ITV

Category: Movie Channels

  • Star Gold banks on latest Bollywood movies for viewership

    Star Gold banks on latest Bollywood movies for viewership

    MUMBAI: There’s no genre more cluttered with channels than Hindi movies. Channels need to bank on a mix of movies including Bollywood, Hollywood and regional dubbed ones to get audience attention.

    According to BARC data, in 2017, the viewership in this genre raked an average at 4163 million GVTs, leading to 4733 million GVTs in 2018 in 2+, HSM U+R.

    Speaking about Star Gold, the channel is Bollywood-heavy with 70 per cent viewership coming from Hindi content. The channel claims to deliver the top Bollywood premiers among the Hindi movie channels. The network had acquired TV and digital rights in 2017 of six unreleased films like Golmaal Again, Judwa 2, Sanju, Baaghi 2, Raid and Aiyaari.

    Star Gold will continue to focus on Bollywood blockbusters. The channel’s upcoming line-up includes Stree, Kaala, Total Dhamaal, Kalank, Super 30 and Ranveer Singh’s next film on the 1983 world cup. Among previous premieres Bajrangi Bhaijaan garnered 17.7 million, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo raked 17.3 million, Judwa 2 received 10.9 million and Golmaal Again received 12.1 million impressions in the urban market.

    Star India Hindi movie business EVP and GM Hemal Jhaveri said that the last three biggest premieres, Judwa 2, Golmaal Again and Baaghi 2 rated above four TVR on Star Gold. “A consistent strategy of always maintaining a bank of top Bollywood titles every year has worked for us. We have never strayed away from Bollywood. We are no longer a snacking category. Both premieres and repeat airings get consistently high ratings,” he said.

    When asked about his strategy for the acquisition of movies, Jhaveri said, “Our strategy is very simple and perhaps it has really worked for us. We are not content racist about dubbed content, English or Hindi content, it is the content which a viewer would love to watch and we acquire it.” He said that the basis of any channel that doesn’t produce anything is curation and Star Gold heavily works on curated content.

    More than 40 per cent viewership of the Hindi movie channels comes from the releases of the last three years from the urban 15+ males viewers. Women delivered higher ratings on the premieres of Golmaal Again as well as Judwaa 2. The cluster’s rural reach portfolio is 189 million individuals on an average for the last 13 weeks (2+, HSM rural).

    In BARC week 30 in HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 2+ Individuals, Sony Max emerged as a leader with 693696 impressions (000s) sum. Sony Wah, Star Utsav Movies, Zee Cinema and Star Gold stood at second, third, fourth and fifth positions with 592195 impressions (000s) sum, 551341 impressions (000s) sum, 547194 impressions (000s) sum and 445783 impressions (000s) sum respectively.

  • Comcast drops bid for 21st Century Fox assets, cedes prize to Disney

    Comcast drops bid for 21st Century Fox assets, cedes prize to Disney

    MUMBAI: The fierce bidding war between Comcast and Disney has finally ended with the former dropping out of the race to gobble up the prized 21st Century Fox assets. Comcast will now shift its focus towards sealing the Sky deal.

    “Comcast does not intend to pursue further the acquisition of the Twenty-First Century Fox assets and, instead, will focus on our recommended offer for Sky,” the company said in a statement.

    “I’d like to congratulate Bob Iger and the team at Disney and commend the Murdoch family and Fox for creating such a desirable and respected company,” Comcast Corporation chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts said.

    Last month, the US cable giant made a $65.0 billion offer for the Fox assets, trumping Disney’s original $52.4 billion bid. However, Disney went on to make a counter-offer of $71.3 billion in cash and stock.

    Disney has already sought clearance from US department of justice to go ahead of the deal that includes the Twentieth Century Fox film and TV studio, a controlling stake in Hulu, and international properties including Star India.

    The Comcast-Disney tussle will go down as one of the most keenly contested battles in the media and entertainment.

    With traditional power players facing challenges from new streaming services and FAANG companies, Fox’s entertainment assets are bound to help Disney prop up its upcoming streaming service as more and more consumers cut chords every day, especially in US.

    Recently, following the $32.5 billion offer from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, Comcast also increased its offer valuing Sky at $34 billion. The European Pay TV group is a lucrative option for Comcast to stay relevant outside US.

  • Zee Cinema to air the animated movie Smurfs – The Lost Village on Saturday, 21st July at 12pm

    Zee Cinema to air the animated movie Smurfs – The Lost Village on Saturday, 21st July at 12pm

    MUMBAI: If you’ve watched The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, you’re probably aware of the tiny blue creatures with white clothes and droopy hats living out their lives in blissful coexistence. Now get ready to immerse yourself into another exciting adventure of the Smurfs, as they venture into the ‘Forbidden Forest’ where a legendary ‘lost village’ is believed to have been resting. Zee Cinema, Home Of Blockbusters is all set to showcase the adorable story of Smurfs – The Lost Village on Saturday, 21st July at 12 noon. The movie is the third instalment of the popular Smurfs animation franchise and has been a success worldwide. The Hindi voice cast for the movie includes Prachi Saathi, Sahil Vaid, Shanoor Mirza, Amit Diondyi, Shahnawaz Pradhan and Anil Dutt. 

    In a peaceful Smurf village, Clumsy Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Hefty Smurf and Smurfette live along with Papa Smurf and hundreds of other Smurfs. Accidently, Smurfette ventures into the Forbidden Forest and is kidnapped by the evil wizard Gargamel. While Gargamel brews a mix that helps him locate a secret village on a map, Hefty, Brainy, and Clumsy help Smurfette escape and return to the Smurf Village.  On the other hand, Papa Smurf dismisses any claims of a secret village filled with Smurfs and punishes the four for disobeying the rules. But, Smurfette is determined to locate the lost village and the gang follows the map and embark on a journey to the lost village called Smurfy Grove. Here they encounter bizarre creatures and come face to face with their worst fear!

    Will Gargamel succeed in finding the lost village before the Smurfs? What is the secret behind Smurfy Grove and who lives there? Embarking on a roller coaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of THE biggest secret in Smurf history!

  • &pictures to screen the Indian spy thriller ‘Naam Shabana’ on Saturday, 29th June at 9.30pm

    &pictures to screen the Indian spy thriller ‘Naam Shabana’ on Saturday, 29th June at 9.30pm

    MUMBAI: A spinoff of the 2015 box office hit Baby, Naam Shabana follows the life and journey of a spy. Directed by Shivam Nair, the thriller features Taapsee Pannu as Shabana Khan along with Akshay Kumar, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpayee essaying pivotal characters. &pictures, Naye India Ka Blockbuster movie channelis all set to air this actioned packed movie on Saturday, 29th June at 9.30pm.

    Two Indian agents working under Ranvir Singh (Manoj Bajpayee) are killed by an international arms dealer Mikhail (Prithviraj Sukumaran), who has been on the wanted list of several intelligence agencies. A year later Shabana Khan (Taapsee Pannu), a college student who is also a Judo fighter is followed by an Indian agency as a potential recruit.One day on her way home after a date, she and her friend Jai are attacked by a group of four drunk men who eve tease her. The situation gets out of control and Jai is beaten to death. Shabana who is disturbed after Tahir’s brutal murder gets a call from an unknown number asking if she wants to avenge her lover’s death. A distraught Shabana agrees to join the agency and eliminates Tahir’s murderers with the help of Ajay Singh (Akshay Kumar) and Ranvir Singh. After the last encounter, Shabana is recruited by the agency and undergoes extensive training and is put on a mission to track down and eliminate Mikhail.

    Will Shabana be successful in tracking down Mikhail? Or will Mikhail escape the agency’s clutches this time too?  

  • 21CF special meet on Disney merger issue on July 10

    21CF special meet on Disney merger issue on July 10

    NEW DELHI: Is the Disney-21st Century Fox merger a done deal? The twists and turns in real life probably match a Hollywood corporate thriller produced by the media company. Second suiter Comcast hasn’t yet given up even as the Rupert Murdoch family-promoted company said on Wednesday that on 10 July 2018 a special meeting has been scheduled for vote on the merger agreement with The Walt Disney Company.

    In a statement put out, 21CF said the special meeting of its stockholders would, among other things, “consider and vote” on a proposal to adopt the previously announced merger agreement with The Walt Disney Company and certain of its subsidiaries.

    21CF’s board of directors recommends that stockholders vote in favour of the proposal to adopt the Disney Merger Agreement and the other proposals to be voted on at the special meeting.

    Comcast in recent times has said that it’s preparing a new bid for 21CF to counter the Disney offer, which if okayed by both the companies’ shareholders and boards, and regulators, would go on to create a global behemoth straddling most streams of media and entertainment sectors. It would also decide the roadmap for India’s biggest (unlisted) media company, Star India.

    The official statement from the Murdoch company said: “21CF is aware of the press release of Comcast Corporation of 23 May 2018, in which Comcast states that ‘it is considering, and is in advanced stages of preparing, an offer for the businesses of Fox that Fox has agreed to sell to Disney’. Under the Disney Merger Agreement, if any event occurs that 21CF determines, after consultation with outside legal counsel, is reasonably likely to require under applicable law the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure, 21CF may postpone or adjourn the special meeting of its stockholders to allow reasonable additional time for the filing, mailing, dissemination and review by its stockholders of any such disclosure prior to the special meeting.”

    21st Century Fox is one of the world’s leading portfolios of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. Reaching more than 1.8 billion subscribers in approximately 50 local languages every day, 21st Century Fox is home to a global portfolio of cable and broadcasting networks and properties, including FOX, FX, FXX, FXM, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FOX Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, Star India, 28 local television stations in the U.S. and more than 350 international channels.

    The portfolio also includes film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film, television production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television, 50 per cent ownership interest in Endemol Shine Group, apart from approximately 39.1 per cent of the issued shares of Sky, Europe’s leading entertainment company, which serves nearly 23 million households across five countries.

    Also Read :

    With Star India, Disney emerges as India’s largest M&E firm

    Lachlan Murdoch to lead New Fox after Disney sale, James is out

    Uday Shankar becomes president of 21st Century Fox, Asia

    Disney expected to announce 21 CF buyout tomorrow: media reports

  • Eros International profit margins up in FY 2018

    Eros International profit margins up in FY 2018

    BENGALURU: The Sunil Lulla-led Indian film and media company Eros International Media Ltd (Eros) saw EBITDA for the quarter ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, year, fiscal under review) of Rs 328.21 crore and a margin of 34.2 per cent of operating revenue, about 985 basis points more than the margin of 24.3 per cent for the previous year. PAT margin in FY 2018 also increased 606 basis points to 22.89 per cent of total revenue from 16.83 per cent in the previous fiscal. EBIT margin was 36.42 per cent of total income in FY 2018 as compared to 26.07 per cent of total income in the previous fiscal.

    Eros says that in FY 2018 it redefined its portfolio mix – margin expansion by investing in content driven films with high ROI potential and where the content risk was largely covered, in turn making Eros lesser dependent on box office numbers. The company’s revenues declined sharply in the year under review as compared to the previous year. Eros net sales/income from operations declined 31.4 per cent to Rs 960.16 crore in fiscal 2018 from Rs 1,399.70 crore in the previous year. Total income reduced 30.1 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 1,010.01 crore from Rs 1,445.28 crore in FY 2017.

    Though EBITDA and EBIT margins were higher, overall, both these profit matrices declined in terms of rupees. EBITDA in FY 2018 at Rs 328.31 crore was 3.7 per cent lower than Rs 340.75 crore in FY 2017. EBIT in FY 2018 at Rs 367.88 crore was 2.4 per cent lower than the Rs 376.75 crore in the previous fiscal. PAT in the year under review at Rs 231.22 crore was five per cent lower than Rs 243.29 crore in FY 2017.

    Eros reported 35.7 per cent decline in total expenditure in FY 2018 at Rs 722.66 crore from Rs 1,123.05 crore in FY 2017. Films rights costs including amortisation costs declined to almost half (down 49.1 per cent) in FY 2018 at Rs 399.27 crore from Rs 784.84 crore in the previous fiscal. Employee benefits expense in FY 2018 declined 16.4 per cent to Rs 58.94 crore from Rs 70.53 crore in FY 2017.

    Finance costs increased 47.7 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 80.53 crore from Rs 54.22 crore in the previous year. Other expenses reduced 12.8 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 175.05 crore from Rs 200.64 crore in FY 2017.

    In its investor presentation, Eros says that revenue breakup as percentage of revenue from operations for FY 2018 was theatrical revenue 42.8 per cent; television and others 46.3 per cent; and overseas 10.9 percent. For FY 2017, the company had indicated break up as theatrical 42.5 per cent; television and others 31.1 per cent; overseas 26.4 per cent. Hence, contribution of revenue from television and others in FY 2018 was much higher than in the previous year. Theatrical revenue was about the same in both the years, and revenue from overseas declined sharply in FY 2018 as compared to FY 2017.

    The company released 25 films – one high budget, four medium budget and 19 low budget films in FY 2018. Of these films, 14 were Hindi, one was Tamil/Telugu and nine were in regional language films.

    In FY 2017, Eros had released 44 films – five high budget films, 10 medium budget films and 29 low budget films. 11 films were Hindi, 18 in Tamil/Telugu and 15 were regional films.

    Eros says that it remains focused on its film pipeline, with 40 to 50 films across languages slated to release during financial year 2019.

    Eros Now

    The company says that its subscriber base for its OTT platform Eros Now has grown to 100 million (10 crore, 1,000 lakh) in FY 2018 from 60 million (6 crore, 600 lakh) at the end of the previous year. Paying subscriber base for the platform has grown to 7.1 million (0.71 crore, 71 lakh) in FY 2018 from 2.1 millon (0.21 crore, 21 lakh) at the end of the previous year.

    Company speak

    Eros executive chairman and managing director Lulla said, “This year has been an inflection point for Eros where we have truly turned the corner and grown in to India’s first fully vertically integrated independent studio. The pioneering spirit is prevalent in our leadership DNA as we further consolidate a fragmented market place as well as making Indian filmed entertainment truly global. As the dynamics of the country change with connectivity at the core of distribution we are uniquely positioned to leverage these trends with content being the key driving force. Our strategy of a content driven approach reflected in a robust green lighting process enables us to de-risk our model with an increasingly successful slate, with Newton India’s entry to the Oscars, hit comedy Shubh Mangal Savdhan and sports based drama Mukkabaaz.

    “Additionally the democratisation of theatrical consumption of content has skewed our strategy to be increasingly focused on catering to the regional demographic which is reflected in our slate mix Aamhi Doghi (Marathi), Rong Beronger Kori (Bengali), Oru Kidayin Karunai Manu (Tamil), Aake (Kannada), Viswa  Vikhyatharaya Payyanmar (Malayalam) amongst others.

    “Looking ahead to this coming year we are excited about our future slate with a trilingual remake of our classic library film Haathi Mere Saathi directed by Prabhu Salomon, starring Rana Daggubati as well as Bhavesh Joshi.  Leveraging our group’s strong talent relationships built over the past 40 years is also key to our growth trajectory. The relationship we share with Colour Yellow Productions and Anand L Rai has enabled us not to only to have a strong theatrical release pipeline with Manmarziyan and sequel to blockbuster film Happy Bhag Jayegi, Happy Phir Bhag Jayegi starring Sonakshi Sinha, but also to break the norms across the entertainment ecosystem. We successfully premiered India’s first straight to digital film, Eros Now original, Meri Nimmo on our platform. As we make strides foraying into original content, we are confident our film and originals slate will contribute further to accelerating Eros Now’s paying subs growth which this year itself is over 270 per cent.

    “With content slate and scale being a key driver, we have also entered into the strategic content partnership with Reliance Industries to jointly produce and consolidate content across India. The $150 million joint venture adds significant scale to Eros’ pre existing slate while mitigating investment risks as we benefit by leveraging our robust distribution network. We look forward to collaboratively growing this joint venture and further strengthening our fundamentals; content creation, distribution and a robust balance sheet allowing us to experience momentous improvements in our margins.

    “We have ended the fiscal with a very strong quarter with an EBIT growth of 61.5 percent and a PAT growth of 80.4 per cent. For the full year FY2018, the company has witnessed the EBIT margin increase at 10.3 per cent and an increase of 4.9 per cent PAT margin. We look forward to fiscal 2019 by further proving our strategies and paving the road ahead for a truly global Indian entertainment experience.”

  • Zee Cinema to air the World TV Premiere of the family entertainer Pad Man on Saturday, 26th May at 8PM

    Zee Cinema to air the World TV Premiere of the family entertainer Pad Man on Saturday, 26th May at 8PM

    MUMBAI: The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. A movie that dared to break stereotypes and talk about a tabooed topic, Pad Man was instrumental in creating a platform to discuss female hygiene in the country. Helmed by the celebrated director R Balki, Pad Man is a biographical drama based on the inspiring life of the social entrepreneur Arunachalam Muruganantham, and features Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor in the lead. Zee Cinema, Home of Blockbusters will showcase the World TV Premiere of this blockbuster on Saturday, 26th May at 8 PM.

    Like Toilet Ek Prem Katha, Pad Man, is about the great lengths a loving husband will go to for the happiness and the health of his wife. The movie tells the story of a one man’s crusade to provide affordable sanitary protection for all women and is certainly a complete family entertainer. Bollywood celebrities praised the makers as well as the actors for curating such a great film which focuses on a social cause like removing the stigma around periods. From Karan Johar, Ayushmann Khurrana, Yami Gautam, Swara Bhasker to Homi Adajania, celebrities called the film uplifting, inspiring and phenomenal.

    Akshay Kumar who plays Lakshmikant Chauhan in the movie says, “With the World Television Premiere of Pad Man, I am glad that the movie will reach every household. I would like to urge the audience to watch the movie with the entire family. Every husband, father, brother and son should understand the need of menstrual hygiene for the women in their lives and not treat her like an outcast during those days of her life. I want mothers to lead by example for their children. I want daughters to gain strength from vulnerability by learning from what their mother didn’t do.”   

    Sonam Kapoor says, “Pad Man is very close to my heart and the team has put in their heart and soul in the movie. It is a simple story of an ordinary man who dares to think differently and ends up doing something extraordinary for women around him. I am extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful team and I would like to thank Balki sir and Akshay for being such amazing people. I am very glad that Pad Man was successful in creating and continues to create the kind of impact and awareness that we were hoping to create. All the people who missed out on watching the movie on the big screen can now catch the world television premiere on Zee Cinema and experience this wonderful journey.”

    Pad Man follows the life of Laxmikant Chauhan (Akshay Kumar) and Gayatri (Radhika Apte), a happy go lucky couple. Laxmikant is deeply in love with his wife and will do anything for her comfort and happiness. Laxmikant is outraged that Gayatri uses a dirty cloth and is confined to a corner of the house for the duration of her menstrual cycle. His growing obsession with sanitation and experiments to create an affordable alternative horrify Gayatri and his extended family. Laxmikant’s war might be waged in the name of his tradition-bound and submissive wife, but it is another woman who nudges him towards success. Business school graduate Pari (Sonam Kapoor) enters Laxmikant’s life and helps him with sales and marketing to revolutionise female sanitation not only in India but globally.

    Will his wife Gayatri and the other women come out in support of his endeavour, breaking the shackles of ancient taboos?

  • Watch Rani Mukerji’s ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award’ winning performance in ‘Hichki’ only on Sony MAX

    Watch Rani Mukerji’s ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award’ winning performance in ‘Hichki’ only on Sony MAX

    MUMBAI: After garnering success at the box office and a heart-warming response from the audience, the Rani Mukerji starrer ‘Hichki’ is all set for its Worldwide Television Premiere only on Sony Pictures Networks’ number 1 Hindi movie channel, Sony MAX on Saturday, 26th March at 9pm. Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, Hichki is a journey of a woman who turns her most daunting weakness into her biggest strength. 

    Naina Mathur (Rani Mukerji) is an aspiring teacher who suffers from tourette syndrome. After multiple interviews and several rejections, she achieves her dream of being a full-time teacher in one of the most elite schools in the city. However, she soon realises that the class she has been assigned comprises of defiant and impish students who cannot seem to keep out of trouble. Despite a few hiccups initially, Naina must do whatever she can to ensure that her students realise their true potential, and prove themselves against all odds. 

  • World Television Premiere of Raid on Star Gold

    World Television Premiere of Raid on Star Gold

    MUMBAI: This May, Star Gold to bring the World Television Premiere of Raid. Touted as first Bollywood project to be based on an Income Tax raid, this Ajay Devgn starrer hit will be showcased on 27th May 2018, Sunday at 1 PM on Star Gold. 

    The Home of Blockbuster gives you an opportunity to witness the latest action-crime thriller, “Raid”, telecasting within 2 months of its theatrical release. Helmed by Raj Kumar Gupta, who is known for directing movies like No One Killed Jessica and Aamir yet again brings another gripping story which is rooted in reality.

    Based on a true incident from the 1980s, Raid explores one of the most high-profile raids executed in the country, boasting power dialogues and eminent star cast. Starring Ajay Devgn as an honest government officer and masterful Saurabh Shukla in the role of a wealthy goon, the drama also features Ileana D’Cruz portraying the role of Ajay’s wife. The couple seem to have teamed up together for the second time after Baadshaho.

    Centered around the longest and well-crafted Income Tax raids of the country, Raid showcases the struggle an of an upright Income Tax Officer, Amay Patnaik who conducts a raid at the mansion of the most powerful man in Lucknow.
     

  • Shemaroo reports improved numbers; board recommends dividend

    Shemaroo reports improved numbers; board recommends dividend

    BENGALURU: Indian integrated media content house Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd (Shemaroo) reported higher number including profit after tax (PAT) and total comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, year under review, period under review) as compared to the previous year (FY 2017, previous year, previous fiscal). The board of directors has recommended a dividend of 15.5 per cent (Rs 1.55) per equity share of face value of Rs 10 subject to shareholder approval.

    Shemaroo reported 14.4 per cent higher consolidated total revenue for the year under review at Rs488.63 crore as compared to the Rs 425.53 crore in FY 2017. Revenue from operations increased 14.8 per cent to Rs 488.63 crore in FY 2018 from Rs 425.53 crore in FY 2017. 

    Shemaroo’s consolidated PAT for the year under review improved 19.5 per cent to Rs 71.25 crore (14.6 per cent margin of operating revenue) as compared to the Rs 59.64 crore (14 per cent margin of operating revenue) in the previous year. Shemaroo’s consolidated operating EBITDA in FY 2018 at Rs 142.10 crore (29.1 per cent margin of operating revenue) increased 11.4 per cent from Rs 120.56 crore (30 per cent margin of operating revenue) in the previous fiscal.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Shemaroo

    The company’s total expenditure (TE) in FY 2018 at Rs 382.38 crore (78.3. per cent of operating revenue) was 14.3 per cent more than the Rs 334.68 crore (78.7 per cent of operating revenue). Operating costs in FY 2018 increased 14.2 per cent to Rs 278.28 crore (57 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 243.78 crore (57.3 per cent of operating revenue) in the previous fiscal.

    Employee benefits expense increased 27.5 per cent during the year under review to Rs 39.69 crore (8.1 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 31.14 crore (7.3 per cent of operating revenue) in FY 2017.Other expenses increased 23.9 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 28.57 crore (5.8 per cent of operating revenue) from Rs 23.06 crore (5.4 per cent of operating revenue) reported for the previous year.

    Also Read:

    Shemaroo appoints Hiren Gada as CEO in leadership rejig

    Shemaroo Entertainment Strengthens its Live Darshan Offerings

    Shemaroo Entertainment announces two new appointments