ITV

Category: GECs

  • Zee TV becomes India’s First Brand to Enable Voting for Zee Rishtey Awards Using the Google Assistant

    Zee TV becomes India’s First Brand to Enable Voting for Zee Rishtey Awards Using the Google Assistant

    MUMBAI: Constantly ahead of the digital curve, Zee TV has innovated year after year to make the voting process of its reality formats increasingly user-friendly. Be it by way of incentivising viewers to vote through a partnership with Freecharge in 2013 or pioneering the ‘Search and Vote’ mechanism with Google in 2015 to the more recent video voting feature added last year where viewers could watch a short clip of the contestants on Google before casting their vote, Zee TV has managed to optimize viewer participation in the public voting phase of each of its talent-based reality shows, making the winner of every season a true representative of people’s choice – Janta Ki Aawaaz.

    This year too, the channel sets yet another benchmark to revolutionize the entertainment space by emerging as the first-ever brand in India to integrate the Google Assistant into the voting mechanism — a first in the country. This is being done for its most prestigious annual property, Zee Rishtey Awards, making it possible for viewers to merely speak and cast their votes for their favourite stars. Experts at creating AI solutions, the young entrepreneurs at Arrow AI, powered the voting experience on Google assistant. By saying ‘Talk to Zee Rishtey Awards’ participants can choose their favourite stars and become a part of the digital India drive. The voting process for Zee Rishtey Awards has gone LIVE and viewers from across the world can continue to cast their votes till 13th October.

    Talking about this pioneering voting initiative, Aparna Bhosle, Business Head, Zee TV, said, “Zee TV has always believed in innovation as the key driver to business success and year on year, endeavoured to offer differentiated content and devised original ways of marketing it. Zee Rishtey Awards is our single-most prestigious annual awards property that brings the entire Zee Parivaar together in celebration of their accomplishments. For the first time on Indian television, the viewers will witness the wedding of a real-life couple, Priya Singh and Sunny Kakkar amidst the awards ceremony. We are leaving no stone unturned to make this the most extraordinary experience, both on-ground and on-screen. Naturally, we want every Zee TV fan to be a part of this mammoth celebration we call Zee TV ki Beti Ki Shaadi. So, we started it all off by announcing the nominations of Zee Rishtey Awards across various categories at the couple’s Grand Roka celebration. And to ensure that the voting process reaches out to the largest denominator across the length and breadth of the country,  we are introducing, for the first time ever, a voting experience that is powered by the Google AssistantWe are the first ones to bring this technology into voting for the reality genre in the country, making it convenient for viewers to speak and cast their votes. We will be promoting this extensively across all our platforms – television, social and digital to enable better user engagement.  Zee TV will continue to devise novel concepts and curate exceptional experiences, setting new benchmarks of innovation in the industry.”

    To cast their vote for their favourite characters and shows, all viewers need to say is ‘Talk to Zee Rishtey Awards’ on their Google Assistant. The Google Assistant will display detailed guidelines, nomination lists, and more. The Google Assistant is a conversation with Google that helps you get things done in your world, and extends to help you across devices, like Google Home, your phone, Wear OS, and more.

  • Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Unveils the Rashtriya Sangeet Party

    Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Unveils the Rashtriya Sangeet Party

    Monday, 4th October 2018- Some shows become popular, some attain cult status, but only a few become an institution. Zee TV’s pioneer show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is one such prestigious platform that has given nation’s aspiring singers an opportunity to showcase their golden voices and build an extraordinary career in the world of music. Season after season, the show has not only reinvented music but also brought the entire nation together to celebrate music in its purest form. In fine sync with the channel’s philosophy Aaj Likhenge Kal, the new season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will stand up for music being the greatest leveller, an all-embracing medium that values only talent and does not discriminate basis a person’s identity. In fact, Zee TV’s hard-hitting marketing campaign goes one step further and announces the formation of the first-of-its-kind all-India parody political party called the ‘Rashtriya Sangeet Party’, that demands the discarding of labels based on caste, creed, background, gender, sexuality and brings people together to celebrate their talent and love for music. With the core thought of music for all #MusicSeBaneHum, the new season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa focuses its spotlight on talent alone, sending out a strong message of all-inclusiveness. The show’s judges Sona Mahapatra and Wajid Khan have extended their support by flagging off the campaign, putting out powerful tweets representing the party’s manifesto.

    Since its inception on 28th October 2018, the Rashtriya Sangeet Party’s microsite and subsequent social media platforms (twitter, facebook and Instagram) have been creating awareness about its propaganda through strong and impactful creatives bringing alive the power of music. The naara #HaregaBhaiHarega has been used to create a war cry against discrimination. Apart from urging celebrities connected to the music world to join this movement, the campaign has also been targeting and tapping into current issues and linking it to music, populating the #HareBhaiHarega. It has generated thousands of conversations on various social media platforms and trended for almost 3 hours a day after its inception.

    Aparna Bhosle, Business Head, Zee TV, said, “At Zee TV, it has always been about devising an inventive approach to establish the core premise of our content propositions in an engaging manner. In the recent past, through high-impact ideas like #ChangeHerNot for Kaleerein and ‘Talaq Talaq Talaq, Galat Galat Galat’ for Ishq Subhan Allah, we set new benchmarks in creative viewer engagement. While we are growing on multiple fronts to become a progressive nation, identity politics continues to take center stage and is palpable not just in India but worldwide. Knowingly or unknowingly, people choose to identify themselves with a certain colour, race, caste, creed, community, region, religion or on the basis of their sexuality. With music being a strong unifier, we thought of addressing the cultural tension and discrimination head-on by launching a campaign ‘Music Se Bane Hum’ that celebrates the all-inclusive power of music, supported by the creation of Rashtriya Sangeet Party where people only identify with ‘Music’ without any labels. The campaign not only breaks clutter but also reinforces the perception of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as a dynamic brand that moves with the times and Zee TV as an industry pioneer.”

    The campaign ‘Music Se Bane Hum’ is spread across different mediums and will reach out to the viewers through several initiatives propagating Rashtriya Sangeet Party’s agenda. The logo of the party- a symbol of the harmonium, stands for what is right and what is right is only music. A strong social media outreach has been planned to drive conversations on twitter, facebook and Instagram through proactive and reactive posts and gifs that present music as a solution to topical problems society faces. The campaign will also have musical rallies and morchas making it a larger-than-life and differentiated marketing phenomenon.

  • It is not about TV or digital; it is about TV and digital, says Punit Goenka

    It is not about TV or digital; it is about TV and digital, says Punit Goenka

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) has completed 26 glorious years of entertaining the world.
    Zeel MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “26 years ago, we took our first step to create stories that entertain, inspire, and touch hearts. In this extraordinary journey, we have always delivered exceptional value to our consumers, viewers and stakeholders. With a strong presence across multiple entertainment platforms – from broadcasting, movies, music, digital, live entertainment and theatre, we aim to garner the maximum share of the consumer’s mind space. Going forward, we will continue to build on our customer first approach to delight consumers across the world by creating entertainment and experiences that inspire to transcend the ordinary. We are a 26 years ‘Young’ Company and there are many more to come!”
    A journey that commenced with its Chairman Subash Chandra taking the first steps in forming not just a company, but an entire industry that today employs around 3.5-4 million people; Zeel evolved into an all-encompassing entertainment company offering quality content across multiple platforms and languages reaching over 1.3 billion viewers across the globe.

  • Viacom18 and NODWIN Gaming bring digital gaming festival ‘DreamHack’ for the first time to Asia

    Viacom18 and NODWIN Gaming bring digital gaming festival ‘DreamHack’ for the first time to Asia

    Mumbai, September 28th, 2018: NODWIN Gaming; a pioneer in e-sports and a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd. (Nazara) and Viacom18 – India’s fastest growing media and entertainment network have come together to bring the world’s largest gaming festival – DreamHack – to India. The DreamHack India event will take place from 21-23 December 2018, at NESCO, Mumbai.
    Speaking about the network’s endeavours into e-sports, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and Managing Director Designate, Viacom18 said: “Viacom18 has never been one to shy away from experimenting with new concepts, ideas and formats. Given the strong affinity youth audiences have with our content, brands and experiences, we think this is the right time for us to dip our toes in the fast-paced, thrilling world of e-sports. The world is changing fast and lines are blurring between different content genres. Given the abundance of data that has been unleashed by Jio, it is only natural for the fandom around e-sports to grow by leaps and bounds in India. As the country’s youngest full-play media organization, we want to stay ahead of the curve and tap into tomorrow’s big passion points today. Our association with DreamHack is a step in this direction.”

    DreamHack is a digital festival where gamers and digital natives come together for a three-day weekend which features a 24-hour-a-day Local Area Network (LAN) party, e-sports gaming competitions; Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC). The festival will be jam-packed with players/gamers who will be invited for a gaming championship in pro e-sports tournaments, collegiate matches, world famous LAN party, cosplay championship, panels, activities, expos, music concert, art and more. Till date, DreamHack has organized multiple events in the North America and European regions.
    On bringing DreamHack to India, Akshat Rathee, Founder and CEO, NODWIN Gaming says, “DreamHack has always been the epitome of the celebration of gaming and esports globally and we are delighted to partner with Dreamhack on their Indian journey. India with its dynamic youth and famed hospitality is a great beachhead into bringing the Dreamhack experience to Asia. NODWIN Gaming has been working hard on providing the best for our community of gamers across the country. This places the love for gaming right at the centre of our ecosystem. Partnering with Viacom18 brings the synergy full circle. Their reach to the youth of our country is unparalleled and we look forward to the convergence”
    The scope will see events with leading games such as DOTA, CSGO and KO Fight Nights (a street fighter championship) along with a Mobile Cricket event, the participants will also get a chance to meet and greet with international teams and gamers and enjoy an engaging experience in streamer zones. The gaming festival will be a ticketed event starting from INR 399/- and will be streamed live on VOOT.
    Elaborating on this partnership, Sidharth Kedia, Head – Corporate Strategy, M&A, Data Sciences & Dy. Chief Commercial Officer, Viacom18 said, “There is an avid gaming community in India and with Viacom18’s presence across live, digital and broadcast media alongwith a strong connect with the Indian youth, we are uniquely poised to leverage properties such as DreamHack in India and take e-sports to a larger audience base. We look forward to introducing this exciting property to Indian audiences.”
    On India getting its biggest festival, Gautam Virk, Chief Operating Officer, NODWIN Gaming said, “DreamHack brings in the zest of a digital festival which also happens to be the biggest LAN event the country has ever seen. NODWIN Gaming is pleased to have partnered with DreamHack for their Indian counterpart. We are constantly working for the excellent gaming community and we are most excited to provide them with something of this magnitude. We will make sure that no stones are left unturned in our efforts on this milestone event”
    The event will also host a ‘Retro Zone’ featuring arcade machines with classic games from the yesteryears. Event partners will also organize exclusive expo zones at the event and allow visitors a chance to lay their hands on the latest technology and gadgets. DreamHack India will not only develop an emotional connect among attendees, but also leave them with lifelong memories to cherish. The festival will offer something for everyone who is a part of the gaming universe/gaming enthusiasts.

    “We are excited about entering another continent as DreamHack open its doors to the first DreamHack India event. The partnership with NODWIN Gaming helps us redefine professional gaming in India where we can offer something exciting and for millions of gamers across the region. This, we believe, will give the pro gamers the right setup to play at their full potential,” said DreamHack CEO, Marcus Lindmark. “Our goal is to build a healthy gaming ecosystem, and we look forward to helping build a successful and competitive event”, he further adds.

  • Sony SAB launches Beechwale – Bapu Dekh Raha Hai

    Sony SAB launches Beechwale – Bapu Dekh Raha Hai

    Sony SAB has always created shows that deliver happiness to their viewers. Be it with the storyline, sets or the cast, the channel provides viewers their daily dose of entertainment. Adding another feather to its cap, Sony SAB launches its brand-new fiction offering – ‘Beechwale – Bapu Dekh Raha Hai’, a story based on the daily struggles, hopes, celebrations and societal pressures of the middleclass in India.
    The show premieres on October 2, Monday to Friday at 10 PM only on Sony SAB.
    Produced and Directed by Ashwini Dhir, Garima Vision, Beechwale – Bapu Dekh Raha Hai is the story of a person from middle-class India, stuck between his values and aspirations. He dreams of having a big house, fancy car and enjoying foreign trips, but is held back by his limited income and the need to do the right thing. The show revolves around Bobby Beechwale played by Zakir Hussain, the key protagonist, who is part of a joint family, Bobby’s 70-year old father (Mithilesh Chaturvedi) and 92-year old Dadaji (Jagdish Kawal), addressed as ‘Bapuji’. Dadaji used to be a freedom fighter, working along with, Mahatma Gandhi, always finding himself in the middle of all problematic situations. Hence, he received the upadhi of ‘Beechwale’ from him that he happily started using as his last name.
    Bobby runs a spare parts shop and a garage. Being a responsible elder son in the family, he cares for his family’s well-being. He allows for some jugaad in his life to make things happen faster to benefit all without putting anyone in harm’s way. Bobby’s wife, Chanchal Beechwale, played by Ananya Khare, is a fickle minded person, always desiring for things beyond her limit and buying them on EMI or nagging her husband to buy those for her.
    Bobby’s younger brother, Puppy Beechwale, played by Manoj Goyal is a sales executive and a proud Gandhian by principle. Puppy’s wife, Sheetal Beechwale, played by Ankita Sharma is a dominating, modern new-age woman and a tad lazy about household chores. The cast also includes pivotal characters such as Rita (Shubhangi Gokhale), Chanchal’s mother, and Raju (Rajeev Pandey) Chanchal’s jugaadu brother. Just like in the past, the Beechwale family still seeks answers of all their problems from ‘Bapuji’.

    Comments:
    Neeraj Vyas, Business Head, Sony SAB, PAL, Hindi Movies and Music:
    “Our brand-new offering, Beechwale – Bapu Dekh Raha Hai, is all about the trials and tribulations of the middle class person who is stuck between his aspirations and values. The show has a stellar cast and an interesting storyline. With Beechwale, we continue to fulfill our promise of Haste Raho India to our viewers, offering relatable content that the entire family can watch and bond over.”
    Ashwini Dhir, Writer, Producer & Director, Garima Vision:
    “The struggles of a middle-class man are no secret. Not only will every viewer connect with Beechwale but will also beautifully reveal how every member of the Beechwale family is different and has different set of issues, ranging from moral to financial. It is a show that is very close to our hearts. We have a talented cast on board along with a robust storyline and we can’t wait for the show to go on air.”

    Watch Aam Aadmi Ki Anokhi Kahani in Beechwale – Bapu Dekh Raha Hai from October 2,
    Monday to Friday at 10 PM only on Sony SAB

  • Colors to launch historical saga ‘Daastaan-e-Mohabbat’

    Colors to launch historical saga ‘Daastaan-e-Mohabbat’

    MUMBAI: Even as Bigg Boss 12 continues to thrill viewers of Colors, the channel is all set to launch a historical saga, Daastaan-e-Mohabbat Salim-Anarkali produced by Writers Galaxy Studios. The show will premiere on 1 October 2018, Monday to Friday at 8.30 pm.
    The show is about the love that shook the foundation of the Mughal empire, a timeless romance of a young crown prince and a beautiful courtesan. The show is presented by Dabur Red Paste and is powered by MDH Deggi Mirch.
    Viacom18 CCO Hindi mass entertainment Manisha Sharma said that since it is a daily show, it will have at least 200 episodes. The show recounts the epic love story of prince Salim who is in love with a kaneez, Anarkali. “This show is sure to grip the viewers as it is a portrayal of an era that we have grown up both watching and reading about,” she said.

    Writers Galaxy founder Anirudh Pathak said, “We decided to bring this show because it has been ages that no one has explored this story. With advanced technology and great creativity, we are looking forward to giving our audience a cinematic experience.”
    Bollywood’s Omung Kumar has created the set. The set spreads over 1 acre of land and boasts of a lavish darbar, a royal bedroom and an artistic harem to depict the different scenes of the show. All the costumes have been crafted under designer Nidhi Yasha’s guidance that best highlights the culture of this period drama. More than 200 people are part of the crew.
    It is remained to be seen whether the new show is able to create a buzz in the market as compared to the other players that are airing different shows in the same time band. Colors is no stranger to historical dramas having previously aired Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat and Veer Shivaji. The historical genre is one that most GECs are experimenting with given the advancement in technology.
    According to BARC data week 37, in the Hindi GEC (U+R) areas, Colors stood at sixth position with 627968 impressions ‘000s sum. In the rural areas, Colors stood at ninth position with 196563 impressions ‘000s sum. Moreover, in the urban sector the channel stood at third position with 431405 impressions ‘000s sum.

  • Swaroop Banerjee to head Zee Entertainment’s Live business

    Swaroop Banerjee to head Zee Entertainment’s Live business

    Mumbai, September 25, 2018: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), a leading media & entertainment powerhouse, today announced the appointment of Mr. Swaroop Banerjee as the Chief Operating Officer – Zee Live.
    In his new role, Swaroop will be responsible for the overall functioning of Zee Live, and will report to ZEEL MD & CEO, Mr. Punit Goenka.
    Swaroop comes with over 16 years of experience in the integrated revenue models spanning across genres and has closely worked with teams in over 7 nations to constantly innovate the evolving culture dynamics in revenue generation platforms within the M&E space. Swaroop has managed revenue capabilities for new media digital content for platforms and brands in music, effectively creating IPR for Music, Lifestyle & Sports.
    Previously, he has worked with Laqshya Media House, Viacom18, Star, MTV Asia, Zapak and Wizcraft.

  • Committed to Saving India’s Cinematic Heritage, Viacom18 partners with Film Heritage Foundation for the 4th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2018

    Committed to Saving India’s Cinematic Heritage, Viacom18 partners with Film Heritage Foundation for the 4th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2018

    MUMBAI: Celebrating a century of Bengali cinema, Viacom18 and Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) announces the 4th Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop India 2018 (FPRWI) in Kolkata. After successfully partnering with the FHF for the past 3 years, supporting the workshop in Mumbai, Pune and Chennai, the objective of FPRWI 2018 is to create awareness on the urgent need to preserve the moving image heritage in the Bengali film industry thereby, making it accessible to global audiences. Applications for the week-long workshop are currently open on http://filmheritagefoundation.co.in/film-preservation-restoration-workshop-india-2018/  

    Speaking about the Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and Managing Director Designate, Viacom18 said: “India is a country of epic tales that weave through every aspect of our life. Our cinema has been one of the foremost tools of bringing these stories to form our nation’s collective consciousness, across regions and languages. For close to two and a half decades, starting circa 1950, Bengali cinema moulded this collective conscious as it saw a galaxy of talented directors, actors and musicians shape not only the region’s cinema but also setting the narrative for progressive Indian cinema. Personalities like Satyajit Ray, Ritwick Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Uttam Kumar, Aparna Sen, Sharmila Tagore et al not only were revered throughout the world as film personalities but also shaped the discourse of socio-political culture both within and outside of India. Their works define our times and as such it is imperative that we preserve and restore them so that the generations to come appreciate our rich cultural heritage. It is this single philosophy that prompted us to partner Film Heritage Foundation through the last 3 years and after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, bring the Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop to the Bengali film industry.”

    FPRWI will focus on the need to skill and train a resource of archivists to take on the challenge of preserving and archiving film heritage. The workshop will take place in Kolkata, India from November 15 – 22, 2018 at Rabindranath Tagore Center and will have participation from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Malaysia. In addition to the workshop, daily screening sessions of restored classics will take place at Nandan and Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata.

    Speaking about bringing the workshop to Kolkata this year, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Founder, Film Heritage Foundation said, “When we conducted the first film preservation and restoration workshop in Mumbai in 2015, people were not aware that films needed to be preserved. I am proud to say that after having conducted these workshops in Mumbai, Pune and Chennai over the last three years in partnership with the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), we are already seeing the impact. Selecting Kolkata as a venue for our fourth workshop was a foregone conclusion with Bengal being the jewel in the crown of India’s film heritage. Unfortunately, very little survives of this precious legacy. “Jamai Babu” (1931) is only one Bengali film of the silent era that survives. We hope to change this scenario by creating awareness and building capability. What is truly incredible about this workshop is that 30 students will get to do the course absolutely free of cost.

    If urgent steps are not taken these films will be just faint memories from another time and the generations to come will forget the existence of the great artists who came before and from whom we learned so much.”

    FPRWI 2018 is supported by globally renowned industry bodies like The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences, L’Immagine Ritrovata, Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, British Film Institute, The Criterion Collection, the Irish Film Institute, the Austrian Film Museum, Eye Filmmuseum, Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archives), the Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive, Centre for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, ARRI and Media Inventions.

    FPRWI is considered to be the most comprehensive workshop of its kind, and has become a model for the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) for its international training programs. The workshop is certified by FIAF and is designed to cover the subject through theory and practical sessions with detailed insight about the best practices of preservation and restoration for films and film-related paper and photographic material. The 2018 edition of the workshop will introduce a fresh format where in the selected participants will be given an opportunity to choose an area of specialization from 4 broad categories including Film Handling and Repair, Digital Preservation and Restoration, Cataloguing and Paper, and Photographic Conservation. The workshop will also have a practical session with the latest and world class ARRISCAN XT giving participants hands-on training on film scanning.

    FPRWI 2018 will be conducted by a faculty of international experts from leading institutions around the world including:

    David Walsh – FIAF – Film and digital technology and preservation strategies
    Camille Blot-Wellens – FIAF – Film identification
    Thelma Ross – FIAF – Documentation and Cataloguing
    Kieron Webb – British Film Institute – Film selection
    Marianna de Sanctis – L’Immagine Ritrovata – Film Repair
    Benjamin Tucker – Film handling
    Mick Newnham – Film in bad condition
    Dawn Jaros – Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences – Paper conservation
    Dana Hemmenway – Centre for Creative Photography, University of Arizona – Photograph conservation
    Jeroen de Mol – Eye Filmmuseum – Digital preservation
    Dave Rice – Practical digital technology
    Thilo Gottschling – ARRI – film scanning
    Giles Sherwood – The Criterion Collection – Colour Grading
    Cara Shatzman – The Criterion Collection – Digital Restoration
    Oliver Danner – Bundesarchiv – Soundtrack preservation
    Davide Pozzi – L’Immagine Ritrovata – Restoration ethics and practice
    Cecilia Cenciarelli – Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna – Restoration case study
    Lee Kline – The Criterion Collection – Restoration case study
    Jakub Stadnik – Media Innovations – Soundtrack preservation
    Kasandra O’Connell – Archive management policies and business plans
    Jurij Meden – Running a digitization project
    Andy Uhrich – Access presentation and programming

    Applications for the 2018 workshop are open until October 1, 2018. Selected applicants will be notified and scholarships will be presented to deserving local and international candidates.

  • ALTBalaji appoints Divya Dixit as Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing

    ALTBalaji appoints Divya Dixit as Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing

    Mumbai, September 21, 2018: Balaji Telefilms has recently been integrating great leadership talent from across the board to spearhead the business and become a powerhouse. Further fortifying its leadership at ALTBalaji – India’s largest platform for original and exclusive digital content, the company announced the appointment of Divya Dixit as Senior Vice President and Head Marketing for India and International markets.
    Speaking on the appointment, Nachiket Pantvaidya, CEO ALTBalaji and Group COO Balaji Telefilms said, “As we continue to grow the company while deepening our relationship with viewers around the globe, we also want to ensure that we have the strongest leadership team in place at ALTBalaji. We are delighted to have Divya on board. She will be pivotal in driving ALTBalaji’s vision of shaping and defining its leadership in the fast-growing and dynamic OTT sector. With her experience in media, entertainment and the digital space, we look forward to further capitalizing our digital expansion and I wish her all the best. All the other various marketing units operating under ALTBalaji umbrella will now roll into Divya.”
    Divya has 19 years of experience in marketing and brand building across industries – digital, broadcast, telecom and music. She has been instrumental in launching various brands, revival of brands, consumer journeys, creating revenue opportunities, product designing and designing sales currencies through consumer insights across her earlier stints. Her last assignment was with ZEE5 where she incubated the brand ‘ZEE5 ‘and ‘ZEE5 Originals’ as well as launched the platform and multiple Original shows. She has been associated with high visibility and top rated on- ground and on-air properties such as ‘Karenjit Kaur’ and ‘Sunburn’ to name a few.
    Commenting on the occasion, Divya Dixit, Senior VP, Head of Marketing at ALTBalaji shared, “ALTBalaji is a leader in clutter breaking original content. It is an exciting time for OTT players, as the Indian digital landscape is exploding. I truly believe that ALTBalaji will raise multiple industry benchmarks and shall continue being a dominant player in the space. I am thrilled to join the ALTBalaji family and looking forward to a successful journey.”
    Divya will leverage her eclectic and rich experience across OTT and broadcast media, to build brand ALTBalaji.

  • &TV gets brand refresh; ad inventories sold out for new shows

    &TV gets brand refresh; ad inventories sold out for new shows

    MUMBAI: Zee took a bold step when it decided to launch channels under a different brand name ‘&’ five years ago. The bet worked and the brand lived. Now, &TV, the GEC, is undergoing a brand refresh with a new lineup of shows as well.

    In 2015, &TV was launched with the philosophy 'Jashn Jeene Ka' – celebrating the spirit of life. Now, the channel is bringing up yet another thought ‘Hai Khaas Har Andaaz’, created by Lowe Lintas that premieres this weekend, breaking first on its new live singing reality show for kids Love Me India at 9 pm. &TV has two more shows in the bouquet named Perfect Pati and Vikram and Betaal.

    ZEEL CEO Punit Misra said, “We believe &TV, the youngest GEC in the ZEEL portfolio, is best suited to cater to &dians – the multifaceted, progressive, young urban viewers who want to be more. With our unique brand point-of-view led content creation approach, the &TV team has crafted stories and characters that &dians will fall in love with.”

    Apart from its flagship show Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain, that helped the channel gain immense traction from the viewers, it didn’t shy away from going against the tide and introducing a 100kg bahu on television with Badho Bahu or presenting kanha and radha differently. It pushed the envelope further by introducing supernatural-romance in Laal Ishq. 

    Commenting on the advertisers’ growth since its launch, ZEEL CMO Pratyusha Agarwal said that the growth has been phenomenal and ad inventories are already sold out for the upcoming shows. “Since the past three years, advertisers have grown up to 55 per cent,” she added.

    &TV head Vishnu Shankar has been associated with Zee for more than seven years now. He started working with Zee in February 2010 as the programming head of Zing, Zee ETC and Zee Trendz. A year ago he filled Rajesh Iyer’s shoes with a vision to scale-up the cluster’s growth in a bid to entertain audiences. He said, “In the last three years, we have created many marquee properties and the channel had a good 4.5 per cent market share and now we have 7.8 per cent market share.”

    We will soon get to see if the change will pay off.