scored music.

    Tune into watch Burra Katha only on Zee Telugu and Zee Telugu H.D at 6 PM on 15th of September 2019

  • Viaccess-Orca and Smart Bring Together the Best of TV and Programmatic Worlds in New Targeted TV Advertising Solution

    Viaccess-Orca and Smart Bring Together the Best of TV and Programmatic Worlds in New Targeted TV Advertising Solution

    PARIS: At DMEXCO 2019 and IBC2019, Viaccess-Orca (VO), a global leader providing OTT and TV platforms, content protection, and advanced data solutions, and its programmatic advertising partner Smart Adserver, the leading independent ad monetization platform, will introduce an end-to-end, targeted TV advertising solution. Using the preintegrated solution, service providers can generate revenues through data and inventory monetization, in particular, for linear multicast and on-demand TV. The solution notably allows the creation of granular audience segments leveraging VO's AI-enriched TV data-management capabilities and the activation of these segments on Smart's advertising platform. It further allows the distribution of targeted ads on any screen through VO's secure player, which offers versatile ad replacement and insertion capabilities.

    "Leveraging Smart's and VO's unique awareness around data privacy and security aspects, service providers can now enjoy new revenue channels generated by our targeted TV advertising solution while keeping control over vital data assets," said Romain Job, Chief Strategy Officer at Smart Adserver. "This alliance between two recognized specialists allows service providers to access a single, preintegrated solution for managing ad campaigns, activating audience data, and distributing targeted ads on any device, including on the fast-growing Android TV-enabled market segment."

    The end-to-end solution supports the entire targeted ad cycle and offers seamless integration with Smart's programmatic advertising environment. This includes data management enablers that are natively compliant with GDPR regulations and ensures full-service provider control from segment creation to monetization. In particular, VO's behavioral insights on TV-usage data, the results of VO's extensive AI research, provide an elegant and innovative route to TV audience monetization while alleviating reliance on legacy, controversial, third-party, data-based targeting techniques. The solution's holistic ad monetization capabilities also cover cross-channel advertising, from direct IO management to programmatic transactions. It also supports KPI-focused advertising implementations, with real-time ad analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of ads and make advertising content as relevant as possible to the audience.

    VO's playback solutions, combined with Smart's performance optimization techniques including peak management, ad-call pacing, local creative storage, validation, and provisioning, enable targeted ad delivery for any TV use case (e.g. linear, on-demand, or catch-up) onto any device (including Android TV-enabled) over IPTV or OTT.

    "Targeted TV advertising is a huge revenue opportunity for operators and broadcasters that can help turn viewers' experiences into personal ones, thereby driving higher engagement," said Alain Nochimowski, Executive Vice President of Innovation at Viaccess-Orca. "This partnership between two mature technology providers results in an easy, fast, and secure way to enter the targeted TV advertising market and generate a new line of revenue. It's exactly the kind of targeted TV advertising solution the industry needs to succeed."

    VO and Smart will demonstrate the targeted TV advertising solution at:
    • DMEXCO, Sept. 11-12 in Cologne at Smart's Booth Hall 6 – C061, and
    • IBC2019, Sept. 13-17 in Amsterdam at Viaccess-Orca Stand 1.A51 and Harmonic Stand 1.B20.

  • Zee TV’s Disruptive teaser campaign for Haiwan Grabs Eyeballs

    Zee TV’s Disruptive teaser campaign for Haiwan Grabs Eyeballs

    MUMBAI: A collaboration that has spelt glorious success on television time and again, Zee TV and Balaji Telefilms are back again to reinvent the genre of science-fiction with elements of drama, romance and action for Indian television audiences with Haiwan: The Monster. This weekend primetime thriller is a magnum opus that promises to unleash the biggest monster viewers have seen so far on television. With the launch of this high-octane sci-fi drama, Zee TV introduced a disruptive campaign to pique people’s interest, generate curiosity, spark off conversations and have them guessing what’s coming their way!

    By way of a teaser, the character of Haiwan was introduced to audiences across Mumbai, Delhi and Gujarat through a series of intriguing unbranded billboards featuring just the eerie eyes and fingers of the Haiwan with a warning message “Shehar Mitaane Aa Raha Hu Main”. This was strategically supported by RJs talking about such citings in the cities, asking listeners to guess what they thought the billboards were about, click pictures with the billboards and post it on social media with their interpretation of the same. Memes and posts by social media enthusiasts reacting to the campaign set the internet abuzz with speculation about the billboards.  With an integrated approach cutting across mediums to drive conversations on the Haiwan, Zee TV had audiences sharing elaborate interpretations, resulting in a whopping number of engagements across Zee TV’s digital platforms.

    In the second phase of this campaign, the hoardings finally revealed the brand, the show name, the characters and the concept. The social media platforms, too, were used to unveil the concept through interesting memes and video graphics. As a response to this, the engaged audience not only appreciated the initiative but also drove conversations on the Sci-Fi genre across Twitter and other social media platforms, leading to high-intensity organic promotions for the show.

    Haiwan : The Monster follows the story of long-cherished friendships and a love triangle that sees a bromance turn to bad blood!  The show premiered on 31st August at 7 pm and boasts of an extraordinary cast including Riddhima Pandit, Ankit Mohan, Param Singh, Hiten Tejwani, Dalljiet Kaur, Manini Misra among others.

  • MM TV launches the first 100% Malayalam Entertainment and News app

    MM TV launches the first 100% Malayalam Entertainment and News app

    MUMBAI: MM TV has launched ManoramaMAX – the first 100% Malayalam Entertainment and News app, offering a plethora of pure Malayalam content from Manorama’s content bucket. Malayalis worldwide can now watch news, entertainment programmes, MAX Originals and movies in one application.

    ManoramaMAX offers all the latest snippets of news including Live Manorama News, all the daily bulletins, a special Speed News for the ManoramaMax users, and all the popular shows on Manorama News like Counter Point, NereChovve, ParayatheVayya, Crime Story etc. The app also offers entertainment content as programs from fiction, reality shows and other shows of Mazhavil Manorama. It allows a user to watch currently running shows before it airs on TV, if they take a premium membership. 

    The premium membership also grants access to 150 plus movies including premiere first on ManoramaMAX. It also showcases Max Originals and Events yearlong, exclusively for its premium customers. 

    The premium membership can be availed at Rs. 499 per annum in India and at $14.99 per annum if the subscriber is from anywhere outside India. A user can enjoy access to the free content by simply logging into the free version of the app. 

  • Hinduja Group’s ONE GigaFiber enables over 120 Ganpati Pandals in partnership with Facebook

    Hinduja Group’s ONE GigaFiber enables over 120 Ganpati Pandals in partnership with Facebook

    MUMBAI: ONEOTT Intertainment Ltd (OIL), Hinduja’s foray into Telecom and Internet services, announced a partnership with Facebook to offer Wi-Fi hotspots across Mumbai powered by ONE GigaFiber high-speed internet service, and supported by Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi software platform. The Wi-Fi hotspots will enable consumers in Mumbai to access fast, affordable and reliable Internet for free during the Ganesh Festival.

    This service will be available in over 120 Ganpati Pandals including iconic locations such as Lalbaug cha Raja, Girgaum cha Raja, Ganesh Galli, among others. OIL has been actively involved in providing Public Wi-Fi Services with a special focus on Ganeshotsav, where they have been providing Free Wi-Fi and internet access to devotees since 2016, under the brand name “AamchaNet”.

    The landmark service has seen close to half a million users since its inception, connecting devotees across Mumbai from the first day of the festival till Visarjan, where Free Wi-Fi access is also available at the most popular Visarjan sites including Girgaum Chaupaty.

    Mr. Yugal Sharma, CEO of OIL said – “In the fourth year of providing Public Wi-Fi services during Ganeshotsav, it was amazing to see organizers coming to us directly and asking about enabling their pandals with high speed Wi-Fi. This year, we will be enabling 6 times the pandals and locations that we covered in the first year of launching “AamchaNet”. And now with ONE Wi-Fi hotspots supported by the Express Wi-Fi software platform, OIL’s ambitious plans for providing Public Wi-Fi access have been solidified, and we are looking forward to a successful partnership.”

    Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi is a software platform that helps service providers and mobile network operators build, operate, grow, and monetize their Wi-Fi business in a sustainable and scalable way. Facebook partners with service providers and operators who expand the provision of fast, affordable, and reliable access to the Internet over Wi-Fi using Express Wi-Fi.

    “Express Wi-Fi is an important part of our work to help transform people’s daily lives and connect more underserved communities,” said Satish Mittal, head of Express Wi-Fi, India, Facebook. “We’re excited to partner with OIL to provide access to fast and reliable Internet over Wi-Fi for free during the Ganesh Festival, leveraging ONE GigaFiber and the Express Wi-Fi software platform.”

    To access the service, devotees need to connect to “ONE Express Wi-Fi by Facebook” in the available networks on their devices. By entering their Mobile numbers and verifying the One Time Password (OTP), people can gain access to unlimited data powered by ONE GigaFiber’s high speed connectivity.

  • Tablez brings International brand YOYOSO to India

    Tablez brings International brand YOYOSO to India

    MUMBAI: Tablez, the leading organized retail group will be launching two stores of international chain of lifestyle brand YOYOSO in Bengaluru at Vega City Mall and RMZ Galleria Mall on 6th September 2019. The store will be inaugurated by Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Tablez, along with Xie Wen Liang, Co-founder & Director, YOYOSO. Tablez plans to expand the network to 150 stores over the next 3 years. 

    Speaking about the brand launch, Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Tablez, said, “We are excited to join hands with YOYOSO to bring the popular international chain to India. YOYOSO is a one-stop destination for simple, fashionable and trendy additions to meet daily life needs. We are sure that it will strike a chord with the discerning Indian consumers and will bring plenty of surprises and happiness to the country.”

    Xie Wen Liang, Co-founder and General Manager of YOYOSO, said: "India is the land of hope and the country of fashion; we are very happy to bring the YOYOSO brand to India together with Tablez. The two YOYOSO stores to launch in Bangalore are the first steps in our strategic cooperation. I believe that with joint efforts, Tablez will definitely develop YOYOSO into a leading brand of high-quality lifestyle in India's retail industry."

    YOYOSO, founded by Ma Huan in 2014, is an internationally renowned international chain of lifestyle brand. Headquartered in Yiwu, China and operated by Yiwu Think Tanks Trading Co. Ltd. The brand offers affordable, fashionable, and trendy daily life products through an optimized combination of functionality, quality, design, and value — while upholding the philosophy of sustainable development. Today, over 1000 YOYOSO stores serve more than 1 billion customers across 36 countries. 

    Tablez is teaming up with YOYOSO to introduce the brand to India. It plans to open YOYOSO stores across multiple locations over the next five years, with 30 stores to be launched in the first phase. YOYOSO's simple, natural, high-quality and great value products aim to strike a chord with the discerning consumers, bringing plenty of surprises and happiness to a new-generation India.

    YOYOSO features more than 5000 high-quality products with excellent price-performance ratios across categories like health & beauty, creative home necessities, seasonal products, digital accessories, stationery & gifts, and fashion accessories. In addition to aesthetics, the key fundamentals of every YOYOSO product are practicality, functionality, and durability. The design style focuses on simplicity and open-mindedness while retaining fashion elements. Not only is traditional craftsmanship preserved, but continuous innovation also helps maintain value pricing for YOYOSO's high-quality products. 500 new products are launched every month for customers to enjoy the latest trends and, as a result, a quality lifestyle.

  • Unravelling The Digital Video Consumer-Looking Through The Viewer Lens

    Unravelling The Digital Video Consumer-Looking Through The Viewer Lens

    MUMBAI: Eros Now, a premier Indian OTT entertainment platform with more than 155 million registered users and KPMG in India, a multinational professional services network, showcased an in-depth report on India’s OTT market at FICCI FAST TRACK INDIA 2019 in Mumbai. The study projects that India will have more than 500 million online video subscribers by FY 2023 making it the second biggest market in the world only after China. As per the study, 87% of users in India consume their content on mobile phones and spend an average time of about 70 minutes per day on OTT platforms. 

    The varied and innovative offerings blended with superlative services will let OTT platforms cater to the growing market. Eros Now, which is known for its extensive movie library apart from offering originals, digital movie premieres and short-format content ‘Quickie’, has been a leading OTT platform satiating increasing consumer demands across device forms like Smart TVs, tabs and so on.

    The KPMG and Eros Now study highlights interesting facets for the Indian OTT market:

    Love for films: Indians continue to love their movies and movie related content; 30% of the respondents prefer watching movies on OTT platforms.

    Original content as a differentiator – Original and exclusive Indian content is one of the biggest drivers in the OTT space. Quality Indian narratives are traveling beyond the South Asian audiences around the world. The massive base of digital content consumers prefers new stories that this country must tell.

    Online video transcending geographies – Distribution ecosystem is set to become stronger. Role of value chain partners like OEM, DTH, ISPs and Telcos is likely to grow as creators look at multiple avenues to reach the end consumer.

    Innovations in pricing to boost subscriptions – New user profiles indicate that companies have to focus on smaller towns and rural markets as a sustainable business model would need to be anchored by small town viewers and eventually subscribers.

    Fostering multi-format consumption and engagement – Short-format video content, movie premieres, documentaries, original music and other formats enable OTT players to engage diverse sets of online video consumers. Today, audiences look forward to enjoying varied content formats on digital platforms.

    In order to cater to consumer demands, Eros Now plans to invest to create new original shows for their platform. It has also introduced ‘TV Se Pehle’, wherein movies premiere on the platform prior to their satellite broadcast and started to offer original short-format content. Soon, Eros Now plans to launch over 50 short form original series under its ‘Eros Now Quickies' category. The premium Indian OTT player’s several strategic brand associations has enabled the app to be available in smaller towns of the country and in over 135 countries across the globe.

    Commenting on the key trends and insights Rishika Lulla Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Eros Digital, said, “India is one of the fastest growing entertainment and media market globally and is expected to keep that momentum. As data and digital infrastructure has become exceedingly accessible even in small cities of India, the market for OTT has widened enormously. At Eros Now, we strive to constantly engage the existing consumers and expand our reach by offering new and innovative services.”

    Girish Menon, Partner & Head Media & Entertainment, KPMG in India, said, “The online video consumer in India has evolved in a significant way in the last couple of years. With consumption now going mass and viewers spending close to 8.5 hours a week on online video, we see a homogenous pattern of consumption emerging cutting across age groups, income levels and professions. Our report also touches upon the future of this consumption evolution, and how online video could potentially disrupt traditional distribution in the coming years. This represents a large opportunity for platforms to tap into the ever-expanding universe of digitally connected Indians”

    The increasing internet penetration and access to digital infrastructure across India make it an important market for the OTT industry. The KPMG report is a testament that content innovation, services across device forms and partnerships has established Eros Now as a key player and will further strengthen its position in the growing market.

  • Automotive component manufacturers association of India

    Automotive component manufacturers association of India

    MUMBAI: Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the apex body representing India’s auto component manufacturing industry, today announced the appointment of Deepak Jain, Chairman & Managing Director, Lumax Industries Ltd. as its President and Sunjay Kapur, Chairman, Sona Comstar as the Vice President for the term 2019-21. The announcement was made at the 59th ACMA Annual Session of the Industry body.

    Announcing the new President, ACMA Director General, Vinnie Mehta, said, “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Deepak Jain, as ACMA President. An industry veteran and a leading manufacturer of auto components & systems, Deepak has an in-depth understanding of industry dynamics. We look forward to his leadership in taking the industry’s agenda forward in these challenging times.”

    Accepting the new responsibility, ACMA President, Deepak Jain, said, “It is a matter of privilege to be appointed as the President of ACMA, the apex body of the Indian Auto Component Industry. The industry is going through one of the most difficult times ever. Notwithstanding the regulations-led-technological changes and business cyclicality, the industry needs to prepare itself for the future. We have therefore created a new pillar at ACMA to focus exclusively on xEVs & Future Mobility. It is indeed an imperative for ACMA to drive change through the entire auto component manufacturing chain and help its members stay relevant to their customers. I am confident that we will well scale the challenges confronting us with the support of the government and all our stake holders.”

  • Asian Paints web series ‘Where The Heart Is’ – Season 3 reveals the secret of Boman Irani’s homes

    Asian Paints web series ‘Where The Heart Is’ – Season 3 reveals the secret of Boman Irani’s homes

    MUMBAI: One of the most heartwarming episodes on the third edition of Asian Paints’ “Where the Heart Is”, Boman Irani’s home is a delight in every way. As Boman himself says on the show, “The person you are at work is also a part of you; but the person you are at home is the rooted, innocent you.” And it’s this rootedness and innocence that seeps into every part of their Parsi Colony home. 

    The episode takes us through different facets of the Irani home, but in doing so it also takes us through the different facets of Boman Irani; the family man, and the rock that keeps him grounded, his wife Zenobia. 

    Starting with an interesting anecdote about how he bought his 3 bedroom house in Byculla (surprise, surprise Anil Kapoor has a cameo in this one!), the episode showcases all the important spaces in the Irani home. So there’s the family room, where, believe it or not, family members actually quality time together on most evenings.  And then there’s Boman’s den— complete with a home theatre with movie-theatre style seats, a quiet corner where he likes to read scripts and ruminate on ideas(this corner also has a perfect view of the Byculla lanes and their old-world charm),  and of course, his prized collection of Blu Ray DVDs. 

    But more than the rooms and the spaces, this episode is really about how the Irani family works together to form a tightly-knit albeit noisy unit. Zenobia and Boman explain how they make decisions about every piece of home decor together. Even though they’re usually in agreement, whenever there’s the odd difference of opinion, they end up bringing the piece home on “trial”, to see if one of them changes their mind. And whether that’s the blue colour of their living room walls or the beautiful hanging lights, this technique seems to have worked really well for them over the years. 

    Most importantly, this episode gives us a sneak-peek into what the Irani family is all about. The bond between Zenobia and Boman is 34 years old now, and the episode speaks volumes about the kind of partnership they share. They don’t openly express their affection for each other even once on the show, and yet the entire episode is infused with the warmth and depth of their love and regard for one another. We have some serious couple goals right there! 

    Another beautiful theme that runs through the episode is that of family. Whether it’s the family hanging out together in the living room every evening or making detailed (and noisy!) plans for their vacations, one can almost imagine the home bustling with the life, laughter, innocence, and warmth of those who inhabit it. As Boman says, “Money can buy a fancy holiday, but nostalgia is something that should be very very sacred.” And the entire home is a testament to how much this family values their nostalgia and how closely they guard precious memories. 

    Home is a place where you can tune into the innocent you; where you can be raucous, boisterous, comfortable, and rooted. Everything about this episode, whether it’s the smiles and inside jokes that Boman and Zenobia share; or the way their two dogs are sprawled on the couch; speaks volumes about this comfort and groundedness. To put it as Boman does, “Anticipation is where the heart is” — the anticipation of unwinding after a long and hard day, spending time with loved ones, laughing freely, sitting comfortably, and just being who you are. 

    In an era of high-flying celebrities and fast-past lives, this Asian Paints’ Where The Heart Is episode comes as a breath of fresh air. It’s a reminder of the things in life that are truly important, and that should be reflected in a home — nostalgia, familial ties, quality time, and inner peace. 

  • WION & Sputnik partnership announced at Eastern Economic Forum, Vladivostok

    WION & Sputnik partnership announced at Eastern Economic Forum, Vladivostok

    MUMBAI: WION and Russian news agency Sputnik exchanged letters of intent on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum(EEF) in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Russia.

    The tie-up is a mutual partnership between Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodbya International Information Agency, founder of the Russian media outlet (SPUTNIK) information agency and Zee Media Corporation Limited's entity WION.

    Sputnik and WION aim to amplify digital and broadcast content of the two nations with technologically enhanced communication. The MoU will also help facilitate coordination and exchange of information and ideas with various communities of the two countries.

    Sudhir Chaudhary, Editor-in-Chief, WION, said: "A glorious friendship that has withstood the test of time and vagaries of history embarks on a journey to deepen mutual respect through culture, education and science. This new era of bilateral cooperation promises to be a model for the world and will demonstrate the importance of soft power in a complex geopolitical landscape."

    The partnership will focus on the creation of an interactive platform that develops rich content in all forms to ensure improved understanding of the socio-cultural values of the two nations to harness technological innovation while delivering accurate content. The exchange of content would involve issues related to cultural, humanitarian, economic, sports and political events.

    "The ties between Russia and India are very strong historically, and our cooperation will meet this high standard. The Indian media field has requested for news content from our country, and we hope that we can satisfy the needs of the audience," VasilyPushkov, Sputnik Head of International Projects, said, at a letter-exchange ceremony between WION and Sputnik at Vladivostok.

    The partnership is meant to uplift the spirit of friendship and cooperation between the two great nations – Russia and India.

    WION is India’s first international English news channel dedicated to putting forth India’s perspective on emerging global issues to the world. WION's vision is to create avenues for discourse which can complement India’s efforts in setting a new global agenda on principles of free trade, human rights and co-existence of civilizations that in turn can consolidate India’s position in the world as a responsible global power. WION was inaugurated by the honourable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and former President of India Pranab Mukherjee in 2016.

    Sputnik is one of the largest international media houses combining multimedia and regional Internet sites in 32 languages including in analogue and digital broadcasting in Russian, English, French and other languages in more than 90 cities around the world and on the Internet. Sputnik's through its news feeds delivers information to leading publications around the world in English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish and Farsi.