ITV

Category: GECs

  • Hindi GECs’ romance with mytho shows to continue post Covid2019

    Hindi GECs’ romance with mytho shows to continue post Covid2019

    MUMBAI: As the pandemic shows no signs of abating despite the lockdown, viewers’ affinity towards mythological shows on GECs is growing. With no fresh content to entertain their audiences, the overall consumption of GECs fell as compared to the pre-Covid2019 era but did not tumble thanks to the rejig in programming strategy.

    Public broadcaster Doordarshan evoked this nostalgia of old mythological shows by airing Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan and BR Chopra’s Mahabharata and later Shri Krishna. The re-run of famous mythological shows took the channel to the top of the television ratings. Following the trend, private GECs also joined the bandwagon.

    Viacom18’s Colors acquired the rights to Chopra's Mahabharat which started airing on 4 May. On the other hand, Star Plus also decided to re-run Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan around the same time. Along with pay channels, even free-to-air (FTA) channels also started airing Ramayan from 7 May. All these channels are running those shows on primetime.

    However, it has to be seen how these shows will stay on top once the audience again gets a taste of their favourite programmes post the lockdown. According to Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment chief content officer Manisha Sharma, mythological shows have always been a hit amongst the audience and have laid the foundation of the television ecosystem continuing to hold prominence in daily lives. She adds that the shows provide a wide scope in terms of the narrative, characters and entertaining plots that strike a chord with the audience. Sharma affirms that mythological content will be on the rise in the future as well given the versatility of the genre.

    “We have always understood that mythological content appeals to viewers very strongly and have had mythological shows air even in the pre-lockdown phase. Viewers connect with these shows at a personal level. Considering the traction we have seen for such content beyond the lockdown period, we are certain that viewers will continue to watch these shows with the same enthusiasm even after the lockdown is lifted,” Enterr10 Television Network marketing head Arpit Machhar says. When the lockdown began, Dangal also started re-runs of other mythological shows like Chandragupt Maurya, Mahima Shanidev Ki, Dwarkadheesh, Devi Adi Parashakti.

    “We (Dangal) continue to be among the top five channels across genres at an all-India level even during this lockdown. Our content is diverse and highly appealing to both rural and urban viewers and our advertisers understand our strength and reach. Ramayan and our other shows have been receiving very good traction. As per latest BARC data for week 17, three out of the top five programmes are from Dangal. We continue to see interest from advertisers even for these re-runs considering the mass appeal these shows have,” he adds.

    About ad inventory of these re-runs, Viacom18’s Sharma said that mythological shows such as Jai Shri Krishna and Mahabharat have helped to bolster television audiences and attract a lot of advertisers. She notes that time spent on such shows has consistently been increasing and brands that are relevant in today’s context are and should use it as an opportunity to create awareness and salience. Products with huge demand and ample supply like FMCG and retailers are the revenue generators, contributing largely to the ad inventory.

    “Re-run of mytho shows have become preferred content for GECs and viewership contribution has increased substantially in the past few weeks. This trend has benefited brands which are active on GECs to attain campaign deliveries and drive efficiencies,” says Carat executive vice president Mayank Bhatnagar. However, he mentions that a lot of advertisers have paused campaigns making it difficult for GECs to ask for higher rates. According to him, planners would evaluate or renegotiate deals and will look for safer and stable options to minimise the risk.

    According to BARC India viewership data for week 15, mythological shows were watched by 353 million viewers for 109 billion minutes, making up nearly 43 per cent of overall Hindi GEC viewership. In the pre-Covid2019 period, total viewership share of mythological content on Hindi GECs was just 14 per cent. The trendsetter DD National continued to top the chart of Hindi GECs from week 14 to week 17.

    Will they invest in more mythological shows? Sharma says that as broadcasters, they do see merit in commissioning new mythological shows. Asked about further investment for mythological shows, Machhar said that they will continue to keep an eye out for content that is innovative and that has mass appeal not only for rural audience but also for urban viewers

    What might have led to people to choose mythological shows right now? “In times, when we are seeking relief and hope, the epics are proving to be a perfect reminder of the golden times and guiding light for how we wish to lead life from here on. The combination of purpose, nostalgia and the great narrative keeps bringing people back to watch these shows and take away something meaningful from it every time. The shows are also backed by a strong storyline and impressive character outlines that make for a great entertainment proposition,” Sharma says.

    Macchar reflects the same and comments, “Indian mythology connects with viewers very strongly and given a choice, viewers continue to consume re-runs of epics like Ramayan. Viewers are currently restricted to their homes and in need of wholesome entertainment. Moreover, shows like Ramayan and Chandragupt Maurya depict the story line and the events that happened very closely and hence can be watched over and over again as it lets audience re-live those moments.”

    Bhatnagar says channels will be happy to see the high viewership contribution from these re-runs. In the absence of any fresh content, these re-runs have worked really well for the GECs. He adds that if we look at past trends, mythological shows have appealed to larger audiences and ensure stickiness, and therefore, channels bank on these shows. Although for the past few years reality and fiction shows have led the charts, with the absence of fresh content, audiences are watching whatever is available on their favourite GECs and these mythos shows are preferred content for them. 

  • Two new shows mark Zee Telugu’s fifteenth anniversary

    Two new shows mark Zee Telugu’s fifteenth anniversary

    MUMBAI: Zee Telugu, the Telugu general entertainment channel from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), is celebrating 15 years of its launch. Launched on 18 May 2005, Zee Telugu was the first entrant from the Zee bouquet to enter south India. Zee Telugu offers a variety of shows that cater to the entertainment needs of over 75 million Telugu audiences across India. From fiction shows to reality shows and talk shows, the channel has multi-genre offerings.

    It has been an extraordinary journey for the channel thus far, says Zee Telugu and Zee Cinemalu business head Anuradha Gudur, in an interview with Indiantelevision.com. Today, the channel commands a 24.7 per cent of the Telugu GEC share.

    The Covid2019 pandemic affected Zee Telugu like all other entertainment channels. “This has been by far the most challenging year for the channel and probably so for most other channels. To stay connected to the audience, we’re offering curated content to the audience. We have launched fresh content during the fifteenth anniversary. The first one is Queen, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon. It features a lot of Telugu stalwarts like Ramya, Tulasi, and a few other well-known names in the Telugu industry like Sonia Aggarwal,” she said.

    Queen is an Inspiring story of a young actress who goes on to become the youngest chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and Amrutham is an iconic comic classic.

    The second launch, said Anuradha, is the iconic comic classic Amrutham. “Amrutham like honey doesn’t go old with age and has stood the test of time and so we have brought it back this time when people need reasons to laugh. So we thought it appropriate to entertain the audience. Both are iconic and will engage and entertain the audience and are best suited for this lockdown period.”

    And how has the channel been coping with the lockdown? “As the production has completely been stalled we have been exploring how to connect to the audience. First of all, there has been a shift in audience preference. There is an increase in male viewers and children who are consuming content. So we showed a good combination of movies that appeal to the audience. Movies contribution across channels has moved up from 32 per cent to almost 50 per cent. As I mentioned earlier, we are looking at fresh content. We have launched Queen and Amrutham in prime time from 18 May. We also have anchor Ravi hosting a new show called Lockdown talks.”

    She expressed hope that in June the channel should be able to resume the serials.

    The GEC has seen prominent brands advertising for its new shows. “For Queen at 8 pm we have P&G and the title is sponsored by Cinthol, and co-presented by Meera Shampoo and Sunflower detergent. Amrutham at 8:30 is co-powered by Head & Shoulders,” she said.

    The channel has been marketing the shows on its network channels.  “We are promoting on Zee Telugu, Zee Cinemalu and on news channels, in addition to aggressive campaigns across all social media platforms. Through PR campaigns we have planned interviews with Gautam Menon and Ramya Krishna for print, online and radio,” she said.  

    Zee Telugu has marked another milestone with the completion of 10 years of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa with successful 12 seasons. Anuradha said that Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as a brand has a huge connect across all regions, especially in Telugu-speaking states. “We have been a launching pad for many singers such as Revanth, Damini, Shanmuga, Priya Sahithi, Anudeep, Sai Charan, etc.”

    Over the years, Zee Telugu’s reality shows have created a unique platform to nurture the talent.  “The audience has a strong association with reality shows, be it shows like ‘Gold Rush’ or ‘Gadasari Atha – Sogasari Kodalu’, ‘Koncham Touch Lo Unte Cheptha’, etc. Through all these years, we have formed a connection with the audience for being a platform for a lot of young talents, be it singing, dancing or acting. In the initial years of the channel, we were often called the Aata channel. Now we also have a lot of child stars being featured in many films,” she said.

  • After Ramayan, Dangal back as most watched channel across genres

    After Ramayan, Dangal back as most watched channel across genres

    BENGALURU: Enterr10 Television’s flagship free to air (FTA)-cum pay TV Hindi GEC Dangal had to normally battle it out with either the Sun Tv Network’s flagship Tamil GEC Sun TV, or with the Hindi sports channel that aired India’s cricketing bonanza – the Indian Premier League or IPL live since the implementation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) New Tariff Order (NTO) in early 2019. The lockdown during Covid2019 changed all that. The edition of the IPL for 2020 has been postponed with no firm date of its playout being announced until the writing of this paper. However, Lockdown 4.0 may provide some relief to the public and the broadcaster – sports grounds will be opened with restrictions and without spectators. 

    Further, pubcaster network Doordarshan started airing is library Mythologies and classical programmes on its Hindi GECs’ DD National and DD Bharti with the advent of lockdown 1.0. Even during their initial weekend runs on Sunday’s in the previous century, roads across the countries emptied as people across languages, religions and faiths had eyes glued to their television sets. Now, suddenly a new generation of the country along with their parents were exposed to these magnum opuses – and note – not once a week, but every day. Viewership of DD National and DD Bharati and along with them, viewership of Hindi GECs’ shot up to all time highs’.

    Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) weekly data for week 18 of 2020 (Week 18: Saturday, 2 May 2020 to Friday, 8 May 2020) reveals that the Top 10 Channels on All Platforms Across Genres comprised of six Hindi GECs’, and one channel each from the Hindi Movies, Kids, Tamil and Telugu genres. From the networks’ perspective, there were two channels each from DD, Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) and Sony Star India, and one channel each from Enterr 10 Television, the Sun Tv Network, Viacom 18 and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel).  While DD National, DD Bharti and Dangal are available on both the pay TV and FTA platforms, Zeel’s acquired Hindi GEC Big Magic is FTA. The other six channels were Pay TV.

    Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly top 10 channels on all platforms across genres list in week 18 of 2020 were same as the previous week with some shuffling of ranks. One channel – the Sun Tv Network’s Telugu GEC Gemini TV exited the list in week 18 0f 2020 to make way for the Star Network’s flagship Telugu GEC Star Maa. Please refer to the chart below:

    Top 10 Pay TV channels Across Genres

    Nine of the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay Channels Across Genres in Week 18 of 2020 were same as in week 17 with some shuffling of ranks. As above, Gemini TV exited the list in Week 18 of 2020 only to make way for Zeel’s Hindi Movies channel Zee Movies.

    There were four Hindi GECs’, three Hindi Movies channels and one channel each from the Kids, Tamil and Telugu gernes in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Pay TV Channels Across Genres in week 18 of 2020.  There were three channels  from Star India, two channels each from DD and SPN and one channel each from the Sun Tv Network, Viacom18 and Zeel in the list.

    Please refer to the chart below:

    Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres

    All the channels in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres for Week 18 of 2020 were the same as in the previous week with some shuffling of ranks. Four of the channels were Hindi GEC, there were three Hindi Movies channels, two were Bhojpuri channels and there was one Youth channel in BARC’s weekly list of Top 10 Free Channels Across Genres for Week 18 of 2020, There were three channels each from Enterr 10 Television and Zeel and two channels each from DD and B4U Network. Please refer to the chart below:


     

  • ZEE Biskope celebrates Vat savitri with blockbuster movie line-up

    ZEE Biskope celebrates Vat savitri with blockbuster movie line-up

    Mumbai: ZEE Biskope is set to bring festive cheer of Vat Savitrito to every household with “Saajan Ke Pyaar…Senurwa Ke Tyohaar”, a handpicked blockbuster movie line-up from 18 – 22 May at 9:30 am to celebrate the magic of love.

    Having its roots in the folklore of Savitri and Satyavaan, the festival of Vat Savitri is celebrated with much fervour in the Bhojpuri region. Women observe fast and tie a thread around the banyan tree praying for the wellbeing of their husbands. The festival reflects the love and bond shared between a husband and his wife that’s powerful enough to defy death like Savitri did for her husband Satyavaan. The custom is so predominant that it has been adopted in a host of Bhojpuri movies, too. This year when people are confined to their homes, entertainment will play a pivotal role in keeping the festive spirits high.

    Enthralling its audience with a special movie line-up, the channel will commence the festival with ‘Ghulami’ starring superstar Nirahua with gorgeous actress Madhu Sharma, who despite having lost everything in life does not lose the hope of bringing her husband back.

    The audience will soak in the fathoms of love on Tuesday as Zee Biskope will treat its viewers with a movie that’s true to its title, ‘Mohabbat’. The romantic blockbuster features Chintu Pandey and Kajal Yadav who profess their never-ending faith on each other. Namit Tiwari, Rani Chatterjee and Monalisa will make for a wonderful Wednesday in ‘GharwaliBaharwali’ which beautifully portrays the love a wife has for her husband that remains strong under all circumstances. Delighting viewers to their heart’s content, the superhit movie LekeAaja Band Baaja Aye Pawan Raja starring Pawan Singh perfectly showcases how the lead couple stands by each other’s side knitted together by the spirit of love & affection. Wrapping up the festivity with a power-packed performance by Nirahua and Anjana Singh in pivotal roles, ZEE Biskope will bring the mass entertainer ‘Jigar’.

    Zee Biskope and BIG Ganga business head Amarpreet Singh Saini said: “Given the unprecedented time we are going through, our role as content providers will be deeper and influencing. Thus, we have prepared our content strategy with the core intention of uplifting spirits along with regular dose of entertainment for our viewers. While people celebrate festivals in the region within the boundaries of their houses, ZEE Biskope will continue to keep the sense of celebration alive through its superlative collection of festive offerings. It is our constant endeavour to curate such exciting festive line-ups like Mother’s Day, Family Chokha Film Festival and now Vat Savitri special that can be enjoyed with your loved ones. We plan to present more such  content blocks in future to keep our audiences entertained.”

    Regaling audiences to their heart’s content, the channel stays true to its core proposition "AathonPahariyaLootaLahariya" (enjoy Bhojpuri entertainment throughout the day).

    The channel is available on Airtel (channel no 663), Tata Sky (channel no 1120), DEN Bihar(channel no 840), DEN Jharkhand (channel no 839), DD Free Dish (channel no 31), d2h (channel no 859), Dish TV (channel no 1555), Siti Cable (channel no 214) and Darsh Digital (channel no 189). It’ll soon be available on all other major cable platforms.

     

  • Sony SAB launches new show ‘Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia’

    Sony SAB launches new show ‘Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia’

    MUMBAI: Hindi general entertainment channel Sony SAB is all set to bring a smile to the faces of their viewers in these difficult times with the launch of a fresh new short format show "Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia", to be hosted by Anusha Mishra and Balraj Syal. Committed to spreading happiness through its light-hearted and engaging content, starting 18 May, this 12-minute show will be aired twice a week every Monday and Friday at 9 PM and will witness prominent artistes of the SAB family coming together to entertain the audience through fun filled and exciting tasks while being at home.

    For the first time ever, Sony SAB’s very own Anusha Mishra of Tera Kya Hoga Alia fame will be seen in a brand new avatar, that of a host, helming this exciting new show. She will be joined by none other than the immensely talented comedian Balraj Syal as a co-host on the show. The dynamic duo will be seen lighting up the screen with their electrifying presence and lively banter. As part of the show, they will welcome artists across Sony SAB shows and challenge them to perform fun tasks and encourage them to play exciting games, all from their respective homes!

    The format of the show will see popular Sony SAB actors showcasing their talents on air which audiences have never seen before. For instance, ‘Maddam Mallik’ aka Gulki Joshi singing the tunes of Muqabala to Siddharth Nigam showing off his killer dance moves. Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia promises to be a perfect stress buster for the viewers as they will get to witness their beloved characters facing some exciting challenges thrown at them while also revealing their hidden talents.

    Shot and produced entirely from home, Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia will be dedicated to bringing the element of surprise and fun alive as Anusha and Balraj promise to leave no stones unturned to spread joy and laughter during this difficult time.

    Sony SAB business head Neeraj Vyas said: “At Sony SAB, we remain committed to being 'happiness enablers' in the lives of our viewers; we are delighted to launch Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia which strengthens our brand promise of ‘Khushiyon Wali Feeling’ further.  During these tough times when shoots are stalled, we continue to receive terrific responses from our viewers for our shows on the channel. We understand the sentiments of our audience and know it is important for us to keep them engaged by introducing fun, fresh content to put a smile on their face.”

    Stay tuned to experience unlimited masti on Kuch Smiles Ho Jayein…with Alia starting 18 May every Monday and Friday from 9pm to 9:15pm on Sony SAB

  • South Indian channels brace for production resumption

    South Indian channels brace for production resumption

    MUMBAI: After an extraordinary lull of two months, during which the entire TV production activity came to an abrupt standstill ravaging advertising revenues in its wake, general entertainment channels (GECs) in some south states soon can air fresh content. While the Karnataka government has given approval for resuming indoor shooting of serials to begin from 25 May, the Kerala government has responded favourably to the TV producers’ request.

    The lockdown caused by the Covid2019 pandemic has affected the television industry adversely. While news channels, having been put under the essential service category, continued to function, most of the GECs found the going tough. It has been even tougher for those entertainment channels which aren’t lucky enough to have a vast movie library to boot.

    In fact, those with a huge movie depository sustained, and even flourished. In Kerala, for instance, Surya TV got lucky with its huge movie bank as it made up for the lack of fresh programmes by banking on its movie library. The GEC, part of the Sun Network, edged out Asianet from its top position in week 15 of BARC just by airing movies back-to-back from its bank. However, between week 16 and 18, it has slipped to the second spot.

    But, not all are lucky. And the unlucky ones are now seeing a glimmer of light at the end of this lockdown tunnel with the prospect of resuming shooting.

    “You will need to give a plot recap before you start airing the fresh sequences to soaps,” a programming head with a Kannada TV channel quipped wryly. That pretty much sums up the desperation on the ground. After all, how long would you bank on the library to keep a home-bound, entertainment-hungry audience hooked?

    Cost constraints

    Regional channels, faced with the twin challenges of cash crunch and limited resources in the changed scenario, will have to adjust to the new normal.  “GECs, especially regional ones, have to deal with the problem of costs and cannot cough up more. They cannot afford to have the kind of strict parameters and protocols that have now been put in place in production activities by studios in Hollywood,” said a senior hand working with an entertainment channel in Bangalore, who prefers not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.  

    Viacom18 regional TV head Ravish Kumar said: “We are currently awaiting approvals from the relevant authorities and will adhere to all norms, formalities and SOPs. We will resume shoots only once we have a formal go-ahead from the concerned authorities and will continue to follow best practices and guidelines laid down by them to ensure safety and well-being of all involved.”

    Viacom18’s Colors has two entertainment channels in Tamil and Kannada.

    Programme producers say that things will not be the same as they were before. “No liberal shooting will be allowed. There will be a lot of restrictions like the number of people allowed in a shooting set, etc. So many things cannot be visualized unlike in the past. We need to plan because of these reasons,” said a programme executive in Karnataka.

    With outdoor shooting still a distant dream, serial plots will go for a lot of changes. Scenes where outdoor shooting are required will have to be rewritten or tweaked.  

    As of now, entertainment channels have an oversupply of scripts for serials and other programmes. “We are ready with scripts for 40 to 50 serials. Writers, with plenty of free times, have been churning out serial plots prolifically since the start of the lockdown. But we are not yet sure as to how we can work it out with all the restrictions,’’ he said.

    SOP for shooting

    The Karnataka government has given tentative approval for TV serials to resume indoor shooting from 25 May, with a lot of restrictions. Shootings in the state came to an end on 22 March following the lockdown.

    Karnataka Television Association (KTVA) has put in place operational procedures for shooting from 25 May. As per the SOP, only indoor shoots are permitted. The social distance should be maintained at the location. Only required actors for the shot and main technicians should be at the spot and others have to wait outside. The number of crew members should not exceed more than 18 people. The director and production manager should decide on crew and casting on a daily basis so as to maintain the minimum crew at any point of time. The artist support staff/ personal assistant should not stay at the shooting spot. They have to drop off and leave.

    The body temperature of each member needs to be checked before entering the shooting spot and if it is high, they should not be allowed. The producer has to provide a thermal scanner at the location. The name and address of all the cast and crew members should be recorded on a daily basis and the same to be provided to visiting government/medical officers at any time. The production manager needs to record this every morning without fail and ask the cast and crew to write it in the ledger.

    Producers have to provide transport for all the actors, technicians and crew members and follow the government instructions on transport facilities. People travelling in generator vehicles too should follow general Covid2019 instructions. No vehicle should be overloaded than the prescribed number of passengers. If not followed, authorities will have all the rights to cancel the shooting.

    The producer has to provide hand sanitizer, liquid soap and other materials to maintain cleanliness at the shooting spot. Everyone at the location should follow instructions provided by the government on covid-19 situation.

    Refillable sanitizers have to be provided along with hand wash dispensers at the wash basins. Covid2019 precautionary instructions have to be printed in bold letters and pasted at shooting spots (both in English and Kannada)

    Except for actors acting before the camera, everyone at the shooting spot should be wearing masks and hand gloves all the time. All the actors and crew should carry their own mask and wear in all the time

    Makeup crew should get sanitized before putting makeup on each artist. No back-to-back makeup without sanitizing. Usage of wet cloth is banned and the same has to be replaced by wet tissues and needs to be disposed of carefully.

    Makeup crew need to report early and artists have to go for makeup according to the shooting plan. Wet tissues have to be provided to actors and they have use it themselves and put the used ones in dedicated waste bin

    The microphones, both lapel and boom rods used in the set, need to be cleaned with sanitizer before putting it on the actors and bringing it into the set.

    Disinfectant spray should be sprayed before and in between the shots at the location. Phenyl mixed with Dettol should be applied on shooting floors, doors, windows, sofas, tables, chairs and other properties before use.

    One set assistant should be kept only for this and he/she should be wearing washable hand gloves and masks all the time.

    Follow the standard travel plan for cast and crew members and make sure no vehicles should carry more than the prescribed number of passengers. All the vehicles needs to be disinfected before using for shooting purpose

    Pressing of costumes should be avoided at the location and all the actors should get ready to wear costumes from their home. The direction and production team need to inform the artist well in advance about the respective costumes with continuity details.

    Only packed food, sealed in aluminium foil, to be provided at the shooting location. Actors and main technicians ideally should carry their own food if possible and avoid sitting next to each other and eating.

    Those travelling from outside for shooting have to follow the self-quarantine rules as per the government order. Actors, associates and assistants need to be informed 15 days in advance to reach Bangalore and be in home quarantine before coming to the shooting spot.

    In other states

    Elsewhere, in Tamil Nadu, the channels are keeping their fingers crossed as they have yet to receive a go-ahead signal from the government. The television fraternity in the state has made representations with the government, hoping for a resumption of production activities. The government allowed post-production works from 11 May.  

    "As of now, we have not got any approvals from the government. We will follow the same SOP proposed by the IBF to the government,” said the business head of an entertainment channel.  

    In Kerala, broadcasters are hoping for a favourable decision from the government to resume the shooting activities. Malayalam television fraternity, an association of television directors and producers, the other day met the chief minister in this regard. The CM has assured the fraternity members that he will consider their request favourably.

    The GECs are hoping that a favourable government decision will come very soon. ZEE Keralam’s business head Santosh J Nair said that the industry is going through very tough times. “There is no new content and advertising revenue is also at the lowest. We are eagerly waiting to start shooting soon keeping in mind protocols. Based on government approvals we will start our work. All this while, we relied on our content bank. But after our original banked episodes were exhausted and shooting stopped, we did not have fresh content. We have survived with a mix of reruns of fictions and films.”

    “The fraternity members got an assurance from the CM. A quick decision will come soon. But it is uncertain about the kind of controls that will be put in place for shooting. But it will be done in a controlled environment. It is unlikely that outdoor shoots will happen,” said Kairali TV programme head Unni Cherian.

  • Vijay TV donates Rs 75 lakh to producers

    Vijay TV donates Rs 75 lakh to producers

    MUMBAI: Tamil-language GEC Vijay TV has provided a relief amount of Rs 75 lakh to the production workers who produce content for the channel. Two content producers have thanked Vijay TV for the gesture. In separate social media posts, they have expressed gratitude to the channel for providing financial help to distressed producers who have been out of work since the lockdown.

    “In the time of Covid2019 lockdown, where no shoot or no media activities have been taking place for the past one month, the livelihood of numerous workers and technicians became a question mark. Considering these stressful circumstances, Star Vijay has provided Rs 75 Lakhs (approx) through its production houses to distribute this amount to all the workers and technicians working in their respective projects. Star Vijay has also ensured that the money reaches each one of them. On behalf of Global Villagers and team, we express our heartfelt gratitude to general manager of Star Vijay Krishnan Kutty, senior vice president Balachandran, programming head Pradeep Milory Peter for their kind gesture and support at this time of Crisis . Thank you,” said Global Village in its Facebook message.

    “tv series and shows have been affected by Covid issue. Channels have been paralyzed without broadcasting new series shows. Channels have faced the loss without advertising revenue. 750 people from Pepsi Union, who believed in Vijay tv's series and shows, were unable to work throughout April. They are all daily income workers. For those 750 people, Vijay Tv has provided Rs 75 lakh. I produce two tv series for Vijay tv. Everyone who helped is thanking us on the phone thinking that we have given that money. Really that thanks should go to Vijay tv. They didn't even advertise what they did. This post is because thank you should always go to the right place. My heartfelt thanks to Vijay tv for doing this great help with humanity. In an adverse situation, Vijay tv is standing by everyone”, wrote another producer Ramana Giri Vasan, head of Fiction Team.

    Post-production works for television programmes and films resumed in Tamil Nadu from 11 May.

  • KBC Season 12 registers over 2.5 million entries on day one

    KBC Season 12 registers over 2.5 million entries on day one

    MUMBAI: The countdown for the country's most revered seat has officially begun. Kaun Banega Crorepati is back with its 12th season led by the legendary host Amitabh Bachchan. With the initiation of the online registrations, the show has already opened to a thunderous response clocking more than 2.5 million entries on day one of registrations. The participation through SonyLIV has gone up by over 360%, as compared to last year, underlining the trend towards acceptance of digital as the preferred mode for registration.

    With a rise in digital consumption amongst users, the entire selection process of KBC 12 has been planned virtually to scale up engagement and drive participation. The new addition of knowledge test and video submission introduced as a part of the selection process is being well-received by the users.

    Over the last two decades, Kaun Banega Crorepati has redefined the value of knowledge. The show has changed fortunes and inspires generations of fans to pursue their aspirations through education and learning. Registrations for this season are open until May 22nd. Users can participate by answering the question asked by Bachchan every day at 9p.m. on Sony Entertainment Television. The answers can be sent either through the SonyLIV app or SMS.

    Amogh Dusad, head, programming and new initiatives, digital business, said: “A 360 percent growth in participation of KBC Registration on SonyLIV further reinforces the popularity and appeal of KBC and also underlines the increase in penetration of SonyLIV as a platform. This year, with a 100% digital selection process for KBC, one can expect much higher level of engagement on SonyLIV and a never-before interactive 2nd screen experience.”

  • Sony AATH emerges as third most viewed Bangla GEC in FY 19-20

    Sony AATH emerges as third most viewed Bangla GEC in FY 19-20

    MUMBAI: Sony AATH  has been consistently entertaining the viewers in the Bangla market, helping it become the fastest growing Bangla GEC over the past four years with 28 per cent growth year on year (Source: BARC: West Bengal, TG: 2+, Period: Wk 1’16 – 16’20, Average Weekly Impressions).

    Buoyed by the growing preference of viewers, Sony AATH became the third most viewed Bangla GEC in FY 19-20 in Bengal state as well as in Bengal urban markets. Additionally, Sony AATH’s Sunday Fundays – the 10AM-2:30PM slot on Sundays – has worked wonders as the channel is #1 in the slot with 30 per cent share in Bengal (Source: BARC Market: West Bengal, TG: 2+, Period: Wk 14’19 – Wk 13’20, Average Weekly Impressions).

    The channel, with its strong programming mix, reflects the culture of Bengal and engages with viewers across all age groups, bringing families together for wholesome family entertainment.It also connects users over social media, with the YouTube page having a strong following of 6.5MN subscribers and average monthly views of more than 170MN.

    Tushar Shah, business head, Sony AATH and English cluster, Sony Pictures Networks India, said:  “We have been passionate and persistent about entertaining the viewers in the Bangla market for the last 10 years and are happy to have succeeded in doing so and emerging as a strong #3. This feat would not have been possible without the love of the audience and the support of the advertisers and the distribution partners. We feel deep gratitude for the support and aim to grow stronger”.

  • Colors bets on nostalgia for successful ‘Mahabharat’ run

    Colors bets on nostalgia for successful ‘Mahabharat’ run

    MUMBAI: Mythological shows have come to the rescue of GECs struggling with a dearth in original content caused by the ongoing lockdown restrictions. And it has been a gala time for epic shows like Mahabharat. After a successful run on DD Bharati, the 1980’s epic by BR Chopra Mahabharat has made its way to Colors from 4 May.

    Viacom18 Hindi mass entertainment chief content officer Manisha Sharma says that during this pandemic, when people are seeking relief and hope, the epics are proving to be a perfect reminder of the golden times and a guiding light for how we wish to lead life from here on. The combination of purpose, nostalgia and the great narrative keeps bringing people back to watch these shows and take away something meaningful from it every time. Despite being produced almost three decades ago, the shows are backed by a strong storyline and impressive character outlines that make for a great entertainment proposition, regardless of the generation gap.

    Is it a good business call to air the show right after its conclusion on DD? Sharma says that demographically the audience of Colors is different. “For the ones who have not seen the show or the episodes before, it’s like watching a new show or catching up on the missed episodes. Secondly, it is also liked by viewers who have watched the show before and want to relive the charm as it evokes a sense of nostalgia. Both these sets of viewers cut across NCCS, age, gender, and geography,” she says.

    While DD aired the show at 9 pm, Colors chose to go with the 7 pm timeslot. The reason? Some of its best properties such as Balika Vadhu have performed well in the 6-8 pm slot.

    Sharma says: “Keeping the viewer's interest in mind and without disturbing the FPC, we decided to air Mahabharat in the 7-9 pm slot.

    With regard to the reach, there are a considerable number of consumers in the GEC universe who have not watched Mahabharat. That leaves us with enough scope to gain eyeballs.”

    Sharma further highlights that mythological shows such as Mahabharat help to bolster television audiences and attract advertisers. Time spent on such shows has consistently been increasing and brands that are relevant in today’s context should use it as an opportunity to create awareness and salience. She says that products with huge demand and ample supply, such as FMCG and retailers, are the revenue generators and contributing largely to the ad inventory.

    Digitalkites SVP Amit Lall says that mythological shows have been resonating with audiences for ages. It is only the distribution that has become robust now. “DD connects strongly with people from rural or tier II and III cities. On the satellite TV side, channels like Colors top your mind. Advertisers choose these channels because they have rural and urban audiences. Though 70 per cent of rural India viewers are DD-oriented, the other 30 per cent from these satellite channels play a big role. So, Colors is trying to capitalise that section of the society.”

    For promoting the show, Sharma says they have been closely mapping consumer sentiments and media consumption habits to ensure effective and collaborative engagement. “Looking at the audience’s strong penchant for mythological shows, we have gone all out on digital and TV to promote the show. We are also doing programmatic buying on digital and tapping the platforms to target viewers,” she adds.

    According to Lall, channels need to cater to their loyal audiences’ taste or else they may shift to other channels.  Sharma says: “We are closely monitoring the trends and looking at offering an ideal balance of the kind of content, thus staying true to our DNA of offering the best variety content for our loyal viewers.”

    Colors has also acquired the rights to air it in the Middle East. Colors ME has been telecasting Mahabharat from 6 May in a two-hour slot from 8-10 pm along with English subtitles. Back in India, Mahabharat will be aired only on Colors and won’t be seen on any other regional channels.

    The channel also holds some strong mythological and historical properties such as Karamphal Data Shani and Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat. The channel is monitoring viewership trends and may take a call for an appropriate time to re-run these.