ITV

Category: Press Release

  • ZEE Ganga launched with fresh line-up of original Bhojpuri content

    ZEE Ganga launched with fresh line-up of original Bhojpuri content

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has unveiled its ambitious vision for the Bhojpuri market with the launch of ZEE Ganga. The new channel is a fresh avatar of its established channel Big Ganga with a complete rehaul of the content slate bringing the viewers a wide range of original content in Bhojpuri.

    The rebranding is in line with its objective of accelerating the category growth while advancing a revolutionary vision which envisages to create the content ecosystem and push the envelope of viewer gratification in the Bhojpuri market. 

    The rebranded entity, Zee Ganga will host a vibrant new logo, along with culturally rooted channel promise, ‘Har Pal Aviral’, bringing alive the innate unstoppable Bhojpuriya spirit. It emphasises on the core values it holds to entertain its audience and deliver happiness.

    Celebrating the Bhojpuriya spirit with full gusto, the fresh slate of content comprises of 14 hours of originals: 10 hours of four fictional shows +four hours of one non-fiction show; 500+ titles featuring blockbuster and latest Bhojpuri movies; and a line-up of some of the biggest events in the category. With this, Zee Ganga becomes the only channel in the category to launch original fictional shows, it announced on Tuesday.

    The line-up features multi-genre shows which are socially conscious, entertaining, and brings the region’s most popular talent together. “The stories resonate with the core values of the target audience of being relentless, tenacious, and never give up attitude,” the network said in a media statement.

    The channel launches with a grand campaign featuring the Bhojpuri superstar Nirauha as the brand ambassador.

    Chief consumer officer, Prathyusha Agarwal said, “At ZEE, we have always been the creative platform that thrives on consumer closeness, bringing their soul to screen through our storytelling. As our viewers continue to evolve, their tastes and preferences are transforming at an unprecedented pace and the key to their heart is to bring offerings that resonate with them the most, in the boli that speaks to their soul. The success of our first curated Bhojpuri movies channel, ZEE Biskope  is a testament to this  and we are super excited to further strengthen our promise in the Bhojpuri market with Zee Ganga the only Bhojpuri original content GEC platform for Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal region. With the “Har Pal, Aviral” entertainment promise, we are looking forward to spark the innate unstoppable Bhojpuriya spirit through groundbreaking stories inspired from our viewers’ lives.” 

    Speaking on the rebranding, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), cluster head, east, Samrat Ghosh said, “With rebranding of Zee Ganga, we look forward to our next phase of journey. It is important for us to continuously reflect the aspirations of the evolved Bhojpuri viewers and engage them through original Bhojpuri content. This will help the brand to drive engagement and build connect with the viewers. Our new slate of culturally rooted and relevant content will reflect our values and celebrate Bhojpuriyat.”

  • News18 Languages brings Musicathon Season 2 on Independence Day

    News18 Languages brings Musicathon Season 2 on Independence Day

    Mumbai: News18 Languages (Kannada, ODIA, Tamil, Gujarati, Bangla, Lokmat, Assam, Kerala) is all set to bring ‘Musicathon Season 2’ to celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day with a bouquet of songs from singers across the country.

    The musicians will perform to celebrate the spirit of positivity and hope through their soulful voice and heartfelt songs. They will be singing renditions of patriotic songs and also their own compositions, the television network announced on Friday.

    As part of the channel’s commitment of delivering impactful initiatives, ‘Musicathon Season 2’ will salute & acknowledge the spirit of the selfless service of the unsung heroes and to infuse the day with positivity & hope.

    The channels will reverberate with music from Srinivas, Sujata from Tamil Nadu, Pradip Somasundaram, Manju Menon from Kerala, Arjun Janya from Karnataka. Gujarat will feature Arvind Vegda, Geeta Rabari, Parth Oza, Bengal will have Rupankar, Lagnajita, Raghab, Jojo, Gourab and Assam with Priyanka Bharali, Prashanta Rajkhowa, Padmanath Bordoloi, Manashi Sohoria. Maharashtra will feature songs sung by Pandit Ronu Manjumdar, Hansika Iyer, Rohit Raut, Ajay and Orissa with Bishnu Mohon Kabi, Satyajit Pradhan, Barnali Hota.

  • End your food hunt with inherited recipes from Sitara Foods that tickle your taste buds !

    End your food hunt with inherited recipes from Sitara Foods that tickle your taste buds !

    Now that taking care of your health is in the news but with the birth of new foods or beverage products in the market – if you wish to pen an ode to your epic childhood memories of eatables then you will never say ‘NO’ to Sitara’s authentic and rarest food varieties ever!  It’s the apt online shopping store you would crown to find all what that you want and finish a whole day’s meal challenge with utmost satisfaction!  It’s because we at SITARA FOODS have it all in our catalogue prepared in a natural way – from the magical biryani base vegetarian and non-vegetarian pickles till sweets, snacks, podis, powders, masalas, vadiyalus, fryums, cold pressed oils, millet flours, ragi malt and many more healthy jambavans & Various Famous Traditional Andhra Foods waiting to be added in the queue keeping in mind your gut health always!

    If you believe in food, culture and society being connected, then apart from nutrition there is something more to what’s in your plates!  Are you a person who is nostalgic about childhood memories of eating your favorite food and remember how eagerly anticipated ending each holiday meal would be with your grandmother’s sensational cooking?  Then, you can easily re-establish those connections with your family and your nation while living abroad with Sitara’s pickles, sweets and snacks.

    Your sincerest love for homely food that pleases you is now available a click away.  You’re sure to be elated by the taste of these trustable products which is suitable for pregnant woman consumption too.  Their midnight run for pickles, nausea, vomitting or morning sickness cannot have a better cure compared to these vinegar free pickles from Sitara Foods made with a native touch to it.  The novelty of food choices suiting the peculiar needs of all age groups is unbeatable with Sitara products!  If you are into the affinity for taking pictures of food that you eat and post them online with an esthetic sense,  then you must get ready with the best of captions to add and share Sitara Foods products.  Follow your heart and find infinitely delicious varieties that surprises you from the olden days kitchen to your palate now!

    The popularity of biryani has augmented  to such an extent that it is the mostly ordered food on delivery apps.  The very sight of the white rice coupled with meat is a miraculous dish that comes in different types & brands which touches your heart with a magical wand, but the process of preparing it is lenghty and you cannot get them at all times of a day through online orders.   This is where our instant, ready-made biryani mixes in the form of non vegetarian pickles from Sitara foods is sure to be your saviour in no time.  When you are a person who likes shortcuts in cooking plus a biryani lover, then quickly pick up your spoon to mix our non veg pickles with hot steamed rice – Yahuuh!  Yummy, delicious biryani is ready to touch your heart in a jiffy.  

    Apart from this we have a smorgasbord of nourished, nurtured and hand-curated traditional sweets, snacks and beverages in our online store to romanticize you.  The true reason why you would definitely fall in love with our food items is that they are cooked carefully under the eyes of those walking miracles – ‘Mothers’ and we are sure to grab your mom’s place in your soul.  A Food lover who prefers instant, ready-made, yet health and home-made food can pick Sitara as their mother’s place.  This is where you are sure to discover the local flavors with prime quality and prompt delivery experience.  

    With a world-wide market, we have the best of user interactive interface where ordering process becomes a cake walk for customers.  Regionally inspired, uniquely crafted, carefully and hygienically packed, ravishing taste food variants we have would tempt you for more.  Be certain to have a one-of-a-kind experience when you experiment with authentic, traditional, preservative free, chemical free foods! It’s because they appetize your tummy and relish your taste buds.  Move on, give in to the calls of indulgence with your food experiments from the home-made food experts of India – Sitara Foods.  With sophisticated technologies in use for our Online Shopping application, transactions happen from over 106 countries and you are ensured with utmost safe and secure payment methods accompanied by immediate shipment and on-time delivery of the products at your doorstep.

    Aiding the environment and the local economy the ingredients used in preparing our legendary condiments are sourced from the local farmers within 24 hours of harvest – it’s the sole reason why our taste is awesome and matchless.  We believe that rural women are the key to achieve transformational economic, environmental and social changes and hence employed those elderly mothers and grannies who take care of the small 5 kg batches preparation.  Their extraordinary efforts in the kitchen to give life to the inherited recipes puts an end to your food hunt for healthy, tasty food.  

    With the perfect vision to keep our customers gut healthy giving life to innovative, customary and legitimate grandma recipes and a passionate drive towards providing premium, top quality food products to our customers offering elite freight services that you can always count on; our homely stuff would unleash the food in you to call it “Divine”.  Now it’s time to add up to your shopping list the plethora of tasty recipes brought to your table and satiate your palate to be a happy customer who receives delicious products with express delivery to more than 106 countries.  Go Copacetic….. Go Homey….. Go with a perfect combo of delectable home cooked food….Happy Shopping!

  • News18 Punjab /Haryana /Himachal gears up for 2022 Punjab elections

    News18 Punjab /Haryana /Himachal gears up for 2022 Punjab elections

    Mumbai: Elections in Punjab in early 2022 will be a multi-cornered and high octane electoral battle with all the major political parties in the state going all out to win the mandate to govern for the next five years.

    News18 PHH has announced its plan to bring an exhaustive and comprehensive coverage of these elections branded – ‘Akhada 2022’ – which will include a variety of shows, debate and discussions and will bring together top newsmakers from across the leading political parties. Supported by a team of experienced anchors, on-ground reporters and eminent experts, News18 PHH plans to offer viewers a wide coverage of these crucial state elections.

    The channel’s coverage of the elections will launch on Independence Day, 15 August with a three-hour special called Akhada 2022. This will be followed later in the week by four new shows – Satta Ke 7 Formulae which will showcase seven major issues of each constituency, Ran-Neeti with Rajneta which will feature a constituency wise profile of leaders, Ticket ki Takkar will do overall profiling of each seat along with possible contenders from each party for that constituency & Chunaavi Swaad which will be a travel based show wherein anchor / reporter will move across the State and will gauge the mood of the voters.

    News18 PHH has also planned to organise e- Agenda Punjab which will bring different political parties and leaders from Punjab to discuss and debate the issues, strategies and the evolving political situation with respect to the elections in 2022.

    The Agenda series, from News18 Network has also established itself as a definitive platform that brings a ringside view of the thinking shaping political strategy in the lead- up to elections. Agenda Punjab promises to be a high impact news event, and host substantive and impactful discussions.

    The exclusive curtain raiser of “Akhada 2022” will air on 15 August at 6 p.m and e-Agenda on 18 August at 12 noon only on News18 Punjab /Haryana/Himachal.

  • ZEE News announces special 75-hour programme for Independence Day

    ZEE News announces special 75-hour programme for Independence Day

    New Delhi: Hindi News channel ZEE News has announced  a 75-hour marathon programme with multiple shows to celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day.

    The program will begin on 12 August at 9 p.m. and continue till 15 August. 

    The 75-hour long program will have special shows like  Bhoolein -Yaad Aati Hain, anchored by writer Manoj Muntasir. The Regiment Series will see the ZEE News team visiting many Armed Force Camps, while a special show on brave hearts like Bhagat Singh, will be anchored by Piyush Mishra. A documentary on Sardar Patel and a musical show by Indian playback singer Shadab Faridi will also be aired along with a remembrance program of personalities like Dilip Kumar and Sunil Dutt.

    Apart from this, ZEE News will show the viewers some classics like Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hain & Yaaro Ki Baarat with Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha. ZEE News additionally, for the first time ever, will celebrate the brilliant Olympic performance by showcasing India’s first-ever gold medal story through telecast of Akshay Kumar starrer movie ‘Gold’. Some more specials like Kavi Sammelan, INS Viraat, Female commando, Harbhajan & Yuvraj Singh together will be aired as well. 

    DNA will also have an Independence Special. Some more specials like Kavi Sammelan, INS Viraat, Female commando, Harbhajan & Yuvraj Singh together will be aired as well. 

    ZEE News, CEO and editor-in-chief, Sudhir Chaudhary said “ZEE News was the first private 24/7 news channel of independent India. In the last 26 years, we have always carried the core values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakum as we have always kept the nation and our viewers first. Apart from hard factual news, we strive to bring innovative content for our viewers as we will do this 75th Independence Day where we will be providing much more than just news to celebrate the nation’s achievements.“

    ZEE News, chief revenue officer, Gaurav Verma said, “It’s our consistent endeavour at ZEE News to give extra value and informative content to our viewers and the same is well recognised by leading brands for association with Zee News. This is because of the constant trust and legacy we have built over last 26 years as India’s first private news channel.”

    ZEE News is watched in more than 180 countries worldwide.

    ZEE News is the No.1 Hindi News channel on Facebook and India’s no.1 Hindi News channel on YouTube, according to Crowd Tangle Report (Metric: Facebook Social Media Interactions) 25 May – 25 August 2020 and TubeBuddy; 11th Jul – 08th Aug ’21, In terms of Video views in Millions. (Headline is also based above sources)

  • News18 Bihar Jharkhand announces special campaign for flood relief

    News18 Bihar Jharkhand announces special campaign for flood relief

    Mumbai: Bihar, amongst India’s most flood prone state reels under the havoc caused by floods every year. Over the years many lives, livestock and hundreds of crores of properties has been lost.

    News 18 Bihar/Jharkhand has launched a special campaign to lend a helping hand to the people of the state during this trying time. This special month-long initiative ‘Baadh Mein Aap key Saath’ will attempt to address the challenges that people face this time and also help people requiring assistance during the floods.

    The channel will run extensive content in the form of bulletins, debates and special shows focused on key issues such as ways and means of protecting one’s home & livestock, on taking care of one’s health and precautions to be taken to protect oneself from drowning. The campaign will also engage with leaders and policy-makers to understand the steps being taken to help the people of the state during this time.

    News18 Bihar Jharkhand will also deploy a dedicated reporter called the ‘Flood Reporter’ to bring regular updates on the flood situation, reaching out to flood-hit victims and highlighting their condition.

    The channel has also launched a dedicated helpline 62 81 28 06 36 for those requiring assistance, and will attempt to connect those in need of help with the requisite authorities to help facilitate outreach to such individuals.

  • ZEE Biskope announces special line-up ahead of Independence Day

    ZEE Biskope announces special line-up ahead of Independence Day

    Mumbai: This Independence Day, Bhojpuri channel ZEE Biskope pays homage to the brave soldiers with the launch of ‘Bharat Ke Shaan Bhojpuriya Jawaan’ – a film festival especially curated to showcase and honour the strength of the Bhojpuriya soldiers. The festival will be unveiled on 15 August from 9 am to 9 pm with a film line-up that features the biggest superstars from the region.

    The schedule will kick off with India vs Pakistan at 9 am starring Arvind Akela Kallu, Nidhi Jha, Nisha Dubey, and Priyanka Pandit in prominent roles, followed by Border at 12 noon featuring the popular duo Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Niruaha’ and Amrapali Dubey in leading roles; Army Ki Jung starring Arun Ojha, Kanak Pandey, Brijesh Tripathi, Mohan Singh and Jyoti Kalashat 3 pm; and concluding with Maa Tujhe Salaam at 6 pm which stars Pawan Singh, Madhu Sharma, and Akashra Singh in leading roles.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), SVP – Bhojpuri cluster, Amarpreet Singh Saini said, “Considering the region’s pride in serving the motherland, the stories of valiant soldiers and the appreciation for their sacrifice resonates across audiences, thus making them immortal. ZEE Biskope makes another attempt to cater to the pulse of its audience with a topical film festival that not only celebrates Bhojpuriya Jawaans but also motivates the youth to get inspired by real-life heroes. It is going to be an entertainment-packed I-Day – perfect for families to enjoy a holiday together in salute to their nation.”

    ZEE Biskope is currently available on Airtel (channel no 663), Tata Sky (channel no1120), DEN Bihar (channel no 840), DEN Jharkhand (channel no 839), DD Free Dish (channel no 31), d2h (channel no 859), Dish TV (channel no 1555), Siti Cable (channel no 214) and Darsh Digital (channel no189).

  • Manorama Online revels in the spirit of Onam

    Manorama Online revels in the spirit of Onam

    Mumbai: It’s reassuring to note that, after a year and a half since the outbreak, humanity has found indigenous ways to circumvent the pandemic and digital has been the confidant in the new normal. Cut to Kerala, the best time of the year is around the corner, Onam.

    This year, Onam for Malayalis across the world will be powered by meaningful digital connections. Be it choosing Onakkodi for the loved ones via video shopping, the joy of laying an ‘athapookalam’ (floral carpet) with childhood friends via an e-pookalam offering, enjoying Kathakali with family through a Livestream, preparing a sumptuous Onasadya together through recipe podcasts or through ordering in via food delivery platforms, indulging in Onakalikal through gaming platforms, watching the latest blockbuster in many of the OTT platforms, paying for an Onam Club donation via the payment platforms, Onam comes alive online in more ways than one.

    manoramaonline.com catering to 36 million Malayalis, spread across 200 + geographies will be enabling Malayalis across the world to celebrate Onam online through nostalgic reportage, immersive online properties like designing digital pookalam, digital onakalikal (games), and multisensory experiences.

    Its latest campaign – ‘Nothing will stop a Malayali from celebrating Onam’ turns the spotlight on the unstoppable Malayali spirit to celebrate Onam in all its fervor yet responsibly. The Local Network, agency of record for manoramaonline.com has conceived and executed this campaign.

    “The pandemic has certainly impacted the way we live, work & play, but in Kerala, it has not lowered the spirit of Onam, thanks to festivities taking a virtual turn,” said Manorama Online, general manager, marketing, Boby Paul.

    “Onam is a festival we cannot afford to miss, a once a year celebratory band in a Malayali’s life, come what may,” said The Local Network, creative director, Nitin Menon. “Cautious optimism is the need of the hour.”

    Kerala, armed with one of the highest internet penetration rates in the country, ranks high in online news consumption and online shopping. This year, Onam is expected to mark the revival of the shopping season in adherence to the protocols by leveraging the seamlessness of digital experiences.

  • How did OTT Evolve and Where Is It Heading

    How did OTT Evolve and Where Is It Heading

    We create innovative solutions against problems as a tendency. With the conventional means of video content, there were many problems associated. They mostly were because of the format of content distribution which didn’t go hand in hand with the habits people had started acquiring. 

    All technological advancements have been directed towards convenience. The shopping scene shifting to digital means was a huge revolution in society. Now people are accustomed to making decisions of their own will, not constrained by time or place. 

    Although content consumption had taken a leap from conventional TVs to satellite-based networks that could be customised, this wasn’t enough. There was more to be narrowed down. Not just the selection of channels, but the selection of shows and more was what customers wanted.

    The simple solution to this was an OTT platform. OTTs like Prime Video, Aha and other leading OTT platforms in India provide the users with the freedom to select the shows that they want to watch. They can choose from a pool of shows and hardly ever it is that they cannot find what they need. 

    On the other hand, these OTTs also do a great job with AI in engaging a customer with personalised suggestions to watch. 

    It is not the ultimate solution to the entertainment needs of humans, which would be a pool of anything and everything. For example, a drawback that the OTTs have is shows in a limited number of languages. Netflix might not have Telugu content. Although we have Aha, a user would need to take multiple subscriptions to enjoy content in both languages. 

    Rise of OTTs

    With more people turning to online means of entertainment content, the OTT industry skyrocketed. With Netflix leading the game globally, with its national competitors like Prime Video, millions of people found value in these OTTs who then decided to ditch cable TV or satellite connections. 

    The price was another advantage of the OTTs. They could be pretty affordable. You can find tons of content at a nominal charge of as little as Rs 99 per month. This works because people have the access to a huge range of content at their fingertips. Moreover, they would be able to select the platform based on their interests, type of shows etc. 

    However, we are also affected by the rise of convenience offers by OTTs.

    No time to think! 

    As we have the option to get entertained at all times, it is very easy to click on a thumbnail and watch an entire show. This can also be the first thing we would be drawn towards when feeling bored. Because we keep ourselves so engaged all the time, we may lose out on other important things. Ultimately, going to the gym, or spending time in the kitchen making healthy food, or learning new skills can take a backseat. Although, you don’t have to learn new skills constantly, it becomes a problem when you cannot even think about it.

    Future of OTTs

    We are going towards a platform that is the combination of Netflix, Prime Video, SonyLIV, Alt Balaji and everything else. Such a platform is not directed by one company. On the other hand, it is owned by the users themselves. Probably, they can curate what type of content they’d want to see depending on languages, genres and even actors. Such a platform will eradicate the current limitations in the OTT industry. And I think this is what we are heading towards. 

    Conclusion

    OTTs are here to stay. Not only can you enjoy the bounties, but also contribute to the platforms by creating your own content. Many video streaming platforms like YouTube allow you to do so. 

    You can be a part of the online content consuming audience with a subscription fee. Sp try out for yourself and try to make the best of it while you do so. 

  • Should You Invest In The Entertainment Industry?

    Should You Invest In The Entertainment Industry?

    The entertainment industry: a worthy investment?

    As a species, there are three things we cannot do without – food, water, and entertainment. Entertainment is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world and it’s multifaceted too.  Films, music, books and video games, these are the pillars, the building blocks, the cornerstones of the entertainment industry. Everything is contained within these four defining attributes. Our fascination with being entertained is as old as we are as a species. Oral tradition became print, print transitioned to reels and reels are now digital. There’s a common argument that in today’s digital world economy, that print is dead. This is not true, print has simply adapted and evolved. There’s an argument to be made that music is dead. Also untrue. Like print, it’s simply had to adapt and also evolve to the technology of the times.  In fact, music is still in a transitional phase with regards to artist royalties, something that remains murky in these digital times.  Cinema it could be argued is dead, and right now it is, but that’s out of everyone’s hand. Once we return to normalcy, it will come back with a vengeance. However,  cinema is part of filmed entertainment and on the whole, filmed entertainment has been swallowed up by the streaming giants. The point is that the entertainment industry is evolving and as usual, there’s profit to be had. 

    Why should you invest?

    There’s no way to sugar-coat this; investing is risky, regardless. You can do your research, follow the latest entertainment trend reports by CityIndex, and yes, a product or service can showcase incredible potential, but you won’t know until the dust has settled and this is especially true in the entertainment industry – one that is almost entirely reliant on the taste of the consumer.  Hollywood is littered with the corpses of box office bombs, but it’s also filled to the brim with box office gold. If you’re going to invest in entertainment, you’ll have to run the gauntlet of an unpredictable public, critical reviews and of course, studio interference. A prime example would be the extent to which Warner Bros. hacked up major DC movies such as Justice League and paid the price. However, if the film or the intellectual property becomes a hit such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven with constant returns, then the risk of investing almost completely and utterly fades away. The same is true for music, theatre, books and video games. If the public positively receives these ventures, then you’re going to profit from the good reception. 

    Range and sustained returns.

    It’s easy to buy into the idea that only large investors can be a party to the entertainment industry. With massive budgets and lots at stake, it’s easy to see yourself as a bit player.  However, you don’t have to invest in something big. You could take a stab at an independent film production, a small theatre production, or you could invest in a musical artist who’s just starting their career.  In addition to this, you could also opt for online trading. Brokers in this industry allow you to partake in speculation or spread betting. For instance, if you wanted to invest in Warner Bros., whose parent company is AT&T, then you could simply bet and estimate on the movement of AT&T’s share price without buying the actual stock.  And then of course there are the ones that offer sustained returns. Imagine you had invested in Marvel Studios back in the early 2000s? Whether it’s a film franchise, a book that spawns a series like Harry Potter, a music artist who churns out hit after hit or a play that becomes a staple on Broadway, there’s always the chance you might be investing in something with sustained returns.