ITV

Category: Television

  • Zee Action shifts into high gear with Night Drive’s thrilling TV premiere

    Zee Action shifts into high gear with Night Drive’s thrilling TV premiere

    MUMBAI: A romantic night out, a wrong turn, and boom, Zee Action’s latest thriller takes off like a bullet on blacktop. Zee Action is revving up its engines for the World Television Premiere of Night Drive, a high-octane crime thriller that steers straight into suspense and doesn’t ease off the pedal. Set to air on Tuesday, 8 July at 7:30 pm , this pulse-pounding Malayalam film (dubbed in Hindi) promises viewers a full tank of action, intrigue, and paisa-vasool entertainment.

    Directed by Vysakh, best known for the 2016 blockbuster Pulimurugan, Night Drive starts with a simple premise, a young couple on a late-night drive. But what begins as a quiet evening quickly swerves into a collision course with danger. Cue the crime syndicates, high-speed chases, and a relentless cop who’s as sharp as he is intimidating.

    The film features a stellar trio: Roshan Mathew brings layered intensity, Anna Ben offers quiet strength with screen-fresh charm, and Indrajith Sukumaran delivers a pitch-perfect performance as a no-nonsense police officer on the hunt. Penned by Abhilash Pillai, the film balances edge-of-the-seat moments with emotional undercurrents, all set against a gritty, urban backdrop.

    Clocking in a relentless pace, Night Drive doesn’t let its foot off the gas. Every scene accelerates the tension, keeping viewers strapped in till the very end. With plot twists popping like speed bumps on a slick road, it’s a must-watch for action lovers who like their thrillers with bite.

    So, if you’re in the mood for adrenaline, suspense, and a good ol’ game of cat and mouse Night Drive is the ride you didn’t know you needed.

    Catch the premiere on Zee Action, 8 July at 7:30 pm. Buckle up. Things are about to get intense.

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  • JioStar top executive Sanjog Gupta named ICC CEO

    JioStar top executive Sanjog Gupta named ICC CEO

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Sanjog Gupta as its new chief executive officer, marking a bold leadership move at a time when cricket is chasing global expansion and Olympic glory. Gupta, currently CEO – sports & live experiences at JioStar, will take charge on from 7 July becoming the seventh CEO in the ICC’s history.

    A media and sports veteran with over two decades of experience, Gupta is widely credited with reshaping India’s sports broadcast landscape. He previously headed Disney Star’s sports business, playing a key role in scaling the IPL, ICC events, and launching leagues such as PKL and ISL. His appointment follows a global recruitment drive that drew over 2,500 applicants from 25 countries.

    ICC chairman Jay Shah said, “Sanjog brings extensive experience in sports strategy and commercialisation, which will be invaluable for the ICC. His deep understanding of the global sports as well as M&E landscape combined with his continued curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective and passion for technology will prove essential in our ambition to grow the game in the coming years. Our goal is to move beyond traditional boundaries and establish cricket as a regular sport in the Olympics, growing its expanse across the world and deepening its roots in its core markets.

    We considered several exceptional candidates for this position, but the nominations committee unanimously recommended Sanjog. The ICC board directors look forward to working closely with him, and I would like to welcome him on behalf of everyone at the ICC.”

    Gupta’s selection was unanimously recommended by a nominations panel featuring ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja, ECB chair Richard Thompson, SLC president Shammi Silva, and BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia, before being approved by Shah and ratified by the full ICC board.

    Gupta said he was “honoured” to lead cricket at a pivotal moment. “It is a privilege to have this opportunity, especially at a time when cricket is poised for unprecedented growth and enjoys the passionate support of almost 2 billion fans worldwide. These are exciting times for the sport as marquee events grow in stature, commercial avenues widen and opportunities such as the women’s game scale in popularity. Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the rapid acceleration of technology deployment/adoption could act as force-multipliers for the Cricket movement around the world,” he concluded.

    Gupta took over as CEO of JioStar Sports in late 2024 following the Viacom18–Disney Star merger. Known for fusing business savvy with creative storytelling, he championed innovations such as multi-language coverage and digital-first formats — especially around women’s sports.

    The ICC, under his leadership, will now look to script cricket’s next global chapter.

  • Balaji Telefilms posts Rs 90 crore profit after last year’s Rs 22 crore loss

    Balaji Telefilms posts Rs 90 crore profit after last year’s Rs 22 crore loss

    MUMBAI: It’s not just the daily soaps serving plot twists Balaji Telefilms just delivered one of its own, posting a dramatic turnaround from loss to profit in its latest annual results. Balaji Telefilms Ltd., one of India’s most iconic television and content production houses, has posted a stunning financial comeback, reporting a standalone net profit of Rs 90.59 crore for the financial year ending March 31, 2025. This is a significant leap from a net loss of Rs 22.52 crore the previous year, a turnaround worthy of prime-time applause.

    According to the audited results filed with stock exchanges and published in leading dailies on 5 July, the company’s total standalone income from operations stood at Rs 45,306.92 crore for FY25. On a consolidated basis, it reported a net profit of Rs 84.57 crore, recovering sharply from a loss of Rs 26.08 crore in FY24.

    This reversal comes despite a notable dip in revenue for the final quarter ending March 2025, where standalone income dropped to Rs 8.63 crore, down from Rs 13.46 crore in the same quarter last year. Still, profits surged in the final stretch, with the company posting Rs 99.31 crore in Q4 profit, a complete U-turn from the Rs 22.52 crore loss in the comparable quarter.

    The earnings per share (EPS) rose to Rs 6.68 basic for the year, up from negative territory last year signalling restored investor confidence.

    The company, led by Chairman Jeetendra Kapoor, published the results in Financial Express and Mumbai Lakshadeep and noted that detailed financials are available on its website as well as on BSE and NSE portals.

    With flagship shows still ruling the ratings and digital spin-off ventures gaining traction, Balaji seems to have re-scripted its business drama into a tale of fiscal finesse. Whether this rebound is a one-season wonder or the start of a long-running hit remains to be seen but for now, the curtains have risen on a new chapter of profitability.

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  • Network18 widens lead over Times Internet with digital and TV dominance

    Network18 widens lead over Times Internet with digital and TV dominance

    MUMBAI: If news were a contact sport, Network18 just scored a digital hat-trick while keeping its closest rival, Times Internet, firmly on the defensive. Network18 has cemented its status as India’s undisputed news juggernaut, clocking a towering 300.35 million unique visitors (UVs) in May 2025, according to the latest ComScore MMX data. With a 67 per cent digital reach, it outpaced Times Internet Limited by over 82 million UVs, with the latter trailing at 217.83 million UVs (48 per cent reach).

    The digital scoreboard shows a clear trend: Network18 has led for three straight months, with UVs peaking at 321 million in April and 315 million in March, compared to Times Internet’s 196 million and 203 million in the same periods.

    It’s not just the network flexing its muscles News18.com, the flagship digital brand, has been leaving The Times of India in the dust. With 245 million UVs in May, News18 maintained a consistent lead over TOI’s 200 million UVs. And the margin’s been widening: April saw News18 at 283 million UVs to TOI’s 173 million, while March posted 251 million vs 182 million, respectively.

    But the domination doesn’t stop at pixels. On television, CNN-News18 has held the No. 1 position in English news for over three consecutive years, a feat unmatched in the industry. In the Hindi news universe, News18 India remains the most-watched across the country. Add to that Network18’s reach across regional languages, and the brand’s influence begins to look not just dominant but pan-Indian.

    While digital players grapple with fractured attention spans and changing algorithms, Network18 seems to have found the secret sauce reach, consistency, and trust across screens, languages, and formats.

    In a media ecosystem obsessed with virality, Network18’s steady, multiplatform march to the top is less flash, more firepower. And in the battle for eyeballs, it’s clear who’s setting the pace and who’s still trying to catch up.

  • Aniruddha Basu named national head of ABP One, driving growth strategy

    Aniruddha Basu named national head of ABP One, driving growth strategy

    MUMBAI: ABP Group, one of India’s most respected media conglomerates, has elevated Aniruddha Basu as national head of ABP One, its integrated media solutions arm. The move signals the group’s sharpened focus on delivering high-impact, client-centric campaigns in an increasingly competitive media landscape.

    With over a decade of experience at ABP, Basu brings a nuanced understanding of advertiser expectations, content innovation, and regional market dynamics. In his new role, he will lead strategic direction and business growth for ABP One, which acts as a bridge between brands and audiences by offering a suite of services including creative content, data-led media strategy, and omnichannel execution.

    The group credits Basu with playing a pivotal role in building ABP One into a trusted partner for national and regional marketers alike. He is widely acknowledged for his collaborative leadership style and ability to translate business objectives into engaging, measurable campaigns that stand out in a cluttered media environment.

    Industry observers say Basu’s elevation reflects a broader trend within Indian legacy media houses to empower leaders who can navigate changing client needs, leverage first-party data, and build long-term value through integrated brand experiences.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery saddles up for Tour de France with a high-tech

    Warner Bros. Discovery saddles up for Tour de France with a high-tech

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is shifting gears for this year’s Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, promising wall-to-wall coverage powered by tech, talent and turbo-charged storytelling.

    Starting 5 July, the world’s most iconic cycling race will stream live across every stage on WBD’s streaming services – Max, HBO Max and discovery+ – alongside traditional coverage on Eurosport and TNT Sports. That’s 3,320 km of pedal-powered drama, served in 20 languages across Europe and Asia, with exclusive rights in 44 territories.

    And the peloton doesn’t stop there. The women’s race – the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift — gears up with nine stages and 1,165 km of action, beginning 26 July. It marks the longest race yet on the UCI Women’s World Tour.

    Joining the broadcast caravan is recently retired French cycling legend Romain Bardet. Swapping saddle for mic, Bardet will ride alongside the action as WBD’s newest motorbike reporter for stages 11 to 15. “I’m throwing myself into the unknown,” he said, “but I’ve got the experience and team to bring new insight to fans.”

    He’s part of an all-star commentary squad, including Tour de France veterans Jens Voigt, Adam Blythe, Alberto Contador, and studio anchors Orla Chennaoui, Robbie McEwen, and Ashleigh Wilmot, among others.

    For cycling purists and super fans, WBD is rolling out a game-changer: a new quad screen feature. It lets viewers track breakaways, the peloton and the grupetto simultaneously using real-time footage from motorbikes, drones, and helicopters. It’s tactical, immersive, and perfect for armchair analysts.

    Also back in action is WBD’s award-winning Curve studio with its arsenal of mixed reality tools — think virtual wind tunnels, inclinometers for brutal climbs, and even a digital team bus to unpack race strategies in forensic detail.

    And just in case fans need more than live races, there’s Cycling Africa – The Rise of African Pro Cycling debuting 20 July. The original film features stars like Chris Froome, Biniam Girmay and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio ahead of the historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda.

    Ad dollars are racing too, with record commercial investments from brands including Zwift, Whoop, Škoda, Lidl and Velux. Expect bespoke campaigns and in-broadcast storytelling to match the race’s pace.

    With the men’s field headlined by Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, and the women’s peloton packed with firepower from Kasia Niewiadoma to Demi Vollering, this year’s Tour is shaping up to be an all-out sprint for cycling supremacy.

    In the saddle or on screen, WBD is making sure fans don’t miss a turn of the wheel.

  • Kamali roars onto screens as 3,000 kids chant Shivstuti in record-setting launch

    Kamali roars onto screens as 3,000 kids chant Shivstuti in record-setting launch

    MUMBAI: Zee Marathi pulled off a launch fit for a legend with its new show Kamali, rallying over 3,000 schoolchildren in Thane for a mass chanting of the sacred Shivstuti, a tribute to Maharashtra’s iconic warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The thunderous homage, led by the show’s protagonist Kamali (played by Vijaya Babar), wasn’t just devotional; it was historical. The event has earned a proud place in the World Records Book of India.

    Held on 28 June at the Saraswati Mandir Trust Ground, the high-decibel spectacle began at 10:30 AM and turned into a moving celebration of Marathi pride and cultural legacy. Kamali’s lead cast – Vijaya Babar, Ketaki Kulkarni (Anika), and Nikhil Damle (Rishi) — joined the children in chanting, bringing added star power to a moment steeped in emotion and grandeur.

    The energy was electric. As chants soared and saffron flags fluttered, Zee Marathi received a formal certificate and medal for the record-breaking feat — a public relations dream and a symbolic launchpad for a show steeped in valor, tradition, and female strength.

    With Kamali, Zee Marathi is clearly not here to tiptoe. It’s charging in, script in one hand and sword in the other.

  • Maharashtra’s leaders and changemakers come together for growth agenda

    Maharashtra’s leaders and changemakers come together for growth agenda

    MUMBAI: From politics to pop culture, policy to pop-up enterprises Maharashtra’s growth story got a turbocharged rewrite at News18 Lokmat’s Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 conclave. In a state that rarely slows down, News18 Lokmat’s Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 brought the brakes to the rhetoric and the spotlight to substance. Held in Mumbai, the high-octane conclave brought together an eclectic mix of ministers, entrepreneurs, artists, and policy wonks to discuss what it’ll take to future-proof the state’s prosperity.

    The day kicked off with a sharp, youth-forward panel on the “Future of Maharashtra”, where young leaders like Meghana Bordikar, Varun Sardesai, Rohini Khadse, Shaina NC, and Sangram Kote Patil discussed sustainability, policy innovation, and the missing script of youth engagement. The verdict? Maharashtra’s tomorrow needs fresh ideas, and fresher faces at the helm.

    Aaditya Thackeray turned the political lens inward in a session on the so-called “Maharashtra Pattern of Politics”. Equal parts legacy and local aspiration, his take blended ideology with youth participation underscoring transparency and environmental consciousness as essentials, not options.

    Politics got punchier in a high-decibel discussion featuring Jitendra Awhad, Girish Mahajan, Uday Samant, Imtiyaz Jaleel, Sandeep Deshpande, and Anil Parab. Even as they sparred across party lines, there was one common goal: Maharashtra’s progress must trump political posturing.

    In the economic ring, industry bigwigs like Hemant Rathi, Girish Chitale, Lalit Gandhi, and economist Ajit Ranade headlined “Udhyemi Maharashtra”, championing entrepreneurship and industrial investment as the state’s twin growth engines. The message was clear start-ups and scale-ups are Maharashtra’s real capital.

    Culture took a graceful turn in “Kalapatadi Maharashtra”, with cinema and theatre stalwarts Mahesh Manjrekar, Kedar Shinde, Om Raut, and Bharat Jadhav waxing lyrical about the soft power of storytelling and the soul of Marathi identity.

    Deputy CM Eknath Shinde outlined priorities across infrastructure, rural outreach, and welfare, while chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wrapped up the conclave with a blueprint for a globally competitive and resilient Maharashtra, fuelled by economic reforms and mega infrastructure plans.

    Powered by MIT Design Technology – Pune and Reliance Industries Ltd, with support from MIDC, Sandip University, Rotomag Solar Pump, Pimpri Chinchwad University, LIC Housing Finance Ltd, and Mahagenco, the conclave was anything but a talking shop.

    With meaningful dialogue, sharp provocations, and a collective vision, Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 wasn’t just another networking event, it was a real-time draft of the state’s next growth chapter. Or as one panellist quipped, “Less gyan, more game plan.”
     

  • Gill’s edge and streaming surge put JioHotstar in Test match mode

    Gill’s edge and streaming surge put JioHotstar in Test match mode

    MUMBAI: When India stepped out at Headingley with Shubman Gill at the helm, it wasn’t just a fresh chapter in Test cricket, it was a record-breaking moment on screen too. The first Test of the India-England series didn’t just set the WTC 2025–27 cycle in motion; it also bowled over the digital scoreboard on JioHotstar.

    With 89.1 million viewers and a staggering 13.7 billion minutes of watch-time, the opening Test became the highest-ever reached red-ball match on the platform. Five-language coverage (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and exclusive content like the behind-the-scenes series Follow The Blues ensured fans were hooked well beyond the boundary.

    JioHotstar added a cheeky twist with a promo featuring Rohit Sharma giving out “Test tips,” while the ‘When India Challenged the Crown’ segment took fans on a nostalgia trip through India’s legacy in England.

    As India’s red-ball reboot gathers steam, the streaming numbers suggest the audience is already on board. The second Test begins 2 July in Birmingham, with four more matches to potentially rewrite more records.

    In parallel, the WTC Final 2025 where South Africa broke their ICC title drought by defeating Australia delivered knockout numbers of its own. It became the most-watched Non-India Test match ever on linear TV, logging 2.95 billion minutes and reaching 47 million viewers.

    On JioHotstar, it smashed another record with 41.4 million digital viewers, toppling even the 2023 India vs Australia final.

    From broadcast to broadband, Test cricket in 2025 is not just holding its ground, it’s thriving in technicolour. And with India’s new leadership making waves and streaming platforms like JioHotstar turning numbers into headlines, the future of long-format cricket seems anything but slow-paced.

  • Smashing debut for IOS as Tanvi Sharma joins athlete roster

    Smashing debut for IOS as Tanvi Sharma joins athlete roster

    MUMBAI: A new shuttle star is on the rise and IOS Sports and Entertainment is ready to back her all the way to the podium. The agency has signed 16-year-old badminton sensation Tanvi Sharma as an exclusive athlete, adding the Hoshiarpur-based prodigy to its elite roster that already includes names like Mirabai Chanu, Manika Batra, and Lovlina Borgohain.

    Fresh off her Super 300 US Open finals appearance, Tanvi brings more than just promise to the table. She’s already got a stack of medals: Silver at the Badminton Asia Youth Championships 2023, Gold at the 2024 Asia Team Championships, and an impressive Silver at the Senior Nationals last year where she held her own against India’s top adult talent.

    “Her work ethic and achievements at just 16 speak volumes,” said IOS Sports and Entertainment COO Rahul Trehan. “We see tremendous potential in her and are committed to supporting her rise in global badminton.”

    As part of the deal, Tanvi will receive comprehensive management and development support as she sharpens her game for bigger stages national and international.

    With a training base in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, and a dream to make it to the world’s biggest badminton arenas, Tanvi’s journey is only just beginning. But with IOS backing her, it’s clear she’s not just playing to participate, she’s in it to win.

    And if her medal count is anything to go by, it won’t be long before Tanvi Sharma becomes a household name in Indian sport.