ITV

Category: GECs

  • Colors Marathi to launch two new shows during festive season

    Colors Marathi to launch two new shows during festive season

    MUMBAI: As part of its Navi Umed, Navi Bharari ethos, Colors Marathi will debut two new shows during the ongoing festive season to provide viewers with wholesome entertainment.

    Sukhi Mansacha Sadara will launch on 25 October with a special episode and will air every Monday to Saturday at 9:30 pm. This will be followed by the second new show on 11 November, titled Chandra Ahe Sakshila. 

    Deepak Rajadhyaksha, programming head at Colors Marathi, said, “We have always believed in narrating stories with a touch of cultural essence which our viewers can resonate with. With the launch of these two shows, it is our earnest effort to keep our viewers’ entertainment quotient high. We are sure that the storyline of Sukhi Mansacha Sadara and Chandra Ahe Sakshila will manage to strike a chord with our audience.”

    Presented by PN Gadgil & Sons and powered by Wagh Bakri Tea, CamPure and Suhana Masale, Sukhi Mansacha Sadara highlights the importance of finding real happiness in the smallest of things in a competitive world where everyone is chasing material success. On the other hand, Chandra Ahe Sakshila is a story of love, deceit and betrayal, told from the perspective of an educated working woman whose desire to lead a happy life is destroyed when a man with hurtful intentions enters her life. 

    These two original series will join the channel’s existing primetime line-up of Raja Ranichi Ga Jodi, Balumamachya Navana ChangaBhala, Jeev Zala YedaPisa, Swamini, Sundara ManaMadhye Bharali and Shubhmangal Online. 

  • Why Bigg Boss remains the most bankable property for Colors

    Why Bigg Boss remains the most bankable property for Colors

    MUMBAI: Ever since its launch more than a decade ago, reality show Bigg Boss – fashioned after the Dutch series Celebrity Big Brother – has never failed to entertain and titillate audiences. The first edition of the show, with Arshad Warsi as the host, aired on Sony Entertainment Television with a TRP of 2.72. Then it passed into the hands of Colors, where it scored an impressive TRP  of 6.99. According to BARC data, Bigg Boss 13 garnered 13.8 million impressions in the finale week last year, breaking the record set by its previous seasons.

    Season 14 kicked off ahead of the festive season and has already racked up 3.9 billion viewing minutes in its launch week, the highest in the last three seasons.

    With the exciting matches in the IPL hogging up daily viewing time,  Bigg Boss has not made it into the top five programmes of Hindi general entertainment channels in week 40, but Colors  has consistently been in the top five channels in the HSM (U+R) market and urban market for the past five weeks. In fact, with the launch of the reality show, Colors secured the second position on  BARC's  pay platform and urban market charts for the first time in five weeks. Weekly impressions recorded on the pay platform chart were 676930 billion and 497722 billion in the urban market. chart

    So, what makes Bigg Boss so popular?

    There could be multiple reasons. Just like the IPL is to Star Sports, Bigg Boss is a tentpole show for Colors. It is a franchise that allows brands and channels to grow with it, a show that grows year-on-year. When it comes to this dramatic reality show, there is no middle ground, one either loves it or hates it. For people who watch it, it's a cult following.

    The show currently has a total of 15 sponsors. Apart from the presenting sponsors – Mobile Premier League (MPL), Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste and TRESemmé and Lotus Herbals – the channel now has 14 associate sponsors that include Captain food’s Chings, Vicco, Greenlam Laminates, Garnier Men, Mamaearth, Somany Tiles and Lifebuoy. The associate sponsors only for Colors HD comprise Philips, MDH Masale, Fogg, Honda, Urban Company, Duroflex and LG Electronics.

    Havas Media Group India MD Mohit Joshi predicted the latest edition of the reality show will be more popular and profitable than its predecessors. With all signs pointing to a subdued festive season, viewers are bound to tune in and get their thrills from elsewhere. “Bigg Boss 13 was the most-watched reality show with 10+ million impressions, as per data released by BARC India. Owing to the fact that the audiences have been starved for fresh content on TV, there is going to be huge traction which is why it will be preferred by brands and advertisers,” said Joshi. 

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment chief content officer Manisha Sharma shared that with Bigg Boss, the network tries to break its own benchmarks and introduces something new and innovative every season. “It is an important cog in the wheel of our business at a network level and also creates viable opportunities for brand associations. The mechanics of the show is such that it has something for everyone; be it celebrities, viewers, brands, advertisers.”

    Since Bigg Boss grabs eyeballs, it makes sense for advertisers as well. According to a person closely associated with the show in the past, it is attractive to broadcasters not just because it’s a monetisable property, but it keeps paying dividends even in the long run.
     
    “Hypothetically speaking, if you spend Rs 140 crore on the property in three months, you will make a profit on it. It is compelling content for advertisers and brands," he said.

    Format

    Bigg Boss is a show that thrives on drama and controversy. It deliberately brings together highly opinionated and egotistical  individuals and leaves them to stew in a pressure cooker environment for three solid months. The show appears on your television screens every day, and, before you know it, becomes a habit.

    There are drama queens, a few foreign names (for example: Pamela Anderson, Jade Goody and Sunny Leone), struggling actors and a political or religious figure. Contestants are eliminated and replacements are introduced to keep things interesting. Love affairs and big fights abound; there is no telling friend from foe – it is like watching a Bollywood melodrama unfold in real time.

    The format of Bigg Boss indulges its viewers’ voyeurism, and makes for great gossip with friends, colleagues and family. It frequently ranks as one of the top trends on social media.

    “It generates an ecosystem of viewers, fans, and admirers that further builds the show up and creates conversations about it and the contestants,” Sharma further added.

    Brand Integration Opportunities

    Brands want to get associated with a programme  which gives them higher recall value. Think IPL and you associate it with the IPL,  Maruti Suzuki well the quickest connect is with India’s Got Talent. Bigg Boss as a reality show provides greater brand integration opportunities than daily soaps. It has evolved not only in terms of costs but concepts, scripts, marketing and production every year.

    Apart from regular brand visibility, the channel provides businesses with tailor-made tasks and branding opportunities for them for a span of 100 plus  days, said Sharma. They get higher visibility than any other reality show in the space. “The interesting content and higher viewership is also one of the factors that make Bigg Boss an apt engagement foreground for the brands and hence some of them also renew their partnerships with us year on year,” she elaborated.

    Bigg Boss is also a show which sometimes is at the receiving end of a heavy viewer backlash, but Havas' Joshi shrugged off this concern, saying, “We live in a ‘socially connected’ world where anyone can express his/ her point of view. Hence public opinion is what we as individuals and brands have to live with.”

    Joshi also asserted that the show's nature and format are such that it is bound to attract a lot of positive as well as negative chatter. The reason why brands continue to associate with the property is for its reach. When their promotional vehicle faces flak, brands have to manage their online reputation smartly and sensitively, pointed out Joshi.

    Every brand that comes on board is very well aware of the nature of the show, and the publicity that it garners, added Sharma. “We also manage our clients very well who put in immense trust in us which is the reason they keep coming back to us.”

    Salman Khan As The Host

    One of the biggest draws of Bigg Boss is undoubtedly the celebrity of its host – Salman Khan. The actor has an army of diehard fans, many of whom tune in on weekends just to watch Khan delivering justice to contestants who caused chaos in the house that particular week. This time around though, viewers are missing the hand slapping, physical contact,  between Khan and his coterie of famous friends, courtesy the Covid2019 pandemic. However, clever creative and production is more than making up for this minor absence. 

    Big Boss 13 got high traction in both urban as well rural markets and Joshi said this was due to the fact that it is like a doorway allowing the audience to virtually enter into the lives of celebrities. And the presence of Salman Khan adds an extra dose of excitement.

    Monetisation

    Given the sheer scale and viewer base, Bigg Boss is one of the biggest reality shows on Indian television right now. It has all the ingredients that make it a winning property. It is the most talked about, most trended show, and has created a community that thrives on it for entertainment. “Bigg Boss takes things to another level for us in terms of content and viewership. It possesses the power to catapult the channel to the number one spot and contribute in a big way to the revenue,” said Sharma.

    Even with the kind of expense that is resting on the property, Bigg Boss is a great opportunity for brands and advertisers to get on board, she explained, since the viewers connect and engage with the show because they can see contestants going through a whirlwind of emotions in the midst of great angst and drama. “It is a perfect blend anyone can ask for and the kind of integration opportunities we end up doing on the show is humongous. It benefits the brands massively.”

    Winners Get Popularity

    Bigg Boss has proved to be a stepping stone to bigger and better things for many of its contestants. Just by participating in the show, they’re able to amass a loyal fan base, leading to brand endorsements, TV shows, and much more.

    But fame is a fickle friend. Season six winner Urvashi mentioned that her life did not particularly change post-Bigg Boss in any manner. However, winning the title did mean a lot to her because people got to see her as a person, she added. “It has given me a title, helped me in reaching the audience and the masses… A show like Bigg Boss plays in different ways for each contestant's careers. For me, the show added a trophy to my kitty while for others it may lead them to other things. To each their own, I say.”

    Though Colors has time and again proved its mettle, it would be interesting to see how long it can sustain the Bigg Boss phenomenon raging through India.

  • ZEE Entertainment announces strategic restructure of organization

    ZEE Entertainment announces strategic restructure of organization

    MUMBAI: ZEEL has announced a strategic restructuring of the organization in line with its  ‘ZEE 4.0 Strategy’. As part of the restructure, the company has brought in Rahul Johri as president – business, South Asia. He will be responsible for leading the integrated revenue and monetization team.

    In other key shuffles in the top leadership, ZEE has elevated CEO (broadcast) Punit Misra to president – content & international markets, while Amit Goenka will take over as the president – digital businesses & platforms. These changes are effective immediately.

    Tarun Katial, who is leading ZEE5 India business, will continue to report to Amit Goenka. Shariq Patel will be responsible for the integrated movies business and Anurag Bedi will continue to drive the music business. All of them will report to ZEEL MD & CEO Punit Goenka.

    Under ‘ZEE 4.0 Strategy’, the company will integrate all of its digital assets under a single umbrella, which includes ZEE5 (Domestic AVOD+SVOD), ZEE5 Global, SugarBox and Digital Publishing.

    In this new version of the company, its focus will be on reinventing the existing business models, maximizing its core, expanding into adjacent spaces and exploring new areas of business. To this end, it has announced the following strategic steps:

    • Aggregating content creation: Creating extraordinary entertainment content has always
    been the key area of focus for the Company. In order to build viewer stickiness, the company has been sharply focusing on enhancing viewer intimacy, capturing & embedding sociocultural insights and the finer nuances of the local languages & customs in its content creation process. Customer centricity has been the key to the Company’s success in delivering rich, meaningful and engaging content. A ‘content first, cluster centric’ framework, is enabling ZEE to take the content creation process, closer to its viewers. This approach aims at leveraging the company’s strengths in regional clusters, improving content production efficiencies, enhancing consumer insights and most above, delivering better and more cost-effective content across platforms. Hence the company has formed an integrated content team, responsible of creating and serving content to its viewers across linear & digital platforms.

    • Streamlining International Business: The Company has been entertaining viewers in over 190 countries across five clusters viz. APAC; MENA; Africa; Europe and North America. With its rich experience garnered across the globe, the Company has developed a deep level of understanding of each market. The linear (Advt./Distribution) and digital (AVOD/SVOD) teams in the international markets will be integrated into a single team, led by the market revenue leader who will be responsible for maximizing the revenues across all formats (Linear/Digital) and revenue streams. The integration will also enable each international cluster leader to craft a local-market aligned approach. With this integrated approach, the Company aims to maximize revenue and drive content monetization, by optimally capitalizing the opportunities presented in the international markets.

    • Integrating digital assets: The company has been substantively investing in building its digital ecosystem, given its strategic importance for future growth. While TV continues to grow in the country, digital viewership is growing at a frenetic pace, with large number of viewers adding digital to their existing formats of content consumption. In order to drive greater synergies across technology, data and talent, which are the three critical determinants of success in the digital ecosystem, the company will be bringing together all of its digital assets under a single umbrella, which includes ZEE5 (Domestic AVOD+SVOD), ZEE5 Global, SugarBox and Digital Publishing.

    • Movies Business: The Company will be combining the different parts of its movies business which are currently embedded in multiple domains, into a single integrated platform. This team will be responsible for both aspects of the value chain – movie purchase/production as well as monetization, across all markets (Domestic & International). Driving better line of sight through an integrated approach, this revised framework will substantially enhance the effectiveness of the company’s movies business.

    • Music Business: The company’s music business has gained substantial traction and it will continue to invest and grow this business to achieve market leadership.

    • Integrated revenue & monetization team: The company will be creating an integrated revenue and monetization team, combining all the existing B2B revenue generating teams (linear advertisement, sales, digital advertisement sales, distribution and B2B SVOD Partnerships) into a unified ecosystem. With this revised framework, the Company aims to drive a more synergized monetization engine that will deliver enhanced solutions to its clients, improve wallet monetization, extend coverage to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and increase subscriber penetration across linear and digital formats.

    “ZEE 4.0 will be an integrated and synergise organization, with a sharp focus on delivering world class entertainment content to our consumers across the world and enhanced value to our partners across the ecosystem,” said ZEEL MD & CEO Punit Goenka in a press release.

    “I am most certain that the collective experience and expertise of the leadership team will help us immensely in achieving our set goals for the future and realize the vision chalked out for the all new version of ZEE,” he added.

  • Bangla channels pin high hopes on Durga Puja

    Bangla channels pin high hopes on Durga Puja

    MUMBAI: Durga Puja, that time of the year when an entire city descends into wholesome chaos. The fervour sets in days ahead, and during the five-day celebration the streets are teeming as revellers go pandal-hopping, bhog sampling, throng anondo mela (fun fair), indulge in shopping sprees, and a dozen other fun-filled activities. But due to Covid2019, pujo festivities are a lot more toned down this year, with the risk of public gatherings looming large on people’s minds.

    With the outlook that folks will stay at home rather than jostle with crowds, Bangla entertainment channels have taken up an aggressive stance programming-wise to maximise viewership and ad revenue during the pujo period.

    How Bangla channels are wooing viewers

    Sony Aath is trying to dial up the celebrations with a slew of fresh programming. As part of Sunday Funday, the most popular slot on the channel, it will air special Durga Puja-themed episodes of hit family shows – Gopal Bhar, Nut Boltu and NIX. With the recent premiere of new show Baalveer during this festive season, the channel’s also lined up six Honey Bunny movies. A Sony Pictures Networks India Sony Aath and English cluster business head Tushar Shah said, “We are witnessing tremendous interest from the advertisers and a few of them, including Cadbury and Colgate, have already signed up.”

    Colors Bangla, too, has a treat in store for its viewers. “There will be a special morning programme titled Sree Sree Sarodiya Durga Pujo. It will provide the audience with a spiritual experience by giving an essence of the various rituals associated with pujo. Evening show Golpe Gaane Pujor Adda is a show with singers and actors entertaining our viewers with popular music and memories. Both the shows are presented by Hellman’s Mayonnaise and powered by Brooke Bond,” said Colors Bangla business head Rahul Chakravarti.

     

     

    This year a lot of devotees will be offering pujo “virtually”, a trend that had started a few years ago, wherein viewers could do darshan and pushpanjali and get pronami too. TV and digital channels can broadcast these events and let worshippers enjoy the festivities from the safety of their homes. Bangla celebrities and influencers are also being roped in to familiarise their fans with the concept of virtual celebrations along with AR/VR darshans from their apps.

    Zee Bangla and Zee Bangla Cinema cluster business head Samrat Ghosh notes that the broadcast industry has pinned its hopes on advertisers. The festival holds immense potential for all stakeholders, especially in the eastern states of West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Bihar where the arrival of Mother Goddess Durga is celebrated with a lot of pomp and gaiety.

     

     

    Ghosh said, "The viewership is definitely soaring high and the ad-ex market has also started picking up. I am hopeful that during the festive season advertisers will also help us to revive the ad-ex market. Apart from the usual categories that advertise, we will see a lot of automobile, consumer durable brands doing promotions. The local retail brands are also reviving and have started advertising." He is optimistic about the retail market bouncing back in terms of ad spends.

    Apart from special programming on the small screen, Durga Puja is always associated with big ticket movie releases. Keeping movie lovers in mind, Colors Bangla is tapping into its wide repertoire of 200+ Bangla titles and dedicated each day of pujo to a superstar. From Saptami being devoted to fans of Jeet to Ashtami being Mithun Chakrabarty’s day, special movies of superstars will be showcased on the channel.

    Brands & advertisers shift focus to safety

    With market sentiments improving over the last few months, brands have started coming up with new and dynamic ways to connect with consumers. Advertisers across categories are looking forward to pujo. Wavemaker India managing partner Mansi Datta sees this as a wonderful opportunity for brands to capitalize on buyers’ upbeat sentiments and resonate with them. Durga Puja, traditionally a good time for channels to increase their ad revenues, will help them to make up for losses incurred during the pandemic period.

    “This is the time of year for ‘NEW’… Children are told to wait for pujo to get new things. People splurge and indulge. Retail sector claims that for West Bengal, 30-45 per cent of annual sales happen during Durga Puja. This is the reason pujo period marks the highest media activity,” said Datta.

    There’s a marked shift in consumer patterns too, and in response, brands have also adapted their seasonal messaging to showcase and promote hygiene, safety and social distancing – while remembering to have a jolly good time, of course.

    For instance, the state government has issued a 17 point guideline, with most Durga Puja associations following it strictly and even deploying more safety features. In keeping with these measures, Colors Bangla has launched a special campaign urging viewers to adhere to social distancing norms. Chakravarti shares: “While our faces may be masked, our hearts will be filled with joy and our eyes will reflect our happiness. This is a message that we are amplifying through our special pujo campaign.”

    State of the market during pujo 2020

    Estimating the size of the Durga Puja economy has mostly been a fraught prospect, although a 2013 Assocham report pegged it at Rs 25,000 crore, growing at about 35 per cent CAGR. The report projected its size to be Rs 40,000 crore by 2015. If that figure were to be extrapolated to 2018 and 2019, the size would be at Rs 1.12 lakh crore and Rs 1.5 lakh crore respectively. As per the estimate, the pujo economy contributes a little over 10 per cent to West Bengal’s GDP.

    Sujata Dwibedy, trading director for Dentsu International’s Amplifi India group, observes: “If we add up the Puja economy of Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand – which also celebrate the festival with equal fervour, if not more splendour – the economy of each of the states get a contribution of about 7-10 per cent to the their GDP during Puja. However, 2020 is an exception and the growth will dip extensively because all the outdoor activities, pandals, melas and markets – where traditionally a huge amount of spending takes place – would be restricted.”

    She further adds though there was a huge drop in consumption of products in the April-May-June quarter, from July onwards many businesses are back to last year’s levels. Brands diversified and started producing health and hygiene-related products and survived. Media consumption was high, but advertising spends dropped and businesses other than a few categories saw a huge dip.

    Traditionally, multinational brands across industry verticals rode on the Puja sentiment through a mix of above-the-line and on-ground activation. “Since this year, the on-ground activations and pandal related events might not be possible, brands should think of innovative ways of reaching out to the consumers. Food, garments and household purchases are the themes of this festival. So, tying up with the food techs, e-commerce and gifting companies could be innovatively used,” suggests Dwibedy.

    The duration of Durga Puja to Diwali (or Kali pujo) is a jackpot for brands and consumers. Moreover, advertisers are using every medium to attract eyeballs – from newspapers, billboards, bus/local trains, activations to OTT, social, search of locations, food-spots and pandals in digital. It is a great time for payment apps and BFSI to focus on electronic payments and making things lucrative as well as simpler.

  • ZEE Entertainment donates 10 ambulances, PPE Kits to Andhra Pradesh

    ZEE Entertainment donates 10 ambulances, PPE Kits to Andhra Pradesh

    MUMBAI: In line with its national level CSR drive against Covid2019, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has donated a fleet of ambulances and 4,000 PPE kits to the state of Andhra Pradesh.

    The state’s minister of transport and I&PR Perni Venkataramayya, APIIC chairman R.K. Roja, YSR Arogya Sri Health trust CEO Mallikarjuna, YSR Arogya Sri Health Trust additional CEO B. Rajasekhar Reddy were present when the fleet of ambulances and protective equipment were handed over.

    ZEE managing director and chief executive officer Punit Goenka said the company was committed to provide strong support to the Andhra Pradesh government in its fight against Covid2019, with a key focus on strengthening the overall healthcare infrastructure. “We sincerely hope that the donated healthcare requirements will further enable the state to address the challenges faced due to the ongoing pandemic and strengthen its overall healthcare ecosystem," he added.

    Venkataramayya appreciated Zee’s move to help the state by providing much-needed ambulances and PPE. “Also, I’m happy to know Punit Goenka and ZEE have helped other states in India as well with such contributions in strengthening their fight against COVID2019.”

    In its national level CSR drive towards enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure against Covid2019, ZEE had committed to donate 240+ ambulances, 46,000+ PPE kits, 90+ oxygen humidifiers and 6,00,000 daily meals. The donation to the state of Andhra Pradesh is in line with this CSR initiative.

    At a national level, ZEE has also financially supported over 5000 daily wage earners working directly or indirectly with the company. Further, 3400+ employees have contributed towards PM Cares Fund. The amount generated was matched by ZEE, and the collective proceeds were donated to PM Cares Fund.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India turns 25

    Sony Pictures Networks India turns 25

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has completed 25 years in the country, and to commemorate the silver jubilee, SPN MD and CEO NP Singh penned a special letter to thank SPN’s members for accompanying them on this journey.

    On 8 October 1995, when the Indian broadcast industry was still taking baby steps, Sony ventured into the Indian market with the launch of Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC), Sony Entertainment Television.

    “From one channel, bit by bit, we became a 24-channel network with a digital OTT service SonyLlV, a film production arm, SPN Productions, and a content creation studio, Studio NEXT,” wrote Singh about the network’s growth trajectory.

    The company has steadily grown over the years to an employee count of around 1,200, with its services available across 167 countries and reaching over 700 million viewers. “Today, Sony Pictures Networks, is among the top entertainment and sports networks in the country, recognised as an employer of choice within and outside the media fraternity,” he wrote.

    Singh then touched upon the biggest gamble he took in his career: entering into uncharted territory with the Indian Premier League (IPL). This move came at a time when cricket leagues were unheard of. But his bet paid off in a big way. The network moulded IPL into one of the most valuable sports entertainment properties in the country.

    Challenging the status quo has always been in SPN’s DNA, he wrote further. “Creating category firsts over the years stands out when I look back. After the launch of SET in 1995, came the launch of Sony MAX in 1999. It was a one of its kind channel that offered to our viewers blockbuster Hindi movies, cricket and special events. This created a unique and unparalleled three-pronged channel identity which has not been replicated since. Some of India's most iconic entertainment properties that have stood the test of time have been from the SPN stable.”

    Singh went on to highlight how SPN has always observed fiscal discipline, writing: “We have invested where we expected a strong strategic and economic value and exited from properties which appeared unviable over the longer term.” This included launching SAB in 1995, Sony Max in 1999, and then acquiring TEN Sports, Sony Aath, and the launch of kids channel Sony YAY!. They also forayed into the regional space with Sony Marathi.

    In the early years, Singh realised that digital needed to be the cornerstone of the network’s strategy. In 2013, SPN became the first broadcaster in the country to launch an OTT platform – SonyLIV. “I am confident of its bright future,” affirmed Singh.

    He elaborated on the subject of SPN’s collaboration with international players and how it has set the network apart from its competition. “We have forged a strong partnership with BBC Worldwide to launch a very successful premium factual entertainment channel, Sony BBC Earth. Our long-standing partnerships with some of the biggest names in the world of sport including WWE, NBA, Cricket Australia, ECB and Sri Lanka Cricket, bring live content to our viewers in India.”

    When it comes to a fair and inclusive workplace, SPN has been recognised by the industry as one of India’s Great Places to Work, said Singh, adding: “We envision a company where in the next five years, 50 per cent of our workforce will be women, people with disabilities or from the LGBT+ community.”

    Though only time will tell what shape or form the company will take in future, Singh is determined to ensure that SPN only goes from strength to strength.

    He stated: ‘It’s been an eventful journey of 25 years and we have come a long way. We will continue to go all out and live up to our corporate ethos of ‘Go-Beyond’, not just in name but in action and spirit.”

  • Zee TV unveils a behen-sourced ‘Book of Nuskhe’ on the premiere of Ram Pyaare Sirf Hamare

    Zee TV unveils a behen-sourced ‘Book of Nuskhe’ on the premiere of Ram Pyaare Sirf Hamare

    Spreading cheer with its first fiction offering post lockdown, Zee TV has recently introduced a refreshing comedy of errors that will get families together and make them laugh with its engaging, light-hearted narrative. Having premiered on 5th October and airing every Monday to Friday at 10:30 PM, Ram Pyaare Sirf Hamare captures the humorous escapades of a Bhopal-based housewife Dulari, who turns to a book of traditional ‘nuskhe’ to keep her ideal husband Ram safe from the advances of other women in the mohalla who can’t seem to get enough of him.

    Over the last few weeks, Dulari reached out to her ‘behens’ from all across the country through her social media handle ‘RamKiDulari’, asking them to share interesting ‘nuskhe’ to safeguard her husband. It steadily gained momentum with several mommy communities like UNIMO & their different city-wise FB pages, Grihshobha, Mommies world & specific Delhi-based women’s communities sharing nuskhe for Dulari and in no time, it garnered 2.2 Million views including Instagram & FB with a reach of ~5Mn via RVCJ platform. Within just a couple of hours of Dulari posting her plea for nuskhe from married women, her freshly opened account saw an upsurge of followers growing on Instagram. Looking at the virality of this video, Zee TV’s social media handle decided to take it to the next level by announcing a contest asking women to contribute their pearls of womanly wisdom aka nuskhas using the #SunBehen.  For participants’ convenience, a WhatsApp number was floated to receive entries and the winners stood to win vouchers worth Rs 1000. Soon, ‘Sun Behen’ memes started flowing in inspired by the nuskhas suggested by participants of Zee TV’s contest and the channel’s official handle put out the funniest ones as a part of a hilarious #Sunbehen meme series that saw huge engagement spikes.

    Not only married women across the country, but also mega celebrities like ace comedienne Bharti Singh, Maharashtra chi shaan Amruta Khanvilkar and famous in the UP heartland, Amrapali Dubey shared their special nuskhes. With Zee TV’s social media handles inundated with quirky, juicy nuskhas from all over, the channel compiled them all into a quirky ‘Book of Nuskhe’ and launched it virtually on the occasion of the show’s premiere.

    During the book launch, director and producer Sachin Mohite thanked the ‘behens’ for having shown up in large numbers to support Dulari.  So, as Dulari tries her hand at some hilarious nuskhe from this quirky book to protect her husband in Ram Pyaare Sirf Hamare, time to grab your own copy? The book is available as a download in the bio section of Zee TV’s official Instagram page.

  • Star Pravah is the preferred Marathi GEC in Maharashtra and Goa

    Star Pravah is the preferred Marathi GEC in Maharashtra and Goa

    MUMBAI: In testimony to the quality and power of its compelling content offering and the four new shows launched recently, Star Pravah has received an overwhelming response and interest from viewers in Maharashtra and Goa garnering 292 million impressions.

    Star Pravah’s commanding performance has been powered by the return of its engaging and entertaining original content in July 2020 — Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta, Jai Deva Shree Ganesha, Phulala Sugandha Maticha and Mulgi Zali Ho. These helped the channel’s content bouquet of world-class quality to connect deeply with audiences across Maharashtra and Goa, helping it become the fastest growing Marathi GEC in Maharashtra with a growth rate of 121 per cent. 

    Star India regional entertainment CEO Kevin Vaz said, “Star Pravah has always strived to provide an eclectic mix of entertaining content to Marathi-speaking viewers and we are elated at the response we are receiving from across markets. The quality of our content combined with the meticulous creative execution of storylines has made a pivotal contribution to creating a special bond with our viewers. We are committed to deepening this connection through continuous engaging content initiatives."

    Star Pravah launched four new shows in August-September 2020 to offer astounding entertainment to its viewers – Jai Deva Shree Ganesha, an 11-part mythological show based on Lord Ganesha’s most popular stories, Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta, a heartwarming story with a message – true happiness lies in the feeling of being loved, Phulala Sugandha Maticha, the story of a determined girl to achieve her dreams, and whose ambition finds support in her husband, and Mulgi Zali Ho, a poignant story of an unwanted daughter who yearns for her father’s love.

    Star Pravah plans to launch another epic mythological show Dakkhancha Raja – Jyotiba, on 23 October 2020 at 18:30 hrs. The show, featuring Jyotiba, one of the most revered Gods in Maharashtra especially in the regions of Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara, will help Star Pravah add another slot to prime time.

    Following its packaging refresh in 19 October some of the other popular shows launched were Rang Maza Vegala and Aai Kuthe Kaay Karte – both extremely relatable social and family dramas respectively. The channel had also launched the non-fiction, singing show, Me Honar Superstar, which went on to become the best singing non-fiction show in Marathi GEC in the last two years. 

  • Behind the scenes, on the Kaun Banega Crorepati 12 sets

    Behind the scenes, on the Kaun Banega Crorepati 12 sets

    MUMBAI: The Covid2019 pandemic has disrupted projects and thrown well-crafted schedules out the window. But the team of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) is ready to bounce back with the same enthusiasm and with double the precautions in place.

    In adherence to strict social distancing norms, its sets have undergone a complete overhaul. While the core of the programme remains the same, the latest edition comes with a few modificationsin keeping with the times.

    One such change is that for the first time in 20 years, KBC will not host in-studio audiences as per government-mandated safety guidelines and protocols in response to Covid2019. The in-studio audience played a huge role as a lifeline – the audience poll helped contestants on the hotseat advance in the game. To replace this lifeline, video-a-friend has been introduced.

    KBC showrunner and creative producer Sujata Sanghamitra said: “The country is looking at each other through screens now; hence this new lifeline. The other three lifelines– 50:50, ask the expert and flip the question – will remain.”

    According to Sanghmitra, the makers had to rework several rules and figure out logistics to ensure that social distancing is maintained.

    “The number of fastest finger first contestants competing for the hot seat has been reduced from the usual ten to eight. The designs of the hot seat and the contestants’ chair have also changed, there's more of a gap now,” she elaborated.

    Read more news on KBC

    Soon after recovering from Covid2019 and the mandatory rest period thereafter, actor and host Amitabh Bachchan made himself available for shoots in August. One of the main highlights of KBC has been the camaraderie between Bachchan and the participants. They normally engage in banter, and sometimes contestants ask the legendary actor for a hug or an autograph. Instead of his signature warm handshake to welcome contenders, Bachchan will this year greet them with an ‘elbow bump’.

    Going digital

    One of the first steps towards putting the show on the floors was to make its selection process completely digital. Everything from registration, examination to the final interview and general knowledge test was done online.

    As for the video clips giving an insight into the lives of the participants, they were shot by the participants themselves, with help from KBC’s reality team. The team remotely coordinated with the contestants to shoot the back stories.

    Social distancing on the set

    In a video, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) KBC’s technical director Arun Sheshkumar said that in order to meet social distancing norms, the show has cut down its key crew of 300 to 175.

    “Since the audience is not part of the process, the entire backend team, which is there for the audience, has been put on stand-by,” Sheskumar explained. With the crew members’ health and safety in mind, glass partitions have been set up to separate them, he added.

    Now, the KBC set in Film City also has a bigger control room with a glass wall in between. Usually chaotic and packed with crew moving in and out, it will now have strict restrictions. The cafeteria too has a glass partition on every table and the team makes sure not to crowd any place at any given time.

    Prior to the pandemic, the set usually had two entry-exit points. These have now been increased to multiple entrances and exits.

    KBC is one marquee show for Sony, audiences, and the industry which everyone looks forward to each year. The entire unit hopes it will be an exemplary one and will set the standard for how productions can be successfully and safely done.

    (KBC12 started airing from 28 September. It is one of the first reality shows to return to the small screen amidst Covid2019.)

  • Bigg Boss ropes in 15 sponsors for this season

    Bigg Boss ropes in 15 sponsors for this season

    MUMBAI:  Bigg Boss is back after tasting a remarkable and groundbreaking success last season and is all set to give 2020 jawab with power-packed entertainment and unlimited drama. With less than a week left for the show to hit the television screens, Colors has attracted some of the leading brands who have come on board as sponsors for the new season. Apart from MPL as the presenting sponsor and Dabur Dant Rakshak Ayurvedic Paste and TRESemmé as powered by sponsors, the channel has signed Lotus Herbals as Beauty Partner, multiple associate sponsors including Chings, Garnier men acnofight facewash, Vicco Narayani, Greenlam laminates, Mamaearth Hair Oil, Somany Tiles, MDH Masale, Fogg deodorant, Philips hair straightener, Urban Company and Honda City.

    Viacom18 Colors sales senior vice president Pavithra KR said, “We are delighted to have 15 brands as sponsors representing varied categories before we go on air. Bigg Boss is not only a huge hit with viewers but also with advertisers thanks to its immense reach and the traction across consumer segments. It is one of the most sought-after marketing arenas for advertisers to launch their tentpole products or properties. This year as well you will see us unveil exciting and seamless engagements for most of our brands, so they get maximum benefits out of the associations.”

    Read more news on Bigg Boss

    With the show's immense popularity and reach, it provides a befitting opportunity for the brands to engage and collaborate through various touch points – active and passive inside the Bigg Boss house. During the show, the brands will gain prominence and visibility through ad spots, task integrations, caller of the week segment, special zones, and other peripheral branding opportunities. The Bigg Boss house this season will have various interesting elements like a spa, dining area, shopping mall, and theatre that will give further impetus to the brands to enhance their visibility and influence consumers. The show is set to turn the tide and be an antidote to this year by reinstating normalcy and introducing an eclectic mix of contestants to present a gamut of entertainment.