ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • NewsX lines up shows to cover Assembly polls

    NewsX lines up shows to cover Assembly polls

    NEW DELHI: NewsX has lined up a slew of programmes for the up-coming state Assembly elections.

    The programmng line-up includes coverage of daily happenings across various states and constituencies in ‘Poll Pulse’ everyday between 8.30 – 9 pm. Every Saturday at 9 pm the channel will show Be a Party to the Great Debate, featuring eminent local speakers, anchored by Shireen.

    The Contender will give a sneak peak to the Chief Ministerial candidates and their performance and perception, followed by a discussion with the panelists on their strengths, weaknesses and prospects on every Sunday between at 9.30 pm.

    Says INX News newsroom head Arup Ghosh, “The election series is all about unleashing stark realities, highlighting subjects that matter and showcasing people who will decide the country’s future. Be it the capital’s sealing drive and its aftermath, the politics of Jammu and Kashmir, Gujjar-protest for reservations in Rajasthan, impetus of naxalites in Chattisgarh and acute power shortage in Madhya Pradesh or national fiscal set back; the coverage will map it all. We want to enable our viewers to make an informed choice.”

    The 50-day programme schedule, will comprise daily, weekly and fortnightly shows leading to the grand finale delving on the results. The series will conclude with the Jammu & Kashmir poll results on 28 December.

  • News channels spend highest time on crime stories

    News channels spend highest time on crime stories

    MUMBAI:Crime, law and order stories rule the roost on news channels. At least for the period 14 September to 24 October 2008 when news channels dedicated 29 per cent of their coverage time on such kind of content, according to News Content Track (NCT), a monitoring service recently launched by Tam.

    The study conducted by Tam covers Hindi channels Aaj Tak and Star News and English channels Times Now and NDTV 24X7.

    During the period, news channels have spent 513.22 hours of programming on crime, law and order stories. Next in the rung is sports coverage which occupies 13.48 per cent (234.09 hours).

    Top content type
    CONTENT TYPE    Duration in Hour:Min:Secs    % contribution
    CRIME/LAW & ORDER
    513:22:25
    29.54
    SPORTS NEWS
    234:09:29
    13.48
    POLITICAL NEWS/GOVERNMENT NEWS
    217:51:04
    12.54
    ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
    199:30:19
    11.48
    FINANCIAL NEWS
    121:29:59
    6.99
    BUSINESS NEWS
    66:46:40
    3.84
    SOCIAL
    58:49:14
    3.39
    SPIRITUAL/RELIGION
    57:27:32
    3.31
    ASTROLOGY
    57:05:23
    3.29
    MISHAPS/FAILURE OF MACHINERY
    44:38:12
    2.57
    source : News Content Track, Tam
    period : 14 Sept- 24 Oct

    News on politics is still not the favourite with news channels. Political news covers only 12.54 per cent (217.51 hours), followed by entertainment news which is 11.48 per cent (199.30 hours) of the entire programming.

    News channels spent 6.99 per cent on financial news and 3.84 per cent on business news. Humour covers 2.17 per cent of the time while news on sting and scandals contributes 0.02 per cent. News channels spend the minimum time on spoofs (0.01 per cent, 0.08 minutes).

    Top stories
    Story
    Total    %
    DELHI BOMB BLASTS
    115:13:26
    6.63
    BORDER GAVASKAR SERIES 08
    74:03:48
    4.26
    BOLLYWOOD UPDATES
    57:21:48
    3.30
    ZODIAC FORECAST
    57:05:13
    3.29
    SHOOT OUT IN DELHI
    51:34:40
    2.97
    AUSTRALIA TOUR OF INDIA(2008)
    49:41:01
    2.86
    INDIAN MARKET UPDATES
    40:39:20
    2.34
    COMEDY PROGRAM
    37:24:24
    2.15
    MNS WORKERS BEAT UP OUTSTATION CANDIDATES (MUMBAI)
    36:26:22
    2.10
    REPORT ON BLASTS IN INDIA
    34:41:58
    2.00
    source : News Content Track, Tam
    period : 14 Sept- 24 Oct

    The Delhi bomb blast became the top story (6.63 per cent) that was shown repeatedly by the news channels during this period, followed by the India-Australia cricket series (4.26 per cent). In the top story ranking, Bollywood updates covered 3.30 per cent while zodiac forecast was 3.29 per cent.

  • CNN is top network with 13.3 mn viewers on US election day

    CNN is top network with 13.3 mn viewers on US election day

    MUMBAI: The Obama smile spread to CNN which emerged as the most-watched network on the election day. CNN garnered 13.3 million viewers to take the top spot that day, according to Nielsen Online Custom Analysis data, P2+ Home/Work Panel.

    ABC had a total viewership of 12.5 million, followed by NBC (11.9 million), Telemundo (8.5 million), FNC (8.1 million), CBS (7.5 million), MSBNC (6.4 million) and Fox (4.7 million).

    CNN topped the cable news competition with an average of 12.3 million total viewers tuning in during primetime, a 36 per cent advantage over FNC’s 9 million and an impressive 109 per cent lead over MSNBC’s 5.9 million.

    Among adults 25-54, CNN was also number 1 with 5.8 million, a 48 per cent advantage over FNC’s 3.9 million and 119 per cent lead over MSNBC’s 2.7 million demo viewers. Among younger viewers 18-34, CNN was also first with 3.4 million. FNC stood second with 1.8 million while MSNBC was third with 1.4 million.

    CNN had the largest gains in prime time compared to 2004 in 25-54, up 102 per cent, while FNC only increased 4 per cent and MSNBC was up 87 per cent. (This was also reflected in total day where CNN grew the most among 25-54, up 97 per cent and MSNBC was up 94 per cent, while FNC declined 16 per cent).

    CNN.com delivered the largest daily audience in its history with 30 million unique visitors on Election Day, more than doubling the previous record of 13.4 million generated on Super Tuesday of this year.

    CNN.com Live, the Internet’s only multi-stream, live video news service, pocketed 5.3 million live streams on election day. The number of live video streams served by CNN.com on election day is nearly triple that of its previous daily streaming record, which was set on 1 September, 2008 – the first day of the RNC and the day Hurricane Gustav made landfall. CNN.com also served an additional 6.8 million on-demand video streams on 4 November.

  • IBN18 Q2 net loss at Rs 107.94 million

    IBN18 Q2 net loss at Rs 107.94 million

    MUMBAI : IBN18 (erstwhile Global Broadcast News) has posted a stand alone net loss of Rs 107.94 million in the quarter ended 30 September 2008, as against a loss of Rs 63.60 million in the same quarter of last year.

    The scheme of arrangement between BK Fincap, Jagran TV (JTV) and the company for acquisition of IBN 7 business from JTV and merger of BK Fincap into the company with effect 1 and 2 October 2007 respectively has been approved by the Delhi High Court and Allahabad High Court during the quarter.

    Consequently the net loss of Rs 67.8 million and Rs Nil (as per management accounts) on behalf of JTV and BK Fincap respectively for the second quarter FY 09 and net loss of Rs 155.1 million and Rs nil on behalf of JTV and BK Fincap respectively will be merged with the IBN18 Broadcast.

    IBN Lokmat has incurred a loss of Rs 96.4 million. The company’s share of loss based upon its holding in IBN Lokmat is Rs 48.2 million for the second quarter. Having regard to the long term investment and strategic involvement, no provision is considered necessary for diminution in the value of investment.

    During the quarter, the company’s revenue stood at Rs 304.65 million as compared to Rs 259.96 million in the year ago period.

    IBN18’s expenditure has jumped to Rs 386.2 million in the second quarter of FY 09 as against Rs 301.9 million in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. It has spent Rs 90.15 million on marketing, distribution and promotional expenses.

    On a consolidated basis, the company’s net loss stands at Rs 189.4 million on revenue of Rs 307.68 million for the second quarter of the current fiscal.

    Consolidated expenses for the company is Rs 434 million.

  • NewsX ties up with A1GP as exclusive media partner

    NewsX ties up with A1GP as exclusive media partner

    NEW DELHI: English news channels NewsX has partnered with A1GP as its exclusive media partner.

    Says INX News marketing director Gautam, Mukerjea, “International sports like motor racing are becoming widely popular in our country and we are very excited about covering A1GP for the sports enthusiasts in India. The A1GP World Cup will provide the cutting-edge that our viewers expect from a news channel like NewsX, which also has a strong association with sports news programming.”

    The news channel’s team will travel with the Indian team for all six races and will show the action through programme Full Throttle, 30-minute-long feature on motor sports.

    The team for this season is led by Narain Karthikeyan, Armaan Ebrahim and Parthiv Sureshwaren.

  • Zee News to invest $5 mn in UP news channel

    Zee News to invest $5 mn in UP news channel

    MUMBAI: Zee News Limited (ZNL) will invest $5 million in its news channel for Uttar Pradesh, a market where only Sahara operates.

    Zee 24 Ghante plans to launch by the end of the fiscal. “We are investing $5 million in the channel. We aim to break even in 18-24 months as the marketplace has just Sahara which makes around $4 million,” a senior executive in the company said.

    ZNL expects to suffer a loss of Rs 700 million from new businesses during the fiscal. For the first half of the year, the company has already incurred losses of Rs 280 million. While the newly-launched Tamil general entertainment channel, Zee Tamizh, booked a loss of Rs 50 million in the quarter, this is expected to go up in the subsequent quarters as the investments climb.

    “We are in talks with SCV, Sun Group’s cable TV company, for carriage of our channel. The distribution costs would go up as we aggressively push the channel,” the source added.

    Zee Telugu, the Telugu GEC, has broken even and plans are afoot to launch Telugu news channel Zee 24 Ghantalu in November. ZNL is also looking at innovative strategic investments to further expand the business in regional markets.

    Marathi movie channel Zee Talkies, which has been transferred from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd to ZNL from 1 August, is close to break even. “We are not revising our loss guidance from new businesses despite adding a few new channels during the fiscal,” the source said.

    Zee News posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 114.7 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2008, up 104.4 per cent from Rs 56.1 million in the previous year. Revenue jumped 60 per cent to stand at Rs 1.27 billion as compared to Rs 798.1 million in the prior year.

  • TV18 Q2 net loss at Rs 245.57 million

    TV18 Q2 net loss at Rs 245.57 million

    MUMBAI: TV18 has posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 245.57 million (after ESOP charge out) for the quarter ended 30 September 2008, as against a profit of Rs 49.67 million in the year ago period.

    During the quarter, the company’s income has increased from Rs 1.30 billion as compared to Rs 882.98 million in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

    The company has taken control of the board of directors of Infomedia18 Limited on 21 August and consequently the results of Infomedia18 Limited have been consolidated for the period from 21 August to 30 September on the basis of the management control.

    TV18 MD Raghav Bahl said: “We have managed to grow our business news revenues in a very tough operating environment. That is a splendid testimony to the robust programming, audience loyalty and brand premium built by CNBC-TV18 and CNBC-Awaaz. Although operating margins have dropped from the steady 50 per cent seen during the preceding bull market, we are satisfied by the fact that we have managed to hold around the 40 per cent mark, and have grown both our revenues and operating margins compared to the previous quarter. We hope to maintain the current performance of our business news operations for the rest of the year.”

    Net profit (after Esop charge out) from news operations of the company, which include CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, has slipped to Rs 76.06 million in the second quarter of this fiscal, from Rs 156.93 million in the prior year quarter.

    Revenue from news operations has seen a downfall to Rs 808.23 million, from Rs 735.05 million in the year ago period.

    Newswire18’s net loss stood at Rs 40.26 million in the second quarter. Revenue from Newswire18 has seen a growth of 107 per cent to stand at Rs 51.20 million, from Rs 24.69 million in the year ago period. It is planning to distribute terminals in overseas market.

    Infomedia’s net loss stood at Rs 1.10 million while revenue earned from operations is Rs 290.48 million.

  • Zee News Q2 net up at Rs 114.7 million

    Zee News Q2 net up at Rs 114.7 million

    MUMBAI: Zee News Limited (ZNL) has posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 114.7 million for the quarter ended 30 September, 2008, up 104.4 per cent from Rs 56.1 million in the previous year.

    During the period, the company’s revenue jumped 60 per cent to stand at Rs 1.27 billion as compared to Rs 798.1 million in the prior year.

    Advertisement revenue increased 60.8 per cent to Rs 1.01 billion while subscription revenue grew 56.2 per cent to stand at Rs 234 million.

    Zee Group chairman Subhash Chandra said, “In this time of a perceptible global economic slowdown and challenging macroeconomic environment during which investor confidence is certainly not at its peak, Zee News Limited has delivered excellent results in the second quarter of FY’09. The company has maintained its growth momentum and recorded a healthy 60 per cent increase in top line of Rs 1.27 billion. Consolidated EBIDTA stood at Rs 212 million, up 99.3 per cent. As per our guidance given, the Telugu channel has broken even in this quarter.”

    After launching the Tamil general entertainment channel on 12 October, ZNL plans to launch the Telugu news channel, Zee 24 Ghantalu, in November. Plans are also afoot to launch UP news channel Zee 24 Ghante. “In line with our vision of regional expansion, we may as well look for certain innovative strategic investments in the coming period,” Chandra added.

    Marathi movie channel Zee Talkies has been transferred to ZNL with effect from 1 August.

    Commenting on the results, ZNL MD Laxmi Narain Goel said: “The existing businesses continued to grow and recorded around 45 per cent growth in operating revenues while the same for new businesses was 226 per cent. Viewership too experienced an upward spiral with almost all the Zee News Limited channels experiencing a growth in channel share compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal.”

    Added Zee News CEO Barun Das, “In our new businesses, both Zee Telugu and Zee Kannada are gaining traction in their respective markets and delivering growing revenues and GRPs. While Zee Telugu has broken even, Zee Kannada is strongly on the path to break even as per our previous guidance.”

  • Fake sting operation victim withdraws defamation case against Live India

    Fake sting operation victim withdraws defamation case against Live India

    MUMBAI : Uma Khurana, victim of a fake sting operation, has withdrwan her defamation complaint against Hindi news channel Live India and its CEO Sudhir Chaudhary after settling the matter with them.

    In an application before a court in Delhi, Khurana said that she has settled the issue “amicably” with regard to the sting operation with Live India TV Channel and its CEO Sudhir Chaudhary and did not want to pursue the matter.

    Khurana, a teacher in Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, had filed in November last year a complaint through her counsel Amit Kumar, alleging that the TV Channel’s reporter had conducted a fake sting operation, which was approved for telecast by Chaudhary, that damaged her reputation.

    “Since the matter has been settled/compromised between me and Live India TV Channel and Chaudhary, I do not want to proceed this case against other accused TV reporter Prakash Singh also. I am withdrawing this complaint against all accused,” she submitted in a statement before the court.

    Taking her application into consideration, Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Jindal said: “I am of the view that the matter has been settled.”

    Khurana had not only been manhandled by the protesting mob following the telecast of the fake sting operation on 30 August last year, but was also terminated from her service by the Delhi Government.

    The court, however, had let off her in the criminal case, after the police chargesheet said that there was no “incriminating” evidence against her.

    The police, however, had claimed that there was sufficient evidence to nail the three accused — Prakash Singh, Rashmi Singh and Virender Arora — in the criminal case under Section 120 (criminal conspiracy), 193 (punishment for false evidence) and 196 (using false evidence) and 471 (using forged document as genuine) of the IPC.

    According to the chargesheet, Arora was having a monetary dispute with Khurana, who had refused to part with the money.

    Arora allegedly hatched a conspiracy with Prakash to implicate the school teacher by carrying out a sting operation.

    On 30 August, the TV sting triggered a violent outrage amongst the local public outside Khurana’s school near Daryaganj in Delhi.

    However, Delhi Government had later reinstated Khurana after she was discharged by the court.

  • Zee News to launch regional channel in UP

    Zee News to launch regional channel in UP

    MUMBAI: Zee News is stepping up its regional foray. The news broadcasting company is launching a regional channel in UP.

    It has recently launched Zee 24 Ghante Chhatisgarh on 1 October where Zee News is offering consultancy to SB Multimedia. Housed under Zee News, News Consultancy Services Division (NCSD) will provide operational and strategic advice on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis to entrepreneurs desirous of launching news channels in markets which do not figure in Zee’s immediate expansion plans.

    With the tag line Sawaal Aapka Hai, the channel will highlight issues particular to the state. State-focussed shows will constitute 70 cent while the rest will cover national and international stories.

    Desh Hamara, Khabar Chhatisgarh, City 36 and Nau Ki Baat, Singhasan Chhatisi are some of the shows that the channel is telecasting.