ITV

Category: GECs

  • Sony Pictures Television signs first output feature film pay TV deal with ZEEL

    Sony Pictures Television signs first output feature film pay TV deal with ZEEL

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) have announced that the duo has entered into a first output pay TV features firm deal.

    As part of this, Zee will have first access to Sony Pictures releases over the next few years. And this will include blockbusters like Spider-Man: Homecoming, Blade Runner 2049, Baby Driver, The Emoji Movie and Life, among others.

    “We are very excited about this new partnership with Zee in India. Given the recent box office success of films like Spider-Man: Homecoming, we are confident that Indian audiences will be thrilled to know that they can soon enjoy our premium films on Zee. From our franchise films to our big blockbusters and critically acclaimed films, we look forward to working together with Zee to entertain what is a very important and fast-growing market,” said SPT international distribution Asia Pacific SPT senior vice president Ken Lo.

    “It is our endeavor to become a formidable player within the English entertainment space in India, and this deal with SPT, will help us become the number one choice for movie lovers” said ZEEL business cluster head premium and FTA GEC Aparna Bhosle.

  • ZEEL CEO Punit Misra says: “We intend to compete fairly”

    ZEEL CEO Punit Misra says: “We intend to compete fairly”

    MUMBAI: Last year in October,  Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) appointed Hindustan Unilever (HUL) sales and customer development executive director Punit Misra as ZEEL domestic broadcast business CEO.  Coming from the FMCG sector Misra has entered the television industry with an advantage – ‘ both the businesses depend on consumer behaviour’.

    ZEEL is now the largest broadcaster in India.  First it acquired Anil Ambani led Reliance Broadcast business and recently bagged 9X Media.

    In a conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Misra shares his one year experience and plans going forward.

    Excerpts:  

    How do FMCG and TV broadcasting compare since both of them depend on understanding audience behaviour?  

    As you said rightly, it’s all about consumer and consumer practise and not building brands. Building brands happens through content- that’s the difference because people use soap once in a day for those 3-5 minutes, but here people sit and consume and get emotionally attached. They can talk about hours but I don’t think consumers can sit and talk about consumer brands this much, so that’s the difference.

    You have completed a year in ZEEL. How has been the experience of heading a broadcast business?

    I am loving every minute here. I began with knowing nothing but there are a lot of things to do.

    Did you initiate the change after you took charge?

    It’s our initiative, not any one individual’s. Nothing works in any industry or any company because of one person. Deepak Rajadhyaksha has been raising and crafting a lot of things. Pratyusha is there and the agency team. I can’t even claim that I have done something.

    Did Punit Goenka take you through the company’s process in your first few days? How did he guide you?

    He is guiding me today as well. He’s just an amazing person. He guiding and gives space and I marvel at how he manages both at the same time. It is just incredible to have him as coach.

    What were the challenges that you faced? What milestones are you personally proud of?

    Firstly, we are supposed to learn before we start taking decisions. For me that was important because coming from a non-TV background I had to spend time to know the business, the people and the brand.

    Along with the team we are fantastically proud with the fact that we are the number one network. The fact that Zee TV is the number channel in HSM, I am proud of that.  I am  proud of the team that I have. We have retained key talent in the company since so many years.

    How do you view Zee’s presence in the market given competitors like Star and Sony are ramping up properties?

    They all have been in the market while competing. We are proud that we are number one in the Hindi speaking market Zee TV and Zee Anmol. Competition is good for the industry and for us as well.  We intend to compete fairly. KBC has grown fantastically, Sony has done a really great job. Star got IPL and congratulations to them. Colors suddenly took a hit but are back from the lead. Things to learn from them. We are all friends but otherwise we are competing tooth and nail in the space to win the viewer.  

    What was the idea behind 9X acquisition? What is the strategy for it?

    It’s the number one group in music genre that’s the reason we acquired the channels. We are still conceptualising the strategy.

    Why are you doing this channel refresh? Was there a need?

    All brands will come to a stage and think that now is the time to change and we believed that we were not doing well last year. We slipped to be in the middle. As today you know we are on number one and the timing is right.

  • Zee TV new logo unveiled; refreshed digital platform Zee5 launch soon

    Zee TV new logo unveiled; refreshed digital platform Zee5 launch soon

    MUMBAI: Celebrating its silver jubilee at a grand event here on Saturday, India’s first private satellite TV channel, Zee TV, unveiled a new logo aimed at representing its journey for the next 25 years, while its parent Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) used the occasion to also showcase the logo of its new digital platform Zee5, which is to be launched over the next few weeks.

    Speaking during the Zee Rishtey Award, organised on Saturday and telecast on Sunday that was attended by the company bigwigs, television stars and a “3,400-strong Zee family”, ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka said that not only Zee was the world’s “biggest joint family”, but is committed to keep entertaining and innovating over the next 25 years also, which is reflected in the new channel logo (tagline being `aaj likhenge kal’ or ‘we’ll write our future today’).

    The stage was perfect to unveil a teaser of Zee group’s soon-to-be-launched new digital platform in the form of its logo. The OTT service, to be called Zee5, is a completely refreshed version of the group’s existing digital services and will ultimately subsume with itself the likes of dittoTv and Ozee. Incidentally, the digital platform logo was dedicated to Zee group chairman- founder-promoter and media baron-turned-Member of Parliament Subhash Chandra.

    “The new identity (of Zee TV) is not an evolution, but a revolution of the belief of being stronger as one family. The new colour of the logo is a sign of transformation,” Goenka was quoted by Zee sibling and newspaper DNA as saying, adding, “Over the next few weeks, we will see the rollout of Zee5 across India and other global markets.”

    ZEEL is a worldwide media brand offering entertainment and news content to diverse audiences. With a presence in over 172 countries and a reach of more than a billion people around the globe connecting in 19 languages, it is among the largest global content companies across genres, languages, and platforms, spanning presence across broadcasting, movies, music, live entertainment, digital and talent businesses.

    Holding forth further on Zee5, DNA quotes Goenka (Chandra’s eldest son) as saying, “Zee5 is poised to be the largest digital platform for Indian entertainment in the world, bringing the best of live television, Indian and international TV shows, movies and videos to viewers in the language of their choice and across all internet connected devices.”

    According to ZEEL CEO, international broadcast business Amit Goenka, “I see excitement in the air. We are progressing towards a new global destination. Zee5 is a digital platform that is born out of passion to create something new for the industry, and we are going to create a new history in the coming 25 years.”

    Meanwhile, Chandra tweeted two photos on Saturday from the 25th birthday bash of Zee with the message: “Then: Interacting with my colleagues when we completed 150 days. And Now: Interacting with colleagues tonight while we celebrate 25 years.” Incidentally, Chandra is one of those few businesspeople in the world who, as a local partner, managed to buyout Rupert Murdoch in three joint ventures in a cash and stock deal.

    Speaking on the occasion, Chandra, in what could be a direction to colleagues now managing the affairs of ZEEL, said, “We have to keep going, as it is not written in our fate to stop.”

    “I remember when we celebrated the first anniversary of Zee TV back in 1993. I had only 50 people (around) those days, and today, in 2017, we have more than 3,000 individuals who are a part of Zee. I believe that human resource is the biggest infrastructure that one has, and that is one of the biggest plus points for our nation,” he reminisced.

    public://PG Announcing Zee TV Logo2.jpg

    Over the last 18 months, ZEE has been restructuring its business portfolio shedding unattractive properties like the sports channels, which was sold to Sony Pictures Networks India, and buying GEC channels of Reliance Broadcast as also FM radio channels to expand reach and business that add value to its core value as a corporate entity.

    public://SC at Zee bash-Then and Now.png

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  • Hindi GECs don’t see many blockbuster shows today: Sony’s Danish Khan

    Hindi GECs don’t see many blockbuster shows today: Sony’s Danish Khan

    MUMBAI: The folks at Sony Entertainment Television are popping bottles of champagne! The channel has garnered the first position in the Hindi GEC urban market in week 40 of BARC data.

    Sony Entertainment Television EVP and business head Danish Khan expresses, “We are happy. We have been working towards this and KBC has been accepted very well and so have “Yeh Un Dino Ki Baat Hai” and Ganesha. We’ve lined up four-five new shows, and the calendar is filled to the brim.”

    Two years ago, Khan rejoined Sony as the business head. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Khan shared the changes and developments he has seen in the network. He says, “The focus has primarily been to work with the right kind of people in both, the internal team and production team outside.”

    He further says, “There are three pillars of our programming mantra — the first one is novelty. Our shows must have a new element. The second aspect is to have variety. Every half an hour should capture various genres like love story, family drama and mythology, etc. Lastly, we are extremely careful about the quality of the shows. Around one to two years are given to make the best.” To encourage writers to come up with extraordinary scripts, the channel invests in this area first.

    Displaying excitement and confidence in the new shows and the team working on it, he explains the backdrop of a show. “Shooting outdoors requires planning more than finance. Show budgets have increased over the years owing to better technology — giving scale to the shows, skilled technicians and artwork,” he adds.

    Khan admits that the Hindi GEC space is very competitive. “The success percentage in Hindi GECs has gone down and there is heterogeneity in the market. Blockbuster shows that appeal to all audiences will be scarce. Ten per cent of shows are for mass viewership while the remaining 90 per cent will have its own sectored viewership.” He gives the example of “Un Dino Ki Baat,” which is a show based on the 90s and appeals to the set of audience, which grew up in that decade. Though, it is micro-targetting, the quality and variety will make a difference.

    The network has launched a number of new shows in last month that include Mere Sai, Vighanharta Ganesh, Super Dancer, KBC, Yeh Un Dino Ki Baat Hai and Kuch Rang Pyar ke Aise bhi season 2.

    The 730pm time slot was reopened, after a long hiatus, to Sai Baba. Ganesh was given the slot after that. Byhadh is aired at 830 pm, and is slated to be replaced by Porus in November. A new show “Likhenge Rishta Hum Naya” will make its way to the prime time followed by Haasil. In the pipeline are — Dus Ka Dum and Prithvi Vallabh.

    Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman and CEO Ashish Bhasin vouches for Sony’s seasoned attitude in the GEC space. “Customers don’t watch channels, they watch content. If a channel can create content that resonates with the audience, it will attract eyeballs. Viewers switch between channels, which is why there are ups and downs.”

    Success rates don’t resemble what they were earlier is because of the choices available to people. But, Bhasin sees this only as a boon.

  • Tenali Rama helps Contiloe Pictures bag Zee Rishtey award

    Tenali Rama helps Contiloe Pictures bag Zee Rishtey award

    MUMBAI: Contiloe Pictures’ has been on an award-winning spree this year. Recently, their newest offering on Sab TV Tenali Rama was awarded at the Zee Rishtey Awards 2017 in the “Rishto Ki Parakh” category.

    The recently-launched show is based on the famous Telugu poet Tenali Rama and his adventures. This is Contiloe’s first offering in the historical comedy genre, and this award is a testament of all the hard work that has gone into creating this show.

    Contiloe is known to be a pioneer in the television industry for producing successful historical and mythological shows such as Maharana Pratap, Jhansi Ki Rani, Chakravartin Ashoka, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman and Vighnaharta Ganesh.

    Zee Rishtey Awards will air on 15 October 2017 at 7pm on Zee TV.

    Contiloe Pictures CEO Abhimanyu Singh said, “At Contiloe, we have always been motivated to tell stories that are a mixture of entertainment and values. Tenali Rama is a mix of wit, humour and learning, served with loads of fun and entertainment.”

  • Shareholders to receive 1 DMCL share for 4 ZMCL equity shares

    Shareholders to receive 1 DMCL share for 4 ZMCL equity shares

    BENGALURU: Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) has informed the bourses that Friday, 6 October 2017 would be the record date for the purpose of determining its shareholders who would be entitled to issuance of equity shares by Diligent Media Corporation Limited (DMCL) in the ratio of 1 (one) equity share of Re. 1 each of DMCL for every 4 (four) equity shares of Re. 1 each of ZMCL held as on the record date.

    Earlier, the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal vide an order passed on 8 June 2017, had approved the scheme of arrangement and amalgamation among ZMCL, DMCL, Mediavest India Private Limited (Mediavest), Pri-Media Services Private Limited (Pri-Media) and Maurya TV Private Limited (Maurya) and their respective shareholders and creditors.

    The scheme inter alia provides for demerger of print media undertaking of ZMCL vesting with DMCL with effect from appointed date of 1 April 2017.

    The company says that the communication was being issued for the general guidance of the shareholders of ZMCL, who have been issued Equity Shares by DMCL, for computing the proportionate of cost of acquisition of ZMCL shares to be split between ZMCL and DMCL as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

  • Highest rated Hindi GEC primetime programmes in rural India

    Highest rated Hindi GEC primetime programmes in rural India

    BENGALURU: In an earlier paper, we have discussed the highest rated Hindi GEC programmes in the Hindi Speaking Markets (HSM) – this included the urban and rural HSM markets, based on the weekly viewership ratings of the top 5 primetime programmes published by Broadcast Audience Research Council of Indi (BARC) during the first 39 weeks of 2017.

    It must be noted that the ratings (impressions) mentioned for the programmes in this paper may not represent the actual ratings during the first 39 weeks of programmes. The ratings in the paper are a sum of the ratings garnered by a programme only when it has appeared in BARC’s top 5 programmes list. Hence the actual ratings could be higher.

    As is common knowledge, rural viewership preferences are different from urban, BARC’s data for the top 5 Hindi GEC primetime (1830 to 2130 hours) NCCS HSM (U+R): 2+ individuals is not homogenous across markets. There is lumpiness, preferences vary within the urban as well rural audiences depending upon geography. While in the overall HSM markets Kumkum Bhagya on Zee TV was the most watched programme during the first 39 weeks of 2017, followed by Naagin 2 on Colors, rural HSM markets preferred the Supernatural to the family drama – Naagin 2 was the most watched programme in the Hindi HSM rural market during the 28 weeks it was there in the top 5 primetime programmes in the HSM rural market list in the first 39 weeks of 2017. The programme scored 184.395 million impressions during the 28 weeks in the top 5 programmes in the rural market list.

    Nagin 2 was followed by the Akshay Kumar – Ashwini Yardi – Meenakshi Sagar produced family drama Jamai Raja on Zee Anmol as the second watched programme during the 27 weeks it was present in the top 5 programmes in the rural market list with a score of 165.376 million impressions in the first 39 weeks of 2017.

    Optimystix Entertainment’s children’s Superhero series Baal Veer scored the third highest ratings of 162.266 million impressions during the 31 weeks it was in the top 5 programmes list in the first 39 weeks of 2017. The show earned these ratings on Sony Pictures Network India Private Limited (SPN) women focused Hindi GEC Sony Pal. Also on Sony Pal was the sitcom Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma at fourth place with 102.036 million impressions during the 20 of the first 39 weeks of 2017 that it was on the top five programmes list.

    Zee TV’s Balaji Telfilms Limited produced KumkumBhagya was the fifth most watched programme with 88.325 million impressions during the 17 of the first 39 weeks of 2017 when it was in the top 5 HSM – rural market list. Please refer to the figure below.

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    Unlike their urban brethren, rural India does not prefer reality television if one were to go by BARC data for top 5 primetime programmes in the HSM rural market.

    public://f2_6.jpg

    Soaps include all sub-genres such as family drama, comedy drama, sitcoms, mythology drama, supernatural drama. Reality includes music, dance, shows such as Fear Factor, Kaun Banega Crorepati, Bigg Boss, etc. Comedy includes shows such as The Kapil Sharma show, etc., Awards means award shows such as Star Screen Awards.

  • TED Talks Nayi Soch on Star Plus, Hotstar: Content should feed passion for knowledge, says Uday Shankar

    TED Talks Nayi Soch on Star Plus, Hotstar: Content should feed passion for knowledge, says Uday Shankar

    MUMBAI: “Television should offer a spectrum of content which includes not just the traditional definition of entertainment but also content that feeds the human passion for knowledge, which stokes curiosity and inspires people,” said Star India chairman and CEO Uday Shankar, at the unveiling of the first look of ‘TED Talks’ in India along with the megastar Shah Rukh Khan and head of TED Chris Anderson in Mumbai on Thursday evening.

    Inspiring a billion imaginations is much more than a tag line, it’s a promise Star India delivers every day in ways that break away from the conventional, spark national debate and help shape the new India.  

    Challenging the grammar of conventional entertainment and inspiring Nayi Soch, Star India is bringing this disruption on Star Plus, produced by Fremantle India, and hosted by Khan.

    Star India has always believed in powering social change through the power of its content to influence and impact people’s lives and thought. Continuing with this journey, the new programme will take forward Star’s commitment of creating a social impact.

    In a global first collaboration that will make the transformative power of ideas accessible to audience across India, Star Plus unites with TED – the global platform known for spotlighting and spreading powerful ideas that transform people see the world.

    It is TED’s first collaboration with a major network to produce a television series featuring original TED Talks in a language other than English.

    The show will bring some of the best innovators and thinkers of Indian origin to the center stage, hosted by Shah Rukh Khan. The show captures a mix of speakers, thinkers and doers, who have questioned norms and brought forth unique ideas that have the potential to inspire billions. 

    All these ideas which originate from personal belief and self-motivation bear testimony to the ingenuity of Indians. 

    Scientists, authors, thinkers, entrepreneurs and artistes, this show provides a global platform to speakers from all walks of life, taking their ideas to every home in India with the huge reach of the Star Plus platform.  It can also be viewed on Hotstar, Star’s online video streaming platform.

    Shankar said: “At Star, we have always believed that conventional definitions of content exist only to be challenged. I have been a big fan of TED and felt that there is no reason why these ideas should not be made accessible to all Indians in a language of their choice.”

    He added: “The timing is perfect — It is a time when the world is looking to India for the next big idea. Shah Rukh Khan whose charisma and enthusiasm will be pivotal in connecting with our viewers.”

    Khan said: “Bringing the power of ideas to people’s living rooms across India, and reaching out to especially the youth of our country, is something that’s really exciting.”

    Anderson said, “We have a real shot at offering millions of people the empowerment that inspiring speakers can bring.”

    Also Read:

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  • Zee India’s cultural ambassador to world, says Amit Goenka as it shares anniversary celebrations with India’s sat TV industry

    Zee India’s cultural ambassador to world, says Amit Goenka as it shares anniversary celebrations with India’s sat TV industry

    MUMBAI: ZEE has, over the years, emerged as the cultural ambassador of India to the world, taking its rich and engaging content to diverse 1.3 billion audience, said ZEEL CEO – international broadcast business Amit Goenka during the celebration of the channel’s completion of 25 glorious years.

    In the history of India, 2 October is a landmark day as it is the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. On this momentous day, way back in 1992, India also witnessed the birth of satellite television with the launch of the first Hindi satellite television channel, Zee TV from the stable of Zee Telefilms Ltd., now ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL). This year, ZEE Entertainment, which has evolved from an Indian television broadcaster into a media and and entertainment conglomerate, has completed 25 years of bringing the best of entertainment content to viewers in India and across the world.

    Essel Group and ZEE chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subhash Chandra said, “Zee TV had led to the commencement of a new industry which not only generated employment for 50 lakh people but also gave a new direction to India. We started with a single resolution to provide entertainment, and today, we share this happiness with 1.3 billion viewers across 173 countries, in 19 languages. 

    Under the leadership of Punit and Amit, ZEE will always work towards new technology and concepts so as to provide its viewers with the best of entertainment.”

    Sharing his views on this milestone, ZEEL MD and CEO Punit Goenka said, “On 2 October, 1992, our chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra launched the nation’s first private satellite television channel. The industry today stands at an estimated size of Rs 588 billion. As consumer preferences shift and evolve, our aim at ZEE, is to anticipate the change, embrace the new and continue to lead by innovation.”

    Amit Goenka said, “ZEE forayed into the international business in 1995 with the launch of Zee TV in the UK. ZEE has emerged as the cultural ambassador of India. Our vision for the future is to become the world’s leading global content company from the emerging markets.”

    Also Read:

    Zee takes drama, factual and lifestyle shows to MIPCOM, celebrates 25 years

    ZEEL to unveil new look of Zee TV on 15 Oct

    GEC: Zee TV vaults to top, DD Nat among best 10 in 3 markets