ITV

Category: GECs

  • ZEE TV to hold world TV premiere of ‘Radhe’ on 15 August

    ZEE TV to hold world TV premiere of ‘Radhe’ on 15 August

    Mumbai: ZEE TV has announced the world television premiere of ‘Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai’ on 15 August at 12 noon. Directed by Prabhu Deva and starring Salman Khan, Disha Patani and Randeep Hooda in lead roles, the film was released on 13 May via multiple platforms.

    During its release, theatres remained shut because of lockdown restrictions, so the film was made available for viewing on the OTT platform ZEE5 via its pay-per-view service ZEEPlex as well as DTH operators such as Tata Sky, Dish, D2H, and Airtel Digital TV. The film was also distributed in theatres worldwide while adhering to Covid protocols issued by governments.  

    To create anticipation for the film’s TV premiere on Independence Day, ZEE TV will create the biggest fan-sourced mosaic depicting the actor Salman Khan as ‘Radhe’ that encompasses 6,500 images sourced from across the country. “All one needs to do is upload their picture on their social media page tagging @ZeeTV and using the #BhaiKoSalaam in their post. The lofty 32 ft x 20 ft recreation of Salman Khan’s Radhe is being installed at the Carter Blue Promenade in Bandra, Mumbai and is open for all Salman Khan’s fans till 14th August,” said the channel in a statement.

    “For millions of fans across the nation, Salman Khan has been this larger-than-life hero they worship, a symbol of incomparable charisma and effortless swagger,” said ZEE TV business head, Aparna Bhosle. “It is with the intent of enabling every Salman fan to express their love for him in an extremely personal way that we are inviting them to contribute their selfies, which in turn will be assembled and curated into an almost God-like avatar – a gigantic mosaic of their idol at the busy Carter Road promenade in Mumbai. We hope this celebration of Salman’s fandom mirrors the euphoria surrounding the world television premiere of his film Radhe we’re bringing our viewers on Independence Day.”

    The film is produced by Salman Khan, Sohail Khan, Atul Agnihotri, and Zee Studios.

  • Kaizzen wins Viacom18’s PR mandate following multi-agency pitch

    Kaizzen wins Viacom18’s PR mandate following multi-agency pitch

    Mumbai: PR and digital agency Kaizzen has won the PR mandate for Viacom18’s corporate brand communication, film business and regional entertainment, following a multi-agency pitch. 

    The mandate encompasses providing strategic communications support to Viacom18 covering corporate reputation management, strengthening brand and leadership visibility, as well as network initiatives led by the media giant.

    Commenting on winning the account, Kaizzen CEO, Vineet Handa, said, “Viacom18 has cemented itself as a pioneer in the media and entertainment segment by offering groundbreaking content and innovative concepts. We are thankful to the management team at Viacom18 for believing in our vision, ideas and entrusting us with the responsibility to drive their communication strategy for the corporate brand, regional entertainment, and filmed entertainment. Our team is excited at the opportunity of working collaboratively with the team at Viacom18 to execute innovative, disruptive high-impact PR campaigns that positively impact the business.”

    With over 25 years of experience in PR, brand communication and outreach, Handa’s venture at Kaizzen aims at bringing a new dimension to the communications realm, thereby providing value to companies through this function. “Over the last decade, Kaizzen has seamlessly driven impactful campaigns, generating maximum ROI for our clients. I am hopeful our expertise in the corporate domain and understanding of the business will be helpful in driving the brand’s narrative to achieve our desired output,” he added.

  • Zee Entertainment’s net profit rises 604% in June ’21 quarter

    Zee Entertainment’s net profit rises 604% in June ’21 quarter

    New Delhi: Zee Entertainment Enterprises’ consolidated net profit rose 604 per cent to Rs 213.8 crore in the quarter ended June 2021 as against Rs 30.37 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2020. The company announced its Q1 FY22 results on Friday.

    Sales rose 35.29 per cent to Rs 1774.98 crore in the quarter ended June 2021 as against Rs 1312.03 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2020. With lockdowns in most states, TV viewership again jumped during the quarter, though lower than Q1 of last year.

    Domestic ad revenues for both Q1FY22 and Q1FY21 were impacted by lockdowns. However, the impact this year was much lower, reflected in 127.9 per cent YoY growth. Compared to Q1FY20, domestic ad revenues were lower by 22.7 per cent.

    In terms of subscription revenue, the network said embargo on pricing change due to NTO 2.0 litigation continued to hurt domestic television pay revenue growth. The 2 per cent growth over Q1FY21 was driven primarily by digital business.

    The programming cost increased YoY as original content production largely continued across the states during the lockdown at alternate locations. Increase in marketing cost on a YoY basis was on account of the release of Radhe and continued investments in ZEE5. The marketing costs in Q1FY21 was lower on account of much lower original content production.

    Lower ad revenues on one hand and increase in costs due to lockdown Rs. 271mn on the other affected EBITDA for the quarter.

    Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies continued strong performance, however, Zee TV, Zee Marathi and Zee Tamil performance was soft during the quarter, indicating headroom for growth in key markets. The company also said it will revamp the programming line-up for Hindi, Marathi and Tamil programming in Q2.

    Streaming platform ZEE5 witnessed 80.2mn global monthly active users and 7.1mn global daily active users in Jun ’21. It recorded a total of 190 minutes’ average watch time per viewer per month in Q1. As many as 11 original movies and shows were released during the quarter.

  • &TV announces new mythological show ‘Bal Shiv’

    &TV announces new mythological show ‘Bal Shiv’

    Mumbai: &TV has announced the launch of a new mythological fiction show, ‘Bal Shiv’. The show is currently under production and being bankrolled by production banner, Zee Studios.

    For the first time on Indian television, ‘Bal Shiv’ will depict an untold mythical story of the mother and son’s eternal bond (Mahasati Anusuya and Bal Shiv) through exploring various chapters of his childhood and self-discovery. The story revolves around the premise that Lord Shiva had taken several avatars, yet never experienced childhood and mother’s love, said the channel in a statement.

    “Mythological stories always have had a fascination and staunch following amongst viewers of all ages. They have always presented viewers with the hope of direction and protection in uncertain times,” the channel said. “Of all the fascinating stories on the legend of Lord Shiva and his various avatars, one story that has never been told before is the story of Bal Shiv and his Bal Roop,” it added.

    The upcoming presentation will soon premiere only on &TV.

  • &TV’s latest ‘Ghar Ek Mandir – Kripa Agrasen Maharaja Ki’ premieres 10 August

    &TV’s latest ‘Ghar Ek Mandir – Kripa Agrasen Maharaja Ki’ premieres 10 August

    Mumbai: &TV on Wednesday announced the launch of its latest offering ‘Ghar Ek Mandir – Kripa Agrasen Maharaja Ki’ set to premiere on 10 August. The socio-mythological show will air every Monday to Friday at 9 pm only on &TV.

    The show is a never-seen-before socio drama on Indian television built around the context of the legendary king, Agrasen Maharaja, who was the founder of the Agrawal community of traders. His teachings and principles hold relevance even today and serve as a guiding force for leading life. The story will depict Agrasen Maharaja’s core principles through his ardent ‘bhakt’ (devotee) and the show’s lead protagonist, Genda, said the statement.

    The cast comprises Shrenu Parekh as Genda, Sai Ballal as Kundan Agarwal, Sameer Dharmadhikari as Agrasen Maharaja, Akshay Mhatre as Genda’s husband, Varun Agarwal, Vishal Nayak as Manish Agarwal, Kenisha Bhardwaj as Nisha Agarwal, Yamini Singh as Santosh, Archana Mittal as Anuradha Agarwal.

    Commenting on the launch, &TV, business head, Vishnu Shankar, said, “In challenging times what helps us stay afloat are our principles, our beliefs and most importantly, our family. We are proud to bring to the television screen for the first time ever, a socio-mytho show around the legendary Agrasen Maharaj, whose principles and teachings are relevant even today, centuries later. While he may have been the founding father of the Aggarwal community, his teachings are universal. ‘Ghar Ek Mandir – Kripa Agrasen Maharaja Ki’ is a captivating tale of faith, family, and life.”

    “The story is an emotional journey of Genda and how she conquers every challenge in her life through her faith,” added ZEE Studios, business head Anshul Khullar.

  • COLORS’ Balika Vadhu returns with Season 2

    COLORS’ Balika Vadhu returns with Season 2

    Mumbai: COLORS is all set to bring back one of its longest-running shows Balika Vadhu after a long hiatus of five years. However, the new season will have new cast members who will reignite the conversation around child marriages with a fresh story.

    The show first aired on COLORS TV in July 2008. It’s set in rural Rajasthan and addressed the subject of child marriage through its protagonist, a child bride, Anandi. Balika Vadhu : Season 2 will capture the journey of a ‘nayi Anandi’, played by Shreya Patel as she takes definitive steps to fight and undo the injustice done to her.

    Produced by Sphere Origins, the show will premiere on 9 August and will air Monday to Friday at 8:00 pm only on COLORS.  

    Speaking about the show, Viacom18, head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, said, “In the past few months, we have introduced some of our biggest properties to provide wholesome variety entertainment to our viewers. From launching a brand-new season of Khatron Ke Khiladi set in Cape Town to announcing a visual-based quiz show, The Big Picture with Ranveer Singh as the host. Keeping the momentum high, we are excited to launch the second season of Balika Vadhu, that is synonymous with the ethos of the channel. Armed with a brand-new story and characters, we will showcase one of the most loved shows with a social message that still holds a strong relevance.”  

    Set in the rustic locales of the town of Devgarh, Gujarat, Balika Vadhu season 2 traces the story of two friends, Premji (played by Sunny Pancholi) and Khimji (played by Anshul Trivedi). They share a bond so thick that they always wished to extend their friendship and become one family. As fate would have it, Khimji’s wife gives birth to a girl, Anandi, while a little boy Jigar (Played by Vansh Sayani) is born to Premji. The very day, Premji and Khimji promise each other to get Anandi and Jigar married and soon there comes a day when they are wedded to each other in a ‘Baal Vivah’. 

    According to Viacom18, chief content officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment, Manisha Sharma Balika Vadhu is more than just a show, it is an emotion. She elaborated, “There has been a generation of viewers who have grown up loving and watching the show and still do. The new season of Balika Vadhu will addresses the custom of child marriage albeit from a whole new perspective. It will introduce the audience to a new Anandi and the challenges that she faces as a child bride. Nayi Anandi will fight for her rights and surely turn out to be an inspiration to many girls suffering a similar fate and will touch the hearts and minds of our viewers.”  

    Producer, Sphere Origins, Sunjoy Wadhwa, said that he has always believed in the power of stories and the change that they can bring. “The entire nation is a witness to how Balika Vadhu changed the perception of millions across the country and the face of Indian television. We still believe in the power of its concept as a section of our society affirms the custom of child marriage even today,” he said. 

    According to Comall Wadhwa, the new season of Balika Vadhu will take viewers to the nooks and corners of Gujarat to tell the story of Nayi Anandi. “A lot of girls are still fighting this battle of being in a child marriage every day and our story and characters will be an inspiration to them. We are delighted to join hands with COLORS yet again and look forward to creating the magic,” added Wadhwa. 

    The show will also feature Anshul Trivedi, Riddhi Shukla, Sunny Pancholi, Shiju Kataria and Seema Mishra in prominent roles.   

    The channel has designed a robust marketing plan across print, television, and digital platforms to promote the new show. On television, a ten-day campaign highlighting the nostalgia aspect of the show will be deployed. The show’s music track has been recreated and interwoven with each creative to build recall and drive viewership. The channel will also be targeting print publications across key markets on the launch day showcasing the innocence and feistiness of the nayi Anandi. 

    A digital event (COLORS Golden Petal Club) for the viewers featuring Avika Gor, Anandi from Season One is also planned for the viewers and promises to take them on a trip down memory lane. On the digital front, vignettes will be created featuring the former cast of the show- Avika Gor and Avinash Mukherjee as they talk about their memories of season one. This will also be backed by influencer outreach to create conversations around the show along with some videos which will highlight the life of the children who have lived through this social evil.  

  • Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra settles 91% debt to 43 lenders

    Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra settles 91% debt to 43 lenders

    Mumbai: Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra has issued a second Open Letter sharing details of the debt resolution process and the steps taken to pay off the lenders. The Zee founder revealed that over 91 per cent of the debt has been settled to 43 lenders, and the remaining dues are in the process of being paid.

    In his first Open Letter issued on 25 January 2019, Chandra had apologised for the hardships faced by the lenders due to the liquidity crisis triggered by the IL&FS case and committed to repay the monies to the best of his abilities. The asset divestment process took a setback during the pandemic, which slowed down the overall debt resolution process, he wrote on Tuesday.

    “I am happy to report that we have come out of the financial stress situation by settling 91.2 per cent of our total debt to 43 lenders in 110 accounts. 88.3 per cent amount has been paid, while the remaining 2.9 per cent is in the process of being paid. We are making all the required efforts to settle the remaining 8.8 per cent of our total debt,” wrote Chandra. “I have no regrets for parting with a substantial ownership in the business and specially in the ‘jewels of the crown’. This was done to keep the family’s honor.”

    The Essel Group chairman further added that he intends to settle the remaining outstanding dues before the end of this fiscal year or before.

    He also shared that he does not regret the decision taken to part with a substantial portion of his ownership in his key businesses, attributing this decision taken to preserve the honour of his family, while reiterating the exit from the Infrastructure, Financial services & Print Media businesses.

    Elaborating on his next steps in terms of setting up a venture in the video space in the digital ecosystem, Chandra said, “I have earned a fair experience in the video business; hence I am exploring new ways / business opportunities in the “video in digital space” as well as AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning) in the video space, without getting into any conflicts with ZEEL, in any manner. I will provide the specifics very soon and you all will witness the initial phase of launch, of yet another pioneering venture.”

    Noted Investment Banker, Venture Capitalist and Stock-Market expert, Vallabh Bhansali said, “In nearly forty years of our friendship, he has always made me feel proud. His achievements as a visionary businessman pales before his act of honour to sacrifice all he built for the sake of it. So also his humility to admit his errors openly. In fifty years of my business career, I can’t think of a parallel.”

  • ZEE TV to launch new show ‘Bhagya Lakshmi’ on 3 August

    ZEE TV to launch new show ‘Bhagya Lakshmi’ on 3 August

    Mumbai: ZEE TV is all set for the launch of its new show ‘Bhagya Lakshmi’ on 3 August. The show will air every Monday to Saturday at 8.30 pm only on ZEE TV.

    Coming from the stable of Balaji Telefilms, ‘Bhagya Lakshmi’ follows the journey of Lakshmi through the changes that come in her life on moving to Mumbai from Punjab after her parents’ demise. While Lakshmi is a true believer in God’s plan and the power of goodness and destiny, Rishi is a flamboyant and practical businessman. The story unfolds as these two completely opposite characters meet in a twist of fate. The show features actors Aishwarya Khare and Rohit Suchanti in the lead roles as Lakshmi and Rishi.

    The show launch was preceded by a social media initiative centred on the theme #NekiKiDor which is in tune with Lakshmi’s selfless character. Through the initiative, Lakshmi encouraged netizens to come forth and do a simple good deed every day by helping someone and spreading positivity.

    “Our collaboration with Balaji Telefilms is a time-tested one with some of television’s most precious gems having come out of our joint synergies. From ‘Hum Paanch’ in 1995 to ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ and ‘Kundali Bhagya’ that still continue to rule people’s hearts on our primetime, we continue to co-create content that strongly resonates with our audiences,” said ZEE TV business head Aparna Bhosle.

    Commenting further on the new launch she added, “Our latest labour of love is a story about someone selfless in a selfish world – a girl who believes in prioritising the needs of others above her own and expects little in return. The audience will root for destiny to treat her kind as we all want to see good things happen to those who live a life of good values and good karma. But is life always that simple? Viewers can tune in to find out!”

    Bhosle also shared that ‘Bhagya Lakshmi’ – the new addition to ZEE TV’s primetime – is only the first of “several exciting new content offerings coming up this festive season”.

    Talking about Lakshmi’s character, Balaji Telefilms’ producer, Ekta Kapoor stated, “Lakshmi is one of the purest souls we have worked on as a character in a long time. She represents inherent goodness – neki, a value that’s perhaps diminished in people’s vocabulary over the years, but it shouldn’t. As mankind, we’ve been through a lot lately and some of the toughest times have a way of bringing forth shining examples of kindness and benevolence. We’ve all read stories of people who went out on a foot during the pandemic and helped others in need. Lakshmi’s a lot like that. And when you see someone like that, you fall in love with them and want to see life presenting them with good ‘bhagya’ (destiny). Aishwarya Khare with her endearing sincerity and warmth is the right fit for Lakshmi and Rohit (Suchanti) will win hearts as always with his role as the flamboyant, practical, and dashing Rishi.”

    “While Lakshmi and I are different personalities, I feel there is a very strong connection between both of us and that is our common belief in Karma,” said Aishwarya Khare. “Just like Lakshmi, I truly believe that you get what you deserve in life, and selflessness and kindness towards others always attract the blessings of destiny. Lakshmi’s story is very different from some of the characters I have portrayed until now, which makes the whole process even more exciting.”

    Rohit Suchanti remarked, “I believe Bhagya Lakshmi brings forth a very unique story, something very distinct from what we have seen on television till date. My character Rishi is a very grounded and practical person who believes in shaping his life his own way. He believes in working hard, but also knows how to celebrate those victories. There is a lot of similarity between us, and I am sure I am going to have a lot of fun exploring this character.”

  • Sony Pictures Networks India announces key leadership changes

    Sony Pictures Networks India announces key leadership changes

    Mumbai: As Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) gears up to embrace its Vision 3.0, the company on Monday revamped its organisational structure, making several leadership changes. These changes are effective immediately.

    Rohit Gupta has transitioned from his role as chief revenue officer – ad sales and international business and taken on the responsibility of being SPN’s advisor to the management and the board. In this new role, Rohit will be advising senior management on industry trends, developments and work closely with the CEO on various industry issues that could positively impact the company’s strategy and growth.

    Rajesh Kaul, in addition to his existing role as the chief revenue officer – distribution and business head – sports, will take on the charge of international sales and will work in collaboration with the digital team to expand SPN’s brand presence and reach across the world. The current international sales head Neeraj Arora will now be reporting directly to Kaul.

    Sandeep Mehrotra has been appointed head – ad sales, network channels. With an illustrious career, spanning over two and a half decades, Mehrotra has a proven record in driving revenues and delivering efficiencies to clients and businesses. Within SPN, he has moved multiple channels, regions and ranks and has invested his time in curating long-term client relationships with a unifocal thought of creating business solutions. In his new role, Sandeep will directly report to the CEO.

    Danish Khan, business head – Sony Entertainment Television, digital business, and StudioNext will take additional charge of network channels licensing. This alignment will enable an end-to-end view of opportunities at play between channels and digital and thereby enable us in taking decisions, best suited for the network’s growth.

    Tushar Shah, business head, English, factual entertainment & Sony Aath, takes on an additional role of the newly created position of chief marketing officer (CMO) for SPN. His expanded role will include taking the corporate brand to the consumer and furthering its reach besides managing his existing channel portfolio.

    Aditya Mehta, in addition to his current role of corporate strategy and business development, will spearhead the formation of data analytics CoE to strengthen SPN’s approach to being a data-driven organisation. He would also be responsible for business monetisation which will leverage the power of data and act as a bridge between digital & linear revenue opportunities.

    Nitin Nadkarni, chief finance officer (CFO) will take additional charge of the broadcast operations and network engineering (BONE) department. BONE head Kingshuk Bhattacharya will now report to Nadkarni.

    Speaking on the latest announcement, SPN, managing director & CEO, N.P. Singh said, “SPN has embarked on Vision 3.0 to create a future-ready organisation based on a culture powered by corporate values and a management structure backed by an operating model that accelerates growth. All leadership changes announced today are reflective of that evolutionary intent.

    SPN, CHRO, Manu Wadhwa, added, “The organisation remodeling is a result of our constant focus to strengthen our talent and leadership capabilities and will ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic media and entertainment industry.”

  • Zee Zest set to bring ‘Dude aur Deewani’ on 29 July

    Zee Zest set to bring ‘Dude aur Deewani’ on 29 July

    Mumbai: Tea or Coffee, ever wondered where your morning ‘cuppa’ came from? Or how MTR’s Rawa Idli took the country by storm in the early 1940s? To pique the curiosity, Zee Zest has announced its latest show called ‘Dude aur Deewani’, hosted by real-life couple Anurag Mallik and Priya Ganapathy.

    In each of the 20 episodes, Anurag, who is a travel writer and tourism consultant, and Priya, a former journalist and anchor, will together uncover lesser-known facts about food through a variety of topics. They will share their experiences with viewers through humorous banter with exciting fun facts and trivia about fascinating food history from across the globe, said the channel in a statement.

    “With digital platforms gaining strength during the pandemic, the medium is playing a pivotal role in shaping the entertainment industry and therefore important for us to invest in both linear and digital,” said Zee Zest business head, Amit Nair. “Furthermore, the love for food has always been a driving force for setting lifestyle trends. Dude aur Deewani is a show that brings to our viewers, culinary history through the eyes of food and culture enthusiasts, thereby making it relatable for all. It is a show that aims to connect the culinary dots in a fun and informative way.”

    Viewers can catch Dude aur Deewani on Zee Zest’s YouTube channel, with a digital-first premiere on 29 July at 10 am. The show is also available for streaming on Zee Zest’s official website.