ITV

Category: GECs

  • Star ropes in stars to raise funds for Uttarakhand rehabilitation

    Star ropes in stars to raise funds for Uttarakhand rehabilitation

    MUMBAI: When Star India CEO Uday Shankar watched hundreds of innocent tourists and locals being swept away and buildings being flattened by the rising waters of the Mandakani river in June this year, he was at first horrified by the magnitude of the tragedy and then moved to action. He vowed to himself, that he would put in his best to help in the rebuilding efforts in the affected areas. He made a call to the two Bhatts of Bollywood- Mahesh and Mukesh and sought their support in putting together a fund-raising initiative which would involve the film and television fraternity.

    He also connected with Wizcraft’s Sabbas Joseph, asking him to pitch in this with his mite. And he deputed Star India senior VP marketing Yogesh Manwani to go down to Uttarakhand to study and assess the situation and gauge the funds required to rehabilitate the afflicted areas with major NGOs working there.

    Come 15 August 2013, and Uday’s initiative will see the light of day at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI)’s spanking new stadium in Central Mumbai. On stage will be the biggest names from Bollywood, the Bachchan family – it’s quite likely that the Bachchan bahu Aishwarya will get on stage after a long hiatus, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, AR Rahman, Lata Mangeshkar, Ayushmann Khurana, Akshay Kumar, Pritam, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Ajay Devgn, Kajol and Prasoon Joshi, among many others.

    The event titled Saath Hain Hum Uttarakhand will be telecast live on a clutch of channels of the Star India network – Star Plus, Life OK, Star Pravah, Channel V, Star Utsav, Star Plus HD and Life OK HD.

    So what’s so great about doing another multi-starrer event with film and TV performers? Have we not seen many of them and felt like going ho-hum? The difference this time is that this one has very noble intentions. Every paisa that Star India earns courtesy ad revenues and sponsorship during the telecast will be donated to NGOs working in the Uttarakhand. The telecast is slated to run for seven hours from 12 noon to 7pm. Estimates are that Star is likely to give away Rs 20-30 crore which it will rake in courtesy the telecast.

    The biggest names from Bollywood have been roped in for the event titled Saath Hain Hum Uttarakhand

    Amitabh will lend his mesmerising voice to recite couplets from Prasoon’s magical poetry that’ll be set to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music. The enthralling musical act will weave Prasoon’s event anthem – Mera Desh- into an enchanting song performance by acclaimed classical singer Shankar Mahadevan and a spellbinding poetic rendition by Amitabh. At the time of writing, several other stars like Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar were also approached.

    Says Star India CEO Uday Shankar, “Mera Desh is an invocation by India’s most revered artists with a simple and clear message to fellow citizens — to look at tragedy squarely in the eye and overcome it by joining hands. Star India is humbled to receive support from Hindi cinema’s biggest icons.”

    “The noble initiative is an opportunity for the entire Hindi film industry to stand by the very people who have showered us with unconditional love and have made us who we are,” says Bachchan. “We have come together to ease the pain of fellow men who suffered the agonising pain that this unprecedented calamity brought with itself.”

    All the anchors and stars will be urging audiences at home to open their wallets and donate funds for Uttarakhand

    This apart, anchors will be rotated every hour. Among some of the names from the TV industry which are being talked about include: Deepika Singh (Sandhya), Anas Rashid (Sooraj), Karan Mehra (Naitik), Mahadev fame Mohit Raina and Pooja Bose. “The show will be loaded with entertainment,” says a source close to the production. Wizcraft has had the experience of raising funds through greenathons and long-format events. But they have left the fund-raising to Star which is setting up payment gateways online. All the anchors and stars will be urging audiences at home to open their wallets and donate funds for Uttarakhand.”

    The main choreographer for the event is Sanjay Shetty who has become the darling of most live event organisers in recent times. The creative inputs will come courtesy Star India senior vice president programming Anil Jha. Wizcraft TV head Namit Sharma is the creative head and Asim Sen has been roped in as the TV director, Anurag Dingra will be the director of photography, while sets are being done by designer Varshai Desai. Wizcraft sound firm Performance Audio has been signed on for the sound while Atul Sonpal is responsible for the lights design with the help of lights from SFX and Ulhas will look after lights. Tech gear, cameras are being supplied by Real Impact.

    Technical and production crew disclosed that they were either working free of cost or at concessional rates for the event. “We are doing it for a cause,” says one of them. “Star has been reaching out to all who have been working with it on shows in the past to come in at really discounted rates.”

    Star India has emerged as one of the front runners on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) front amongst media firms ever since Shankar took over as CEO four years ago. This initiative should take the network even further still.

  • Q1-2014: DQE International continues profitable run

    Q1-2014: DQE International continues profitable run

    BENGALURU: The Tapas Chakravarti (he’s the CMD and CEO) led, Hyderabad based DQ Entertainment (International) Ltd, (DQE) continued its profitable run in Q1-2014.

     

    DQE had reported loss for Q1-2013 of Rs 9.2 crore. It reported profit of Rs 14 crore in Q3-2013 followed by a profit of Rs 23.3 crore in Q4-2013. DQE’s net profit for FY-2013 was Rs 37.3 crore. As of June 2013 (Q1-2014), DQE had recorded a net consolidated profit of Rs 6.6 crore.

     

    The company says that its revenue and profitability has a clear seasonal pattern, similar to that of the rest of the global animation industry, wherein almost 60 per cent of the annual revenue is achieved in the third and fourth quarter of the financial year and these results are in line with that trend.

     

    DQE is a global player in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of various forms of entertainment. The company is a major player in the country in animation production capacity for television, feature films, home video, online game art, visual effects, mobile and next generation console games.

     

    Let us take a look at DQE’s other figures for Q1-2014

     

    DQE’s consolidated net income from operations of Rs 30.43 crore in Q1-2014 was 1.64 per cent lower than the Rs 30.93 crore for Q1-2013 and a little more than a third (34.4 per cent) of the Rs 88.54 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    In Q1-2014, DQE had suffered a foreign exchange loss of Rs 18.4 crore, in Q1-2013, this loss was lower at Rs 5.94 crore, while in Q4-2013, it had a gain of Rs 4.3 crore on account of foreign exchange.

     

    DQE’s total expense for Q1-2014 at Rs 18.9 crore was more than half (51.7 per cent) of Rs 36.56 crore in Q1-2013 and less than a third (31.9 per cent) of the Rs 59.26 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    DQE’s production expense in Q1-2014 at Rs 1.65 crore was a little more than a third (36.7 per cent) of the expense of Rs 4.5 crore in Q1-2013 and almost a quarter (25.24 per cent) of the Rs 6.53 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    DQE’s employee expense at Rs 20.22 crore for Q1-2014 was 15.1 per cent lower than the Rs 23.81 crore in Q1-2013 and just 0.75 per cent lower than the Rs 20.38 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    DQE’s animation segment reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.57 crore in Q1-2014, lower by 1.8 per cent as compared to the Rs 28.08 crore in Q1-2013, and a little more than a third (35.22 per cent) of the revenue of Rs 78.28 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    DQE’s animation business had revenue of Rs 182.01 crore for FY-2013.

     

    Capital employed for the animation segment at Rs 192.80 crore for Q1-2014 was 42.3 per cent more than the Rs 135.50 crore for Q1-2013 and 17.5 per cent more than the Rs 164.05 crore for Q4-2013.

     

    In its Q2-2013, DQE had said that it expected its distribution business to deliver significant net cash flows from FY-14 onwards. This has not happened in Q1-2014. Results from this segment were Rs (-1.859) crore in Q1-2014, Rs (-1.884) crore for Q1-2012 and Rs (-9.482 crore in Q4-2013. For FY-2013, DQE’s segment result from Distribution was Rs 12 crore.

     

    Revenue from DQE’s distribution business in Q1-2014 at Rs 2.852 crore, was almost flat as compared to the Rs 2.847 crore for Q1-2013 and a little more than a fourth (27.8 per cent) of the Rs 10.26 crore in Q4-2013. Given the fact that DQE’s overall business has seasonal patterns, this segment could show results as per the company’s expectations during the rest of the quarters of FY-2014.

     

    Capital employed for distribution for Q1-2014 at Rs 244.56 crore was 35.2 per cent less than the Rs 377.28 crore in Q1-2013 and 1.7 per cent more than the Rs 240.33 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    Chakravarti said, “The macroeconomic environment in some markets, especially in Europe and Canada, remains very challenging even in the children’s entertainment business. There is however a definitive improvement in the US Animation and children’s entertainment segment where considerable effort is being paid by us to further enhance our footprint.”

     

    “Our core business fundamentals remain sound with a strong current order book, to be executed over the next 2-3 years Our business is global and we have had particular success in TV and Home Video distribution, licensing, merchandising and publishing for brands like The Jungle Book and Peter Pan, as well as for many other properties such as Iron Man, Casper, Charlie Chaplin, Tara Duncan and Little Prince.”

     

    “We are in the process of rescheduling DQE India’s working capital facilities necessary to execute our new order pipeline and complete production and delivery of high brand equity properties such as The Jungle Book – series II, Peter Pan – series II, 5 Children & IT- series I, Lassie – series I, Little Prince – series III, Robin Hood – series I, besides several other productions”, informed Chakravarti.

     

    “We have given a special focus to strengthening our balance sheet by putting an extraordinary effort into the collection of receivables from our clients and partners, which will further improving our working capital position.

     

    I remain cautiously optimistic that we will end the fiscal year in a satisfactory position as planned,” Chakravarti said.

  • BARC meets industry in Kolkata; suggests third vendor

    BARC meets industry in Kolkata; suggests third vendor

    KOLKATA: The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has clarified that its technical committee’s evaluation panel plans to appoint three vendors (read three, not two as reported by us on 7 August (Evaluation of RFPs for BARC to be held from 14 August). The first is the technical partner, the second is the panel management partner and the third will conduct the establishment study for the proposed new television ratings system. BARC has announced that the new TV ratings systems should start spewing out viewership ratings by May or June of 2014. The committee, as reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, had earlier accepted applications from 27 organisations, of the 32 RFP responses that it had received.

     

    Once the new TV ratings system is in place, the industry body will also float another tender for a fourth vendor for taking up quality and analytics studies.

     

    BARC TechComm member Paritosh Joshi made this clarification at the third of its open houses held in Kolkata on Thursday.

     

    20 professionals representing broadcasters, advertisers and agencies attended the meet hosted in which BARC shared the progress it has made so far. Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Havas Media, Zee Media, BPN India and TV Today were amongst the media companies that turned up in the Kolkata leg of BARC’s national city roadshow exercise to connect with industry. BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta and vice president Mubin Khan were also present to interact with industry.

     

    “The priority for now is getting the best and biggest vendors. We are currently ensuring that metering, establishment and technology contracts are well managed,” says Dasgupta.

     

    The fourth vendor for quality and analysis will take time and Joshi said BARC might get into the selection process in November.

     

    Havas Media senior general manger Raj Dutta, who was a part of the roadshow says, “I was expecting something new. Things were presented in a sketchy format. There is not much clarity about the rural audience. However with different organisations engaged in the measurement system, there would be complete transparency.”

     

    BPN India executive vice president Mahesh Motwani added, “Given the technological advances, the time was right for this initiative. It will map the diverse and rapidly changing Indian media landscape and provide a deeper connect and understanding of the consumer to Indian television.”

     

    Regional broadcasters have for long been pushing for an independent audience measurement system. “This will help them improve their bottom-line, going forward,” say media analysts. “With robust measurement and data, all genres and languages can expect a boost as far as media planners understanding of consumption of their content is concerned.”

  • Prasar Bharati’s Rs 280 crore debt to govt agencies

    Prasar Bharati’s Rs 280 crore debt to govt agencies

    NEW DELHI: The empire is striking back. The Indian government today said it is taking action at the appropriate level to recover Rs 279.64 crore that is owed by All India Radio and Doordarshan to different government agencies for usage of transponders on ISRO satellites and also the spectrum during 2011-12 and 2012-13.

     

    Prasar Bharati is itself expected to pay the various Central/State/Paramilitary/police organisations the cost of safeguarding the infrastructure, installations, land, buildings of AIR and DD, (such as the Mumbai Kendra pictured here) located across the country

     

        
    However, the government has already waived a sum of Rs 1349.54 crore that was due to various agencies till 31 March 2011 following the recommendation of the group of Ministers on Prasar Bharati in September 2011.

     

     

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told Parliament today that Prasar Bharati owes Rs 163.26 crore to the Indian Space Research Organisation for space segment and Rs 116.38 crore to the Communication and Information Technology Ministry as spectrum charges for these two years.

     

    Of the dues, the share of All India Radio for 2011-12 and 2012-13 is Rs 36.46 crore (Rs 16.26 crore and Rs 20.2 crore respectively) while that of Doordarshan is Rs 243.18 crore (Rs 63.4 crore and Rs 179.78 crore respectively).

     

    The Minister clarified that the government only meets the full bill for salary of the employees of the public service broadcaster, as recommended by the GoM.

     

    Prasar Bharati is itself expected to pay the various Central/State/Paramilitary/police organisations the cost of safeguarding the infrastructure, installations, land, buildings of AIR and DD located across the country.

     

    It also meets the salary and allowances of police and paramilitary personnel engaged by it out of its internal resources.

     

    The annual dues on account of dues for such services are in the region of Rs 72 crore.

     

    The Minister said if the pubcaster is unable to make a payment in a certain year, it makes sure this is done in the next financial year.

  • Zee Learn reports PAT for Q1-2014 after 8 consecutive quarterly losses

    Zee Learn reports PAT for Q1-2014 after 8 consecutive quarterly losses

    BENGALURU: The last time that Zee Learn Limited (Zee Learn) reported a profit was for the Q3-2011, the second quarter since it commenced operations. The education player then reported loss for eight quarters and two financial years until Q1-2014 when it showed a PAT of Rs 3.25 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 3.36 crore in Q1-2013 and a loss of Rs 7.35 crore in Q4-2013. For FY 2013, Zee Learn reported a loss of Rs 21.22 crore. Zee Learn saw an improvement in operational EBITDA by Rs 5.69 crore in corresponding Q-o-Q.

    Let us look at the other financials of Zee Learn for Q1-2014

    Zee Learn reported Rs 33.52 crore as total income from operation for Q1-2014 as compared to Rs 23.34 crore in Q1-2013, registering a growth of 43.6 per cent. However, operating income was lower by eight per cent as compared to Rs 36.43 crore in Q4-2013.

    Zee Learn also had ‘Other Income’ of Rs 2.22 crore in Q1-2014, in Q1-2013, this was 0.3931 crore, while ‘Other Income’ was Rs (-0.5607) crore for Q4-2013. Other income includes Rs 1.8561 crore exchange gain on remittance of GDR issue proceeds.

    Total expense for Q1-2014 at Rs 30.95 crore was higher by 19 per cent as compared to Rs 26.01 crore for Q1-2013, but lower by 23.3 per cent than the Rs 40.37 crore in Q4-2013.

    Expense towards purchase of education goods and television content in Q1-2014 at Rs 12.28 crore was more than double (more by 117.8 per cent) as compared to the Rs 5.37 crore for Q1-2013 and 15.3 per cent lower than the Rs 15.08 crore in Q4-2013.

    Other expense for Q1-2014 at Rs 9.51 crore was lower by 8.4 per cent as compared to the Rs 10.38 crore in Q1-2013 and was 28.6 per cent lower than the Rs 13.32 crore in Q4-2013. Other expenses includes marketing, advertisement and publicity expenses of Rs 3.6028 crore and Rs 3.9683 crore for the quarter ended 30 June, 2013 and 30 June, 2012 respectively.

    Zee Learn CEO Navneet Anhal said, “The improved financial performance is a result of all brands in the Zee Learn bouquet performing well due to improved efficiencies. Our investments in each of the brands are continuing to payoff. This year Kidzee has registered almost 25 per cent growth in the number of operational centers (192 new centers added) significantly expanding our footprint in the country.”

    “Also, we have witnessed growth of 37 per cent in enrolments in our MLZS schools wherein average enrolments has moved up to 292 students in Q1 FY14 vis-?-vis 213 students in Q1FY13 largely on account of better academic content and its delivery model. Zee Learn’s school solution program ‘BrainCafe’ which has undergone business model change last year pre-empting the change in dynamics of school solutions, is also showing signs of acceptance across schools. Our offerings of educational content to ZeeQ are getting amazing responses from parents and industry alike,” added Anhal.

    Zee Learn says that the outlook for the Education business remains positive despite overall challenges in the Indian economy. The Company also sees good momentum in MLZS and Kidzee, overwhelming positive response in ZeeQ, India’s First Edutainment Channel for kids wherein Zee Learn provides content to the channel and huge potential in its newly revamped BrainCafe School Solutions.

    Zee Learn launched its first Global Depository Receipts (GDR) for value of $9.99 million which were subscribed by overseas investors on 21 May, 2013. The GDR issue was fully subscribed and the company allotted 56,17,977 GDRs at a price of $3.56 per GDR. Each GDR represents 10 (ten) underlying equity shares in the company and the GDRs are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

  • The Splendour of Rashtrapati Bhavan revealed on Discovery Channel

    The Splendour of Rashtrapati Bhavan revealed on Discovery Channel

    NEW DELHI: Coinciding with India’s 67th Independence Day celebration on 15 August, Discovery Channel is telecasting a series with an exclusive journey inside the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan.

    Having its premiere at 9 pm on 15 August, Revealed: Rashtrapati Bhavan captures the story of Rashtrapati Bhavan from its conception to its completion and the changes undergone as the home of the respective Indian Presidents. Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is amongst the largest presidential estates of the world, was the heart of the British plan for a new imperial capital.

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific senior vice president and general manager – South Asia Rahul Johri said, “Discovery Channel is privileged to present the breathtaking splendour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan – the office and residence of the President of the largest democracy in the world. On the occasion of this Independence Day, we are delighted to take viewers inside the corridors of the presidential palace rarely seen on the Indian television.”

    Especially produced for Discovery Channel by AIM Television, Revealed: Rashtrapati Bhavan charts the history of this building on two parallels. One story follows the shift of the capital and the efforts of Edwin Landseer Lutyens as the architect of this house while the other takes viewers through the sprawling palace and its magnificent rooms. Every element in the Rashtrapati Bhavan has evolved over the past eight decades where the building has witnessed the transition from an imperial occupation to being the home of the head of the largest democracy in the world.

    The palatial residence is an extended expression of architect Edward Lutyen’s passion and finesse. From the most spectacular room in the palace, Ashoka Hall, to the Dwarka Suite now used for serving the state guests – this exclusive insight into the President’s house answers a spectrum of questions on what lies behind the high gates. The programme also brings to light the design of the residence, the creative culinary quotient as well as the history and intense security.

  • Amber Tamblyn to play Charlie’s daughter in ‘Two and a Half Men’

    Amber Tamblyn to play Charlie’s daughter in ‘Two and a Half Men’

    MUMBAI: CBS’ Two and a Half Men has found Charlie Harper’s long-lost daughter.

    House alum Amber Tamblyn has been tapped to join the Chuck Lorre comedy as a recurring guest star for season 11.

    The Joan of Arcadia star will play Jenny, the illegitimate lesbian daughter of Charlie (Charlie Sheen), who moves to LA to pursue acting and connect with what’s left of her family. She likes everything her dad liked – including women. Tamblyn will recur in at least five episodes of the CBS comedy, with an option to become a series regular.

    CBS renewed Men in April for an 11th season, with Angus T. Jones’ role reduced to a recurring status as the 19-year-old attends college – something that Lorre champions, as the young actor has spent more time on a TV set than at school.

    “It’s really commendable that he wants to make that the next part of his life,” Lorre said, acknowledging Jones’ controversial remarks aimed at the show that made him a star. “He misstepped last year, and it’s just not fair to judge him on that. I certainly hope he comes back from time to time. But for now he’s embarking on a new life.”

    Tamblyn most recently starred in CBS’ Anatomy of Violence drama pilot from the creators of Homeland. It was passed over in May. Her credits include episodes of Portlandia and Inside Amy Schumer as well as 127 Hours, Django Unchained and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies.

  • Amazon launches fine art marketplace

    Amazon launches fine art marketplace

    MUMBAI: The online retail giant that peddles everything from e-readers to UFO detectors is looking to change that and make fine art more accessible for everyone.

     

    Amazon on Tuesday announced the launch of Amazon Art, an online marketplace that features more than 40,000 worlds of fine art from more than 150 galleries and dealers. At launch, Amazon Art features artworks from more than 4,500 artists. Amazon said it is one of the largest online collections of original and limited edition artwork for purchase from galleries and dealers.

     

    “We are excited to bring one of the largest selections of fine art direct from galleries to our customers. Amazon Art gives galleries a way to bring their passion and expertise about the artists they represent to our millions of customers. We’re thrilled to bring the excitement and emotional connection of art to our customers,” Amazon Marketplace VP Peter Faricy said in a statement.

     

    Like other Amazon Web properties, the new fine art marketplace features discovery tools to help you find pieces you might like, and detailed information about the works of art. You can search by using filters such as subject, style, color, size, price, and gallery.

     

    The marketplace includes art from galleries of all sizes in the US, UK, the Netherlands, and Canada, including Paddle8 in New York, Holden Luntz in Miami, McLoughlin Gallery and Modernbook in San Francisco and Catherine Person Gallery in Seattle.

     

    The store offers a little something for everyone, with pieces ranging from folk art to impressionism to modern art. Prices vary, with photographs starting at under $200 alongside iconic works from artists like Norman Rockwell, including the American master’s “Willie Gillis: Package from Home” available for a cool $4.85 million. Other available pieces include Andy Warhol’s “Sachiko” for $45,000 and Claude Monet’s “L’Enfant a la tasse, portrait de Jean Monet” for $1.45 million.

  • Zee TV tries to recapture the 8.30 pm slot with Do Dil…

    Zee TV tries to recapture the 8.30 pm slot with Do Dil…

    MUMBAI: Indian soaps have in the past brought stories from the big screen to the small screen and Zee TV is doing so for its upcoming show – Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se. The story – loosely based on the Hollywood film The Bodyguard – revolves around the adjustments one needs to make in his/her married life. Do Dil…will replace the long-running Hitler Didi from 12 August at 8.30 pm.

     

    The 8.30 pm slot is reportedly not a big one for most Hindi GECs and apart from apart from Sab’s Tarak Mehta ka oolta chasma and Madhubala ek ishq ek junoon on Colors, the others aren’t getting high ratings.

     

    However, Zee is optimistic about its upcoming primetime drama which delves a little deeper into the heart of a woman who marries a man who is unequal to her in every respect. The story unfolds in Jodhpur where Shivani and Raghu share a master – servant equation, respectively. Circumstances conjure up a situation where Shivani, the girl born to riches is married to an underprivileged Raghu.

     

    Says Zeel content head Ajay Bhalwankar: “The beauty of Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se is its simplicity. The protagonists from two different backgrounds had different dreams while destiny etched out quite another plan for them. Raghu and Shivani are suddenly bound together by the design of destiny. It’s a wonderful and poignant story that showcases Raghu and Shivani’s journey from resistance to acceptance and embracing their destinies.”

     

    Producer Kalyan ‘Pintoo’ Guha and his wife Rupali of Film Farm Productions have signed on an impressive cast for the show. Says Rupali: “It’s with Zee TV that we began our television journey. We had produced Chausat Panne followed by Tumhari Disha and Rakhi. It’s an honor to produce our next show for Zee TV.”

     

    Arhaan Behl will enact the role of Raghu and Mansi Shrivastav will play the female lead, Shivani. Shivani’s grandfather will be enacted by veteran actor, Alok Nath as Balwant Rana. Rucha Gujarati and Vikas Sethi will be seen as Mahima and Jaswant Rana (Shivani’s bhabhi and bhaiyya) respectively.

     

    At the time of telecast, the drama series will be having 10 episodes in the can. There are two sets at Elora Studios, Dahisar – one being Raghu’s house with the second being Shivani’s house.

     

    The channel promises to go big on digital platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Apart from that the launch campaign of the show will include the use of audio visual mediums such as TV, DTH and cable in the Hindi speaking markets (HSM). Differentiated properties will be used in DTH such as shifting LCN, whereby a new channel will be created between any two existing channels where the show-related content will be telecast, and live streaming where as soon as one switches on their TV set and set top box, they will be diverted to the channel. Dish TV and Airtel subscribers will be able to experience this on the show’s launch day. Marketing initiatives have also been aligned around upcoming movies like Chennai Express.

     

    Media professionals say that Do Dil will do well, if the storyline and treatment is gripping and that is maintained through its life cycle. . Explains Maxus national director (insights) Priti Murthy: “Today there are two kinds of storylines which grace the screen – progressive and regressive. If the show has “entertainment” value and is able to excite the people it will work. It doesn’t matter if the show is old school or not. It should be able to excite people.”

     

    The folks at Zee TV and Film Farm clearly have their task cut out for them.

  • Evaluation of RFPs for BARC to be held from 14 August

    Evaluation of RFPs for BARC to be held from 14 August

    NEW DELHI: The Evaluation Panel of the Technical Committee of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) will meet from 14 to 17 August in the hill station of Lonavla (close to Mumbai) to evaluate the responses to the Requests for Proposal (RFPs) received from 27 organisations. BARC had earlier received a total of 32 requests from different technology and research organisations for joining the process of television viewership monitoring. The committee has accepted 27 of these. Two of them – one technical and the other research – will make it to the finishing line.

     

    “Some parties may have responded to both RFPs. Some may have sent in only the technical or research RFP,” says BARC principal provocateur/advisor Paritosh Joshi.

     

    Joshi, who represents the broadcasters’ interests in the 12-member technical committee in BARC adds that “The entire evaluation process would be completed by November and the names of the two parties would be made public by December.”

     

    BARC hopes to commence sending out television viewing audience research reports by the summer of next year. “We expect that in the first phase, the number of households will go up from the present 10,000 to 20,000, ensuring a proper balance of rural and urban areas,” he adds.

     

    The present intention of the committee is to develop studies every six months. “But this can vary with time,” he informs.

     

    BARC as part of its endeavour to share the latest updates with all constituents hosted its open house today in New Delhi. This was the second of the series of interactions that BARC plans to hold. Approximately 70 people representing the broadcasters, advertisers and agencies attended the meet.

     

    Addressing the meet, Joshi stressed that BARC would not be a research body but a development organisation, He also updated the participants on the work done so far, the work planned, and a wish list of things that BARC hopes to achieve in the future.

     

    BARC has claimed that this was one of the largest tender ever floated for audience measurement anywhere in the world. The tender terms state that each vendor has to work with whomsoever BARC wants it to work with. This is to ensure system integration, keeping in mind the involvement of multiple vendors.

     

    “We are attempting to move from active metering where individuals are given people’s meters to passive metering where technologies like apps or even cameras inbuilt in TV sets and other devices will be used. Technology will now play a major part since television viewing is no longer confined to TV sets but to tablets, computers, fablets, mobiles and so on,” informs Joshi.

     

    BARC has made it clear in its RFPs’ that it wanted a screen and technology agnostic measurement. “BARC wants to minimise human intervention in processing data,” reveals Joshi.

     

    While the attempt is to report audience research on a weekly basis, BARC has recognised that there are some channels that could not be reported on a weekly basis, and so these channels can be reported quarterly. “BARC will give unduplicated quarterly reach since there is no other number available for these channels,” he informs.

     

    Currently an establishment study is underway which covers 2.4 lakh households. For this, BARC has used the census of India and electoral rolls, since there was no other database available.

     

    Clarifying the role of the technical committee, Joshi said, “Besides evaluation of the proposals for the new audience measurement system, the BARC technical committee will carry out due-diligence exercises on a regular basis once data starts flowing. Since audience measurement research is not stationary, it is evolving continuously; the technical committee will drive the evolution.”

     

    The technical committee is autonomous of the BARC board. “The technical committee decides what the research needs. For the board to override a decision that the technical committee has made requires it to have a 75 per cent majority,” he says.

     

    Referring to his wish list, Joshi hopes that the studies are cloud-based with broadcast data available on apps.