ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • NDTV to be available in Singapore on SingTel’s mio TV platform

    MUMBAI: NDTV will make its entry into Singapore on the SingTel’s mio TV platform. The channels that are to be available for the Singapore audience from 1 November include NDTV 24X7 and NDTV Profit.

    “The launch of our channels in Singapore is another milestone in our objective to reach out beyond the domestic market to Indian expatriates and to all those who have a deeper commercial and cultural interest in the news and stories from the sub continent. SingTel mio TV’s innovative approach to pay TV will allow subscribers simple and inexpensive access to our channels”, said NDTV head of distribution and affiliate sales Rahul Sood.

    Director of mio TV and Content Low Ka Hoe said, “SingTel mio TV is delighted to partner NDTV who is the leading broadcaster in India. We are sure the Indian community would be very excited about the launch of NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit that continuously provide compelling and innovative programming that is relevant to their interests.”

    Meanwhile, NDTV has launched NDTV Arabia in Middle East after conducting a soft launch in September. The 24-hour news and infotainment channel will be a free-to-air channel available on Nile Sat. The English channel will have a mixed content of business, current affairs and lifestyle.

  • TV18 Q2 consolidated revenue up 67 % at Rs 883 million

    MUMBAI: TV18‘s consolidated revenue grew 67 per cent year-on-year to be at Rs 882.97 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2007.


    Revenue from news operations was at Rs 735.05 million, up from Rs 476.92 million a year ago. Profit (after tax and ESOPs) in this segment was at Rs 156.93 million, as against Rs 119.40 million.


    Though revenue from the internet and software operations more than doubled to Rs 123.23 million (from Rs 53.16 million), TV18 incurred a loss (after tax and minority interest) of Rs 77.38 million as against a profit of Rs 16.36 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.


    Newswire18‘s revenue jumped to Rs 24.69 million, compared with Rs 8.93 million in the previous quarter. Loss (after tax and minority interest) has improved to Rs 29.86 million, from Rs 49.92 million.



    Said TV 18 MD Raghav Bahl: “Our channels are maintaining their leadership positions and revenues from Newswire18 are growing strongly. We are investing aggressively in Web18 as Internet remains a key focus area.”

  • CNN-IBN launches special series on ‘Retail Revolution’

    MUMBAI: CNN-IBN is launching a special series ‘Retail Revolution’ on the booming retail business in India. The week long series will look at the distinctly transforming face of retail, with a special focus on its effects on the towns and villages across the country.

    Retail Revolution will feature stories on issues that include the impact of retail prosperity on farmers; changes in rural households; the fate of small-scale traders; people’s changing eating and shopping habits; availability of big brands in small-towns, and the altering landscape of leisure and entertainment retail with the proliferation of multiplexes.

    CNN-IBN and IBN 7 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “The pattern of consumption, both amongst urban and rural Indians, is changing at a rapid pace. ‘Retail Revolution’, therefore, is our attempt at providing an insight into this fascinating and dynamic phenomenon that is affecting consumers, traders and industries alike.”

    CNN-IBN and IBN 7 national sales head Sanjay Dua said, “The series is bound to draw interest from all segments of our audience as ‘retail’ is something that touches everyone – whether a housewife, teenager, businessman, or any other. Therefore, those choosing to advertise with us will find this property particularly lucrative.”

  • NBA Content Code put in cold storage

    NEW DELHI: The proposed Code of Content drafted by news broadcasters in retaliation to the government’s attempt to ‘curb press freedom’ through the latter’s Content Code is gathering dust, with no one in the news TV industry interested in talking about it.

    “There is no forward movement and nothing is likely in the short run, that is for sure,” said a senior editor who also revealed that the draft that had been placed for the consideration of all news channels is mundane and routine: “there’s nothing that can be talked about”, the source said.

    Arnav Goswami, Editor of “Times Now” channel had been given the task – on behalf of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) of developing a draft Code of Content, with specifics about what would be penalties and who would impose them, but not much of that has found place in the draft, sources said.

    The NBA, which has been closely guarded on the issue of their own draft from the beginning, had also decided to rope in news broadcasters beyond the periphery of Delhi and Mumbai based channels to give their proposed Code a national character, but so far this process too has not take off.

    “We shall place a Code with the government,” said the source. “But that will take a long time, and the government playing on the back foot and the prime minister almost supporting our cause by asking the ministry to go slow, has given us the opportunity.”

    Sources in the industry say that the news TV channels are not at all seriously inclined towards any Code, and the mandarins are not sure they will ever be able to come to a consensus on the Code the industry itself is developing.

    “In a situation where every editor is an intellectual in his own right and with their own egos to serve, it is practically impossible to have a commonly acceptable Code, for each one is going to haggle over every word, all in the name of protecting the rights of the press,” a senior broadcast lawyer told Indiantelevision.com.

    Officially, NBA is not speaking at all, insisting that this is not in the public domain. A senior executive in a broadcasting cmpany said that discussions are going on and “may be in three or four months time this will bear fruit”.

  • TV18 Q2 consolidated revenue up 67 % at Rs 883 million

    MUMBAI: TV18’s consolidated revenue grew 67 per cent year-on-year to be at Rs 882.97 million for the quarter ended 30 September 2007.

    Revenue from news operations was at Rs 735.05 million, up from Rs 476.92 million a year ago. Profit (after tax and ESOPs) in this segment was at Rs 156.93 million, as against Rs 119.40 million.

    Though revenue from the internet and software operations more than doubled to Rs 123.23 million (from Rs 53.16 million), TV18 incurred a loss (after tax and minority interest) of Rs 77.38 million as against a profit of Rs 16.36 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

    Newswire18’s revenue jumped to Rs 24.69 million, compared with Rs 8.93 million in the previous quarter. Loss (after tax and minority interest) has improved to Rs 29.86 million, from Rs 49.92 million.

    Said TV 18 MD Raghav Bahl: “Our channels are maintaining their leadership positions and revenues from Newswire18 are growing strongly. We are investing aggressively in Web18 as Internet remains a key focus area.”

  • News channels back on cable networks in Ahmedabad

    MUMBAI: After facing a blackout in Ahmedabad for showing the Tehelka sting expose, the seven news channels are back on air since late Saturday.

    Aaj Tak, NDTV India, NDTV 24X7, IBN7, CNN-IBN, Tez and Headlines Today were put off air since 26 October.

    Cable operators were ordered by the District Collector of the city, Dhananjay Dwivedi, to put the channels off air, following Tehelka’s ‘Operation Kalank’ sting expose of the Gujarat riots.

    Dwivedi, who is also the District Election Officer, on 26 October issued an order to all cable television operators not to telecast the Tehelka expose of the Gujarat riots “Operation Kalank.”

    The Friday order quoted the cable television network rules and regulations, 1995, clause five, sub-sections 1(C) and 1(E), under which the operators must not telecast any programme that could incite communal hatred or come in the way of maintenance of the law and order.

  • Scot Safon is CNN Worldwide executive VP, CMO

    MUMBAI: Scot Safon has been promoted to CNN Worldwide executive VP, chief marketing officer. Safon will oversee branding; consumer and trade advertising; and marketing and promotion of the CNN portfolio of networks and businesses, including CNN/US, Headline News, CNN International and CNN.com., and their news and information programming, personalities and events. He is based in Atlanta at CNN world headquarters and reports to Walton.

    CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton says, “Our marketing and promotion efforts reflect a quality, intelligence and point of view that set CNN apart. As a creative executive, Scot sets the tone for that work. But he is equally important to me and to our organization as a strategist and leader. His influence and impact are felt, and welcomed, throughout CNN. I’m pleased to acknowledge his contributions to our continuing success.”

    Formerly senior vice president of marketing and promotion, Safon joined CNN in 2002. He and his marketing and promotions teams executed award-winning campaigns supporting the debut of CNN’s The Situation Room, Anderson Cooper 360°, the re-launch earlier this year of CNN.com and CNN’s continuing election coverage.

  • CNBC adds two million households in Asia Pacific region

    MUMBAI: News broadcaster CNBC has expanded significantly in Asia Pacific this year, adding nearly two million households to their regional footprint.

    CNBC Asia Pacific re-launched their business day programming schedule, creating 5 new shows and increasing Asia Pacific programming to 9.5 hours every business day, established a bureau in Sydney, launched a new suite of mobile products, established a partnership in Korea with Digital Chosun, strengthened the cooperation with premier news organizations in the Philippines and Japan providing special local segments into CNBC’s programs.

    CNBC Asia Pacific head of distribution Jacqueline Lam says, “CNBC, reaching nearly 400 million households globally, has enjoyed significant growth in the Asia Pacific region, especially in new markets, as well as with new partners. We would like to thank our partners, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial co-operation with them.”

    CNBC Asia Pacific has expanded significantly in Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam this year. CNBC has added a little more than one million households in Korea on the Qrix and Areum Broadcasting Network platforms, nearly 700,000 households in New Zealand, on the Sky TV platform, and at least 333,000 households in Vietnam, on both Ho Chi Minh Cable TV and Vietnam Cable TV.

    CNBC Asia Pacific MD Jeremy Pink says, “The success of a television channel is dependent on how the channel is able to refresh itself, adapt to changes and yet be able provide it’s core competencies that the audience values. CNBC is committed to growth and expansion in the Asia Pacific region this year, by enhancing our programming, integrating and distributing of content on multiple platforms, as well as strengthening our relationship with key partners in the region.

    “This significant increase to our footprint is a testament to the success of our growth, and also reinforces the channel being the most watched regional business news channel by affluent viewers, investors, C-suites, business decision makers, financial professionals, top management personnel and opinion leaders in Asia Pacific”.

  • Tehelka fallout: News channels off air in Ahmedabad

    MUMBAI: Following Tehelka’s ‘Operation Kalank’ sting expose of the Gujarat riots, seven news channels have been put off air in Ahmedabad since 26 October.

    Ahmedabad District Collector Dhananjay Dwivedi, who is also the District Election Officer, on Friday issued an order to all cable television operators not to telecast the Tehelka expose of the Gujarat riots “Operation Kalank.”

    As a result, news channels including Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Tez, CNN-IBN, IBN7, NDTV 24X7 and NDTV India are off air since Friday.

    The Friday order quoted the cable television network rules and regulations, 1995, clause five, sub-sections 1(C) and 1(E), under which the operators must not telecast any programme that could incite communal hatred or come in the way of maintenance of the law and order. 

  • BBC’s ‘Panorama’ to expose unsavoury deals at Fifa

    MUMBAI: A British football chief has revealed how a Fifa VP asked him to pay Football Association money into his own personal bank account.

    The former chairman of the Scottish FA, John McBeth, has told UK pubcaster the BBC’s show Panorama that a top Fifa executive Jack Warner asked him to make the match fee cheque payable to him personally, following an international match in Edinburgh.

    It is one of a series of suspect dealings involving Fifa. Panorama asks why Fifa’s ethics committee – run by Lord Sebastian Coe – is not taking action.

    Other questions about foul play directed at world football’s governing body include:

    Why a FIFA official, branded a liar by an American judge, is now Fifa General Secretary; why no-one has been prosecuted after falsifying documents in the same case – a crime punishable by up to five years in prison; and why a Fifa executive committee member was allowed to pay his national team players only £500 each for their participation in the World Cup, despite securing lucrative sponsorship deals – and then blacklisted them from the national team when they complained.

    Panorama asked Lord Coe why the ethics committee was not looking into these issues. He declined to answer or give any details of his job, referring all queries to Fifa, the body he is supposed to be monitoring.

    McBeth first expressed concerns about corruption in Fifa after being chosen to fill Britain’s post on the Fifa executive committee in May this year. He pointed the finger at football officials in Africa and the Caribbean – but was dropped just days before starting his new job amid accusations of bigotry and racism from Vice-President Warner.

    However, he is adamant that this was a merely a smokescreen and that he was sailing far too close to the truth for some Fifa members. McBeth says, “There are one or two people on that executive committee that I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw. I was talking about the football people that I’ve met and dealt with in Africa and the Caribbean. It was football people I was talking about. I wasn’t talking about the nation. I’m not a racist bigot and I think it probably says more about Jack and him trying to deflect away the criticism that I was making of corruption.”

    Speaking for the first time on the subject, McBeth has revealed how Warner, who represents Fifa in North and Central America and the Caribbean, asked him to pay a match fee directly into his personal account.

    Previously, Warner was found guilty by Fifa’s ethics committee of touting thousands of World Cup tickets through his family travel company in Trinidad. Yet he escaped with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. He was also accused of “ripping off” Trinidad and Tobago’s players following last year’s World Cup.

    The Panorama investigation has also found that some of Fifa’s actions in relation to a sponsorship deal amounted to criminal activity, punishable by up to five years in prison in Fifa’s home nation, Switzerland.

    FIFA attempted to drop its sponsor MasterCard and replace it with Visa, contrary to a long-standing agreement, and was taken to court in New York by MasterCard, where the judge condemned its actions.The man who led FIFA’s marketing team, Jerome Valcke, admitted lying to both MasterCard and Visa.

    The BBC adds that despite the serious nature of the case, Lord Coe’s ethics committee has took no action. And when Panorama asked Lord Coe why he was not looking into this case he declined to talk. Warner and Valcke also declined to comment.