ITV

Category: GECs

  • Zee APAC’s ‘Dance Singapore Dance’ to launch on 18 July

    Zee APAC’s ‘Dance Singapore Dance’ to launch on 18 July

    MUMBAI: Dance Singapore Dance, Zee TV APAC’s first reality dance competition in Singapore, will premiere on Saturday, 18 July 2015.

     

    After three gruelling months of training, the 12 finalists are all set to take the stage, compete for the grand prize of S$10,000 and be crowned Dance Singapore Dance’s first winner. The show is completely produced in English and will be telecast on Zee Tamzih and Sensasi (a local Malay channel) apart from Zee TV Asia Pacific to target the local Singaporean audience.

     

    Close to 200 local dancers from all walks of life took part in the auditions held early this year. The final 12 who made it through audition round come from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities that include Chinese, Malay, Caucasian and Indian. They are between ages 16 and 35, and represent different dance styles from contemporary to Bollywood, jazz, hip-hop and ballroom dance. They were placed in two groups, mentored separately by choreographers Anil Dandge, Bollywood choreographer and Roche Mascarenhas, choreographer & dance instructor from Singapore. The show has been creatively directed and choreographed by NeeravBavlecha, the Dance India Dance Season 3 fame.

     

    The first two episodes of the season will feature over 60 dancers from the auditions, while the remaining ten episodes will have themed challenges in an elimination round format leading up to the grand finale. Local judge Zaini Mohammad Tahir, artistic director of Republic Polytechnic and Shakti Mohan, winner of Dance India Dance Season 2, will groom and see the contestants grow through the different challenges.

     

    Zee TV APAC business head Sushruta Samanta said, “Zee TV Asia Pacific is delighted to present these rising dance stars the opportunity to shine and showcase their talent on screen. We believe that Dance Singapore Dance will inspire them to pursue their passion, dream big and achieve even greater things, in the process creating a base for the upcoming seasons.”

     

    The show will be aired on 18 July at 8 pm (SGT) on Zee TV APAC across 18 countries outside India. The grand finale will be aired on 26 September.

  • Q1-2016: Zeel’s 25% spurt in y-o-y ad revenue ups PAT by 16%

    Q1-2016: Zeel’s 25% spurt in y-o-y ad revenue ups PAT by 16%

    BENGALURU: The Subhash Chandra led content and broadcast player Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) reported a 25.4 per cent hike in advertisement revenue in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) to Rs 779.93 crore (58.21 per cent of Total Revenue or TR) as compared to the Rs 622.10 crore (57.3 per cent of TR) in the corresponding quarter of last year. This is also 16.5 per cent more than the Rs 669.66 crore (49.7 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Profit after Tax (PAT) in Q1-2016 increased by 15.8 per cent to Rs 243.76 crore (18.2 per cent of TR) as compared to the Rs 210.57 crore (19.4 per cent of TR) in Q1-2015 and 5.6 per cent more than the Rs 230.77 crore (17.1 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    Zeel’s PAT was affected by lower q-o-q subscription revenue and other sales and service income. Subscription revenue in Q1-2016 was at Rs 462.53 crore (34.5 per cent of TR) just 4.5 per cent more than the Rs 442.77 crore (40.8 per cent of TR) in Q1-2015 and 9.4 per cent lower than the Rs 510.77 crore (37.9 per cent of TR) in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company said that during the quarter, domestic subscription revenues in Q1-2016 stood at Rs 368 crore, which was 13.7 per cent more than the Rs 323.8 crore in Q1-2015, but 11.9 per cent lower than the Rs 417.5 crore in Q4-2015. International subscription revenue stood at Rs 94.5 crore in Q1-2016, which was 20.5 per cent lower as compared to the Rs 118.9 crore in Q1-2015 but 1.3 per cent higher than the Rs 93.3 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    While y-o-y other sales and service income more than quadrupled (was up 367.6 per cent) in Q1-2016 to Rs 97.4 crore (7.3 per cent of TR) as compared to Rs 20.83 crore (1.9 per cent of TR) in Q1-2015, it was 41.5 per cent lower than the Rs 166.62 crore (12.4 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s y-o-y operating EBIDTA (Earnings before interest, depreciation, tax and amortisation) increased fractionally by 0.7 per cent in Q1-2016 to Rs 311.20 crore (23.3 per cent of TR) from Rs 309.17 crore (28.5 per cent of TR) in Q1-2015 and was 14.9 per cent more than the Rs 270.75 crore (20.1 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Other results reported by Zeel for Q1-2016:

     

    TR in the current quarter increased 23.4 per cent to Rs 1339.86 crore from Rs 1085.70 crore in Q1-2015, but was 0.5 per cent lower than the Rs 1347.05 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Total Expense (TE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 1045.47 crore (78 per cent of TR) was 31.3 per cent more than the Rs 796.10 crore (73.3 per cent of TR) in the corresponding year ago quarter, but 4.4 per cent lower than the Rs 1093.70 crore (81.2 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Zeel’s operating cost increased 40.7 per cent to Rs 610.76 crore (45.6 per cent of TR) in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 434.02 crore (40 per cent of TR) in the corresponding year ago quarter, but fell 1.5 per cent from the Rs 620.09 crore (46 percent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Other expense in Q1-2016 fell 20.6 per cent to Rs 183.24 crore (13.7 per cent of TR) from Rs 230.80 crore (21.3 per cent of TR) in Q1-2015 and was 9.7 per cent lower than the Rs 202.86 crore (15.1 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Employee Benefit Expense increased 23.5 per cent to Rs 138.01 crore (10.3 per cent of TR) in Q1-2016 from Rs 111.71 crore (10.3 per cent of TR) in Q1-2015 and was 10.6 per cent more than the Rs 120.89 crore (nine per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Advertisement and Publicity expense was 20.3 per cent more in Q1-2016 at Rs 96.65 crore (7.2 per cent of TR) as compared to the Rs 80.37 crore (8.4 percent of TR) in Q1-2015, but 27 per cent lower than the Rs 132.46 crore (9.8 per cent of TR) in Q4-2015.

     

    Company speak

     

    Zeel chairman Subhash Chandra said, “The Indian Media and Entertainment Industry is making strides in the economy, backed by rising advertising revenues and consumer payments. 61 per cent of all households in India are now equipped with a television making us the second largest TV viewership market after China. With digitization, subscription revenues in urban and rural areas are growing , resulting in a healthy impact on the industry.”

     

    Chandra added, “Zee has recorded a satisfactory performance during the first quarter. Our investments have resulted in organic growth, which is in line with our expectations. We continue to build Zee’s presence in this highly competitive space by creating compelling content across genres and by pursuing new opportunities that will yield long term growth.”

     

    Zeel managing director and CEO Puneet Goenka said, “We continue to experience growth in both advertising and subscription revenues through the launch of new and innovative programming. We believe that by delivering excellent content we can benefit from monetizing revenues from an advertising and subscription standpoint.”

  • Sony’s ‘CID’ looks to target viewers from north India

    Sony’s ‘CID’ looks to target viewers from north India

    NEW DELHI: The crime series CID, which has completed a record run of eighteen years on Sony, is now looking at attracting eyeballs from North India. While the show is popular in the western region of the country, the producers are looking at shooting episodes in Delhi for the new segment “CID Mar Mitenge’ with an aim to involve audiences in the rest of the country.

     

    Unlike other crime shows, CID does not take its crime stories from real life incidents and resorts only to fiction.

     

    Producer BP Singh, who brought the concept to Sony, said that the show was meant for family audiences and therefore it did not show any horrific or frightening scenes.

     

    Singh said that contrary to expectations, the shooting in Sangam Vihar in Delhi and inside the famous Delhi Metro went off without a hitch and people were very cooperative. However, the team was unable to shoot in Sadar Bazar and Jama Masjid areas because of a surging crowd. Shooting for the show is also expected to take place in popular places like Dilli Haat, Lajpat Nagar, and Sadar Bazaar.

     

    After Delhi, the series will also have episodes shot in Agra and Mathura. The ‘Mar Mitenge’ episodes will be telecast from 24 to 26 July.

     

    Singh was in the capital along with Shivaji Satham, Dayanand Shetty and Aditya Srivastava who have been with the show from the very beginning and some new entrants.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Singh said that the channel had announced a contest where anyone could send in a murder mystery, which could be made into the series and the winners would be rewarded.

     

    Satham, who enacts ACP Pradyuman, said it was like a dream, working with his team-mates. Shastri, who plays Daya, added that the team of the series had become like a family since they had been working together for so many years.

     

    Sony programming head Ajay Bhalwankar added, “CID was one of the first series in this genre that Indian viewers experienced on the television. It is one of the longest running and the most loved show on the television by the Indian viewers. We have successfully built CID over last 18 years in association with Mr. B P Singh. It is because of the powerhouse performances of Shivaji Satham, Dayanand Shetty and Aditya Srivastava that CID has succeeded in creating waves off screen too.”

  • Star Utsav to go pay from 16 August

    Star Utsav to go pay from 16 August

    MUMBAI: More than a decade after its launch, Star Plus’ sibling free-to-air (FTA) channel, Star Utsav, is set to go pay from midnight of 16 August, 2015, on all cable and direct-to-home (DTH) platforms. 

    “The channel’s FTA contract is about to end on 15 August, 2015 and it does not plan to re-new or extend it further,” sources close to the development told Indiantelevision.com.

    The channel will be priced at Rs 5 on Tata Sky, at Rs 6 on Videocon d2h and at Rs 3 on Hathway Cable and Datacom. Through this development, the channel now aims to earn revenues from both ad and subscription based route. 

    It can be recalled that the channel witnessed a new logo and packaging in the month of January this year to tap and engage with the rural consumers, while keeping at pace with the urban audience. Moreover, it had changed its programming from six days a week to the entire week designed to mirror the daily routines of its viewers.

    According to a media expert, the purpose of launching Star Utsav was to reach out to its desired TG in smaller cities and towns where audiences were not exposed to Star Plus. However with the channel going pay, the expert doubts whether the channel will get the desired visibility. “The logic to me is unclear, why would consumers want to pay for a repeat content? The move makes sense when the channel experiments by bringing in original content for the same audiences,” he said.

  • Viacom18 launches Viacom18 Digital Ventures; appoints Gaurav Gandhi as COO

    Viacom18 launches Viacom18 Digital Ventures; appoints Gaurav Gandhi as COO

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 has launched its new digital business, Viacom18 Digital Ventures bridging traditional broadcasting and digital innovation.

     

    The network has handpicked IndiaCast Media Distribution group COO Gaurav Gandhi as the chief operating officer of the new venture, effective 1 August, 2015.

     

    The decision to start a new line of business comes in light of the organisation’s strategy to develop a convergent digital media platform for evolved consumers and marketers.

     

    Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, “Broadcast industry is growing rapidly, and digital content, delivery and access are the new green shoots. We are looking to leverage the interception between a highly digital audience and the current content offerings. Gaurav’s rich experience in media, keen understanding of digital, strong base in distribution and his entrepreneurial instinct have made him our obvious choice.”

     

    Gandhi added, “I am very excited about this opportunity of building out a consumer facing digital business for Viacom 18. With the ever changing media landscape, fast growing high-speed internet access and explosive growth in video consumption across screens, there could not be a better time to move forward in this space. We at Viacom 18 want to be the forefront of this digital convergence with our products & content offerings.”

  • MSM Media Distribution amongst ‘India’s top 50 companies’

    MSM Media Distribution amongst ‘India’s top 50 companies’

    MUMBAI: MSM Media Distribution (MD), the wholly owned subsidiary of Multi Screen Media (MSM) has been ranked 31st amongst ‘Top 50 India’s Best Companies to Work For in 2015’ by global research organisation – Great Place to Work Institute India in association with Economic Times.

     

    MSM Media is the sole company to feature in this list from the television industry.

     

    In its 12th year, 700 organisations from over 20 industries participated in ‘India’s Best Companies to Work For’ study. Great Place to Work Institute is a firm that assists organisations identify, create and sustain great workplaces through the development of high-trust cultures.

     

    According to the institute’s research, a great workplace is one where employees trust the people they work for, have pride in the work they do and enjoy the people they work with. Any workplace can be measured through five dimensions: credibility, respect and fairness, as well as pride and camaraderie.  

     

    MSM CEO and MSM Media Distribution chairman of the board NP Singh said, “I am elated to see our team resonate the vision I envisaged for MSMMD and work towards making it a reality. MSMMD culture is built around exceptional people, and there is nothing more rewarding than to see that our colleagues feel deeply connected to the organisation on an emotional level. I look forward to the team achieving further milestones in the years to come.”

     

    “We as an organisation constantly strive to help our employees understand that their work has more meaning than ‘just a job’. We constantly collaborate with colleagues and evolve offerings that unlock our Individual Potential to excel at work. We have always believed that we are a great company and this accolade further validates the same. The credit for this recognition goes to our entire team which very clearly is the best in the industry. We are a team of passionate people with core values that create a great culture within the organization. This is the primary reason for our unprecedented success year on year,” added MSM Media Distribution president Rajesh Kaul.

     

    MSM Media Distribution human resource director Hema Malhotra stated, “It’s indeed a privilege to be featured in the Great Places to Work. Trust is the single most important ingredient in making a workplace great.  Our employees are our most important assets and this award truly recognises MSM Media Distribution’s commitment to building an admirable workplace through focused initiatives for our employees. We just don’t create employees we nurture leaders within us. Our workplace is one that attracts people that are characterised by inclusive environments in which all employees participate in the cultural life of the organisation. We as an organisation also believe in working hard and partying even harder. This recognition from GPTW is extremely encouraging and motivating for our continuous efforts towards becoming the most preferred workplace for the associates as well as potential talent.”

     

    An organisation can create and sustain a great workplace culture by implementing great practices across nine people practice areas: inspiring, speaking, listening, developing, caring, thanking, hiring, celebrating and sharing. MSM Media Distribution undertook the Trust Index Survey, which surpassed all the industry percentage of positive responses. 

  • Investigation Discovery launches 100 hours of new content

    Investigation Discovery launches 100 hours of new content

    MUMBAI: ID – Investigation Discovery, the channel that is dedicated to true stories of investigation, mystery and suspense, is looking at launching close to 100 hours of new content this quarter.  

     

    Targeting afternoon and prime time viewers in the Hindi speaking markets (HSM), ID’s programming will satisfy the inquiring minds with compelling stories.

     

    Content line-up:

     

    ID’s quarter line-up will dial up the viewers’ detective instinct with four mega premieres that include Web of Lies that will allow the viewers to peek into the world of danger and false identities. 

     

    Next up, House of Horror: Kidnapped will have terrifying tales of people who were kidnapped, yet were lucky enough to survive. 

     

    Over My Dead Body will present empowering, action-packed stories of women who were attacked and didn’t just fight back but turned the tables on their enemy and lived to tell the tale; and the true stories of women killers in Deadly Women.

     

    The channel has also roped in television and film actor Rohit Roy to host a show titled Khooni Saaya, which will showcase intriguing stories that have shocked people and changed their lives forever.

     

    Talking about the new programmes, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP and general manager – South Asia Rahul Johri said, “ID is home to the most compelling investigation programming. Bringing in the best mix of suspense, thriller and mystery, ID will continue to present impactful and engaging programmes from India and international markets.”

     

    The quarter will also see returning series on ID. Paula Zahn will unravel criminal investigations by entering into the murky world of convicted murderers in On the Case with Paula Zahn. 

     

    These days, marriages are not always what they look like. The shocking hidden secrets of spouses will be unraveled in the show called Who the (Bleep) did I marry? 

     

    A new show that will explore the seemingly never ending depths of depravity within titled Most Evil and Deadly Sins will also go on air.

  • Zeel & FilmOn partner to launch online Bollywood channel

    Zeel & FilmOn partner to launch online Bollywood channel

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) and internet TV provider FilmOn.com have entered into a partnership to launch a new customised channel called Zee Bollyworld TV. The channel will bring content from India to FilmOn’s 65 million monthly unique users.

     

    The content on Zee Bollyworld TV will be broadcast in Hindi along with English subtitles, and will be available free everywhere. The HD channel will show a packed schedule of premium entertainment. 

     

    FilmOn Networks founder and chief executive officer Alki David said, “We are delighted to have reached this unique agreement with India’s most exciting broadcaster, Zeel, to share their fantastic content with our audiences on a worldwide basis for the first time. Zee Bollyworld TV on FilmOn.com will showcase some of the very best programming that India has to offer, including great Bollywood movies, chat shows and top drama. Our new custom-made channel will be available free straight to desktop, tablet or mobile.”

     

    Zeel global head syndication Sunita Uchil added, “With new modes of content consumption emerging in today’s digital age, our partnership with FilmOn.com will help us reach out to a wider range of audiences. We are confident that the new channel will be of huge interest to Indian communities within the USA and the UK and also to anyone who wishes to enjoy the rich diversity of content from India.”

     

    Currently, FilmOn has over 600 free channels and more than 90,000 video-on-demand titles.

  • &TV takes HD route in UK

    &TV takes HD route in UK

    MUMBAI: Sky viewers in UK will have a first free South Asian entertainment channel in High Definition (HD). This, after &TV, the new Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) from Zee Network, launched its HD feed in UK on the platform.

     

    &TV HD is the first and only South Asian entertainment channel to offer its full range of shows in full HD at no extra cost to Sky viewers.

     

    The channel saw a gala launch just a few months ago, with King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited MD and CEO Punit Goenka.

     

    Derived from the conjunction ‘&’, the channel stands for binding people, ideologies and philosophies. Representing excellence, the channel mirrors the thinking and values of an evolved India with the shows having a contemporary touch, depicting the progressiveness in the mind-set of the viewers with a twist. &TV HD will further grow on the remit of the channel and celebrate the spirit of living with full vibrancy.

     

    Viewers will now be able to enjoy the fun of Gangaa, the comedy of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai, the history of Razia Sultan, the action of Begusarai and the love story of Badi Devraani among others in sparkling quality. Even more exciting will be the magnanimous music reality series The Voice – India in HD, with Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Himesh Reshammiya and Mika as judges and the fantastic singing talent of India!

     

    As well as exciting shows, &TV HD has a huge line up of Bollywood blockbusters this July to keep its new audience hooked to the HD offering. Watch out for big titles Chennai Express, Main Tera Hero and many more in its weekend specials.

     

    Zee Network Europe CEO Neeraj Dhingra said, “As a pioneering network we pride ourselves in providing excellent entertainment and we will continue to go all out in doing this in the most innovative way. &TV is unique in the market with its top quality shows and now this will be enhanced with the HD offering. The wait is over for people wanting a world class HD channel that is available for free in the Asian market. Being in line with giving extra to the viewers, &TV HD is now the one-stop for full South Asian entertainment with a high definition experience. It’s  a part of the strategy where we want to engage and connect with the South Asian viewers and provide them a fantastic viewing experience like no one else.”

  • Nakul Dev Mahajan to judge ‘DID North America’

    Nakul Dev Mahajan to judge ‘DID North America’

    MUMBAI: Zee TV America is all set to open the door for DID North America 2015 and Nakul Dev Mahajan, ‘Hollywood’s Favorite Bollywood Choreographer’ who made Michelle Obama and Nina Davuluri dance to his beats will now Judge DID North America 2015. Mahajan, an America Bollywood choreographer and dancer, has been choreographing and dancing for more than 25 years. He has choreographed for all the major TV networks and is best known for his work on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’

     

    DID North America gets even more grand this season, 20 finalists have been selected from over 18,000 entries received. These 20 finalists will fly to Mumbai and compete for the title of DID North America 2015 in July.

     

    Zee TV America general manager Sameer Targe says, “This is the 4th season of Dance India Dance North America and every year we strive to take it a notch higher. This is not just a show for us – this is a platform where we try to give back to our community and take people closer to their dreams and passion! I truly feel that there could be no one better choice than Nakul Dev Mahajan– to judge our very talented South Asian Gen Y.”

     

    Mahajan says, “Dance India Dance is a household name and the North America chapter is such a huge platform for the 2nd generation of aspiring dancers to showcase their talents. Not only am I honored to be a part of the judging panel, but also excited to see these kids rock that stage.”