ITV

Category: GECs

  • Uday Shankar, James Murdoch launch investment platform with $1.5 billion corpus

    Uday Shankar, James Murdoch launch investment platform with $1.5 billion corpus

    Mumbai: Uday Shankar and James Murdoch’s private investment company Lupa Systems has announced that it is forming Bodhi Tree, an investment platform that will be financially supported by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).

    This new venture is designed to invest in media and consumer technology opportunities in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on India. It will be run by Murdoch and Shankar as co-chairs, combining decades of experience influencing the region’s media landscape and emerging consumers. QIA will be committing up to $1.5 billion in Bodhi Tree’s vision being pursued by Murdoch and Shankar.

    “Bodhi Tree will leverage technology to provide disruptive solutions that drive transformational outcomes in sectors with deep consumer engagement – including media, education and healthcare – to positively impact millions of consumers across the region. Bodhi Tree will be investing at scale to achieve these outcomes,” said the statement.

    “We are very pleased to announce Bodhi Tree,” said Murdoch and Shankar. “Opportunities abound to scale exciting businesses in India and the broader Southeast Asia region. Our continued focus on investing and building relationships in these regions comes from our deep conviction in the long-term growth of these economies and the incredible power of these consumers, as these sectors are transformed by technology.”

    “QIA is proud to play a key role in bringing Bodhi Tree to reality,” said QIA CEO Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud. “QIA is investing in the technology and media space and India is a key market for us. QIA looks forward to backing Bodhi Tree as they drive forward their growth plans in the future.”

    James Murdoch was the chief executive officer of 21st Century Fox between 2015 and 2019. Uday Shankar is the former chairman and CEO of Star India and former president of Walt Disney Asia Pacific.

    In January, media reports indicated that Murdoch and Shankar were in talks with ViacomCBS and Reliance Industries to pick up a 40 per cent stake in Viacom18, the entertainment network jointly owned by TV18 and ViacomCBS.

  • Zee Media’s Q3 operating revenue up 31.7 % to Rs 2,428.1 million

    Zee Media’s Q3 operating revenue up 31.7 % to Rs 2,428.1 million

    Mumbai: Zee Media on Thursday announced its consolidated revenues for the third quarter of FY 2022. The media conglomerate reported operating revenues of Rs 2,428.1 million up by 31.7 per cent year-on-year. The company had reported operating revenue of Rs 1,843.9 mn in Q3 during the previous year.

    The total consolidated revenue was reported to be Rs 6,191.3 mn upto the third quarter ended FY 2021-22. The operating expenditure increased by 33.9 per cent to Rs 1,553.1 mn in Q3FY22 from Rs 1,160.2 mn in Q3FY21, it said.

    The profit after tax (PAT) was recorded at  Rs 454.6 million which saw a growth of 31.9 per cent YoY. The company’s advertising revenues stood at Rs 2,317.1 million up by 33.7 per cent, while the subscription revenues remained flat at Rs 96.8 million.

    Zee Media operates 14 news channels comprising one global, three national and ten regional language channels and is one of the largest TV news networks in the country. Its Hindi news channel Zee News garners 279 million video views on YouTube.

    In January, the company expanded its regional footprint by launching four digital channels namely Zee Tamil News, Zee Telugu News, Zee Kannada News, and Zee Malayalam News.

    Its digital assets combined 17 brands in 11 languages which received 4.23 billion page views during the quarter and 328 million monthly active users (MAUs).

  • Zee Zest acquires exclusive rights to ‘The Big Forkers’ season 3

    Zee Zest acquires exclusive rights to ‘The Big Forkers’ season 3

    Mumbai: Lifestyle channel Zee Zest has acquired exclusive rights for the third season of “The Big Forkers.” The new season will be launching exclusively on ZeeZest.com starting 15 February.

    The 15-part series features cousins and hosts Shashank Jayakumar (Shanky) and Sid Mewara aka ‘The Forkers’ who love food, travel and discovering new cultures. The duo will be seen discovering the ‘Urru,’ Bangalore and its culinary offerings right from the local fair, regional specialties, and international tables along with the fan-favourite, ‘the pub crawl.’

    From local food legends to upcoming stars, and beer gardens to college favourite pub crawls, they uncover pub life in Bangalore and the drinking culture across town. A true food journey loaded with new-age Smash Burgers, various kinds of interpreted meat preparations, biryanis, Korean meals, traditional Uttara (Northern) Kannada vegetarian meal and some very candid conversations.

    Sid is an investment banker and ex-chef and Shanky is a serial technology entrepreneur and consultant to The World Bank. Their journey started with a tipsy conversation with friends while travelling through Spain in 2019, following the food trail by the late chef Anthony Bourdain.

    The cousins set up a YouTube channel in 2020 called ‘The Big Forkers’ that showcased their exploration of cuisines. After completing two successful seasons in Mumbai and Goa, they are back with another season.

    “The earlier two seasons piqued our interest with the duo’s edgy take on food and its many stories around it,” said Zee Zest business head Amit Nair. “In ‘Big Forkers’ season three, there is enough for the Bangalore local, the steady traveller or someone on the couch chilling with a cold one to take away from this latest installment from the big boys. This series is the first among the many digital-first properties that we plan to launch on zeezest.com.”

    “Bangalore was all new to me which made it a voyage of discovery,” said co-host Sid Mewara. “Through the research, we did on the ‘Urru’, we knew we wanted to cover some of the staples such as the tiffin rooms, the military hotels and the craft beer scene. Personally, I love how progressive the city is, an oasis of sorts and can’t wait to show the viewers what we have in store.”

    “Bangalore, for me, has always been work-related,” said co-host Shashank Jayakumar. “But just delving deeper made me realize that the city has held on to its European connections from colonial times. What I like, though, is that a majority of the population has managed to still be true to its roots. You will still see them in afternoon drinking sessions with idli, chutney on the side, or with Chicken 65 as a starter and I love Bangalore for that.”

  • Zeel reports Rs 21,126 million revenue in Q3’FY22

    Zeel reports Rs 21,126 million revenue in Q3’FY22

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) on Wednesday reported its financial results for the quarter ended 31 December 2021. The media conglomerate has posted revenues of Rs 21,126 million for Q3’FY22, down three per cent from Rs 21,781 million in Q3’FY21.  

    Thr revenue from advertising and subscription stood at Rs 12,608 million and Rs 7,902 million respectively. The corresponding figures for Q3’FY21 were Rs 13,020 million and Rs 8,419 million. There was a six per cent increase in overall expenditure. 

    The A&P spends went up from Rs 1,798 million in Q3’FY21 to Rs 2,282 million in the quarter ended 31 December 2021.

    The company PAT showed a degrowth of 10.1 per cent, from Rs 3,321 million in Q3’FY21 to Rs 2,987 million this quarter.  

    Zee’s network share fell from 18.2 per cent in Q3’21 to 17.3 per cent this quarter. Share for the last quarter was 17.7 per cent. Total TV viewership went down, as compared to the previous quarter, due to lower contribution by movies.

    The company’s OTT platform Zee5 witnessed significant growth in MAUs on the back of robust content release in Q3. 51 shows and films (which includes 11 originals) released during the quarter.

    Global MAUs (Monthly Active Users) and DAUs (Daily Active Users) in December 2021 stood at 101.9 million (YoY up 36 million), and 9.6 million (YoY up 4.2 million) respectively.

    Q3 revenues reported were Rs 1,459 million; up 12 per cent sequentially. 9M revenues stood at Rs 3,882 million (up by 24.6 per cent).  

    Average watch time increased from 133 mins in Q3’ FY21 to 201 mins in Q3’FY22. The QoQ is up by 15 mins.

  • The Q India launches its third channel ‘The Q Kahaniyan’

    The Q India launches its third channel ‘The Q Kahaniyan’

    Mumbai: Qyou Media has announced that it is launching a new animation channel called The Q Kahaniyan. The channel will initially be launched on smart TV and mobile app-based platforms including Samsung TV Plus, Xiaomi Mi TV, Jio TV and Jio TV Plus and TCL’s iFFalcon.

    The 24/7 channel is targeting 15 to 35-year-old young Indians and offers a new kind of alternative animated content that is suited for an older audience. The company’s Hindi GEC channel The Q India has seen a significant amount of popularity from its alternative animated series such as “Daravni Kahaniya,” “Dilchasp Kahaniya” and “Anokhi Kahaniya.”

    Smart TV shipments in India have increased by 65 per cent year-on-year for the quarter ending in June 2021 and this pace of growth is expected to continue as more e-commerce and app-based channels become part of the smart TV ecosystem. The global growth of smart TV’s is expected to be from 20 per cent to 30 per cent in the next five years with India as one of the fastest growing markets. In addition, the introduction of most smart TV content platforms to the mobile handsets of manufacturers who deliver both types of hardware (i.e., Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, etc) provides a strong entry point for a large audience of additional mobile based viewers.

    “We have experienced tremendous success with our unique alternative animation content both on broadcast and digital platforms,” said Qyou Media co-founder and CEO Curt Marvis. “We have expressed our commitment to be a leader in India in the smart TV and emerging content business now known as FAST (free ad supported TV). With the addition of ‘The Q Kahaniyan’ as a one of a kind third channel, we can now begin to form a block of Q channels across smart TV’s with the goal of adding more in the future. We foresee the smart TV and FAST channel ecosystem becoming a leading distribution vehicle in India with an impact that is equal or is even greater than what is occurring in North America. Our position in the market is now stronger than ever with the addition of The Q Kahaniyan.”

  • NP Singh honoured as media personality of the year at Governance Now visionary awards ’21

    NP Singh honoured as media personality of the year at Governance Now visionary awards ’21

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) managing director and CEO NP Singh has been conferred with the media personality of the year award at the Governance Now visionary awards 2021. The award was bestowed upon him by the chief guest minister of law and justice Kiren Rijiju at a virtual ceremony organised by Governance Now MD Kailashnath Adhikari.

    “Singh’s visionary leadership and persistent efforts have substantially contributed to shaping Sony Pictures Networks India into the media behemoth it is today,” said the statement. “His passion, commitment, and hard work have contributed to the growth of SPNI and the advancement of the ever-evolving media and entertainment industry. He envisioned value for the industry in combining the might of SPNI and Zeel into one company. For him, being visionary means being ahead of the curve and leading from the front.”

    Governance Now is a public policy and analysis platform as well as a multi-media initiative for participatory reportage and analysis related to the governance of all institutions. The platform has more than one million website visits and 400k subscribers on its YouTube channel. It is owned by Indian M&E conglomerate Sri Adhikari Brothers Group with interests in broadcast, films, content production and publishing.  

    “The Indian media and entertainment industry has grown exponentially over the years, and as part of an industry that is brimming with leaders, I am indeed humbled and honored to be conferred with this recognition,” said NP Singh. “It is the ability to challenge the status-quo and make room for pioneering initiatives that propels us as leaders, benefiting the industry at large.”

    “Governance Now Visionary Awards is an attempt to honour the stellar work of visionaries across sectors who by their sheer commitment and vision have changed the course of the domain they operate in,” stated Kailashnath Adhikari. “These are challenging times that we are witnessing and our awardees that are selected after a rigorous process of screening by our expert jury have pushed the envelope time and again and proved their mettle. It is worth extreme pride that we bring this year’s edition of Visionary Awards. NP Singh has been instrumental in making Sony Pictures Networks India the media behemoth that it is. The proposed merger between Sony and Zee is scripting a new chapter in the course of Indian media and entertainment.”

  • Colors to telecast new fiction show ‘Fanaa: Ishq Mein Marjawaan’

    Colors to telecast new fiction show ‘Fanaa: Ishq Mein Marjawaan’

    Mumbai: Colors has announced its first fiction offering of 2022 called “Fanaa: Ishq Mein Marjawaan.” The show will premiere on 31 January at 10:30 p.m.  

    Produced by Dipti Kalwani and Karishma Jain, the show features actors Reem Sameer Shaikh, Zain Imam, and Akshit Sukhija.

    “Love stories coupled with thrill is a perfect recipe for a show. Our audience has witnessed some exceptional stories from the ‘Ishq Mein Marjawaan’ franchise and it gives us great pleasure to present its brand-new chapter, Fanaa Ishq Mein Marjawaan,” said Viacom18 chief content officer Hindi mass entertainment Manisha Sharma. “This edge-of-the-seat drama will portray how the emotion of love in the garb of obsession turns out to be the most dangerous aspect of Agastya and Paakhi’s lives. With such beautiful yet complex characters and an intriguing storyline, the show is set to take viewers on a thrilling ride.”

    “’Fanaa- Ishq Mein Marjawaan’, our much-awaited venture with Colors is about to bring a unique tale of love that will leave everyone enthralled,” said producer Dipti Kalwani.

    “We have a fantabulous cast including Zain, Reem and Akshit essaying the central characters and it has been a wonderful experience working with such a talented bunch,” said producer Karishma Jain. “We hope that the viewers join us in this new adventure and shower us with their love and support.”

    “It is extremely delightful for me to make a comeback on television with such a powerful character as Agastya’s and I am very excited,” said actor Zain Imam.

    “I started my journey with Colors almost a decade ago and I am so glad to return with Fanaa Ishq Mein Marjawaan,” said actor Reem Sameer Shaikh.

    “I believe that the positivity of Ishaan’s character will deeply connect with the audience, and the exceptional storyline of this show will keep them hooked,” said actor Akshit Sukhija.

  • Zee Zest announces new show ‘Safari India’ starting on 31 January

    Zee Zest announces new show ‘Safari India’ starting on 31 January

    Mumbai: Zee Zest has announced a new show “Safari India” with actor Rannvijay Singha. The show premieres on 31 January on Zee Zest SD and HD channels along with ZeeZest.com.

    The eight-part series explores some of India’s prominent National Parks to let viewers experience India’s rich biodiversity and the need to preserve the magnificent wildlife.

    The seven National Parks captured through Safari India’s lens are the popular Jim Corbett National Park in Nainital, Kaziranga National Park in Assam, Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, Gir National Park in Gujarat, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa and Dubare Elephant Camp in Karnataka.

    “Safari India was the most adventurous and thrilling experience I’ve had this year. It was a series of astonishing and larger-than-life experiences,” said host Rannvijay Singha. “I interacted with several forest rangers and learned about their efforts towards preserving our wildlife. I feel extremely honoured to be a part of the show and hope that with Zee Zest, we are able to yet again ‘Unlimit’ experiences for the viewers.”

    “In our quest to enhance our viewer experience and keeping in mind the ‘Unlimit’ promise we are very excited to partner with Rannvijay on this unique show,” said Zee Zest business head Amit Nair. “While most wildlife shows are voice-over-driven, here we have tried to place the audience in the thick of the action, giving them the vicarious pleasure to explore the wild through the show and possibly inspire them to undertake their own journeys of adventure.”

  • Zee Group expands across South India; launches four regional news channels

    Zee Group expands across South India; launches four regional news channels

    Mumbai: Expanding its footprint across South India, Zee Group on Tuesday announced the launch of four digital news channels – Zee Tamil News, Zee Kannada News, Zee Malayalam News and Zee Telugu News to cater to the tech-savvy young viewers in the southern market.

     “It is a great feat for us to enter the South Indian market with digital news channels that aren’t just selling debates. We see a gap in honest, unbiased, and extensive on-ground reporting in these markets, and hence these channels will cater to fulfilling that gap. We aim to be the most trustworthy news brand of these markets,” stated CEO of South channels Purushottam Vaishnava.

    According to the data cited by the company, the internet penetration of South India is much higher compared to the rest of India. The time spent watching videos per day has also increased by 60–70 per cent over 2018–20, where 85 per cent of content viewed is non-English and 30 per cent in languages other than English or Hindi. “With 68 per cent of the population consuming news through digital platforms, Zee plans to address the need for a voice which can focus on the real on-ground situations,” it said in a statement.

    Zee Media founder and Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra said, “It is indeed a great pleasure for us that we are launching four digital news channels in South India. Helmed by Purushottam and very capable editors – Manjesh Gopal, Ravi, Sebi Stanley and Bharat Kumar – I believe that we will be one of the most trusted news sources and set new benchmarks in the news media. We will soon be launching a news channel in Kashmiri language too.”

    The channels which will fall under India Dotcom Private Ltd have also launched a marketing campaign with a focus on the digital platform along with radio and TV.

    Udaya Kumar, who was appointed as the sales head for the south digital channels said, “We have carefully curated programming that caters to all the needs and wants of an educated viewer. Our focus is not just politics but includes a plethora of other genres like crime scene investigation, political satire, lifestyle, health, etc. Looking forward to some great work with this dynamic team and contributing to the revenue growth across all four south Indic languages.”

    The channels – Zee Tamil News, Zee Kannada News, Zee Malayalam News, and Zee Telugu News – will be available on the respective websites as well as YouTube platforms, social media platforms such as Facebook, OTT streaming platforms like Zee5 and others along with news aggregators like Dailyhunt, etc, said the company.

  • Sony Sab to premiere ‘Goodnight India’ on 31 Jan

    Sony Sab to premiere ‘Goodnight India’ on 31 Jan

    Mumbai: Sony Sab has announced the launch of a special late-night family show “Goodnight India” to help its viewers relax and savour the last 30 minutes of their day with fun-filled performances.

    Positioned as the ‘raatwala family show,’ the show will premiere on 31 January at 10.30 p.m.

    Hosted by stand-up performer Amit Tandon and popular TV actress Jiya Shankar, “Goodnight India” will see a series of bone-tickling acts on some of the contemporary and relatable topics performed by well-known artists. Basis the theme for each episode introduced by the hosts, it will have talented humorists perform sets or hasya kavitas on subjects like a mid-life crisis, relationships, and daily routine observations amongst others. Each episode will have three performances delivered through a combination of the open mic as well as thematic episodes.

    “Sony Sab has always been at the forefront of ensuring holistic happiness for its audience through its content offerings, and ‘Goodnight India’ is another unique effort in that direction,” said Sony Sab business head Neeraj Vyas. “Coupled with brilliant talent and quality content, we’re excited to bring a show that promises happiness and joy with an innovative proposition of a non-fiction raatwala family show.”