ITV

Category: GECs

  • Bharat Kedia to be ZEEL CFO as Modi gets new role

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises LTD (ZEEL) has appointed Bharat Kedia as the chief financial officer. With effect from 1 August, Kedia will replace Mihir Modi, who will be moving to a new role in the company.

    Kedia, a chartered accountant & company secretary, has over two decades’ experience spanning across finance, fund-raising, M&A, information technology and corporate strategy in diverse businesses across Europe, Russia and India in varied roles with companies/ group such as Publicis Groupe-India, Coca-Cola-Europe, United Beverages and Kansai-Nerolac Paints.

    Before joining ZEEL, Kedia was the CFO of Parag Milk Foods Ltd.

    Bharat Kedia, a speaker at various topics in seminars led by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, was conferred with “CF0-100” award in 2015-16 — one of the prestigious awards for the finance community.

  • Star Gold premieres ‘Dhruva’ on 23 July, Ajay Devgn lends voice

    MUMBAI: Star Gold claims to have has become synonymous with setting new benchmarks for every film it premieres and the channel now takes it a notch higher by becoming the first Hindi Movie Channel to get a Bollywood megastar to dub for a movie Premiere.

    For the Hindi Television Premiere of ‘Dhruva’, Star Gold has brought onboard, superstar Ajay Devgn to lend his voice to the lead character, played by Ram Charan. Arbaaz Khan also lends his voice for the character of Siddharth Abhimanyu played by Arvind Swamy.

    “Star Gold has been the official home to my films and, when the team came in with the opportunity of doing this first of its kind initiative for a television premiere, I instantly agreed. The journey of bringing Dhruva to life in Hindi has been as exciting & exhilarating as portraying any of my characters on the big screen,” says actor Ajay Devgn.

    ‘Dhruva’ took the Box Office by storm, and became one of the top three Tollywood box office hits of 2016. With Ajay Devgn onboard, the channel is confident to replicate the success with the film’s television premiere.

    “We couldn’t think of a better fit than Ajay Devgn to lend his voice for this power packed film. While lending voices for big screen premieres of regional and international dubs is common, we wanted to set a new benchmark by bringing this trend onto TV Premieres. We aim to bring to our viewers, the big blockbusters of Indian Cinema as extravagantly as possible,” says Hemal Jhaveri, General Manager, and Exec. President, Hindi Movie Business, Star India.

    Scheduled to premiere on 23 July 2017 at 8:00 PM, ‘Dhruva’ produced by Allu Aravind, follows the dramatic journey of IPS officer, Dhruva who is on a mission to bring down Siddharth Abhimanyu (Arvind Swamy), an evil genius who is the brain behind a massive medical mafia. Stylish, slick and replete with high octane action sequences and power packed performances – Dhruva is the perfect movie to enjoy on your home screens.

  • Life OK rebranded as Star Bharat may start from 15 Aug

    MUMBAI: Star India is planning to relaunch its existing general entertainment channel — Life OK, renamed as Star Bharat. The channel plans to have modern outlook but Indian feel.

    According to reports, it will be relaunched with the new look on 15 August.

    Since 2011, the channel will be branded for the second time. At the earlier launch, Star One was rebranded as Life OK. In 2016, the network changed the programming line-up of the channel. But, it seems the revamp of the programming strategy did not work.

    According to sources, shows such as “May I come in Madam,” “Sher-E-Punjab Ranjeet Singh” and “Chandrakanta” will go off air, and shows including Savdhaan India and Ghulam will continue. Shows like Kya Haal Paanchaal, Ayushamaan Bhava and Shatranj will be launched on Star Bharat shortly.

    ‘Shatranj’ is basically an Indian adaptation of the English show ‘House of Cards’ that features Sonal Vengurkar, Akshay Anand and Bhanu Uday. Another show called ‘Kya Haal Paanchal’, produced by Optimystic, is based on polygamy, starring Maninder Singh in the lead and five girls.

    At the time of filing this report, an official confirmation did not come through. It is hoped that the second rebranding works for Star.

  • TLC to launch India’s first-ever women’s comedy show on 24 Sept

    MUMBAI: The comedy genre has exploded over the last few years in India with new comedy clubs sprouting and stand-up comedians achieving celebrity status. However, the limelight seems to be squarely focused on the men with very few women making a mark in this burgeoning space. Given the scenario, TLC, India’s go to lifestyle channel, is launching ‘Queens of comedy’ – India’s first-ever female comedy show.

    ‘Queens of comedy’ provides a unique platform to the talented female comedians to compete with the best and prove that when it comes to being funny, they can give the men a run for their money!

    The show will be judged by three acclaimed artists – Actor Richa Chadha – The Bholi Punjaban of Bollywood has left a remarkable mark with her varied choice of movie roles and now she’s all set to make her TV debut and set to display a whole new set of skills. She is all set to leave you in splits of laughter with her impeccable comic timing in Queens of Comedy; Rohan Joshi – one-fourth of AIB, from electronic engineering to a comedian, he has broken many hearts along the way. But it’s okay since his jokes can make even the toughest of audience laugh in no time; Kaneez Surka – One of the first improvisers in the country, her impeccable comic timing and her witty improv skills will leave you ROFL-ing. With her flourishing career, she also has her own comedy game show in tow; Varun Thakur of ‘Struggling Actor Vicky Malhotra’ fame will host the show.

    The show will premiere on 24 September and will air on weekends at 10 pm, only on TLC.

    Discovery Communications India business head – female & family entertainment products Zulfia Waris said, “There is a strong perception that women are not inherently funny and take themselves very seriously. Queens Of Comedy will change the way how females are perceived in the comedy circuit in India. With their insights and perspectives, women can combine humor and self-deprecating wit with hilarious results.”

    “Queens Of Comedy is the first of many new shows that we plan to launch targeted at the Indian female millennials,” added Zulfia.

    Talking about the show, Richa Chadha said, “Women in our society are expected to be quiet, well-mannered and submissive while men are encouraged to be flamboyant, opinionated and even combative. So, it is not surprising that women are under-represented in the comedy circuit in India. I think there has been a dearth of investment and platforms to showcase their talent. TLC’s initiative to launch India’s first ever female TV comedy show is a significant step forward to address this gap. I am extremely excited to be part of this breakthrough show.”

    Rohan Joshi added, “Comedy is a very potent tool. The mike in your hand gives you the power to speak your mind while the world takes note. While being fun, comedy can also empower. I would encourage any and every woman to participate and bring their funniest selves forward and show the world what they’ve got!”

    “It is important for television to reflect a range of voices – share new and different stories. Queens of Comedy has a completely fresh, uninhibited outlook. I am delighted that the show has adopted digital format of entries which makes it democratic and easy for women to participate. It is dramatically different from all the physical toils we went through when I started,” said Kaneez Surka.

    Host Varun Thakur said, “Women deserve every chance and opportunity to put their best selves forward in any field they choose to. The opportunities to do this in comedy were limited. Hence a show like QOC becomes paramount and I would encourage all the women out there who love comedy to give this a shot. Because in finding the funny you may also end up finding yourself!

    All the entries will be uploaded on the QoC microsite www.queensofcomedy.in. The 50 shortlisted entries will be opened for voting where audience can rate them on a scale of ‘ROFL’ to ‘HAHA’ and ‘NAY’. The top eight shortlisted contestants will battle against each other and feature in the reality show on TLC in their quest to be India’s next female comedy sensation.

  • Lahore HC lifts PEMRA ban on Indian TV shows

    MUMBAI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday cancelled a ban imposed by PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) on the telecast of Indian television shows in Pakistan. THe HC stated that the federal government had no objection to the Indian television programmes.

    HC chief justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that the Indian content with anti-Pakistan or objectionable content could be censored but there was no requirement for a complete ban, IANS reported. Justice Shah observed that the world had become a global village.

    The petition questing the PEMRA ban had contended that imposing a ban was outside the powers of the regulatory body and the Pakistani constitution. Even though Indian movies were allowed to be screened all over Pakistan, the same could not be shown on television, the petitioner had stated, also claiming that the Pakistani government was involved in “selective patriotism”. The petitioner’s counsel Asma Jehangir argued that the ban on Indian teleplays seemed to be strange when Indian films were being free telecast.

    Although the ban on the telecast of Indian films was done away with in February 2017, approval to air television dramas or teleplays was not granted.

    Also Read:

    MIB minister cautions against unlicensed TV channels

    PEMRA petition in DTH case admitted in Pak SC

    Pakistan gets tough on Indian DTH & content

  • Jeep Compass drives into Khatron Ke Khiladi – Pain in Spain

    MUMBAI: Khatron Ke Khiladi, hosted by Rohit Shetty and powered by Jeep Compass, will thrill the audience from 22 July 2017, every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 pm on Colors.

    To fight fear, one must face it head-on, go through innumerable encounters and use courage and determination as ammunition to conquer it. 12 apprehensive contestants made their way to Spain, where they were challenged with harsh weather and extreme stunts on a difficulty meter that was soaring high.

    Reigning God of Action Rohit Shetty redefined Darr at every step for the contestants with death-defying manoeuvres and nail biting acts that promise to take viewers on an unprecedented adrenalin-filled ride. However – the mere mortals who were at Rohit’s command had their own stories tell – Rithvik Dhanjani, Karan Wahi and Ravi Dubey’s notorious antics; Shibani Dandekar, Geeta Phogat and Monica Dogra’s unusual friendship; Manveer Gurjar’s devil-may-care attitude; Nia Sharma and Shantanu Maheshwari’s never-ending swag; Hina Khan’s musical shenanigans; Shiny Doshi’s innocence and Lopamudra Raut’s make-up woes have become this season’s biggest talking points! And now, they’re all set to share their action-packed experience.

    Produced by Endemol Shine India, this season of Khatron Ke Khiladi will be a true journey of fears and daredevilry, filled with edginess and anxiety that will show Spain and the khiladis in new light!

    Commenting on the launch of the newest season of the show, Raj Nayak, COO – Viacom18 said, “Be it Rising Star or India Banega Manch, we strive to raise the bar of reality shows on Indian television; Khatron Ke Khiladi has been a flagship show on Colors and we are looking forward to this edition that promises edge of the seat entertainment for the whole family. We would also like to welcome, for the first time, Jeep Compass as the powered by sponsors; we hope that this association will help create strong brand synergies.”

    Host Rohit Shetty not only played the role of a taskmaster enhancing the contestants’ troubles but also served as a disciplinarian keeping a constant check on their performances. The exceptional chemistry amongst the contestants will see them motivate each other to cross the finish line for every task and also make way for quirky moments that will keep the audience entertained throughout the season.
    Quirk Alert!
    • Geeta Phogat’s powerhouse talent punches
    • Quipster Hina Khan’s singing talent
    • Rithvik Dhanjani, Ravi Dubey and Karan Wahi’s notoriety
    • Nia Sharma, Monica Dogra, Shibani Dandekar and Lopamudra Raut’s oomph overload
    • Beasty boogie master Shantanu Maheshwari
    • Desi tadka Manveer Gurjar style
    • Shiny Doshi’s bling-alicious tales

    Elaborating, Manisha Sharma, Programming Head – Colors said, “Viewers always look forward to new destination every year and Spain is touted to be one of the most adventurous and beautiful destinations. With the return of Rohit Shetty and new mix of contestants we will raise the bar of the show. This season’s contestants have proven to be a surprise package, especially the women; they’ve been go-getters whose energy levels and sharp minds have made them formidable competitors. With all the parts of the puzzle fitting in perfectly, we are all set to roll out an edgier and entertaining extravaganza called Khatron Ke Khiladi!”

    Speaking about his experience as the host, Rohit Shetty said, “Returning to Khatron Ke Khiladi after 2 years, I was prepared to increase the intensity of stunt levels to challenge the contestants and they’ve risen to the occasion and proven to be serious contenders. Their never-say-die attitude was impressive, especially their dedication to give 100% for every stunt. I am confident that this season of Khatron Ke Khiladi is going to surpass all previous ones.

    Deepak Dhar, Managing Director & CEO – Endemol Shine India further added saying, “Khatron Ke Khiladi is a colossal entertainer which presents the viewers with never seen before action. This year too we have amped up the stunts for the contestants. With every new season the team at Endemol Shine scales up the energy to bring alive the true essence of fear through high intensity visuals and to take viewers on an unprecedented joyride.”

    Colors has planned a series of marketing initiatives across print, cable and DTH, radio, electronic media, OOH, and social media platforms to promote the show. On the digital front, the channel has planned exclusive bloggers meets and experientials for the online community, as well as contestant-driven social media challenges. A specially created Khatron Ke Khiladi smart app on Facebook will give viewers updates about the show and their favorite contestants. Additionally, customised Spain postcards will be posted on Colors’ social media platforms to keep viewers updated about the stunts’ destination every week.

  • Zee incorporates Ez-Mall to complement TV-based e-comm

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in the name and style of Ez-Mall Online Ltd.

    The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that the company has subscribed to 700 Equity Shares of Re. 1 each therein.

    This subsidiary shall engage in web-based e-commerce business, to complement TV-based e-commerce business currently housed under company’s 49 per cent Associate entities viz., Today Merchandise Pvt Ltd and Today Retail Network Pvt Ltd.

    Also Read :

    Zee plans channel in north-east, Vaishnava gets additional charge of 3 regional channels

    ZEEL gets NCLT approval for restructuring acquired Anil Ambani GEC business

  • ZEEL gets NCLT approval for restructuring acquired Anil Ambani GEC business

    MUMBAI: The Essel Group owned Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) is moving ahead on getting legal approvals for the restructuring of the Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance general entertainment television broadcasting business.

    Yesterday, it got the thumbs up from the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for its arrangement to demerge the general entertainment broadcast business Reliance Big Broadcasting (RBB) Pvt Ltd, Big Magic Ltd (BML) and Azalia Broadcast Pvt Ltd.

    These companies had come its way when it announced its deal to acquire 100 per cent of Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd’s (RBNL’s) TV business while sister company Zee Media Corp swallowed 49 per cent of its radio business for approximately Rs 1,900 crore in late November 2016. The

    At the time of the acquisition, RBBL, BML and Azalia had top lines of Rs 61.17 crore, Rs 58.95 crore and Rs 0.06 crore respectively for the year ended 31 March 2016. While the first had five TV channel licences (two were operational –Big Magic and Big Ganga, three non-operational Big Gaurav, Big Magic Punjab and Big Magic HD), the second looked after the ad sales and distribution of the channels, and the third had one TV licence for Big Magic Thrill.

  • Colors extending weekend prime time with Mahakaali from 22 July

    MUMBAI: Revered as the divine mother, feared as the dark and ultimate destroyer; a serene wife or an angry, uncontrollable force? What led to Goddess Parvati taking on the ferocious avatar of Maa Kaali?

    Committed to championing and propagating content highlighting tenacious women, Colors launches Mahakaali: Anth Hi Aarambh Hai. Extending the weekend prime time slot, the show traces the epic story of Goddess Parvati’s metamorphosis into Maa Kaali, a fierce shakti who is misconstrued as an all-consuming destroyer.

    Featuring actors Pooja Sharma and Sourabh Raaj Jain in lead roles of Kaali and Shiva, Mahakaali: Anth Hi Aarambh Hai will delve into the pages of Indian mythology to reveal what makes Maa Kaali untameable and limitless. Produced by Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s Swastik Productions, this mytho-drama will premiere on 22 July 2017 and air every Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 PM on Colors.

    To promote Mahakaali: Anth Hi Aarambh Hai, Colors has devised an extensive integrated marketing and digital plan involving different mediums such as print, television, cinema, radio, OOH, etc. The channel has also planned a series of ATL and BTL promotional activities to create a top-of-mind recall amongst target audiences.

    Speaking about this new offering, Manisha Sharma, Programming Head – Colors said, “Now, with a show like Mahakaali, we are extending the weekend primetime to depict the story of Indian mythology’s most feared and revered Goddess. We at Colors pride ourselves in great storytelling. Today’s Indian woman is fierce and unstoppable, but she doesn’t realise her own power and potential unless faced with adversity. Mahakaali’s story is our attempt to inspire women to know their true worth.”

    A tale of self-realisation tracing the circle of justice, Mahakaali: Anth Hi Aarambh Hai focuses on bringing evil to its rightful end, to make way for righteousness and positivity. Starting with the furore that converts the demure Goddess Parvati into the aggressive Maa Kaali, the show will capture the many struggles that Parvati (essayed by Pooja Sharma) will experience as she accepts her fate as the merciless Maa Kaali and her other 10 devi avatars called, Dasham-Mahavidya. And, helping her along this journey will be her husband, Mahadev (played by Sourabh Raaj Jain). In his Shankar avatar, he will be Parvati’s biggest support system and guide as she discovers her destiny as the Aadi Para Shakti which makes her even more superior than the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadev.

    Tewary said, “Bringing alive the mystic imagery of Maa Kaali for the television viewers is no ordinary feat. Goddess Kaali has a deep purpose which is often overlooked and scarcely understood. We have worked tirelessly in creating a magnificent canvas which does justice to her ferocity and underlines the core reason of why she came into existence and how is it relevant to the viewers today. We are utilizing high-end VFX and prosthetics to highlight the fantastical element in the story, in keeping with the mythological era. Intense research has led us to the ideal depiction on-screen, and we hope that the viewers like Mahakaali as much as they have supported Karmphal Data Shani.”

    Along with Pooja Sharma and Sourabh Raaj Jain, Mahakaali: Anth Hi Aarambh Hai will feature a stellar cast including actors Falaq Naaz as Goddess Saraswati, Nikita Sharma as Goddess Laxmi, Akash Kumar as Lord Brahma, Gagan Kang as Lord Indra, Abhaas Mehta as Shumbh, Danish Akhtar as Nishumbh, and Arjit Lavania as Nandi amongst many others.

  • Zee plans channel in north-east, Vaishnava gets additional charge of 3 regional channels

    MUMBAI: Zee Media regional channel deputy CEO Purushottam Vaishnava has been given the additional charge of leading three channels — Zee Bihar Jharkhand, Zee Kalinga, and Zee 24 Ghanta (Bangla news channel) and North-East.

    The network is also planning to expand its reach in the northeastern India, a source close to development confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com. “A channel will be launched to exclusively cover the North-East region,” the source added.

    Vaishnava will now report to the chairman house instead of reporting to the regional channel CEO Jagdish Chandra. Also, now Chandra will look after the newly-launched channel Zee Hindustan, Zee Rajasthan  and Zee Salaam.

    In January, the network elevated Vaishnava as the deputy CEO of Zee regional channels such as — Zee 24 Taas, Zee Punjab, Zee Madhya Pradesh. Vaishnav has been serving as the channel head of Zee Marudhara Rajasthan and Zee Purvaiya (Bihar and Jharkhand).

    Also Read:

    Zee Media elevates Purushottam Vaishnava as deputy CEO of regional channels 

    Zee group launches news channel Zee Hindustan

    Is ETV’s Jagdish Chandra joining Zee Media?