ITV

Category: Press Release

  • ‘Mighty Raju’ series to launch on Pogo

    ‘Mighty Raju’ series to launch on Pogo

    MUMBAI: Mighty Raju, a popular movie franchise co-produced by POGO and Green Gold Animation Pvt. Ltd., will now be leveraged into a brand new series scheduled to premiere on 08 February and thereafter air every Sunday at 10 AM and 3:30 PM only on POGO.

     

    The series is based on the funny and heroic adventures of a small boy Raju a.k.a. superhero Mighty Raju who lives with his parents and his pet dog Moby. Raju’s father, a very famous scientist, created a very powerful compound called Neutrino along with his friend turned villain Karaati. When pregnant, Raju’s mother accidentally drank the potion and inherently Raju was born with super powers! Watch him discover his newly discovered powers and beat the daylights out of Karaati and many other super villains.

     

    Launched in November 2011, the Mighty Raju franchise boasts of around 20 tele films that have rated exceptionally well on POGO to become the 2nd most popular local franchise after Chhota Bheem.

     

  • iTV Network joins hands with Wisden India for ICC World Cup 2015

    iTV Network joins hands with Wisden India for ICC World Cup 2015

    MUMBAI: iTV Network joins hands with Wisden India for the World Cup 2015. This unique association will enrich the World Cup programming content of the iTV channels and make the World cup stories stand out from the rest. Coupled with robust analysis and technology enabled tools ‘War of The Worlds’ on NewsX and ‘India Mange Worldcup’ on India News is all set to decode the ICC World cup and redefine the cricket viewing experience for the viewers.

     

    To create a buzz around this partnership, NewsX and India News in association with Wisden India also ran a 10-day long online contest called ‘Man vs Machine’. Every day, a question was asked around the World Cup matches held in the past.

     

    The channels have also roped in the richest panel of guests with former players and coaches like Vinod Kambli, Nayen Mongia, Anshuman Gaikwad, Ayaz Memon, Rajkumar Sharma, Dinesh Lad, Deepak Sharma, Madan Sharma, Sanjay Rastogi, Shrawan Kumar and Reetinder Singh Sodhi.

     

    Speaking on this partnership, Rahul Shivshankar, Editor-in-Chief, NewsX said, “We are glad to associate with Wisden India for the World Cup 2015 coverage. This partnership is set to leverage our programming and further add to the legacy of our unmatched programming. As we line up the most comprehensive World Cup coverage on our channel I am hopeful that NewsX will be a one-stop destination for the cricket lovers.”

     

    Deepak Chaurasia, Editor-in-chief, India News said, “Big event like World Cup calls for a grand coverage. At India News, we are all geared up to get the viewers the best. We will ensure our coverage on the World Cup 2015 will be an absolute treat for the cricket enthusiasts. Wisden India with its vast expertise will definitely add value and precision to our programming and give the viewers a rare insight to the game.”

  • IBN7, third most watched Hindi news channel: TGI

    IBN7, third most watched Hindi news channel: TGI

    MUMBAI: Taking its rich legacy of being India’s channel of Impact forward, IBN7 has marked its position in the top three Hindi News Channels as per the latest TGI survey.

     

    TGI (Target Group Index) is a global market research conducted across 72 countries. In India, this study is conducted by IMRB. This study is considered as the most relevant for media agencies and advertisers for developing strategies and understanding consumer segments since it gives insights on consumption across 300 categories. The latest round of this study – Wave 2 (March-May, 2014+ Aug-Oct, 2014) had a sample size of 29,212 from Urban India, HSM (SEC ABC 15-55 years). Overall the study has a sample size of 40,000 (approx).

     

    IBN7 had repositioned itself with a new tag line ‘Hausla Hai’ in mid-October. A fresh and positive perspective, a committed team of reporters, new shows and pacier & cleaner graphics have ensured that IBN7 stands out in the cluttered Hindi News genre. IBN7 has been dedicated to providing coverage which no other network can match. The channel is focused on providing more and more news as opposed to views and opinions that have become the norm on most news channels.

  • Network18 announces Media Institute Initiative (MII)

    Network18 announces Media Institute Initiative (MII)

    MUMBAI: News channels CNN-IBN and IBN7 have planned to launch a Media Institute Initiative (MII) that will engage media schools in the country and abroad through a structured and collaborative approach aimed at unleashing the potential of the youth. Initiative aims to deepen the industry – academia engagement in the media space through seminars, internships, guest lectures and other interventions for sectoral capability enhancement.

     

    Speaking on the MII, Network18 president news Umesh Upadhyay said, “We are really happy to launch the Media Institute Initiative that will engage the industry, the youth and the sharpest academic minds on an on-going basis. The cross-pollination of ideas and talent will create unparalleled opportunities and ideas that will have the potential to define the media landscape of the future.”

     

    Under this initiative, the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being signed with the Kushabhau Thakre Patrakarita Avam Jansanchar Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur in the presence of Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. The MOU will be signed between Network18 president news Umesh Upadhyay, and Kushabhau Thakre Patrakarita Avam Jansanchar Vishwavidyalaya vice chancellor Sachchidanand Joshi on 30 January 2015 in Raipur. IBN7 deputy managing editor Sumit Awasthi will address the aspiring media professionals in the city.

     

  • Singer Udit Narayan’s surprise visit on ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs’

    Singer Udit Narayan’s surprise visit on ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs’

    MUMBAI: This weekend on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, emotions flow in abundance as all the contestants, Captains Shaan and Monali and even the host Aditya Narayan get a special surprise from their loved ones. The young Li’l Champs have been living away from home for nearly two months now , gearing up for the tough competition and giving their best week on week. So it was time to surprise them by bringing down their parents, siblings and even teachers.

     

    While host Aditya Narayan was busy welcoming each contestant’s relative or parents who were specially flown down for this episode, never did he imagine that the makers of Zee Sa Re Ga Ma Pa had also planned a surprise for him! During the course of the show, the Li’l Champs were asked to share one thing which they would like to thank and apologise to their parents for. When the young and charming host Aditya Narayan was asked the same question, he replied that he would like to thank his dad for his genes and singing ability and before he could continue, a very familiar voice singing the popular 90’s number ‘tu mera dil tu meri jaan’ took over for backstage. Well it hardly took Aditya and people sitting in the audience a couple of seconds to realise that it was the legendry singer and host Aditya’s father, Udit Narayan singing his son’s debut song and their first duet. Aditya, who was visibly pleasantly surprised, replied singing his portion of the track ‘oh I love you daddy’!  An overwhelmed Aditya expressed his delight and disbelief on seeing his dad on the sets of his show and even thanked the channel for bringing in this sweet surprise for him.

     

    The senior Narayan also had a great time catching up with old friend Mahaguru Alka Yagnik and affectionately teased her. The duo has given Bollywood some of the most memorable chartbusters of the 90’s together and took this opportunity to walk down memory lane and talk about their good old recording days. The two even sang ‘mere mehboob mere sanam’ from the film Duplicate on the demand of the audience. However, the father and son duo were only allowed to leave the stage after they gave an encore of their superhit debut duet. Udit Narayan immediately obliged and even rendered his own version to son Aditya Narayan’s latest hit ‘tattad tattad’ . It was truly a delight to see the two powerhouse performers perform together on stage!

     

    When two of Captain Monali’s friends paid her a surprise visit on the sets as a part of the same episode, they spill the beans on her passions other than music. The audience, Mahaguru and Li’l Champs  were surprised  to know that this petite beauty is actually a squash, pool and badminton champion and has given many of her male friends stiff competition. Her friends, who met her years back at a dance class also divulged that she is a phenomenal salsa dancer and can also do some dangerous head stunts. Well, seems like Monali is surely a ‘chota packet bada dhamaka’!

  • DDB launches DDB-U in India

    DDB launches DDB-U in India

    MUMBAI: DDB-U@MICA, a learning institution responsible for educating varying levels across the DDB Mudra Group has been launched in India.

     

    Working along with MICA Ahmedabad, a ‘Strategic Marketing and Communication’ management school, the DDB Mudra Group has just concluded two key Career Development and Engagement Programs. A three-day MDP (Management Development Program) and a unique three day IMP (India Management Program), for its current and future leaders.

     

    Through the two programs, which were held in MICA, Ahmedabad from the 23 January 2015 till 29th January 2015 , DDB Mudra Group mid and senior level leadership were taken through bespoke Programs addressing specially identified operational challenges and opportunities, designed to deliver on its ‘People First’ culture.

     

    The 3 day MDP course was a hands-on, interactive, skill-building learning experience, loaded with tools and best practices to help one create a management toolbox that enables one to handle the most difficult of management challenges. All of the case studies, tools, techniques and exercises used in the program were based on extensive leadership and management research and real-life agency issues.  The program was led by Nigel Beard, Trainer & Facilitator, DDB Worldwide, based at Adam & Eve DDB in London. Nigel has been with DDB for over 30 years, he lectures and tutors at London?s University of Westminster, is a Member of the UK Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).

     

    The goal of the 3-day IMP course was to explore the best contemporary thinking available on professional service firm management and leadership development. It also introduced future leaders and rising stars throughout the DDB Mudra Group to the core principles of leading and managing. The curriculum included extensive pre-read selected case studies developed by the Harvard Business School and Omnicom University. A large number of these have been specially written after identifying and analyzing situations that have challenged Managers of various Omnicom Group Companies and their clients.  The IMP was led by Craig Lonnee, the Chief Development Officer of DDB Asia-Pacific operating across 23 offices in 14 countries.

     

    Said Madhukar Kamath, Group CEO & Managing Director, DDB Mudra Group,”Being a ‘People’s first organization’, we are thrilled to launch DDB-U to India to reinforce the organizational hierarchy of “People, Product, Profit, in that order? with our employees. Through these programs we have been able to enhance the skillsets and leadership quotient of around 60 of our talented and dedicated colleagues. All in a period of one week. This is just the beginning. “

  • 23rd Convergence India expo ends with Annual Telecom and FTTH Council APAC Summit

    23rd Convergence India expo ends with Annual Telecom and FTTH Council APAC Summit

    MUMBAI: Themed as ‘Connecting India’, 23rd Convergence India 2015 Expo, largest South Asian platform for Telecom, Broadcast and Digital Media, came to an end today with an overwhelming response from the industry, trade visitors and participating exhibitors.

    The last day of the Convergence India 2015 Expo was a remarkable opportunity for many visitors to experience latest technologies, knowledge sharing sessions and views shared by some of the key global leaders. The expo also witnessed two landmark summits which happened on the third day – 2nd annual Telecom Summit and 2nd annual FTTH council Asia pacific summit.  

    During the 2nd Annual Telecom Summit R.K. Bahuguna, CMD, Rail Tel said “Wifi is the 4G for rural India and easy technology and cheaper technology is what we are looking for.”

    S Chandrasekhar, Group Director, Government Affairs and public policy, Microsoft shared during the 2nd Annual Telecom Summit, “There are two challenges – Physical access and affordability for rural India which we need to address”.

    The expo, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, also witnessed various thought provoking conferences by leading industry experts like Mr. Manoj Kohli, Managing Director, Bharti Enterprise, Mr. Umang Das, Chief Mentor, Viom Networks Ltd. Etc and had interesting sessions on the topics like “Green Telecom in Digital India”, “OTT- Transforming the future of TV”, “Digital India”, “Internet for all” etc.

    Speaking at the forum, B.M Baveja, Scientist G & Group Coordinator, Department of Electronics & IT, Ministry of Communication & IT said, “Proliferation of broadband to rural masses is needed and this technology can be further exploited for the vision of Digital India to come into light.”

    During these three days, a huge number of visitors came to the 23rd Convergence India 2015 Expo and attracted over 400 companies and their CEO’s from countries like Australia, Canada, China, Japan, UAE, UK, USA, etc. to name a few, showcasing the latest trends and technologies in broadband, telecom, cable, satellite, digital India, cloud computing, VAS, LTE Networks etc. by some of the renowned brand names like Sony, HP, Broadcom, ABOX42, Ambrane, Ericsson etc.

    Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group, said “We are pleased to receive quality trade visitors and eminent speakers at our forum. We will continue to work on improving and contributing to the Indian ICT industry, and aim to increase the level of the show with each passing year.”

    Exhibitions India Group (EIG) has been serving the Indian Information Communication Technology sector by organizing the annual International Convergence India series of expos since 1992. The forthcoming international expo is endorsed by the Department of Telecommunication and the Department of Electronics & Information Technology, the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology.  Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also extended its support to the event.

  • TLC to showcase ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’

    TLC to showcase ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’

    MUMBAI: TLC presents the culinary discovery of India by one of the world’s most renowned chefs, Gordon Ramsay in the new series ‘Gordon’s Great Escape.’

     

    The series will showcase Gordon travelling in search of Indian flavours, discovering authentic food from the most jaw-dropping locations across the country. Gordon will explore the diversity of Indian food, starting his journey in the capital, Delhi and moving on to exciting locations including Kolkata, Kerala, Northeast India and ending his journey in bustling Mumbai.

     

    ‘Gordon’s Great Escape’ will premiere on 31 January and will air every Saturday at       10 PM on TLC.

     

    As Gordon samples a variety of Indian delicacies, he will immerse himself in local traditions and activities such as bullock racing in Kerala, hunting deer in Nagaland and assisting a master chef in Lucknow to help prepare a wedding feast.

     

    Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President and General Manager – South Asia & South East Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said “TLC continues to present the world of ultimate lifestyle experiences to Indian audience with its varied, distinct and quintessential programming. Gordon Ramsay is an iconic host loved by viewers for his unique personality and style. We are delighted to present his first ever culinary expedition in the new series Gordon’s Great Escape on TLC.” 

     

    Watch Gordon Ramsay doing what he loves most, seeking out the best food in India and testing himself in extreme and demanding situations. His appetite for adventure will take him across the country on his ‘great escape’.

     

    Some of Gordon Ramsay’s India culinary experiences are captured below:

     

    Northern India

    Gordon will travel around Northern India to look for more authentic versions of the popular Indian dishes he grew up with, and at the end, will have to prove he’s learned how to cook some authentic Indian food in front of food experts in New Delhi.

     

    Kolkata

    Gordon demonstrates his curiosity about Indian cuisines that aren’t normally represented in UK restaurants, so he will travel to remote Northeast India to search them out, and will open a food cart in Calcutta for a day to prove he’s learned something.

     

    Southern India

    Gordon will travel to Southern India to learn more about vegetarian cooking and Indian fish dishes. He will cook Sambar with a street chef and put on a fancy dinner for the upper crust of Mumbai.

     

     

  • WPP Stream India’s view into the future of communication and creativity

    WPP Stream India’s view into the future of communication and creativity

    MUMBAI: WPP Stream India, the unconventional (un) conference organised by WPP Group Company has announced its return in the pink city, Jaipur.  Being held in India for the second time, Stream will witness a diverse crowd of 250+ CEOs, senior marketers, senior leaders from media and creative, future thinking leaders, start ups/entrepreneurs and digital evangelists from the creative, media and technology space. The attendees would come together from 4 to 7 February to celebrate and explore the future of communications, creativity and digital innovation in South Asia.

     
    WPP Stream is a unique thought leadership initiative designed by WPP group to bring together the industry leaders on a single interactive platform in order to exchange and provoke ideas about the future of digital media, communications, creativity, business and society. With over one hundred discussion sessions, Ignite talks (15 slides in 15 seconds), pitch show and more, Stream India stands to be an exclusive opportunity for individuals to test their ideas and tap into the wisdom of the masses. Moreover, the participant will also get a chance to meet Yossi Vardi, the globally acclaimed hi-tech investor who is also the co-host of Stream 2015 India edition.

     

    Ranjan Kapur – WPP Country Manager India, who will be hosting the STREAM 2015 India on behalf of WPP said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce the return of WPP Stream India. By the way of this initiative, WPP aims to foster entrepreneurship in the industry and bring an upsurge in the disruptive technologies and innovation. Stream 2014 was a great success and we are confident that this year is going to be even more exciting.”

     

    Stream being an (un)conference, follows rules distinct from the usual conference model, with no keynote speeches or PowerPoint presentations. The (un)conference is vastly focused on active involvement of participants and spontaneous discussions and conversations leading to explosion of ideas and thoughts. Stream recognizes role of technology & start-ups in shaping our future and taking it a notch higher this time, WPP has partnered with NASSCOM 10K startups wherein technology startups under the programme will demonstrate futuristic & next-gen technologies, through the STREAM tech-lab.

     

    Speaking on the same, Rajat Tandon, Senior Director, NASSCOM 10,000 Start-Ups Program said, “Resonating with our mission to nurture tech start-ups and make them meet F.A.M.E., our partnership with the Tech Lab at WPP Stream 2015 is all about manufacturing magic, a fantastic opportunity to expose the 10ksuperstars to new ideas, demystify technology and foster creative partnerships between tech startups, designers, and media professionals in a highly interactive unconference format.”

     

    Tushar Vyas, Managing Partner, GroupM expressed, “At a time when the entire world is moving at such a fast pace and  everything is going digital , it becomes imperative to thrust South Asia’s marketing and media industry into a era of unconventional and out of the box concepts, thinking and creativity and therefore the introduction of WPP Stream. Stream brings together brand marketers with various industry leaders to think about our digital future and what that means for communications, creativity & business.”