ITV

Category: GECs

  • ZEE Entertainment is amongst ‘India’s Best Companies to Work For – 2019’

    ZEE Entertainment is amongst ‘India’s Best Companies to Work For – 2019’

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), a leading media and entertainment powerhouse, has been recognised amongst ‘India’s Best Companies to Work for 2019’, in a study conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute. The organisation’s employee initiatives stemming from its corporate philosophy ‘Extraordinary Together’, integrating every nuance of personal development and well-being with a balanced focus on operational excellence saw ZEE being felicitated as amongst the best in the ‘Media & Entertainment’ category.

    A global authority on building, sustaining and recognizing high-trust, high-performing workplace cultures, the institute releases the list of India’s ‘Best Companies to Work’ for List each year in partnership with The Economic Times. It recognizes companies on parameters that help in arriving at the coveted list of companies which provide an enabling environment of sustenance, growth, engagement and work-life balance to its employees.

    On receiving this prestigious certificate,Mr. Animesh Kumar, Chief People Officer,Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) said “It is an honour for us to consistently rank amongst India’s Best Companies to Work For. A testament to our policies and initiatives towards employee development practiced as a part of our corporate philosophy. In our quest to enhance our workplace, we are focused towards developinga collaborative culture which is tech-enabled and dynamic.Our core philosophy is a blend of modern ideas with traditional values – an identity which is distinct, credible and aspirational in the Media and Entertainment Industry. We constantly strive to improve the overall workplace experience for our partners by prioritizing a healthy culture and cultivating a happy environment through flexible policies and programs that help us create a strong employer value proposition.”

    Entertainment continues to be the most powerful form of inspiration and our purpose remains to provide an extraordinary experience each time a customer engages with ZEE.Bringing its core values of ‘Extraordinary Together’ into practice, ZEEL has built a diverse culture and environment fostered with trust, responsibility and customer centricity to be among the largest global content companies across genres, languages, and platforms. As a talent powerhouse, ZEEL’s core strength as an employer, vests in the empowerment of itsemployees who are its partners. Thus, our people philosophy SAMWAD focuses on creating great productive relationships between the manager and the team.

    Other notable initiatives include:

    • Employee Engagement – With an aim to enrich experience & enable an environment for its employees to achieve the extraordinary, ZEEL has taken numerous initiatives. Amongst them is the inhouse Creche Facility, that enables young parents alleviate their child-care challenges. ZEEL is amongst the few organizations in the media& entertainment sector that provides this facility at no additional cost to its employees.

    • Talent Acquisition & Development – The recruitment landscape in today’s fast changing media and entertainment industry is fundamentally challenging. We create a strong Employer Value Proposition which helps us in attracting future employees through our Campus Recruitment Program which infuses fresh ideas and talent into the Company. ZEE has been known for its ability to focus on internal talent growth, which is being strengthened further by its partnership with KPMG that will focus on capability enhancement of its front-line managers. 

    • Rewards & Recognition – Through multiple practices and programs, ZEEL recognizes the efforts of its extraordinary people who are adept at working not only at an individual level but are team players who can create the extraordinary.ZEELOMPICS, is one such employee-recognition programme where high performers in each role are recognised for their exemplary performance as ‘Heroes’.

    Its ability to attract talent and provide opportunities for career growth and leadership development in alignment with the key goals of the organisation has provided an environment of sustenance, growth, engagement and work-life balance to its employees.The global media conglomerate has successfully evolved into an all-encompassing entertainment company offering quality content across multiple platforms and languages reaching over 1.3 billion viewers and bringing the best of entertainment content to viewers in India and across the world. 

  • A tale of a relentless Bahadarni, Choti Sarrdaarni

    A tale of a relentless Bahadarni, Choti Sarrdaarni

    MUMBAI: Womanhood is laced with many complexities imposed by culture, society, familial responsibilities and many times by self-inflicted fear. But the one who faces all the harsh realities and emerges triumphant is truly a strong woman, a Bahadarni. COLORS’ upcoming fiction offering Choti Sarrdaarnisketches the life of one such woman, Meher, who overcomes hardships and fights fearlessly to become an invincible mother. The show stands true to the fact that there is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child and highlights the multiple facets of Meher as a ‘Bahadarni’, who will be known as the Choti Sarrdaarni.Produced by Cockcrow and Shaika Entertainment, Choti Sarrdaarni will go on air starting 1st July, every Monday-Friday at 7:30 pm.

    Based in the heartlands of Punjab’s Sardool Garh, the show traces the life of Meher Dhillon (played by Nimrit Kaur), a level headed Punjabi girl who dreams of a perfect life with, Manav (played by Hitesh Bharadwaj), the one she loves. But all her dreams and hopes come crashing down due to unforeseen circumstances created by Meher’s mother Kulwant (played by Anita Raj) and she is left to fight her own battles. She then meets Sarabjit Gill, (played by Avinesh Rekhi) a politician and a single father and her life takes an unexpected turn. Fierce and full of fire, Meher emerges stronger, learns to combat her fears and becomes the protector of her family, a Choti Sarrdaarni.  

    Speaking about the launch, Nina Jaipuria, Head, Hindi Mass Entertainment and Kids TV network Viacom18, said – “COLORS is committed to championing and propagating stories of tenacious women through shows like Shakti…Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki, Udaan and now with Choti Sarrdaarni. Through this show, we want to celebrate the spirit of every woman who has been through tough times but has come out stronger. It is an ode to all those women who have empowered themselves and played a prominent role in protecting and shaping the future of their families.”

    Resonating similar sentiments, Manisha Sharma, Chief Content Officer, Hindi Mass Entertainment said, “Choti Sarrdaarni is a story presented through the lens of a girl, who persists against all complexities of life, breaks stereotypes and paves the path to become a strong woman and moreover a stronger mother. Courage is a woman’s strongest armor and if we draw inspiration from our inner self, we can achieve anything and Meher’s story will remind everyone of just that. The viewers will relate to Meher’s struggles and her valor as she finds happiness, embraces motherhood and becomes a Bahadarni.”

    Rajesh Ram Singh, Producer, Cockcrow said, “The show captures the transformation of Meher from being a young girl to a brave Bahadarni. It is a story of a real woman and how she achieves her true worth by eliminating all odds. The show is set against the colorful backdrop of Punjab and we will have various elements that will take the viewers into the by lanes of its gifted cities. We have been shooting extensively in and around Amritsar to bring out the true flavor and culture of the city.”

    Actor Nimrit Kaur essaying Meher’s charactersaid, “I feel honored to be giving my acting career such a wonderful start by portraying a character as impactful as Meher’s. She strives to build back her life after falling apart several times and does so gracefully while achieving remarkable feats.  She transitions from a simple girl into a Bahadarni – a shield of her children and family. The narrative of the Choti Sarrdaarni is very heart-warming and Meher’s character seemed to be a perfect fit as I am a Punjabi and it was a sweet coincidence to be playing a Sardaarni in the show. I am very excited about this new chapter of my life and looking forward to it.” 

    Avinesh Rekhi playing Sabarjit Gill commented,“I will be essaying the role of a politician, Sarabjit, who is a single parent and a loving husband. He meets Meher at a crossroad but accepts her with open arms and gives a new meaning to her life.I take immense pride in the fact that I will be the first lead actor to sport turban on television with this show and I hope that I am able to carry it off with absolute grace and respect.  The concept of Choti Sarrdaarni is very promising and comes with a powerful message and I am certain that the audience will love me in this new avatar.”

    Anita Raj portraying Kulwant Kaur said, “My character in the show, Kulwant, is Meher’s mother who is an authoritative Sarpnach and an ambitious woman. She wants Meher to get married to Sarabjit in a bet to find inroads into the political system and fulfill her longstanding dream of becoming a politician. It's a very strong and interesting character and I am enjoying playing the part of Sarpanch Kulwant Kaur in the show. The concept of Choti Sarrdaarni is very fresh and highlights different shades of a woman that will resonate with the audience..

    Hitesh Bhardwaj playing Manav Sharma said, “I am essaying the role of Manav Sharma who is deeply in love with Meher. He comes across as a tough person but also has an emotional side too especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Meher is the centre of his universe and his love for her is unconditional. I am elated to be a part of the show that is backed by a strong concept and exceptional storyline.”

    The channel has planned a series of marketing activities at the grassroots level to strike a connect with the viewers. Choti Sarrdaarni branded Chabeel vans will trial around the busy streets, interiors, markets and high footfall areas of Punjab and NCR distributing packaged rose flavored lassi known as Verka. LED screens will be put up on the vans displaying the show's promos to generate more buzz.  The vans will be led by a bike rally of Sardaarnis dressed in traditional attires wearing Paranda and Kada accompanied by Dhol beats bringing alive the theme of the show. As a part of the digital initiative, the channel along with Jam8 will also launch an upbeat music anthem celebrating the spirit and swag of true Sarrdaarnis featuring the lead of the show, Nimrit Kaur along with Punjabi artist Sara Gurpal. The viewers can tune into the show between 1stto 5thJuly at 7.30 pm and also participate in a contestant to win an all-expense paid trip to Singapore. 

  • With Over 2 Billion Views, ZEE TV’s #DanceKaJungistaan Challenge goes viral on Tik Tok

    With Over 2 Billion Views, ZEE TV’s #DanceKaJungistaan Challenge goes viral on Tik Tok

    MUMBAI: With a view to leverage the fan frenzy that surrounds the return of a dance franchise as iconic as Dance India Dance and to create an exciting touch-point for viewers to feel actively included in the mass anticipation and countdown towards the launch of its seventh season, the marketing machinery of Zee TV has innovated yet again by partnering with the short video platform Tik-Tok. With the latest season introducing an all-new format of weekly knock-outs much like a sports league where 16 dance champions representing the 4 zones of India will be pitted against each other in the #DanceKaJungistaan, the Tik Tok #DanceKaJungistan challenge invites fans to replicate the unique hook-steps choreographed by the coaches of the 4 zonal teams – North Ke Nawabs, East Ke Tigers, West Ke Singhams and South Ke Thalaivas as a sign of their support to their favourite zones on the show. In its first two hours of announcement, the dance challenge was viewed by over 25 million users across the globe and a week down, it has crossed a staggering 2 Billion Views and continues to receive entries from various age groups as the challenge has gone viral on the Tik-Tok app.

    Prathyusha Agarwal, Chief Marketing Officer, ZEE commented, “The impact Dance India Dance, as a franchise, has had on the lives of countless aspiring dancers from every corner of the country stands testimony to its hallowed position as the singular game-changer for dance on Indian television. With the new season of Dance India Dance presenting audiences with a hyper-competitive format between the four zones of the country, we were keen to ride on a platform that lets fans take over the signature moves of each zone and make them their own and demonstrate their fandom for DID. With Tik Tok fast becoming the platform for mass creative expression and entertainment in India, it was the right avenue for democratizing the power of the DID stage and making it even more accessible. We are overwhelmed by the kind of response to our dance challenge and it only encourages us to further innovate and provide interactive experiences for our viewers.”

     Sachin Sharma, Director, Sales and Partnerships, TikTok India said, “TikTok provides an opportunity to brands to connect with its target audience in the most entertaining and engaging way. Through 15-second short videos, everyone engaging on TikTok is making every second count." He further added, "We have seen a lot of dancers and choreographers making interesting content and sharing it with the community at large. The enormous success of ZEE TV’s #DanceKaJungistaan Dance Challenge is another example of how TikTok inspires users to share their passion and creative expression through their videos. We look forward to finding more synergies with the team at Zee to promote their content on TikTok."

    The exciting season kicked off with the judges trio – superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan, the King of Hooksteps and the Boss of Dance – Bosco Martis and the ultimate swag star – the reigning rapper with killer moves – Raftaar dancing up a storm in the grand premiere episode and the journey of Jungistan has barely begun. Stay tuned to the show on Zee TV at 8 PM every Sat-Sun for all this action and more!

  • ZEE LIVE announces expansion of leadership team

    ZEE LIVE announces expansion of leadership team

    MUMBAI: Strengthening its core senior team, ZEE LIVE, the Live events and IP vertical of ZEEL, has announced the appointment of Unnati Ashar as product head of its Live IP business.

    Unnati has more than 10 years’ experience in experiential marketing and a demonstrated track record of working in the events and activation services industry as well as a rich background in IP content. She is skilled in integrated marketing, below-the-line, event management, brand management and strategy. 

    Unnati will be responsible for leading the existing IPs – Arth, LF 91, Zee Educare and Supermoon – as well as scaling them up. She will also be responsible for overseeing innovation and improving the business’ products, such that the enterprise is constantly growing to meet consumer needs.

    Unnati, who will report into Swaroop Banerjee, will actively work towards developing the branded content division of ZEE LIVE. This includes collaboration with brands across sectors, identifying opportunities that lead to the growth of the brand through innovation and creating relevant IPs for them.

    Swaroop Banerjee, COO, ZEE LIVE, said: “We have now, in a very quick time frame established 4 genres in the Live IP space, I am incredibly bullish about the trajectory in this direction. We’ve had huge success with our existing IPs Arth, LF 91, Zee Educare & Supermoon reaching out to over 205 Million people and reinstating our core offering of creating Live Original Content on the ground that is complemented by our network assets. Unnati will bring a wealth of knowledge and a fresh outlook that will help reinforce our commitment to conceptualising the best IPs. We are also looking at developing our branded content division under her leadership.”

  • Viacom18 Studios and Aamir Khan Productions announce upcoming film inspired by the Paramount Pictures’ classic, FORREST GUMP

    Viacom18 Studios and Aamir Khan Productions announce upcoming film inspired by the Paramount Pictures’ classic, FORREST GUMP

    MUMBAI: Viacom18 Studios, India’s premiere content studio in association with Aamir Khan Productions announces their upcoming Indian film LAAL SINGH CHADDHA, inspired by Paramount Pictures’ Oscarâ winning movie, FORREST GUMP. While Aamir Khan essays the titular role in the film, Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen paired opposite him for the third time. The superhit duo has shared screen space in the past in 3 Idiots and Talaash. Laal Singh Chaddha is directed by Advait Chandan of Secret Superstar fame and is being written by Atul Kulkarni. The film will release in Christmas 2020.

    Delving a bit deeper into the association with Aamir Khan Productions and Paramount Pictures, Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios says, “It gives me immense pleasure to announce our upcoming venture with Aamir Khan titled Laal Singh Chaddha. For every cinephile out there, the must watch list of films would be incomplete without the mention of FORREST GUMP. To be able to adapt the classic for Indian audiences is a long-cherished dream for many of us.  Knowing Aamir’s burning passion for this subject for many years, he is the perfect partner to bring to life this dream. I also want to thank Jim, Andrew and the wonderful team at Paramount Pictures for believing in our vision and continuously supporting all endeavors to bring some of their best content to the Indian markets.”

    “We’re thrilled to be in business with Aamir Khan Productions and Viacom18 Studios, and to see them bringing this timeless story to a whole new generation of audiences,” said Andrew Gumpert, Chief Operating Officer of Paramount Pictures.

    FORREST GUMP, starring the Academy Awardâ winner Tom Hanks, is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump (Hanks), a slow-witted but kind-hearted man from Alabama who witnesses and unwittingly influences several defining historical events in the 20th century in the United States. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis.

  • YKBK48 Entertainment (P) Ltd launches “DEL48” & “MUB48” the Indian Chapter of the Sensational Japanese concept, “AKB48”

    YKBK48 Entertainment (P) Ltd launches “DEL48” & “MUB48” the Indian Chapter of the Sensational Japanese concept, “AKB48”

    MUMBAI: YKBK48 Entertainment Private Limited launches DEL48 and MUB48 in India, the sister groups of the Sensational Japanese Concept, AKB48 Group. Sensational Idols like Rannvijay Singh, Hina Khan, Sangram U Singh inaugurated the event at the Grand Hotel in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

    DEL48 will be operating from the capital New Delhi and will operate in the northern zone of the country, whereas MUB48 will focus on the entertainment capital of the country, Mumbai, and its surrounding regions, as projects for young girls across India who want to pursue their dreams. Registrations for DEL48 will be started first from 19th June, across north to select the final group of girls from thousands of entries aged between 12-20 years. An event to present the selected girls within this year is planned.

    Speaking about the launch, YKBK 48 Entertainment’s CEO, Mr. Rohit Bakshi said, ‘India is a land of opportunities. Launching “DEL48” is a very exciting moment for us and for all the aspiring artists in India. For any nation to become prosperous, it must empower its women. A woman makes a home and empowering women is the way to the country’s development.

    “DEL48” will be operating from the capital, New Delhi and will look after the northern zone of the country. It will act as a platform for young girls across India who wants to pursue their dreams of being an ‘artist’ and provide them exposure across platforms like theater, TV, and films. “DEL48” will guarantee exposure to the selected talents across various entertainment platforms.

  • Sony Entertainment Television’s superstar singer to bring forth singing ka kal

    Sony Entertainment Television’s superstar singer to bring forth singing ka kal

    MUMBAI: After a successful season of Super Dancer, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), is all set to bring forth an exciting new journey, with its latest offering #SuperstarSinger. SET enjoys a stronghold in the weekend non-fiction genre and this show comes as a clutter breaking homegrown IP that will celebrate singing talent from across the country who are under 15 years of age. Taking on the mantle as judges will be multi-talented music-director, composer and singer – Himesh Reshammiya; the soulful Bollywood playback singing– Javed Ali and an established playback singer who has mesmerized one and all with her golden voice – Alka Yagnik. Co-produced by the independent business unit of SPN – StudioNEXT and The Talent Company (TCT), Superstar Singer will premiere on June 29 and will air every Sat-Sun at 8:00pm only on Sony Entertainment Television.

    With an intent to identify the country’s Singing Ka Kal, Superstar Singer will provide a platform to aspiring contestants to be groomed and guided under musically adept mentors, thereby encouraging Guru-Shishya environment. This responsibility rests with the 4 captains Jyotica Tangri, Salman Ali, Nitin Kumar and Sachin Valmiki, who have travelled  to various parts of the country and hand-picked talent who bring with them a refreshing sensibility and passion towards music. The captains will help the contestant at every level and go that extra mile to ensure the equal opportunity to learn and grow.

    Hosted by Jay Bhanushali, Superstar Singer promises to be a rollercoaster ride filled with exceptional singing and stories that will inspire. From a young singing aspirant, all of 6 years old to a 14 year old insisting on performing with his pet and a 11 year old wanting to make her family proud, the show will unfold many such young dynamites. The chemistry between the judges and the Captains combined with extraordinary singing talent will make weekends much more refreshing and entertaining. Join the super trio of judges and the Fantastic Four Captains as they embark on this new journey to discover India’s First Superstar Singer!

    Tune in to Superstar Singer from 29th June every Sat-Sun at 8:00PM only on Sony Entertainment Television

  • Clovia and Colors TV enter into a strategic collaboration

    Clovia and Colors TV enter into a strategic collaboration

    MUMBAI: Clovia, India’s fastest growing lingerie brand, has partnered with COLORS TV for an exclusive sleepwear collection called the ‘STARLIT collection’ which will be worn by characters from the TV shows on Colors. The collection was launched in April this year.

    “Women in India are well connected with their favourite daily soaps and the TV stars today have the same influence over lifestyle & fashion choices as Bollywood stars. We are very excited to partner with Colors TV and expand our reach to a vast audience. We are on track to grow 300% YoY and drive growth via such partnerships. It is a one of a kind activity done in our category as well as in TV industry. Till recently, TV stars wore heavy sarees to bed in storylines. We are changing their bedtime looks. With this integration, we expect the audience to get a flavour of our wide range of collection”, said Pankaj Vermani, Founder and CEO, Clovia.

    The sleepwear products from the ‘STARLIT collection’ will be worn by the characters in some of the leading shows on the channel like Udaan, ‘Roop- Mard ka Naya Swaroop’ and ‘Ishq Mein Marjawa’. Whenever the characters will appear in Clovia outfits, an Aston band will appear on the screen promoting the collection and directing viewers to Clovia website. The audience will see Clovia looks on their favourite characters several times each month.

  • ZEE partners with Indiantelevision.com for Media HR Summit 2019

    ZEE partners with Indiantelevision.com for Media HR Summit 2019

    MUMBAI: Since inception, Indiantelevision.com has always attempted to sincerely engage with India’s media and entertainment industry in a bid to offer innovative content and broaden the scope for dialogue. Extending this endeavor to a key sphere of the ecosystem, Indiantelevision.com is now putting together its first-ever Media HR Summit in partnership with ZEE, the title sponsor for the conclave.

    Media HR Summit intends to delve deep into the challenges that India’s M&E industry faces today and understand how corporate and HR leaders are steering their companies into the future as they seek to attract, develop and retain talent. ZEE, one of India’s biggest and most sought after employers, coming on board as the main partner further highlights the importance of this initiative and bolsters its credibility.

    “The Indian Media & Entertainment Industry is at an inflection point where convergence, consolidation and technological innovations are reshaping all parts of the M&E value chain. The oft repeated cliché “what got us here, won’t get us there”, has never been more relevant. Talent capability & availability both are amongst the biggest challenges we need to address to successfully navigate the emerging landscape. It is imperative that we build and retain a workforce that is ready for a generational shift in skills. We are proud to partner with Indiantelevision.com’s 1st Media HR Summit that aims to address these challenges and help HR leaders across sectors to share thoughts and perspectives on building a dynamic workplace in a digitally transformative world,” Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited chief people officer Animesh Kumar said.

    Media HR Summit, which is scheduled to take place on 26 June at The Westin in Mumbai, aims to tackle key themes like culture and chemistry, emerging trends in HR, employee engagement models, building equity in the workplace, empowering a network of leaders, future-focused people strategies and changing the nature of employment.

    The conclave features a stellar line of speakers and leaders that have shaped some of India’s finest organisations.  With participation from broadcasters, production houses, brands, media agencies and joint industry bodies, the Media HR Summit 2019 boasts representation across the M&E spectrum.

    Animesh Kumar, Discovery Communications India MD south Asia Megha Tata, MullenLowe Lintas Group’s HR director Heather Saville Gupta and Publicis’ head human resource Nikhil Natekar among others are some of the senior executives that will offer their perspective on the current landscape through panel discussions, fireside chats and presentations.

  • SPN India adds Happy India HD pack to its bouquet

    SPN India adds Happy India HD pack to its bouquet

    MUMBAI: Three months into the new TRAI tariff order regime and Sony Pictures Network has a plan to woo consumers. The broadcaster in its RIO mentioned a new ’Happy India HD’ pack.

    The pack costs Rs 70, which includes channels such as SET HD, Sab HD, Pal, Max HD, Max 2, Sony Wah, Mix, Sony Yay, Sony Aath, Sony Marathi, Sony BBC Earth HD and Ten 3 HD.

    Apart from that, the broadcaster also has Happy India South, Platinum HD, Bangla Platinum HD bouquet and among others and these packs are rated for Rs 25, Rs 93, Rs 90, Rs 90 and Rs 90 respectively.

    SPN had also launched the campaign, #RishtaPakkaSamjho that featured the Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. The intent of this campaign, which was rolled out in phases, was to empower consumers with knowledge about various pricing options to choose from so that they can make an informed choice about which Sony channels they want to watch.

    SPN chief revenue officer distribution and head — sports Rajesh Kaul said, "The 45-seconder TV spot talks to the Sony Network viewers, urging them to choose from SPN's 'Happy India' pack, wherein the channel bouquets are simply packaged to allow the consumer to choose the best channel combinations (across genres) at the lowest possible price points. Our content has always brought joy to people and so will our 'Happy India' pack."