ITV

Category: Special Report

  • E-commerce, the Santa Claus this Diwali

    E-commerce, the Santa Claus this Diwali

    With the festival of lights knocking at the door and gifting at its peak, the-commerce portals are raining flash sales, lucky draws, special portfolios and exclusive product launches. The season which kicked off the with the Big Billion Day by Flipkart to the week- long Diwali Dhamaka Sale from Amazon, the online buzz is getting louder each day.

    The portals, flushed with money from recent fund-raising efforts, are lining up steep discounts, exclusive merchandise, cash-back schemes, and other promotional offers for this year’s festive season, giving them an opportunity to sell more, gain market share and increase their valuations.

    According to Team Pumpkin co-founder Swati Nathani, the period of October till January is considered great for retail sales, starting with festive buying for Pujo and Diwali, to winter shopping in November, party shopping in December and then End of Season Sale in January. “The season sees an approximate 200-300 per cent increase from the average e-commerce sales. Obviously, post Diwali sales will not match to the level of Diwali, but on an average they are 20-30 per cent higher than average period sales,” said Nathani.

     

    Amazon India

    For the festive season, the e-commerce giant is offering discounts with minimum 16 per cent and maximum of up to 56 per cent discounts on products like laptops, mobiles, household items and home appliances. The e-retailer is giving up to 70 per cent discounts on home appliances, clothing & accessories, gifts, gadgets and jewellery along with an additional cash back offer on purchases made by Citibank cards.

    Talking about the Diwali, the offers and discounts, Amazon India country manager & VP Amit Agarwal said that the customers can look forward to Amazon.in as their one-stop Diwali shopping destination and that Amazon is offering its Indian customers great savings on thousands of products every hour through its discounts and offers.

    On 21 September,  Amazon.in kicked-off the 30 day online Shopping Dhamaka ahead of the peak festival season offering customers thousands of exciting new deals & offers on the hottest products; new store launches; first access to unique selections & premium brands,  exciting contests, etc.

    As part of the Online Shopping Dhamaka, Amazon.in hosted two major events including ‘Mission to Mars’ weekend between 4-6 October dedicated to the success of India’s Mangalyaan mission and the Diwali Dhamaka Week between 10-16 October.

    “We are humbled by the tremendous response from customers to the Online Shopping Dhamaka and all events hosted as part of this.  The response from customers on the first day of the Diwali Dhamaka Week went beyond our wildest expectations as we surpassed our biggest day. Traffic on that day was 200 per cent more than that on our previous biggest day. We are seeing a massive interest from all over the country including tier 2 markets like Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat, Vizag, Coimbatore, Patna, Bhopal, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Lucknow,” said an Amazon spokesperson.

    “Our seller clubs that have Rs 1 million+ & Rs 1 crore+ weekly sales increased by 44 per cent & 26 per cent respectively during the Diwali Dhamaka Week and sellers received orders from 868 non-metro cities,” he added.

    Electronics and Kitchen product categories grew by nearly six times during the Diwali Dhamaka week. In addition, we have received an overwhelming response from customers to all the exclusive launches that have taken place on Amazon.in during this period.

    “We have sold over 130,000 Micromax Canvas Android One smartphones, over 100,000 Coke Zero cans within two weeks of its launch, the Blackberry Passport has gone out-of-stock and we have sold hundreds of audio products of House of Marley,” the spokesperson informed.

    They also launched special festive design packaging and introduced gift boxes and gift wrapping paper in colours that match with the artwork on the gift boxes for Diwali.

     

    Flipkart-Myntra

    After offering crazy massive discounts on the Big Billion Day, raising Rs 600 crore as well as sending an apology letter to all its customers, Flipkart seems to have toned it down a bit.

    However, the industry that is currently surviving on discounts, the home-grown e-tailer is giving offers on select products. The site is hosting an electronic mela, giving massive discounts on televisions, camera, Smartphones, home appliances and others. The portal is offering 45-50 percent on home appliances like mixer grinders and induction cook-tops.

    The e-retailer is also holding an App lucky draw, where the lucky ones can win 3 days/2 nights holiday packages along with an additional cash back offer on purchases made by an SBI card.

    The e-commerce portal recently acquired the fashion portal Myntra as well as raised funds worth $1 billion.

    “Our aim is to help our sellers provide the best possible shopping options to our customers such that both sellers and customers benefit,” said a Flipkart spokesperson, talking about the Diwali sales.

    While the Bengaluru based portal is being cautious, its acquisition Myntra is giving discounts like 30 per cent off on no minimum value, up to 60 per cent off on festive collection and launching new private brands, Indian as well as international etc. Myntra has launched an exciting Diwali campaign ‘Myntra Cracker of a Sale’ from 7 -25 October.

    Myntra chief operating officer Ganesh Subramanian said, “Diwali is a period of festivity and cheer, where all of us buy new clothes, and want to ‘Look Good.’ The ‘Myntra Cracker of a Sale’ boasts of exciting brand offers from over 500 marquee brands and will also include exclusive collections from leading brands and designers which will be available only on Myntra.com.”

    “At Myntra, we are not restricting celebration only to clothes, but have also extended a personalized style service, the Style Helpline, where Myntra’s expert stylists will be available to answer everything from simple style queries to advice on getting the perfect festive look,” he added.

    Talking about the sales target, Subramanian revealed, “We expect it to be a record breaking Diwali, with over 3X growth in sales as compared to last year.”

    The fashion e-tailer also designed a ‘Made for Myntra Collection,’ which includes over 5,000 exclusive styles and collections by some of the most respected designers and brands like FCUK, UCB, Elle, SuperDry, Biba, FabIndia and Antony Moratto.

    The company is offering every shopper with assured money back with every order – minimum Rs 100 up to Rs 1 lakh and five gold vouchers from Tanishq, to be won every day.

     

    Snapdeal

    All set to lure customers to its portal, Snapdeal is offering 50 per cent off and 1+1 offer on many of its products. The Delhi-based e-tailer is also offering 60-70 per cent discount on mobile phones and gadgets.

    “The intention is to try and cater to every single consumer. Because we are trying to cater to everyone, we have products for everyone. There has been a big ensemble of celebrities, who have come on board for the same,” said Snapdeal VP-offline marketing Maneesh Goel.

    “We are aiming to double our normal sales this festive period like last year,” revealed Goel who added that the company is already seeing a 30 per cent increase in its daily order and sales average. Snapdeal recently crossed $1 billion (over Rs 6,100 crore) in sales this fiscal.

    The portal is offering up to 50 per cent discounts on home appliance, up to 40 per cent on watches, around 50 per cent on gadgets along with 1+1 offers on ethnic wears, footwear, clutches etc.

     

    Google India

    Celebrating the occasion, the search-engine giant Google has launched ‘Grand Diwali Mela’ to cash in on the festival of lights.

    Google has also set up a ‘Grand Diwali Mela’ website, which provides two activities that Indians love to indulge in: shopping and entertainment.

    The powered by sponsor for the site is Amazon India while the presented by sponsor is Lakme. Other sponsors for the site include OLX, Fiat, Line messenger, Horlicks among others. It has also partnered with Shah Rukh Khan’s Happy New Year, which is set to release on the day after Diwali.  

    It allows users from across India to try out everyday products through samples at Re 1, play games that are in sync with the cultural moment, stream movies for free and watch great content from the upcoming film Happy New Year.

    At the ‘Grand Diwali Mela,’ consumers can also experience gaming via a platform called Centerstage Hungama.com. On this online ‘zone’, consumers can stream two Bollywood films of their choice. A game called Diwali Chakri has been launched exclusively for this occasion. In association with Rummy Circle, it allows users to play with other card game enthusiasts across the country. Gaming hour will be from 9-10 pm and prizes include online offers and merchandise.

    Last month, Google stated plans of launching a virtual shopping and entertainment platform by tying up with the media buying agency GroupM. While GroupM is responsible for bringing brands onto the platform, Google provides the technical support.

    The website, which will run live till 22 October, invites patrons to try samples for products across various categories at just one rupee each, and to play and win awesome prizes and a chance to hang out with celebrities.

     

    Other sites

    Riding high on the festive season, CouponDunia, has brought together the country’s most popular e-commerce stores to give its users 30 exclusive offers over the next 15 days as part of ‘Deal-Wali Diwali’. These offers include: Rs 250 gift card on Rs 999 shopping for Amazon, Buy-1-Get-1-Free in Dominos, Flat 33 per cent off above Rs 2999 in FabFurnish, Flat 45 per cent off on Hotel Bookings at Goibibo, Flat Rs 500 off on Flights at Yatra.

    Jabong is also offering huge discounts on lifestyle products. On purchase of two products of American Swan, one can get one product of the company free. Apart from this, one can book a home with just Rs 999 under ‘Living Room Bonanza’ and will also be entitled to 20 per cent discount on total cost.

    With the massive discounts offered and customers being treated as kings, this Diwali marks the growth of the e-commerce sector in India. So, shop till the discounts last and we at Indiantelevision.com wish you a happy Diwali and a fun festive season.

     

  • The great Indian Diwali on English GECs and movie channels

    The great Indian Diwali on English GECs and movie channels

    As families and friends come together to celebrate Diwali and spend personal time with loved ones at home, English movie and general entertainment channels (GEC) have put together some of the best line ups to reign in the festive period. While the genre stands fragmented, channels nonetheless are trying to woo audiences with either movie or show premieres or telecasting title’s that have repeat value.

     

    Zee Studio which underwent a refresh recently will telecast its special Diwali movie, How To Train Your Dragon at 12 pm and 9 pm. Its festival property ‘Studio Dynamite’ will include blockbusters such as Mission Impossible, Transformers, Avengers etc. Apart from this, movies like Lincoln, Shrek Forever After and Shutter Island will complete its programming lineup.

     

    Starting 23 October 9 am onwards, Movies Now viewers are in for a programming lineup which covers different genres. To tickle the funny bone are the hilarious trio of a sabertooth tiger, a sloth and a wooly mammoth from Ice Age. This will be followed by The Karate Kid, Kung Fu Panda, The Matrix, Olympus Has Fallen and X Men Origins: Wolverine. The finale will see good forces combine in an all out war with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.

     

    HBO and its two premium channels; HBO Hits and HBO Defined too are vying for a share of the viewership pie this festive season. HBO will telecast Pacific Rim on 23 October at 1:57 pm, Step Up on 24 October at 6:54 pm, Red2 on 27 October at 9 pm, followed by World War Z on 28 October at 9pm. While HBO Hits will serve Riddick, Ghost Team One and Season one of The Knick on its platter, HBO Defined will have season one of Grace, Silicon Valley and True Detective.

     

    Another major player Star Movies has also put in place a festive lineup. Robert Downey Jr fans can watch Tony Stark’s world being torn apart by the formidable terrorist called The Mandarin on 23 October at 9 pm. This will be followed by Men In Black at 11 pm.  The other movies include Unstoppable, Speed, Fast Five, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Men in Black 3, King Kong and Resident Evil: Retribution.

    Sony Pix from the MSM stable along with its English GEC AXN started their Diwali celebrations with the simulcast of the legendary crime fighting cyborg Robocop on 19 October at 1 pm and 9 pm. AXN has also brought in two new shows especially for the festive season. While NCIS runs from Monday to Thursday at 10 pm, Supernatural airs every Saturday at 10 pm.

    So what brings English movies and GECs come up with special programming for Diwali? Says Maxus managing partner north and east region Navin Khemka, “Currently as some of these channels are able to draw an average yield, they try building a lot of hype and aura around these shows through various campaigns to maximise the yield in an extremely fragmented space. The festive season thus is about increasing the average yield where survival is vital.”

    English GEC Romedy Now through the theme of celebrating the joy of family and togetherness has launched its property ‘Diwali Sparklers,’ starting 4 October, 8pm onwards. The lineup for the slot includes Family Stone, The Notebook, Guess Who, Madagascar, Monster-in-Law and 27 Dresses among others.

    Comedy Central too has announced the launch of four new shows that will be premiered from 27 October from Monday to Friday. These are Billy on The Street 9 (at 8 pm) Psych (seasons one to four at 9 pm), Penn and Teller: Fool Us (at 10 pm) and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon at 11 pm. These four will be premiered from 27 October 2014 from Monday to Friday.  

    Star World Premiere HD has New Girl season four, Community season five, Revenge season four, Modern Family season six, Bones season 10, Home Land season four among others. Star World will broadcast House season five, The Simpsons season 17, Masterchef Australia season six, Big Bang Theory season five etc. Meanwhile FX has lined up The X Files season nine, Californication season seven, Sons of Anarchy season six and Alias season one among others.

    According to Madison Media COO Karthik Lakshminarayan, since festive period sees a surge in advertising and these movie channels and GEC’s too are vying for a share of the pie, they come up with the special programming lineup. “The special programming for the festive season helps channels spike their advertising revenue on an average by 10-12 per cent,” he concludes.

  • 9 baj gaye kya? – ICICI Bank gets Big B to endorse it all through the hour-long KBC

    9 baj gaye kya? – ICICI Bank gets Big B to endorse it all through the hour-long KBC

    Big ideas seen on television in the recent and not so recent past have been the positioning of ICICI Bank in Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).

    There were cheques to be signed by one bank or the other and ICICI, perhaps, found the right opportunity at the right time. End result: you have a never before one of its kind leverage that draws the maximum attention subtly without being in your face. That’s a big idea and as bright as it gets.

    The bank enjoyed a never before leverage every time Bachchan fished out a cheque to sign it and then hand it over to the eager KBC participant. Your brand name and logo on clear display all through while you get none other than Amitabh Bachchan to put his graphologically perfect signature in the viewers’ full and unhindered view!

    Perhaps, Bachchan signing the same cheque in a regular TVC would not have carried the same subconscious effect that it did in KBC.

  • Bringing home Lord Ganesha

    Bringing home Lord Ganesha

    He is the ‘Dukh Harta’ and the one who removes obstacles. So be it any new project, a new house or a new car, everything starts with his blessings. The western part of the country is now gearing to welcome home the most loved Lord Ganesha.  And starting 29 August, one will see huge pandals housing Ganapati at every nook and corner of Maharashtra.  His aura is such, that devotees while immersing the Lord, ask him to come back soon, as they chant, ‘Agle Varsh Jaldi Aa’.

    From Lalbaug Cha Raja, to the pandals in localities to households are all busy with the last minute preparations. Right from cleaning the house, to making modaks (his favourite sweet), to decorating the house, the stage is set to welcome him home.

    While it is a 11-day festival, immersions take place after one and a half days, three days, five days, seven days, nine days and the eleventh day. Host of activities are lined up in the pandals and even at homes for the duration. The day starts with morning aarti, it progresses with hawan, bhajans and then concludes with evening aarti. People, who bring him home, invite family and friends for darshan and treat the Lord like a guest, with morning and evening aarti.   

    On the occasion, we at indiantelevision.com ask the industry about their preparations for the 11 day festival and how they celebrate it.

    MCOF president, Arvind Prabhoo

    We have been bringing home Lord Ganesha for the last 45 years. While the celebrations were restricted only to my mother’s house, it was some 45 years ago, when my brother was some two to three years old, when he got fascinated towards the whole festival and we decided to also bring home the Lord. We bring the Lord home for five days.

    The preparations start almost one year in advance, as the order for the idol has to be made. We get an eco-friendly Ganapati. For the past 15 days, the entire family has been busy with cleaning the house, getting ingredients for the Prasad etc.

    On day one we have modaks for the Lord and also lunch arranged, on the third day we arrange for bhajan in Gujarati and Marathi, while on the fifth day, my mother makes close to 200 puran poli’s.

    We immerse the Lord in the municipal ground next to our house in Villeparle, where the municipality creates an artificial pond. 

    Star India SVP programming Ashish Golwalkar

    We have been getting Lord Ganesha for more than 20 years. Celebrations and preparations start in full swing almost a week or 10 days in advance. We get Ganapati for seven days. This year, the celebration is going to be on a larger scale as all the families will come under one roof and are celebrating this occasion. We get clay Ganapati and immerse the Lord in the nearby pond.

     

    Zee 24 Taas business head Bhushan Khot

    We have been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi since the past 12 years at our home. We keep for one and a half days and the immersion takes place at an artificially created pond near our home so as to not pollute the water. We have been doing this from my childhood as a joint family and when we moved out to our own place, we continued the tradition.

     

     

    Zee Marathi business head Deepak Rajadhyaksha

    The occasion is very important because it is being celebrated at our home since the last 60 years. My father had started the tradition and we followed suit of bringing home Ganesha for one and a half days and immersion is done at the nearby pond. Along with it, we also prepare Lord Ganesha’s favourite modak and shrikhand and other such sweets.

  • Siblings bond on Raksha Bandhan

    Siblings bond on Raksha Bandhan

    For many it is a daily struggle – how to balance their daily routines between work and perosnal life. But there are occasions when even the wealthiest man, the most powerful CEO or politician has to forget the position his/her occupation has given him/her. When he/she is at home, the role they enact is simply that of a father or a mother or a son or a daughter and for those who are fortunate enough of a brother and a sister.

    Raksha Bandhan – a day that reminds brothers and sisters that they share a bond – for a lifetime. She ties a string on his wrist. She annoints his forehead with tikka, and does his pooja. The brother in turn promises to look after his sister, no matter what, and gives her a gift – and seeks her blesssing.  A moment that helps us connect and reminds us that we are human, that all is equal.

    On the eve of Raksha Bandhan, a pious festival, we take a look at some of the well-known brother-sister combinations in the industry. Over the years, they have created their own identities in the media and entertainment sector.  Whether it be broadcast, television, films or the government, these siblings have become powerhouses in their respective fields.

    On this special day, Indiantelevision.com features a few siblings in the media industry.

    Vandana Malik and Raghav Bahl

    The two together built an empire that recently shifted hands to another powerful person in the country. Indeed, brother sister duo Vandana Malik and Raghav Bahl gave their all to the Network 18 group in the span of two decades.

    In early 1990s when Raghav started producing shows for BBC including India Business Report, he roped in his sister Vandana to head operations from Mumbai. Vandana, a housewife,  knew zilch about the industry, took a bold step with her brother’s help and went on to be a core member of the group’s expansion in the years to come.

    Raghav stormed into the media industry with JVs with some of the big names across the world- Viacom, CNBC, CNN, Forbes, GS Home Shopping etc.

    Now with Network 18 being in the hands of one of India’s richest industrialists – Reliance Industries’ chairman Mukesh Ambani, Raghav has ventured into the hand held personalised news space while Vandana’s next venture is not yet known.

    Anurradha and Ravi Shankar Prasad

    She is the managing director of the BAG Network while her brother is the current Union Minister of Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Anurradha Prasad and Ravi Shankar Prasad have both excelled in their fields, making their presence known wherever they go.

    While the sister is a power woman in the field of news and entertainment television, the brother is one of the country’s top leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party.

    Anurradha runs two TV channels, News 24 and E24 as well as a production house called BAG. Ravi helped establish Goa as the destination for holding the International Film Festival of India as well as led the Indian delegation to film festivals in Cannes, Venice and London.

    Ila Arun and Piyush Pandey

    The godfather of Indian advertising, Piyush Pandey, is brother of Ila Arun, the queen of Indian contemporary music. Born in Jaipur, both Piyush Pandey and Ila Arun are one of the most dynamic brother-sister duos in the media industry.

    While Ila, the singer who turned folk-pop into a craze is also a very talented writer, music director and actor, her ad-guru brother Piyush is Ogilvy & Mather India south Asia executive chairman and creative director. It was under his leadership O&M has become one of the largest advertising agencies in India. He has also penned a patriotic song ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ for the National Literacy Mission of India in 1988.

    And as Ila blends the rural and the urban traditions of India; Piyush brings the nation together through his addictive campaigns.

    Madhu Trehan and Aroon Purie

    The euphemism, two sides of the same coin, aptly suits the combination of brother sister duo Aroon Purie and Madhu Trehan. The Doon school educated Aroon is well known as the founder of the India Today group while Madhu is arguably one of India’s fiercest media critics today.

    Their father, the late Vidya Vilas Purie was a former film financer and owner of the Thompson Press who in 1975 launched a tabloid newspaper called India Today. Aroon and Madhu revived the tabloid into a fortnightly magazine initially targeting NRI’s.

    In 1977 when Madhu was pregnant she decided to move abroad to start a family. She handed over the magazine’s complete operations to her brother. When she returned to India in 1988, she launched Newstrack, a video news magazine and in 2012 she went on to launch Newslaundry a web portal that keeps a sharp check on the country’s media houses and people including those owned by her brother.

    Ekta and Tusshar Kapoor

    She is the queen of television.  Ekta Kapoor, who late into her teens was only known as Jeetendra’s daughter, is today the CEO of one of the finest production houses Balaji Telefilms in India. She was just 17 when she started working and since then, she has breathed, eaten and slept only television. Today, she also has a film production house – Balaji Motion Pictures – to her credit.

    Ekta shares a very strong bond with her brother Tusshar who is an actor. He has over 30 films under his belt. He is also the executive director of Balaji Motion Pictures.

    Nalini Singh and Arun Shourie

    They are the son and daughter of consumer rights activist, HD Shourie. Nalini Singh is a TV celebrity and senior Indian journalist who is known for her anchoring of the popular television show Ankhon Dekhi on Doordarshan. Her sibling, intrepid journalist Arun Shourie,is known for his writing in Indian Express during the emergency. He has now moved out of media to grace the hallowed corridors of power in New Delhi. He is a powerful politician, columnist and ex-Union Minister.

    Divya and Yogesh Radhakrishnan

    Known for always being on the two opposing ends of the table, Divya and Yogesh Radhakrishan are forces to be reckoned with in their respective fields. Divya set up her own specialty company, Helios Media for broadcasters after working in an agency model for over two decades. On the other hand, Yogesh, the former CEO of Prime Connect is now the director of Pioneer Channel Factory.

    Shavon Barua and Kaustav Niyogi

    She loves most things old world, fashion, travel off the map, her boys are her world and also happens to be the Havas Worldwide West + South India president. Shavon with over 15 years of experience has led major global brands like Pepsi, Nestle, Colgate, Palmolive and Lakme Lever (Unilever) at various agencies such as JWT, Publicis, Y&R, and SSC&B Lintas. Her brother is the Mad Man of the advertising fraternity. Kaustav Niyogi aka Kausti has worked with the big names like McCann Erikson, Rediffusion Y&R and Publicis as creative head. He is currently, busy directing Pooja Bhatt’s next film Cabaret.

  • Zindagi: Catering to the progressive woman in you!

    Zindagi: Catering to the progressive woman in you!

    The two countries were divided, thousands were left homeless, and since then many wars have been fought between the two nations as well. But there still remains that minute thread which continues to join the chords amongst us all.

    Border, Veer-Zaara or the latest Google ad plays on those emotions. We might be divided by a line but culturally we still share the same nuances. And taking a cue from this media powerhouse, Zee, which goes by the corporate philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The world is my family’, recently launched a Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC), Zindagi.

    The channel’s proposition ‘Jodey Dilon Ko’ is based on the fact that even if the people from various parts of the world are culturally different, the stories of their lives are universal. Maybe that is why all women want a husband like Zaroon and men looked for a perfect wife in Zara.

    The channel showcases four shows every night from 8 pm narrating stories of various characters torn between relationships, duties and work. The stories are set in natural locations giving a true-to-life portrayal to not just the characters but also storyline.

    However, one element common between all these shows is that they have strong women characters dealing with issues. Be it a woman hesitant to trust a man after her father left her mother for another woman or two estranged sisters vying for a man’s attention. The portrayals are relatable and tell a story of woman’s struggle.

    Remember Shanti, Rajani or Udaan? The popular shows on Doordrashan in the eighties and nineties before the heavily-makeup saas-bahus took over the entertainment space. The characters in the shows on Zindagi remind of that era where life happened beyond the four walls of a set.

    The channel’s business head Priyanka Datta recalls the strenuous hours spent scrutinising content and then selectively handpicking drama with a lot of care, such that they were relatable to the viewer’s emotions and fulfilled the channel’s proposition.

    She points out that there was no conscious effort in choosing woman-centric shows, but since Pakistani television industry is known to highlight social issues amongst others that are prevalent in their society which are mostly woman centric, it happened naturally.

    Through the pragmatic content, the channel aims to cater to the new-age woman, for whom the primary concern is work-life balance and not solely entertainment. “She is the woman with a progressive mindset. The women in the dramas on Zindagi are regular ordinary women like you and me. Their emotions, feelings and day-to-day issues that they deal with are very similar to what women in our society go through. Unlike serials on other GECs, women on Zindagi’s shows do not wake up in the morning loaded with make-up and jewellery. Their lives do no revolve around conspiring against each other. There are many more relationships explored besides just saas-bahu on Zindagi,” elaborates Datta on the differentiating programming lineup.

    The content on Zindagi which includes storylines, script, language, natural acting, fashion, apart from just the good looks of the actors have become the most talked about in India. The social media is buzzing with millions of impressions online.

    The reason why it is creating a buzz especially among urbanites is the fact that there is a certain section in viewers who desire for something different, something better that could enhance their television-watching experience. Datta points out that through the various researches the network did before launching the channel, it found out that the attention span of viewers has only decreased over the time with the use of multiple screens and it has become a bigger challenge than ever to excite the audience and keep them glued. “We knew that we had to break the monotony-and so attempted to bring – content with depth and reliability. The saas-bahu sagas have been there since years and will continue to coexist parallel. While such shows cater to viewers with traditional mindsets, the likes of dramas that are on Zindagi will cater to viewers with progressive mindsets,” she says.

    If that wasn’t enough, there is stark difference between the longevity of shows as well. In the era when shows are competing with each other to cross 1000 plus episodes, the series on Zindagi lasts only for 20-25 episodes. The dramas aired have finite plots written by reputed authors and literary stalwarts. The numerous researches show that the viewers want to move away from long running shows that air for years at stretch. “However, the early adopters will be the people with progressive mindset followed by others. Viewers will surely take some time to adapt to this kind of format,” believes optimist Datta.

    When asked how are male audiences reacting to the channel? Datta answers, “The content on Zindagi seems to be going down well with the men. Celebrities like Subhash Ghai, Kunal Kohli, Jaaved Jaafferi are amongst the few from the industry who have been very appreciative of the content and it’s encouraging that our dramas are not restricted to any gender in specific. We understood that we had to break the monotony and showcase quality of content that was not similar to that associated to the Hindi GEC industry. The saas-bahu sagas have reigned for years and are mainly targeted towards female audiences. Content is king and all shows that have been shown on Zindagi since its launch have appealed to audiences (males and females) of all ages.”

    Media observers too agree with the fact that though the channel may not have got the ratings it expected, but has surely created enough noise in the market because of its content. “Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain is very popular amongst women in my office as well as outside,” says a woman media planner.

    The strong content has even got insight teams of competition talking. “The washroom talks rotate around the shows and the handsome men,” laughs an insights manager from a top-ranked GEC.

    Most of the shows airing on the GEC were previously broadcast on Hum channel which is run by a woman, Sultana Siddiqui. And what’s interesting to note is that the channel, which is a window to see how life is at the other side of border, creative and business heads too are women. “It’s just a mere coincidence,” laughs Datta. 

  • KBC 8: A journey from individual to collective growth

    KBC 8: A journey from individual to collective growth

    In a world where everyone is busy achieving their personal goals, we as individuals have stopped thinking about the nation as a whole.

    A flip through news channels and newspaper pages presents the stark reality of our society today. While we spend hours and hours talking about the ills plaguing Indian society, how many of us actually take a step further and act against them?

    Multi Screen Media’s Sony Entertainment Television (SET) along with its creative agency Leo Burnett have through the two promos of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC)’s eight season.

    The first film titled Kohima makes one shameful about the fact that even though we all know aboutthe  north east being a part of India, the denizens of that region are often derided and ridiculed and called names, and even treated as outsiders when they travel to other parts of the country.  The promo has already been talked about in an earlier article on indiantelevision.com.

    The second KBC8 TVC gives a different perspective on the Hindu-Muslim divide. The commercial is set in a tiny neighbourhood (chawl in India) in which a Hindu and Muslim family are neighbours.  Ankit, a boy from the Hindu family is chosen to participate in KBC. His family is hugging him and wishing him good luck as he is about to depart to take part in the game show. The members of the Muslim family are watching the scene from  the balcony of their home above and sniggering; and one of them even sneezes out  aloud deliberately –  which is considered a bad omen by some Hindus. The young folks from the Hindu family want  to confront the Muslim youngsters but are stopped by their father. Cut to the set of KBC and Amitabh Bachchan has asked a question which has stumped Ankit. He chooses to use the phone a friend helpline. And the friend he chooses to call – is the Muslim household as he has been asked the meaning of As salamu alaykum.  The elder of the Muslim family – who are also watching the episode in which Ankit is participating – picks up the call and gives him the correct answer – “Khuda Tumhe Salamat Rakhe” (God keep you safe). Both the Hindu and Muslim families then celebrate Ankit’s win  by hugging each other.

    The two promos show how KBC has evolved through its various messages over the years. From ‘Koi Bhi Sawaal Chhota Nahi Hota’ to ‘Seekhna Band…Toh Jeetna Band,’ the channel has come up with innovative messaging almost every year. 

    However, what differentiates this message from the previous ones is the fact that from just focusing on an individual the focus has shifted to the society as a whole. Amitabh Bachchan in his baritone voice has alway exhorted viewers  to acknowledge the power of self and grow it through the power of knowledge. Now, the show promises to touch people’s hearts with the stories of community bonding.

    The message of KBC season 8’s campaign ‘Yahan Sirf Paisa Nahi, Dil Bhi Jeete Jate Hain’ (We don’t win only money, we win hearts too), has beautifully integrated social messages within the script making one sit-up and take notice.

    It is not the first time that a general entertainment channel (GEC) has touched upon social issues and tried to invoke the right and the wrong within people. But what separates these promos from the rest is the fact that they are hard hitting and talk directly to people. They are a mirror reflecting our society in simple yet assertive manner.

    The yet-to-be released TVC talks about how KBC and Amitabh Bachchan has crept into our nation’s collective consciousness and involves entire communities, if one of their members is selected to participate in the game show.  The film opens in a small village where people are busy stringing up loudspeakers across its streets.  A man beaming with happiness is shown keeping a phone next to a microphone. The telephone rings shrilly and the voice of Big B reverberates through the whole village and the villagers leap up in deliight.  The TVC then cuts back to the KBC set where the surprised AB asks the contestant ‘tumne toh family ko phone kiya tha?’ to which he replies, ‘They are all my family.’

    The person on the phone then asks Mr Bachchan to recite one of his favourite dialogues to which he says, “aaj khush to bahut hoge tum.”

    Will the promos on which the agency worked for almost two months help change society is not sure, but what’s certain is that they will make one look inside, especially when the incidents happening around make us hang our heads in shame.

    Click here to watch the promo

     

  • Who controls the remote?

    Who controls the remote?

    A TV remote control is the most sort-after item in a household. From parents to kids, everyone wants to get their hands on the small black device controlling the idiot box in the living room.

     

    The battle has been going on for decades now. The broadcasters, a very few of them in the beginning, understood it very early wherein they smartly segregated their programmes into time slots pertaining to a particular gender.

     

    Afternoons were meant for housewives who after finishing their work had their daily dose of soaps to entertain them before the children came back from schools and tune into shows catering to their tastes. It was in the evening that men got hold of the television set to catch-up on the day’s news.

     

    The pattern has been passed down the history even though the number of channels available to entertain a household has multiplied. Everybody is spoilt of choice, be it the women or men of the house or children.

     

    Everyone has numerous channels to surf before they pick their favourite.

     

    As per a new research published by Croma, the electronics megastore from Infiniti Retail, India’s women ‘own’ the household TV throughout the day; however by the time the clock chimes 9 pm it’s the men who take over.

     

    The findings highlighted in Croma’s ‘Household Habits’ survey reveal that 9 pm as a form of ‘Remote Relay’ hour is when control of the ubiquitous and all-important remote finally passes from female to male jurisdiction. According to the findings nearly 40 per cent of men claim that their female partners dominate the remote control all afternoon (from midday to 9 pm); while over half of all respondents collectively claim that it’s their respective mothers who rule the remote during the same period. Over half of the female respondents actually admit to ‘fighting for control’ of the precious device.

     

    Before the recently concluded FIFA World Cup even started, the jokes doing the rounds were of men telling their wives to keep away from the remote control at night. Every now and then, the battle intensifies especially during sporting events or some major political development. However, this doesn’t mean that women aren’t interested in sports or politics but in general it’s the soaps that catch their fancy.

     

    However, with the increase in disposable income and technology wherein multi-device and cross-screen usage has become common in certain sections of our society, the survey demonstrates the importance, protocols and household politics relating to control of the household TV set. And, according to the findings, the females of the household exercise a near monopoly on the remote; at least during daylight hours.

     

    The 9 pm slot symbolises a form of ‘changing of the guard’ when the females of the household cede control of the TV to their male counterparts.  This form of ‘remote control diplomacy’ confirms the central role and meaning the TV set continues to exert in the Indian household.

     

    While women clearly rule the noon and evening slot of the remote relay, men take over from 9 pm, with over a quarter of all respondents citing fathers overtaking mothers for control of the remote during this period. The time slot (primetime as per most channels) has seen a significant increase in male partner dominance in terms of control over the TV remote.

     

    But, if men rule the 9pm slot, one is forced to think about the primetime slot which broadcasters, especially general entertainment channels (GECs), invest in?

     

    As per various media analysts who study the medium and plan and buy for it every day, the study might be true, but the ‘change of guard’ doesn’t happen sharp at 9!

     

    They insist that times are changing and men too are interested in watching what their partners watch every night. It is a transition period wherein almost for one to two hours, both men and women, sit and watch two channels overlapping the couple’s or of family’s interest.

     

    It is family time where everyone watches together. And as kids and others move away from the TV sets as night progresses, men are left as the sole controller of the remote, free to watch whatever interests them.

     

  • MTV reads ‘Curious Minds’

    MTV reads ‘Curious Minds’

    By 2020, the average age of an individual in India will be 29 years, making it the youngest country in the world.

     

    Keeping this in mind, marketers, broadcasters and researchers are trying their best to understand what does the youth want? What aspires them, what holds significance in their life…There are millions of things running on their head and it doesn’t take them much to change their minds. 

     

    The dynamic, confident and always connected Millennials speak a different language. A dialect understood by their peers and researched by marketers and others. In a bid to do just that, Viacom’s  youth channel MTV partnered with Third Eye Qualitative Researchers  and conversed with more than 11,000 young people across 40 plus cities in the country to find out what exactly  makes them tick.

     

    The study, MTV Curious Minds, throws light at various insights into the generation which likes to live it large. And this is not driven from the fear of missing out or by urgency that comes from having only one life, but it comes from the innate necessity to stay curious and curate.

     

    Gone are the days when bumping into a stranger and starting a conversation needed courage; today they are open to new experiences and explorations. They might be called fickle minded but the generation has its head far more on its shoulders than we give them credit for.

     

    Currently, they are all busy planning their career. For them, it’s not about just making a living; it is about living life with a sense of purpose. Hardworking, open-minded, happy and confident are the four primary values that define this generation.

     

    Digital OD

     

    Born with the technology gene, the youngsters have grown up on multiple screens. In the age of social media, where one can be followed, liked or favourited, nobody is a ‘nobody’ anymore. Technology has changed the lifestyle, beliefs and outlook of the young. It has removed the barriers of social status and geographic locations.

     

    With everything happening with just a click of a button or the swipe of a finger, the youth navigate their lives smoothly intertwining the diverse elements of the internet, personal screens, apps etc. Three out of every four youth check details of a product online, if the advertising interests them.

     

    They agree that the app-ification will only intensify and grow with passing years; 86 per cent believe app usage will be much higher in year 2020.

     

    Hope the advertisers are paying heed.

     

    The channel surely is listening to what the youngsters want, online. Name it and the channel is present on every social platform. From Facebook to Pinterest, it makes and promotes shows that trigger conversations on the internet including MTV Webbed and Coke Studio as well as web exclusive shows.

     

    MTV India claims that its biggest achievement has been that it was recognised as a channel which talks back and cares for the audience. In an earlier interaction with indiantelevision.com MTV India digital head Ekalavya Bhattacharya had said, “One cannot talk or give feedback to a TV set but the TG can talk to it via the social networks. We often tailor our on-air content based on the online commentary.”

     

    Social networking is not new, but what’s interesting is the new ways in which it is now being used. Smaller platforms that became fads are actually platforms of self-expression that are created on small and more niche circles. Then there are other networking apps that let them stay connected 24/7.

     

    However, youngsters know it’s important to be safe and share discreetly. And yet, they cannot refuse the thrill of exploring the unknown on the internet. 83 per cent believe that social media can go terribly wrong if not handled properly. They are aware of dangers like cyber bullying, hacking, email spam, social network stalking etc. 

     

    No one is complaining about the digital OD.

     

    Entertainment, everywhere

     

    Entertainment is everywhere, 24/7, 365 days of a year, so there is no forgiveness for being bored or being bored. Friends and music are the most important elements for entertainment. They create and explore new trends as well as drive the nails into the coffin of all things outdated and boring.

     

    College, school or work takes up majority of their time, closely followed by family time even as the internet as the all day companion.

     

    When it comes to television, shows are a kind of a cultural graph. They can speak of trends and the language of these shows can quickly seep into the youth lexicon. The impact of TV on the lives of the young goes well beyond just latching on to the lingo and style statements beamed via the small screen. It’s clear that the youth picks up cues for life, bro-codes, friendship rituals and sometimes even a philosophy or an attitude from TV. The connect with TV content is something they carry into their social spaces, in the form of online and offline comments and discussions with their circles.

     

    For today’s youth, watching TV is far from from being a passive, one-dimensional exercise. Comfortable as they are being on multiple platforms simultaneously, it is common to see them reacting live and instantaneously to TV content, as it unfolds, via Twitter or FB or even WhatsApp groups.

     

    Also, the young don’t mind paying for the content if it provides them with flexibility in access and the choice to consume content.

     

    They want different genres and content that catches their fancy. The channel recently launched its first fiction supernatural drama Fanaa- An Impossible Love Story.

     

    In real life, though youngsters might resist commitment, they are exploring relationships. They romanticise the idea of eternal and true love. Building on these findings, MTV decided to come up with a unique story of teen love featuring vampires and werewolves.

     

    MTV Insights Studio through the study aims to learn from the students and in the same bid try to give them what they want.

     

    Times are changing and to survive in the highly volatile environment, knowing the mindset of the TG is sacrosanct.

  • RIP Jehangir Pocha: A journalist & a gentleman

    RIP Jehangir Pocha: A journalist & a gentleman

    To most viewers, he looked fit as a fiddle. Hence, when news broke that NewsX editor in chief Jehangir Pocha had breathed his last, it came as a shocker. Some had only spoken to him the previous evening, others last week, or very recently, or like us earlier this year when he attended the Indian Digital Television Honours in New Delhi as a representative of the ITV group.

     

    At first glance, Jehangir came across as a cool, calm, collected sort of a chap. A cultured Parsi gentleman used to speaking softly in measured tones when he encountered you in person. Beneath that mild-mannered exterior ran a probing journalistic mind, which posed many an incisive question that put those he interviewed on the 9X News channel on the spot.  

     

    But unlike other celebrity news anchors on other English news channels who indulge in histrionics and one-sided shrill shouting matches, he gave his guests a chance to speak. His questions begged an answer, and respond guests had to, because Jehangir would not let them get away without doing so. Whether it was the former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit or Amitabh Bachchan or Anna Hazare.

     

    He was only a phone call away for us at the indiantelevision.com group and general manager Anoop Wanvari would oft reach out to him to partner with our various ground initiatives which he willingly did, even when he was finding it a struggle to keep NewsX going.  We are grateful to him for his support in our times of need.

     

    A former colleague, Indrajit Gupta, the founding editor of Forbes India, writes in an obituary piece in BusinessWorld, that he got a call early last week from him, saying he was frustrated with the Indian system and he was dying to go back abroad.

     

    “He sounded agitated. Venture capitalists had promised him they’d step in after the elections. But they hadn’t to back his plans. He wanted to bid for some distressed media assets in play,” writes Gupta in his obit. “The frustration was beginning to creep in.”

     

    His last tweet on the night before he passed away mentioned that he was “hurrying home” with a news clip (about a Bombay High Court judgment that stated that reaching home late consistently without informing your wife amounts to cruelty) attached to it.

     

    His demise prompted member of parliament Derek O’Brien to tweet: “The high pressure life of TV journalism?  Appan Menon at 49, SP Singh at 49 and today @JehangirPocha at 45 NewsX. Gone too soon.”

     

    And that’s a question which begs answering: is the high pressure life of TV news journalism getting to those in it?  They may not know it, but it probably is. When you are working in the business of television news, you are working in a pressure-cooker environment.  

     

    Deadlines because of the competitive nature of the business, irregular meals, pressure from affected vested interests while reporting, reporting from dangerous and conflict zones, keeping pace with the latest developments – the news journalist is on a treadmill that never seems to be stopping.

     

    For the managements of news organisations, they have to additionally deal with rising costs not accompanied by revenue increases; carping advertising partners disturbed by news reports; maintaining, nay, improving viewership ratings, innovating with changing technology and what have you.

     

    One can say that all these pressures are intrinsic – and have been so for long – to running a news channel. But they have been magnified in the recent past in India with increasing competition and the rapid commercialisation of news. It is quite likely that these will exacerbate further.

     

    Jehangir was under pressure. His channel was in keen competition with the English language news leader Times Now.  He wanted to expand his company’s business footprint, could not for want of capital and was thus frustrated, which added to his pressure.

     

    Therefore it’s about time TV news organisations introspected and even made those that are employed with them look deep within. Regular health checks, exercise, and leading a well-paced daily routine generally should be encouraged even more.

     

    It could go some way in preventing many more from going the Jehangir Pocha, Appan Menon, and SP Singh way.