ITV

Category: GECs

  • &TV hops on to StarHub platform in Singapore

    &TV hops on to StarHub platform in Singapore

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ newest Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) &TV will launch on Singapore’s StarHub platform.

     

    From 16 September onwards, &TV will be available on StarHub TV’s Channel 165. To enable customers to view the channel on-the-go and across multiple devices, &TV will also be made available on StarHub Go, StarHub’s online streaming service.

     

    At launch, viewers will be able to catch content such as Agent Raghav – Crime Branch, a fast paced crime-mystery thriller;Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, a comedy television series, Deal or No Deal, a game-show that revolves around the opening of a set of numbered briefcases and Gangaa, an inspiring story of a child widow.

     

    “Zee Entertainment is one of India’s top entertainment companies, so  we are delighted to introduce &TV to our viewers, adding yet another quality Zee channel into our Hindi lineup. We are confident that &TV will be a breath of fresh air and delight our viewers with its exciting and contemporary content,” said StarHub head of media business unit Lee Soo Hui.

     

    Zee TV senior vice president – international business Tripta Singh added, “&TV focuses on young and edgy story-telling that preserves traditional Indian values at the same time. We are certain that the programme line-up of &TV will be welcomed by Indian viewers in Singapore. The launch of &TV takes the number of Zee channels on StarHub TV to six, augmenting our leadership in the Indian entertainment industry.”

     

    To enable customers to sample the channel, &TV will be available for a month-long free preview from 9 am on 16 September to 12 pm on 16 October via StarHub TV and StarHub Go. Additionally, StarHub TV customers can subscribe to &TV as an a la carte channel at $8.56 (including GST) per month through Instant Buy via the blue button on their remote control, or sign up for Manoranjan Pack at a monthly subscription of $25.90. Both the subscribers of &TV and Manoranjan Pack will be able to view this channel via StarHub Go.

     

    Manoranjan Pack comprises seven other Indian channels such as Zee TV, Zee TV HD, Zee News, Colors, Life OK, SET Asia and Star Plus.

  • Zee strengthens 10.30 pm slot with new romantic drama ‘Lajwanti’

    Zee strengthens 10.30 pm slot with new romantic drama ‘Lajwanti’

    NEW DELHI: As September draws to a close, Zee TV will be looking at packing a punch in the prime time programming slot by introducing two new shows at 10 pm and 10.30 pm. The channel has readied a new show called Lajwanti in the 10.30 pm time slot from 28 September. As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the channel will be re-jigging its prime time programming slot from 21 September with the launch of Ye Vaada Raha in the 10 pm slot.

     

    The romantic drama woven around Partition – Lajwanti will be aired from Monday – Friday. What’s more, the channel has set aside approximately eight to ten per cent of the budget to market the series across all platforms.

     

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com, Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi said that the channel had begun active marketing through social media of all its programmes.

     

    Lajwanti is based on a short story by the eminent writer Rajendra Singh Bedi, which has been turned into an entire series. The series has been produced by Bedi’s granddaughter Ila Bedi on her own screenplay based on the short story and co-produced with her brothers Manik and Rajat, both of whom are cinema and television artistes. While Manik is acting in the series, Rajat will help in the production. The Bedis had earlier produced Hitler Didi for Zee TV.

     

    When asked as to how she had converted a short story into a series, Ila said that she had attempted to “read between the lines” of what her grandfather had intended to convey in his short story and that had given her enough material for the series. She had originally begun working in the screenplay for a film but then settled for the TV series.

     

    Ila later told this website that she would do her best to avoid the gimmicks normally used in popular soaps of unnecessary loud music or freezing or whitening of faces etc. She said she had a photo of her grandfather just over the table where she works, and she is reninded everyday that she has to ensure she has to live up to ensure his dignity.

     

    Interestingly, the series is being launched in the month, which marks the birth centenary of Rajinder Singh Bedi, born on 1 September, 1915.

     

    The seriesalso stars debutante Ankita Sharma and Sid Makkar.

     

    Bedi was an eminent Urdu writer known for writing the screenplay for filmmakers like Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and his own stories like Ek Chaddar Maili Si and Dastak were made into films. Bedi’s son Narinder Bedi also directed several Bollywood films.

  • Sky completes full acquisition of Sky Deutschland

    Sky completes full acquisition of Sky Deutschland

    MUMBAI: European pay TV company Sky, in which Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox owns a 39 per cent stake, has completed the buyout of remaining shareholders to gain full ownership of Sky Deutschland.

     

    With this, the company claims to have “consolidated its position as Europe’s leading entertainment company.”

     

    Sky completed the acquisition of the remaining approximately four per cent minority shareholdings in Sky Deutschland AG, with the cash compensation for the minority shareholdings set at €6.68 per share, in accordance with the requirements of the German Stock Corporation Act.

     

    As a result of this acquisition, Sky Deutschland AG will be delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

     

    Sky group CEO Jeremy Darroch said, “The full acquisition of Sky Deutschland is the latest step in creating an even stronger business for the future. The opportunity ahead is substantial and we have a strong platform on which to build and deliver benefits for customers and shareholders alike.”

  • Viacom18 broadens reach with Rishtey Asia launch; rebrands channel in UK, US

    Viacom18 broadens reach with Rishtey Asia launch; rebrands channel in UK, US

    MUMBAI: Viacom 18 has launched the Asian version of its Hindi variety entertainment channel Rishtey, which will be beamed across 20 countries in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region.

     

    Additionally, the network has also rebranded Rishtey in the UK and US to Rishtey Europe and Rishtey Americas. 

     

    The content on the channels is specially curated with shows catering to the specific needs of the viewers in the respective regions.

     

    IndiaCast group CEO Anuj Gandhi said, “After receiving an encouraging response from viewers in the UK and US, we are now looking at expanding our reach in the APAC, Middle East & Africa regions. Rishtey Asia is a wholesome entertainment channel, which connects everyone in the family making it a preferred entertainment destination for viewers. With the channel now being available across twenty countries, we are strengthening our ties with distribution networks to engage with a larger audience segment.”

     

    In Australia and New Zealand, Rishtey Asia will be available on Vision Asia, Yupp TV, Lebara Media Sevices. The channel will further be available on Eitisalat, Du and Yupp TV in the Middle East, Azam TV, Space TV and Mauritius Telecom in Africa, Digital System of Nepal in Nepal, and Scan International Company in Thailand.

     

    IndiaCast business head – Middle East & Africa Sachin Gokhale added, “We have thoroughly studied the content need gaps existing in the South Asian TV space in Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions and through Rishtey, have created a unique channel with carefully handpicked content that will fill those gaps and deliver never before seen entertainment to our viewers. The channel has carefully put together the best content across various genres ranging from drama, lifestyle and kids, to youth and blockbuster Hindi movies, giving the discerning viewer access to new and exciting content options. Our content is conducive to creative marketing campaigns, and through the insights provided by our research team, we hope to mobilize and engage audiences online and offline.”

     

    Speaking on the re-branding of Rishtey Europe and Rishtey Americas, Gandhi said, “Through the rebranding exercise, we have carefully aggregated a diverse programming line-up across genres, bringing together an eclectic mix of shows not only from the Viacom18 bouquet of offerings, but also syndicated from broadcasters across the globe. We are confident that geo-targeting the content for Rishtey Europe and Rishtey Americas will enable us to further engage with our viewers.”

     

    Rishtey Europe is currently available on Freeview, Sky, Virgin, Freesat and leading OTT platforms, whereas Rishtey Americas is available on Dish and Sling in USA, Flow in the Caribbean region (Trinidad & Tobago) and Bell and Rogersin Canada.

     

    “Our business has grown more than four times in last three and half years, and 30 – 35 per cent of our revenue comes from global business,” Gandhi informed.

     

    Colors & Rishtey CEO Raj Nayak added, “Since its inception in 2012, Rishtey, as a brand, has adapted its content, to regional viewer preferences, which has struck a favourable chord in UK, USA and Canada. We are confident that the new content line-up will appeal to our regional viewers in the respective markets and further add to the success of the channels given the widespread appeal of the channel across-age groups. We believe that the time is right for us to elevate the positioning and programming line-up of Rishtey Europe and Rishtey Americas.”

     

    The content line-up on Rishtey Europe and Rishtey Americas includes young love stories Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan, Turkish drama Pabband Ishq, period drama Siyaasat and the Pakistani show Nail Polish.

     

    The channel will also offer kids’ content Luv Kush and Krishna Balram giving regional viewers a flavour of Indian mythology. Bollywood films like Hasee Toh Phasee, I Love New Year, and Bombay Talkies amongst others will also be available for viewers.

     

    If consumers want only regional content of a particular language, they need to subscribe to the base pack first and then choose the specific pack, a system that can certainly get disrupted by the OTT development. “OTT players will bring in huge change in the ecosystem as it gives consumer the total control of paying for particular content. Australia is an example of that where in people have shifted to OTT and IPTV. Niche channels will see a huge growth with the establishment of OTT players,” informed Gandhi.

  • Star eyes $500 million revenue from entertainment & sports by 2018: John Nallen

    Star eyes $500 million revenue from entertainment & sports by 2018: John Nallen

    MUMBAI: Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is relying heavily on its subsidiary Star to lead its international growth.

     

    Explaining how Star’s growing entertainment ad revenues makes it a key player in the company’s plans to focus internationally, 21st Century Fox chief financial officer (CFO) John Nallen said, “One of the top priorities, uniquely for us is international. We’ve got a particular focus on growth outside the US. We continue to harness the assets we have in Star, FIC (Fox International Channels) and in Sky but we continue to be opportunistic to the extent we can outside the US.”

     

    As was reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, this falls in line with a recent Morgan Stanley report that valued Star TV at $11.2 billion, where $300 million is the network’s gross revenue from entertainment business as of June 2015.

     

    Given the growth rate, Nallen anticipates that number to reach $500 million by 2018. “We feel confident about the $500 million target for 2018,” he said.

     

    It may be recalled that earlier this year, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch had said that Star India is likely to earn operating income of $1 billion by 2020.

     

    The growth, according to him, is coming from two factors – entertainment and sports. “The first is the continued growth of the entertainment business, which is the hallmark of the Star business. We get 23-24 per cent market share every night. It’s a market that is growing. In the last six months TV ad market grew 21 per cent, we over-indexed because of our strength,” said Nallen.

     

    While entertainment continues to be a source of revenue for Star, its sports section is doing equally well. Seeing the prospects the company had earlier made its biggest sports investment by launching six sports channels with Star, which paid off for the network as “an enormous viewing success.”

     

    Nallen, who was speaking on the company’s business strategy for the next couple of years, at an industry summit, also pointed out on the company’s strong focus on expanding its international reach and growth through Star TV. “Top opportunity continues to be international, led by Star, which clearly is going to lead a lot of our international growth,” he said.

     

    Calling its Indian subsidiary – Star India, an undervalued asset, Nallen pointed out the growth statistic predicted from Star, which rides on the network’s continued success rate in the entertainment section, unlike the parent company’s recent experience of the same in the US.

     

    “Our ad growth in the US is coming from news and sports, and not from entertainment. If you take our total revenue, roughly 30 per cent of it comes from advertising. Two thirds of that advertising total comes from news, sports and international. The place that we are focusing on and the place people feel more vulnerable is entertainment advertising in the US. That’s the rest of the one third left,” Nallen said.

     

    Additionally, Nallen also clarified that Fox has no plans of further incremental investment in Star this year. “Not much more investment (in Star). This year we grew the investment because we extended one of the sports franchises that we started, the local Kabaddi sport that has turned into a phenomenon in India. There is not a massive new incremental investment that we need for Star,” Nallen informed.

  • Zee shifts ‘Satrangi Sasural’ to 6 pm; paves way for ‘Ye Vaada Raha’ at 10 pm

    Zee shifts ‘Satrangi Sasural’ to 6 pm; paves way for ‘Ye Vaada Raha’ at 10 pm

    MUMBAI: Come 21 September and Zee TV will be re-jigging its programming line-up as it readies to launch a new show in the 10 pm prime time slot. The channel has pushed its erstwhile 10 pm show Satrangi Sasural to 6 pm now to make way forYe Vaada Raha.

     

    Additionally, Satrangi Sasural, which was aired five days a week from Monday to Friday at 10 pm, will now be aired six days a week from Monday to Saturday at 6 pm. The new show Ye Vaada Raha will be aired from Monday to Friday at 10 pm.

     

    In a bid to fortify its 6 pm time band, come 21 September Zee TV will also be introducing some twists and turns to Satrangi Sasural. The show will enter a new phase after a leap of five years, where viewers will see a new chapter unfold in the lives of the Vatsal family.

     

    Zee TV business head Pradeep Hejmadi said, ”Satrangi Sasural has performed extremely well at 10 pm and has a dedicated viewer base. The objective behind the move is to expand our overall content offering, fortify the 6 pm band while we introduce another promising show with a fresh concept that is male inclusive and has an urban skew – Ye Vaada Raha at 10 pm.”

     

    Post leap, the Vatsals will be seen leading an ordinary life and struggling to make ends with a loss of fortunes. New characters will also be introduced in the storyline.

     

    On the other hand, the new show Yeh Vaada Raha, which is produced by Trishula Productions, explores a unique bond of two young souls. Hejmadi said, “Ye Vaada Raha with its fresh concept captures the purity of a promise and bound to appeal to the sensibilities of these target groups, while also retaining existing viewership.”

     

    Yeh Vaada Raha concept creator Vivek Bahl said, “Yeh Vaada Raha explores the innocent world of Kartik & Survi. They may appear to have precious little in common being born a decade apart, yet they form a bond so strong that Survi will always look out for Kartik, and he, in turn, will go all out to protect Survi from the big, bad world at all times. It’s a show set in Mumbai and the central characters are Maharashtrians, so we’ve looked into the finer aspects of getting the cultural nuances and tonality right. We look forward to a great response from the audience.”

     

    The show has a distinct flavour of Maharashtra’s rich and vibrant culture. Playing a pivotal role in the show, actor Rinku Karmakar returns to television after a gap of nearly two years. The lead protagonist Kartik is played by Ankush Arora, who makes his debut as a lead on television with this show, while child artist Roshni Walia plays the role of Survi.

  • The Epic Channel partners social networking app QuizUp

    The Epic Channel partners social networking app QuizUp

    MUMBAI: The Epic Channel has joined hands with the social networking app, QuizUp to provide a common ground for the channel’s audience as well as the app users to create an entertaining experience.  

     

    The Epic Channel collection on the app allows for innovative engagement with shows such as Stories by Rabindranath Tagore, Jaane Pehchaane and Mid-Wicket Tales. These three shows are currently featured in this section as independent topics. Each of the topics has innovative questions based on the show content besides other relevant aspects.

     

    The Epic Channel founder and managing director Mahesh Samat said, “We are excited about our new collaboration with the popular trivia app, QuizUp. We are the first Indian brand to have its own collection on the app. The channel is always looking for innovative ways to engage audiences. QuizUp is a leading platform to provide engagement and we could not be happier to be associated with them.”

     

    QuizUp CEO Thor Fridriksson added, “We are delighted to be partnering with Epic, which has a unique bouquet of offerings. Our collaboration around custom made topics for their leading shows would surely be loved by their viewers and our loyal fan base. QuizUp has been on a mission to connect users globally through common interests, and the channel’s offerings around unique interests create a great synergy.”

  • Zindagi forays into Turkish content with ‘Feriha’

    Zindagi forays into Turkish content with ‘Feriha’

    MUMBAI: Known for airing Pakistani series on Indian television, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited’s (ZEEL) Hindi channel Zindagi is all set to launch a new Turkish drama for Indian audiences. Titled Feriha – a Turkish Tale of Love, the series will go on air starting 15 September, every Monday to Friday at 7pm.

     

    Based in Istanbul, Feriha – a Turkish Tale of Love, is a story of a young, beautiful and ambitious girl born in a family of humble means. The girl-next-door named Feriha aspires to touch the sky and has a burning desire to succeed in a world that her parents consider as alien. Born to a janitor father and housekeeper mother, Feriha earns a fully paid scholarship in an elite University where the city’s affluent parents send their children. In the struggle for acceptance among her rich peers, she portrays herself as one of them and lies about her background.

     

    Speaking about the launch of the new Turkish show, Zindagi & FTA Cluster business head Priyanka Datta said, “After Pakistani series, we are introducing our first Turkish show Feriha.  The culture they have is closely connected to India and we can easily relate to them. With this Turkish show we are targeting the younger audiences aged between 15 – 30 years. If you see our other shows which are from Pakistan, it attracts people in the age group of 35- 45, but Feriha is entirely a college romance and so it will be more relatable with the younger audiences.”

     

    With dating app Woo as the title sponsor, the show will have 20 – 40 episodes.

     

    While FCB Ulka will handle the creative innovations, the mandate of media agency has been given to MEC.

     

    Talking about the marketing activities, Datta informed, “Apart from television we are also looking at other platforms. We will aggressively promote the show through our network along with other youth and music channels. We will also use radio as a medium to generate awareness. We are running a contest for the audiences and the winner will get a chance to travel all the way to Turkey.”     

     

    The show effortlessly blends in with the channels’ brand philosophy Jodey Dilon Ko as it encapsulates the essence of different relationships.

     

    The channel reached one year landmark recently and commenting on the journey so far Dutta said, “The journey started with Pakistani shows and then eventually we introduced Indian original series Shukriya. Now we are getting into Turkish content. We have received phenomenal response and appreciation. The journey so far has been very good for us. We will keep enhancing our portfolio.”

     

    Talking about the response that Zindagi has received from the advertisers, Datta asserted, “Initially we started with 11-12 clients, within a month we reached to 24 -25 clients and we ended the year with 140- 150 clients on board.”

  • Colors develops live event property ‘Suron Ke Rang’

    Colors develops live event property ‘Suron Ke Rang’

    MUMBAI: Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) Colors from the Viacom 18 stable has created a musical property focusing on developing a string of live music events called Suron Ke Rang catering to its music-loving viewers. The first concert will celebrate the illustrious life and the works of the man behind the establishment and the solid standing of T-Series in the Indian film industry today – Gulshan Kumar. 

    This first-of-its-kind association with Bollywood music giant will bring together over 40 musical stalwarts, 60 popular and unique compositions across three decades to launch the Suron Ke Rang – Salaam Shri Gulshan Kumar tribute concert.

    With names like AR Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan, Anuradha Paudwal, Mika Singh, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Himesh Reshammiya, Shaan, Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, Abhijeet, Anup Jalota, Sapna Mukherjee, composers like Pritam Chakarborty, Raju Singh along with new age sensations like Tulsi Kumar, Mithoon, Benny Dayal, Ankit Tiwari, Meet Bros, Akriti Kakkar, Amaal and Armaan Malik and DJ Chetas will all come together for a soulful and visually appealing musical evening while paying homage to Gulshan Kumar. Singer Sonu Nigam and actor Ayushmann Khurrana will be the hosts for the evening. Conceptualised and produced by Kickstart Entertainment, this musical extravaganza will be held in Mumbai on 22 September and will be aired on Colors later this year.

    Colors CEO Raj Nayak said, “Over the years, we have strived to present Indian viewers with multiple entertainment avenues across genres and categories. Suron Ke Rang is another step in this direction – curating content beyond the realm of films to celebrate the best of the music industry. Our first offering will be a tribute concert celebrating the illustrious life of Shri Gulshan Kumar and his contribution towards changing the face of the Indian music industry with songs that have touched the hearts of millions. We are happy to join hands with T-Series for this unique concert, a company which has changed the face of Indian music with a multitude of offerings in every genre catering to music-lovers with varied preferences.”

    T-Series chairman and managing director Bhushan Kumar added, “Suron Ke Rang – Salaam Shri Gulshan Kumar is a celebration of T-Series and pays tribute to my father, Shri Gulshan Kumar, for his contribution towards making the Indian music industry a global phenomenon. It was his vision that has helped us to become the biggest music production company in India today and we could not think of a better way to thank him for his forward thinking. We are happy to join hands with Colors, another visionary in the world of television, and are looking forward to collectively provide global viewers with the best in music and entertainment.”

  • ID to premiere ‘Over My Dead Body’ on 14 September

    ID to premiere ‘Over My Dead Body’ on 14 September

    MUMBAI: ID presents Over My Dead Body, a brand new series that presents empowering stories of women who were attacked and who fought back to tell their inspiring tales. The series will feature these stories of survival and determination from women who survived to tell the tale.

     

    Over My Dead Body, will premiere on 14 September and will air from Monday to Saturday at 9:30 pm on ID.

     

    When a crime takes place, some women surrender themselves while others fight back and become an inspiration for others. Over My Dead Body, presents stories of women who not just survived, but turned the tables on their attacker. These action-packed true stories offer viewers a refreshingly empowering roster of inspirationally strong female role models.

     

    Hosted and narrated by Linda Hamilton, who played Sarah Connor in the popular Terminator movies, the series puts the spotlight on women who stared death in the face, and yet walked away.

     

    From the grandmother defending her home from assailants and the woman who awoke to an intruder holding a gun to her chest, to the nine-months pregnant woman who defended her unborn child from a crazed attacker, these women set an example by not giving up and fighting their attackers.

     

    Find out how these women overcome their fear and changed the game- Watch Over My Dead Body, only on ID.