ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • CNBC TV18 to air ‘What’s Hot’ from 2 February

    CNBC TV18 to air ‘What’s Hot’ from 2 February

    NEW DELHI: Network 18’s English business news channel CNBC TV18 is set to air its new programme What’s Hot from 2 February.

    Says CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz VP-marketing Neel Chowdhury, “The show is aimed at satisfying each viewer’s pursuit for knowledge and information that affects them the most. With What’s Hot we now offer our viewers a balanced viewpoint and a complete perspective by focusing on the main stories for the day.”

    Hosted by Shereen Bhan and Harsha Subramaniam, the new half-hour show aims to provide viewers with comprehensive coverage of the top three stories from the world of business, politics and entertainment in India and across the world.

  • NDTV denies rumours of MetroNation shutdown

    NDTV denies rumours of MetroNation shutdown

    NEW DELHI: Speculation has been doing the rounds that NDTV might bring the shutter down on its city centric news channel MetroNation, which is currently operational in Delhi. However, the media company has cleared the air saying, that there is no question of a shutdown, rather it will go ahead with its planned launch of its MetroNation Chennai though a date has not been fixed yet.

    Speaking to indiantelevision.com NDTV MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla said, “We know there are lots of rumours doing the rounds with regards to MetroNation, but we are not going to close down the channel. Also our plan to launch the channel in Chennai is very much in progress. We have already hired about 90 people down south. However, we have not fixed the date for launching the channel yet.”

    NDTV has partnered with Kasturi & Sons Ltd, publisher of The Hindu to launch MetroNation Chennai.

    Kastrui & Sons managing director N. Murali added, “We will definitely launch the channel, but we are yet to decide the timing.”

    Earlier in August, 2008, Lulla had told indiantelevision.com that the NDTV Group will roll out the channel in Chennai by October-end followed by the launch of MetroNation Mumbai by end fiscal 2008-09.

    And while, NDTV Group is rationalising costs, the media company has not handed pink slips to its MetroNation employees in and continues to produce programming. Explained Lulla: “At this time of recession like every other company, we are also trying to control our costs as best as we can. But we have not cut any jobs as of now. Also the channel has fresh content on air till date.”

    MetroNation Delhi has about 165 employees at the moment.

  • NDTV Q3 net loss widens to Rs 1.2 billion

    NDTV Q3 net loss widens to Rs 1.2 billion

    MUMBAI: The grim tale of economic downturn continues with yet another media company posting poor third-quarter results. NDTV Ltd’s consolidated net loss has widened to Rs 1.21 billion, as against a loss of Rs 320.2 million in the quarter ended 31 December, 2007.

    The figures also capture the losses made on the entertainment and allied business of Rs 1.04 billion.

    NDTV’s revenue grew 12 per cent to Rs 1.31 billion, from Rs 1.08 billion a year ago.

    The company said that the change in the external environment and the economic downturn has resulted in a visible slowdown in advertising revenues not just for NDTV, but for the industry as a whole. It also mentioned that it has already initiated major rationalisation of costs on all fronts – distribution, personnel and administration, to improve efficiency and streamline operations.

    It claimed that the group has cash balance of over Rs 4 billion, net of all debt, to meet any future business expense requirements including new programming and developments.

    The company’s total expenditure stood at Rs 2.33 billion, nearly double from Rs 1.19 billion on a year-on-year basis. Operating expenses shot up mainly due to rise in marketing, distribution, promotional and production costs.

    On a standalone basis, NDTV posted a net loss of Rs 174.8 million for the third quarter ended 31 December 2008 while revenue was at Rs 825.9 million.

    NDTV has received confirmation of no objection from the stock exchanges (BSE, NSE) for the de-merger of news and entertainment businesses and it will be filing the scheme with the Delhi High Court, the company said in a statement.

  • Zee 24 Ghantalu to now launch in February

    Zee 24 Ghantalu to now launch in February

    MUMBAI: Zee News Ltd (ZNL) has rescheduled the launch of its Telugu news channel for February this year. Earlier, the company was planning to launch the channel by November 2008.

    The channel, christened Zee 24 Ghantalu, has incurred a loss of Rs 9.26 million during the nine-month period ended 31 December 2008.

    ZNL is also planning to launch a regional news channel in Uttar Pradesh during the fourth-quarter of this fiscal.

  • Zee News Ltd bucks trend, posts strong Q3 growth

    Zee News Ltd bucks trend, posts strong Q3 growth

    MUMBAI: Bucking the trend of a slow ad growth, Zee News Limited (ZNL) posted a 45.4 per cent jump in third-quarter revenue over the year-ago period, with regional channels driving the pace.

    Consolidated revenue stood at Rs 1.43 billion for the quarter ended 31 December 2008, sending signals that regional advertisers can come to the rescue of channels that successfully target such audiences.

    Net profit was up 18.38 per cent to Rs 151.27 million for the quarter under review, as ZNL kept costs under control.

    Says Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra, “Our bouquet composition, aggressive and innovative strategy and an ever cost-conscious approach to business helped us achieve this feat – something seemingly impossible for most other media organisations.”

    ZNL’s advertising revenues grew by 38.8 per cent to Rs 1.12 billion while subscription earnings stood 46.4 per cent up to Rs 236 million for the third quarter of the fiscal.

    ZNL’s standalone net profit stood at Rs 153.71 million, up 19.7 per cent from a year earlier. Revenue was up 45.78 per cent to Rs 1.39 billion for the quarter under review.

    Says Zee News CEO Barun Das, “The existing businesses continued to grow and recorded 23 per cent growth in operating revenues while the same for new businesses was 333.3 per cent. This has helped us outperform the market.”

    Zee Telugu, Zee Kannada, Zee 24 Taas, Zee Tamil, Zee Talkies and Zee 24 Ghantalu (yet to launch), which are considered as ‘New Businesses,’ have incurred an operating loss of Rs 394.83 million during the nine-month period ended 31 December, 2008. The loss on Zee 24 Ghantalu (Telugu news channel) was Rs 9.26 million during the period.

    The company is critically reviewing the performance of its channels and has announced the closure of Zee Gujarati from 30 April. Says Chandra, “While we are strategically expanding our presence, the channels which are not likely to make profit in the near future have been critically reviewed by the company. The board has approved the closure of Zee Gujarati with effect from 30 April, 2009. The forthcoming UP news channel launch will be a key strategic expansion along with other regional proliferation of our products and services.”

    Zee Akaash News Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ZNL that operates Bengali news channel 24 Ghanta, has incurred an operating loss of Rs 6.96 million during the nine-month period ended 31 December, 2008.

  • BBC World News to host ‘Spirit of Golf’ tournament in New Delhi

    BBC World News to host ‘Spirit of Golf’ tournament in New Delhi

    MUMBAI: BBC World News is set to host the Spirit of Golf 2009 tournament, to be held on 24 January at the Jaypee Green grounds, New Delhi.

    BBC World News is hosting the event in association with the Ministry of Tourism, India. Participants will include corporate leaders and top bureaucrats.

    BBC Worldwide director advertising sales Jonathan Howlett says, “It’s wonderful to be returning to New Delhi for the 2009 Spirit of Golf tournament, and it’s equally great to be continuing our long standing association with the Ministry of Tourism, as well as many returning sponsors. The tournament has become a highlight of our calendar, especially with the great facilities here in India.”

    While wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon is an associate sponsor for Spirit of Golf 2009, the prizes for the tournament have been sponsored by HP, RBS, Visit London, Thistle & Guoman, Virgin Atlantic, Sri Lanka Tourism and Volkswagen.

    Ministry of Tourism joint secretary Leena Nandan says, “People from across the globe have been taken with Indian art, culture and heritage; however, India has a contemporary side to it as well, and our golf infrastructure is a manifestation of that. With this in mind, we are delighted to be associated with the BBC World News Spirit of Golf tournament in 2009.”

  • UP news channel Jan Sandesh launches

    UP news channel Jan Sandesh launches

    MUMBAI: Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the hot bed for news channels ahead of elections. Jan Sandesh is the latest to launch, aiming to garner local audiences in this politically active market.

    Headquartered in a fully equipped studio in Film City, Noida, the channel will rely on its four OB-Vans, 11 bureaus and 75 stringers across Uttar Pradesh for news.

    The channel has the tag line “Apna Pradesh, Apna Desh.” The programming line-up includes Good Morning UP and shows based on health, food, film, travel, astrology, devotional, women’s special, children, youth and career, comedy and variety.

    “We have launched the channel and are available on cable networks across the state except on DEN. Soon we will expand this reach to MP, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and other places where there is a sizeable UP population,” says Deepak Bajaj, the channel head of Jan Sandesh.

    The channel has roped in Girish Juneja as executive editor for news and programming. He moves in from CNEB news channel where he was creative and programming head.

    Sahara is the only player which runs a local news channel in UP. Zee is also planing to soon launch a regional channel in UP.

  • Times Group’s biz channel is ET Now

    Times Group’s biz channel is ET Now

    MUMBAI: Times Global Broadcasting has announced the name of its English business news channel as ET Now.

    The channel is likely to launch by April. When contacted, Times Global Broadcasting CEO Chintamani Rao said: “ET Now will launch in the first half of this year.”

    The logo of the channel was unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 17 January, at the Economic Times awards in Mumbai.

    The channel will focus on breaking and trend stories.

    Lowe Lintas will be handling the creative duties of the channel while the media account will be with Lodestar Universal.

  • CNN-IBN to air cookery show Secret Kitchen on 17 and 24 January

    CNN-IBN to air cookery show Secret Kitchen on 17 and 24 January

    NEW DELHI: CNN-IBN will telecast the first part of its cookery show Secret Kitchen on 17 January at 12.30 pm. The second part will be telecast on 24 January at 6.30 pm.

    Hosted by Bikramjit Ray, the two special episodes aims to showcase the finest of cuisines and history behind them across cities like Hong Kong, Belgium and Sri Lanka.

    Says IBN 18 Network editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai, “Secret Kitchen, our flagship series on hidden and dying recipes, had garnered viewer interest in the previous two seasons. This two-part Secret Kitchen international season is an effort to bring to our discerning viewers the international cuisines as discovered by our host. We hope that our viewers relish the same once again.”

  • CNN unveils coverage plans for Obama’s inauguration

    CNN unveils coverage plans for Obama’s inauguration

    MUMBAI: CNN will screen the inauguration of US President-elect Barack Obama. Airing on 20 January 2009 from 3.30 pm, the coverage includes the swearing-in ceremony at 10.30 pm and the inauguration parade.

     

    The Inauguration of Barack Obama will kick off with live programming from Capitol Hill from 3.30 pm. Beginning at 8.30 pm, CNN’s coverage location will move to the Newseum where Blitzer and Cooper will be joined by senior political analysts Gloria Borger and David Gergen. Chief national correspondent John King will transport the network’s Magic Wall to a balcony inside the Newseum in order to illustrate traffic and hotspots around Washington. Also reporting from the Newseum, Campbell Brown will cover the day’s events and will moderate a panel with members of CNN’s Best Political Team on Television.

     

    The Inauguration of Barack Obama will continue with a special edition of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on 21 January from 2.30 am to 5.30 am, which will include live coverage of the parade, as well as a recap of the day’s events. From 5.30 am to 10.30 am Campbell Brown and Anderson Cooper will continue live from Washington DC, with a special edition of Anderson Cooper 360? which will include live reporting from the 10 official inaugural balls. Larry King will then host a special edition of Larry King Live from the Washington, D.C. bureau from 10.30 am to 11.30 am.