ITV

Category: GECs

  • Man Jit Singh likely to continue as IBF president

    Man Jit Singh likely to continue as IBF president

    MUMBAI: It was in early January of this year, that a major announcement emerged from MultiScreen Media (MSM – Sony Entertainment) wherein NP Singh was announced as CEO of the network, replacing Man Jit Singh. 

     

    The industry hadn’t digested the news when another one broke which stated that  Man Jit Singh was being moved into a global position as president of  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, replacing David Bishop who will depart in March when his contract expires.

     

    What this elevation means is that Man Jit Singh will now be located in Los Angeles (LA). 

     

    So what does it mean for Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) of which he is the president?

     

    Last year in September, the IBF re-elected Singh as its president at its 14th annual general meeting. But with him spending more time in LA, will IBF look for someone else to take his place? 

     

    No, comes the unanimous response from highly placed industry sources. An IBF representative states that:  “Man Jit Singh will continue to preside over the body as the president. For us, things are working smoothly and we don’t expect to see any changes.”

     

    Another source from the industry who is in agreement adds, “There is a board meeting to discuss the issue on 16 of this month but we see status quo being maintained.”

     

    When we called up Man Jit Singh to get his view on the same, he was unreachable. However, sources reveal he will be jetting to and fro between India and the US even now like he used to earlier. “He is used to the travel and has been doing it for ages now, so we don’t think distance is going to change anything.”

  • Hindi GECs: A battle for eyeballs

    Hindi GECs: A battle for eyeballs

    With the ongoing season of reality shows ending and viewers’ choice highly unpredictable, the past couple of months have seen Hindi General Entertainment Channels (GECs) and production houses scrambling to introduce newer, more creative fiction shows with never-seen-before content.

    Indeed, the tearing hurry to replace empty slots and shows with poor TRPs has seen broadcasters deploy a fair bit of research and experimentation to serve up even more interesting fare to their audiences. So much so, it may well be a battle for eyeballs between these newly-launched serials in the coming months; at least till the new season of reality shows kicks in.

    Indiantelevision.com did a round-up of the contenders, trying to understand the thought process behind them.

    To begin with: Ye Hai Mohabbatein, Star Plus’ drama series based on Manju Kapur’s novel, Custody. The Balaji Telefilms show premiered on 3 December and airs five days a week, occupying the 11pm slot. It stars popular TV actors Divyanka Tripathi and Karan Patel as Ishita and Raman, who are connected by their love for Raman’s daughter Ruhi. With themes like divorce, infertility, remarriage and societal issues, the show deals with the bigger question of what makes a woman a mother.

    Says Star Plus general manager Gaurav Banerjee: “The story is urban and contemporary. This love story begins after a marriage gets over. It explores the theme of a second chance in love. With well-etched characters and a strong urban narrative, the show deals with day-to-day issues faced by modern couples. We are positive that our metro audiences will see a connect with Ishita and Raman, and follow their story.”

    Balaji and Star Plus believe viewers have accepted Ishita and Raman into their families, much like the iconic characters the team has created in the past. Indeed, the show garnered 3,291 TVTs in week 52 of TAM TV ratings. India Gate Basmati Rice is its title sponsor.

    Doli Armaanon Ki and Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya: Zee TV’s two new shows that premiered on 2 December, 2013 and 6 January, 2014, respectively. Both the shows air five days a week and occupy the 10pm and 10.30pm slot, respectively.

    The channel has roped in Sofy Side Walls as its title sponsor for Doli Armaanon Ki. Set in Jhansi, Doli Armaanon Ki is the story of Urmi and Samrat, played by Neha Marda and Mohit Malik, respectively. Urmi walks into a marriage with Samrat, all eager and wide-eyed, only to realise that married life isn’t always what one dreamed about.

    Asked how the show is different, Spellbound Productions producer Pearl Grey replies: “It is just about conviction. I feel you can stand out from the rest if the concept is different. I feel we are saying something which no one has said earlier. Like how we did for Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya, we spoke about issues which were not spoken on television earlier. The other thing about standing apart is getting in a character which is different. In my show, the USP is Samrat’s character. The relationship we are showing is very different. We are highlighting the nuisances.”

    For Grey, having a 10.30pm slot is an advantage as there is liberty of saying and doing things that cannot be shown at early prime time. Even Zeel content head Ajay Bhalwankar is confident that the new series will crack slot leaders very soon. “The battle is not tough. The slot is very warm. And with our strong storyline and concept, this show can reach one crore plus viewership. Plus, our TG is the whole family. At the end of the day, if men don’t see, they won’t understand the cause through our concept,” he says.

    Zee TV pulled out all stops in promoting the new show. Promos were played on the network’s news, kids’ and movie channels as well as on Zee Cinema and Zee Marathi. For DTH audiences in particular, live streaming and default landing channel were taken, promo roadblock on primetime and special behind the scenes content was created to promote the show. #doli was created on Twitter, which trended all India for more than 8 hours on the day of the launch. Zee even asked viewers to send them region-wise shaadi rituals under this hash tag.

    The other Zee newbie, Aur Pyaar Hogaya, is the love story of Avni, a young spirited girl from a traditional family in Jaipur, played by Kaanchi Singh and a simple boy Raj, with a diametrically opposite personality and family background, reprised by Mishkat Varma. No sponsor has been roped in yet for the series.

    About the 10pm slot, Director’s Kut Production’s Rajan Shahi answers: “I have never asked channels for particular slots. For me, it’s my work, whether you put me in the 2 pm or 6 pm slot, I have to work. Over the years, I am not so blinded by it, but TVTs do play an important role. I know that we are judged by TVTs, but I don’t let this affect my day-to-day life.” Like Doli Armaanon Ki, Aur Pyaar Hogaya too was heavily promoted on social media by creating individual official pages.

    Next up, Tumhari Paakhi, Life OK’s new show produced by Shashi-Sumeet Mittal Productions, premiered on 11 November, and airs five days a week, occupying the 9.30 slot. Tagged a differentiated love story, it is based on legendary Bengali author Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel Navvidhan.

    As to the criteria for choosing a particular slot, Life OK general manager Ajit Thakur says: “On the slot, there are a number of criteria like firstly, the viewership. Obviously, early prime-time, the viewership is more from small markets and late prime-time it is from larger markets and metros. The other thing is who are the people viewing it. As we go to later prime-time, families and more men come to it. Earlier prime-time, there are more kids. Thirdly, for the channel itself, which is the slot they want to replace. Some slots are doing well and some slots are not doing that well.”

    Thakur goes on to explain that the earlier show Junoon wasn’t doing too well, which is why they were on the lookout for another show and eventually, Tumhari Paakhi, a mature love story, turned out to be the perfect replacement for late prime-time. He dismisses it being a risk choice saying: “That does not matter beyond a point. We are already at number four and getting close to the top three. For us, every slot we have to compete. It does not matter to us anymore. There are leaders as such and now we are competing in all slots. We decide basis our priority now.”

    To market the new show, Life OK ran promos on all its network channels and put up umpteen hoardings across cities. On the day of the launch, print ads were released and railway announcements too were made. Besides, on Twitter, the channel constantly keeps updating #TumhariPaakhi hashtag with news, polls and promo links.

    Beintehaa and Rangrasiya: Colors’ two new shows premiered on 30 December last year and will continue to air Monday to Friday at 9pm and 9.30pm, respectively.

    While Beintehaa is a show with a pan-Muslim milieu which revolves round two very similar, headstrong individuals, Aaliya and Zain, who are in a volatile relationship; Rangrasiya is an edgy, explosive tale of Paro and Rudra, two individuals who start off by hating each other intensely.

    Both the shows were promoted extensively across mediums, including in-theatre integrations during Dhoom 3 in HSMs, OOH in 60 cities and towns, and a media mix with over 40 channels plus radio stations covering more than 40 cities.

    With the launch leading into the new year, special calendars were brought out with select publications to enable audiences bring the characters home. An all-round social media strategy was developed to ensure the duo continue to be the topic of dinner table conversations across homes.

    Asked whether it didn’t bother them that rival channels have some of their most popular shows at 9 and 9.30pm, Colors’ programming head Prashant Bhatt says that planning for the 9 pm slot begins much before the channel’s biggest reality show, Bigg Boss, kicks off. “We know that as soon as the show ends, we have to come up with news shows with strong content and we work on it accordingly. This time too, when we heard the stories of the two shows – Rangrasiya and Beintehaa – we knew that we have to take them to the prime time slot because of the newness,” he says.

    Says Saurabh Tewari, MD of Nautanki Films which has produced Rangrasiya: “We were happy to have got the prime time slot for our show. We are aware of the competition that exists in the slot and even otherwise, but there’s always space for something new.” Tewari believes the presentation and the manner of storytelling, not to mention the extensive shooting in Rajasthan will work in the channel’s favour.

    Coming to Beintehaa, Farhan Sallaruddin of Fortune Productions, producer of the show, says the story’s concept is its USP. “The Muslim community hasn’t been explored much and in this show, we have anyway brought the love story of two very strong characters. It will be loved by youngsters and older people alike,” he says.

    Last but not the least, Main Na Bhoolungi and Ekk Nayi Pehchaan, Sony Entertainment Television’s newest additions to its kitty, more so in a bid to get viewers to tune in to its soaps instead of the crime shows and thrillers it has become synonymous with. Both the shows premiered on 23 December last year at 8.00pm and 8.30pm, respectively.

    Main Na Bhoolungi traces the life of Shikha, a well educated and confident girl, played by Aishwarya Sakhuja, who has an arranged marriage with the seemingly perfect Sameer, played by Vikas Manaktala. However, Shikha falls off from a cliff, cutting short the happy alliance. Is it the end of the fairytale or just a bad dream? The story is based on a 1996 Gujarati play Sharda, penned by Varsha Adalja, which elaborates on the concept of ‘women in their 40s’.

    “The focus is not on the rest. The focus is on yourself. That is the only way you can stand out. There is only one way to success, not necessarily that assures success, but do your best,” says producer Yash Patnaik. ”We as producers, as makers, go to the channel with the concept. Then it is up to the channel which slot to air. They decide what will work there, what kind of target audience, the strengths they have. As makers in television, we purely go by their conviction and strategy.”

    About Ekk Nayi Pehchaan, Jay Mehta Productions producer Kinnari Mehta feels content is the king that will get viewers to watch a particular show. “We haven’t seen a show till now wherein they have shown a positive bond between mother in law and daughter in law. We are trying to come out from that mould where saas and bahus just fight. And we have a beautiful cast, both of them are such faces that will stand out across all the GECs and the concept. Since our show deals with adult literacy, a lot of women want to educate themselves,” she elaborates.

    Sony is confident the two new shows will be a big turnaround for them. Says Sony senior VP, head marketing Gaurav Seth: “The two new shows are a big turnaround for the channel. The 7 – 11pm slot is where there will be competition in any channel, but good content always stands out. We have got good numbers for both the shows.”

    While viewers are going to be spoilt for choice with the sheer number of new shows across the Hindi GECs, only time will tell who will emerge the winners in this race…

  • Zee Cine Awards scales up for 2014

    Zee Cine Awards scales up for 2014

    MUMBAI: All roads and the biggest names in Indian cinema and television converge at Mumbai’s Film City on 8 February this year. Reason is the 14th edition of the Zee Cine Awards aka the ‘World’s Biggest Viewers’ Choice Awards’ to be held there.

     

    Among A-list acts, Shah Rukh Khan will perform to some of the hit numbers from his films including Lungi Dance, 1234 and so on. This year, Lux Cozi has been roped in as title sponsor. Additionally, the network is pitching for a special partner and looking for more sponsors across categories.

     

    The Zee Cine Awards, started in 1998, were the first ever awards to be introduced by a television network and have since grown into an institution of sorts.

     

    Exults Zeel managing director and CEO Punit Goenka: “Zee Cine Awards is a property with growing global reach and audience share. The success of this award over the years makes it an indispensable component of advertisers’ media mix and this year, they will further leverage it across the network’s varied channels.”

     

    This edition of the Zee Cine Awards will see a partnership with the Neeraj Pandey scripted film, Total Siyapaa, starring Ali Zafar and Yami Gautam and several initiatives on this front are to be announced shortly.

     

    Says Goenka: “Every year, the talent recognized by our viewers continues to inspire us with the depth and richness that the Hindi film fraternity represents. We will support extraordinary new films that need a platform like Zee Cine awards to showcase them to the industry, and that’s why we are pleased to support Total Siyapaa. We are looking forward to celebrating their achievements in a fittingly glamorous way at the awards.”

     

    What also makes the Zee Cine Awards unique is that viewers’ votes decide winners. For instance, last year’s awards drew an unprecedented over 4.5 million votes from across the globe. This year too, in keeping with its promise Haq Hai Aapka, the network will only declare nominees across popular categories and then pass the baton of selecting Best Actor, Best Film and so on to its loyal audience through a transparent and hassle-free voting mechanism.

     

    As Zeel chief sales officer Ashish Sehgal puts it: “We are amongst the first broadcasters to come up with an award like this. And secondly, we were the only ones to give them out as per viewers’ voting. Earlier, all the awards were constituted by film magazines – be it Screen or Filmfares.”

     

    Significantly, the Zee Cine Awards 2014 will be telecast on 23 February on multiple channels (Zee TV, Zee Anmol, Zee Tamizh, Zee Cafe etc.) across multiple geographies in different languages and genres, with a programming reach of over 700+ million viewers across 168 countries.

     

    So why are the Zee Cine Awards being held in Mumbai for the second consecutive year after creating a worldwide footprint across destinations like Singapore, London, Mauritius and Dubai?

     

    Replies Sehgal: “With almost all awards airing overseas, after a long period, we brought it back to India, thinking we should give a chance to Indian audiences also.”

     

    Zee Network is pulling out all stops to promote one of its biggest properties across platforms.

     

    Viewers can log onto www.zeecineawards.com for a visual treat that traces the journey of the awards from 1998 through 2000 and till date, complete with over 2000 exclusive photographs and over 500 videos showcasing some of the best performances, award acceptance speeches, Kodak moments and behind-the-scenes buzz.

     

    Apart from this, the awards will be promoted on all network channels, giving advertisers an opportunity to reach out to different audiences across categories. Digitally too, the awards will be promoted in a big way with SRK’s performance as one of the highlights.

     

    With the channel having achieved its targeted revenue of Rs 300 million last year, what is the target for this year, given there are restrictions on inventories unlike last time. Apparently, the network plans to make the extra moolah by showcasing the event on Zee’s HD channels as well (Zee HD, Zee Cinema HD and Zee Café HD). “Given the restrictions on inventories, the only thing that can go up is pricing,” says Sehgal.

     

    “This year, we are looking at kind of maintaining those revenues because we believe they are the highest revenues generated by an award show. The advantage we have this year is we can make extra money by showcasing these awards on our HD channels (Zee, Zee Cinema HD and also Zee Café). For evolved and discerning audiences, we are selling it separately. Though title and powered by will be common in both the channels, there will be more numbers of associate sponsors separately,” signs off Sehgal.

  • “My immediate focus is on turning around Sony Ent, our flagship channel”

    “My immediate focus is on turning around Sony Ent, our flagship channel”

    He has been fairly low profile, mild-mannered and soft spoken. But underneath the soft exterior NP Singh is tough as nails and a fiesty fighter just like many from the Sikh community – to which he belongs – are known to be. Recently, Singh was hoicked to the CEO’s position at Multi Screen Media India – Sony Entertainment Television Network India – after running it as COO for nearly a decade. He replaced Man Jit Singh – who has moved on to a global position looking after its home entertainment business.

     

    NP is a long time Sony loyalist as he joined it way back in 1999 as CFO.  He has been given charge at a challenging time when the network’s flagship channel Sony Entertainment is at  a lowly sixth position amongst Hindi GECs, just a tad above Sahara. That’s a far cry from the third or fourth spot it occupied until 2012.

     

    Currently in his mid-50s, has seen the highs and lows of not only the Sony Entertainment Network, but the industry as well. His appointment has put his rivals on alert because it is he who pushed the transformation of Sab into a topnotch Hindi comedy offering, Pix into a channel showcasing Hollywood blockbusters, and successfully launched Mix in a crowded music channel market place. 

     

    In a conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Seema Singh, NP speaks of his immediate plans and the road ahead.

     

    Excerpts:

     

    15 years in Sony and now becoming the CEO. What is the feeling?

     

    I have enjoyed every day that I have been here. I joined the company in June 1999 as the CFO and then got elevated to the position of chief operating officer and now the chief executive officer. I have seen the entire journey. The company is 18 years old and I have been here for the past 15 years. I have been a part of a lot of success and have also faced multiple challenges. Overall, it has been a fantastic journey. I am happy that I have been given the role to head the company.

     

    What are the challenges that lie ahead for the Network?

     

    The number one priority for me is to turn on the power of the flagship channel, Sony. In the short time, this will be my focus. We have seen success on the flagship channel not too long ago. In 2012, the channel was doing extremely well. Since 2012 end, the channel started seeing a drop in viewership; my objective is to arrest that drop and put the channel on the path of growth.

     

    Every CEO has a dream team. What is yours? Do we see any management changes in the future? Who do we see as the next COO for the Network?

     

    We have a strong management team with very good talent across the company. And we have been proud of the team and I will continue to work with them to achieve the dream that we have collectively for the company.

     

    Changes are a part of life and as we go forward, there may or may not be any changes, but it is too premature to comment on.  

     

    For now there will be no COO for the company. We have a strong management team and I will work directly with them to achieve the objectives set.

     

    Will life change for you after becoming a CEO?

     

    I have been here and have been partnering with Man Jit Singh who was here as CEO earlier. I have been part of all the successes and challenges and am acutely aware of what needs to be done. So it doesn’t have any major impact on my life going forward. Except that I will not have a COO right now and so I will interact with the management team directly. This means I will be spending more time in the office, of which I do not complain.

     

    What are the opportunities you have as a CEO?

     

    There are multiple opportunities. In the near term, my first priority is the turnaround of Sony and within that lies an opportunity for growth in revenue of the company. I see growth opportunities on the distribution side as well. That is something we have to stay focused on and we have to help grow the ARPUs at the subscriber level so that the benefit can flow right through the value chain upward to content owners like us.

     

    I see huge opportunity in the exploitation of digital platforms through mobile phones and tablets. If we can get our content to the audience through this medium, we will see a huge rise in revenue.

     

    I also see an opportunity in the regional market that we will evaluate over a period of time and then make our choices.

     

    Sony launched ‘Sony Mahotsav’ in UP, Punjab and Haryana starting from November 2013. What was the reason for it and how has the response been?

     

    We launched it with the objective to engage with our viewers in these markets. We want to take the brand to these markets and also our artistes from major shows to those cities to make the brand more accessible to them.

     

    The response has been positive and we will continue to build on this initiative going forward as well because we want to engage audiences of smaller towns with the channel. This is one initiative. We are also trying to build that engagement through our content and communication.

     

    Phase I and II of digitisation is complete. Do you see that helping the Network in getting better reach and viewership numbers?

     

    Digitisation will not grow our overall viewership base. It will lead to more transparency from the broadcasters’ perspective. Because digitisation will bring about addressability, there will be more information/ transparency about the viewer or subscriber we have for the network. Having said that phase I and II have been completed, set top boxes (STBs) have been installed in the households, but the real addressability has still not happened.

     

    There is still time for that. The MSOs do not have the database for those STBs. We are supporting them through campaigns running on our network. Hopefully in the next few months, they can get the data from the local cable operator and create a database and then start invoicing the subscribers directly. That will happen in the next few months and then over next two years complete addressability will come in and there will be benefits right from the viewer up to the broadcaster and content creator.

     

    Sony has always believed in experimenting with the content. But the past few years have not done too well for the channel. Is it that the channel is too ahead of time? Why aren’t you able to connect with the audience?

     

    It is a combination of multiple factors. Till 2012, we were clearly the number two ranking channel.  We were also at number one during the nine week period when the ratings did not get reported. But since then we have seen a decline in viewership and there are multiple factors behind it. One of the key factors was the universe update by TAM and the inclusion of LC1 markets in reporting viewership. The LC1 market has a 25 per cent share in the total viewership pie and that impacted our ratings. Secondly, some of our fiction shows also didn’t perform the way we expected them to.

     

    But we are the pioneers in the many new concepts and ideas. Some of them have been way ahead of time, for example the YRF shows that we brought to our viewers. Those were top quality shows that were accepted and appreciated by one set of audience, while not taken well by the other set of audience. But that doesn’t mean we will stop coming up with path breaking ideas. We have not been successful in the recent past, but that will not stop us from continuing to follow that path.

     

    The fiction shows have not done well for the channel. Also the non-fiction slate is developing fatigue. How do you plan to strengthen the programming slate?

     

    We have to continue to innovate. We did that successfully with the last season of Indian Idol in which we introduced kids. Also in Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) we brought several innovations. Though it was well received in the beginning, eventually it settled down at a lower number. But that doesn’t mean there is fatigue with the format of the show. We will do something more when we bring KBC the next time.

     

    We are looking at refreshing our weekend primetimes and that is why we got Boogie Woogie back on TV, which is doing well for the channel. We will be bringing back Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega as well. The first and foremost task is to look at our fiction strategy and revamp that. Our plan is to bring in new shows to weekday primetime and strengthen it. We realise that it is there where we can build loyalties with the viewer. So that is the focus, followed by refreshing the weekend.

     

    Though Sony India is doing well and contributes some 40-50 per cent  to the overall revenue of the Sony Pictures’ media networks business, there is pressure on Sony from investors such as Dan Loeb to make Sony’s entertainment business deliver. Is that putting any pressure on you? How do you plan to cope with that?

     

    MSM is a very strong performer for the entire Sony Corporation. We have performed really well and India has a lot of growth opportunity and we are getting a lot of investment from the parent into the company. Whatever new initiative we come up with, till the time it makes strategic and economic sense we will get investment support from the parent.

     

    You will be reporting into Andy Kaplan, what is it like to work with him? Are there more challenges now?

     

    I have worked with Andy for the past several years and I don’t see any change in the dynamics of our relationship. I look forward to working with him even more closely now.

     

    What do you think is missing in the Sony slate?

     

    There will always be some unfinished agenda at any point in time. But right now we have everything to make the network more successful. There are some new initiatives that we are working on for the future growth of the network, which we will announce in due course of time, but first and foremost objective is the turnaround of our flagship channel.

     

    The network bouquet looks weak without any strong regional offerings. Are you looking at strengthening it by moving south?

     

    We have one channel in West Bengal. So we have one channel as far as the regional space is concerned, but it is a small channel, which has carved a niche for itself. We are looking at some other markets and currently we are evaluating all the options and will make our choice in due course of time.

     

    Unbundling of bouquets is something which Dish TV has recently encouraged by offering IndiaCast channels on an a la carte basis. Then the TRAI may soon come up with its recommendation paper on aggregators. Do you see that affecting the distribution of channels?

     

    We always follow very collaborative process in any negotiation that we do with our partners and like everyone else Dish TV is also a strong partner. We have had strong relations with them in the past and even now.

     

    There has been a lot of conjecture about the TRAI consultation paper on aggregators, but no one knows what will happen. Will cross that bridge when the recommendation comes out.

     

     Are you looking at launching any new channel?

     

    We never do something because other networks are doing it. We always do things that are good for our Network. We will do what makes strategic and economic sense for us. And from that perspective, if we have to launch a new channel we will.

     

    You can watch more of what the Sony Entertainmetnt CEO has to say by clicking here: Executive Dossier with MSM India CEO NP Singh

  • Zee Lamhe is the third most viewed Asian Channel in UK

    Zee Lamhe is the third most viewed Asian Channel in UK

    MUMBAI: Lamhe proves its popularity as it comes in as third most viewed Asian channel in the UK in the latest round of BARB ratings.

     

    The channel that was launched in the UK market in the mid-2013 has made its own place among viewers with its unique offerings. And the recent BARB rating just affirms that. Lamhe beat many other longer standing channels and programmes and even boasted the top most viewed slots across various times of the day amongst all channels.

     

    The channel reaches an audience of over half a million each week, showcasing only the best of South-Asian entertainment, free, with classic Dramas, Bollywood Classics, lifestyle, travel, cookery and more. This offering is popular across a broad range of the audiences, with many of its slots topping amongst a young audience aged 16-34 years. The channel’s top show on 6 Jan was Astitva, attracting almost 50,000 viewers per minute at prime time 9:30pm, with over 25 per cent of these viewers being from the young age band.

     

    Free-To-Air Channels business head Archana Kanade said in a release: “Lamhe has been successful in offering to today’s audience a viewing experience that they do not find elsewhere. For Lamhe to consistently come out top at certain time slots week on week is a tough feat in today’s saturated TV market. Many channels today have one-off properties that help them to gather their audience numbers, whereas Lamhe’s schedule draws in viewers throughout the day and across various shows.”

     

    The line-up of the month includes critically-acclaimed shows including Amanat, Hasratein and Malgudi Days as well as classics celebrating the all-time sizzling actresses of Bollywood – such as Babita, Madhuri Dixit, Dimple Kapadia, Sridevi – on weekend movies at 7:30pm. Viewers can also watch out for new additions to the channel.

     

    Lamhe is free to enjoy on Sky 798 and is also available on Virgin Media 811. It has also recently launched on Freeview channel 53 in the Manchester region.

  • TV ratings issue listed for cabinet discussion on 9 Jan

    TV ratings issue listed for cabinet discussion on 9 Jan

    MUMBAI: The year 2013 saw quite a ruckus being raised about the ratings process being followed in the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in September 2013 came out with a recommendation paper after receiving suggestions from stakeholders on its consultation paper regarding the same.

     

    The paper got the ministry of information and broadcasting’s (MIB) nod in mid-November. Now it has been listed for consideration and approval by the cabinet committee on economic affairs on 9 January.

     

    Complaints about TV ratings in India have been aired for several years now. However, the TRAI released its recommendations only late last year on the way forward. In its paper it gave several suggestions to improve the quality of the ratings, one suggestion was that ratings agencies should register themselves with the MIB  and no one from its board of directors  should be involved in the business of broadcasting or advertising. They will have to give Rs 10 lakh as registration fee and produce a bank guarantee of Rs 1 crore.

     

    The minimum number of houses was recommended to be doubled to 20,000, to be increased by 10,000 till it reaches 50,000. 25 per cent of the viewership panel being monitored should be rotated every year. 

     

    If the ratings agencies failed to follow the guidelines they would be penalised, the severest being cancellation of the registration. 

     

    If the new ratings guidelines do get the cabinet’s nod, it means that the existing ratings agency TAM Media will have to invest anywhere between Rs 200-250 crore to scale up its panel and get itself registered with the MIB. The Broadcast Audience Research Council – which currently has the full backing of the broadcast, advertising and marketing industries and is racing to start its services by mid-2014 – will also have to follow the same course of MIB registration.

  • ZEE confirmed as Title Sponsor for 2014 Jaipur Literature Festival

    ZEE confirmed as Title Sponsor for 2014 Jaipur Literature Festival

    MUMBAI: The Jaipur Literature Festival has announced ZEE Entertainment as the new title sponsor for the 2014 Festival, taking place next week between 17 – 21 January 2014. The Festival will now be known as the ‘ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival’.

     

    Launched in 1992, ZEE is one of the largest media organisations in the world, entertaining over 700 million viewers across the globe weekly. Their sponsorship of the Festival furthers their commitment to quality entertainment in Indian languages, at home and abroad.

     

    The Festival, which is now in its seventh edition, will welcome a wealth of world-class literary talent next week, including Jonathan Franzen, Jumpha Lahiri, Amartya Sen, Harold Varmus, Tash Aw, Samantha Shannon and Reza Aslan.

     

    Inspired with this thought, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – (The World is my Family), ZEE has partnered with the Jaipur Literature Festival to extend its commitment to the Arts and culture, by bringing Festival audience and visitors the best literary minds from across India and the world.

     

    Mr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, said, “Literature, as they rightly say, preserves our cultural ideals, customs and morals. ZEE has been the cultural ambassador of our nation to the rest of the world for over two decades. Our traditions and rich culture, weaved into our content, reaches over 700+ million viewers across the globe. Our brand positioning – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, resonates this effort of ours, to unify the diverse cultures and traditions across the world into one Family. Celebrating this legacy further, we are extremely proud to associate with Jaipur Literature Festival.”

     

    Mr. Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, commented “ZEE has redefined itself from being a broadcaster to a content company. We at ZEE, believe that one has to constantly innovate and offer creative content solutions to audiences to enhance their engagement. The ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival association further strengthens our endeavour in creating compelling and engaging story telling for our viewers.”

     

    Sanjoy K. Roy, Producer of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, said: “We are thrilled to welcome ZEE Entertainment as title sponsor to the Jaipur Literature Festival, the world’s largest free literary festival. Their support will allow us to keep the Festival open to all, whilst bringing a wealth of world class talent to Jaipur each year. We look forward to a strong partnership as the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival.”

  • Life OK announces nominations and jury panel for Screen Awards

    Life OK announces nominations and jury panel for Screen Awards

    MUMBAI: Since last two decades, it has been one of the most prestigious film award shows. However, this time around the Screen Awards that were previously telecast on Star Plus has got a new home in Life OK. The much awaited nominations for the 20th edition of the award show were announced on Tuesday night amid much fanfare.

     

    The announcement of the nomination list and the Jury for the awards took place on 7 January in Mumbai. The nomination ceremony brought together Bollywood and eminent TV celebs from the Hindi and Marathi entertainment fraternity for the Kamla Pasand 20th Annual Life OK Screen Awards powered by Royale Aspira.

     

    As the stars descended at the nomination party, the dark winter evening turned into a glittering night. The host of the evening was the popular TV star Karanvir Bohra, who has been an integral part of the Life OK family since the beginning (known for his role in Saubhagyavati Bhava). He tickled everyone’s funny bones with his comic timing and quirky conversations.

     

    Adding sizzle to the stage was Hard Kaur with her power performances that had everyone grooving. The ceremony with its share of music and performances set the stage for the Grand Award Function that will take place on 14 January, 2014.

     

    Commenting on this momentous occasion for Life OK general manager Ajit Thakur said: “Life OK recently turned two and our endeavor is now to make entertainment bigger and better for our viewers. The 20th Annual Life OK Screen Awards is an important step in that direction. Screen comes with a history of credibility, which only makes the association for us more valuable. The nominations have been announced and it is clear that it will be a tough call for the jury but the best will win.”

     

    The Indian Express Group CEO George Varghese said: “With a legacy of 63 years, Screen has been the torch bearer of credible and progressive journalism. Given Screen’s illustrious history and the fact that we have always believed content is king, an association with Life OK seemed a good fit. A formal announcement of nominations at this event has raised the bar further”.

     

    The eminent jury for the 20th Annual Life OK Screen Awards comprise Govind Nihalani, Atul Agnihotri, Homi Adajania, John Matthew Mathan, Moushumi Chatterji, Prosenjit, Sonali Kulkarni, Rahul Dholakia, Kiran Shantaram, Sriram Raghavan, Umesh Shukla, Shreyas Talpade, Sam Balsara, Tarun Katial amongst others.

     

    The awards, valued by both the actors and the industry for honouring Indian Cinema will be premiered on the channel on 25 January. The awards night will be brought together by Cineyug and hosted by none other than the King of Romance – Shah Rukh Khan, the function will also see the best of Bollywood come together to celebrate Indian cinema.

  • Sony’s ‘Mahotsav’ to engage with its TG

    Sony’s ‘Mahotsav’ to engage with its TG

    MUMBAI: The last few years haven’t been very kind to Sony Entertainment Television (SET), at least in terms of weekly TAM ratings, but that hasn’t stopped the channel from making all the right noises in recent months.

     

    On the back of NP Singh’s elevation from COO to CEO and Man Jit Singh’s appointment as president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) comes ‘Sony Mahotsav’, an engagement extravaganza launched by the channel to get up, close and personal with its audiences in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Having started in November last year, the festival will continue till the end of this month, both gratifying and exposing audiences to the opportunity of understanding the 17-year-old brand.

     

    Says SET senior VP and head marketing Gaurav Seth: “This extravaganza has been organised to take the experience of Sony to our audiences in UP, Punjab and Haryana. UP and Punjab are critical markets for us. Through the show, we have realised that even if the channels’ reach and viewership doesn’t reflect in the TV ratings, there is a huge section that wants and desires the shows aired on it.”

     

    SET has already covered Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Agra, Meerut and Dehradun in UP and plans to cover Punjab and Haryana’s top nine markets including Bathinda, Abohar, Batala, Yamuna Nagar, Kaithal, Jind, Rohtak, Jalandar and Bhiwani.

     

    “We are covering cities in UP which have a population of one million plus, while cities in Punjab and Haryana which are being covered have a population of a 0.1-1 million,” informs Seth.     

     

    With ‘Sony Mahotsav’ held on Sundays, he goes on to explain how it works. “We reach the destination one week in advance and start promoting the festival through radio stations, local cable channels and print. We also rope in a few local people, who inform the residents through word of mouth. Then, we take up a huge ground and set up stalls which showcase the colours of the channel,” he informs.

     

    What can one expect from the fest? It gives audiences an opportunity to interact with their favourite characters from Sony’s shows and serials. Indeed, popular faces like Anoop Soni, Sangeeta Ghosh and Ruslaan Mumtaaz among others have been roped in to engage with the audience.

     

    Elaborates Seth: “There are separate stalls. So, we have a Nandini stall inspired by the show ‘Nandini’ based on the political scenario. On offer are activities like voting for the best couple or best show on the channel.” In a similar vein, there is a Maharana Pratap museum where spectators can dress up like the Maharana; a Kaun Banega Crorepati stall where people can pose alongside show host Amitabh Bachchan; an Indian Idol stall where fans can take to karaoke singing; and a Boogie Woogie stall where fans can groove to foot-tapping music. “There is something for everyone. We have also set up a workshop for women to teach them self defence, which is inspired by our shows CID and Crime Patrol,” says Seth.

     

    Also, spectators can view five to seven minute clips of shows aired on Sony during the day. “The idea is to ensure that people who have somehow missed the shows so far can be informed what the shows are about and can start watching it here on,” Seth informs.

     

    While the sponsor for ‘Sony Mahotsav’ in UP and Punjab is Kent RO, the music talent partner for the state is Universal Music. “We have also partnered with major radio stations in the state. So for UP, we roped in Radio Mirchi and Big FM for promotions. Also, we partnered with local cable operators to distribute the free-of-cost entry passes for the event,” reveals Seth.

     

    Sony has made a ‘sizeable’ investment in the festival and though it has conducted similar such events in the past, they’ve never been on such a large scale.

     

    The channel claims to have got a capacity crowd in every city of UP it has covered so far. “Though the numbers do not suggest the popularity of the brand, the crowd did show the love for the brand,” exults Seth, adding, “Looking at the response, we may conduct such events in other states as well.”

     

    So has a mammoth exercise like ‘Sony Mahotsav’ succeeded in boosting viewership? “We haven’t done any ROI till now. That will be done once the whole activity is complete. Once this is done, we will get an idea of the increase in viewership and reach numbers,” says Seth.

     

    And ‘Sony Mahotsav’ isn’t all. Recently, the channel launched two new shows as well – Ekk Nayi Pehchaan and Main Na Bhoolungi. Whether all of this reflects on the ratings, only time will tell…

  • Anil Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra along with the IIFA management to kick start IIFA Tampa 2014

    Anil Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra along with the IIFA management to kick start IIFA Tampa 2014

    MUMBAI: Superstars of Indian Cinema – Anil Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra will join the International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) on a 3 city tour of America as they announce celebrations ahead of the 15th year of the film industry’s most awaited awards ceremony and weekend extravaganza. Fans of Indian Cinema, particularly those residing in Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and New York will have the opportunity to catch two of the most prolific stars of Indian Cinema on American soil.

     
    Priyanka Chopra said “Year after year, IIFA brings the best of Indian cinema to a new geography in different parts of the world, providing a taste of the best that we have to offer. We are very excited to bring IIFA to Tampa Bay.  With the support of representatives of Visit Tampa, we have been able to conceptualize and actualize an incredible event.  There will be music, dance and a whole lot of spice!  We’re looking forward to giving our fans and new audiences the experience of a lifetime.

     

    Earlier this year, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) announced that fans of Indian Cinema could expect the 15th Annual IIFA celebrations to make its American premiere in Tampa Bay, Florida. The institution has now announced the much awaited official dates for the mega-weekend that is all set to take place from the 24th – 26th of April.

     
    Speaking about the tour, Anil Kapoor said “With the promise of bringing the best and biggest events to the fans of Indian Cinematic Diaspora in a manner that’s unique and entertaining, the IIFA Weekend and Awards is an iconic platform with fans globally. As a friend of IIFA, I am delighted as IIFA makes its debut in the USA through Tampa Bay.  It has been my pleasure to be associated with IIFA for over a decade and once again on behalf of IIFA and the Indian film fraternity we commit to give our audience an opportunity to witness one of the finest celebrations of culture and cinema.”

    Having played a large hand to bring the IIFA ceremony to Tampa Bay; cardiologist, philanthropist, community leader and strong supporter of IIFA, Dr. Kiran Patel said, “I am glad to lend my support in whatever way possible to IIFA and the Indian film fraternity at large. The excitement is building up and we look forward to some extremely entertaining and memorable events. With the goodwill of our community we look forward to the grandest Indian cinema spectacle that the US has ever seen.”

    Santiago Corrada, President and Chief Executive Officer of Visit Tampa Bay said, “We are extremely excited to join Wizcraft/IIFA in announcing the official dates, venues and the launch of ticket sales. Our teams have worked together diligently over the past six months to ensure a successful production in Tampa Bay.  This tour is just the beginning of a very exciting journey. Our entire region is enthusiastically preparing to welcome tens of thousands of visitors to our destination, and we look forward to serving as great hosts to the biggest and best International Indian Film Academy awards in history.”

    Having travelled to some phenomenal destinations across the globe over the last 14 years, IIFA has graced the shores of the UK, Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Canada. Fans and enthusiasts of Indian Cinema from around the world can expect to see their favorite stars descend into Tampa Bay during the weekend and witness Indian Cinema’s most glorious event unfold in the city. With world-class infrastructure and facilities and having hosted a myriad of international concerts, events and the Super Bowl four times, Tampa Bay is the ideal choice for the 15th IIFA Weekend & Awards.

     

    Mr. Andre Timmins, Director, Wizcraft International said, “We are looking forward to organizing the IIFA Weekend & Awards in the USA and exploring the wonderful new opportunities in this new territory for IIFA. With a focus to showcase the best of Indian cinema to the world, we are preparing for another spectacular edition this year including many exciting and entertaining events leading up to and including the IIFA Weekend. Anil Kapoor & Priyanka Chopra have been associated with IIFA for many years and it is a great pleasure to have them tour America with us as we officially announce details for IIFA 2014 in Tampa Bay.”

     

    IIFA is a global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach audiences in international territories.  The alliances made via the platform of IIFA provide huge benefits and gain not only to India the host country as well. The aim is to establish a system of mutual benefit to both India as well as the host destinations by boosting tourism, economic development, trade, culture, cross-border investments and film co-productions.