ITV

Category: Television

  • TGM Joins NVIDIA Inception Program to Advance AI-Powered Streaming Innovation

    TGM Joins NVIDIA Inception Program to Advance AI-Powered Streaming Innovation

    TGM, the parent company of SWIFT TV, has been selected to join the prestigious NVIDIA Inception program, a global initiative designed to nurture startups transforming industries through AI and advanced technologies.

    Swift TV, TGM’s flagship product, is a next-generation Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) platform that delivers premium content at no cost to users. Breaking away from traditional SVOD models, SWIFT TV leverages cutting-edge AI and real-time personalization to make high-quality entertainment accessible and seamless for all audiences.

    Central to its technological edge is TGM’s in-house channel playout solution, which curates dynamic, tailor-made content schedules to maximize viewer engagement. Complementing this is a proprietary ad-tech stack, enabling dynamic ad insertion and advanced targeting—empowering content partners to achieve optimal monetization while maintaining full control. A strong focus on first-party data segments also ensures advertisers benefit from robust targeting across both smartphone and CTV environments.

    Joining the NVIDIA Inception program marks a pivotal milestone in TGM’s growth journey. The partnership provides TGM with access to NVIDIA’s technical resources, go-to-market support, and AI expertise, strengthening its ability to innovate at scale and fast-track its vision for AI-driven entertainment ecosystems.

    “We are honored to be recognized by NVIDIA as part of the Inception program. This partnership will play a critical role in accelerating our mission to democratize entertainment through advanced AI and next-generation streaming solutions,” said Sai Srikanth, CTO, Swift TV.

    Participation in NVIDIA Inception also connects TGM to a global community of AI-driven startups and industry pioneers, fostering opportunities for collaboration, learning, and shared innovation as the company continues to push the boundaries of media and advertising technology.

  • Pushpa takes over prime time as Zee Cinema readies for a wild premiere

    Pushpa takes over prime time as Zee Cinema readies for a wild premiere

    MUMBAI: Get your popcorn ready and your seetis sharpened Pushpa is about to rule your TV screen! Zee Cinema has locked in 31 May 2025 at 7:30pm for the World Television Premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule, and let’s just say this one’s not arriving quietly. It’s stomping in, red sand and all.

    After setting the box office ablaze and spawning more viral trends than you can count on your fingers (and toes), Allu Arjun’s swaggering return as Pushpa Raj is ready to take over Indian living rooms. Directed by Sukumar, the mega blockbuster also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil and Jagapathi Babu, serving up a storm of action, drama, music and chest-thumping dialogue that promises to echo through every household.

    More than a film, Pushpa 2 is pure pop-culture combustion. From the moment Arjun’s Pushpa growled “Fire nahi, wildfire hai”, the film became a movement. It tore through the North-South divide with ease and established Pushpa not just as a character, but as a full-blown phenomenon.

    And now, the man who bows to no one is bringing his unrelenting Rule to TV. Expect explosive confrontations, especially the highly anticipated face-off with Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, played with icy menace by Fahadh Faasil. Add in foot-tapping bangers like Angaaron, Pushpa Pushpa and Peelings, and you’ve got a family entertainer that’s anything but tame.

    So if you missed the theatre frenzy or simply want another taste of that red-hot rage, mark the date: 31 May, 7:30pm, Zee Cinema. This isn’t just a premiere, this is Pushpa, and he’s about to turn your screen into his jungle.

  • Five and thriving Shemaroo TV celebrates a half-decade of drama

    Five and thriving Shemaroo TV celebrates a half-decade of drama

    MUMBAI: It’s been five years since Shemaroo TV first switched on and it’s safe to say, they’ve kept the remote firmly in their audience’s hands. The Free-To-Air (FTA) channel has hit a milestone moment, celebrating half a decade of serving up a heady mix of myth, mayhem and middle-India masala to viewers across Bharat.

    In a television landscape where loyalty is rare and tastes are ever-shifting, Shemaroo TV has carved out a space of its own drawing in an annual audience of 296 million with a content cocktail that includes devotional sagas, crime capers and classic family drama. Whether you’re in for a morning dose of spiritual calm or a prime-time showdown, the channel has something for every generation under the roof.

    What sets Shemaroo apart is its smart straddle between rooted values and modern sensibilities. Its programming taps into nostalgia while staying fresh enough for a younger, evolving viewership. And its impact goes beyond metros, it has become a staple in rural and semi-urban homes, where FTA still rules the roost.

    Commenting on the milestone Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, CEO Hiren Gada says, “Shemaroo TV’s journey over the last five years has been nothing short of inspiring. We set out with the belief that audiences in India’s heartland seek content that resonates deeply with their culture, values, and aspirations. The remarkable growth in viewership and engagement validates that vision. We remain committed to curating content that entertains and brings families together.”

    Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd COO for Broadcast Business Sandeep Gupta adds, “Shemaroo TV has built a unique identity by staying true to its roots while constantly innovating. This success is not just about numbers; it’s about the millions of connections we’ve built across Bharat. Our thoughtfully curated content line up ensures every Indian home finds a story that becomes a part of their live from early morning spiritual seekers to prime-time drama enthusiasts. We are excited for the journey ahead and ready to scale even greater heights with the love and trust of our audience.”

    As Shemaroo TV enters year six, its playbook remains the same: tradition, emotion and wide appeal all packaged with consistency and heart. In an age of streaming binges and short attention spans, it turns out there’s still something timeless about stories that feel like home.

  • From UP with love: Live Times XChange fires up India’s engines of growth

    From UP with love: Live Times XChange fires up India’s engines of growth

    MUMBAI: The debut edition of Live Times XChange, a flagship forum from India’s first global multicast news hub Live Times, landed in Lucknow with the energy of a start-up and the weight of a summit. With top ministers, rival netas, and sharp-shooting bureaucrats in attendance, the conclave turned into a masterclass on how India’s rise begins at the state level.

    At the centre of it all was Uttar Pradesh, positioned as India’s breakout growth story and a live case study on how good governance, strong policy, and people-first programmes can turn potential into performance.
    “This is not just the land of possibilities anymore. UP is now a model of success,” thundered chief minister Yogi Adityanath, outlining his vision to make the state a $1 trillion economy by 2029. With Rs 40 lakh crore in investment proposals, expressways zipping across districts, and the Mahakumbh pulling in 66 crore visitors, UP, he said, is no longer waiting its turn — it’s leading the charge.

    Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, playing both the critic and the statesman, praised the event for backing “constructive journalism” and urged unity in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. He also took a dig at delayed projects and reminded the audience of metro lines and roadways launched during his tenure.

    Adding further heft were deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, alongside Baby Rani Maurya (women’s welfare), Asim Arun (social justice), and Ajay Rai, president of the UP congress. Baby Rani Maurya, with 95 lakh SHGs under her belt, said women were no longer waiting for empowerment — they were earning it.

    Live Times founder Dilip Kumar Singh called the event a “defining moment for India’s future”, noting that “when states thrive, the nation soars”. He positioned XChange as a bridge between policymakers and citizens, built on the bedrock of facts, not frills.

    The conclave didn’t just talk policy — it sparked purpose. With sessions covering caste inclusion, women’s safety, local industry and jobs, XChange set the tone for what public discourse should sound like in a new Bharat: tough, topical, and totally democratic.

    Next stop? More states, more voices, and more action. Because when growth is a team sport, XChange is where the players meet.

  • Mad science meets cinema as Madlab Alpha experiments with bold storytelling

    Mad science meets cinema as Madlab Alpha experiments with bold storytelling

    MUMBAI: If a hindi masala movie is the formula, Madlab Alpha wants to break it. In a move that could redefine the future of Indian storytelling, Bodhitree Multimedia, Madlab Films, and Universe of Ideas have joined creative forces to launch Madlab Alpha Private Limited, a first-of-its-kind content studio that promises to rip up the rulebook and write a new one, genre by genre.

    Touted as India’s first high-concept content lab, Madlab Alpha isn’t here to play safe. It’s here to play mad in the best possible way. With a pipeline full of cerebral thrillers, speculative dramas, dystopian epics, and even interactive narratives, the studio is aiming at audiences that are over masala and hungry for mind-benders.

    At the heart of the initiative is a bold attempt to merge art and algorithm using AI-assisted production workflows and immersive tech to create content that’s not just visually striking but narratively disruptive. Think less assembly line, more alchemy.

    But it’s not just about flashy tools. Madlab Alpha wants to be a creative ecosystem nurturing emerging voices, offering mentorship, and cultivating a diverse slate that’s as rooted in local nuance as it is ready for global resonance.

    Backing the venture is Bodhitree Multimedia, known for The Gone Game and Class, and Universe of Ideas, born out of D’Artist Talent Ventures. Together with Madlab Films, the trio brings a cocktail of IP experience, genre muscle, and next-gen storytelling ambition.

    Madlab Films producers Gaurav Shukla and Abhijeet Khuman added,“With the rise of OTT platforms and global content, audience taste, especially in India, has evolved rapidly. This shift is impacting conventional commercial cinema, as we’re seeing more viewers gravitate towards fresh, bold narratives. It’s high time we acknowledge this change and create stories that speak to this new sensibility. With Madlab Alpha Private Limited, we aim to tell the kind of stories others shy away from merging craft with technology to deliver content that truly resonates. Together, we’re committed to delivering bold, original, and scalable content that speaks to a new generation of viewers.”

    D’Artist Talent Ventures and Universe of Ideas founder & CEO Darshana Bhalla added, “At its core, Madlab Alpha Private Limited is about empowering new voices and building a collaborative creator ecosystem. We believe in nurturing and mentoring emerging talent, offering them mentorship, resources, and a platform that values originality, craft, voice, and diverse perspectives on the global stage, fostering a space where originality thrives.”

    Talking about the partnership Bodhitree Multimedia Ltd MD Mautik Tolia added, “Madlab Alpha Private Limited represents a bold leap into the future of storytelling. This partnership marks a pivotal evolution in our content strategy, reflecting our commitment to shaping the progress and success of the industry. Together with Gaurav, Darshana, and Abhijeet, we are investing in the future of storytelling one that is bold, disruptive, and unapologetically narrative-first. We’re building more than a studio, that’s agile, and one that is built to scale across formats and geographies.”

    With legacy productions already under their belt and a bold slate of future-forward content in the works, Madlab Alpha Private Limited is angling to be India’s cultural petri dish, a place where stories mutate, mutate again, and maybe, just maybe, evolve into something the world hasn’t seen before.

    So, if Indian entertainment has long been a well-trodden path, Madlab Alpha is here to carve a few new roads wild, winding, and wonderfully unpredictable.

  • Pitch perfect! NIIF clinches Alea Cup in a thrilling corporate showdown

    Pitch perfect! NIIF clinches Alea Cup in a thrilling corporate showdown

    MUMBAI: It was wickets over wallets and boundaries over balance sheets as Mumbai’s financial elite swapped suits for cricket whites at the third edition of the Alea Cup, hosted at the Western Railway Sports Ground. Sponsored by Alea Consulting and held under the umbrella of Saran Sports’ iconic CC7 tournament, the clash brought together six powerhouse teams from the financial world including heavyweights like NIIF, Kotak Investment, CPP Investments, and Apollo Asset Management.

    And what a finish it was. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a nail-biting final against Investec Capital, adding another feather to its sporting cap after past glory in previous editions. The Alea Cup, which has seen participation from the likes of KKR, Brookfield, JM Financial Private Equity, and Xponentia Capital, has fast become a marquee event for those who crunch numbers by day and smash sixes by dusk.

    The tournament is part of the Saran Sports CC7 series, recognised by the Limca Book of Records as the world’s longest-running corporate cricket event. Since 1997, over 1,500 corporate teams have padded up for what is arguably India’s most spirited fusion of boardroom ambition and backyard banter.

    Alea Consulting founder Deepak Bhawnani said, “Alea Cup offers working professionals a chance to engage in a sport they enjoy, providing personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement while promoting physical fitness and mental well-being. Our objective is to instil values such as teamwork and sportsmanship in the players. It also provides opportunities to connect with colleagues and professionals from other companies, which can be beneficial for career growth and business opportunities.”

    Far from a mere weekend escape, the Alea Cup has come to symbolise the camaraderie, competitiveness, and community that cricket inspires across all walks of life. It honours not only the nation’s love for the sport but also the human side of the finance industry where handshakes can be as important as half-centuries, and shared memories outlast match scores.

    With each edition, the tournament continues to hit it out of the park proving once again that whether on the field or in finance, strategy, stamina, and synergy remain a winning combo.

  • Licence to thrill as Hoopr smash reshapes India’s music licensing game

    Licence to thrill as Hoopr smash reshapes India’s music licensing game

    MUMBAI: India’s content creators have been grooving without a licence until now. In a game-changing move for the booming creator economy, Hoopr has launched Hoopr Smash, a slick, self-serve music licensing platform that finally lets brands, agencies, and creators use hindi and regional tracks legally and affordably without hitting a sour note.

    This digital-first marketplace is shaking up the copyright jungle by giving creators instant access to music from one of the most iconic catalogues in Indian cinema: YRF Music, with over 1,000 blockbuster tracks. It also ropes in 17 regional labels and over 380 artists, from A.R. Rahman and Vishal-Sheykhar to Badshah, Bohemia, and Jasleen Royal, offering a library of more than 18,000 licensable tracks and counting.

    With India churning out 80,000 branded content pieces and 550,000 creators posting daily, music is often used with more enthusiasm than legality. As per industry estimates, 87 per cent of music use in content is wilfully violating copyright, bleeding the industry of a jaw-dropping Rs 3,600 crore annually. Hoopr Smash wants to plug that leak and fast.

    The platform works like an e-commerce checkout for beats. Users can license a track in under 15 minutes, choosing from bundles or per-track payments. Content is sorted by use case, mood, and moment, think Diwali jingles or wedding reels plus a live ‘Trending Tracks’ feature keeps brands tuned in to what’s hot. Whether it’s a mangalsutra ad or a monsoon campaign, there’s a song for every storyline.

    Commenting on the launch, Hoopr co-founder & CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar said: “As an artist, I have experienced the challenges of India’s fragmented music licensing ecosystem where even my own songs have been used without permission or payment. While brands want to license music the right way, they often find themselves navigating a complex and inconsistent process while trying to license songs. Licensing Bollywood music in particular has often been complicated, with unclear legal pathways and limited access for most brands. With Hoopr Smash, we are addressing this gap by building a transparent, accessible, and efficient platform that simplifies the legal licensing of popular Bollywood songs for all stakeholders. We envision Hoopr Smash becoming the go-to destination for ethical music licensing, empowering brands to create freely and fearlessly, while ensuring artists and music owners receive the value they truly deserve.”

    Adding to this Hoopr co-founder & CRO Meghna Mittal said “Hoopr Smash is designed to address the long-standing issues of Bollywood music licensing. After extensive research with 160 plus brands and agencies, we understood that there were some major pain points volatile pricing, long negotiations, and decentralized clearance processes. Smash eliminates this by displaying Bollywood music-trending updates in real time, offering intelligent track curation, and instant licensing, allowing brands to access popular tracks faster and stay legally compliant. The site offers affordable pricing and a seamless checkout experience, and ensures that artists and labels are dealt with fairly. This is a giant leap in building an open and sustainable music licensing infrastructure in India.”

    Commenting on this unique partnership Yash Raj Films Pvt. Ltd. vice president of digital & new media Anand Gurnani stated, “Hoopr’s technology presents an exciting opportunity for us to expand our reach to long-tail consumers and enhance the accessibility of our music catalogue. This partnership not only provides brands with seamless access to our extensive music catalogue but also streamlines the licensing process, ensuring efficient and compliant usage. We are confident that this collaboration will open up exciting opportunities for responsible brand engagement across short-form formats while helping us connect with wider audiences.”                  

    In a content landscape bursting with reels, remixes, and reaction videos, Hoopr Smash lands as a much-needed remix to India’s outdated music licensing scene. More than a tech tool, it’s a cultural clean-up. By marrying ease, legality, and fairness, Hoopr Smash might just be the soundtrack to a more ethical, efficient content future.

  • Balaji raises the stakes with Kull: a royal drama poised to rule the streams

    Balaji raises the stakes with Kull: a royal drama poised to rule the streams

    MUMBAI:  Balaji Telefilms, the name long synonymous with India’s soap-operatic swagger, is charging ahead in the digital domain. Its newly energised arm, Balaji Digital, is making a bold play for streaming supremacy with its third original for JioHotstar – Kull – The Legacy of the Raisingghs, set to premiere on 2 May 2025.

    Featuring a heavyweight cast of Nimrat Kaur, Ridhi Dogra, and Amol Parashar, the series dives deep into dynastic dysfunction, weaving a rich tapestry of loyalty, betrayal, legacy, and secrets best left buried. The recently released trailer has sparked a torrent of buzz across platforms, with fans dissecting every brooding glance and cryptic one-liner.

    “At Balaji, storytelling has always been our lifeblood — and digital is just another canvas, albeit a thrilling one,” said , Balaji Telefilms head digital originals Aparna Ramachandran. “With Kull, we’re venturing into new tonal territory. It’s layered, political, emotional – and unafraid to ask hard questions about what families choose to remember, and what they’d rather forget.”

    The move marks a sharp creative pivot for Balaji Digital, which has already made a streaming splash with Dus June Ki Raat – a dark, emotionally charged drama – and Power of Paanch, a long-format youth series that drew praise for its raw depiction of campus life.

    “Power of Paanch was an important moment for us – it showed that youth stories can have depth, nuance, and emotional consequence,” Ramachandran added. “And with Dus June Ki Raat, we demonstrated that Balaji could tackle mystery and emotional realism in a slow-burn format.”

    Kull, however, is a different beast. Set against the backdrop of a powerful royal family navigating present-day ambition and past sins, the show blends opulence with angst. Think Succession meets Gulzar — with the emotional complexity dialled all the way up.

    “The digital viewer is restless, sharp, and demands emotional authenticity,” said Ramachandran. “They’re sampling Korean thrillers, Spanish crime sagas, and British slow-burns — so we have to be at our sharpest. The brief at Balaji Digital is simple: break moulds, not hearts.”

    While Kull promises  a spectacle, it’s also being pitched as a narrative about power and truth in the age of curated legacies. The Raisingghs, the show’s central family, are emblematic of India’s royal residues — clinging to relevance, shrouded in secrecy.

    At the helm of this digital renaissance is Ekta Kapoor, who, after conquering TV and film, is reshaping her empire for the age of OTT. “Ekta has always believed in staying ahead of the curve,” Ramachandran said. “Balaji Digital is her next act — and Kull is just the beginning of what we have in store. We’re forging deep collaborations with platforms, and are already developing a slate that pushes the boundaries of genre and storytelling.”

  • Golden Hour! ET Now Swadesh polishes investment wisdom with ‘Gold Mahakumbh’

    Golden Hour! ET Now Swadesh polishes investment wisdom with ‘Gold Mahakumbh’

    MUMBAI: It’s not just about buying bling this Akshaya Tritiya, it’s about investing smartly in it! ET Now Swadesh is set to unwrap a glittering feast of insights with its special broadcast ‘Gold Mahakumbh’ on 29 April 2025, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, aiming to make gold and silver investments shine a little brighter for Indian households.

    Spearheaded by ET Now and ET Now Swadesh editor-in-chief Nikunj Dalmia, the special programming promises to turn viewers into savvy investors with a line-up of India’s sharpest financial minds, including Vishwamohan Kumar and Kavita Thapliyal as anchors.

    The glittering line-up includes key segments such as Golden Call (3:30 pm – 4:00 pm), HDFC AMC MD & CEO Navneet Munot, will break down the ABCs of gold investing covering ETFs, mutual funds, liquidity, taxation, and how to ride the gold wave for long-term returns. In a volatile market, this primer could be worth its weight in, well, gold.

    Sone Mein Ab Laakh Take Ki Baat (4:00 pm – 4:30 pm), Industry heavyweights like Chirag Sheth, Amit Goel, Ajay Kedia, Kunal Shah, Kishore Narne, and Nitin Kedia will polish viewers’ understanding of gold pricing, future forecasts, and what domestic and global factors could add or shave off a few carats from their investments.

    Golden Shopping (4:30 pm – 5:00 pm), Thinking of buying jewellery? Saiyam Mehra, Ashish Pethe, Rajesh Rokde, and Chetan Thadeshwar will navigate viewers through the dazzling (and often daunting) world of hallmarking (HUID), smart purchasing tips, and consumer rights when buying gold ornaments.

    Sunehra Nivesh (5:00 pm – 5:30 pm), Digital gold or a shiny necklace? Physical coins or a sleek ETF? Experts like Sachin Jain and Vikram Dhawan will help demystify gold investment vehicles and arm investors with knowledge about returns, liquidity, and risks.

    Jewellery Kaarobaar Mein Chunautiyaan (5:30 pm – 6:00 pm), From metal loans to risk management, Manoj Jha, Sahil Mehra, and Nitin Kedia will spotlight the behind-the-scenes challenges faced by the jewellery trade and what it means for everyday buyers.

    Silver Shopping (6:00 pm – 6:30 pm), Because silver isn’t just second-best! Rahul Mehta, Vikram Dhawan, and Ajay Kedia will map emerging opportunities in silver, navigating price volatility, sourcing, and what savvy investors should keep an eye on.

    With India’s emotional and financial bond with gold showing no signs of losing its lustre, Gold Mahakumbh comes at the perfect time, blending festive sentiment with sharp market strategy. ET Now Swadesh, true to its mission of bolstering financial literacy, is ensuring that this Akshaya Tritiya, viewers don’t just buy gold, they invest wisely in it.

    It’s time to sparkle smarter!

  • Network18 knocks out Times Internet to seize undisputed digital news crown

    Network18 knocks out Times Internet to seize undisputed digital news crown

    MUMBAI: Network18 has steamrolled its competition. According to the March 2025 ComScore rankings, the media giant decisively surpassed Times Internet, securing pole position across India’s digital news landscape.

    The ComScore MMX Report on total digital population (social+native) revealed that Network18 clocked an eye-watering 315 million unique visitors (UVs)—a towering 55 per cent lead over Times Internet’s 202 million UVs.

    The message is clear: Network18 reigns supreme.

    News18.com delivered a commanding performance too, registering 251 million UVs and eclipsing The Times of India’s 183 million UVs, cementing its spot as India’s most consumed digital news brand.

    On social media, Network18’s dominance grew even starker. As per the ComScore Media Metrix Social report, it achieved 54 per cent penetration within India’s 389 million social media population, boasting twice the reach of its closest rival, TV9 Network.

    Even stripping out social media traffic, Network18 led from the front. In the News and Information category, the group recorded 183.2 million UVs against Times Internet’s 182.3 million, maintaining its lead purely through news consumption strength.

    Network18’s Indian language news sites also flexed their muscles, posting 182 million UVs and underlining its unmatched regional reach.

    Beyond digital, Network18’s television empire continues to dominate. CNN-News18 has held the number one English news slot without interruption for three consecutive years, while News18 India has been the most watched Hindi news channel across time bands for two years running.

    This comprehensive leadership across digital, social, and television platforms confirms Network18’s standing as the most influential, far-reaching, and trusted news network in the country.