Category: GECs

Colors emerges strong on strength of Naagin I & II

MUMBAI: One of the top rated shows Naagin Season 2 helped Colors reach a top-ranking position.

This week Colors was close to Star Plus in Urban and Hindi GEC segment but Star Plus continued to be the leader in the genre. Also, Naagin season one topped the rural market as well.

It seems that next week will be interesting for both Star Plus and Colors. On the other hand, Zee Anmol continues to lead the rural market and also Big Magic is the new entrant in the section and Sab TV exited the genre in week 41.

Hindi GEC

Backed by Naagin season 2 and Shakti, Colors filled the gap to claim the leadership position but Star Plus continued to lead the genre with 706324 Impressions (000s) followed by Colors on second spot with 682916 Impressions (000s) and Zee Anmol on third with 521105 Impressions (000s).

Zee TV stood at number four with 472953 Impressions (000s) and Sony Pal grabbed fifth spot with 432309 Impressions (000s).

Life OK climbed up to number six with 415987 Impressions (000s) followed by Sony Entertainment Television at number seven with 415584 Impressions (000s) and Star Utsav at eight with 401336 Impressions (000s).

Rishtey and Sab TV garnered the ninth and tenth spot with 392580 Impressions (000s) and 364481 Impressions (000s), respectively.

Hindi GEC Rural

Zee Anmol garnered the leadership position with 404238 Impressions (000s) followed by Sony Pal on second slot with 329426 Impressions (000s) and Star Utsav on the third spot with 309055 Impressions (000s). Rishtey maintained its fourth position with 302831 Impressions (000s).

Star Plus bagged fifth spot with 237609 Impressions (000s). Colors stood at sixth spot in Rural HSM with 232220 Impressions (000s) followed by Zee TV at number seven with 208573 Impressions (000s). Big Magic entered the top ten channel list this week and stood at eight with 156238 Impressions (000s) followed by Life OK at ninth place with 150768 Impressions (000s) and Sony Entertainment Television at tenth spot garnered 123171 Impressions (000s).

Hindi GEC Urban

Star Plus continued to dominate the Hindi GECs genre with 468715 Impressions (000’s) followed by Colors on second with 450696 Impressions (000’s). Sony Entertainment Television maintained its position at number three with 292413 Impression (000s).

Life OK replaced Zee TV at four with 265220 Impressions (000s).

Zee TV grabbed the fifth spot with 264379 Impressions (000s) followed by Sab TV on sixth with 256307 Impressions (000s) and & TV with 138670 Impressions (000s) stood at number seven.

In Hindi-speaking market, free to air channels Zee Anmol, Sony Pal and Star Utsav grabbed the last three spots with 116867 Impressions (000s), 102883 Impressions (000s) and 92282 Impressions (000s), respectively.

October 21, 2016
Pakistan Broadcasters Association to oppose PEMRA Indian content ban

MUMBAI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) shocked both Pakistan and Indian broadcasters when it issued an order blanking out all Indian content from Pakistan’s television channels on 19 October.

Close to Rs 150 crore of Indian content exports to Pakistan went up in smoke with that order. And, Indian broadcasters’ syndication and film distribution teams – including those from Zee TV, Viacom18, Sony Pictures Networks India, Star India, YRF, Dharma Productions, T-Series etc – were still reeling from the shock of the draconian diktat. As were Pakistan channel, FM radio and film distribution executives and theatre owners.

Apparently, the Pakistan media fraternity is not going let PEMRA have its way easily. The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) , the representative body of the TV channels and FM radio services is mulling taking legal recourse against PEMRA’s sudden order.

According to Pakistan industry sources, the PBA is likely to take PEMRA to court, objecting to its arbitrary decision.

Says a senior Pakistan TV channel executive: “The current limitation of 10 per cent international and six per cent Indian content was done through an act of Parliament. PEMRA is overstepping its brief by promulgating its new order. It has no business doing so. For us to follow it, the new order has to be passed by the government when the parliament is in session. Hence, we will approach the court for succor.”

However, observers are not sure if Pakistan’s courts will go against PEMRA’s order. On a previous occasion, in 2013, a high court judge had supported the complete ban on Indian content entering the country and passed an order to that effect.

Broadcasters meanwhile acknowledge that content trade between India and Pakistan was tilted towards India. “But, in recent times, Indian broadcasters have started acquiring more Pakistani content. And over time we had hoped that the Indo-Pak content trade would be equally split in revenue terms between the two countries. Now we don’t know how much of a setback it will be to our plans to export more to India,” says a Pakistan broadcast television executive..

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PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

October 21, 2016
Pakistan Broadcasters Association to oppose PEMRA Indian content ban

MUMBAI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) shocked both Pakistan and Indian broadcasters when it issued an order blanking out all Indian content from Pakistan’s television channels on 19 October.

Close to Rs 150 crore of Indian content exports to Pakistan went up in smoke with that order. And, Indian broadcasters’ syndication and film distribution teams – including those from Zee TV, Viacom18, Sony Pictures Networks India, Star India, YRF, Dharma Productions, T-Series etc – were still reeling from the shock of the draconian diktat. As were Pakistan channel, FM radio and film distribution executives and theatre owners.

Apparently, the Pakistan media fraternity is not going let PEMRA have its way easily. The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) , the representative body of the TV channels and FM radio services is mulling taking legal recourse against PEMRA’s sudden order.

According to Pakistan industry sources, the PBA is likely to take PEMRA to court, objecting to its arbitrary decision.

Says a senior Pakistan TV channel executive: “The current limitation of 10 per cent international and six per cent Indian content was done through an act of Parliament. PEMRA is overstepping its brief by promulgating its new order. It has no business doing so. For us to follow it, the new order has to be passed by the government when the parliament is in session. Hence, we will approach the court for succor.”

However, observers are not sure if Pakistan’s courts will go against PEMRA’s order. On a previous occasion, in 2013, a high court judge had supported the complete ban on Indian content entering the country and passed an order to that effect.

Broadcasters meanwhile acknowledge that content trade between India and Pakistan was tilted towards India. “But, in recent times, Indian broadcasters have started acquiring more Pakistani content. And over time we had hoped that the Indo-Pak content trade would be equally split in revenue terms between the two countries. Now we don’t know how much of a setback it will be to our plans to export more to India,” says a Pakistan broadcast television executive..

ALSO READ :

PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

October 21, 2016
PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

MUMBAI: 21 October, 15:00 hours is going to be a landmark day in the history of south Asian media and entertainment. Reason: that’s the day when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into effect.

The authority’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. Most TV and FM Radio channels air substantial amount of Indian content, sometimes going up to as much as 50-60 per cent. That was trimmed down to six per cent following the Pakistan crackdown in September, when the old regulation promulgated during General Pervez Musharaff’s reign was activated. And now, the latest order has reduced that to zero.

However, PEMRA, in its order, says that Pakistan’s TV and FM radio services can continue to air up to 10 per cent foreign content from nations other than India. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

Pakistan’s No 1 TV show was Indian import Naagin which was aired by Filmazia and helped its rise in the ratings pecking order while shows such as Yeh hai Mohabbatein helped boost the viewership of channels such as Urdu1 and shows such as Kumkum Bhagya were rated highly on Geo Kahani. Among leading entertainment channels in Pakistan are: Colors, HumTV, Ary Digital, PTV Home, Geo Entertainment, APlus, ATV and Geo Kahani.

According to Pakistan TV executives, the impact of banning Indian content is going to be felt by India’s music labels and TV channels. “Close to about Rs ~~25-30~~ 150 crore of exports are going to vanish for Indian music and TV companies,” says an industry observer.

However, they expect the official ban to continue for only a while, once the political heat between the two nations cools down. “We have already requested that Indian broadcasting companies from whom we have acquired the content to understand this force majeure which has been put on us,” says a Pakistan TV executive. “It is an act of the government over which we have no control, and we have to comply. Of course, our viewers are not going to be happy with such a sudden call to action and their favourite Indian TV shows going off just like that, and our ratings will probably drop. But, we have to deal with it, positively as, it is in the two nations’ interest.”

In the meanwhile, Pakistan channels are looking at filling the gap created by Indian content going off-air with Turkish and American content.

Among the Indian TV networks which will feel the brunt of the ban include Viacom18, Zee TV, Sony and Star India.

Of course, music labels will also feel the impact, but to what extent was not clear at the time of writing.

The point of concern is whether the Pakistani ban will lead to a spurt in piracy of Indian content online and offline. “This is what Pakistan probably has in mind,” says a media specialist. “The official ban will lead to revenue losses on account of trade, but the piracy losses could probably be in multiples. And if Pakistan so desires it can magnify the problem.”

(Updated on 20 October; the figure of losses that Indian broadcasters would suffer was upped to Rs 150 crore after discussions with broadcasters and theatrical film distributors.)

October 20, 2016
PEMRA Indian content ban to impact broadcasters

MUMBAI: 21 October, 15:00 hours is going to be a landmark day in the history of south Asian media and entertainment. Reason: that’s the day when the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra’s) order issued on 19 October banning all Indian content on Pakistan media will come into effect.

The authority’s order is directed at all FM radio licence holders, landing right holders, and satellite television channels operating in Pakistan. Most TV and FM Radio channels air substantial amount of Indian content, sometimes going up to as much as 50-60 per cent. That was trimmed down to six per cent following the Pakistan crackdown in September, when the old regulation promulgated during General Pervez Musharaff’s reign was activated. And now, the latest order has reduced that to zero.

However, PEMRA, in its order, says that Pakistan’s TV and FM radio services can continue to air up to 10 per cent foreign content from nations other than India. The authority has threatened defaulters with punitive legal action.

Pakistan’s No 1 TV show was Indian import Naagin which was aired by Filmazia and helped its rise in the ratings pecking order while shows such as Yeh hai Mohabbatein helped boost the viewership of channels such as Urdu1 and shows such as Kumkum Bhagya were rated highly on Geo Kahani. Among leading entertainment channels in Pakistan are: Colors, HumTV, Ary Digital, PTV Home, Geo Entertainment, APlus, ATV and Geo Kahani.

According to Pakistan TV executives, the impact of banning Indian content is going to be felt by India’s music labels and TV channels. “Close to about Rs ~~25-30~~ 150 crore of exports are going to vanish for Indian music and TV companies,” says an industry observer.

However, they expect the official ban to continue for only a while, once the political heat between the two nations cools down. “We have already requested that Indian broadcasting companies from whom we have acquired the content to understand this force majeure which has been put on us,” says a Pakistan TV executive. “It is an act of the government over which we have no control, and we have to comply. Of course, our viewers are not going to be happy with such a sudden call to action and their favourite Indian TV shows going off just like that, and our ratings will probably drop. But, we have to deal with it, positively as, it is in the two nations’ interest.”

In the meanwhile, Pakistan channels are looking at filling the gap created by Indian content going off-air with Turkish and American content.

Among the Indian TV networks which will feel the brunt of the ban include Viacom18, Zee TV, Sony and Star India.

Of course, music labels will also feel the impact, but to what extent was not clear at the time of writing.

The point of concern is whether the Pakistani ban will lead to a spurt in piracy of Indian content online and offline. “This is what Pakistan probably has in mind,” says a media specialist. “The official ban will lead to revenue losses on account of trade, but the piracy losses could probably be in multiples. And if Pakistan so desires it can magnify the problem.”

(Updated on 20 October; the figure of losses that Indian broadcasters would suffer was upped to Rs 150 crore after discussions with broadcasters and theatrical film distributors.)

October 20, 2016
New contest on Samadhan by Web Talkies

NEW DELHI: Latest digital home entertainment brand Web Talkies is launching another competition linked with its popular satirical show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’ based on a hapless helpline operator who does not have a clue on how to solve tricky situations of callers.

Continuing its streak of innovative shows coupled with unique contests, the contest calls for creative answers to the question ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’? The participant with the best answer will be awarded a smartphone. Moreover, 10 second prize winners will get a chance to grab amazing goody bags while fifty third prize winners will win special gift vouchers.

The show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’, has been well appreciated for the whacky scenarios through which the operator and potential problem-solver, S.D. Nagagoje aka Samadhan, becomes the problem himself.

With subtle political undertones and social commentary combined with oodles of humour, the show has quickly become a favourite with Web Talkies’ viewers.

“Viewers share an interesting love-hate relationship with Nagagoje,” Virendra Shahaney of Web Talkies said. “Keeping his popularity in mind, we thought it would be great to pose a direct question and gauge the different parameters through which viewers relate with the operator’s character. Everyone has, at some point of time, been in this unenviable situation of handling a job or a situation for which they are completely ill-equipped. Thus, we wanted to explore the different emotions felt by viewers towards a helpline operator who obviously, needs some help himself.”

The ‘Manoranjan ke 100 Din’ campaign was launched by Web Talkies to celebrate the completion of 100 days of entertaining its viewers with fun-filled and variety original entertainment content. Running since 23 September (and will go on up to to 21 October), a series of contests have already been featured in this campaign, garnering massive response from viewers.

With ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’, Web Talkies hopes to continue the exciting stream of audience interaction and endear them further to the characters of its popular web properties.

Launched in July 2016, Web Talkies is a new brand of home entertainment. Conceived and co-founded by former head of fiction programming at Sony Entertainment Shahaney and backed by promoter of the Siddhivinayak Group Kundan Dhake, Web Talkies aims to be amongst the top 5 players in Indian entertainment space in next two years.

October 17, 2016
New contest on Samadhan by Web Talkies

NEW DELHI: Latest digital home entertainment brand Web Talkies is launching another competition linked with its popular satirical show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’ based on a hapless helpline operator who does not have a clue on how to solve tricky situations of callers.

Continuing its streak of innovative shows coupled with unique contests, the contest calls for creative answers to the question ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’? The participant with the best answer will be awarded a smartphone. Moreover, 10 second prize winners will get a chance to grab amazing goody bags while fifty third prize winners will win special gift vouchers.

The show, ‘Samadhan Ki Samasya’, has been well appreciated for the whacky scenarios through which the operator and potential problem-solver, S.D. Nagagoje aka Samadhan, becomes the problem himself.

With subtle political undertones and social commentary combined with oodles of humour, the show has quickly become a favourite with Web Talkies’ viewers.

“Viewers share an interesting love-hate relationship with Nagagoje,” Virendra Shahaney of Web Talkies said. “Keeping his popularity in mind, we thought it would be great to pose a direct question and gauge the different parameters through which viewers relate with the operator’s character. Everyone has, at some point of time, been in this unenviable situation of handling a job or a situation for which they are completely ill-equipped. Thus, we wanted to explore the different emotions felt by viewers towards a helpline operator who obviously, needs some help himself.”

The ‘Manoranjan ke 100 Din’ campaign was launched by Web Talkies to celebrate the completion of 100 days of entertaining its viewers with fun-filled and variety original entertainment content. Running since 23 September (and will go on up to to 21 October), a series of contests have already been featured in this campaign, garnering massive response from viewers.

With ‘Why do you hate Samadhan’, Web Talkies hopes to continue the exciting stream of audience interaction and endear them further to the characters of its popular web properties.

Launched in July 2016, Web Talkies is a new brand of home entertainment. Conceived and co-founded by former head of fiction programming at Sony Entertainment Shahaney and backed by promoter of the Siddhivinayak Group Kundan Dhake, Web Talkies aims to be amongst the top 5 players in Indian entertainment space in next two years.

October 17, 2016
Star Plus salutes Moms through Dhoni, Kohli and Ajinkya in promos

MUMBAI: Moms are what make each one of us who we are. That’s something we all acknowledge in private, and sometimes in public. The Twenty First Century Corop subsidiary Star India has roped in India’s cricket superstars MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for a TV campaign for Star Plus in which the trio has dropped their surnames or their own names from their jerseys, replacing it with their respective mom’s names.

The campaign (part of the Nayi Soch initiative) – sure to warm the cockles of many an Indian heart and possibly bring a lump to our throats – rolled out on TV screens just as the one day series between India and the Kiwis commenced.

The intent: Star India says is to push forward the agenda for Indian women, something which it has been doing through its entertainment TV shows and promos. A press release issued by Star India says that the three promos are supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that it (as the Indian cricket team’s sponsor) along with the cricket board is seeking to break the stereotypical societal notions around lineage and identity and the role of women in all our lives.

In the promos, Dhoni, Virat and Ajinkya proudly acknowledge that they derive their identity as much from their mothers as their fathers.

“We at Star India are very happy to partner with the BCCI for an iconic brand initiative of Nayi Soch. Star Plus has been a lighthouse brand for women,” says Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta. “We have always put women first, told their stories and are now set to take it to the next level by challenging orthodoxy and stereotypes that come in the way of progress for women.”

In the MS Dhoni short film, a journalist questions him about the fact that he has put the name of Devki on his jersey. Dhoni responds with the usual calmness and smile on his face:
“Main itne saal se, apne pita aka naam pahen raha tha, tab to aap ne kabhi nahin poocha, ki koi khaas vajaah.”
(“For so many years, I wore my father’s name on my jersey, you never asked me if there is a special occasion.”)

Ajinkya Rahane, in his film, says
“Log kahante hain, baap ka naam roshan karo, lekin mere liye ma (Sujata) ka naam roshan karna itna hi important hain.”
(People say make your father proud and renowned, but for me making my mother proud and well known is as important)

The Virat Kohli film has him saying:
“Aaj mein jo bhi hoon, Mummy ke vajaah se bhi hoon. To zaher si baat hain meri pehachaan bhi, sirf papa ke naam se kyon? Mein jitna Kohli hoon, utna Saroj bhi hoon.”
(Whatever I am today is because of my Mummy. Then the question is why I am known only by my father. I am as much a Saroj as I am a Kohli)

October 16, 2016
Star Plus salutes Moms through Dhoni, Kohli and Ajinkya in promos

MUMBAI: Moms are what make each one of us who we are. That’s something we all acknowledge in private, and sometimes in public. The Twenty First Century Corop subsidiary Star India has roped in India’s cricket superstars MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for a TV campaign for Star Plus in which the trio has dropped their surnames or their own names from their jerseys, replacing it with their respective mom’s names.

The campaign (part of the Nayi Soch initiative) – sure to warm the cockles of many an Indian heart and possibly bring a lump to our throats – rolled out on TV screens just as the one day series between India and the Kiwis commenced.

The intent: Star India says is to push forward the agenda for Indian women, something which it has been doing through its entertainment TV shows and promos. A press release issued by Star India says that the three promos are supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that it (as the Indian cricket team’s sponsor) along with the cricket board is seeking to break the stereotypical societal notions around lineage and identity and the role of women in all our lives.

In the promos, Dhoni, Virat and Ajinkya proudly acknowledge that they derive their identity as much from their mothers as their fathers.

“We at Star India are very happy to partner with the BCCI for an iconic brand initiative of Nayi Soch. Star Plus has been a lighthouse brand for women,” says Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta. “We have always put women first, told their stories and are now set to take it to the next level by challenging orthodoxy and stereotypes that come in the way of progress for women.”

In the MS Dhoni short film, a journalist questions him about the fact that he has put the name of Devki on his jersey. Dhoni responds with the usual calmness and smile on his face:
“Main itne saal se, apne pita aka naam pahen raha tha, tab to aap ne kabhi nahin poocha, ki koi khaas vajaah.”
(“For so many years, I wore my father’s name on my jersey, you never asked me if there is a special occasion.”)

Ajinkya Rahane, in his film, says
“Log kahante hain, baap ka naam roshan karo, lekin mere liye ma (Sujata) ka naam roshan karna itna hi important hain.”
(People say make your father proud and renowned, but for me making my mother proud and well known is as important)

The Virat Kohli film has him saying:
“Aaj mein jo bhi hoon, Mummy ke vajaah se bhi hoon. To zaher si baat hain meri pehachaan bhi, sirf papa ke naam se kyon? Mein jitna Kohli hoon, utna Saroj bhi hoon.”
(Whatever I am today is because of my Mummy. Then the question is why I am known only by my father. I am as much a Saroj as I am a Kohli)

October 16, 2016
Zee non-committal to BSE on RBNL acquisition report

MUMBAI: During a period when big-time mergers and acquisitions are popping out of the cupboard while others are being fine-tuned, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) is not willing to confirm or deny that it’s buying Reliance Broadcast’s businesses. At least, for now.

In response to a news report appearing in a business daily on 13 October, ZEEL gave a non-committal response to Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) yesterday. The company statement said, “We, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, wish to clarify that the said report/article is only a media speculation. As a company, we keep exploring options from time to time and will inform the Exchanges, media and shareholders, if, and as and when, any such decision(s) are reached.”

The clarification given to BSE is purely non-committal corporate-speak as Zee neither denied the news report, nor confirmed it.

However, the business daily report on 13 October, 2016 emphasised that “it was done deal” and went ahead to even state that the deal was worth around Rs 18,720 million for the radio and television business owned by Reliance.

The ZEEL share, which closed on the BSE at Rs. 546.55 on Oct 13, opened the next day at Rs.550.75 to close lower at R. 528.50 on 14 October, 2016.

Speculation about the Subhash Chandra-led ZEEL buying Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Broadcast Networks Ltd (RBNL) has been making rounds of financial markets and journalistic circles for some time now. Media reports had earlier stated that the ZEEL-RBNL deal has been a case of on-now-off-tomorrow.

Indiantelevision.com, while reporting on the issue on 5 October, 2016, had sought clarification from ZEEL spokesperson who had then stated, “From time to time, we keep exploring strategic opportunities for entering new businesses or in our existing businesses. However, as a matter of policy, we do not comment on media speculation.”

The corporate response to media queries from Zee has been similar even when deals — TEN Sports sale to Sony Pictures Network India, for example — were confirmed later and formally announced. When speculation about Siti Cable buying DEN Networks gathered steam, a similar line was thrown. Ditto was the response with Dish TV’s ongoing discussions to acquire Videocon d2h from the debt-laden-and struggling Videocon group.

Acquiring RBNL businesses, which include Bhojpuri language channel BIG Ganga, a comedy-centric BIG Magic and a successful FM radio business, can certainly add to Zee’s portfolio of entertainment verticals.

Overall, the media industry may be ripe for consolidation; especially at a time when the regulator too is trying to bring about more order and transparency in the Indian broadcast sector via its draft guidelines.

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Quo Vadis ZEEL-RBNL

Sony Pictures to acquire Ten Sports from Zee

October 15, 2016