Category: GECs

Colors’ Naagin 5 will premiere on 9 August

MUMBAI: COLORS brings the fifth season of the fantasy fiction franchise Naagin 5. It will be presented by Dabur Amla Hair Oil.An illuminating exploration of the world of Naagin, the series will be fueled by hatred, revenge and unrequited love as the Sarvashresth Adi Naagin will return to avenge her enemies. As the story progresses, she will conclude her epic battle that began centuries ago in Satyug and will fight to fulfill her journey of love. The new season of the show will Hina Khan, Dheeraj Dhoopar, and Mohit Malhotra in the leading roles. Produced by Balaji Telefilms, Naagin 5 will premiere on Sunday 9 August 2020 and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 pm only on COLORS.

Several years ago, in Satyug, began the tale of the predecessor of the Naagin clan, Sarvashrestha Adi Naagin. She is fiercely in love with Naag Hriday but even before their love story could reach its happy ending, destiny rips them apart. At the same time, Cheel Aakesh obsessively falls for her, but his love remains unrequited and thus begins the tale of love and hatred. While Naagin’s love remains unfulfilled, she swears revenge as her dying wish. In Kalyug, she is reincarnated and this time is determined to fulfill her journey and also avenge the past. Will she be reunited with her love? Or will fate bring another twist to their story? Only time will tell.

Speaking about the launch Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment and Kids TV network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said,“At COLORS, we are proud to keep the ball of entertainment rolling and are extremely delighted to be back in full force. On the heels of our latest offerings, Ishq Mein Marjaawan and Khatron Ke Khiladi Made In India, we are excited to launch a brand new season of our most popular and television’s biggest fantasy fiction franchise, Naagin. The aim is to enhance the magical portrayal of Indian folklore and take forward the legacy of extraordinary entertainment with the fifth edition of the show."

Commenting on the concept of the show,Viacom18 CCO Hindi Mass Entertainment Manisha Sharma said,“Season after season, Naagin has fortified its position as one of television’s biggest fantasy fiction franchise with its exceptional storytelling. As the legacy continues, we are delighted to present another historic season of the show featuring the very talented star cast that includes Hina Khan, Dheeraj Dhoopar, and Mohit Malhotra. Naagin 5 will narrate a fascinating tale of love, revenge, and passion and is a visual spectacle with a promising storyline, cutting-edge special effects, and finely etched characters that are sure to enrich viewers’ experience. While strengthening our association with Balaji Telefilms, we are looking forward to embarking on an exciting new journey.”

Elaborating further, Balaji Telefilms producer Ekta Kapoor said, “We set out on this fascinating journey of recreating Naagin folklore five years ago and today, we will turn a new chapter with Naagin 5. It will further the intrigue around the mystical world of Naagin as she returns to reclaim her love and ravage her enemies. Enhancing the mysticism, Naagin 5 will be packed with a myriad of emotions ranging from resentment, hatred, unrequited love to revenge coupled with great visuals and extraordinary cast. I would like to welcome Hina Khan, Dheeraj Dhoopar, and Mohit Malhotra to the Naagin universe and I hope that with our partnership with COLORS, we will create history once again.”

Naagin 5 will be extensively promoted on COLORS and Viacom18 network channels. As a part of the digital promotions, the channel will be unveiling a video of a hand-sketched Naagin Saga coffee table book. Leveraging on Naagin fan clubs, an activity was carried out wherein a mysterious love letter was sent to them on behalf of the Naagin. Each fan club received a piece of the love letter and they were to scout for the remaining pieces to complete the puzzle.

August 7, 2020
IPL, festive season expected to push up ad rev for GECs

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: After almost four months of hiatus, advertising spend is slowly inching up on TV, especially GECs, which saw shows resume some weeks ago. Experts suggest that whenever consumer behaviour sees a shift, advertising spends have also adjusted.

Havas Media Group MD–India Mohit Joshi says that growth would have been much sharper if the unscheduled one-off lockdowns in several parts of the country had not happened. He is expecting an overall increase in TV ad revenues in the coming weeks since brands want to make the best use of the remaining five months. Not to mention that IPL is also expected to take place in the last quarter coinciding with festive season.

DDB Mudra Group executive director and OMD Mudramax president Sathyamurthy Namakkal says that August and September will continue to be lower than the previous years, but October-December should witness some positive growth,( as compared to the previous six months), due to optimism about a vaccine solution for Covid2019 and festival advertising needs. However, he feels that IPL is likely to impact the viewership of GECs across markets.

They are of the opinion that while many GECs haven’t yet matched their viewership numbers pre-Covid2019, there is an improvement in viewership post the revival of original content, a few weeks ago.

Namakkal says, “Many advertisers have moved from negative sentiment to a more neutral sentiment as manifested in the planning process that has been reactivated after a gap of three months.”

As per TAM media research the tally of advertisers on both national and regional news channels increased by four per cent and three per cent respectively during week 29 (12 July to 18 July) to week 30 (19 July to 25 July) compared to week 27 (28 June to 4 July) to week 28 (5 July to 11 July).

The data further reveals that ad volume on both national and regional news channels increased by 18 per cent and 15 per cent respectively during week 29 to week 30 compared to week 27 to week 28.

Channels began luring its viewers back to TV after some of them shifting off GECs due to lack of content. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) chief consumer officer Pratyusha Agarwal says, “Our comeback strategy was planned meticulously with the objective of reinstating the habit of appointment viewing for our audience across our GECs. We harnessed the power of digital and social platforms, PR, outdoor, print and the biggest asset of all, our network strength.”

Zee TV engaged audiences with a combination of artist interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from primetime shows, building curiosity around the return of fresh programming.

“Given that we are a video-led medium, we have continued to use video-led media as a predominant vehicle and the others being fit-to-purpose added as complimentary media. But with people not stepping out much or being a lot more careful when they step out, we are looking at in-home media a lot more with TV being our primary tool,” shares Agarwal.

Dangal was the first channel which started airing fresh content from 2 July. Enterr10 Television (Dangal TV) COO Deep Drona shares, “An interesting part was that during lockdown a lot of sampling has happened by fresh viewers. We need to see if they change habits or go back as pause and play viewers.”

However, Zee TV launched a mega OOH campaign announcing the resumption of its shows. On the other hand, Dangal will not be taking up OOH anytime soon. But, Dangal has increased its digital footprint in order to communicate with its prime audience in tier I and tier II cities.

According to the tenth edition of BARC-Nielsen data, since 11 April total television consumption increased by 40 per cent. The data also reveals that news and movies continue to grow. April onwards, news has registered 16 per cent growth while GEC from 52 per cent from pre-Covid2019 is now steady at 44 per cent.

The major revelation is that re-run driven Hindi GECs obtained all-time viewership high post exit from DD Free Dish. In fact, April onwards, overall FCT observed seven per cent growth. There is a significant growth in FCT across news, movies and kids genre. Major FMCG companies continue to advertise on GECs along with some new players.

Even though news channels became the viewers’ darling for the last few months, Namakkal feels that it will continue to get its regular loyal advertisers. To this, Joshi says, “Each genre has a role to play in the plan. News has seen a lot of surge in viewership. Even today, this continues to be at a higher than pre-Covid2019 levels. Given their performance, their role as a reach driver in the plan has further been consolidated.”

As primetime viewership starts to return to normalcy, advertiser spends will follow suit.

August 3, 2020
TV actors on resuming work and challenges faced while shooting

MUMBAI: Now that most shows have resumed on TV, the entertainment is back on. However, the new experience of shooting is something that even actors are getting used to. While Kumkum Bhagya’s Mugdha Chaphekar is excited to meet her unit and the cast after three months, Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega actor Nishant Singh Malkani is most concerned about performing the same as before.

Malkani further adds that currently the biggest challenge before every producer, actor or technician is to ensure safety. He says, “We need to wear masks and gloves after each shot. We use a sanitiser before removing or wearing the mask and gloves. There are very intricate details which we have to follow to avoid any mishap. It is easy to take precautions while you are at home but it is difficult when you are in a group of 50 to 60 people. And seeing everyone in PPE kits makes me feel like I’m entering a laboratory.”

Maddam Sir actress Bhavika Sharma finds it difficult to shoot with less number of crew members. She mentions that earlier a lot of work was done by other people, but it is not possible now considering the Covid2019 situation. It’s also necessary to sit far away from each other on the set and so the fun element is reduced.

According to Chaphekar people are alert about what they touch all the time. She also thinks that maintaining distance while shooting with everyone is also tough, but till now everything has been going smooth on the set.

Most of the crew members are staying on the set, and actors are preferably using their own vehicle to travel to ensure the least number of people come from outside. “I take the care myself, so I don't have to worry about it. In fact, I clean my car every day and sanitise everything and take all the necessary precautions to ensure safe travel to and fro from the set,” Chaphekar further adds.

Actors highlight that they prefer to do their own makeup. Malkani shares that earlier, each actor used to have a separate hair and makeup artist but now there are only two makeup artists available on set. They just supervise the actors and if there is any mistake, they sanitise their hand and follow all the guidelines before fixing it.

While most of the actors are getting scripts digitally to avoid any contact through papers Chaphekar points out that she gets her script on the set itself. She adds, “We get our scripts in our rooms when we arrive. So straight away, I spray my script with a sanitizer and keep it aside for a bit. After that, I read it out and prepare all my lines. Furthermore, I do not carry it to the set, so it is always safe to touch.” However, the actors are not allowed to share their mobile phones.

Despite all the changes, the only thing that has remained constant is the shift timings which stays from 7 am to 7 pm.

August 2, 2020
Viacom18-SPN merger deal likely to happen by mid-August: reports

MUMBAI: A merger of Sony Pictures Networks and Viacom18 Media is likely to be formally announced by mid-August, according to a Hindustan Times’ report.

The leading daily also mentioned that the merged entity is expected to start operations only by the end of 2021.

Viacom18 is a 51:49 joint venture between Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)-owned Network18 and US-based Viacom Inc.

The merger has been in the process for almost a year and a half and it will see Sony take a majority stake of 74 per cent in Viacom while the latter will own the remaining 26 per cent.

The above said deal is aimed at providing RIL a greater control over the entertainment industry. It will eventually help it maintain the content pipeline for distribution on its cable service provider DEN and Hathway. Also, it will help its broadband and Internet service JioFiber.

“It gives a lot more muscle to Reliance as a distribution-oriented company with this dedicated content pipeline behind them,” mentioned Hindustan Times based on a source.

The proposed merger with Viacom18 will help Sony to expand its footprint in the overall entertainment sector. Because apart from its Hindi general entertainment channel, Viacom18 has regional language and children channels as well where Sony is lacking.

July 29, 2020
Adventure to continue with COLORS’ Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made in India

MUMBAI: No one can have enough of adventure, and when its India’s biggest stunt-based reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi, our Dil always mange more. The action, adventure, and thrill will continue even after the finale with the show’s new edition, RummyCircle.com presents Khatron Ke Khiladi – Made In India, snack partner. Staying true to the country’s ethos to be ‘Vocal for local’, the show for the first time will be shot in home turf- India involving highly skilled local Indian crew.

In a deadly combination, the season will be hosted by the ultimate action master Rohit Shetty while the multi-faceted Farah Khan will kickstart the season peaking the entertainment like never before. The desi avatar of the show will be served with a twist of Bollywood and will feature ace ‘Khiladis’ from the previous seasons competing once again and unlocking their biggest fears including the desi boys Karan Wahi and Rithvik Dhanjani, the fun master Harsh Limbachiyaa, the dashing Karan Patel, the drop-dead gorgeous Nia Sharma, the effervescent Jasmin Bhasin, the handsome hunk Aly Goni and the multitalented Jay Bhanushali. Produced by Endemol Shine India, action, drama, adrenaline rush will double up starting 1 August, Sat-Sun at 9pm only on COLORS.

Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV Network head Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “At COLORS, we are always looking at ways to expand the scope of entertainment for our viewers. The last season of Khatron Ke Khiladi received immense love from our audience which further motivated us to innovate with the content. Staying true to our promise of providing unlimited variety entertainment, we are elated to announce Khatron Ke Khiladi- Made in India that will feature select contestants from the previous seasons with a desi twist.”

The previous season of Khatron Ke Khiladi surpassed all prior expectations and received immense love from the audience. Be it speedy and thrilling action-packed stunts, adrenaline-fueled underwater escapes, or face-offs with ferocious reptiles, the show stayed true to its promise of Darr Lega Class Dega Trass. With Bollywood and Desiness at its core, the extra dose season will be replete with filmy elements and special zones namely Zulm City, Purani Haveli, Golmaal Zone, Tehkhana, Darwaza-e-Dard, and Villain Ka Adda. The zones will be characteristic in terms of look and experience and the stunts performed in these spaces will be handpicked, designed, and directed by Rohit Shetty. Apart from performing some daredevil stunt, the contestants will also be seen reveling in fun antics with a zing of Desi Tadka and Bollywood flavour.

Viacom18 Hindi Mass Entertainment CCO Manisha Sharma said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi has always been shot in various countries abroad. However, for the first time, we will be shooting the special edition in India on a grand scale with the Indian crew. As the action continues, the show this time will be complete desi. In the new edition, we will introduce interesting elements, Bollywood flavor, and an eclectic mix of former contestants that will make this edition even more thrilling. It is going to be a double fun with Farah Khan bringing her expertise to fore while hosting the curtain-raiser episodes when Rohit Shetty will be away in Hyderabad and will return to helm the season.”

Farah Khan said, “I have done almost all reality shows in the country, but I never thought I would do Khatron Ke Khiladi. I am thankful to Rohit Shetty for recommending me as he will be away for the first weekend. I am excited to be a part of the show as my father used to make stunt films and I have action in my films too. However, unlike Rohit, I am not daring enough to do my own stunts. But I am looking forward to having a great time and encouraging the contestants to face their phobias.”

Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, “Khatron Ke Khiladi has been a combination of thrill and adventure that has been growing as an entertaining proposition for the audience. It only gets bigger and better in terms of production and experience with Khatron Ke Khiladi- Made in India. In a homecoming of sorts, we as a team are excited to work with the Indian crew for the first time for a property this big. We are eager to witness the celebrity contestants face their fears and this season we promise to provide the unexpected in the best way possible.”

Khatron Ke Khiladi continues to create an extraordinary experience for its viewers by showcasing action, drama, and entertainment on a grand scale and this season is no less. The crew will be shooting in India while following strict safety protocols and guidelines as directed by the official bodies.

Mark your calendar for 100 percent desi adventure starting Saturday, 1August 2020 at 9 pm only on COLORS

July 28, 2020
Lower ad revenue and exceptional items pull down Zeel bottom-line for Q4, FY 2020

BENGALURU: Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) reported 2.5 percent growth in consolidated operating revenue for the year ended 31 March 2020 (FY 2020, year under review) as compared to the previous year (FY 2019). For the quarter ended 31 March 2020 (Q4 2020, quarter under review) Zeel consolidated operating revenue declined 4.8 percent as compared to the corresponding year ago quarter Q4 2019. EBITDA (operating profit) and PAT (Profit after tax) for the year under review declined 66.5 percent and 36.2 percent respectively as compared to FY 2019. Consolidated PAT for FY 2020 was Rs 524.59 crore and for FY 2019 it was Rs 1,567.34 crore. Consolidated operating EBITDA for FY 2020 was Rs 1,634.57 crore ((20.1 percent of operating revenue) and for FY 2019 it was Rs 2,563.94 crore (32.3 percent of operating revenue).

The company reported operating loss (negative consolidated operating EBITDA) of Rs 283.86 crore and consolidated loss after tax of Rs 765.82 crore for Q4 2020. Poor macroeconomic environment, conversion of two FTA channels into pay in March 2019, and market share loss in certain markets drove the decline in ad revenues said the company in its FY 2020 and Q4 2020 earnings release. The lockdown in March 2020 further impacted revenues, it added.

Bottomline numbers for the year and quarter under review were also lower on account of 47.7 percent higher operating costs in Q4 2020 and 24.5 percent higher in FY 2020. (Operating costs include programming costs). The company said in the earnings release that underlying cost increase led by higher movie amortisation, new channels and investments in its OTT platform ZEES. The reported operating cost included one-time accelerated amortisation of higher inventory of Rs. 259.80 crore.

Further, Zeel’s administration costs included Include a one-time provision of Rs. 343.30 crore for balances related to ad, subscription and other assets where recovery has become doubtful on account of COVID-19 led uncertainty. Also for FY 2020, exceptional items included goodwill write off of Rs. 113.70 crore pertaining to digital publishing business and provision of Rs. 170.60 crore relating to Inter Corporate Deposits (ICD). Another factor that impacted Zeel’s bottom-line for FY 2020 was Rs. 383.50 crore loss in overseas investments in accordance with IND-AS 113 to, reflect the movement in fair value of these investments as on 31 March 2020.

However, these factors were partly offset by 41 percent growth in domestic business in Q4 2020, driven by the implementation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) new tariff order (NTO) and growth in ZEE5's subscription revenues revealed Zeel. Domestic subscription revenues grew by 33 percent in FY 2020 as compared to FY 2020 driven by improved monetization of viewership post NTO implementation and ramp-up of ZEE5's subscriber base.

Zeel’s ad revenue in Q4 2020 declined 14.7 percent to Rs 1,038.94 crore from Rs 1,217.49 crore in Q4 2019. Ad revenue for FY 2020 fell 7.1 percent to Rs 4,681.13 crore from Rs 5,036.66 crore in FY 2019. Subscription revenue in Q4 2020 increased 31.2 percent to Rs 741.36 crore from Rs 564.27 crore in Q4 2019. Subscription revenue in FY 2020 grew 25 percent to Rs 2,887.29 crore from Rs Rs 2,310.54 crore in FY 2019.

Let us look at the numbers reported by Zeel

Consolidated operating revenues for FY 2020, FY 2019, Q4 2020 and Q4 2019 were Rs 8,129.86 crore, Rs 7,933.90 crore, 1,951.08 crore and Rs 2,019.27 crore respectively. Consolidated total incomes (Operating revenue plus other income) for the same periods were Rs 8,413.50 crore, 8,185.35 crore, Rs 2,076.06 crore and Rs 1,991.76 crore respectively.

Consolidated total expenses in Q4 2020 increased 66.5 percent to Rs 2,677.77 crore from Rs 1,612.60 crore in Q4 2019. Consolidated total expenses in FY 2020 increased 25.1 percent to Rs 7,109.70 crore from Rs 5,731.48 crore in FY 2019. Operating cost in Q4 2020 at Rs 1,304.62 crore was 53.9 percent more that the Rs 883.32 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Employee benefits expense (EBE) in Q4 2020 declined 22.7 percent to Rs 160.39 crore from Rs 201.46 crore in Q4 2019. EBE in FY 2020 increased 7.7 percent to Rs 780.51 crore from Rs 724.94 crore.

Advertisement and publicity expenses (ad expenses) in Q4 2020 were 4.6 percent lower at Rs 184.12 crore as compared to Rs 193.01 crore in Q4 2019. Ad expenses in FY 2020 at Rs 695.60 crore were almost flat (declined 0.5 percent) as compared to Rs 699.27 crore in FY 2019. Other expenses in Q4 2020 more than tripled (up 238.3 percent) to Rs 585.81 crore as compared to Rs 173.17 crore in Q4 2019. Other expenses in FY 2020 increased 36.9 percent to Rs 1,190.49 crore from Rs 869.96 crore in FY 2020.

July 27, 2020
This Sunday, catch the World Television Premiere of ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ only on Star Plus

MUMBAI: Haven’t planned your weekend yet? Get ready to witness an epic adventure filled with edge-of-the-seat thrills as Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior is all set for a World Television Premiere on Star Plus, the leading Hindi General Entertainment Channel on Sunday, 26 July 2020 at 8pm. Directed by Om Raut, this magnum opus brings the three superstars of Bollywood Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, and Kajol together on the silver screen for the very first time. The movie also features Sharad Kelkar and Luke Kenny in pivotal roles.

Based on the biography of Subedar Tanhaji Malusare, the film brings to light how Chhatrapati Shivaji's right-hand man puts his sharp acumen against the brawn of ruthless Mughal chieftain Udaybhan Singh Rathore to recapture Kondhana for the Maratha Empire.

Commenting on the same Star Plus Channel Spokesperson said, “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior is one of the highest-grossing films of 2020. We are excited about its World Television Premiere on Star Plus. Going forward, we will host movie premieres for wholesome family entertainment on Sundays and this thread starts with Tanhaji. Viewers will witness Big Blockbusters on Sundays in the coming days.”

Talented Actor Ajay Devgn says, “Tanhaji-The Unsung Warrior is my 100th film. So, it’s a landmark. The film is significant because it’s the story of an unsung hero who played an important part in Indian history. This is a movie that every Indian should watch. I am eagerly looking forward to the viewers of Star Plus to experience this visual extravaganza. I know Tanhaji's bravery and his dedication to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will resonate. He’s a warrior who must be celebrated even today."

Further Actor Saif Ali Khan says, “I was thrilled to get a role like Udaybhan and to be a part of a magnum opus like Tanhaji. Ajay and I have been co-stars and friends for decades and it was wonderful to collaborate again on this particular movie. I see Tanhaji as a salute to the brave Maratha blood. It celebrates the sacrifices they have made, always bearing a smile. I will always be thankful to Om for making my character what it is and guiding me all the way. I am very excited for the World Television Premiere of Tanhaji on Star Plus and am surely going to watch it with my family on 26th July at 8 pm.”

The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the action sequences, cinematography, performances, and visual effects. Tanhaji’s story created such an impact that it got remade in Marathi. All these facts are strong validations of how much the storyline resonated with audiences.

Catch the biggest blockbuster of the year ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’ premiering only on Star Plus on Sunday, 26 July at 8pm

July 25, 2020
Zeel leaps into 4.0 mode with 5 ‘G’s; Punit Goenka reaffirms he is here to stay & lead

KOLKATA: India is one of the most promising markets for pay TV and one of those few markets where the business is still growing at a higher rate compared to streaming. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel), the leading force for three decades in the industry, is also the pioneer of this burgeoning business in the country. However, the network’s journey has not been rosy always. After facing strong financial headwinds in the business in the last 18 months, Zeel is ready to take the next leap with 5 ‘G’s through its vision of ZEE 4.0.

Governance, granularity, growth, goodwill and gusto are the five pillars of ZEE 4.0. Zeel managing director and CEO Punit Goenka has laid out the roadmap for its new journey while clarifying it he is here to stay and lead the transformation.

Under an all-new reconstituted board, the focus going forward will be to build a process-oriented structure for the future along with achieving the highest levels of automation with zero manual intervention. Goenka also cleared the air by stating that the questions raised on some of its decisions taken earlier have been answered. Moreover, he informed that an independent review commissioned by the board has not found anything adverse to report. Zeel will also be releasing the findings of this review, to maintain the utmost levels of transparency. Considerably, the board was reconstituted last year after media baron Subhash Chandra resigned from his position of chairman.

In a letter addressing to shareholders, Goenka assured that a transparent approach while reporting will be an important area of focus in the new phase of Zeel. The company will ensure that every single aspect including segmental reporting across businesses, consistent reporting on business KPIs, or regular communication pertaining to steps undertaken on ESG and CSR related activities will be informed properly.

“ZEE’s constant endeavour to stay ahead of the industry performance will always be a guiding factor in all our future initiatives. We will continue to build our business with speed, responsiveness and decisiveness. Apart from constantly reinventing our existing business models, the focus will be to maximise our core, expand into adjacent spaces and explore new areas of business. With an undeterred focus on growth and profitability, our aim would be to constantly enhance shareholder value,” Goenka stated in the letter.

Since the time Zeel promoters announced stake sell to repay debt, number of speculations and rumours floated in the market about acquisitions and mergers. Even a few days ago, a rumour made the rounds about a large corporate of India acquiring Zeel. Hence, Goenka reaffirmed that he is here to stay and will remain committed towards the organisation. “I have taken this up as a challenge to restore the goodwill; not just for me, not just for my family, but for the entire team at ZEE,” he stated.

“I am very proud of the professional leadership team at ZEE. Our entrepreneurial spirit, rich expertise in content creation and the unique ability to gauge the pulse of our consumers, have been instrumental to our success. The zeal, passion and commitment which the team brings to the table, gives me a deep sense of pride and I assure you that this will only grow with greater intensity,” he added.

The proud son of media mogul Chandra has reminded that it was not possible to create such a large media conglomerate without his father's visionary approach.

July 24, 2020
Regulation has become totally opaque: Uday Shankar

KOLKATA: One of the major issues which have been daunting the media and entertainment industry, especially the broadcast sector, is the regulatory burden. Although senior officials from the government have argued that there is no such burden, many stakeholders have expressed concern against the same from time to time. Media maven, The Walt Disney Company APAC chairman and Star and Disney India president Uday Shankar said his biggest disappointment with regulation is that it has become totally opaque.

Participating in APOS 2020, Shankar, in a conversation with Media Partners Asia executive director and co-founder Vivek Couto stated that there is a lack of clarity on why the regulator is regulating something. Moreover, there is no consistency in the regulations. He also opined that the regulators need to have clarity and share that clarity publicly with both the media community and the public at large that what are they regulating, what’s the agenda and the vision. He reminded that regulation should not be for the sake of regulating something but to create a level playing field, promote growth and benefit consumers. He stated that sometimes it feels that in markets like India, regulation is only for creating hurdles in the growth of the business.

“Unless you have clarity on that and everybody understands exactly the boundary condition within which regulation will operate, it creates all kinds of confusions and setbacks to the industry. Media is such a sector that if the industry does not do well, the first victims are consumers. If you don’t have enough money to invest in content, at a business level, you can employ fewer people but create less value,” he added.

Shankar added that the industry also cannot completely disregard or operate in a vacuum. “It has to be aware of its social responsibilities and sensitivities in each market. I am a big believer in media and with freedom comes great responsibility as well,” he said.

Shankar also spoke on the streaming service Disney+ Hotstar which is off to a great start. “We decided to take advantage of the early days of this crisis. We launched Disney+ Hotstar right in the middle of the crisis, in the month of April, when the whole country was in lockdown. Advertising was interrupted, we could not make our critical marketing plan, the live sports we planned to leverage for Disney+ Hotstar was not available and yet we launched and we are the biggest streaming service in India by far,” he said.

For Disney+ Hotstar, the only benchmark is that the platform can compete with TV channels in terms of its reach, delivery and consumption. According to him, if streaming has to become mainstream eventually, it has to serve the local population at scale and has to be sustainable. That’s the only metric everybody has to follow. While its ambitions are to compete with TV, Shankar noted that Disney+ Hotstar has to relentlessly work on cutting-edge technology.

Shankar mentioned that while 150-160 million homes are connected to TV in India, smartphones and video-enabled devices can reach the number of 700-750 million in a few years. Hence the screen universe is much bigger than TV. According to him, streaming, if done right, has the potential to be bigger than TV purely in terms of the number of consumers and the amount of time they spend. However, he also stated that TV, too, has a fair road ahead but it needs to fix the business model going through a correction.

“We (Disney+ Hotstar) should be able to rapidly get to a number similar to frontline mass-market entertainment channels in the country through reach and access,” he concluded.

July 23, 2020
Network18 reports lower loss on lower revenue due to Covid2019

BENGALURU: Mukesh Ambani’s Network18 Media & Investments Ltd (Network18) reported 34.5 percent decline in consolidated operating revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2020 (Q1 2021, quarter or period under review) as compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal (Q1 2020). Consolidated operating EBITDA for the quarter reduced 40.9 percent as compared to the corresponding period of the last year. The company reported lower consolidated loss of Rs 60.60 crore for Q1 2021 2020 as compared to loss of Rs 127.66 crore reported in the the corresponding year ago quarter.

The company says in an earnings press release for Q1 2021 that the COVID2019 linked clampdown on spending by advertisers dragged ad-revenues sharply, especially on Entertainment. However, TV subscription revenue remained resilient, and Digital subscriptions have accelerated. The business strategy and operating methodology were re-engineered amidst a strategic review to address the current challenging environment.

The company said further that the cost base was comprehensively reset across verticals, as the organisation embraced tech-solutions and a leaner, nimbler approach. Operating EBITDA dipped on account of the revenue drag. However, aggressive and broad-based cost-controls across business verticals limited the fall. Consolidated PAT improved YoY led by a decline in finance costs.

Network18’s reported consolidated operating revenue in Q1 2021 and Q1 2020 was Rs 807.07 crore and Rs 1,242.12 crore respectively. Consolidated operating EBITDA for Q1 2021 and Q1 2020 was Rs 27.39 crore and Rs 46.35 crore respectively.

Network18 reports revenue from two streams – (1) TV18 Broadcast Ltd or TV18 which comprises of News (TV18 standalone) and Entertainment (Viacom18+AETN+Indiacast) and (2) Digital, Print and Others. It must be noted that Viacom18 and AETN18 are 51 percent entertainment subsidiaries of TV18, while distribution-arm Indiacast is a 50:50 JV of TV18 and Viacom18. TV18's 24.5 percent minority stake in Telugu entertainment associate Eenadu TV (Ramoji Rao group) is not included in the TV18’s numbers.

TV18 Broadcast Ltd's numbers for Q1 2021

TV18 Broadcast Ltd (TV18) consolidated revenue reduced 35 percent in Q1 2021 to Rs 776 crore from Rs 1,1,98 crore in Q1 2020. TV18 consolidated operating EBITDA declined 43 percent in Q1 2021 to Rs 44 crore from Rs 77 crore in Q1 2020.

News (TV18 standalone) reported 27 percent decline in operating revenue for Q1 2020 as compared to Q1 2020. TV18 standalone or News revenue declined in Q1 2021 to Rs 230 crore from Rs 298 crore in Q1 2020. Operating EBITDA for News (TV18 standalone) dropped 82 percent in Q1 2021 to Rs 4 crore from Rs 20 crore in Q1 2020. Its contribution grew to about 30 percent to the revenues of TV18 consolidated revenues in Q1 2021 from about 25 percent in Q1 2020.

The larger revenue stream for TV18 is Entertainment, which had revenue drop of 39 percent y-o-y during the same period.

Entertainment revenue was Rs 546 crore for Q1 2021 and Rs 899 crore in Q1 2020. Entertainment revenue also includes subscription revenue – the company reported 6 percent growth in subscription revenue for Q1 2021 to Rs 450 crore from Rs 424 crore in Q1 2020 Operating EBITDA for Entertainment dropped 29 percent during the quarter under review to Rs 41 crore as compared to Rs 57 crore in Q1 2020

Print, Digital and others and intercompany eliminations (Others) numbers

Print, Digital and others and intercompany eliminations (Others) operating revenue for Q1 2021 reduced 35 percent to Rs 31 crore from Rs 48 crore in Q1 2020. Operating EBITDA for Q1 2021 was a lower operating loss at Rs 17 crore as compared to an operating loss Of Rs 31 crore in Q1 2020.

Let us look at the other numbers reported by Network18 for Q1 2021

All numbers in this report are consolidated unless stated otherwise.

Total expenditure in Q1 2021 declined 33.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 871.65 crore from Rs 1,307.87 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Marketing distribution and promotional expense during the quarter under review decreased 32 percent y-o-y to Rs 171.54 crore in Q1 2021 from Rs 252.13 crore in Q1 2020. Employee benefits expense in Q1 2021 reduced 18.1 percent y-o-y to Rs 222.91 crore from Rs 272.01 crore in Q1 2020. Operational costs in Q1 2021 reduced 48.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 297.04 crore from Rs 574.32 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Finance cost declined 15.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 53.06 crore from Rs 62.91 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year. Other expenses in Q1 2021 declined 11.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 88.19 crore from Rs 99.59 crore.

Company speak:

Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said: “The quarter that went by was the most challenging period that the industry has witnessed in many decades. That we are emerging on the other side bears testimony to our ability to question and modify established ways of operating, realign priorities and maintain focus, all while keeping our workforce safe and our audiences engaged. Our staff and employees undertook a heroic effort to adjust to the challenges posed by the pandemic, and kept our channels and properties running. We are proud of the personnel that kept the show going amidst trying circumstances, especially for the News18 network that provided peerless coverage and relevant campaigns during the pandemic. As we resume original content production in Entertainment amidst tight protocols, we wish to thank our audiences who have stood by us over the years. Growing TV and Digital media consumption, a nimbler business strategy and further-strengthened core brands in our portfolio…..we believe this is indeed the new normal.”

July 22, 2020