ITV

Category: GECs

  • Star Gold celebrates Yaari-Dosti this August

    Star Gold celebrates Yaari-Dosti this August

    MUMBAI: A unique show that awards stars on their performance as friends. This set of awards is sure to make your Friendship Day more fun than you could ever imagine. A Friendship Day special “Yaari Dosti Awards” will be telecast on 6th August at 4 pm and 7:30 pm only on Star Gold.

    The awards explore the meaning and significance of friendship in films. It will also give viewers a lowdown on reel and real life Bollywood friendships with a dash of humor.

    The semi serious awards for performances in films and the periphery of filmmaking will be an experience you can enjoy with your gang of friends. You might even identify with a few characters as on one hand you will see how stars in their roles have kept friendship over love or their duty above dosti. On the other hand, some have pretended to be friends and some friends turned foes. This voice –over driven show will feature the most popular Bollywood voices mimicked to perfection.

    The awards have some very interesting categories and nominations. Some of them are:

    Yaara Dildaara Award : Will the hit old pair of Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman be able to take on the new jodis Tusshar Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor or Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao or Amrita Rao and Zayed Khan

    Yaara Dildaara Award: Who will prove to be the biggest ‘gaddar’ of them all? Naseeruddin Shah from Sarfarosh, Aishwarya Rai in “Khakee”, Akshay Kumar in Ajnabee or Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Kabhi Haa Kabhi Naa’

    Yaara Dildaara Award: Will Chunky Pandey’s sacrifice for Anil Kapoor overshadow Chitrangadha Singh and Shiny Ahuja’s or will Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor overshadow Shilpa Shetty sacrifices for Raveena Tandon in Pardesi Babu We Are Just Good Friends Awards : Which of these will prove to be just good friends – Aftab and Natasha, Jimmy Shergil and Preity Zinta., Sanjay Suri and Rinke Khanna or Juhi Chawla, Anil Kapoor and Govinda.

    Tu Chor Mein Sipahi Award: Will Sanjay Dutt and Jeetendra be fast enough to beat their competition Akshay Kumar and Nagarjuna Salman Khan and Sanjay Kapoor Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan

    Katilaana Award: Who’ll be the most gruesome murderer of them all? Natasha, the team on Kaante, Urmila Matondkar or Raveena Tandon

    Jai Veeru Award: Who do you think is Akshay Kumar’s best friend – Suniel Shetty or Salman Khan?

    The real life Jai & Veeru Award: Which two Bollywood celebrities will prove to be best friends on as well as off screen?

    Have a blast this Friendship Day with all your friends and your favourite Bollywood stars on the “Yaari Dosti Awards” on 6th August at 4 pm and 7:30 pm.

  • NRS revises Dainik Bhaskar readership in Rajasthan

    MUMBAI : NRS 06 has revised it readership figures, and in the process has also upwardly revised the readership figure of Dainik Bhaskar.

    It has stated an increase of 1 Lac 14 thousand readers and now the Dainik Bhaskar readership in Rajasthan stands at 1 crore 11 lacs.

    With this revision the total readership of Bhaskar group is 2.67 crores.

    Bhaskar group is the largest read newspaper group of the nation.

    The Bhaskar team treats this upward revision of the readership figures as an endorsement of its reader’s faith and trust.
     

  • Special DD film on women living with AIDS

    MUMBAI: Are women alone responsible for the spurt in AIDS cases in this country? Or is that the husbands bring it home.
    Doordarshan will telecast a half hour special film titled “A New Beginning” on women living with AIDS. The film will be telecast on November 30 at 9.30 am on the National Network on DD-1 and also on December 1, at 10 pm on DD News to mark the World Aids Day.

    The film seeks to tackle these and other issues.

    This film features four HIV positive women from different parts of the country who have made possible something which were considered impossible. A life which seems to be directionless due to HIV/AIDS has made a new beginning.

    The film portrays the trauma undergone by these women due discrimination stigma, lack of awareness, gender inequality and also speaks their journey for seeking their own identity.

    The film also examines how the population of HIV + Women is growing at a great pace. Out of 5.2 million HIV + Infected people in India, there are 2 million Women. In other words women form 39 percent of the total number of people affected with HIV/AIDS in India.

    The film has been produced by B.D. Mohanty deputy director, Programmes, Doordarshan in association with Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union and UNDP, under the project “Inspiring examples of human triumph against HIV/AIDS in Asia Pacific”.

    Earlier, it was a common understanding that women sex worker were the ones infected with HIV virus but with today’s changing times even housewives have been known to be infected with the virus.

    The film seeks to delve into this new, challenging scenario.

  • ‘Our target is to reach the number one position in Kerala market within the next two to three years’ : Sudhakar Jayaram – Amrita TV director & CEO

    ‘Our target is to reach the number one position in Kerala market within the next two to three years’ : Sudhakar Jayaram – Amrita TV director & CEO

    Amrita Enterprises Pvt Ltd (AEPL), promoted by a group of investors closely associated with Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, launched Amrita TV in 2005 April on an initial investment of Rs 500 million. On the launch, its positioning as a general entertainment channel raised eyebrows. After all, the channel was named after Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the renowned spiritual leader from Kerala.

    The initial scepticism soon gave way to acceptance and acknowledgement as the channel made attempts to develop its own identity in the highly contested Malayalam language market. The icing on the cake came when Amrita TV made an almost clean sweep at the 2005 Kerala State TV Awards. Though yet to pose a real threat to market leaders Asianet and Surya, the one year old channel is now recognised as one of the strong players in the market by pundits.

    At the helm of affairs at Amrita TV is the young and sophisticated director and CEO Sudhakar Jayaram, who has spent over 15 years in global organisations such as Bank of America and Infosys, USA, holding senior management positions. Jayaram returned to Kerala in 2004, responding to the motherland’s – or rather the Mata’s — call, as he puts it. Amrita TV was about to launch, and as fate would have it, Jayaram was offered the top management position.

    Not just that! He has also been given the responsibility to manage the Amritanandamayi Super Specialty Hospital at Kochi, Kerala. Entertainment and medicine stand oceans apart, but this youngster holding MBA, B.Tech degrees has made the task look much simpler. On the occasion of an Onam celebration Amrita TV conducted in Mumbai early this month, Indiantelevision.com’s Bijoy A Kmet up with Jayaram.

    Excerpts:

    Amrita TV has completed one year in the Malayalam television market. Please give us a perspective on the journey so far?
    Looking back, I would say the channel has done a decent job. Top of all our achievements, I would like to mention the 15 State TV Awards we won in our inaugural year itself. To make a mark, we have opted for quality content, which is youthful and vibrant.

    We have in fact a three-pronged programming strategy in place. First of all, we have our share of unique channel ID programmes, exploring the programming segments untouched. We have got lot of accolades from the market on the quality of our graphics and the high visual standards.

    Then, we tried to give a total new dimension to the market’s popular programme genre, which included serials and other entertainment shows. Our strategy was to explore progressive ideas and thus distance ourself from run of the mill stuff. Thirdly, we made our best efforts possible to depict our culture and heritage through various non-fiction programmes. And the results have been very encouraging for a new channel such as Amrita TV.

    What was your strategy to gain an identity in this highly competitive market?
    It is a very competitive market, with market leaders (Asianet & Surya TV) commanding almost 70 per cent share. But, at the same time, this is a market where you can make a mark with innovative strategies. You need to spot the vacuum and work on areas which are still unexplored and then you will have a decent product with its own identity in hand.

    Our entry strategy was to come up with a product, which is classy and vibrant, different from the existing products. We wanted to make Amrita TV very dynamic and also with full of life. And at the same time, it was very important for us to carry along the mass General Entertainment Channel (GEC) tag with entertaining and appealing content. The idea was establish our roots as early as possible.

    The core team of Amrita TV is constituted by people who are well aligned with the market professionally. For example, the programming department is headed by noted film director Shyamaprasad. The news department is lead by noted journalist Neelan, who has over 35 years experience in electronic and print media. Getting such established professionals on board has also helped us position ourself really well and create a strong awareness in the market.

    Which are the key factors that are driving this market? What are the latest market trends?
    Kerala as one of the most challenging television markets in the country. The viewers here are very different and you just can’t play with your strategies in Malayalam. I would say, if a strategy works here, you will be able to move it more confidently in the other regional markets.

    Like any other television market, soaps, movies and news play key roles in the Malayalam market also. The prime time band is ruled by soaps on weekdays, while weekends are dominated by films, film-based programmes, non-fiction shows and programmes covering the music genre.

    Malayalam television is ruled by the female audience. Even when targeting this segment through prime time soaps and other programmes, you need to alter this system a bit to help the market to expand. How will you do it? The answer is ‘youth programmes’. If you can make programmes, that can rope in females and the youth at the same time, that would make some positive impact on the market.

    Given that Soaps, Movies and News drive the market, what is Amrita TV’s strategy to explore each of these segments in the best manner possible?
    Our channel driver programme is a reality talent hunt show Super Stars, made on the lines of Indian Idol. This programme is doing well in the 8:30 – 9:30 pm slot and we enjoy a channel share in the range of 12 – 16 per cent in this particular time band. Then we have our dose of serials for the prime time band. As I mentioned earlier, we have made our best efforts to make our soaps stand out. We have made it a point not to manipulate the viewers’ emotions through soaps. Our soaps are not emotionally far fetched, which give a lot of stress to the viewer. Our soaps are there just for entertainment.

    Then we have our USP in our non-fiction programmes which are made in-house. These are mainly cultural programmes, which actually carry along our channel ID. We have our non-fiction programmes well spread out across the week. Our belief is that there is space for good, tasteful and nourishing content on TV, as people are coming back to their organic roots.

    Then there is this biggest draw of the lot – Movies. When we launched, the lack of popular and blockbuster movies had crippled our weekend strategies to an extent. But the issue is being resolved now. In the last one year, we have acquired 15 of the 40 top Malayalam box office grossers. We have lined up two of the latest blockbusters for the upcoming Onam festival. Amrita TV has a library of about 500 movies now.

    Having said that, I would like to point out that, Amrita TV will never bank on movies. We want to explore all the programming segments and movies are just a part of this strategy.

    We have given a lot of stress on our news programming also. Amrita TV has a strong network of journalists across Kerala and Delhi, while stringers and independent reporters bring us news from the other areas and international locations. In the next phase, we have plans to beef up our news segment. We are planning to set up bureaus in all the hotspots of the country, including Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.

    On an average, how much you spend on programming per month?
    Programming budget ranges from Rs 65,000 to Rs 200,000 per episode for soaps. We spend about Rs 20 million on our in-house productions per month.
    ‘If a strategy works in Malayalam, you will be able to move the same more confidently in the other regional markets‘

    Last year, the lack of blockbusters in your kitty has seen you adopting the strategy of dubbing popular Tamil movies in Malayalam. Did the strategy work and will you retain this tactic in the changed circumstances? Also, is there any plan to explore dubbed Hollywood movies?
    Yes, we have been telecasting popular Tamil movies dubbed in Malayalam – especially during festivals such as Onam, Christmas and Vishu. This has been an inspiring experience for us. Our decision to use popular Malayalam cine stars for dubbing has really helped us to pull it off. For example, we had Mohanlal himself dubbing for Iruvar, when it was dubbed in Malayalam. We will retain this strategy. Amrita TV will be telecasting two Tamil blockbusters dubbed in Malayalam during the upcoming Onam festival.

    We have no plan to explore dubbed Hollywood movies as we believe that, Malayalam audience will only accept a theme, which has lot to do with the Kerala culture and heritage. On the other hand, Tamil movies serve this purpose really well.

    Telefilms also is an area, where Amrita TV has proved itself. We have produced about 22 short films last year and have plans to do almost the same number in 2006 also. We have a strong team of creative professionals, who bring lot of quality to the table.

    What is your take on the movie acquisition scenario in Malayalam?
    The number of films produced in Malayalam has gone alarmingly down and consequently, acquisition costs have shot up. Acquisition rates have shot up by almost 60 per cent. Since movies are a crucial part of the strategy in Malayalam, you can never opt out of the game. Last year, we set aside about Rs 100 million for movie acquisition.

    Event programming is evolving in the South Indian market in a big way? What is Amrita TV’s strategy?
    Amrita TV does not do many events. Our strategy is to conduct events with a relevance. Events should serve a purpose. In my opinion, the size and magnitude of an event is important and not the quantity. If you are doing an event, it should make an impact.

    This month, we conducted a De-addict Kerala campaign, which was an on-ground activity to highlight the after-effects of addiction, stories of addicts, de-addiction centres, preventive and curative aspects.

    I won’t be able to give a low-down on the event budget as it varies from one activity to another.

    What is the size of the Malayalam television market in terms of advertising revenues? How is Amrita TV positioned?
    The size can be in the range of Rs 1.7 billion to Rs 2.2 billion. The market expansion is mainly driven by the retail boom that Kerala is witnessing presently. Hence, retail clients command a significant place in any channel’s sales strategy. Also, the entry of new players such as MM News and Bharat TV can expand the market further. After Asianet and Surya, Amrita TV commands a prominent space in terms of value for money. Being a young channel, we are making our best efforts to better our position.

    What is the plan of action for 2006 and what is your take on competition?
    We target to reach the market leader position within the next two to three years. The first year’s result has boosted our confidence tremendously. Now, we want to expand this clout. We are looking forward to the real battle.

    I think the next five year strategy may be totally different from that of the past five years. New viewer habits will give shape to new strategies. The formulas are changing. You need to adapt yourself to the changing times and we are very strong in this area. Being a relatively new player in the market, Amrita TV has got the flexibility and the know-how to understand and accept any new challenge and this is our main advantage.

    We have been constantly working on our content. We keep a tab on the market trends through research updates and studies. For example, before launching Superstar, we had done a thorough research on Sony’s experience with Indian Idols. So, instead of letting the competitor’s moves decide your next strategy, we have been making consistent attempts to know the audience pulse and bring new products accordingly. Keeping the viewers happy and filled is the real challenge. Competition is secondary.

    Please comment on your progress on the distribution front? Have you managed to get as 100% presence in India by now? What is the plan for foreign shores?
    We are now in the prime time band of the Malayalam bouquet across Kerala, placed near Asianet and Surya TV. We are also available in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, in certain cable networks. We are working on this front and will be improving our availability across the country at the earliest. We are also available on the DTH platform Dish TV.

    On the international front, Amrita TV is available in the United Arab Emirates and in the US. We have also signed a carriage deal with the IPTV operator JumpTV. Amrita TV will be entering Europe and the UK very soon. We are working on the plan.

    Onam season, which contributes maximum to the kitty of Malayalam channels, is here. What is the tactic you have employed to market your Onam shows the best way possible?
    Onam festival is the most crucial festival for any Malayalam channel. Amrita TV has conceptualised a slew of innovative programmes for Onam. We have explored all the areas of entertainment thoroughly to bring an array of quality programmes. These include telefilms, music shows, film-based programmes, talent shows and cultural programmes. As I mentioned earlier, we have a couple of latest blockbuster movies to drive the festival. We are well-prepared to take on the challenge.
    What are the new ventures AEPL is planning in the next phase?
    AEPL is planning to set up a separate division for feature film production. Though the business plan is still in its primary stages of evolution, the company is targeting a February 2007 launch of the initiative.

    The plan is to enter into partnership with key stake holders in the market such as producers and distributors and offer our expertise in this field to launch feature film projects. We will be also launching solo projects as well, making us an independent producer. An important objective of the initiative is to solve the supply demand issue that, which is threatening the movie acquisition business presently. This way, we will be able to beef up our movie library with latest hits.

    Then we have plans to launch more channel initiatives, but a concrete plan is yet to emerge. Our next venture will be a news channel – I can say at least that.
    What is the role played by Mata Amritanandamyi in the channel’s operations?
    Mata Amritanandamyi neither plays any role in the channel’s operations, nor is she involved in the business financially. We have a spiritual programme, conducted by Mata on our channel and that’s it. But, we are driven by her vision and it gives us immense strength and courage to execute the strategies.

    Though the ultimate aim of Amrita TV is not really commercial, the market demands such a stance. To stay afloat in this business, you need to position yourself as a strong commercial player and we are just doing that. However, our focus remains on adding quality to people’s lives through human-oriented programming.
  • Know all about CAT & Beyond CAT – Tune in to TIMES NOW to get an edge

    Know all about CAT & Beyond CAT – Tune in to TIMES NOW to get an edge

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    Indiantelevision.com’s News Releases
     

    Know all about CAT & Beyond CAT – Tune in to TIMES NOW to get an edge
     

    MUMBAI : TIMES NOW, the 24-hour English news television channel will telecast a special series, titled ‘Countdown to CAT’ that provides valuable information and assurance on the Common Aptitude Test (CAT) to help young MBA aspirants achieve their supreme goal – admission to the prestigious IIM’s and other premiere management institutes across the country.

     

    Starting Sunday 12 November, TIMES NOW addressed various aspects of the admission test in a special series- Countdown to CAT. The series will be aired everyday at 7 am, 9 am and 11 am and across the news wheel during the day. The series will provide insights on both how to bell the CAT by presenting CAT facts and by bringing together CAT aspirants through CAT communities and life beyond CAT.

     

    Commenting on the special series on CAT, Arnab Goswami ,Editor- in- Chief, TIMES NOW said, “Countdown to CAT isn’t just about preparing for CAT this year. We’re going far beyond last minute tips, because those taking the CAT exam have been preparing for months now already. We’re looking at life at the IIMs, career prospects and options for those taking the exam, and the whole issue of how far an IIM MBA can take you. In short, the show is not just aimed at this year’s aspirants.”

     

    Countdown to CAT – brings together CAT communities on the Internet whose members study, debate, share course material for CAT online and meet at regular intervals at a coffee shop. The series will also talk about the online test centers, quick tips on the entrance exams.

     

    The series goes beyond CAT and presents tips on Cracking the interview and making a mark at the group discussion, Career prospects after CAT – looking beyond a corporate job, Life at IIM and Beating the CAT Stress. CAT FACTS – special nuggets within the series will focus on little facts, on scholarships, financial aids etc. In short, the show is not only for this year’s aspirants, but budding aspirants…

  • Mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola now showing on your mobile phone

    All roads lead to Shravanabelagola, about 150 kilometers from Bangalore, the world famous Jain pilgrim center in South India, as it readies itself to host the Mahamastakabhisheka (the head anointing ceremony) of the monolithic 57 foot statue of Lord Bahubali, from February 8 to 19, 2006.

     

    It is an event of great significance, organ ized once in 12 years and is the first of the new millennium. Over the decades, the Mahamastakabhisheka has drawn the attention of not just India but the entire world. An estimated 30-lakh devotee witness and participate in the religious spectacle. Truly, there are few events to match the magnificence of the Mahamastakabhisheka performed for the 57-foot monolith statue of Lord Bahubali that stands atop the Indragiri Hill as an imposing symbol of benevolence and sacrifice. Bahubali was a Jain prince who renounced the world and took to leading a life of penance.

    Rajshri Media (P) Limited, the newly established digital content and new media arm of the Rajshri group, is the exclusive digital content distribution company appointed by Gommateshwara Bhagwan Shri Bahubali Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava Samithi 2006, the official body organising the mega-event under the auspices of his Holiness Jagadguru Karmayogi Swasthishree Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji.

     

    Says Rajjat A. Barjatya, Managing Director, Rajshri Media (P) Limited, “The Mobile Phone is fast becoming a communication device, an entertainment device and a lifestyle device, all rolled into one. The Mobile Phone screen is fast becoming the most powerful, most personal and most watched screen in people’s lives. More than 70 million Indians now carry a Mobile Phone. Growing at a phenomenal pace of 3 million subscribers a month, it is estimated that by the end of 2006, there will be more Mobile Phones in India than TV sets. It is our proud privilege to showcase and distribute the invaluable and awe inspiring footage from the past and present Mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali, via wap and voice portals of all leading mobile networks, through a compelling and innovative suite of mobile entertainment products like video clips, audio clips, ringtones and images. This content has the power to inspire a whole new generation. On the occasion of the first Mahamastakabhisheka of the new millennium, this is our humble offering to Lord Bahubali, the greatest preacher of non-violence and sacrifice.”

  • NDTV exclusive with LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham

    NDTV exclusive with LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham

    LTTE Accepts Responsibility For Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Apologises and assures that LTTE wont act against the interests of Govt of India.

    June 27, 2006, New Delhi…In an exclusive interview to NDTV correspondent Noopur Tiwari in an undisclosed location in Europe, Anton Balasingham, Chief Negotiator and idealogue of Sri Lanka’s LTTE, has for the first time, accepted responsibility for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and apologised.

     

    “As far as that event is concerned, I would say it is a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy for which we deeply regret and we call upon the Govt of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective”, said Anton Balasingham.

     

    On being asked by NDTV correspondent, whether LTTE’s unhappiness over the accord between the two states led to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Anton Balasingham said, “No. It happened later on. What has happened is, since we rejected the Sri Lankan accord there were a lot of events that took place creating a gulf between the LTTE and the Govt of India and the Indians later sent an IPKF – Indian Peace Keeping Force to disarm the LTTE and eventually broke out into an open confrontation. We fought a guerrilla war against the Indian army for 2 years and finally the Sri Lankans. We had a negotiation with Sri Lanka and secured the withdrawal of the Indian troops in the 90’s and of course finally it was followed by the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. As far as that event is concerned, I would say it is a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy for which we deeply regret and we call upon the Govt of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective.”

     

    Watch the whole interview at 7.30 pm today on a special Episode of Southern Edition (for states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala) and at 8.00 pm today on India 60 Minutes on NDTV 24X7.

     

    Excerpts of the exclusive interview with Anton Balasingham:

     

    “India helped the Liberation Tigers at a particular historical time to train and arm our fighters, to protect our people from state oppression but the intention was not to create a separate state as such but to help the Tamils to protect themselves and there was a period of Indian intervention from 1983 upto 1987 during which the Sri Lankan Indian accord was written and it was during that time India wanted to find a political solution to the conflict. It is a very complicated history…”

    Further Anton Balasingham explains the finer nuances of why the LTTE was not shy of the accord. “We were not very happy with the political solution proposed by India because it did not satisfy the political aspirations of our people. If India has offered a federal solution as she has in her own country then we would have definitely responded positively but the provincial administration suggested by India was totally inadequate to meet the demands of the Tamil people so that’s why we did not support the accord.”

    On asked by NDTV correspondent, if the LTTE can give any sort of assurance to India that this kind of a thing wont happen again, Mr Balasingham said, “We have made pledges to the Govt of India that under no circumstances we will act against the interest of the Govt of India and that ever since the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, India played a detached role. What we feel is India should actively involve in the peace process. “

  • Disney and GroupM present ‘Disney’s KidSense’

    Disney and GroupM present ‘Disney’s KidSense’

    A strategic initiative to bring insights into the world of kids

    Mumbai, June 13, 2006: Disney, the world’s number one media brand and GroupM, the world’s leading full service media investment management company have joined hands to launch ‘Disney’s KidSense’ in India.

    KidSense is a strategic effort by Disney and GroupM to explore the world of kids and share insights with the media and marketing fraternity. This initiative includes annual research and periodic forums for deliberations and creating opportunities to understand the largest kids market in the world – India. This announcement was jointly made today, by Rajat Jain, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company (India) and Ashutosh Srivastava, CEO, GroupM, South Asia.

    Disney’s KidSense will be the knowledge powerhouse for all stakeholders in the kids segment in the country. Using strategic insights gathered from research, opinions from childhood experts, media professionals, international learning and experience of the two giants, KidSense aims to fill the information need gap in the industry. As part of this initiative, KidSense today released its first two-part Research Study, which will provide a window into kids’ minds, interests, their behaviour, and influence on family purchase decisions.

    Rajat Jain, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company (India) said “Kids have increasingly emerged as savvy, sensitive and an extremely important consumer segment today. As global leaders in this genre, it is our responsibility to understand kids and provide a knowledge-house for all the stakeholders. We believe that Disney’s KidSense would act as a credible reference-point for the industry, our business partners and help grow the business in this industry as a whole.”

    “This initiative with GroupM is an important step towards addressing the missing links into the external and internal realities of this genre. The four to fourteen age group is definitely one planet with multiple worlds. You can no longer treat them all as a homogenous group. The kids market in India is in a growth phase and marketers are interested in learning about this segment more than ever before. With Disney’s KidSense, we are beginning to equip ourselves to provide answers to most queries on kids”, he added.

    Ashutosh Srivastava, CEO, GroupM, South Asia said, “The association of GroupM with Disney is all about unlocking value in this growing market segment of young consumers. An important learning for all is that kids like to be spoken to in their own environment – their schools, their play areas, their homes and their shows. Disney’s KidSense shows new realities of influence from this genre on purchase decisions in categories ranging from confectionery to cars and insurance companies. The latest mantra for marketers should be – talk the kids language to enter their homes. With this association, we have created a solid information base to address planners’ needs for the genre.”

    The two parts of this elaborate research (quantitative and qualitative) were conducted and collated early this year by leading research firms – Indica Research Practices and Consulting and Third Eye across twelve markets in India. Over 4000 kids across the country were studied over a three month period to delve into their tastes, behaviour and influences on purchase decisions on 15 product categories ranging for confectioneries, commodities, FMCG, white goods, and services.

    KidSense also includes the perspective of caregivers to draw insights on the developmental, social and behavioral reality of Indian kids. For the first time in India, this study provides a detailed analysis of kids between the ages of 4-14 with segmentation that brings out a clear distinction between the 3 main groups – 4 to 5, 6 to 9 and 10 to 14. It offers a full section on kid-power, which covers 15 non traditional product categories and answers a broad spectrum of advertiser’s queries.

    About The Walt Disney Company:

    The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified, international family entertainment and media enterprise which includes Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, ABC, Inc., ESPN, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Disney Consumer Products, television and radio stations and Internet web sites.

    About GroupM:

    GroupM, the world’s leading full service media investment management operation, includes MindShare, Mediaedge:cia, MediaCom and MAXUS. It has pioneered diversified services such as branded entertainment, data analytics, digital media, and brand activation. The focus of GroupM is the intelligent application of volume and scale in trading, innovation and quality of services, in order to bring benefit to clients and the companies it operates. GroupM believes that all communications planning begins with Consumer Insights.

    For Media Enquiries please contact:

    K. Seshasaye / Pooja Verma
    Walt Disney Television International (India)
    Tel: 5651 6630 / 6628
    Mob: 9820715609 / 9820139811
    pooja.verma@disney.com
    seshasaye.kanthamraju@disney.com

    Ameeta Sequeira / Khyati Parekh
    Corporate Voice|Weber Shandwick
    Tel: 2281 2960/ 2281 2957
    ameeta@corvoshandwick.co.in
    khyati@corvoshandwick.co.in

  • ‘We believe that it is not in numbers but in the quality and nature of programming that is getting us noticed’ : Aditya Tripathi – Discovery Lifestyle Networks vice president

    ‘We believe that it is not in numbers but in the quality and nature of programming that is getting us noticed’ : Aditya Tripathi – Discovery Lifestyle Networks vice president

    Discovery Lifestyle Networks VP Aditya Tripathi began his professional career with Living Media India Ltd., and has worked in senior positions with some of the biggest media houses in the country. He made the move to Discovery in 2000 and his expertise in creating brand empathy, marketing and promotion has gone a long way to reinvigorate the various Discovery brands in India, especially Travel & Living.

    India is attaining prominence because of the socio-economic developments taking place in the country. Ahead of Discovery Travel & Living’s (DT&L) first local production The Great Indian Wedding to be aired on 20 August, Tripathi spoke to Indiantelevision.com’s Usha Thomas about how the lifestyle channel was gaining eyeballs with incessant demand from both Indian and foreign viewers for India-centric content.

    Excerpts:

    How did the concept of a lifestyle channel come about?
    With its growing and dynamic TV market and emerging middle-class, India was the right place to begin Discovery Networks’ new lifestyle endeavour. Some years ago, we took stock of the international TV landscape and we identified the presence of established global leaders in different genres: news, sports, movies, factual. And, among all this we identified a niche in the lifestyle space. There was no global brand and given that we had some experience in lifestyle and travel genres, we felt that this was an area we could occupy and dominate in the years to come.

    The senior management from the parent group came to India and wanted to be convinced that India was the right place to launch a lifestyle channel. After a day of the usual presentations, we took them to Gurgaon and showed them the homes, buildings under construction, call centres and malls. They looked around and said if this is the future of India, then lifestyle is the future of India and right there in the middle of a shopping mall, we were given the go ahead to launch DT&L. And, hence India was the first country to launch lifestyle networks.

    What is the positioning of the channel?
    Since its launch in November 2004, DT&L has striven to make its positioning distinct from that of factual channels. From day one, the strategy of our channel was to offer varied, non-fictional content as it is our strength. But, we don’t need to stick to factual alone. We can be factual as well as be in the lifestyle group and our positioning in the lifestyle group is aspirational, yet attainable. It’s just not about enjoying life, it is about celebrating life. It is good looking entertainment. So our channel is aspirational yet attainable, hedonistic, pacy, edgy …always stylish and trendy. We believe in good looking, entertaining television.

    Who is your target audience?
    Our primary target audience is upscale SEC AB audience – males, females and couples, between the age group 18 – 45 years. But, for us SEC, age, gender are limiting definitions. Our focus markets are Top 10 cities in India. Apart from these, the aspirational character of the channel will attract a secondary audience as well. It’s a state of mind that we are looking to capture so we are targeting a person with an international outlook, a person who has travelled abroad, may have even lived abroad, whose kids may be studying abroad and one who has seen international television and international lifestyle. This is common in Travel & Living in the UK, US, Singapore, all over the world. Nationality is not important for people with this mindset.

    Outline your performance in viewership, reach and among advertisers?
    Today, we reach 3 out of 4 cable homes in the country and in the top six metros, we reach 4 out of 5 homes. As far as viewership and relative channel share compared to other English entertainment channels Star World and Zee Café is concerned, we are growing considerably with time. We don’t share content with these channels but almost eight months after our launch, we had overtaken Star World in terms of numbers.

    Word of mouth and strong advertiser response is an indicator of our success. We are looking at the mindset which goes beyond demographics.

    Though TAM is a very democratic form of measurement designed to measure television groups across the country, groups, cities & towns, it is not designed to measure our target audience. For us, it is the people in malls, in fine dining restaurants, our ad agencies who are watching the channel. We believe that it is not in numbers but in the quality of programming and nature of programming that is getting us noticed.

    DT&L is about innovative, up market and interesting programming and we seek to experiment with properties that transverse different genres. We also pride ourselves on understanding our audience. Audience feedback has greatly attributed to our success and word of mouth is what makes us tick.

    In the first year, we had 236 brands on the channel and each time we go to an ad agency, the decision makers and their families are watching the channel so we have got very positive response from the advertisers to this channel. Also, despite the rapid growth of the television industry in India, advertising spends on lifestyle brands have traditionally been restricted to the print medium. The lifestyle channel provides advertisers with a dynamic media vehicle to reach a well targeted and defined viewership profile. It attracts 120 advertisers from across product categories, further cementing the channel’s unique value proposition.

    DT&L is providing a variety of shows, apart from just travel based shows. The programming strategy on DT&L since 2004?
    DT&L is essentially a lifestyle channel and along with travel, the programming will give viewers the inside track on all the latest trends in luxury and includes travel, health, relationships, wine, cuisine, home, car, bikes, the good life with a little bit of celeb and glam life.

    We have evolved keeping our original concept in mind and have grown far more than expected since our launch two years ago. Content is the key driver. We have made it our policy to incorporate as many different genres as possible and to acquire international programs or create localised programming in order to form a strong bond with our viewers.

    The Theme Week and Sunday Brunch strategy introduced in end December 2005 targeted at both viewers and advertisers. These programming blocks were created to appeal to the various target groups at times that they prefer while at the same time giving advertisers a focussed platform to reach key audiences.

    We have introduced a number of genre-defining programmes that have never been seen before in India, for example,American Chopper, Faking It, Million Dollar Agents, Miami Ink. We have all along explored different different genres of programming and experimented with reality factual programming with a difference.

    We don’t do celeb focusssed programming and are not overawed by celebs. Shows that we have incorporated have ranked extremely high in terms of quality and appeal and capitalize on wit and local humor, apart from being real.

    What are your views on DTH in India?
    The encouraging DTH scenario was also one of the reasons why the Indian management had been advocating the case for a lifestyle network in India. The channel has been established as a lifestyle channel, roping in the upwardly mobile. Currently available in 22 million homes across the country, DTL is also now available on the DTH platform.

    Today, we have the choice to choose the bouquet you want and the channel you want, so we welcome it. Internationally, the Discovery family of channels has thrived in all DTH markets. All three of our channels – Discovery, Animal Planet and Travel & Living are available on Dish TV and Tata Sky. We get to see the channel we want rather than with cable ops where they run all the channels and one can’t choose. For DTH, exclusivity is important and that suits us.
    ‘10-15 per cent of the programming will be Indian. At any given point, we will have one local show on air and every quarter, we will premiere a new series‘

    Can you tell us about Discovery producing programs in India?
    India’s relevance on the world map is increasing. There are more people around the world interested in India, coming to India to work and travel so therefore DT&L is producing programming on Indian audiences but this will go to our channels across the world. The programming will show India in a positive light and in turn we get eyeballs from other regions who see these programs and maybe plan to visit India on seeing it.

    The way the Discovery format is used, we make a program on one part of the world and we show it in other parts of the world. That is the nature of our programming and all the shows on the three channels Discovery, DT&L and Animal Planet are of global interest. Similarly, we know our channel here is an international channel that provides high quality entertainment for a global audience.

    Give us the complete lowdown on the first local production The Great Indian Wedding?
    With our decision to commission local productions in India, we had been identifying various ideas that fit our programming strategy. Amongst many other concepts, we zeroed down to The Great Indian Wedding show. Also, in our discussions with many production houses, Delhi based Blue Mango came up with the very same idea. They were given the go ahead to make a pilot, mainly to serve two purposes: Get the formula right and then make the rest of the series.

    At the time that we decided on the wedding series, the media was all agog about the Chatwal wedding. Many other channels were trying to get the coverage and when we spoke to the Chatwals, they readily agreed to give us exclusive access to all the happenings on the wedding which was to be held in three cities in India – Mumbai, Udaipur and Delhi.

    The Great Indian Wedding is a one of a kind series, allowing the viewer to experience the wedding as an insider. The focus is on weddings with a difference and have a twist to them: opulence, glam quotient, location and theme. The pilot episode premieres on 20 August at 8 pm.

    During the ad break of this pilot episode, a banner will be streamed asking viewers if they have a great Indian wedding coming up. Based on the responses and our research, the 13 part series will be made. The remaining episodes will go into production in the 2006-2007 wedding season. We are looking at ethnic, different weddings and need not be of the same scale as the Chatwal wedding. Apart from the many applications received for the upcoming wedding season, we expect many more once the pilot episode is aired.

    The programme captures the glamorous theme parties extending from exotic locations like Jag Mandir in Udaipur to premium hotels in Delhi, the striking performances by Indian and international artists and the romantic and religious wedding ceremony. The host, Natasha Mago presents an insiders view, chatting up the bride, groom, guests, the challenges and frustrations of the wedding planner and the actual wedding ceremony.

    All guests invited at the wedding who appear on the show have given their signed consent in this regard, mainly to avoid legal hassles later, what with the high celeb turnout for this wedding.

    Our aim is to showcase India and showing a wedding held at the opulent and historical venues at Udaipur & Delhi, we hope to do our bit in promoting tourism in India. Keeping in tune with the high standards that Discovery is associated with, budgets were high especially as it was all shot on digibeta cameras. It was not studio based and there will be no compromise on the quality of the film, light, sound and effects used. We are clear that each programme should include a unique and entertaining story, credible facts and high-quality production values.
    ‘We plan to get into merchandising by early next year by releasing DVD versions of our popular series and those currently on air‘

    What are the marketing initiatives being undertaken for the new local shows?
    We have already started airing promos and teaser campaigns for the pilot episode from 15 July and these have evinced a lot of interest among the viewers and the advertising fraternity. On the day (20 August) that the pilot episode will be premiered, we will be placing advertisements in all the major national dailies.

    Have you set targets regarding the amount of India centric content?
    It is essentially an international channel and India productions will be a small but significant part of the repertoire of programmes. The Indian programming will never dominate the channel as we clearly make it with the intention of airing it in other parts of the world. So, maybe 10-15 per cent of the programming will be Indian. At any given point, we will have one local show on air and every quarter, we will premiere a new series.

    What outdoor activities are being planned in India in order to extend the brand beyond television?
    We plan to get into merchandising by early next year by releasing DVD versions of our popular series and those currently on air. We have tie ups for the same with firms based out of Singapore and hope to soon associate with local firms.

    Name few acquisitions made recently?
    Among the recent acquisitions are a home interiors show called Trading Spaces and one on the training methods for airline cabin crew called Flight Attendants School. In January, we will be airing another BBC title Hairy Bikers Cookbook which captures the journey of two motorbike freaks as they travel to different places and learn about the local food.

    Are Indian viewers different from their counterpart in other countries?
    Honestly, there is no difference as our target audience matches up to any other in a similar genre in the world. They travel a lot, may have been educated abroad or visit countries on business and their lifestyles, eating habits and aspirations are similar to those abroad.

    Any plans of incorporating broadband and mobile into your business?
    We are looking at what technology may allow and what audiences are looking for and yet marrying that to the core DNA attributes of what Discovery has represented and people have loved through the years. We do not consider them a threat and with time, will integrate them in our business. Flipping channels is a reality and we are evaluating on working with mobiles, VoIP and other different platforms. We have been at the forefront of incorporating technology in the way we program and market the channel.

    For the series aired last quarter Five Takes, we had selected young people in their early to mid-twenties, and have given them $50 a day, a camera to film and software to edit so they document their daily lives. We gave the audience the opportunity to vote on the net and via SMS to decide where these young people should go and what they should do.

    In the niche channel environment where perception counts for a lot customization, do mention any customised solutions that have been done for clients?
    We recently had our first initiative in this regard with HSBC Bank for the HSBC Premiere card. They target the same high net worth individuals like us and they invited their customers and potential customers to a dinner and whisky tasting event at elite hotels in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. We spoke about different whiskeys, their history and they also got to taste the best available in the world. We got tremendous feedback from those invited and HSBC and will hold many more customized events with like minded firms in the future.
  • Zone Reality acquires a spy show

    Zone Reality acquires a spy show

    MUMBAI: Global media firm Zonemedia has signed their first deal with UK independent producer, Wall to Wall Media.

    Zonemedia has bought the reality game show Spy acquired for broadcast on its Zone Reality channel in India.

    Commissioned by the BBC, the 10 episode one hour series sees a group of ordinary people set the ultimate life-changing challenge – to leave their lives behind, lie to family and friends, relocate to a new city and assume a whole new identity – as they step into the shadows and become spies.

    Replicating the real training processes of MI5, MI6 and the CIA, recruits will find themselves under the most intense psychological pressure – but only one recruit will make it; the rest will have to return to their ordinary lives.

    Zonemedia senior VP channels Steve Cole says, “This groundbreaking show takes reality television to a whole new level as people are challenged to leave everything behind – Zone Reality is the perfect platform for such an innovative idea and I am confident audiences will find Spy riveting viewing”.

    Wall to Wall Media sales executive Nick Pawsey says, “We’re pleased to be in business with Zonemedia on intelligent reality series Spy. This deal now means the show is available in over 100 territories worldwide – a real testament to the universal appeal of the secrets of spying.”