MUMBAI: STAR, Zee and Times have continued to lead in the list of top 10 media groups in India. The growth of television distribution firms, Business Standard reported, has been one of the major changes the listing has seen in five years. Bharti Airtel and Tata Sky are now well-entrenched in the leading 10 companies.
A noticeable fact is that a film company is missing from the list of Top 10 or 20 firms.
Among the media firms, the pattern in India is similar to the global one where some of the biggest media houses are the ones with a grasp on distribution. For example, Comcast, the largest global media firm (Rs 5.15 trillion revenue), is a distribution giant.
Only Times, Jagran and HT Media are the only print media firms in the top 10. The Times group, BS states, receives an estimated 60 per cent of its revenues from its print business.
The rest is a mix between Internet, radio and TV. Although Zee, as Times, is also diversified with print, cable, DTH, radio and TV broadcasting, but its major revenues come from TV broadcasting and distribution.
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL), a worldwide content company, is breaking new boundaries globally by making a tremendous impact in the U.S. The organisation’s leading Hindi channel, Zee TV, which was the first Hindi channel to be launched in the U.S. in 1998, is now making its presence felt in Hollywood.
‘Made In America’ has attracted some of the respected brands such as Lexus, All State Insurance, and Wells Fargo bank as sponsors.
As of August 2017, Zee TV Americas launched the first English-language South Asian reality show, ‘Made In America.’ The show is entirely produced and filmed in the U.S.A. and marks the first time that a channel of Indian origin is producing content at a global scale for international audience.
The show centers around six South Asian millennial women who were chosen from a nationwide search in the United States, which drew in over 6,000 applicants. Hosted by Nina Davuluri, the first-ever Indian American woman to be crowned Miss America, the six women are mentored by Nina as they are pushed to their limits for over a period of 10 weeks in various types of training, while competing to win the coveted title of ‘Made In America.’
Zee TV Americas CEO Sameer Targe states, “We realised that there was a need in the marketplace to reach a younger South Asian audience who have an enormous desire to be in the glamour world. Zee TV, being the flagship television network for south Asians in the United States, we decided to launch ‘Made In America’ to fulfill their Hollywood dreams, and create a platform for them to be able to showcase their talents.”
As each episode focuses on one specific challenge ranging from an array of categories, at the end of each episode a winner is chosen, leading to a final single winner in the season finale of the show, which will air on 12 October, 2017.
Zee TV Americas is the first South Asian network to indigenously create such original content, both developed & produced in Hollywood. Viewers can expect an array of new programs produced in the U.S. by Zee, which will air on the channel throughout 2017 and 2018.
The newly developed shows will center around a variety of genres and topics. From a reality series where professional matchmakers will seek suitable matches for the participants, leading to a possible wedding in the finale, to a biographical series based on successful Indian American entrepreneurs and philanthropists in which their journey to success stories are shared. The channel will also be airing a first of its kind business show and game show. The business show will give hopeful entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their products and ideas to a panel of expert investors for a chance to have their product invested in, whereas the game show will give families across America a platform to compete with one another in various subjects to win the title of, ‘America’s Smartest Family.’
As Zee TV Americas broadens its footprint in programming catered towards its current subscribers as well as millennials, the network has assured that the highly anticipated content that it has created will be like nothing that its viewers have seen before on any other South Asian channel.
BENGALURU: Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) Hindi movies channel Sony Max was the most watched movies channel in 2017 until week 32 (Saturday, 5August 2017 to Friday, 11 August 2017) as per Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data. Sony Max was present during all the 32 weeks of 2017 in BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 Hindi Movies channels for HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 2+ Individuals and garnered a total of 18,391,696 million impressions in 2017 until week 32. The channel was ranked number one in the top 5 channels lists for 26weeks and ranked second for six of the first 32 weeks of 2017. Sony Max network peer and SPN movies channel Sony Wah was ranked first during the six weeks that Sony Max was ranked second.
The tenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL10) was played between weeks 14 and 31 of 2017.Even if the ratings for the 8 weeks between 14 and 21 were neglected, the channel had a total of 10,213.295 million impressions in 2017 until week 32, which was the highest in the HSM (R+U) genre. Excluding the data for the 8 IPL10 weeks, Sony Max was ranked first during 18 of the first 32 weeks of 2017 in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies (U+R) list.
This paper must be read with a caveat: It deals only with the players/programmes present in BARC’s top 5 lists of channels and programmes per week. The sums/percentages of channels/programmes of other players as well as other than those indicated in BARC’s top 5 lists of channels/programmes have not been considered/mentioned in this paper during the period under consideration in this paper and those numbers could be more/higher.
Seven Hindi movies channels were present in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies (U+R) during the first 31 weeks of 2017. Three Hindi movies channels were present during all the first 32 weeks of 2017 in BARC’s weekly lists of top 5 Hindi Movies channels for HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 2+ Individuals – they are Sony Max, Sony Wah and Zee Cinema. Please refer to the chart below:
The highest ratings obtained by Sony Max was in week 15 of 2017 (second week of IPL10) at 1,334.063 million weekly impressions, while the lowest was in week 3 of 2017 when the channel had 331.76 million weekly impressions. Excluding the 8 IPL weeks, the highest ratings obtained by Sony Max was in week 26 of 2017 at 517.758 million weekly impressions with week 3 of 2017 ratings mentioned above as the lowest.
Most watched films in the HSM (U+R) market
The Salman Khan-Anushka Sharma starrer Sultan was the most watched Hindi feature film when it featured in the top 5 programmes list during the first 32 weeks of 2017 as per BARC’s weekly list of most watched programmes in the HSM (U+R) market – NCCS All : 2+ Individuals with total impressions of 433.23 million during eight of the weeks it was in the top 5 Hindi Movies (U+R) programmes lists. When in the lists, Sultan was aired seven times on Sony Max and once on Sony Wah. The first part of the Indian epic historical Bahubali – the Beginning was the second most watched Hindi movie during the first 32 weeks of 2017 with total impressions of 39.482 million – it was aired 5 times on Sony Max and twice on Sony Wah, when it was present in the top 5 programmes lists. S S Rajamouli’s magnum opus was followed by Aamir Khan’s satirical science fiction comedy PK with a total of 28.401 million impressions during the six weeks it featured in the top 5 programmes lists – this was thrice each on Sony Max and Sony Wah.
Urban Audiences
HSM Urban (U) audiences also preferred Sony Max, which along with Zee Cinema, Star Gold and &pictures was present in BARC top 5 Hindi Movies channels weekly listduring all the first 32 weeks of 2017. The channel scored 10,741.915 million impressions during the first 32 weeks of 2017. Excluding IPL weeks, the channel scored 6,229.712 million impressions during the first 32 weeks of 2017. Please refer to the chart below:
Sultan was the most watched Hindi feature film on Hindi Movies channels in the HSM Urban or U markets – the film appeared in BARC’s weekly list of top 5 Hindi Movies programmes for 9 weeks – 8 times on Sony Max and once on Sony Wah with a total of 29.183 million impressions during the first 32 weeks of 2017. Bahubali- the Beginning was the second most watched Hindi feature film on Hindi Movies channels in the urban markets during the period under consideration – It appeared in the top 5 Hindi Movies programmes list for 6 weeks – all on Sony Max with total impressions of 22.567 million impressions. Bahubali was followed by 3 Idiots – the movie featured 7 times in the top 5 Hindi Movies programmes lists during the first 32 weeks of 2017 with total impressions of 18.613 million impressions.
Rural Audiences
Per BARC data on Top 5 Hindi Movies (Rural or R) channels, it was SPN’s Sony Wah that was the most watched Hindi Movies channel in the HSM rural markets with 8,988.642 million weekly impressions during the first 32 weeks of 2017. Three channels were present in the top 5 Hindi Movies channels in the rural markets during the period under consideration in this paper. They were – Sony Wah, Zee Anmol Cinema and Star Utsav Movies. Please refer to the chart below:
Karan Arjun was the most watched film on a television movie channel when it appeared in the top 5 HSM rural market programmes lists during the first 32 weeks of 2017. The movie was present in the top 5 Hindi Movies programmes (Rural) lists for 5 weeks with a total of 16.805 million impressions and was aired on Sony Wah during all the 5 weeks that it appeared in the top 5 Hindi Movies programmes (Rural) lists. PK was the second most watched film in the Hindi Movies rural markets during the first 32 weeks of 2017. PK appeared in the top 5 Movies programmes (Rural) lists 4 times on Sony Wah during that period with total impressions of 14.06 million. Bahubali – the Beginning was the third most popular film on television in the HSM rural markets. The film scored a total of 12.212 million when it was present in the top 5 Hindi Movies programmes (Rural) lists – twice each on Sony Wah and Sony Max.
MUMBAI: Star India, which is launching Star Bharat from the 28 August at 6 pm, will showcase inspirational stories about journeys of strong and fearless characters that rise for the collective. Celebrating the many facets of Fearless India, Star Bharat unveils a content line-up with strong, rooted icons and differentiated programming that is in line with the brand’s philosophy of “Bhula de darr”.
Om Shanti Om: For the first time on Indian television, a channel will celebrate the essence of devotional music with a contemporary twist. A devotional music reality show where tradition meets trendy, creating ‘trenditional’ music. The show will depict the musical journey of 14 voices that will give a contemporary touch to devotional songs and unify audiences across the country with their renditions. Produced by Colosceum, the show will mark the debut of Baba Ramdev on television as the Maha Judge. While the esteemed panel of judges will include Bollywood sensation Sonakshi Sinha, singer and music director Shekhar Ravjiani, and singer Kanika Kapoor.
Kya Haal Mr. Panchaal? –1 Saas. 1 Son. 5 Brides. Boon or bane? Kya Haal Mr. Panchaal? is a comedy of errors where a mother’s quest for the perfect bride lands her with five. See how a desperate mother’s prayer for the ‘perfect’ bride with 5 essential qualities gets answered in the form of 5 women with 5 different qualities. What follows is a series of funny events. Sometimes getting more than what you ask for can be a curse! Created in association with Optimystix, ‘Kya Haal Mr. Panchal?’ is a rib-tickling comedy starring Kanchan Gupta as the saas and Manindar Singh as the son.
Nimki Mukhiya- Set in Bihar this is a story of a village that has been ruled by men for years. Women here are confined mostly to being home makers. But a wind of change is about to set in. Call it opportunity or sheer luck, for the first time ever the state will witness something extraordinary. A naïve and bubbly young girl, Nimki, who loves to daydream and is unaware of the world outside her house, is about to take on the responsibility of her village and become the Mukhiya. The show is a journey of self realisation that power to change oneself as well as the environment we live lies within. Nimki’s unexpected position as the Mukhiya gives a comical twist to situations.
Saam Daam Dand Bhed- Saam Daam Dand Bhed is the personal journey of Vijay Namdhari, played by Bhanu Uday, a high-potential but misguided youth who doesn’t know what he wants from life. This family drama, based in a fictitious town in India, is produced by Shakuntalam Telefilms. When a storm shatters his life, Vijay finally finds the courage to fight back and protect his family. The show will trace his transformation from a carefree youngster into a political leader, who becomes the inspiration to many.
Ayushman Bhav- Set against the backdrop of Mathura, Ayushman Bhav is a gripping story of Krish. The show depicts the poignant tale of an eight-year-old boy whose childhood is not as simple as others’. Like other children his age, Krish plays with toys and games but he also harbors a burning desire to seek justice for the wrong doings in his past life. Produced by White Horse International, the revenge drama stars popular child artist Ricky Patel as the lead and Avinash Sachdeva, Megha Gupta, and Manish Goel as cast members.
Star Bharat’s launch campaign ‘Mat kar’ is based on a simple yet powerful insight on how we unknowingly allow different kinds of fears to creep into our minds and how these fears end up in stopping us from pursuing our dreams.
‘Mat kar’, an oft repeated phrase in Indian society refers to a pull-back factor. Pulling back from free flowing fun, nurturing a dream, making a life choice or simply following one’s instincts. The film, conceptualized by Star India’s creative team and directed by Shimit Amin of Chak De fame, takes us through various scenarios, some significant and some apparently not so, all of which play on fear. Star Bharat’s answer to “Mat kar” leading to fear is a resounding ‘Bhula de darr’…
MUMBAI: Going FTA seems to be the flavor of the season. Star India’s Hindi general entertainment channel Life OK, which will be soon rebranded as Star Bharat, is now slated to be available on DD FreeDish.
Recently, one of India’s largest broadcasting company Star India had won additional slots on pubcaster’s FTA KU-band service (DD FreeDish) by bidding shades over Rs. 160 million. At present, the three Star channels on the platform are Star Utsav, Star Utsav Movies and Star Sports First.
Prasar Bharati sources admitted to indiantelevision.com that Star India has additional slots on DD FreeDish, but could not give an immediate time frame for any new channel to be made part of the FTA platform. Reason: DD FreeDish is being upgraded with a new technology (MPEG-4) that will help it enhance overall viewer experience as also get more TV channels on board after signal compression.
“We cannot guarantee if the technological upgradation will be complete by the end of this month so as to accommodate more TV channels,” a source in Prasar Bharati said, explaining that the arrival of Star Bharat or any other TV channel on FreeDish could get delayed beyond August.
Meanwhile, according to industry sources, shows such as ‘May I come in Madam’, ‘Sher-E-Punjab Ranjeet Singh’ and ‘Chandrakanta’ will go off air and shows like ‘Savdhaan India’ and ‘Ghulam’ will continue on Star Bharat. Shows like ‘Kya Haal Mr Paanchaal’, produced by Optimystix, are among the new launches. Life OK earlier carried another named and was originally launched in 2011.
‘Aayushman Bhava’, produced by White Horse Telefilms (a murder mystery) and Zama Habib’s ‘Nimki Mukhiyaan’, which was supposed to have aired on Star Plus, has now been shifted to soon-to-be launched Star Bharat. It’s a story about a girl who becomes a village chief and changes her entire village.
Star Bharat is also exploring launching a bhajan reality show ‘Om Shanti Om’, produced by Colosceum Media, which will be likely judged by rock star yoga guru-turned-entrepreneur Baba Ramdev, along with Sonakshi Sinha, Kanika Kapoor and Shekhar Ravjiani.
On 17 August 2017, Star Bharat launched its first TVC, #Bhuladedarr. The TVC gives a new definition to ‘overpowering inhibitions’.
BARC data has shown in the past that private sector FTA channels on DD FreeDish, like Zee Anmol and Star Utsav, garner good audience and help in upping the ratings of such TV channels.
Doordarshan’s FreeDish is a multi-channel FTA DTH service, which was launched in December 2004 with a modest collection of 33 TV channels. Regular upgrades has enhanced capacity and presently platform has the capacity of 80 SD TV channels along with 32 radio channels. The service is a available in KU-band on GSAT-15.
(With additional inputs from BB Nagpal in New Delhi)
NEW DELHI: The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), a self-regulatory body under the Indian Broadcasting Foundation umbrella, has asked Sony Pictures Network India to move its fictional serial Pehredaar Piya Ki, aired on one of its channels, to the 10 pm slot and simultaneously run a scroll that it doesn’t promote child marriage.
The soap opera, with a story-line where a minor boy is shown married to a young-adult woman, who also doubles up as his security guard, had come under criticism for allegedly promoting regressive ideas like child marriage, which is an offence under Indian laws.
The BCCC directive to Sony Pictures Networks India, which came on Wednesday, was the first one chaired by its new chief Justice (retd) Vikramajit Sen, according to news agency IANS.
“We had a monthly meeting and the channel officials were called for a discussion, which went on for quite long. After everything, they were directed that the timing of the show should be shifted to a late night slot of 10 pm and that they must run a disclaimer. They (Sony Pictures Networks India) will have to comply,” a BCCC executive was quoted by IANS as saying.
Indiantelevision.com could not independently reach out to SPNI for its comments on the BCCC directive till the time of writing this report, which is based on what news agency IANS has filed.
Since the last BCCC meeting, the body received around 138 fresh complaints against `Pehredaar Piya Ki’, which is produced by Shashi Sumeet Productions and went on air last month. The makers had been defending it, saying viewers must understand the circumstances in which the girl has to marry the boy child, the news agency report stated.
Earlier, some media reports quoted the minister of information & broadcasting (MIB) Smriti Irani, when asked about the controversy surrounding the Sony Pictures Networks India serial, saying that her ministry has asked the BCCC to look into the issue.
The serial stars Tejaswi Prakash Wayangankar as Diya Ratan Singh and Afaan Khan as her husband Prince Ratan Singh.
Set up in June 2011, BCCC is an independent self-regulatory body for non-news general entertainment channels under the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, an apex body of a large number of general and factual entertainment TV channels operating in India. IBF website states its members manage 350+ channels and about 90 per cent of television viewership across country.
MUMBAI: EsselWorld is all set to celebrate 70 years of India’s Independence by giving a tribute to the Indian Army. On 15th August, 2017, the park will contribute 10% of the ticket value collected from the sale of combined EsselWorld and Water Kingdom tickets, valued at Rs. 1,299/-, towards the welfare of our Jawans.
Through this initiative, EsselWorld enables all its patrons to be a part of this noble cause and offer their respect and gratitude to the men in uniform – the real heroes of our country. The park will donate the amount to welfare fund for Jawans which will be then used for the well being of our Jawans, provide facilities for the army and war causalities. Tickets are available on the website of EsselWorld (http://www.esselworld.in) and Water Kingdom (http://www.waterkingdom.in). Customers can also purchase tickets from their retail kiosks located in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Surat.
Terribly Tiny Talkies
Terribly Tiny Talkies collaborates with United Colors of Benetton to bring a heart-warming short, HIND based on a true story this Independence Day! The film is based on a true story about Noorul Hasan, a devout Muslim from Lucknow, who lent a part of his home, and all his support thereafter, in rebuilding a temple.
Noorul Hasan is a quiet man who mostly keeps to himself. This short roughly shows a regular day in the life of this man. The film is shot across the beautiful city of Lucknow – Hazratganj, Dada Miyan ki Mazhar, Shani Dev Mandir, Chowk, Imambada, Gomti Ghat, and random roads and bazaars of Lucknow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZmwduLPwFsk
SABgroup programmes
Sri Adhikari Brothers (SABGROUP) brings to its audience “Mastiii Freedom Hours” on its premier Music Channel Mastiii – India’s #1 Music & Youth Channel with uninterrupted, non-stop music playing during multiple dayparts celebrating our independence, and doing a lot more on its social platforms by giving an opportunity to the viewers to win big all day by participating in the Mastiii Independence day special contest.
Additionally SABGROUP’s digital initiative Happii-Fi is set to engage the audience with its special episode of Janhit Mein Jaari as an ode to independence with a perspective on the “Birth of Pakistan” showcasing the reasons on how a once united nation broke up into India & Pakistan.
Ghazi Attack on Star Gold
‘Star Gold’, to take you on a remarkable journey filled with courage and bravery, on August 15, 2017 at 8 pm with the World Television Premiere of ‘The Ghazi Attack’. Sankalp Reddy’s directorial debut, this film is backed up with great dedication and 3 years of research.
Starring Rana Daggubati, Taapsee Pannu, Kay Kay Menon and Atul Kulkarni, this film is inspired by a war that no one knows about. It’s a unique Indian war film that is based on the mysterious sinking of PNS Ghazi during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. The film is majorly shot under-water and is the first-of-its-kind war film with inspiring characters and strong wave of patriotism. ‘The Ghazi Attack’ manages to keep you engrossed and on toes till the very end.
‘Sattar Ka Swaraj’ on News18
News18 India will celebrate the spirit of independence with a number of specials, under the umbrella branding Sattar ka Swaraj. The channel’s offerings will include Azadi Ke Gaon – a special show highlighting the story of a village where till date villagers don’t have access to electricity and water, even after 70 years of independence; a special show on submarines with an exclusive report from inside an Indian Navy submarine; Heroes of Second World War – a show focusing on the forgotten Indian heroes of the Second World War who fought alongside the Allied forces; Azadi Ke Tarane – a compilation of popular patriotic Bollywood songs; Kashmir Mein Bharat Bhakt – A show on those in Kashmir who are nationalists and swear by this country – and finally a special episode of Lapete Mein Netaji.
Lokmat initiative
Lokmat along with Trinayani- a not for profit NGO is launching a film bringing together persons with and without disabilities thus promoting inclusion. Through this film, Lokmat creates awareness towards citizens who are differently abled applauding them for their achievements.
The core theme of the film is towards ‘Inclusive India’ involving persons with different disabilities and diversities singing the national anthem together with non-disabled individuals. The film features people who have visual, speech, hearing, intellectual and mobility impairment along with representatives of LGBTQ community and an Acid Attack survivor.
Manyavar designs campaign
Manyavar collaborated with leading Hindi GEC, Star Plus through a special brand integration for Independence Day. Three of the channels biggest shows i.e. Ishqbaaz, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein carried the India 70 Not out messages during the running time of the shows on the channel. Manyavar will also be seen through brand integration in Big Boss Telegu where the contestants participate in a fashion show in ethnic clothes sponsored by Manyavar. To further celebrate the Independence Spirit, news anchors of Zee News, ABP News, News Nation and India News will be seen reading the news in Manyavar kurtas on 15th of August 2017.
Alongside this, the TVC of the film was promoted across 14 channels such as Zee Business, Star Sports, CNBC Awaaz, MTV, ABP News among others. Manyavar is also the Title Sponsor for show Dil Se India on Star Sports and Ground Sponsors for Pro Kabbadi League.
Vh1 adds flavour
The channel will celebrate Independence Day with a unique musical special Vh1 Soundnation that will feature the Indie artists who have contributed to the rise of the music scene in the country.
Show: Vh1 Soundnation- INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL
Date: Tuesday, 15th August | Time: 12:30PM & 7PM
Show: Ride to the Roots with Nucleya- INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL:
Date: Tuesday, 15th August | Time: 12PM & 9PM
Show: 2017 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS: NOMINEES SPECIAL
Date: Monday- Friday, 16th August onwards | Time: 7PM
BENGALURU: The Essel Group’s news network Zee Media Corporation Limited (ZMCL) reported 9.7 percent growth in operating revenue on the back of a 16.7 percent hike in advertising revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 (Q1-18, current quarter) as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter (y-o-y). The company’s subscription revenue however declined 29 percent y-o-y. ZMCL’s operating revenue in the current quarter was Rs 1,144.53 million and Rs 1,043.23 million in Q1-17. Total Income in Q1-18 was also 9.7 percent higher y-o-y at Rs1,176.43 million as compared to Rs1,072.41 million.
Operating profit (EBIDTA) in the current quarter increased 14.4 percent to Rs 252.17 million as compared to Rs 220.43 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. Profit after tax (PAT) in Q1-18 was however 25 percent lower at Rs 73.8 million as compared to Rs 98.5 million in Q1-17, partly affected by the share of loss of Rs 23.46 million by ZMCL’s associates and a rise in expenses.
Total expenditure in Q1-18 increased 11.3 percent to Rs 1,027.27 million from Rs 922.85 million in Q1-17.
Operating costs increased 26.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 198.26 million as compared to Rs 156.90 million. Finance costs in the current quarter increased 57.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 51.15 million from Rs 32.51 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Employee benefit expense in Q1-18 increased 18.2 percent to Rs 293.97 million from Rs 248.64 million in Q1-17.
The company spent 42.1 percent less towards Advertising and Publicity expense in the current quarter at Rs 30.97 million as compared to Rs 53.49 million in Q1-17. ZMCL’s marketing, distribution and business promotion expense in Q1-18 increased 1.33 percent y-o-y o Rs 130.96 million as compared to Rs129.24 million. Other expense in the current quarter increased 1.56 percent y-o-y o Rs 238.20 million as compared to Rs 234.53.
BENGALURU: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) flagship Hindi GEC Zee TV, last week, led Hindi GECs’ in Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) list of top 10 channels across genre list.
Zee TV was the second most watched channel across genre following the Sun TV Network’s Tamil flagship GEC Sun TV and followed one rank behind by its sister FTA Hindi GEC channel Zee Anmol at third rank in week 30. This week – week 31 – Saturday, 29 July 2017 to Friday, 4 August 2017, it is Zee Anmol that stands second in BARC’s list of top 10 channels across genre list, following Sun TV and followed by Zee TV.
Star India’s Tamil flagship GEC made its maiden entry in 2017 in the top ten channels across genre list. It is also for the first time in 2017 that two Tamil channels have made it to the top 10 across genre list
Three Star India channels, and two channels each from the Zeel, Network 18 (Viacom 18) Network, and Sony Pictures Network (SPN) and one channel from the Sun TV Network made it to BARC’s top 10 channels across genre list in week 31 of 2017. Putting it from the markets point of view – Two Tamil channels, one Hindi movie and Telugu channel each and six Hindi GEC channels formed the list.
Sun TV once again took its fixed pole position with 989.801 million weekly impressions followed by Zee Anmol with 713.472 million weekly impressions at second spot. Zee TV was at third rank with 696.319 million weekly impressions followed by Network 18’s Hindi flagship GEC with 665.958 million weekly impressions. Star India’s Hindi flagship GEC Star Plus was at fifth rank in week 31 with 650.130 million weekly impressions. Last week, Star Plus was fourth and Colors fifth.
Network 18’s FTA Hindi GEC Rishtey came in sixth with 572.328 million weekly impressions followed by Star India’s Telugu flagship GEC Star Maa at seventh with 569.216 million weekly impressions. SPN’s women show centric channel Sony Pal was eighth with 552.221 million impressions followed by its sister Hindi Movies channel Sony Max with 509.365 million impressions. Star Vijay at tenth place with 502.284 million impressions completed the list.
Zee Anmol and Zee TV have also topped BARC’s Hindi GEC (U+R) list with three of its shows – one reality show and two family dramas (Kumkum Bhagya and its spinoff Kumkum Kundali) among the top five programmes in the Hindi GEC genre. Further, Zee Anmol also topped the ratings in the Hindi GEC (Rural) market and two of its shows were ranked second and third in BARC’s list of top five programmes. Zee TV was ranked four in the Hindi GEC (Rural) genre. However, the two channels were ranked third (Zee TV) and ninth (Zee Anmol) in BARC’s list of top 10 channels in Hindi GEC (Urban) market. Zee TV’s reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs topped the top five programmes in the Hindi GEC (Urban) market list.
MUMBAI: Innovation in presentation and telecast seems to be continuing phenomenon. Versatile actor Aamir Khan’s ‘Dangal’, which is having its television premiere on Zee Cinema on 15 August, will be a special Independence Day treat for the visually impaired and hearing viewers: it will have subtitles for those who cannot hear and audio description for those who cannot see.
Marking its silver jubilee this year, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd is launching a “Zee For All” initiative with strong content and technology support. ZEE covers 172 countries and it has reached over one billion viewers, driven by its philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – The world is one family. The film is being telecast on 15 August at 12 Noon.
The telecast of ‘Dangal’ was long awaited for its emotional resonance, technical artistry and compelling performances. Director Nitesh Tiwari’s sports biographical drama features Aamir Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Suhani Bhatnagar, ZairaWasim, Aparshakti Khurrana, Ritvik Sahore and Girish Kulkarni. It is based on the true story of a former Indian national wrestling champ who battles the existing social order to train his two young daughters to be world-class contenders in the otherwise male dominated sport of wrestling.
According to World Health Organisation 2010 Report, India accounts for eight million blind, 54.5 million people with low vision and 62.6 million people with visual impairment – which makes India home to the second largest visually challenged population globally.
The objective of ‘ZEE For All’ is to ensure that the large population of the Visually and Hearing Impaired receives access to what is truly world class, inspiring entertainment. Zee Cinema has also associated with the National Association For The Blind (Mumbai, Indore, Chandigarh and Lucknow), National Association For The Blind – The Workshop for the Blind in Mumbai, Institution For The Blind in Delhi and Patiala School of Blind & Deaf in Punjab. Zee Cinema will host preview screenings with audio Description and subtitles to sensitize the visually Impaired with the technology of audio description to bring entertainment within their reach,
The audio description feed will be available on Dish TV, Videocon, Tata Sky and Airtel. The subtitles will be in English on HD and in Hindi on SD.
Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) CEO – domestic broadcast business Punit Misra said, “On India’s 70th Independence Day, ZEE redefines the ‘freedom to see’ and offers all our audiences a superlative movie watching experience in the comfort of their homes. We hope that the premiere of Dangal reaches out to the maximum number of visually and hearing Impaired audiences in India. We are also exploring adding audio description in other Indian regional languages in the future. Just like Aamir gave us the audio description assets for Dangal, we will reach out to all our content partners requesting for the same as we expand the initiative. ‘ZEEForAll’ will surely be a milestone in the history of TV broadcasting in India.”
Zee Hindi Movie Cluster Business Head Ruchir Tiwari said, “It is wonderful to associate with Aamir Khan on this pioneering initiative with Dangal – a film that is inspiring, emotional and entertaining. I am personally very happy that Dangal has inspired our team to do what is needed to make the movie accessible to all our viewers.”
Aamir Khan said, “It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the television premiere of Dangal on 15th August on Zee Cinema SD. I instantly agreed to the idea of premiering Dangal with audio description for the visually impaired and it is a matter of absolute pride to associate with ZEE on this Independence Day premiere of my film.”
Essentially, audio description conveys the most important visual aspects of the story by providing commentary during natural pauses and moments of quiet. It is a voice-over narration that explains what is happening on the screen, including physical actions made by various characters and other important visual elements. The narration is inserted between lines of dialogue. This audio description is recorded and made available as a separate audio track that can be selected by the audience on their remote.
