ITV

Category: GECs

  • Amrita TVs short snippet Thattu Kada crosses 500 days of telecast

    Amrita TVs short snippet Thattu Kada crosses 500 days of telecast

    MUMBAI: BENGALURU: Malayalam GEC and news satellite FTA channel Amrita TV announced that its one to three minute snippets’ program on fast food eateries ‘Thattu Kada’ has completed 500 days. The show is aired seven times daily towards the end of each news bulletin.

     

    “Not everyone has the time to watch a 30 minute episode on eateries,” says a source at Amrita TV to www.indiantelevision.com. “Our focus has been on low cost, on variety, on hygienic places and food. We’ve had calls from across the country from people asking us for the location of a food joint in their area that has been aired by us,” informed the source.

     

    “Each snippet is produced by our various bureaus’ across the country, and we air Thattu Kada all days of the week, including Sundays’,” the source added further. “Since a snippet is a part of the news, we have not brought on separate sponsors’ for the show as yet.”

     

    The channels says that over 500 eateries have been aired on Amrita TV with a new joint being featured every day of the week. Fanning out in all districts of Kerala as well as Delhi ,Chennai, Bangalore ,Mumbai, Hyderabad, UP, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand , Gujarat and Assam, Amrita TV news reporters have discovered and highlighted unknown food joints which dish out culinary delights at affordable prices.

     

    The channel says that in an era where eating out has become a burden, the popularity of Amrita TV’s ‘Thattu Kada’ is a testimony of the common man’s preference for food which is cooked in front of one’s own eyes, served piping hot without any cosmetic frills, and at a value-for-money tariff.

  • MTV makes music, again

    MTV makes music, again

    MUMBAI: While it counts as the oldest music television network in Asia and the one brand that has always stood for all things youth, MTV India, Viacom18’s youth entertainment channel, is not one to rest on its laurels.

     

    And so, in a bid to add an exciting new dimension to its youth connect as much as stay ahead in an already cluttered space, the channel has, in collaboration with Soundlogic, an American gadget major that set shop in India two years ago, and Croma, launched a range of music accessories under the flagship brand, MTV Fashiontronix.

     

    The accessories including trendy earphones, Bluetooth ear buds and many more will be exclusively available at Croma stores across the country and on its website.

     

    Speaking on the launch, Viacom 18 senior VP consumer products Saugato Bhowmik said: “We believe in catering to the youngsters and only want to expand our horizons across categories which cater to our thought process, be it related to fashion, gadgets, Bollywood etc.”

     

    About the tie-up with MTV, Soundlogic director Sagar Gwallani said: “After the successful response we got here, we thought of enhancing our reach more among the youngsters. Hence, we collaborated with MTV because of its popularity among the youth and its digital following. The combination of our technical bandwidth along with the channel’s creative edge in the market will help us achieve our goal.”

     

    On the collaboration, Infiniti Retail CEO & managing director Ajit Joshi said: “We sell products like JVL and Bose but today, youngsters want music on the go. It is a religion for them. And when we got an opportunity to address the needs of the youth of the country, we were glad to be part of it.”

     

    MTV will market the new product range through its digital space. “Where do youngsters hangout? It’s cafes, colleges and are always on the digital platform. Apart from us, Croma too will be supporting us on its digital space,” informed Bhowmik, adding that the channel is in the planning stage of launching a marketing plan on its sister channels. “We have all the edge at our disposal and we will be utilizing our sister channels in the future,” he said.

     

    Meanwhile, Joshi opined that the range, priced between Rs 899 and Rs 3999, doesn’t really need marketing as he could predict it would fly off the shelves as soon as youngsters got their hands on it.

  • Zees mega push in Europe

    Zees mega push in Europe

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) has got Europe on its radar. India’s largest private international broadcaster is looking at launching a wellness channel Veria Living in the UK; mulling a Russian launch for it; studying the prospects for an English language factual entertainment brand; and partnering with a European OTT service provider Voddler.

    This was disclosed by company chairman Subhash Chandra to Digital TV Europe. Chandra said the Indian market is ripe for healthcare content programming. “We should be launching in the coming early summer – maybe an April, May, June kind of timeframe,” he told Digital TV Europe.

    Extending its programming to Russia, Zee is also looking at having a majority stake in an existing health and wellness channel there and later pumping in dubbed content from Veria Living.

    Add to this, Zee has inked a deal with Swedish VOD firm Voddler to globally stream its premium content with initial focus on people in India, USA and Indonesia.

    The Voddler deal comes after Zee launched its Ditto TV service last year, which provides live streaming and TV on demand from Zee channels on tablet, mobile and internet platforms. Initially launched in India, Ditto TV now covers UK, Australia and New Zealand as well.

     

    A Voddler release said Zee will brand and market the OTT service globally. With Zee already delivering content to 670 million people across 168 countries globally, the deal is set to take Zee to the online platform while cashing in on the broadcaster’s over 100,000 hours of television and film programming.

     

    “Voddler is committed to bringing great content online with the world’s best cloud-based streaming technology. We’re thrilled to partner with Zee to offer their premium series and movies to fans globally. The Voddler solution scales at all data levels and makes true global online streaming feasible, both from a financial and technical perspective. To continue to build the world’s most efficient cloud-based streaming solution, we couldn’t hope for a more visionary partner than Zee,” said Voddler CEO Marcus Bäcklund in the release.

     

    Starting off with a pilot VOD service, the chosen three markets are the ones that have shown interest in Bollywood. It is due to release early 2014. Voddler’s cloud based service called VoddlerNet is capable of storing large videos at superior quality as well as save on streaming cost.

     

    Chandra said in the release: “Zee turned 20 years this fall. As we now step into our third decade, we are transforming ourselves from a broadcaster to a narrowcaster that will cater to every screen. Voddler’s solution, with its innovative streaming technology and almost limitless cloud solution, enables us to execute on that strategy fast and efficiently.”

     

    A digitaltveurope.com report reveals that at a function last week where Chandra received his doctorate of business administration from the University of East London, the Zee head honcho revealed there are four types of programming he is looking at : South Asian programming; South Asian programming repurposed for given markets, dubbed or subtitled in different languages; local production in the local languages; and global programming, produced in English language and distributed globally, again dubbed in local languages.

  • Amuls tasteless take on Tehelka

    Amuls tasteless take on Tehelka

    MUMBAI: For a brand as big as Amul, its ads too have come to be an iconic part of the country’s social-scape.

     

    From IPL spot fixing to the allegations of corruption that once swirled around Jagmohan Dalmiya, from Laloo Prasad Yadav’s arrest in the fodder scam to Raj Babbar’s atrocious comments with respect to Rs 12 meals; Amul ads have taken an unflinching stance, driving home the point cheekily, yet responsibly while almost always leaving the reader with a smile.

     

    This time round however, even Amul’s li’l moppet, of the polka dot fame, has been unable to save the day.

     

    The latest ad – a take on the Tehelka scandal – shows a Tarun Tejpal-like figure being pecked by crows (incidentally the crow is Tehelka’s mascot) while sitting on a stool inside what looks like an elevator, while the Amul girl stands outside with her bread and butter sandwich. The tagline reads: “Kya Se Kya Kho Gaya! Tehelka Macha De!”

     

    Tejpal, the editor of Tehelka, who has made a career out of his in-your-face brand of journalism, has been in the news for allegedly sexually assaulting a junior colleague, a friend of his daughter at that, in an elevator at a fest organised by the magazine earlier this month in Goa.

     

    The Amul poster, which takes a very obvious swipe at Tejpal, hasn’t gone down well with people and social media is abuzz with comments trashing the ad for its tastelessness.

     

    Writes columnist and writer Aseem Chhabra: “I find this Amul ad outrageous and offensive! Where is the humor in a rape case?” Tweets The Oddfather @TheOddfather1014h: “Sorry guys, just my personal opinion…I don’t think it’s very smart or creative using a molestation case in your ad #justsaying”. Posts Vijay @ohVijayJoshi3h wrote: “like idiots u came up to make fun of a sensitive topic can u do a fun ad on 26/11 & Arushi as well.. U r selling butter? Pathetic”.

     

    Clearly, the ad hasn’t cut ice with a majority of people unlike its previous ones. Whether they think it trivializes a serious issue or is just not witty enough or whether rape is a matter that just doesn’t lend itself to jokes; one can’t really point out.

     

    All said, adman Rahul Dacunha, the man behind all those witty Amul posters since 1993 is disappointed with people’s reaction.   “Am disappointed that you see this as a joke – it’s a satirical comment about the fall from grace of a man,” he tweeted.

     

    Ironically, Dacunha is the same guy who, in a column in Tehelka on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Amul in 2009 wrote: “Today is Tuesday morning. Actor Shiney Ahuja makes the headlines – he may have just raped his maid. The question before the Amul creative team at Dacunha Communications is: Should Amul walk away or comment? And if we do, what angle do we take? What tone of voice? This is the dilemma we often face with Amul.”

     

    If this is what Dacunha thought four years ago, we wonder what made him change his mind this time round…

  • Bindass climbs the rating ladder with content that connects

    Bindass climbs the rating ladder with content that connects

    MUMBAI: It seems content and digitisation has helped Bindass in a big way. The channel climbed the TV ratings ladder in week 46 of TAM TV ratings with 20,533 GVTs, leaving its rivals MTV and Channel [V] far behind with 14,160 and 16,576 GVTs respectively.

     

    “Both our content as well as digitisation has helped our channel to a great extent. It has helped us reach out to our core TG which is the youth,” says Disney executive director content media networks Indrajit Ray.

     

    Digitisation, according to Ray, has led to democratisation of channels. “Earlier there was limited penetration of channels and thus only the popular channels with better resources could reach every household. Digitisation has helped us to increase our reach,” he says.

     

    According to the ratings provided by Bindass, the top five shows for the week in the youth space were: Yeh Hai Aashiqui (1,852 TVTs), Channel [V] Gumraah Season 3 (1,056 TVTs), Emotional Atyachaar on Bindass (882 TVTs), MTV Webbed (628 TVTs) and [V] Crazy Stupid Love (208 TVTs).

     

    The channel has been working towards improving its GVTs for a long time now. “It is not a week’s work, but a long process. The ratings are not a result of one single promotional activity,” remarks Ray, attributing the growth in ratings to Yeh Hai Aashiqui. He also informs that the channel’s team has formulated an aggressive plan to offer more. “Currently, we have two hours of original content, we plan to increase this,” he adds.

     

    The growing number of GVTs is an indication for the channel that brand Bindass is being accepted among newer audiences. “We believe this was largely on account of its popular mass narrative based on youth themes,” remarks Ray, who also thinks that the channel has been able to strike a chord with its audience because the content reflects the thought of today’s youth in the best way. “Our content is a reflection of what the youth feels today. Relationships, which are the most important part of any youngster’s life has been underserved,” adds Ray, emphasising that Bindaas is a platform for many youngsters to raise their concerns on issues that interests them.

     

    Talking about the reach, Ray says, “We have a fair equitable reach in the Hindi speaking market. We are strong in the north and now have also become popular in west and central India. Our core TG is between 15-24 years, but we do not restrict our programming to this age group. Our shows also cater to older people.”

     

    Bindass, for Ray, is a channel that brings to the fore issues that are brushed under the carpet. “We do not sensationalise but reflect the truth,” he says with hope that the channel will continue to be on the growth trajectory.

  • Explore the corporate world with Sir Martin Sorrell

    Explore the corporate world with Sir Martin Sorrell

    MUMBAI: Network18’s business channel CNBC-TV18 has got a date with one of the most powerful man in the world of media and advertising. WPP chief executive of advertising services group Sir Martin Sorrell – under whose leadership the company has escalated to the position of the world’s largest agency network – will give viewers an insight in to the world of media, advertising and marketing with a programme, 30 Minutes with Martin Sorrell.

     

    It is a monthly half an hour show that will go on air on CNBC-TV18 from Friday, 29 November at 7:00 pm. The show will be hosted by Anant Rangaswami, editor of Storyboard and senior editor of Firstpost where he will speak to Sorrell on recent and imminent developments in the world of media, advertising and marketing.

     

    Sorrell is an astute businessman with an instinctive understanding of economics, finance and markets. He has changed the landscape of the communications industry through WPP’s consolidation drive over the last decade and more.

     

    With this show, the channel adds another topical show to its illustrious line-up to provide programming that its viewers can continue to benefit from. By leveraging its global edge, CNBC-TV18 brings Indian audiences Sorrell’s first exclusive monthly appearance on an Indian business news channel.

  • Nautanki Films Madhubala takes up a social cause

    Nautanki Films Madhubala takes up a social cause

    MUMBAI: One of the most watched soaps on Colors – Nautanki Films’ Madhubala – is using its popularity to draw attention to a serious social issue like forced abortions, the serial’s lead protagonist Madhubala (Dhrasti Dhami) is seen in a dilemma which many women in India can relate to.

     

    In present day society, though women’s rights are being spoken and fought for, their liberty to take decisions stands as a question mark. Forced abortions, a prevalent concern, is faced by most of the members of the fairer sex irrespective of their caste, class or creed.

     

    Madhubala has taken up the task of bringing this issue to the forefront. The past week saw the show’s protagonist, Madhu’s, dreams getting crushed when her husband RK tries to coerce her to abort their first child to suit his own agenda. Standing against her husband’s wishes, Madhu makes a firm decision to keep the child.

     

    Nautanki Films co-producer Abhinav Shukla said in a release: “Many times injustices done against women go unnoticed. With our show we will try to throw light on these issues, we are hopeful the gravity of this social issue will reach out and make an impact on the show’s many viewers.”

     

    Going by the promos, the upcoming episodes will see Madhu suffer a supposed ‘accidental miscarriage’, symbolising the often sad fate that befalls Indian women.

    Nautanki Films co-producer Saurabh Tewari added: “It is not the first time we have introduced a social cause in the story, and it is definitely not the last time we will do so. We are quite pleased to use our show as a platform to showcase issues which affect the general public”

     

    Coincidentally the show had previously dabbled with the grave issue of female foeticide, wherein Madhubala’s mother was forced to drop her girl child by her husband and family, against whom she strongly fought and won, managing to keep the baby. It must be said that Nautanki Films’ Madhubala is surely proving to be quite an inspiration for its female fan following.

  • Close KBC web game hits 4.3 million plays in three months

    Close KBC web game hits 4.3 million plays in three months

    MUMBAI: Kaun Banega Crorepati’s digital punch ‘KBC Web Game’ has emerged as one of the most popular games. The game that allowed online gamers to test their speed and accuracy on the hot seat has emerged as a big hit witnessing 4.3 million game plays since its launch, three months ago. The web game is packed with a host of rich and immersive video content, exciting features and real-like gaming experience.

     

    The web game allows users to test their speed and accuracy by playing the game online; users can win iPads, gift vouchers and get to watch the show live on the set. The feature allows the users to get a close-to-real experience like the ‘Hot Seat Contestant’ – they can use all lifelines, score points and grow up the money tree.

     

    It is hosted on the KBCSony.com website. The web game has been played 40 lakh times in the past three months. The website comes with the easy to navigate interface that adapts to multiple screens and displays. Viewers can also experience exciting features and play interactive quizzes, contests and games, all on one single digital platform.

     

    That apart, several other games like ‘Globe Quiz’ and ‘Insta Hot Seat’ were also created for KBC   fans.

  • Suvarna Plus launches two new comedy shows

    Suvarna Plus launches two new comedy shows

    BENGALURU: The Star network’s recently added Kannada GEC Suvarna Plus announced the launch of two new daily (Monday to Sunday) comedy shows – Singari Bangari and Jam‘n’Jelly that will go on air from December  2013. Singari Bangari will go on air at 9:00 pm followed by Jam`n’Jelly at 9:30 pm.

     

    Suvarna Plus business head Anup Chandrashekharan says, “The idea behind the two comedy shows is to provide a sense of relief to the audiences from their stressful lives. Jam‘n’Jelly is a first of its kind mute comedy offering in the Kannada market. Both these shows are light hearted comedies and I am sure that our audiences would enjoy them.”  

     

    Earlier, the channel re-ran the content broadcast by the Star Network’s first Kanada GEC Suvarna. Over a period of time the network plans to add more content exclusively for Suvarna Plus say sources at the channel.  

     

    “Since this is a new channel, we don’t have sponsors or new advertisers on board for the shows, but are sure to get them once the shows and the channel gain popularity,” revealed the sources, who also informed that generally the ad inventory in the case of Suvarna is fully booked.

     

    The channel says that Singari Bangari is a fun riot between mother-in-law (Singari) and daughter-in-law (Bangari).  The cat and mouse game between these two affects the family and leads them into comical situations more often than not. The never ending tussle between the two women is the crux of the show. The show is directed by Pavankumar and produced by Vasanthkumar.

     

     Jam‘n’Jelly is a mute comedy, a first of its kind in Kannada entertainment. The two characters Jam and Jelly are the highlights of the show. The show has a lot of firsts in it and is all set to create a new trend in the Kannada market with its unique treatment. The show is directed by Sachin Shetty and produced by Shivadhwaj.  

     

    Besides these new shows, the channel already has shows like Campus Connect, Bindas Bakra and Namma Parivara that are becoming popular names in every part of Karnataka.

  • Zee TV felicitates good shows of rival channels

    Zee TV felicitates good shows of rival channels

    MUMBAI: Over the last 21 years, Zee TV has entertained its viewers around the world with a variety of shows. The channel that is known to have been a trendsetter has done something remarkable once again. Acknowledging the presence of good shows on other General Entertainment Channels (GECs), at the recently held annual Zee Rishtey Awards 2013, Zee TV gave away the ‘Zee Anmol Ratna Awards’ to three shows on rival channels.

    The three shows that were honored at the awards ceremony by Zeel managing director and CEO Punit Goenka, included Star Plus’ Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Colors’ Balika Vadhu and Sab’s Taraak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The channel awarded the shows for their impact of being original, creative and finely crafted works of fiction that continue to entertain audiences on television.

    Punit Goenka felicitating Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma

    The awards were given to the people behind these three shows – Rajan Shahi (Director’s Kut Productions) for producing Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Purnendu Shekhar, the writer of Balika Vadhu along with Asit Modi (Neela Telefilms), and Disha Vakharia, the producer and lead actress of Taraak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.

    Zee’s brand philosophy, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, is all encompassing as it embraces everyone in the world as a part of its family. This has been taken one step ahead by the ‘Zee Anmol Ratna Awards’.

    Talking about it, Goenka said: “At Zee Rishtey Awards, we come to celebrate our relationship with our viewers but we also know that our viewers have a long standing relationship with shows from other channels…it’s time to acknowledge them.”

    Excited at receiving the award, Shahi opined: “It is a very big honour to be receiving an award from Zee TV as in my career of 20 years, my best work has been on Zee and after a gap of four years, I am coming back with a new show on the channel.” 

    Punit Goenka felicitating Purnendu Shekar, writer of Balika Vadhu

    Shekhar said: “This award is extremely special.. Balika Vadhu has received various awards but this is the first time that I am taking away an award for the show from a competition channel. This is the first time ever that any channel has done it, and it is none other than Zee and hence proves that they were pioneers, are pioneers and will always be pioneers in the industry. My association with Zee goes back to the days of a very popular show called Amaanat. I have also written the script for another show on Zee called Saat Phere, which was equally big and won equal number of accolades as Balika Vadhu. At Zee, it always feels like I’m returning home.”

    Modi added, “It is a big honour to be awarded by a competitor channel and it just proves that our bond with Zee TV is eternal. I would like to thank Zee and the entire team.”

    Zee Rishtey Awards, 2013 will be telecast on 1 December at 8:00 pm on Zee TV.