ITV

Category: Television

  • UST flags off Trivandrum Marathon 2025 with training runs and big race on 12 October

    UST flags off Trivandrum Marathon 2025 with training runs and big race on 12 October

    MUMBAI: When the going gets tough, the tough start training early. Kerala’s capital is lacing up again as the UST Trivandrum Marathon returns for its second edition on Sunday, 12 October 2025. Promising high-octane footwork and community spirit, the marathon is expected to see more than 10,000 participants across categories.

    Organised by UST, the global digital transformation firm, in partnership with NEB Sports, the 2025 edition will once again start from the UST Campus in Thiruvananthapuram. Just like last year, the event will feature a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K Run and a 5K Fun Run—ensuring there’s a lane for every level of enthusiasm.

    To get the runners race-ready, three official training runs will begin with the first warm-up sprint on Sunday, 22 June. UST Campus will host the kick-off training session, and participants will receive T-shirts, route support and breakfast to keep energy levels and morale high.

    “I’m really delighted that UST is hosting Thiruvananthapuram’s largest marathon for the second year in a row. Aligned to our organisation’s mission of Transforming Lives, this marathon is designed to uphold our community’s wellness and health. This year, we aspire to make it larger than the previous edition, with advanced training runs, support initiatives and expert advice. With more than 10,000 runners participating, we are committed to making the UST Trivandrum Marathon 2025 a memorable event”, said UST COO Alexander Varghese.

    NEB Sports CMD Nagaraj Adiga added, “As in the first edition of the UST Trivandrum Marathon, we are excited to be joining hands with UST for the mega event this year. With the date now set for the training runs and the main event, we are excited to host the maximum number of runners from across the country”.

    Those wishing to participate can register at bit.ly/3ZnARUv and pick their distance. With just weeks to go until the first training run, the countdown to Kerala’s biggest marathon has officially begun.

  • TV9 brings News9 Global Summit to Dubai, bridging business with Hindi cinema

    TV9 brings News9 Global Summit to Dubai, bridging business with Hindi cinema

    MUMBAI: As cricket fans mourn India’s latest middle-order collapse and the mercury soars in Noida, TV9 Network is setting its sights westward with diplomatic flair and some celebrity swagger. The media giant has officially launched the second international edition of its News9 Global Summit, and this time it’s Dubai that will host the event, themed ‘India-UAE: Partnership for Prosperity and Progress’.

    Set to take place on 19 June 2025 at the Taj Dubai, the summit promises a medley of cross-border policy, economic dialogue, and cultural exchange. The line-up spans heavyweight bureaucrats, billionaire entrepreneurs, artificial intelligence enthusiasts, and those who like their cameras facing them—Hindi cinema celebrities.

    Union minister of Oil and Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will deliver the keynote address, while India’s ambassador to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir will speak on strengthening strategic ties. Spiritual leader Pujya Brahmavihari Swami of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha will delve into the religious bonds bridging the two nations.

    The UAE edition follows the summit’s maiden voyage to Stuttgart, Germany in November 2024. With this initiative, TV9 aims to position the News9 Global Summit as a soft power lever that fosters investment, bilateral cooperation, and cultural understanding between India and its key global partners.

    “Following the momentum generated by our first Global Summit in Germany, we are excited to bring News9 Global Summit to the UAE, a thriving nation of innovation and commerce. This platform reflects our vision to create meaningful, cross-border partnerships that drive sustainable progress. India and the UAE share a dynamic relationship, and the Summit will be a pivotal space for dialogue and collaboration”, said TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das.

    The summit’s agenda covers pressing topics such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the India-middle east-Europe Corridor (IMEC), start-up synergies, tariffs, and AI integration. It will also celebrate cultural harmony, with Indian and Emirati influencers, creators and changemakers lending their voice.

    Celebrity firepower will come courtesy of Suniel Shetty, Ektaa Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri, among others, adding Hindi cinema glamour to the policy-packed schedule.

    The event is backed by an ensemble of patrons and sponsors. UAE-based Buimerc is the Summit Patron, with De Beers, Tata AIG Insurance, and the National Egg Co-ordination Committee as associate sponsors. Classmate, Hanok, JK Super Cement and Womenpreneur magazine are partners, while SKIL Travels handles logistics. Soil and Sita Vatika are on board as celebration partners. Famous Studios is the entertainment partner, Khaleej Times is the media partner, and the Indian People’s Forum is the official diaspora partner.

    Live updates will roll out on @News9Tweets, while the action unfolds across News9 and other TV9 Network channels.

  • Meenakshi Kandwal joins NDTV India to bring grit, grace and people-first journalism to primetime

    Meenakshi Kandwal joins NDTV India to bring grit, grace and people-first journalism to primetime

    MUMBAI: At a time when newsrooms race for views, NDTV has chosen to double down on values. The channel has welcomed seasoned journalist and anchor Meenakshi Kandwal to its editorial team, signalling a bold investment in purpose-led storytelling. The move underlines NDTV’s renewed focus on editorial clarity and integrity, where impact matters more than noise.

    Kandwal, known for her razor-sharp reportage and youth appeal, brings over 15 years of experience in television and digital journalism. From hosting marquee shows like Opinion India Ka on Times Now Navbharat to Aaj Subah and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah on Aaj Tak, she has built a career that balances wide reach with rare editorial conviction. Her audience spans platforms like X, Instagram and YouTube—where her authenticity cuts through algorithm fatigue.

    Her reporting often pushes beyond what’s trending. She once trekked through snow-laden terrain from Leh to Kargil to spotlight a lack of airport access in the region—not as a transportation gripe, but as a lifeline issue. “I want to see an airport before I die,” an elderly man told her. That quote, and the ensuing national conversation, reveal the ethos that drives her storytelling.

    “She brings a rare mix of depth, empathy, and editorial sharpness. Her field stories have already had a national impact”, said NDTV group CEO & editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal.

    Kandwal began telling stories early—reading the morning news at school in seventh grade. She later became the first-ever anchor chosen through Star News’ nationwide anchor hunt.

    Whether covering labourers trapped in tunnels in Chamoli or championing unheard voices in Bharat, Kandwal has stayed grounded in the belief that journalism should serve people, not pageviews.

    “NDTV India has always stood for trust, empathy, and journalism that values the viewer’s intelligence. That’s exactly what drives me as a journalist. I look forward to going beyond the headlines and telling stories that matter”, Kandwal said on her appointment.

    Her addition strengthens NDTV’s dynamic new lineup, a newsroom being reshaped by young but deeply credible journalists. It’s part of a larger transformation NDTV India has undertaken—to make journalism relevant, rooted, and relatable again.

  • Game of pawns just got powered up as chess makes its esports move

    Game of pawns just got powered up as chess makes its esports move

     MUMBAI: The queens are charged, the knights are digital, and India’s chessboard is now esports-ready. In a game-changing move for Indian chess, Nodwin Gaming has announced a strategic partnership with Chess.com and Chessbase India, marking a historic convergence of esports, content, and competitive chess. Together, the trio will co-create original IPs, power pro-level broadcasts, and elevate India’s growing chess ecosystem into a global force.

    From school tournaments to creator streams, chess has undergone a stunning revival. Once the preserve of silent halls and grandmasters, it’s now the fourth most-watched sport in India trailing only cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI. This new-age boom has been fuelled by the digital-first youth, and the stats are as sharp as a Sicilian Defence, 7.6 billion games played globally on Chess.com in 2024, 200 million plus registered users, including over 9 million monthly active players from India, 550,000 plus new Indian sign-ups every month, 925 million organic views, with viewership up 640 per cent year-on-year

    The tipping point? The Gukesh vs Ding Liren World Championship final, streamed in India exclusively by this trio, which racked up 24 million views and a peak concurrency of 200,000.

    “Chess has now become more than a game, it’s content, culture, and community,” said Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee. “With this partnership, we’re building a future-ready ecosystem to take Indian chess from heritage to hype.”

    And it’s not just the numbers. The chess revolution is reshaping Indian cities and screens alike, Cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai rank among the world’s top chess-viewing zones. 80.9 per cent of Indian chess viewership is on smartphones. Core audience? Ages 18–34, a Gen Z and millennial-driven wave of tactical fandom

    Chessbase India CEO Sagar Shah sees this as more than a business arrangement, “This is a vision to take Indian chess from grassroots to global. With NODWIN and Chess.com, we now have the firepower to truly scale it.”

    Chess.com India, country director Avadh Shah added, “The excitement around chess is at an all-time high, and this collaboration ensures India plays a defining role in shaping its future.”

    That future arrives fast. At the Esports World Cup 2025, chess will debut with a 1.5 million dollars prize pool. Representing India will be S8ul’s Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram the country’s first-ever esports team to compete in global chess.

    From mobile-first blitz battles to stadium-sized finals, chess is no longer just about black-and-white strategy, it’s a full-spectrum spectacle. And with Nodwin Gaming, Chess.com, and ChessBase India now playing as one, India might just checkmate the world.

  • Sony’s India reboot: fresh faces, big bucks and a bold digital bet

    Sony’s India reboot: fresh faces, big bucks and a bold digital bet

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is doubling down on India, rebooting its strategy under new leadership and betting big on digital, cricket and content to reclaim lost ground in the subcontinent’s fast-evolving media landscape.

    Speaking at SPE’s annual presentation, chief executive Ravi Ahuja described India as a “tremendous opportunity” amid the country’s strong economic and population growth. The rejig came more than a year after the collapse of Sony’s much-hyped merger with Zee Entertainment.

    At the heart of the reshuffle is Gaurav Banerjee, former Star India top content boss, now managing director and chief executive of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI)— Culver Max Entertainment.

    Banerjee’s mandate: fix the fiction, fire up streaming, and sharpen Sony’s distribution game.

    SPNI, which runs 27 TV channels and the SonyLiv platform, reported Rs 839 crore in profit on Rs 6,510 crore revenue in FY24. The company is now funnelling fresh investments into digital, particularly SonyLiv, as part of a broader growth revival.

    “We are rebuilding and reorienting our growth strategy, including investment in digital and our Sony LIV streaming platform,” said Ahuja. “We recently secured exclusive media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments from 2024 to 2031, which we anticipate will boost viewership and enhance Sony LIV.”

    The sticker price:  $170 million. It also shelled out $200–250 million for the England and Wales Cricket Board rights, sub-licensing the digital India tour rights to JioHotstar but retaining TV control. But there’s a wrinkle: the upcoming Asia Cup in September may be under threat due to rising India–Pakistan tensions post the Pahalgam terror strike.

    Meanwhile, Sony Entertainment Television (SET) is in revamp mode. The channel, battling ratings pressure in fiction, is reloading its primetime slate with a rebooted Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, mythologicals like Prithviraj Chauhan and Shirdi Wale Sai Baba, and the upcoming thriller Aami Dakini. Tentpoles like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Shark Tank India and Indian Idol continue to anchor the lineup. SET also remains a YouTube juggernaut, with 184 million subscribers—ranking fourth globally.

    Globally, SPE posted sales of $9.9 billion and operating income of $774 million despite the Hollywood strike denting series output and SPNI dragging on profits.

    Sony may have dropped its  Zee alliance, but with a rejigged team, fresh IP, and digital firepower, its India innings appears to be just getting into super scoring mode. With both Ahuja and Banerjee  fresh at the crease and gradually getting their shots right, SET might well hit it out of the park this time.

  • Rules X ropes in sports tech maven Laila Mintas to turbocharge Europe cricket league’s vision

    Rules X ropes in sports tech maven Laila Mintas to turbocharge Europe cricket league’s vision

    DUBLIN:  Irish sports innovation outfit Rules X, operating partner of the upcoming European T20 Premier League (ETPL), has brought on board sports tech powerhouse Laila Mintas, signalling a bold push to redefine cricket’s future through technology, fan engagement, and strategic disruption.

    From leading Fifa’s anti-match-fixing initiatives and launching Concacaf’s first Sports Integrity Unit, to scaling Sportradar US to over 85 per cent market share and selling Bet.Works for $125 million, Mintas has worn many hats over her 20 years in the global sports betting and the iGaming space.  A Berlin-trained lawyer with a PhD that triggered reforms in Germany’s betting laws, she has also served as CEO of PlayUp USA and PlayEngine, where she oversaw product innovation, AI deployment, and investor relations. Her deep expertise across sports integrity, AI-led fan experience, and regulatory reform positions her as a key catalyst in Rules X’s mission to shape ETPL into a high-octane, tech-forward cricket league for the modern fan.

    She currently sits as non-executive director at UK-based SIS Ltd and leads her consultancy, Dr Mintas Consulting. A multi-award-winning leader, she’s been named one of the most influential figures in sports betting by SBJ, Business Insider, and Global Gaming Business.

    “Cricket is experiencing phenomenal global growth, and the European T20 Premier League, under Rules X, represents a monumental opportunity to transform the fan experience through cutting-edge innovation, technology and strategic partnerships,” exclaimed Mintas. “I am incredibly thrilled to join the Board at this pivotal moment, contributing to a league that truly embraces the future of sports.”

    ETPL Co-owner Priyanka Kaul echoed the sentiment, stating, “We are making conscious efforts to create a differentiated product with the ETPL—one that’s sustainable, exciting, and drives the sport forward. Welcoming a seasoned global leader like  Mintas to our board reinforces our commitment to excellence and innovation. Her global perspective and track record in sports innovation will be invaluable as we shape the future of cricket in Europe and beyond.” 

    The ETPL — featuring both men’s and women’s leagues — is set to bowl its first over in 2026, with matches across iconic European venues. Backed by Rules X, the league aims to be more than just another tournament — a fusion of entertainment, tech and cricketing excellence. 

    The league is being pitched as  Europe’s next big cricket export — and with Mintas on board, it’s stepping up to bat with serious firepower.

  • Omens Studios’ preschool heroes go global with fresh content deals

    Omens Studios’ preschool heroes go global with fresh content deals

    MUMBAI: Omens Studios is on a wild roll. The Singapore-headquartered animation outfit has locked in a raft of international deals for its preschool powerhouses Leo the Wildlife Ranger, Counting with Paula, and Paula & Pals, bringing the adventures of the trio to more screens — and hearts — worldwide.

    beIN Media Group has snapped up media rights for Leo the Wildlife Ranger season 3 (80 x 7’), Paula & Pals season 2 (65 x 7’), and Counting with Paula seasons 5 to 7 (a total of 100 x 11’) across the Middle East and North Africa. Meanwhile, AMC Networks will beam seasons 2 and 3 of Leo to European audiences via its preschool channel Jim Jam, and Brazil’s Globo has pounced on season 3 while renewing seasons 1 and 2.

    That’s no exaggeration. Leo the Wildlife Ranger has racked up billions of views on YouTube, hundreds of thousands of mobile game downloads, and even made the leap to the metaverse with a new Roblox simulator experience.

    Omens Studios CEO Chi Sim Tang said, “We’re delighted to welcome our new premium broadcast partners on board, and excited that Leo the Wildlife Ranger, Counting with Paula and Paula & Pals are all finding and connecting with new global audiences, over broadcast and in a range of different ways.”

    Commissioned by Mediacorp, Leo the Wildlife Ranger now airs in over 50 territories and has scored top honours including Best Children’s Programme at the 2024 Asian Television Awards and a Silver Telly Award. The show blends zoology, teamwork and environmental awareness into bite-sized edutainment for the 3–7 age group.

    Newer spin-off Paula & Pals (68 x 7’) — also from the Mediacorp stable — takes a gentler turn, focusing on mental wellbeing and emotional development for the 3–6 set. Meanwhile, the long-running Counting with Paula has notched up seven seasons (384 x 11’) and continues to make maths marvellous for the youngest learners.

    With strong storytelling, screen appeal and a finger on the pulse of kids’ content trends, Omens Studios is proving that preschool programming doesn’t just educate — it travels, too.

  • Shah Rukh rules screens, but celeb ads lose steam in IPL 18

    Shah Rukh rules screens, but celeb ads lose steam in IPL 18

    MUMBAI: Hindi cinema’s beloved Badshah may have remained the king of cricket screens, but the age of celebrity ads during the IPL has started to cool. According to a TAM Sports report analysing all live matches of IPL 18, the share of celebrity-endorsed commercials dipped by 13 per cent from last season, marking a strategic shift among brands embracing broader creative bets.

    This year, celebrity-endorsed ads comprised 53 per cent of total ad volumes during live matches, down from 59 per cent in IPL 17. Non-celebrity-backed commercials, often grounded in concept-led or product-first storytelling, took the remaining 47 per cent slice — a six-point jump year-on-year.

    Film actors led the celebrity endorsement race, accounting for 50 per cent of ad volumes, while sports personalities made up 32 per cent. In contrast, film actresses featured in just 18 per cent of celebrity-led ads, and TV actors barely registered at 0.16 per cent.

    Despite the overall dip, Shah Rukh Khan continued to reign, claiming eight per cent of all celebrity ad volume share in IPL 18 — a solid, if slightly faded, follow-up to his 13 per cent haul from IPL 17. He was trailed by Ananya Panday (seven per cent), Laksh Lalwani (six per cent), and sporting stalwarts like M.S. Dhoni (five per cent) and Ajay Devgn (five per cent).

    Among sports celebrities, M.S. Dhoni once again led the charge with a 17.3 per cent share, followed by Rohit Sharma (13.6 per cent), Suryakumar Yadav (9.5 per cent), Yashasvi Jaiswal (6.4 per cent), and Mohammed Siraj (6.4 per cent). Notably, IPL 18 saw fewer overall and sports celebrities endorsing brands — dropping from 75+ and 35+ in IPL 17 to 60+ and 15+ respectively.

    The food and beverage (F&B) segment proved irresistible for celebrity endorsements. Two of the top five ad categories belonged to F&B: pan masala and biscuits. The other three categories that dominated celebrity tie-ins were e-commerce gaming, financial institutions, and paints. Collectively, these top five segments accounted for 67 per cent of all celeb-endorsed ad volumes.

    Among advertisers, Sporta Technologies, Parle Biscuits, Vishnu Packaging, Playgames24x7, and RSH Global took the lion’s share, collectively clocking 53 per cent of all celebrity-backed ad space.

    As brands rethink ROI in a cluttered media landscape, the 2025 IPL season shows a noticeable shift toward diversified and cost-conscious strategies — with star power still potent but not quite the only currency.

  • Zee greenlights Rs 2,237 crore promoter fund infusion to beef up content and tech push

    Zee greenlights Rs 2,237 crore promoter fund infusion to beef up content and tech push

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises has flipped the script on its growth journey, approving a Rs 2,237.44 crore promoter fund infusion via fully convertible warrants. The board on Sunday greenlit the preferential issuance of 16,95,03,400 warrants to promoter group entities at Rs 132 apiece — Rs 3.42 above the SEBI-regulated price of Rs 128.58 — as the company races ahead on its mission to become a content and technology powerhouse.

    The move follows a double-header board session where investment bank J.P. Morgan briefed directors on strategic alternatives and market sentiment around the media giant’s stock. The consensus was loud and clear — Zee needed to power up its war chest to tap new opportunities, navigate headwinds, and double down on next-gen entertainment.

    “The Board has deliberated upon the various alternatives discussed with J.P. Morgan and has conducted a thorough evaluation of the Company’s growth plans. The Board believes that the steps being implemented to enhance the promoter shareholding will ensure their added motivation to work in line with the enhanced business plan”, said Zee chairman R. Gopalan.

    Promoters had first expressed their intent to hike stake on 1 May, when the stock was at Rs 106.35. Now, they’ve committed to the higher Rs 132 price, which will raise their holding to 18.39 per cent, pending shareholder approval.

    “The promoters submitted their desire to enhance their shareholding to the Board on 1 May 2025 when the stock price was at Rs. 106.35, however, they are committed to the company and its business even at this higher price”, added Shubham Shree, on behalf of the promoter group.

    Zee has been steadily bolstering its portfolio with action-oriented steps, including the incorporation of three wholly owned subsidiaries and a strategic investment in Bullet — a micro-drama app aimed at younger audiences. In May, it also uploaded a detailed investor presentation spotlighting its roadmap to blend compelling content with bleeding-edge tech.

    The Board’s decision, it noted, would allow the company to buffer its balance sheet against shocks, while also fuelling innovation across its content ecosystem. With over 1.3 billion global viewers and a presence in 190+ countries, Zee has signalled that it’s not just adapting to the evolving M&E landscape — it’s gunning to lead it.

    As India’s entertainment sector becomes more tech-infused and audience-savvy, Zee is positioning itself as both creator and disruptor, building experiences that are as scalable as they are sticky.

  • Hoopr Smash adds 450+ Salim–Sulaiman tracks via Merchant Records to power legal music licensing boom

    Hoopr Smash adds 450+ Salim–Sulaiman tracks via Merchant Records to power legal music licensing boom

    MUMBAI: In a digital world where content is king and background music makes the crown sparkle, the stakes for licensing music just got louder. Hoopr Smash has struck a strategic partnership with Merchant Records—the label founded by composer duo Salim–Sulaiman—bringing over 450 new tracks into its fast-expanding library.

    The partnership marks a high-decibel leap for India’s legal music licensing ecosystem. Hoopr Smash now offers a robust catalogue of more than 18,500 tracks, reinforcing its role as the go-to destination for brands, creators and agencies seeking fully compliant audio content.

    With a musical legacy spanning 25 years, Merchant Records has worked with some of the most recognisable voices in India, including Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Arijit Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan. The label’s iconic IP Bhoomi, now in its sixth edition, celebrates India’s folk and spiritual heritage—tracks that have trended across platforms like Instagram and Youtube.

    “Our catalogue—spanning culturally rich tracks, truly independent music, and original music IPs like Bhoomi—has long been part of India’s sonic landscape. With Hoopr Smash, we’re excited to bring this body of work to brands and creators through a platform that values compliance, transparency, and technology. This partnership gives us the ability to monetise our music more efficiently while providing creators a legal and scalable solution to use the sounds their audiences already love. It’s a win for the ecosystem at large”, said Merchant Records co-founder Salim Merchant.

    India’s content economy sees over 80,000 brands generating digital content daily—87 per cent of which reportedly violate music licensing norms. With unlicensed usage contributing to an estimated Rs 8,000 crore loss annually, platforms like Hoopr Smash aim to close the gap between legality and creativity.

    “India’s music ecosystem is at a turning point. With over millions of content pieces created daily by 80 million content creators, the demand for high-quality, culturally relevant music is soaring—but so is the need for legal, ethical, and transparent licensing. Our collaboration with Merchant Records is an important step in addressing this gap. Salim–Sulaiman’s legacy and versatility has inspired and shaped generations, and we plan to create a structured, inclusive, and future-ready music licensing ecosystem together. At Hoopr, we aim to empower creators, protect rights and enable brands to tell stories with music in a way that’s free of legal uncertainties. This isn’t just about access; it’s about impact, equity, and sustainability in how music is used and monetized in the digital era, especially when over Rs 8,000 crore is lost annually due to unlicensed usage”, said Hoopr co-founder & CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar.

    Hoopr co-founder & CRO Meghna Mittal highlighted that Hoopr Smash is powered by a compliance-first, tech-driven platform designed to streamline music licensing at scale. “Collaborating with Merchant Records—whose repertoire includes some of India’s most iconic and culturally significant music—is a significant milestone for us”.

    Merchant Records CEO Shivansh Jindal reinforced the need to align reach with responsibility. “Partnering with Hoopr Smash enables us to take a major step in that direction. It’s not just about licensing—it’s about building a culture of respect for music, and ensuring that the industry grows on the foundations of fairness, creativity, and collaboration”.

    As brands and creators compete to stand out in India’s content boom, this partnership promises to hit the right note—legally, ethically, and loud enough to be heard above the digital noise.