ITV

Category: Kids

  • Nickelodeon’s ‘Shiva’ is highest rated kids show in India

    Nickelodeon’s ‘Shiva’ is highest rated kids show in India

    MUMBAI: It’s been a little over a month since its launch and Nickelodeon’s newest original kids show Shiva is already a leader in its genre. Topping the kids’ programming ranks for the last two consecutive weeks as per Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India’s data, Shiva has claimed the title of the most watched kid show in India.

     

    Viacom18 EVP and business head – kids cluster Nina Elavia Jaipuria shares that she was sure Shiva had the makings of a great show for kids, as the character resonates with millions in the target group.

     

    “For any show to work in the kids category, the character has to have all the right attributes, which the kids of today want and value. With Shiva, I think we got that perfect winner yet again. Before the launch of Shiva,we had syndicated an Ormax True Value (OTV) study with boys and girls across Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Chennai. Shiva ranked highest on the OTV score in comparison to all competitive players. The testament of this character’s success lies in the ratings where Shiva has been leading the charts across the four weeks since its launch,” Jaipuria explains.

     

    Nickelodeon’s latest gift to their tiny tot audience across the country, Shiva has not just helped in maintaining the channel’s high ratings but has also taken it to a new level. If one was to take out the average of the channel’s weekday ratings for the time slots when the show airs in the last four weeks, Nick leads the category by a large margin.

     

    Shiva currently airs at 1:30 pm, 4 pm and 6:30 pm on weekdays. 

     

    Going by the time band of 1:30 pm, Nick’s ratings stand at 584 (Rat 000s), followed by Cartoon Network at 268 (Rat 000s), Pogo TV at 344 (Rat 000s), Hungama TV at 192 (Rat 000s) and Disney Channel at 298 (Rat 000s). Similar is the case with time bands starting at 4 pm and 6:30 pm with Shiva amassing ratings of 440 (Rat 000s) and 807 (Rat 000s) respectively.

     

    According to BARC India’s week 48 ratings, the show leads the top five kids program list with a rating of 691 (Rat 000s), followed by Nick’s Motu Patlu in Wonderland with a rating of 675 (Rat 000s) and Cartoon Network’s Chain Kulii Ki Main Kulii at third position with 662 (Rat 000s).

     

    Jaipuria says that Shiva commands 11 per cent of Nickelodeon’s ratings and contributes to eight per cent of the channel’s slots. “In week 48, seven out of the top 10 slots belong to Shiva. With my years of working in this category, there are only a few shows which get such a heartwarming opening. Shiva topped the charts in the first week of its launch itself and continues to lead its slots,” she adds.

     

    Given the show’s popularity, advertisers are naturally buoyed. “Nickelodeon has been on a strong growth trajectory and we have been clear leaders in the genre. We have seen a huge growth in our ad rates, with advertisers continuing to show great interest in us and our characters,” Jaipuria reveals.

     

    The growing popularity of the show has also made Shiva a viable character for merchandising. “In the coming financial year, you will see a host of Shiva merchandise in the market. Stating from apparel, bags to even watches and bicycles, we will be launching Shiva merchandise across multiple categories,” Jaipuria informs.

     

    With ample faith in their home grown content, the channel also plans to take Shiva international. “All our local productions are being syndicated internationally. We presented Shiva this year at MIPCOM and talks of international syndication for our new hero are underway,” she adds in parting.

  • 5 homegrown animated characters we love on TV

    5 homegrown animated characters we love on TV

    MUMBAI: Out of all the things a 90s kid would envy a late millennial for, the joy of rooting for a desi cartoon character will probably be somewhere on top. While international animated series still enjoy a major audience patronage, kids today are increasingly preferring home grown shows where their favourite animated characters not only speak their language, but also belong from relatable cultures.

    Keeping that in mind, Indiantelevision.com compiled a list of five animated characters, which were conceptualised and launched in India.

    Read on…

    Bheem from Chhota Bheem

    When Green Gold Animation gave India Chhota Bheem in 2008, they weren’t prepared for its overwhelming reception by their tiny tot audience. This comedy adventure series that airs on Pogo gave kids their own little super hero, albeit inspired by Bheem from Indian mythology but delivered in a completely new avatar. With over 360 episodes spread across seven seasons and still running, Chhota Bheem became a household name and kids are happy to embrace him in their lives not only through television, but through various merchandising products as well. Add to that the appeal of a fascinating city like Dholakpur, and you have your perfect fiction series for kids!

    Chhota Bheem is easily one of the most popular animated characters for kids on television right now.

    Motu and Patlu from Motu Patlu

    Adapted from the classic Indian comic strip Lot Pot, this CGI animated series not only raised the bar for animated television series for kids in India but also for slapstick comedy in cartoons. It brought us even closer to the Lot Pot stars Motu and Patlu, whose witty and engaging exchanges would have us in splits in no time.

    Comparatively new to hit the television (2012) on Nickelodeon, the characters have already garnered a massive fan following and market for their merchandise. Today, Motu and Patlu not only command a massive fan base in India but enjoy an audience in Pakistan too, where it is also aired.

     Kris from Roll No 21

    Another innovative take on mythology from a modern day standpoint, Kris is modelled after Lord Krishna, but his ‘just another kid at school’ vibe is what brings him closer to the target audience. Needless to say, Kris appeals to not just the toddlers but also the preteens in the demography. In fact, the show owns its similarity to the mythology by having Kris as an incarnation of Lord Krishna himself. The story also reflects a modern take in Krishna and Kansa’s rivalry, which is shown through Kris’s continuous struggle to thwart Kanishk’s plan.

    Shiva from Shiva

    The new kid on the block, Nick’s latest original character Shiva has garnered a considerable fan base in just a month since launch. His character design and story backdrop makes him akin to international teenage superhero shows like Ben 10, which were a huge success worldwide. With his cool gadgets and charming appearance he easily stands out as a teen idol in the kids genre on television.

    Chote and Bade from 9XM

    One can argue that Chote Bade don't have a show to themselves but that doesn't change the fact that they are an iconic pair of animated characters that connected with millions of Indian youth through 9XM. In fact, the animated duo, to some extent, form the channel’s identity as its mascots. They are not only popular onscreen but their offline avatars along with their witty screenplay has often entertained us in various on ground marketing events for the channel as well.

    Their concept was an innovative way to keep the audience engaged even during intervals and breaks during segments of show, but eventually Chote and Bade evolved as characters and are considered an important part of the Indian television’s animated character family.

  • Cartoon Network & Pogo go filmy with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dilwale’

    Cartoon Network & Pogo go filmy with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dilwale’

    MUMBAI: December seems exciting for Turner International’s kids channels in India — Pogo and Cartoon Network —  as the network goes filmy with Shah Rukh Khan‘s upcoming film Dilwale, which is all set to release on 18 December.

     

    Khan along with his Dilwale team will be seen in three new TV specials created especially for kids. Kris Aur Shah Rukh Ki Dilwale Bollywood Class will premiere on 19 December at 12 noon, Oggy Ki Birthday Party – Dilwale Style on Cartoon Network will premiere on 25 December at 11 am and Bheem Aur Dilwale will premiere on 13 December at 12 pm on Pogo in a 90 minute special, wherein the entire cast of Dilwale visits Dholakpur.

     

    Both TV specials are complimented with contests that will give kids the opportunity to win prizes.

     

    While Kris Aur Shah Rukh Ki Dilwale Bollywood Class will see superstar Khan helping CN’s superhero Kris from the Roll No. 21 series realise his dreams of being a superstar, Oggy’s birthday party will know no bounds as his brother invites the entire cast and crew of Dilwale to celebrate his big day.

     

    Dilwale also stars Kajol, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon.

  • Toonz Animation to develop Gummy Bear series for YouTube

    Toonz Animation to develop Gummy Bear series for YouTube

    MUMBAI: India-based Toonz Animation has signed a major deal with Gummybear International Inc, which will see the two companies extend the Gummy Bear IP into entertainment and merchandising. Additionally, YouTube has commissioned an initial 39 x 7’ episodes series, which Toonz will produce from its studio in India.

     

    Plans are also afoot to expand Gummy Bear’s presence online and in consumer products and exploit the brand in the television and feature film space.

     

    Gummy Bear (originally Gummibär in its native Hungary) is an internet phenomenon. The dancing and singing bear has grown into a YouTube multi-channel Gummy Bear network with over 5.2 billion video views and over 1.5 million subscribers in total. His multi-lingual abilities have led to a huge international following with his music released in over 40 different countries and in over 27 different languages. The original Single “I Am A Gummy Bear (The Gummy Bear Song}” was a Top 10 Hit in many major markets and reached No.1 on the Itunes Dance Charts in the USA, where it reached double platinum status.

     

    Toonz Media Group CEO P Jayakumar said, “With its considerable online fan base, this property has all the ingredients to be a success far beyond its current online presence. The commission by YouTube for a series of dedicated episodes is the first step in our plans to help build Gummy Bear into a 360° brand encompassing traditional broadcast, feature films and licensed merchandise.”

     

    Gummybear International Inc president Jurgen Korduletsch added, “We’re excited to have found in Toonz an enthusiastic and motivated partner for the further development of our Gummy Bear. We’re looking forward to working with a company that clearly shares our vision to introduce our YouTube star to an even bigger audience by creating new content for traditional media platforms.”

  • Da Vinci Learning partners with Maska Pav and Fourth Dimension

    Da Vinci Learning partners with Maska Pav and Fourth Dimension

    MUMBAI: Post the successful launch of Kids HD, Da Vinci Media today announced two key strategic partnerships in India – with Maska Pav, a media production house, and Fourth Dimension Media Solutions, a media outsourcing firm.

     

    Maska Pav will be involved in on air promotions and packaging of content for Da Vinci Media’s educational channel Da Vinci Learning in India. Maska Pav is a 360- degree media production house that produces content for digital series, television commercials, music videos, television shows, documentaries etc.

     

     

    The mandate for Fourth Dimension Media Solutions which is a part of SRM Group includes an effective engagement with advertisers and amplification of the channel’s presence across India while developing widespread and integrated relationships with leading national and regional advertisers.

     

     

    The primary goal for these partnerships is focused on creating and developing compelling integrated advertising and marketing solutions for brands that partner with Da Vinci Learning, keeping in mind the channel’s philosophy and ethos.

     

     

    Commenting on these associations Da Vinci Learning, India MD Mohit Anand said, “We see a huge demand for soft skill based knowledge programming that is fun and interactive. These partnerships will enable us to cater to the market in a customized format and help amplify our presence across the country. We have entrusted our partners with a valuable mandate and are confident that their expertise will help us in developing widespread and integrated relationships within the industry eco-system.”

     

    Maska Pav Productions Private Limited founder, promoter and MD Kirk Peter said, “Our collaboration with Da Vinci will allow us to enliven our vision of creating content with lasting impressions. We are looking forward to supporting Da Vinci Learning in showcasing their differentiated content that is safe and relevant for entertaining the whole family.”

     

    “Da Vinci Learning’s mandate for us is being truly valued by our team. Our association demonstrates the commitment towards delivering results and the understanding of the market space. It is just the beginning and we look forward to translating our plans in to actual delivery in terms of strengthening the brand presence across India,” Fourth Dimension  CEO Shankar B said in parting.

     

  • Discovery Kids to premiere ‘Gaturro’ on Christmas

    Discovery Kids to premiere ‘Gaturro’ on Christmas

    MUMBAI: Discovery Kids has readied a Christmas treat for its young viewers with the premiere of the movie Gaturro. The movie is the fun love story of two cats, the adorable Gaturro and his lady-love Agatha.

     

    In his quest to win her over, Gaturro will give the viewers a complete entertainment experience full of laughter and happiness.
     

    Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific EVP and GM Rahul Johri said, “Discovery Kids continues to bring compelling storylines, exciting titles and enduring characters. Gaturro is yet another offering for kids to enjoy and immerse in the charming world of a fun and engaging character.”

    The movie will premiere on 25 December at 12 pm with a repeat at 5 pm on Discovery Kids.

  • Cartoon Network launches digital TV network in SE Asia

    Cartoon Network launches digital TV network in SE Asia

    MUMBAI: With Gen Z becoming more tech savvy, kids are increasingly shifting their entertainment base to tablets and mobile phones instead of television. Keeping that in mind, kid’s channel Cartoon Network has launched a TV network built exclusively for a phone or tablet. Cartoon Network Anything is an app that contains content created for portable mobile platforms, rapidly delivering entertainment in a unique and fun way – an innovation that’s never been seen before in Southeast Asia.

     

    The app is free and available for download now on the App Store and Google Play for smartphones and tablets. Cartoon Network Anything is an ever-growing and ever-changing stream of content consisting of games, activities, super-fast trivia quizzes and interactive video games, all approximately 15 seconds in length. After a user finishes with one item, they simply swipe the screen to move on to the next. The perpetually-updated stream is delivered randomly, providing entertainment that feels both immediate and everlasting.

     

    “Cartoon Network Anything is unlike anything we’ve ever designed,” said Turner Kids Networks Asia Pacific chief content officer Mark Eyers. “The app is a whole new way to engage our audience, constantly maintaining a high level of suspense of ‘what will come next?’ Basically, it hosts the best of Cartoon Network on your phone!”

     

    Hit franchises Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Uncle Grandpa, Teen Titans Go! and Clarence all feature, but what makes the app so innovative is that everything is created exclusively for the app. Cartoon Network Anything will premiere Mighty Magiswords, an animated micro-series created specifically for this platform, along with a slew of new Asia Pacific-made short-form content such as Beat Monsters from Korea, Lamput from India, The Sketchy Show and Bill & Tony from Australia.

     

    Cartoon Network’s recent research – New Generations 2015 – revealed that in smartphone households in Southeast Asia with children, 86 per cent of kids use apps at least weekly. In fact, those aged 4-14 are accessing on average five apps every month. Cartoon Network Anything presents a huge opportunity for advertisers who are looking to achieve an unparalleled level of brand alignment in a digital arena.

  • Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears comes to India

    Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears comes to India

    MUMBAI: Though not at par with summer and Diwali holidays, the winter vacation in Indian schools is an important time for kids’ channels to buck up their programming and grab some eyeballs.

    Keeping that in mind, the popular kids’ channel from Turner International, Cartoon Network is bringing a brand new show. For their Sunday morning prime time slot is a new original series from the Cartoon Network Studio, We Bare Bears, starting from 29 November.  The show will be targeted at an age group of 4 to 14 years of age.

    We Bare Bears adds to the list of Cartoon Network original shows like Adventure Time, Clarence, Steven Universe, Uncle Grandpaand other that have been recently launched in India.

    A tale of three tech savvy bears, We Bare Bears was well received by kids when it launched on the US network earlier this year.  Will its charm also work with kids in India?  With Daniel Chong of Cars 2 and Toy Story (TV) fame as the creative, chances are that the show should strike a chord with the Indian audience in no time.

    A fan of The Powerpuff Girls, before he joined Cartoon Network, Chong’s stints include working as a creative at Disney Feature Animation, Blue Sky, Nickelodeon and  Pixar.

    Explaining the concept of the show, Chong says that We Bare Bears tells the story of three bears — Grizzly, Panda, and Ice Bear — who are trying to settle down in a human society.  “They live in the forest and trek over to the city to mingle. People don’t freak out at the sight of them, but don’t really enjoy their presence either. The show takes place in the (San Francisco) Bay Area, and it was appropriate that they would be heavily involved in tech culture. It was also a way to isolate them more from the world, as technology can sometimes do, which would be another obstacle,” shares Chong.

    The idea for the show struck Chong from his experience of living in East Bay area near University of California, Berkeley in the US. “There, you see bears everywhere. So I think it just gets into your system. The whole idea for the three bears came from a time when I was in the library doodling and drawing with my girlfriend’s niece. I was trying to make her laugh by drawing really random stuff and the bears were just one of the things I drew,” Chong adds with a chuckle.

    Chong explains the creative process behind We Bare Bears. “Once we settle on an idea, the writers start fleshing it out, and I check in with them periodically. We often involve all of the story artists, to pitch in ideas about how to flesh it out. We go through quite a few passes of a story before we feel that it’s ready to show to the executive team here,” says Chong.

    Continuing, Chong says, “Once we are done with our notes, it goes over to the storyboard artists, normally a team of two, and they have about four weeks to prepare the whole storyboard.”

    Part of the creative process that sets Cartoon Network apart is that the storyboard department is run like a features departments. “I give people a small chunk and then check in with them. Most TV shows have very few check ins. But we feel that our stories are slightly complicated and a little hard to navigate sometimes, so it’s better for us to be able to check in more often, and have a stronger hand on where everybody is going, to make sure everyone is on the same page,” Chong explains.

    Once the revision and clean-up of the drawings are done, the Bears are given colour post with which the script goes to the actor for recording.

    An important step that follows is animating the frames. “I’ll work really closely with the animation director and the editor to shape the piece into an eleven minute show. From there, it goes to Tony Pulham, the art director, who will basically divide it up into the different departments, such as layout, background, paint, colour, character design and props,” Chong concludes while adding that the final touch ups are done in South Korea, with the entire process taking little less than a year.

  • Disney throws birthday party for Mickey Mouse; Snapdeal, Future Group join in

    Disney throws birthday party for Mickey Mouse; Snapdeal, Future Group join in

    MUMBAI: The countdown to Mickey Mouse’s birthday on November 18 was laden with daily celebrations across Disney’s network. The 18-days long extravaganza that started on 1 November culminate on Mickey’s Birthday saw a series of new creative initiatives from the network’s end.

    “This month is special to all our consumers, be it young or old, as everyone has experienced Mickey Mouse’s magic at some point in their lives,” says Walt Disney  India, Content and Communication, VP,  Vijay Subramaniam. “Mickey Mouse is Disney’s biggest revenue making intellectual property,” he adds.

    To further strengthen the Mickey Mouse franchise in the country, the network has rolled out series of varied and engaging content throughout the 18 days, while at the same time making optimum use of its network, both digitally and electronically, to promote and propagate the event.

    Not only did the network run content extensively throughout its Disney branded channels, it also allowed several other broadcasters to use the content for their own Disney special programs, albeit giving content credit to Disney’s in house team.

    “We made some of this Mickey Mouse birthday specials available to other news channels and other content partners on a limited marketing and sharing basis ,” Subramaniam explains, adding that few of the channels have already aired this specials.

    Part of the celebrations were the 90 sec long videos that saw several well-known Bollywood celebrities wishing Mickey Mouse ‘Happy Birthday’ in their own creative way. The who’s who of Bollywood from Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Farah Khan are few of the celebs who feature in the video titled ‘Stars wish the Superstar a Happy Birthday.

    “We compiled the videos throughout the year from the various shows Mickey had with the celebrities. It was great to see them come together for Mickey. With them on board we were able to reach a wider section of viewers,” Subramaniam points out.

    Further elaborating on the fresh content that the channel had devised for the occasion, Subramaniam said, “In the last couple of years we have witnessed a huge craze for the Mickey shorts we rolled out globally. So for Mickey’s birthday celebration we decided we’d premiere one new short each day,” shares Subramaniam.

    Continuing with its concept of ‘short and sweet,’ the network also released a number of video listicles that aired throughout the network at regular intervals during these last 18 days. “We created fun content around everything that Mickey stands for in a listicle format,” Subramaniam states, citing ‘18 really funny Mickey moments’ as an example.

    Mickey’s birthday celebration wasn’t limited to content alone. Brands didn’t miss the chance in making optimum use of their Mickey Mouse merchandise on the occasion.

    On 18 November, Future Group’s private label  Tasty Treat kick started its  Mickey Mouse birthday celebration across 500 Future Group stores including at Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Nilgiris etc. by maintaining a birthday party ambiance with danglers and confetti, photo ops with Mickey cut outs, and even releasing a special Mickey Mouse birthday TVC. The campaign is to continue till 30 November.

    Snapdeal too has added its share to the merchandise promotion by giving discounts on Mickey Mouse products. The online major was also running a Mickey birthday contest on their website and gratifying 20 winners with Disney hampers.

    While Mickey Mouse’s presence in the country is strong, one may argue that the anticipation for his birthday doesn’t compare to the fervour the character enjoys internationally. Subramaniam however finds it unfair to compare the two markets.

    “The fact is that US is the birthplace of Mickey Mouse, with over 80 years of legacy on its side, whereas in India, Disney as a company is only 11 years old. If you think of the numbers, it is amazing how well the company has grown here. The kind of traction that we have enjoyed for last couple of years is beyond impressive. What’s evident is that Mickey as a character is universally loved, and more so when you add a local touch to him, and that’s exactly what we have done this year,” Subramaniam.

    The local flavour that Subramaniam speaks of is a ‘birthday anthem’ compiled by the network that which went on air on 18 November. What makes it even more special is that it has inputs by viewers in from across the country in 18 different regional languages.

    Amongst all their endeavours to connect the local audience with Mickey, the most effective is perhaps the Magic Mix that sees the network do a special rendering of popular Bollywood numbers with animation from their popular series.

    ‘Happy Birthday Mickey Magic Mix’ has taken the popular song Happy Birthday from the Disney produced dance extravaganza ABCD 2 and turned into and entertaining mash up for everyone to enjoy.

    All the content for Mickey Mouse birthday specials, has been heavily promoted and aired extensively across the networks channels. Apart from that, the content is also available on all their digital platforms including their official website, YouTube channel (over 1.3 million subscribers), twitter and Facebook (over 3 lakh likes) pages.

    Adding the cherry to its social media cake is the new application on Facebook that takes digital interaction to the next level.

    “We have done something special on Facebook. Mickey lovers can add Mickey ears on their Facebook page with just a click of a button, by going to the ‘Happy Birthday Mickey’ app that you can access through our Facebook’ page,” Subramaniam adds in parting.

  • Da Vinci Learning and The Quint launch India’s 1st Kids HD Educational Channel

    Da Vinci Learning and The Quint launch India’s 1st Kids HD Educational Channel

    MUMBAI: With a vision of building its global footprint and further extending across 100+ territories spanning three continents, HD Educational channel Da Vinci Learning announced its formal launch in India. Its HD Educational channel will offer award-winning knowledge programming and documentaries to Indian audiences, with a special focus on curious young minds.  The channel aims to offer safe and quality entertainment for the entire family.

     

    Da Vinci Learning is entering India through a 50:50 joint venture between Da Vinci Media GmbH and Quintillion Media Pvt. Ltd. (The Quint).

     

    Da Vinci Media founder and CEO Ferdinand Habsburg said, “It is an exciting phase in the journey of Da Vinci Learning. India has always been a key priority market for us and the time has now come to showcase our differentiated programming, aimed at triggering creative young minds bubbling with talent and curiosity to do more. Our association with The Quint will help the channel to effectively increase and strengthen our foothold in the country by offering meaningful and creative content to the Indian audiences.” 

     

    The Quint co-Founder and Chairman Raghav Bahl said, “While Da Vinci Media brings expertise in knowledge-based programming content, this joint venture helps us to further expand, drive synergies and diversify our digital content portfolio.”

     

    The Quint co-Founder & CEO Ritu Kapur asserted, “The Quint will help consumers access Da Vinci Learning content through our digital distribution capabilities. I am confident that the differentiated content of Da Vinci Learning will bring about a transformation in the knowledge and education based content space in India; and I look forward to seeing this transformation take shape.”

     

    Da Vinci Learning, India Managing Director Mohit Anand added, “Arousing the curiosity of our viewers is our mission and we take pride in offering completely safe, non-violent, soft skills-based knowledge programming for the whole family. This has been our USP and we believe that there is a huge demand for such content in India as well. Our commitment is to find the best knowledge programming and make it available to Indian viewers because we understand the rush of inspiration, the thrill of discovery and the pleasure to know.”

     

    The company says that its channel’s programming covers a wide array of topics, ranging from physics and chemistry to history and nature, and makes complex subjects understandable in an entertaining way. Da Vinci Learning turns TV watching from passive observation into a meaningful experience, helping children develop various skills early on, encouraging older viewers to keep asking questions and inviting families to take their learning journeys together.

     

    Da Vinci Learning is targeted at the 6-12 year olds and their families; the channel aims at offering programming and content that makes astounding scientific ideas understandable, arouse curiosity, spark conversation and motivate viewers to continue uncovering the mysteries of the universe.