ITV

Category: GECs

  • Big Magic launches celebrity chat show with Gaurav Gera

    Big Magic launches celebrity chat show with Gaurav Gera

    MUMBAI: After the success of short format Chutki aur Shopkeepaa starring Gaurav Gera on Big Magic, the channel has now added another innovation to its programming with the launch of a celebrity chat show Chutki Baja Ke.

    Starting 25 September, the weekly thirty minute show be aired at 8:30 pm.

    The show will be filled with bizarre, unpredictable and hilarious conversations between popular celebrities and Gera. With this new show, the channel aims to increase the quirkiness quotient in its programming.

    Reliance Broadcast Network creative director Paritosh Painter said, “After the enormous success of our short format Chutki aur Shopkeepaa on television as well as on radio, we decided to increase the dose of #FullOnLOL moments for our viewers. We consistently aim to make unique content available to viewers, which can tickle their funny bones. With Chutki Baja Ke, we are extremely happy to extend our association with Gaurav Gera, one of the most talented and versatile actors of the industry.”

    Gera added, “While coming up with the concept of Chutki aur Shopkeepaa, I never expected such a huge response. I am really thankful to the viewers for making these characters so big. To take these characters to the next level, we are coming up with this never seen before talk show concept. I hope the audiences will like it, the same way they have liked my videos.”

  • Viacom18 Digital Ventures names Monika Shergill as content head

    Viacom18 Digital Ventures names Monika Shergill as content head

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has appointed Monika Shergill as content head of Viacom18 Digital Ventures. As a part of her mandate, Shergill will be responsible for driving content and programming strategy for Viacom18’s new digital business.

     

    She will be reporting to Viacom 18 COO Gaurav Gandhi.

     

    Gandhi said, “We are delighted to have Monika Shergill on board to drive the content initiatives for our digital business. She brings with her a wealth of experience in content development and creative strategy, which, we believe, will enable us to create differentiated and compelling offerings across audience groups.”

     

    Shergill added, “I hold tremendous regard for the various businesses that Viacom18 has explored keeping in tune with viewer preferences. The digital platform is fast-evolving and I am looking forward to working towards developing this segment further for Viacom18 Digital Ventures, along with its extremely talented team.”

     

    Shergill has close to 20 years of experience in the broadcast industry in creating content, mounting big scale productions, running network teams for channel brands and being responsible for budgets and promotions.

     

    Prior to joining Viacom18 Digital Ventures, she worked with companies like Star India, Sony Entertainment Television, Zee Telefilms and SAB TV.

  • Rupert & James Murdoch to host PM Narendra Modi in New York

    Rupert & James Murdoch to host PM Narendra Modi in New York

    MUMBAI: Media baron 21st Century Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch along with his son and CEO of the company James Murdoch, will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York.

     

    The Murdochs – Modi rendezvous will also be attended by senior executives from Fox including News Corp CEO Robert Thomson, Star India CEO Uday Shankar and a selective group of peers from media and entertainment companies.

     

    Known for his powerful international image and charismatic personality, Modi is expected to lay solid ground for further propagation of brand India through this high profile gathering of world media heads.

     

    It may be recalled that earlier in March, the media world was taken in a frenzy when 21st Century Fox CEO (then COO) James Murdoch along with Shankar met Modi in Delhi.

     

    The Murdochs hosting Modi doesn’t come as a surprise given the important role Star India is playing in Fox’s revenues and reach internationally. As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, global brokerage company Morgan Stanley valued Star India at $11.2 billion earlier this year. Following the report, Fox chief financial officer John Nallen was also heard pitching high hopes on Star India for the global network’s growth. “The top opportunity continues to be international, led by Star. Star clearly is going to lead a lot of our international growth,” he had said.

     

    Nallen had further added that the parent company expects Star India’s growth to contribute $500 million by 2018.

     

    This indicates how the Murdochs have advocated higher foreign direct investment (FDI) ceilings in India’s media industry and are keen to expand their presence in the country. A case in point is Star India’s acquisition of Maa TV’s broadcast assets earlier this year.

     

    During his US trip, Modi will also visit Silicon Valley giant Facebook followed by a meeting with Google’s Indian born CEO Sundar Pichai, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

     

    “I’m excited to announce that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India will be visiting Facebook HQ later this month for a Townhall Q&A,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who had earlier sent an open invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Facebook’s headquarters. “Prime Minister Modi and I will discuss how communities can work together to address social and economic challenges…. The event will be on Sunday, September 27 at 9:30 a.m. pacific time,” he later added to the post.

       

    Modi too took to Facebook to share his excitement of visiting the tech giant’s HQ, and to chalk out the agenda for the meeting. “I thank Mr. Mark Zuckerberg for the invite to visit the Facebook HQ. The interaction will cover a wide range of issues and will surely be a memorable one.”

     

    On Sunday, Modi added, “I will also see some recent technological innovations at the Google (Alphabet) campus and Tesla Motors.”

     

    His final post – “It would be after a gap of almost 33 years that an Indian PM would be visiting the west coast — the home of start-ups, innovation and technology,” – rightly reflects the overall expectations India media has from his visit to the US.

  • Colors slots ‘Bigg Boss 9’ at 10.30 pm; brands iffy?

    Colors slots ‘Bigg Boss 9’ at 10.30 pm; brands iffy?

    MUMBAI: Promoting the ninth season of its reality show Bigg Boss as ‘double trouble,’ Colors has piqued interest by slotting it late in the 10.30 pm band as opposed to the earlier 9 pm time slot.

    However, the media planning and buying community as well as advertisers are somewhat skeptical about the new timing for the popular show fearing that viewership might go down in the 10.30 pm slot.

    According to information available with Indiantelevision.com, the reason behind putting the show in the 10.30 pm slot was that Colors’ prime time shows Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (9 pm) and Swaragini (9.30 pm) are doing exceptionally well in their respective time slots. WhileSwaragini has continuously managed to maintain its position amongst the top five progarmmes in Hindi GECs, Chakravartin Ashoka Samrattoo makes appearance in the top five every now and then.

    “Changes in the time slot will definitely influence the viewership as well as the ad rates for the show. The ad rates this year are likely to go down as compared to last year’s rates. Brands are unhappy with the channel’s decisions as prime time gives more visibility to them,” said a senior media planner, on condition of anonymity.

    Another media planner added, “The late hour time slot will certainly pose question marks on brands’ willingness to come on board as well as the ad rates pricing. But on the other hand, Salman Khan’s brand value has also gone up substantially. So while the time shift of Bigg Bosswill impact viewership and subsequently the ad rates in the initial periods, I feel that the broadcaster will pick it up by putting captivating content. Overall Bigg Boss will retain its charm.”

    Colors has roped in SnapDeal as the title sponsor for the show, powered by Oppo Mobile India and driven by Maruti Swift.

    While the opening episode of Bigg Boss 9 on Sunday, 11 October will be aired at 9 pm, subsequent episodes of the season will be telecast from 10.30 – 11.30 pm.

    With Bigg Boss 9 being slotted at 10.30 pm, Colors will do away with the repeat telecast of Ishq Ka Rang Safed at 10:30 pm. On the other hand, Code Red in the 11 pm slot will also go off air, according to the sources. Whether the channel will reschedule the show is not known as of now.

    With the tagline of ‘Double Trouble,’ Bigg Boss 9 and the new time slot does give some wind to the speculation that some of the show’s content may be risqué and not suitable for family viewing as per the country’s television guidelines. While the contestants’ antics coupled with Khan’s inimitable hosting style has managed to pack a punch more often than not, this season of Bigg Boss seems to promise doubled the fun.

    That said, it will be interesting to see whether the change in time slot for Bigg Boss 9 will work for Colors or not and whether brands show the same enthusiasm for the show as for its previous seasons.

  • Zee TV introduces first-of-its-kind voting via Google for ‘DID’

    Zee TV introduces first-of-its-kind voting via Google for ‘DID’

    NEW DELHI: Zee TV has introduced a first-of-its-kind voting through Google search for its reality show Dance India Dance (DID).

    The new voting will be introduced for DID Season 5 wherein viewers will be able to vote for their favourite reality TV contestant through a ‘Google Search.’

     
    With the idea to make voting easy, technology-friendly and progressive, the channel has introduced a search-based mechanism that will simplify the voting process of DID Season 5. Viewers will have to log on to www.google.co.in and search for DID5 to vote for their favourite contestant on the voting panel right below the search bar. 
     

    Each Google account is permitted 20 votes per week to either one or many contestants. 
     

    The mechanism was activated on 19 September will be on from 9 pm on Saturday till Tuesday 8 am every week.

     
    Zee TV marketing head Sorbojeet Chatterjee said, “With rapid penetration of smartphones and the growing digital audience, we are always trying to raise the bar in terms of engagement and DID Dream Team and Google Voting is testimony of Zee TV being ahead of the curve. With each successive season of DID, the objective has been to simplify the voting process for our consumers. The innovation on a global platform like Google will not only encourage wider participation but also give them an enhanced brand experience. We are pleased to associate with the extremely committed team of Google for the cutting-edge thought and a quick turnaround for the same.”

     
    Google Asia Pacific head of social marketing James Rothwell added, “We’ve partnered with Zee TV to launch Google Search Voting platform in India through the show Dance India Dance and you can vote for free, for your favourite contestants on Google from your phone, tablet, or desktop.”
     

    From the past two months, the top 15 contestants have been battling it out to prove their mettle and dance their way into the masters’ hearts. Now down to its Top 11 contestants, it is time for the audiences to support their favourite contestants in their journey to achieve the ‘Sunehri Taqdeer Ki Topi’ by voting for them. Viewers can also vote through SMS, ZEE TV app and the official website www.zeetv.com/DID5.

    In the past too, the channel has pushed the envelope in the digital space, initiating concepts such as ‘Missed Call’ voting, incentivising voting by offering viewers a ‘Freecharge’ to their talk time, Twitter and Facebook voting for DID4, Zee Rishtey Awards and DID Super Moms respectively.

  • Fox International Channels unveils three original formats at MIPCOM

    Fox International Channels unveils three original formats at MIPCOM

    MUMBAI: Fox International Channels (FIC) Content Sales has expanded its catalogue to include a robust slate of formats. Originally developed at FIC to feed the group’s global entertainment and factual networks, the newly launched format rights for Lucky Ladies, School for Husbands, F***ing Telemarketers as well as an exciting line of existing FICCS formats that include National Geographic Channel’s Street Genius, Car S.O.S and Science of Stupid and a bouquet of telenovela hailing from FOX Telecolombia, will be available as formats at MIPCOM this coming October.

     

    “It is very exciting to be adding FIC’s original formats to our expanding rights portfolio. These shows have done incredibly well for our local channels, frequently delivering outstanding performance records, and we’re thrilled to be offering them to international broadcasters to create equally successful local versions,” said FIC SVP – global head of content sales Prentiss Fraser.

     

    Fox International Channels, under the stewardship of Emmy award-winning executive producer Christian Barcellos, who is now FIC EVP of unscripted entertainment, has been aggressively stepping up its production of unscripted originals in key markets across the world.

     

    “Over the past two years we’ve gone from modest experiments in local original programming to the development of true global franchises that have galvanised ratings and social media buzz in each country. Lucky Ladies, School for Husbands and F***ing Telemarketers were designed to be customised by each market, and I can’t wait to see how these different interpretations build on the success of the originals.” said Barcellos.

  • Warner Bros & China’s CMC ink joint venture to make films

    Warner Bros & China’s CMC ink joint venture to make films

    MUMBAI: In anticipation of Chinese President Xi’s state visit to the United States, China Media Capital (CMC) and Warner Bros. Entertainment have inked a joint venture to deepen the cultural exchange between the two countries.

     

    They joint venture company called Flagship Entertainment Group Limited will develop and produce a slate of Chinese-language films, including global tentpoles, for distribution around the world, including China.

     

    Flagship Entertainment will be owned 51 per cent by CMC – with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB holding 10 per cent of the CMC-led consortium – and 49 per cent by Warner Bros.

     

    The new entity will combine the expertise of Hollywood’s largest studio with China’s preeminent investment and operational platform dedicated to media and entertainment. Flagship Entertainment’s goal is to capitalize on the rapidly growing market for premium content globally, particularly in China, and the increasing demand for high-quality Chinese-language movies around the world.

     

    Warner Bros chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara said, “We look forward to working with CMC in this exciting new venture, as we gain additional insight into the Chinese film industry. Warner Bros. has a proud legacy of making great movies, and we’re excited to share that expertise with our colleagues in China. The country’s incredibly rich history and culture provide a huge trove of great stories, and we want to help tell those stories for new generations of filmgoers, in China and around the world.”

     

    CMC founding chairman Ruigang Li added, “CMC has been actively investing and operating throughout the ecosystem around the explosive content market in China and around the world. With the proliferation of platforms available to consumers, premium content is more valuable than ever. This partnership with Hollywood’s most iconic studio will bring Warner Bros.’ deep experience in creative storytelling and unparalleled expertise in producing global titles to China’s film industry. It will also further CMC’s commitment to building a premier platform for making films that resonate with both Chinese and worldwide audiences, helping to enhance the cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.”

     

    The new company will be headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices in Beijing and Los Angeles. 

     

    Flagship plans to develop, invest in, acquire and produce films for distribution throughout China and around the world, utilizing Warner Bros.’ global film distribution network. The first titles bearing the new imprint could be released as early as 2016. 

     

    This creative collaboration between US and China filmmaking partners also allows for the exchange of technical expertise and the development of young Chinese talent for years to come, combining Warner Bros.’ technical and creative knowledge base with CMC and TVB’s access to local talent and market expertise.

     

    Local language film production is the cornerstone of China’s booming entertainment business. As Chinese cinemagoers continue to embrace both domestic and international movies, theatre owners are adding thousands of new screens each year, and total box office is on track to surpass $10 billion annually in the next four years.

  • China’s maiden ‘Big Brother’ shot on Endemol Shine India’s sets

    China’s maiden ‘Big Brother’ shot on Endemol Shine India’s sets

    MUMBAI: The Indo-China memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed between the two countries while Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China earlier this year probably showed its first practical prominence as Endemol Shine shot China’s maiden Big Brother season in India.

     

    Big Brother’s Indian adaptation – Bigg Boss is shot in Lonavala, which is in the outskirts of Mumbai. The sets in Lonavala are erected at a factory leased by Endemol. However, the set, which was used to shoot for the first ever Chinese edition was that of the Kannada version of Big Boss. It was on these sets, which were rebuilt to suit the international version where Chinese contestants dramatically fought to win the first ever title.

     

    Endemol Shine India, which has a rich experience of producing eight seasons of Bigg Boss so far with the ninth season set to launch in October, facilitated the Chinese branch of the production house with a 400 member crew. There were 40 representatives from China and together they executed the first edition of Big Brother China, which will be telecast by online platform Youku Tudou.

     

    This is the first time in the show’s global history that it will beam on a digital platform. China’s Youku Tudou platform garners traction of 580 million unique visitors every month and was the ideal choice to showcase the show in order to get maximum eyeballs.

     

    According to sources close to the development, the planning was going on for a very long time and the two counterparts held rounds of talks before the final execution. The decision to shoot in India under the guidance of experienced people who have been associated with various editions of Bigg Boss was primarily to use the infrastructure and expertise, which will eventually result in huge cost savings.

     

    The Chinese team brought in their creative directors, story editors, and remote camera operators, whereas the rest was executed by the Indian crew. The huge lingual differences within the team comprising members from the two respective countries were erased by translators. “Most of the communication were happening in English,” a source present on the sets of Big Brother China in India informs Indiantelevision.com.

     

    According to a senior official in the production fraternity, the two most populous country of the world shaking hands to execute an entertainment project is massive boost for the media and entertainment industry. “I hope this is just the beginning and we have many more such collaborations going forward. Such associations are rejuvenating and certainly a matter of pride for the industry,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

     

    In India, Bigg Boss 9 is set to unveil soon on Colors and the show with Salman Khan as the host is eagerly awaited. “It was not the Bigg Boss India sets, which were used for the Chinese edition shoot. The India set is exclusively used only for India edition,” said a source close to the development.

     

    Endemol Shine China managing director William Tan, Youku Tudou senior director Amy Shundong Xu, Rebecca De Young, who was once a producer of Big Brother UK and Endemol India CEO Deepak Dhar were amongst those spotted around the sets. Big Brother China shoot got over on 18 September, 2015 and the Chinese team will be flying back immediately.

  • Star Plus & Balaji’s new fiction show set in Jamshedpur to launch on 28 September

    Star Plus & Balaji’s new fiction show set in Jamshedpur to launch on 28 September

    MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms and Star Plus are all set to launch a new fiction show set in the steel city of Jamshedpur. The show called Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan will go on air from 28 September and will be telecast from Monday – Saturday at 8.30 pm.

     

    The love story builds on the fact that if it’s not mad, extra ordinary and passionate love, then it’s not love at all. Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan is the coming of an age story of three friends – Koyal, Raj and Madhavan, each different from the other yet connected by the bond of friendship.

     

    The show is set in Jamshedpur, exploring the colour and life style of a small town, where almost everyone works in the same steel industry and lives a simple, routine life. Jamshedpur and the steel factory culture will bring a unique colour to the show, as it explores the story of three families, one Bengali, one Punjabi and one South Indian, all related to each other through their place of work and profession.

     

    Kuch Toh Hai Tere Mere Darmiyaan stars Shritama Mukherjee as the protagonist playing the role of Koyal. She will be paired opposite two lead actors, Vibhav Roy and Gautam Gupta playing the role of Raj and Madhvan respectively.

  • Bulldog to bring ‘The Apprentice’ & ‘Space Race’ to India in 2016

    Bulldog to bring ‘The Apprentice’ & ‘Space Race’ to India in 2016

    MUMBAI: After India’s Next Top Model, Bulldog Media and Entertainment is gearing up to bring two more international formats to India.

     

    Even as Donald Trump is standing for the next US Presidential elections in 2016, the television show synonymous with him – The Apprentice – will make its India debut as Bulldog Media and Entertainment will be bringing the Indian adaptation of the game show. Additionally, the company has also acquired the format rights of NBC’s ambitious series – Space Race.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Bulldog Media and Entertainment co-founder and executive producer Akash Sharma said, “We are very excited about the new reality shows that we will launch soon. The Apprentice is an American reality game show that has also been launched in several countries; it’s a very successful show in America.”

     

    Sharma further added, “Our plan is to expand ourselves in different genres. For the next 18 months we will work on bringing quality content and international formats to India. We are also looking at bringing back People’s Choice Award.”

     

    The Apprentice is an American reality game show hosted by Trump, which has been created by American television producer Mark Burnett. The format has been licensed across the world in Africa, Australia, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia and Russia amongst others. 

     

    On the other hand, Space Race is an unscripted series produced by NBC along with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Burnett. It is an elimination competition series where everyday people compete for the ultimate prize – a trip for the winner into space on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo for a life-changing experience few people have ever enjoyed, all captured on camera. However, NBC was said to have been seriously assessing the probability of launching the show in the light of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo spacecraft crash in October 2014, which killed one pilot and seriously injured the other.

     

    Talking about this unique show, Sharma says, “Space Race will be the most aspirational show ever on Indian television. It basically takes contestants from different walk of life to space. Putting them into physical and mental challenges will give them chance to go in space in the Virgin Galactic spaceship. The show will be produced by Mark Burnett and Virgin Galactic. We are waiting for the official clearance from Virgin Galactic.”

     

    “We will have very intense challenges in store for contestants and the winner will get a chance to board space port America in Virgin Galactic space port. In the finale they will have a chance to represent India in space,” he adds.    

     

    Bulldog Media’s bid to bring Space Race to India will indeed be worthy to watch.